Gorokan Public School Newsletter - Week 10 Term 2, 2024

Principal's Report

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

As we approach the end of another successful term, I want to extend my sincere thanks. Thank you to our students for consistently embodying the values of safe, respectful and successful learning. A special acknowledgment goes to our dedicated staff whose care and diligence have nurtured our students by providing a quality education in a caring environment in every classroom. Additionally, I express gratitude to our supportive community whose partnership continues to make a positive impact on our students' lives.

Festival of Instrumental Music at Sydney Opera House

Last Tuesday, Gorokan Public School proudly participated in the Festival of Instrumental Music at the iconic Sydney Opera House. This event showcased performances from over 1000 public school students, featuring diverse musical acts including Combined Recorders and String Ensembles. Our students excelled in their performances, presenting pieces such as Psalm 100 by Johannes Sebastian Bach, In the Serpentine Mine by Damien Lane, and Concertino Bianco by Georgs Pelecis alongside the Combined Strings. Special thanks are extended to Mrs Morror and Mrs Everson for their dedicated efforts in providing this wonderful opportunity for our students.

Congratulations to our talented performers: Sophie C, Mila C, Rozie D, Flynn D, Yasmin G, Jackson M and Daisy W.

Kindergarten 2025

We are currently accepting enrolments for Kindergarten in 2025. Applications can be submitted online via the Gorokan Public School enrolment application link below.

Kindergarten 2025 enrolments

Kindergarten Orientation Program

Our Kindergarten transition program aims to introduce pre-schoolers and their families to our school environment and routines. This program helps children feel more comfortable and confident about starting school. While children engage in various activities to familiarise themselves with their peers and surroundings, parents participate in informative sessions. These sessions cover topics such as literacy and numeracy teaching methods, the Get Happier project, and other relevant subjects. Teachers are also getting to know our incoming students, preparing for the year ahead.

Student Progress Reports and Parent-Teacher Interviews

As mentioned in our last newsletter, Semester One student reports will be shared with parents and carers on Thursday 4 July. Hard copies are available upon request. Parent-teacher interviews will be scheduled early next term, starting in Week 2 of Term 3 on the week beginning 29 July 2024. The interviews will be held in the school library for your convenience. Each session will be led by the teacher and will last a maximum of 10 minutes, with a timekeeper ensuring punctuality. Should important matters arise during the interview, teachers will arrange follow-up discussions at a later date. Please refer to booking details (check with Dru).

NAIDOC Week Celebration

NAIDOC Week commenced on Monday, featuring activities that allow students to celebrate and learn about Aboriginal culture and history. A big thank you to the parents and carers who joined us for Monday's assembly and bush tucker morning tea. Your presence was greatly appreciated.

Staffing

Mrs Jo Lee has been successful in gaining employment with the Department of Education's Learning and Wellbeing Team as a Learning and Wellbeing Officer. She will commence her new role from Term 3.

We thank her for her service. The students, staff and community of Gorokan Public School wish her well in her new role.

Finally, I wish all students and staff a well-deserved and enjoyable holiday break.

Please note that school resumes for all students on Tuesday 23 July 2024.

Together, we continue to make a difference.

Jesmond Zammit

Principal

School News

Attendance

Building Positive Attendance Habits

You can help build positive attendance habits by:

  • Helping your child learn the importance of punctuality and routine
  • Make sure your child arrives on time from the start of the school day, ready to take part
  • Reducing disruption to learning where you can by planning any necessary appointments outside of school time
  • Contacting your school to explain any absences (within 7 days of the first day of any absence)
  • Making sure any holidays or medical appointments are taken outside school hours
  • Working with the school to encourage and support regular attendance.

Dates to Remember

  • Monday 1 July - Friday 5 July - NAIDOC Week
  • Thursday 4 July - BBQ and Mufti Day
  • Friday 5 July - Last day of Term 2
  • Monday 22 July - School Development Day
  • Tuesday 23 July - Students first day of Term 3
  • Tuesday 23 July - PSSA Cross Country
  • Wednesday 24 July - Mariner's Trophy visit 1.00pm - 3.00pm
  • Friday 26 July - National Tree Day
  • Friday 26 July - Rumbalara Incursion for Intensive Education Unit
  • Tuesday 30 July - Choral Festival rehearsal
  • Tuesday 30 July - Parent/Teacher Interviews
  • Wednesday 31 July - Stage 2 and 3 Touch Football Gala Day
  • Thursday 1 August - Friday 2 August - Newcastle Permanent Math's Competition for Stage 3
  • Thursday 1 August - Parent/Teacher Interviews
  • Friday 2 August - Term 3 Class Captain Assembly at 2.00pm in the hall

Inclusive Education Team

Current Learning

Over the past few weeks, the students in the IET have been learning about the following topics:

  • Preparing for NAIDOC week class collaborative animal artworks in creative arts.
  • Learning and practising athletics skills preparing for the upcoming Athletics Carnival.
  • Forming groups and division strategies in mathematics.

Reminders

Please note the following reminders:

  • Term 3, Week 1 - Friday 26 July - Rumbalara Incursion.
  • Term 3, Week 3, Friday 9 August - Kym the Reptile Man Incursion

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Celebrations of Learning

Congratulations to the following students who have displayed safe, respectful and successful behaviour this fortnight and received class awards. We are extremely proud of these students.

Week 8 Open Road Awards

  • Frogs - Owen M
  • Turtles - Brody
  • Eaglehawks - Brock D
  • Echidnas - Zachery W

Week 9 Open Road Awards

  • Frogs - Mark T
  • Eaglehawks - Thomas M
  • Echidnas - Braxtynn F

Week 8 Merit Awards

  • Frogs - Kane H
  • Turtles - George
  • Eaglehawks - Atticus D
  • Echidnas - Mallee S

Week 9 Merit Awards

  • Frogs - Anthony S
  • Turtles - Ashton
  • Eaglehawks - Charlotte J
  • Echidnas - Dylan O

The IET on behalf of Mrs Shauna Crook (Deputy Principal Support Unit and Wellbeing)

Early Stage 1

Current Learning

Over the past few weeks, the students in Kindergarten have been learning about the following topics:

  • In English, we have been learning how the illustrations in a story can tell a story. Students have been writing sentences about their own illustrations.
  • In music, we have been learning how to sing “Heads and shoulders, knees and toes” in Darkinyung language. The students have enjoyed these lessons and enjoyed performing their song in front of the school at the NAIDOC week assembly.
  • In science this semester, we have been learning about living things and what they need in order to survive. As a part of this unit, last week Kindergarten students participated in an incursion with the Rumbalara Environmental Education Officers and had a wonderful day of hands-on learning

Reminders

Please note the following reminders:

  • Please return all blue homework folders every Friday.
  • Students are on holidays from Saturday 6 July. School will resume for students on Tuesday 23 July. Please continue to read to your children over the holiday period. Play counting games such as Snakes and Ladders, Trouble, UNO and please go outside and enjoy the outdoors. We can’t wait to hear all about your child’s exciting adventures in the holidays.

Celebrations of Learning

Congratulations to the following students who have displayed safe, respectful and successful behaviour this fortnight and received class awards. We are extremely proud of these students.

Open Road Awards

  • KB - Declen D, Teejaye H, Anaseini K and Ally S
  • KJ - Kyelan E, Cub M, Emma H and Hazel K
  • KLF - Lenyx G, Poppi B, Layla J and Zhavia T
  • KDT - Ashton H, Mason M, Bryden W and Tabitha D

Merit Awards

  • KB - Kairo M, Jaxson S, Kennedy M and Isabella T
  • KJ - Hayden D, Cub M, Riley Q and Chelsea W
  • KLF - Kaidyn C, Aiyana C, Evie H and Sienna M
  • KDT - Brad M, Mia V, Maia R and Piper D
Rumbalara Incursaion

Mrs Alicia Duke

Assistant Principal Early Stage 1

Stage 1

Current Learning

Over the past few weeks, the students in Stage 1 have been learning about the following topics:

  • Researching and writing informative types of texts about lions.
  • Volume and Capacity activities in mathematics.
  • Preparing for NAIDOC week class collaborative animal artworks in creative arts.

Reminder

Please note the following reminders:

  • Year 1 Australian Reptile Park Excursion Tuesday 6 August, 2024. Please give permission through School Bytes ASAP.
  • Year 2 Taronga Zoo Excursion Wednesday 7 August, 2024. Please give permission through School Bytes ASAP.
  • Please label all clothing items and all students are required to bring a school hat with them each day.

Celebrations of Learning

Congratulations to the following students who have displayed safe, respectful and successful behaviour this fortnight and received class awards. We are extremely proud of these students.

Open Road Awards

  • 1AR - Evelyn and Mark
  • 1E - Marleigh and Levi
  • 1M - Zara and Amaliah
  • 1Y - Imogen and Zaylan
  • 1/2K - Sandra and Jace
  • 2D - Indi and Jakeb
  • 2J - Kyaisha and Sara
  • 2S - Keegan, Emilia and Rylan
  • 2/3O - Jaelee

Merit Awards

  • 1AR - Krystal and Jackson
  • 1E - Johnny and Dylan
  • 1M - Lily and Nullah
  • 1Y - Isabel and Maliyah
  • 1/2K - Kyannah and Valin
  • 2D - Cohen, Nehemiah and Piper C
  • 2J - Chloe and Avish
  • 2S - Kian and Max
  • 2/3O - Stephen

Mrs Kate Day

Assistant Principal Stage One

Stage 2

Current Learning

Over the past few weeks, the students in Stage 2 have been learning about the following topics:

  • The Year 3 students enjoyed their excursion to Blackbutt Reserve Newcastle.
  • In English students have been writing Information reports about native animals and will be recording these on podcasts early next term.
  • Each class has been preparing artwork for NAIDOC week.
  • All students have been cooking and making pizza in the SAKG.
  • In mathematics we have been exploring angles, rounding numbers, and identifying the inverse operations multiplication and division to solve problems.
  • Year 4 students have completed the TTFM survey which will provide valuable insight for future directions.

Reminders

Please note the following reminders:

  • Please read with your children over the holidays and encourage them to write about their adventures.
  • Return the signed permission slip if your child has been invited to participate in the Cool Kids program for Term 3.

Celebrations of Learning

Congratulations to the following students who have displayed safe, respectful and successful behaviour this fortnight and received class awards. We are extremely proud of these students.

Open Road Awards

  • 2/3O - Ivy G, Ayden and Samara
  • 3B - Marlee and Harrison
  • 3S - Elyse B and Ivy R
  • 3/4J - Xavier M
  • 4G - Noah H, Blake C, Noah S and Latalea N
  • 4H - Jaco R, Jackson M, Rozie D and Sophie C

Merit Awards

  • 2/3O - Ace D, Max and Rosie
  • 3B - Daisy and Mundarra
  • 3S - Isabelle R and Jeremy R
  • 3/4J - Fletcher Slee, Oliver V, Jake P and Marley D
  • 4G - Blair C, Lucas H, Maddy W and Reily C
  • 4H - Ethan D, Lailahni D, Tyler H and Taliah L

Mrs Di Jeanpierre

Assistant Principal Stage 2

Stage 3

Current Learning

Over the past few weeks, the students in Stage 3 have been learning about the following topics:

  • Information report writing about a Prime Minister on google slides.
  • Preparing a class, collaborative animal artworks ready for NAIDOC Week.
  • Preparing and cooking lemon myrtle cheesecake in LAC.
  • Democracy and voting. The students had a wonderful excursion to Canberra and were complimented on their knowledge shown when answering questions. They visited both Parliament Houses, the Electoral Education Centre, Questacon, the National Museum of Australia and experienced snow falling while at Smiggin's Holes.

Reminders

Please note the following reminders:

  • Any lost property that was brought back from the excursion will be held up in the hall when students line up.

Celebrations of Learning

Congratulations to the following students who have displayed safe, respectful and successful behaviour this fortnight and received class awards. We are extremely proud of these students.

Open Road Awards

  • 5/6G - Scarlette G
  • 5/6C - Emily K
  • 5/6P - Molly K and Jasmine S
  • 5/6F - Corey and Zane
  • 5/6M - Skylah and Alicia

Merit Awards

  • 5/6G - Phoenix O
  • 5/6C - Siobhan R
  • 5/6P - Aliyah M and Aleeyah L
  • 5/6F - Jasper and Emily
  • 5/6M - Alessandra O and Kevin

Mr Mitchell Gibbs

Stage 3 Assistant Principal

Mulgwa Cottage Gorokan SaCC (formerly Gorokan SaCC)

Parenting Ideas

Making Family Life Fun

For many of us, fun stopped becoming spontaneous and automatic around the time that we decided we had to be responsible adults. But if we want our families to be happier, we need to find ways to make family life FUN!

Here are 5 ways to make fun a habit:

1. Smile more

Imagine a child whose every interaction with their parent is met with a look of serious concentration or contemplation—they are not angry or annoyed, simply preoccupied. Now, imagine that when that same child looks at their parent, they receive warm smiles and gentle, approving eye contact. Which would have the most positive influence on the child's wellbeing?

Smiles improve relationships, and they seem to make life more fun. Let your face know you feel great. Smile!

2. Learn new things together

Most children are naturally inquisitive and deeply curious. They love to learn new things. Learning is both fun and potentially profound when we do it together. We can have fun helping our children explore a topic they are interested in; we can plant a garden, learn new sports, and do crafts.

Exploration, learning, and curiosity are fun and make families happy. It simply requires that we are willing to be creative, explore ideas, and respond to our children’s questions with enthusiasm and interest.

3. Just add treats

I don’t know of any family activity that can’t be enhanced with treats. If you are having a family meeting or a working bee in the garden, include popcorn, ice cream, brownies, or, if you don’t do processed sugars, a big bowl of strawberries or freshly chopped watermelon.

This approach is best used randomly and for fun, rather than as a bribe. Treats are fun! But they should be offered unconditionally and to everyone, rather than only on conditions being met and only to those who meet the conditions. Otherwise, it stops being fun for everyone.

4. Celebrate—whatever!

Our lives are full of reasons to celebrate, from a child’s small success to a big achievement. Celebrate in varied ways: a hug, high-five, ice cream, movie outing, special date, or a family dinner. For best results, make celebrations spontaneous and unexpected, not used as bribes.

We don’t need to make our children’s minor experiences into front-page news, but we can have fun when they do well. Do something more than nod ‘well done’ while chopping carrots for dinner. Pause. Get into the moment. Respond actively and constructively. Celebrate!

5. Five minutes of fun

If your children are demanding your attention, give it to them. We can all afford 5 minutes to become engrossed in some fun with our children. This can be unstructured play, like rolling around on the floor or dancing to a favourite tune, or it can be structured play, like a game of UNO or charades.

These micro-moments of positive engagement show that we are involved and available to our children. They teach our children that they are worthy, and they promote a sense of family cohesion and togetherness. They give us moments to be grateful for, to reflect upon, and to savour.

So today, find something to smile about. Drop your agenda and have some fun. Find something new to learn about or explore with your children. Cook treats, buy treats, or just eat treats. And find something—anything—to celebrate.

Then, do it again, maybe a little differently, tomorrow.

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