Term 3 Week 10 Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Welcome to our Week 10 Newsletter. I cannot believe that Term 3 is nearly over. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first term at Calwell Primary School and have appreciated the opportunity to work with all of our students, staff and parents. Thankyou for making me feel so welcome.
On Friday our Kindergarten students presented their assembly to the school community. They did a great job and were confident and excited to share their reading skills, their artwork and other class celebrations. Well done, Kindergarten! Thanks also to the teachers for supporting the students to put this together. Katie Bicket’s Dance group also performed at assembly. This was the culmination of the terms work during club time. They also did an amazing job. Thanks, Miss Bickett, for leading the students throughout the term.
Last Thursday our Year 6 students ran Market Day for the rest of our students. They worked all through Term 3 to design stalls, games and fun activities for their peers. They developed advertising for their stalls and worked collaboratively to organise rosters and stall management. Our Year 6 students did an exemplary job on the day and in the lead up. They were responsible, sensible, and positive role models for our younger students. Congratulations Year 6! You are school leaders.
At the end of the term I believe its important to reflect on the amazing work that has happened. Its always really surprising to list what schools do over a term. A school community is a busy one which relies on efforts from all members. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to making Calwell Primary an exciting and interesting place to learn.
School Events
Market Day
Birrigai Visits
Zone Athletics Carnival
Tennis Clinics
Fathers Day Breakfast
3/4 Camp
Student learning hub opening
Hot Food Fridays
Special Lunch Day
9 different lunchtime clubs
Community Events
Breakfast club
Principal morning and afternoon tea
Managing Big Behaviours parent workshops
Bookswap
Community Movie night
Fathers Day Stall
Book week assembly
K, 3/4 and 5/6 Assembly
Professional Learning
Positive Behaviours for Learning
Team Teach
Be You wellbeing workshop.
We hope you all have a restful and relaxing break. See you back at school on Monday 9th October for the start of Term 4.
Kind Regards
Ben Roberts
Principal
Gold Awards
Camp Australia
Notes Home/Due & Dates to Remember
A reminder for parent's to please download the SZapp to view our Newsletters and upcoming events. If you access the calendar and click on the date on an excursion/incursion permission notes are attached to re-print if needed.
- Year 3 Camp 21st-22nd September
- Friday 22nd September Last Day of Term 3
- Monday 9th October First Day of Term 4
Scrivener
This fortnight the kindergarten children enjoyed connecting to country with a trip to Birrigai. During this visit the children were able to participate in a range of hands on, nature based learning experiences. One highlight for the students was visiting the rock shelter on our bush walk and learning how it was used to protect Indigenous peoples from the rain and heat. The other stand out learning experience was cooking damper on the campfire then enjoying it with some golden syrup.
Students have been developing their reading comprehension by focusing on retelling the events of a book. To support this reading strategy the students have been discussing what they like and dislike about a range of texts.
Corin
Last Week, 1/2 visited Birrigai and got to immerse themselves in a range of outdoor activities such as damper cooking, scat collecting and a scavenger hunt. The students also participated on a nature walk and got to explore a ‘cave’ used to protect the Ngunnawal people from the wind and rain. Thank you to the lovely Birragai Teachers for sharing their knowledge about country. As well, thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers for making our excursion possible.
Googong
Our 3/4 students had an amazing time during a recent Readers Workshop adventure. They practiced the 'inferencing' strategy through an engaging 'inferencing scavenger hunt.' With enthusiasm, they followed a total of four clues, applying their inferencing skills to uncover the next location. The final clue led students to discover a soft toy caterpillar nestled in a tree. It was a delightful and educational experience that allowed our students to learn and apply their inferencing skills while enjoying the thrill of racing around the school.
Bendora
Year 6 students enjoyed designing and running the annual Market Day which raises money for graduation. They received some great feedback from staff and other students about the stall choices and how the event ran. Some student favourites included the obstacle course, tug a war, the hanging challenge, biscuit design and of course the food stalls. Well done to our Year 6s and organising staff for a successful day.
Art
Over this term, K to 2 students have been exploring Animation and telling a story through movement. Students have watched various animations from different studios, with their favourite being Far from the Tree by Disney.
Across the term, students have used the Playschool art marker. Students practised moving their characters across different backgrounds and recorded their voices to add in. Finally, students learned how to edit and save their work.
The second app students have been using is Flip Clip, a virtual flipbook. So far, students have learned how to animate a ball bouncing up and down and a person falling over.
PE
This term in PE students in K-2 have been practising their fundamental movement skills of throwing, catching, and striking during the basketball and tennis units, as well as furthermore developing tennis skills during 4 tennis clinics run by Tennis Canberra. During hockey clinics students were practising dribbling and passing in a variety of activities. Students have also been playing different kinds of running games and relay races.
Our senior students in years 3-6 have been learning and practising basketball skills such as dribbling, passing – bounce pass, chest pass, overhead pass, and shooting. They have been learning rules of basketball and playing games with scoring. Senior students have, also, been learning and practising tennis skills such as forehand and backhand groundstroke, serve, and starting to use the official tennis scoring system. They also participated in 4 sessions of tennis clinics with coaches James and Robbie from Tennis Canberra. It’s great to see our students being exposed to many sports, giving it a go and enjoying sport in general.
Transition to High School
Things are about to get really exciting for our Year 6 students as they prepare to enter Year 7. This means new teachers, students, subjects, opportunities – maybe students will have their own locker for the first time. Student workloads will increase but their studies will get more interesting as they apply and build on the foundational skills students developed in Primary School.
Students enrolled at Calwell High School for 2024 will participate in Calwell High Transition Days in Week 4, Term 4.
1st of November (Wednesday)– Students with last names starting with (A – L)
2nd of November (Thursday) – Students with last names starting with (M-Z)
Parents will need to drop their child off at Calwell High School and pick up their child at the end of the day. Any questions about the transition visit should be directed to Calwell High School.
The days schedule is as follows:
- Time: 8.45am-2.30pm
- Location: Calwell High School
- Schedule:
- Welcome Year 7 address
- Testing rotations
- Sausage Sizzle
- Activities rotations
- Art
- Science
- PE
- Q&A/ Orientation Pack handout
If you feel your child would benefit from a supported transition, with additional visits to the high school to familiarize themselves with the setting, please email emma.vince@ed.act.edu.au.
The following links are a good resource for parents and families of students in year 6 who are getting ready to transition to High School.
https://www.education.act.gov.au/public-school-life/starting_school/high-school
https://www.learninglinks.org.au/resources/getting-ready-for-high-school/
Lost Property
There is a large amount of lost property located outside the front office. Please come and collect your clothing this week as it will be donated to second hand clothing stores during the school holidays.
5 tips to keep your family safe online
ACT Instrumental Music Program
Transport Canberra
Rugby Australia
