Cromehurst News Term 1 Week 9

DEC-NSW

22 Mar—Harmony Day

29 Mar—Golf Day

29 Mar—Purple Day

2 Apr—Easter Egg Hunt &

Picnic

4 Apr—School Vaccinations

7 Apr—Last Day Term 1

26 Apr—First Day Term 2

17 May—Post School Expo,

Chatswood Concourse

30 Jun—Last Day Term 2

Inside this issue:

Yellow Class 1

Principal’s Message 2

Rainbow Class 3

Taronga Zoo Excursion 4-5

Awards 6

General News 7-8

Foundation News 9

Notes 10

Purple Class 20 MARCH 2017

Purple class have started the year off getting to know each other, their peers and their school. Ashton and Aliya have been using sign and communication devices (switch/iPad) to greet their peers at morning circle and at group times. They have also been using their eye gaze and PECs visuals to request activities and food preferences during group times. This term, Purple class have been working through the letters of the alphabet through songs, craft and hands-on literacy experiences. They have also explored numeracy topics including what is 0, counting 0-5 and writing their numerals.

Our theme for the term has been Australia. In class, Purple have explored what our country looks like (oceans, bush, deserts), who lives in Australia, Indigenous culture including stories and artwork and animals we find in Australia. The excursion to Taronga Zoo was a highlight of the term and Ashton and Aliya were able to get up close and touch many different native animals.

Purple class has also been joining with Rainbow class for various lessons with their program. Fine motor, yoga and relaxation, numeracy groups, sensory stories and music are just some of the key learning areas for which the two classes have combined. These lessons allow for different groupings and socialisation experiences for students within both classes.

Purple Class

PAGE 2

Principal’s Message

Welcome to week nine

Last week our primary students participated in a very successful excursion to Taronga Zoo. Whilst the weather here at Lindfield was very wet at the time they left the weather behaved itself for the duration of the excursion. The students were able to see a range of animals and engage in interactive lessons presented by the education staff at the zoo. Although exhausted upon their return to school the students had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. There is a photo gallery later in this newsletter which reflects what a great time everyone had at the Zoo.

This Wednesday, 22 March, we will be celebrating Harmony Day to coincide with our weekly school assembly. Harmony Day is held each year to celebrate Australia's cultural diversity, inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all Australians, from the traditional owners of the land to those who have come from many countries around the world. The ongoing theme of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs' which is especially relevant for our school. The colour of Harmony Day is orange and we are asking parents to dress their children in as much orange as possible this Wednesday, photos of the day will appear in next week’s newsletter.

I have had some enquiries from families around one of the line items in their child’s NDIS package. There is a figure next to transport to school and this has caused some confusion for families and transport contractors. I have sought clarification about this and been informed it is a notation that the student requires transport to and from school and the amount

listed is not able to be claimed against and will go directly to the Assisted Travel unit. The amounts appear to be similar or the same regardless of the type of vehicle or distance travelled. The NDIS fact sheet confirms this with the following statement “The NDIS transition will not affect to the way schools interact with the Assisted School Travel Program (ASTP). NDIS Planners will record the provision of transport to and from school by ASTP in NDIS participant's plans. Students who are also NDIS participants will continue to receive transport from the ASTP”. The fact sheet will be emailed out with this newsletter.

The last day of the school year for students is Friday, 15 December. The Department of Education and Communities requires that staff be engaged in professional learning and planning activities for the remaining two days of the term which this year is Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 December. As in previous years our staff have elected to attend professional learning on two Saturdays in lieu of 18 and 19 December. A notice with more information is included in this newsletter and as a separate attachment to the newsletter email.

Finally don’t forget our annual fundraising Golf Day and Golf Dinner on 29 March. There is now less than two weeks until the event and if you wish to participate in the Golf day and/or attend the dinner please go to the link https://tickets.lup.com.au/cromehurst-charity-golf-day to purchase tickets or sponsor a golf team. If you would like to participate in the silent auction but are unable to attend the dinner you may do so by registering at www.galabid.com/cromehurst. Donations for our

hampers for the raffle or individual items for auction or raffle can be sent directly to the school. Please ensure the item is clearly labeled for donation for Golf day with your name so we can acknowledge receipt of the item along with the committee's gratitude for your generosity.

Christine

Rainbow Class PAGE 3

Rainbow class have had a fantastic start to the year and are very engaged in their busy program! As part of this they enjoy working closely with Purple Class. In particular, they are working hard on communication skills, counting concepts, pre-reading skills such as phonics and learning sight words. They have enjoyed exploring facts about Australian animals in HSIE and artistically constructing them. They have also been learning to identify and state the names of Australian animals and of course choosing, reading and singing Australian stories and songs!

Here are some photos from our Zoo excursion with our parent volunteer Catherine - thank you for your support on the day. We have also included some photos from our “Going on a bushwalk” Australian sensory story sessions with Purple Class.

Adam, Henry, Sophia, Tara, Sarah and Liz

Taronga Zoo Excursion PAGE 4

Last Tuesday 14 March, the Primary students visited Taronga Zoo. We were incredibly lucky that the rain held off while we explored the Australian section of the zoo. We visited the “Backyard to Bush” exhibit, had a lesson with the zoo teachers and met some Australian animals and reptiles up close.

It was very exciting to see all the Australian animals that we have been learning about in class. These included sleepy koalas, strong kangaroos, a playful swimming platypus, a curious emu that walked right up to us and a baby possum that we were able to pat.

The photos show how much we enjoyed the day. Thank you to all the volunteers, staff and bus drivers who made our excursion possible.

Taronga Zoo Excursion (continued) PAGE 5

Name Class Awarded For:

Tara Rainbow Making safe choices with her arm on the playground

Conor White Walking safely with the group at the zoo

Ashlee Blue Being safe in the pool by reaching to hold the edge

Eddy Yellow Staying with the group at the swimming carnival

Lex Red Following instructions in swimming this week

Noah Orange Being calm and sitting with the group

Edward Green Making good choices and trying his best at the

swimming carnival

Zac Aqua Wearing his hat on the playground

Scott Pink Shopping with full independence

Shertam Music Fantastic singing during Music

Sam Art Sensational application to his work during Art

James Principal’s

Award Excellent participation at the zoo

Term 1 Week 8

Assembly Awards

CROMEHURST SCHOOL

13—17 Mar 2017

Positive Behaviour Engaging Learners

To create a consistent whole school approach for safe and effective learning.

This week our students of the week are:

Conor—Be Safe Bennie—Learn Together

PAGE 6

General News PAGE 7

Mother’s Day Hamper

Our Cromehurst School fundraiser for Term 2 this year will be a Mother’s Day Hamper.

If you have any quality items that you would like to contribute to the hamper please send them in with your child.

Look out for raffle tickets for the hamper—they will be coming home in Week 11 (ie the last week of this term).

General News (continued) PAGE 8

Introducing: Sign of the week

The Phase 1 sign book was sent home last week. This is to assist families/carers

in learning signs, and practising these with your child. Thank you if you have

returned the note regarding sign workshops, we will be running a workshop early

next term – time and date to be advised. While we routinely use numerous key

signs throughout the school week, we will be focussing on a sign a week, which

will be published in the newsletter and shown to the students each week in

assembly, as well as practised in class.

The Sign of the week is:

Help

With one hand flat, palm upwards, hold

other hand bent so palms face each other

and fingertips rest on the palm of first

hand. Together, move hands forward in

front of stomach.

Thanks!

A big thank you to the Dads from Cammeray Public School who kindly volunteered their time on a very hot Saturday in February to come and level and turf around the newly installed bike track on Kochia playground. Kieren and Nathan, two of the Dads, visited again today to see the progress of the lawn and to be presented with certificates of appreciation.

Foundation News PAGE 9

Golf Day

HURRY HURRY HURRY—last days to purchase tickets to this year’s golf day—bookings close on Wednesday, 22 March—buy now or miss out! Go to https://tickets.lup.com.au/cromehurst-charity-golf-day. Loads of exciting new things, hampers, jewellery and wish list items for the school are now up on Galabid - get in early - bid early, bid often! Go to www.galabid.com/cromehurst. Raffle tickets - if you need more books please let us know and remember all raffle tickets to be returned (sold and unsold) by next Monday, 27 March please! 22nd Annual Cromehurst Charity Golf Day 2017 M. Karen Hickmott +61 413 807 413 T. Cromehurst School +612 9416 9281 E. cromehurstgolf@gmail.com

Notes PAGE 10