In this issue
Diary Dates
May 6th – Mother’s Day Stall 11th – Governing Council Meeting 7pm 27th – Sports Meeting 7pm June 8th - Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday 10th – School Photos Road Crossing
Monitors Wed 6th May - Tue 12th May Jack M, Tyler G, Ethan K/Noah M Wed 13th May - Tues 19th May Indie L, Shenae S, Krishea C Wed 20th May - Tue 26th May Cobey D, Jack R, Declan G Please arrive by 8.25am |
Returning to school with new skillsOver the past few weeks, as parents, students and staff have responded to the challenges of home schooling, a great deal of new learning has occurred. Staff have become more proficient at building websites, accessing online learning resources and using video conferencing tools. The challenges which all this new learning presented to staff was responded to in a very professional and positive manner and everyone will leave this experience more skilled than before it began.
Likewise parents and students have all experienced a huge learning curve as they used a wide range of learning software and apps, to undertake online learning tasks and communicate between home and school in a time of physical isolation. As teachers and co-educators sought to maintain face to face contact with students, at home, many students and parents’ experienced video conferencing for the first time. Pictured above is Sue Belshaw one of our co-educators (SSOs), engaging in a video conference with a student to support and encourage them to undertake home learning tasks. Now with 75% of students back at school, at the end of the first week, and even more saying they will be returning on Monday, due to the decreased risk of infection rates across the state, the Education Department is now providing centrally produced online learning tasks for parents to use with children still at home. By providing links to these resources through their webpages teachers will be able to continue to give students high quality learning activities without having to individually design them. Please go to your child’s class webpage to continue to see what learning tasks are expected of them. The cooperative and supportive manner in which members of our community have operated have been rewarded by both a reduction in coronavirus cases across the state and the development of new skills in the use of online learning processes by everyone. In these extraordinary times, the support, people have shown for each other has been outstanding. Going forward we still need to maintain social distancing processes as much as possible and parents and caregivers are asked to keep dropping students off at the gate rather than entering the school yard. Good hygiene practices are being continued at school and the playgrounds are being cleaned at least once a day. Please ensure you keep your child home if they show any cold symptoms and ensure they are tested for the coronavirus. One again thank you to all those parents who have been so supportive of staff through this time. Your kind words and displays of gratitude, for all our hard work, have been much appreciated. Mark Hansen |
![]() Welcome back to Term 2!
A huge thank you to our amazing school staff who have spent so much time preparing for your children to be well educated and supported whether your children are learning at school or connecting from home. I hope you had some memorable family time during the holidays. I know that some families were very creative with their time as you can see below. A child uses a ball of wool and turned their bedroom into a spider’s web and asked their brothers and sisters to try and crawl through to the other side of the room without touching the string. They were pretending the wool was a laser beam. The old favourite using dining chairs and sheets and pegs to make a cubby complete with pillows, blankets, torch and toys. Cooking biscuits or cupcakes to share with the family. Writing a friend a letter and deliver it privately to their letterbox. Cosy movie afternoons with popcorn. Artwork done from materials found outside. Playdates via Facetime. Making humps and jumps in the front yard to ride over on a bicycle. Leaving messages and drawings with chalk on the driveway out the front of the house for all who pass by to see. Researching places to visit for next holidays. Making a Lego video clip using the iMotion or Stop Motion apps. Learning new dance moves. Opportunities to learn new and different things gives children a reason to share with family and friends via the phone or online what they have learned, therefore developing their social skills. I spent many days outside doing landscaping during the holidays and I noticed many more people out walking. Vitamin D from the sun helps our immune systems and exercise helps our body and our mind, placing us in a better position to deal with all that is happening. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/exercise-and-mood https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/physical-activity-its-important Below are some resources that may be helpful for you and your family. https://developingminds.net.au https://developingminds.net.au/blog/2020/3/19/answering-childrens-questions-aboutcoronavirus https://beconnected.esafety.gov.au/quick-reads/coronavirus https://1800respect.org.au https://www.pinterest.com.au/JeweledRose/boredom-busters-for-kids/ https://natureplaysa.org.au/ www.facebook.com/journeyingtogetherwithhope Please know parents and carers that you are doing a great job. We know you are trying to do your very best for your family during this challenging time. Keep up the good work. In times such as these it is not easy to feel brave, grateful and hopeful. Yet, please know that you are braver than you know, you can find gratitude in the small things and that there is always hope. 😊 If you are finding it all a bit of a struggle, require other resources or a just a listening ear please contact me at the school 8264 8099 at [email protected] Tracey Cooper Pastoral Care Worker |
![]() Hi, firstly, happy physical isolation days to all. Here is an update from the Ardtornish Children's Centre - realising this may change.
The Centre is currently closed. The Family Practioner Natalie Jager and I are working from our homes. We are available to work with families with young children that are in need of additional support or resources. We are also keen to know what issues families are facing during the pandemic. We are posting some resources on our Facebook page and understand how resourceful families can be. Still, these strange times present situations we may not be well prepared for. Please contact us if you need. The Kindy has reopened for term two. On Monday we were at 50% capacity and expect attendances to increase. All other services are not be operating from our site. Liberty Speech, Early Years Occupational Therapy, Relationships Australia's Family Mediation, Autism SA and CaFHS will commence on site as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. Contact them directly if you have appointments or questions about their service. Occasional Care, parenting courses and playgroups will resume when appropriate. We will notify all as soon as the situation changes. Our sincere best wishes to all from our team at the Centre, do keep safe. Regards, John Buckell Community Development Coordinator 82649828, 0409984495 or email [email protected] Learning at Home – Webinar
Parents/ Carers of children with Autism Spectrum, ADHD, ODD & Neurodiversity have been suddenly thrust into the world of supporting their child "Learning from Home." Not Planned!! AGHH But Coronavirus has changed a lot of things quickly…. including the ability of children to attend school, therapy etc. Many families and carers are finding it tough. I asked on my Facebook page how families/carers were going and 43% said they were struggling. I have been trying to work out how to best support Families /Carers & Educators ...and I think I have found a way to help. I have created a NEW Webinar & E-book for Learning at Home During Lockdown YOU MUST click below to be part of the Special "Learning at Home" Programme ✅ New Free Webinar for Parents/Carers - 11 Key Strategies for Supporting Children Learn at Home ✅ New Parents/ Carers E-book with over 79 Strategies & Tips ✅ Podcast 11 Key Strategies for Supporting Children Learn at Home And more https://elearning.suelarkey.com.au/autism-learn-at-home-during-lockdown/autism-learn-at-home-during-lockdown-success/ Click on the following link and it will take you to the current book club catalogues.
https://scholastic.com.au/book-club/virtual-catalogue-1/ Any questions or need help phone Scholastic Bookclub on 1800 021 233 Year 5/6 teacher Amie Lennon and her class have been teaching the whole school a dance routine to the dance track “Better when I’m Dancing”, children have been learning this in groups as well as in their music lessons with Mrs O’Dea. Look out for more photos next week and a video on google+ as we perfect our routine.
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