Volume 2- 18th February 2022
From the Principal
As they say, everything is easier when we stand together. The first two teaching weeks have started really well for our students and staff despite the changes brought on by the COVID outbreak in Queensland. All our students returned to school excited about learning and seeing their teachers and classmates. Our teachers focused on delivering engaging learning experiences from Day 1, whilst also maintaining a very strong focus on building positive relationships with students and establishing classroom routines. I am sure that you will enjoy seeing some of the examples of this in this newsletter.
As you are aware, we continued to have COVID positive cases in the school over the last two weeks. Luckily, our students and staff are recovering well from the virus, which means that they will be able to return to us soon. Our school continues to receive RAT tests to provide to our students and staff who present with flu-like symptoms at school. We also continue to get masks for staff and students who wish to use them. I thank you very much for wearing a mask when on the school grounds, maintaining social distancing whenever possible, and keeping your children at home when they are unwell. All these things are very important when it comes to keeping our community as safe as possible at this time.
Every community has its special people who are always there; ready to lend a hand, offer a kind ear and work as part of a team for the benefit of our students and the wider community. As he has done many times in the past, over the last couple of weeks Pastor Rob has given hope and support to many members of our school community who are struggling in the current circumstances. We are truly grateful for his ever-present smile, boundless understanding and kind words.
Our Leadership Team is currently finalising the Annual Implementation Plan, which will outline key strategies and actions to improve student outcomes in 2022. Our focus in on improving students’ English results. In our virtual assemblies, our students are already able to share what they need to do to get an A in English this term. I encourage you to ask your children what they are learning in English, and what they need to do to show what they learned. When we make learning a priority, we can achieve great things together!
Today, we are celebrating International Mother Language Day with a special virtual assembly. Aunty Sharron will be sharing her mother language with our community in a special video which will be shown on screens in all classrooms across the school. The students will then engage in online activities and special presentations learning about and celebrating language.
This Friday, we will welcome the Metropolitan Region’s Director, Dr Liam Smith, and the Assistant Regional Director, Rob Mills, to our school to celebrate the progress we have made over the last couple of years, especially in the area of teaching and learning. We are very proud of the effort we have put in to make Leichhardt State School the best school it can be. Thank you for supporting us on this journey!
Reading @ Leichhardt
Monday, February the 14th was Library Lovers’ Day around the world. This day honours libraries and the wonderful books they hold within them! Students from the Wednesday Library Elective Group at Leichhardt State School wished to share their love of libraries and love of picture books with younger students at the school. The fourteen Library elective students selected and wrapped their favourite pictures books (please see images below).These ‘surprise books’ were then given to the first fourteen students who arrived at the Library at Second Play to open, read and enjoy. Older siblings and relatives were ready to help younger family members read their unwrapped surprises. Each week this term, the Wednesday Library elective student group and their teachers will continue to promote events on the literacy calendar. In doing so, the group will not only share their love of reading, but further promote Leichhardt State School’s reading mantra that ‘Reading is Everywhere’ and ‘Reading is Everyone’s Business!’
Learning @ Leichhardt
1B
What a great start!! 1A had an excellent first week back to school. We scored 86% in attendance and won the attendance award for this week!!
In the coming week we will be learning nouns in English and basic addition strategies in maths.
Parents, please make sure your child had sufficient breakfast in the morning because it is important for them to focus in their learning. Great meeting you all!
Year 6 HASS
In HASS the year 6 students' have been learning all about Australia's Federation. This week they have spent time understanding what a Federation is and the key problems of life in the 19th Century.A Federation is "a group of states with central control" - Andrew.
Teaching and Learning in Year 5 & 6As we have begun our new school year the Year 5 and 6 students have been focusing on developing their organisation skills. They are learning essential skills of being organised with their learning equipment (books, pencils, ruler) for each lesson and have been learning to use their own timetables. The Year 5 students have been learning how to read a timetable to develop their independence and organisation skills for their school day. It has been wonderful to see the students using these so successfully and even creating their own to include before and after school activities! Our students will continue to learn fundamental skills in organisation. As we start the school year the students will continue to be guided on bookwork expectations. This not only helps students to take pride in their learning and show respect to themselves, however it will also be used when students begin to learn how to note take.
STEAM News at Leichhardt
This term in Science, the Senior Students have started their units focusing on chemical science linked to indigenous culture. The Year 6 students have learnt about natural adhesives, the different traditional uses for gums and resins and the types of trees where gums and resins can be found. Our Year 5 student’s, have identified different states of matter and the scientific words for when matter is changed through the changing of temperature. They have applied this knowledge to identify the changes of states of matter in cooking.
In Arts, the students have been introduced to visual arts by reflecting on what art means to them personally. They have begun creating artworks displaying their feelings towards art linked to indigenous culture.
The students have been busy building robots and learning about electrical energy in Technology. They Year 5 students have designed and built robots with Lego devices. Our Year 6 students have learnt about electrical energy and the way circuits are formed and created. They have identified the different symbols used in an electrical circuit.
Our students are all having an amazing time learning in STEAM!
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From Student Services
Student Services…We Care!
In Student Services we have been very busy working at keeping our students safe and well!
Please remember, if your children are unwell in any way, keep them at home to rest and recover.
Students showing any signs of illness will be sent home and if showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be given a RAT test to be completed at home. Students may return to school when they have a negative test result and are symptom free.
Homework Club@Leichhardt
Homework Club started back this week with COVID safe practises in place to ensure that the health of students and staff is maintained. Students enjoyed engaging with Reading Eggs, writing stories and working on classwork assignments. If you would like your child to attend Homework Club, please contact the Office
COVID Information
With COVID-19 prevalent in the community, please monitor your family for symptoms. If a family member is feeling unwell, please take them to a Queensland Health testing clinic where students will be prioritised for a free rapid antigen test (RAT).
If you, your child or a household member tests positive to COVID-19, please follow Queensland Health guidelines for reporting the test result, isolation and close contacts.
If students develop symptoms while at school, you will be contacted and asked to collect them. You will be provided with a free rapid antigen test (RAT) to administer at home.
For more information about Queensland’s response to COVID-19, visit www.covid19.qld.gov.au
Mission Australia Play & Learn
The Play & Learn Discovery group has been running virtually through Facebook messenger groups so far this year on Thursday mornings at 9.30am with myself, Channon Schiemer delivering craft resources to families each fortnight. This is a different way of connecting with one another & the challenges are keeping the children engaged during the session, which is why they only go for around 30min.
This term we are learning about all things Under the sea. Activities include letter recognition, play dough, fine motor craft, songs & stories as well as games to play at home.
Next Thursday, 24th February we will have Jenny Crotty from the Active Children Thrive program conducting a ‘Do That’ session. This session is about the importance of play for children where we use items from around the home to play active games & talk about the benefits of doing these activities.
Next week there will be a decision made by Mission Australia management as to whether or not I can begin face-to-face groups from the beginning of March. In the meantime, I will be in contact with my regular families.
If you would like to join our lovely group or want to know more, please contact me on my mobile
0475 798 198.
