Newsletter

What’s On

30 April 2021

Issue 5

5/5/21 School Photos

7/4/21 Mother’s Day Stall

7/4/21 Mother’s Day High Tea 10.30am—11.30am

14/4/21 School Vaccination Program

CARE

LEARN

BE SAFE

Dear Parents and Carers, Welcome to our first newsletter for Term 2. We hope during your holidays you were able to participate in activities that make you happy. We welcome two new students and their families to The Ponds School this term. Congratulations goes to Sharon Stone (former Assistant Principal at The Ponds School) on being successful in gaining an Assistant Principal position at Tallowood School. During the holidays our General Assistant’s and Ross, our valuable volunteer spent their time making the school look great! Two misting fans were installed, one it COLA 1 and one in COLA 2, our students will be able to cool off next summer. A working bee to tidy up the Sensory Garden was held during the holidays, staff and some students from The Ponds High School did a great job, weeding, trimming, sweeping and raking! We also purchased and picked up our new school bus during the break. It is a Toyota Commuter and seats eleven people, it has modifications so it can accommodate up to three students in wheelchairs. It will be getting The Ponds School logo and signage on it within the next week. It will be great to have another bus to ensure that all our students have the opportunity to be out and about in the community. Our staff completed their Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and Anaphylaxis training during our Staff Development Day on Monday 19th April.

It is great to be able to welcome our school community back into our school. The Easter Morning Tea and the ANZAC Assembly saw many parents and carers join their child/ren for these events. You are welcome to attend assemblies each Thursday morning. Our High School assembly begins at 9.10am and our Primary School assembly begins around 9.30am. It is with great sadness that I share the passing of our former School Administration Manager, Judy Welsh. Judy was an integral part of our school from the very first day of The Ponds School to the day she retired. She will be greatly missed by her family and all her friends. Judy’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 4th May. A number of staff will be attending and classes may need to be split.

Communication Protocols The Ponds School has developed protocols in regards to Communication. You will find a copy of these protocols attached to this newsletter. Please read at your convenience. These protocols illustrate the best way to communicate with staff at The Ponds School, what our roles are and our responsibilities. NAPLAN Notes Thank you to those parents/carers who have students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 that have returned the note regarding NAPLAN. If you have not already done so please return the note to school as soon as possible. Mother’s Day Stall and Mother’s Day Morning Tea On Friday 7th April, we will be holding a Mother’s Day Stall from 9am to 10.30am. Notes were sent home earlier this week. Please return the note and money by the due date. Mothers, Grandmothers and Carers are invited to our Morning Tea on Friday 7th April at 10.30am. Please RSVP to the beautiful invitation that was sent home. School Photos On Wednesday 5th May we will all be having our school photos taken. Please send students to school in their school uniforms. Immunisation and Influenza Vaccination All students have the opportunity to receive an Influenza vaccination and Students in Years 7 and 10 will be receiving their immunisations on Friday 14th May. We are looking forward to receiving all the permission notes back. Reminders: • Please send in a note when your child has been sick or absent from school upon their return • Please label your child’s belongings with their name. This makes it easier to return items to their owners • Please watch Bunji TV, it illustrates what students learn and how they are known, valued and cared for each

day at The Ponds School Thank you • For reading, signing and returning notes. • For paying for Food Technology, Community Access etc • Driving 10km within the carpark to keep everyone safe Take Care and Be Kind

Leonie Donaldson Principal

Our students having a great time washing the school bus.

Welcome to Class 9. In Class 9 we have Daniel, James, Janin, Jordan, Manwel and Paul. Our class staff are

Kerrye, Ann-Marie, Natalee and Param. This semester we have been out and about in the community getting our daily exercise while also recycling cans and bottles from

around the school. Each week we go to the return and earn in Schofields and then go to Woolworths and do our shopping for our cooking program.

The students go and collect all the ingredients required and then use the self-service checkouts to pay for the groceries. Students are developing their skills of communication

and problem solving.

We have also been very busy with community access to Nurragingy Reserve and IronBark Lake. The students really enjoying getting out into the community.

During work enterprise on a Friday the students in Class 9,squeeze their own

orange juice and then serve it to staff around the school.

This has been a great confidence builder for the students as they build their capacity to

talk to a variety of staff.

With only staff changes and Jaden joining us in Class 18 for 2021, we have been lucky enough to mostly continue our momentum from last year. Each of the boys have appreciated that consistency as they settled back into the classroom routine. A smooth Term 1 has shifted into a busy Term 2, but it has been great to see the positive response from all the students as they enjoy not only the similarities from last year, but the changes we are making this year.

Community Access is finally a more viable option for our class in 2021, and has been a focus for our group to be more active outside the school grounds. We are lucky enough to be out both Thursdays and Fridays with Greg on the school bus. Our class loves exploring The Secret Garden in Richmond (especially the giant in ground trampolines!), having lunch on UWS campus or taking cup trays (which many of our Pond’s students have helped make in the work skills room) to McDonalds in St Marys. They are comfortable on the bus and relish the opportunity to be out on the road. Community access has definitely become a favourite part of our week.

We have also enjoyed spending more of our time outside the

classroom, but within the school. Moving between environments to

care for different aspects of our school, such as pumping up the

scooter tyres, mowing our grass area, sorting out the bike shed,

packing away the balls after playtime, and of course raising the flags

each day.

As one of the more senior classes, learning to support our school

environment is our responsibility, whilst being a great opportunity

to bond with our peers and expand practical skills. Another new

favourite activity is participating in Kerry’s sport skills program.

Each of the boys seem to enjoy the circuit of activities. Testing their

balance, strength and coordination has certainly become an exciting

time of our week and another opportunity to explore new activities

and skills outside the classroom.

Anzac Day

Making Anzac Cookies in Class 6 and Class 19

Painting Anzac poppies in Class 5

YAY!

Our playground sandpit is full again after a

delivery of new sand this week!

Therapy puppy Octavious came to visit The Ponds School on Wednesday. He spent time in some of our classrooms with our students.

Thank you Nandan for bringing Octavious to visit.