1st April 2020

Principal’s Report

Week 10 PBEL Focus – being resilient learners

• At school this means that we keep trying when faced with a challenge.

• At home children might like to discuss these ideas with their families and practise by showing persistence with their online home learning.

School Operations Update One week into launching our Online Remote Learning and we have 85% of our student population accessing online learning from home. We are aware of inconsistencies of some internet networks and families experiencing difficulties accessing Google Classroom and we are working towards creating alternative learning programs.

Thank you to all of the parents and caregivers who have embraced the current changes to teaching and learning at Terrey Hills. The weekly Framework of Teaching that you will have received via Google Classroom has been developed to provide Stage Based activities to support student’s learning from home. These weekly frameworks will continue to be shared with you over the coming weeks. Meanwhile, our staff will be completing professional learning that aim to develop our ability to provide online learning environments that better support our students. In particular we will focus upon creating effective online

connections between teachers, students and parents.

A key starting point for our journey will be to create clear guidelines and expectations for staff, parents and students. These will be shared in due time. As we move forward we aim to keep you well informed of any changes as we work together to ensure our students are safe and successful learners. Current attendance of students is now less than 10 percent at Terrey Hills. As advocated by NSW government Health and Education authorities we will be moving more of our teachers offsite. This health and safety measure will help us to comply with physical distancing requirements. From tomorrow we will be maintaining only 40% of staff on site while the other 60% work from home. This will be a rotating roster. A decision about whether schools will return to normal operations after the holidays will be taken in line with the latest advice from Government and we will keep the community informed.

Keeping Students Connected and maintaining their wellbeing Not all students thrive in a remote learning environment; some struggle with too much independence or lack of structure. Teachers are creating personal messages for their students at the beginning and end of each day. Students should have:

• routines and expectations for successful learning. • scheduled sessions with times for breaks for fruit, morning tea, lunch and exercise. • work in a comfortable but consistent area each day dressed and ready for learning with adult monitoring.

Parents should have expectations that the children complete all tasks on a daily basis to the best of their ability. Exercise and Apps such as Smiling Mind, can be used to assist students to stay on task. In a bid to maintain personal connections and class routines students are encouraged to check-in with their teacher where possible at 9.15am or throughout the day to help keep them on track. Teachers will be available to support and provide feedback to students during the following times:

• Morning Session 9.10 – 11.00 • Middle Session 11.40 – 1.00 • Afternoon Session 1.50 – 3.10

As a guide, we suggest our younger K-2 students should be spending 1.5 - 2.5 hours learning each day. Older students in Stage 2 may spend more like 2 - 3.5 hours and our Stage 3 students could work towards 2.5 - 4 hours each day. This time should be spread out across the day if possible. If your child is not able to complete all of the work set, focus on the literacy and mathematics activities - these are the core activities and will likely take up more than half of your day. If all of the material set does not get completed, that is OK - what you can do is enough. The other area that would be good to focus on and encourage is the live chats with your class and teacher. This social time and connection is very important and ensures the strong relationships built in the classroom between students and with teachers is maintained as well as possible whilst we remain largely isolated. Remote Learning Communication Process Learning programs for Kindergarten to Year 6 will be communicated via Google Classroom. Google Classroom will have messages from the teacher and details about the schedule of work, this will include a weekly timetable of work to be completed each week.

Further updates from the Department of on school operations and other COVId-19 information is available at the following link: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families

Seesaw is the platform we will be using for you to record the learning your child has engaged in at home. Please utilise it to take photographs or short videos (please no longer than 20 seconds) of your child’s work and upload it into their journal (instructions have been sent home). Teachers will be daily reviewing this work and will provide comments and feedback. Any issues please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher through Seesaw.

Wellbeing for Everyone - Smiling Mind Smiling Mind is a mindfulness program that offers a leading approach to building healthy minds, engaged classrooms and equipping a generation of young people with the skills they need to thrive. The benefits for children and adults include increased mental wellbeing, greater concentration and focus, improved academic performance,

clear strategies for emotional regulation, better relationships and improved resilience. There is a free App that can be downloaded. It offers a range of programs for children of varying ages and adults, as well as, family programs. It is easy to use and only takes a few minutes. To download the free app just search Smiling Mind in the App Store. Here are some suggestions to help students:

• Eat well - provide healthy, nutritious food to keep them well. • Sleep well - create and keep routines that promote healthy sleep patterns - devices off at a certain time, wake up

at regular times. • Exercise - whilst adhering to the social distancing rules. • Get sunshine and fresh air - whilst adhering to the social distancing rules - make home outdoor spaces more

useable and inviting. • Set up work zones, where possible, that students can study and participate in lessons. • Create routines - get up, get dressed begin your day - have breaks. • Encourage down time and device free time • Take breaks from social media and news outlets - negative news can overwhelm students • Remain positive about their future - this situation is only temporary • Make time to talk - they need to vocalise their feelings, make sure you listen

Virtual Easter Hat Parade Get ready to join the Terrey Hills Virtual Easter Hat parade! Watch for a special mission from the Easter Bunny by joining the new Art Google Classrooms (your teacher will advise you of the link). No buying anything – the challenge is to create an Easter Hat from materials from home – some suggestions for materials:

box, ice cream container, paper plate, wrapping paper, bows, gift bag, coloured paper, newspaper, flowers from the garden, bottle lids, egg cartons, cupcake wrappers, draw some decorations and cut out and decorate a sunhat – it’s time to get creative!

Additional links have been added to Terrey Hills PS Online Learning Resources ABC Education is funded by the Australian Government and is non-commercial. It provides children and parents with:

• engaging videos, games, competitions and other fun educational resources.

• entertaining programs, including videos that help explain the news to kids,

• thought-provoking articles about parenting and the latest education news.

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• educational videos • educational games • competitions and events • entertaining programs • explain the news to kids • thought-provoking articles

A list of External Agency Support for Families can be found on the School Home Page.

Staffing Update

Mrs Fiona Parker travels around Europe have been temporarily suspended and she returned to Terrey Hills this week. Mrs Parker will be working with students and teachers over the coming weeks on a number of exciting art projects around the school and within online classrooms. (Mrs Parker in Austria with Gustav Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’)

Congratulations to Mrs Renwick and Mrs Walker for successfully completing the Language, Learning and Literacy professional course.

Click and Collect Library Thank you to our Teacher Librarian Jo Argent, teachers and support staff for organising the book bundles to ensure students are able to continue the joy of reading quality literature.

The Simple Joys I was struck this week by a quote we received from one of our parents who was checking in with the school. She shared this thought, the author of which I know nothing about, but I thought I'd share its positive message which clearly reflects the massive change we are living and the seemingly tiny parts of our lives that it has affected - tiny parts which may have seemed mundane until they were removed.

"When this is over may we never again take for granted........ A handshake with a stranger, full shelves at the store, conversations with neighbours, a crowded theatre, Friday night out, the taste of communion, a routine checkup, the school rush each morning, coffee with a friend, the stadium roaring, each deep breath, a boring Tuesday, Life itself."

Student News Student Reflections on last week

Last Week On Monday it was a normal day as I wandered off to school I felt normal as I always did and the weather was quite cool.

On Tuesday I collected the class pets and then I came back home I still did my normal school work, but it felt odd doing it alone.

On Wednesday I tried to do my work, but the internet would not run. We all felt frustrated and it really was not fun.

On Thursday I felt odd, because the house was really quiet. My brother and I were home alone, it was a pretty lonely climate.

Today is Friday, its been a strange week. I haven’t seen my friends, but I’m okay, I’m doing great

Though I hope this ends soon. Leah 5/6W

This week This week has been a very interesting week to say the least! I never ever thought that I would be made to stay at home from school during school term to make sure that my family and I don’t get the Coronavirus. This change has been good and bad at the same time. My first thoughts were that I would be able to have free time, and could play on the Play Station with my friends. This didn’t last long. My mum is now my teacher and she makes sure I have done my work every day! There are some good things about this like being able to do all my work when it suits me. Although I still have to have it done and keep myself interested. I am finding it difficult not being able to do my sport or see my friends. It feels different and relaxing at the same time. Weekend sport has been cancelled for2 months at the minimum and up to 6 months. I hope it doesn’t go on too long because I need to get outdoors and run around. My parents cannot work at the moment as they both rely on tourists, venues and hospitality. The have been at home a lot of the time. Watching the news has become something we do all the time. I hope it ends soon. I really liked my life before and whilst I do still like it now, I don’t think I could live like this forever. Jackson 5/6W

Maddison and Nathan participating in some cosmic yoga during home learning.

Kindergarten Online Learning

John's writing and illustration about the story he just read.

Lucas has built an angel fish with Lego to represent the number 20.

Stage 2 Design and make Shelter Challenge using sticks, bark and rocks