THE PULSE Newsletter

17 September 2020

Term 3 Week 10

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Well done everyone for finishing the term positively and showing grit and determination to get to the finishing line. There have been some great posts on Seesaw highlighting the excellent work that has been achieved at home during remote learning. A big thankyou to our staff for keeping our students engaged with a variety of tasks either online or work provided in the home packs. We feel like we have been cheering our students on, and we are so impressed with their perseverance and endurance to succeed and keep learning. For some, the race to

the end has been challenging, and like every race there are those who have needed gentle encouragement reminders to keep going! No doubt as parents you also feel like the marathon of remote learning has been exhausting and demanding but look at what you have achieved! I pray that you all have a well-deserved holiday ready for Term 4. We

are looking forward to welcoming back our students on Monday 5 October. As stated in my letter yesterday,

circumstances can change very quickly, and we will inform you via email throughout the holidays if the Victorian Department of Education and Training release different arrangements to this. Please note that all current COVID-19 practices remain in place. This includes our quick drop off and pick up arrangements, use of masks, sanitiser, social distancing, cleaning and temperature checks.

LATEST NEWS This week around school:

The retaining wall near the new orchard is finished and it looks amazing.

We have ordered beautiful white roses to go along the driveway garden.

The chooks are laying heaps of eggs!

We have three new Isa Brown hens.

The trees in the driveway are budding and growing leaves.

One staff member has already raised $46.55 for the Walkathon.

FACEBOOK PAGE We now two Facebook Pages – one is our current private page and the other is public and designed more as a marketing page. We will be sending out new permission forms next term to confirm your permission of using photos on these sites.

GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL Please note that due to COVID our program for our 2021 Foundation students has been postponed to Monday 19 October.

SWIMMING Unfortunately due to COVID-19, our swimming program scheduled for next term has been cancelled. I know that there have been so many events and programs that have fallen victim to COVID this year. I know many students and parents will be disappointed but please be rest assured that every decision we make is based on the best advice for the health and safety of our students and staff.

WANNON WATER We would like to acknowledge the very generous donation of funds by Wannon Water’s Ripple Effect Grant Program to support our Together We Grow fruit orchard. The funds will be used to purchase a watering system for our new fruit trees.

From Mrs Pritchard... BOARD GAMES Did you know that it is so important to play a board game with your child? Why you might ask? Here are 10 reasons why:

1. Teaches them about winning, losing, taking turns and patience. 2. Helps children learn about counting spaces. 3. Children learn to quickly identify dice and counting on. 4. Board games boost language skills. 5. They promote teamwork and the value of teamwork. 6. They are a great way to unplug and get away from a screen. 7. Develop communication and relationships. 8. They sharpen focus and attention skills. 9. They develop healthy brain development. 10. Encourage good habits like helping to pack away a game.

https://www.scholastic.com/parents/kids-activities-and-printables/activities-for-kids/arts-and-craft-ideas/benefits-board-games.html Does your family have a favourite board game? We are giving away one board game to the family who is first to correctly answer the following question: –

In what year was Scattergories first released?

SUNFLOWERS Have you planted your sunflower seeds that you received in your remote learning home bag? If not, you can get planting instructions at https://www.nudelkart.com/ssinstructions.html

Child Safety... WELLBEING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

The latest edition of Grow Ministries is available at

https://www.growministries.org.au/grow-resources/growing-faith-at-home/

It has some great resources that families can use at home.

WEEK 9—RECIPIENTS Foundation/Year 1 ☺ Charli Hawker ☺ Lexi Alexander

Year 1/2 ☺ Pippa Ruge ☺ Shylah Nagorcka

Year 3/4 ☺ Zahli Alexander ☺ Angus O’Donnell

Year 4/5/6 ☺ Nicole Chitambo ☺ Brianna Trewick

Devotion... FROM POINT A TO POINT B “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT)

In math class, you learn that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. So let’s pretend that you are at point A and I am at point B. The quickest way for you to get from A to B—to Me—is through the straight line of unwavering trust. The key is unwavering. It means trusting Me constantly, no matter what. Because when your trust wavers —when sometimes you trust Me a lot, other times only little, and other times you completely forget Me —then your straight line of trust starts to have lots of twists and turns. You can still reach Me —eventually. But you will have wasted a lot of time and gone through a lot of unnecessary trouble. When you realise that your trust has wavered, just whisper, “I trust You, Jesus.” I will draw you back onto the right path with Me. Trust Me with all your heart, and I will make your path straight. Read on your own: Isaiah 26:4; Psalm 9:10; Proverbs 3:5-6

Taken from “Jesus Calling—365 Devotions for Kids” by Sarah Young

STORY OF THE WEEK

Read or view the video at

www.lca.org.au/sow

COLOURING COMPETITION

Congratulations to all the children who participated in our

Remote Learning Colouring Competition. We received some

amazingly colourful pictures! Below are the winners.

1st—Ebony Hawker

2nd—Brianna Trewick

3rd—Ava Alexander

You will get your prizes next term.

Everybody who entered will also receive a

little surprise too!

Remote Learning St. John’s Style...