Week 8, Term 2

Thursday 11th June 2020

Telephone: (08) 89552000 Text: 0418 191 388

Facebook: ross park primary school alice springs

Email: rosspark.school@ntschools.net

Website: www.schools.net.edu.au/rosspark

Ross Park Primary School

FROM OUR

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

I hope everyone enjoyed an incredible long weekend. I know many people went camping, getting away from town and enjoying the outdoors. The smell of smoke from a campfire, chilly mornings after being rugged up in your sleeping bag and a general sense of leaving your cares at home creates a scenario of joy.

We are full steam ahead as we enter into the final 2 weeks of Term 2. Students and teachers have progressed through some challenging learning circumstances over the semester. Still, something that resonates across our school is a sense of learning-focused relationships with a genuine care for everyone’s wellbeing. Here is a quote which shows the ethos of this relationship-based learning: ‘Learning-focused relationships are about using the considerable potential in the relationship between teacher and student to maximise the student's engagement with learning; about enabling the student to play a meaningful role in deciding what to learn and how to learn it; and about enabling the student to become a confident, resilient, active, self-regulating learner.’ Absolum, (2006)

It is encouraging that teachers are tapping into the principles shared by Absolum. Engaging students in the learning process, developing their skills and creating thoughtful and deliberate opportunities for students to take some control of their learning. The relationships that we build with students are key to the success that we can have in the classroom.

Learning needs to be purposeful and strategic with clear expectations. When it is approached and delivered effectively, the outcomes can be significant.

I am sure that most parents have been experiencing the blitz of sporting activities starting up again. Soccer, basketball, gymnastics, BMX, netball and then coupled with all the other excitement of having a family, it is turning into a busy time of the year. Mr Sheriff and his team of teachers and parent helpers have begun soccer training sessions on Thursday afternoons after school. The first game of the season starts this weekend. Students are excited and ready for the season to begin. The season will run over the holiday break so be aware of the times for your child's games. Netball started last weekend; Ms Winwood Smith’s teams have been training and have seen some success early in the season. There will be games again this weekend well worth cheering on the Ross Park teams.

If we can't go to the Reptile Centre then the Reptile Centre can come to us! Year 2 teachers have been using creative problem-solving skills to engage students in learning about reptiles and animals in general. Next week they will have a unique learning experience: Rep[tile Centre staff will give a presentation with hands-on opportunities. Students will use this shared experience to inform their written reports and informational texts. Sounds exciting!

In week 10, Year 6 students will have their first visit to Centrallian Middle School (CMS). This is also our first

group excursion for the term. Students will be involved in an introductory tour of the school, learning about the various aspects of transitioning from primary school to middle school. The Year 4/5 excursion the following day sees students riding out to the Telegraph Station to engage in learning about the history of the area and exploring the trails within the historic precinct.

Letters and permission forms will be sent out shortly for the swimming program that will proceed in Term 3. This will be a 5-week program for Year 1 and 2 classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays for Transition classes. More information will be provided regarding the schedule and groupings next week.

Have an excellent weekend and hopefully you have some restful family moments in the wake of the busyness of the proceeding weeks. Take care always!

SHONTELL DOUGHERTY Assistant Principal

DATES TO REMEMBER

Crazy Hair & Footy Colours Day Friday 12th June

School Council meeting Mon-day 15th June @ 7.00pm

End of Term 2: Friday 26th June

Date Savers:

School Photos Thursday 30th July

Sports Day Friday 14th August

GEOGRAPHY

Millie from 4/5 Panthers chose to study Norway.

FACTS:

The flag of Norway has three colours: red, white and blue.

The white and red represent the friendship that Norway has with Denmark.

The blue cross represents Norway’s unique union with Sweden before they gained autonomy.

Norway entered the Kalmar union with Denmark and Sweden in 1397.

After Sweden abandoned the union in 1523, Denmark ruled Norway.

Norwegians eat rokelaks (smoked salmon), torrfisk (dried cod) and brunost (brown cheese).

The traditional national costume, the Bunad, is made of wool and colourful shoes complete the outfit.

WEEK 8, TERM 2 PAGE 2

Footy Colours &

Crazy Hair Day

TOMORROW

Friday 12th June

To raise funds for a new bike rack.

Please bring a gold coin donation—thank you!

SRC Reps

SAFETY!

Parents using school facilities after school should follow the safety guidelines we have at school as much as possible. Trees suitable for climbing have sand underneath; play equipment should be used in a safe manner and children need to be supervised at all times. Please also remember that the carparks at the front and rear of the school are for STAFF ONLY unless special arrangements have been made with senior staff.

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS

...will be taken on Thursday 30th July. Order now atwww.theschoolphotographer.com.au . Please note that no change is available from the school office and order envelopes must be received by Wednesday 29th July.

BACK TO SCHOOL VOUCHERS must be acquitted by Friday June 26th. Contact the school

office NOW to utilise your credit.

SCHOOL COUNCIL

Your School Council will meet next Monday evening @ 7.00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend, either in person or via Skype. Some items on the agenda are:

*the possibility of a Road Safety Grant, to be used for new signage and installations to smooth traffic flow (and maybe Hector the Road Safety Cat can visit our school!)

*our nutrition policy needs revision. How can we promote healthy eating choices?

*after the topsy-turvy term we have had, what can we expect in Term 3?

Contact Pauli in the office if you would like to join the meeting—parent input welcome!

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Ms Kerri Gilbert keeps our Year 2 students on the move—skipping today, who knows what tomorrow will bring?

SHOULD KIDS GO ON SCHOOL CAMP? (An example of a persuasive text on a hot topic…)

“I believe kids should go on school camp because they get to learn about traditional cultures and music. They get to learn about the olden days and how settlers lived. They get to wear old clothes and pretend to live in the 19th Century. You have a once in a lifetime experience climbing rocks and trees with friends. You get a better understanding of natural flora and fauna, make new friends and get time to play in nature. You can build cubbies and lie on the earth. We will give our parents a break for a bit from our childish acts,” by Scarlet 4/5 Panthers.

CINDERELLA...A New Ending

Casey from 2 Pandas wrote: “Once upon a time there was a girl named Cinderella. She walked into the ball and straight away she knew she hated the prince.

He was fatter than a pig! So she ran away to Antarctica. She met a polar bear whom she thought was nice. They got married and had cubs. But the polar bear had a plan...to make Cinderella look at the river and then strike and gobble her up! He did his plan and BANG! She was gone and done for and they all lived sadly ever after. Well... except the polar bear because he was full.”

THANKS!

Our SRC students raised almost $300 from Harmony Day, which was donated to St Johns Ambulance last week. Roy and Jemima received a very special welcome from the ambos and were given a St Johns teddy to bring back to school. Roy said, “We wanted to help out because the whole coronavirus thing has probably been pretty hard for the paramedics.”

SPORTS VOUCHERS

Semester 1 sports vouchers will expire soon. AFL Juniors will be taking registrations from the Yeperenye Centre soon, if

children would like to join Auskick.

SAFETY!

3 Echidnas love their digital technology time. They are currently learn-ing about being Cyber Safe whilst online.