The newsletter for our school community

Passfield Park School

53 Guernsey Avenue Phone: 9820 1700 Minto NSW 2566

Passfield-s.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.passfield-s.schools.nsw.edu.au

Diary Dates………. Friday, September 25 Last day, Term 3 Monday, October 12 First Day, Term 4

From the principal…… Dear parents and carers Another term in an extraordinary year has come and gone. Despite this being a difficult and ever-changing time for us all, we have had a successful and happy third term at Passfield Park School. We thank you all again for your ongoing support in keeping children home when unwell and following Department procedures. We are very hopeful things will begin to return to some sort of “normal” soon. As we are still unable to go out into the community due to COVID, teachers have come up with a variety of very creative ways to ensure our students still have opportunities to practice skills normally used during community access. The high school section of the school has begun a Café skills group each Friday. The students have been practising all sorts of skills needed to cook and serve food in a café. We are very close to holding our first real café which is very exciting. Next term, we are looking forward to welcoming Bunny our Pets as Therapy dog. Bunny will be at school with her trainer each Monday during Term 4 starting in Week 2. You have all recently received information about Bunny’s visits. The new school build is progressing on schedule. We have been choosing sensory play and exercise equipment for the playgrounds. It is a very exciting time and wonderful to see our new school taking shape!! There is an update from the Department attached to the newsletter. We wish all families a happy and safe holiday and look forward to seeing everyone back full of energy and ready to begin Term 4 Kind regards, Sandi Sutherland Relieving Principal

September 25, 2020

Valuing and respecting student and staff learning in a safe 21st century learning environment

Our charity, Passfield Park Kids Inc., was set up in 2013 to support the therapy needs of our students. The committee meet once each term. If you would like to find out more or be a part of this wonderful charity, please call Cheryl (in the office).

CLASS NEWS

Wow! What a great term in Fraser Class. All of the students have been working hard in their academic, social and independent learning. We have seen a huge improvement in the students’ abilities to complete their work experience tasks. Each week Fraser Class boys travel around to each classroom and collect recycling. Students now do this with minimal support from Michele and I. Congratulations! This term, we have also been learning about a range of topics including the history of fire fighters, staying healthy, and Earth’s resources. Please enjoy a few pictures taken over the term. Wishing you all a safe, restful break.

Holly and Michele

Fraser Class Wow time flies when you are having fun! Term 3 has been very exciting and busy for everyone in Goolagong Class. Students have had lots of fun

participating in weekly Rhythm Village music lessons with their friends in Bradman Class. In Week 9, we began running a Breakfast Café for other classes to visit. Students have been able to practice their customer service and kitchen skills in a real-life setting. During breaks, students have been participating in a range of games and activities with peers and staff including; UNO, Twister, Connect Four and Totem Tennis.

Karen and Kris B

Goolagong Class

CLASS NEWS

Bradman Class has continued our unit of work on Charlotte’s Web, focusing on the words that

Charlotte used to described Wilbur in her web. Students used this as inspiration to describe their friends in Bradman Class. All students enjoyed listening to their friends read the descriptions to them. This term, we have been fortunate enough to receive new games and equipment on the High School playgrounds. Students enjoyed learning new games including Uno, Twister and Guess Who. It is great to see our students supporting each other.

Sarah, Mandy and Kris W

In History this term, Freeman class has been learning about the history of firefighting. Students have looked at photos of firefighters from the mid 1800s through to present day. We have paid particular attention to the type of protective clothing worn and the firefighting equipment used over the last 170 years. We were fortunate to borrow firefighting uniforms, helmets and boots from a member of staff. Our students enjoyed trying on some of these items and posing for photos. We also celebrated Billy’s and Julie’s birthdays this

month! Di. B and Julie

Freeman Class Bradman Class

Pink Class had a busy and exciting Term 3. We learnt and participated in so many things such as communicating our choices using PECS, enjoyed calming and relaxing TACPAC sessions, made play doh from scratch which was super engaging and fun, arts and craft activities such as fathers’ day craft, spring craft, dot painting , My mob going to the beach book craft and aboriginal symbols craft etc. This term, we focused on healthy eating especially eating fresh fruits by making smoothies, fruit jelly, fresh orange juice throughout the term and we loved these activities. Delicious, healthy and yummy. We made a birthday card and a bouquet from the native bush flowers from the school garden for Wendy and celebrated SASS week with Nicole. We have also started using online programs such as Wushka and Mathseeds for our literacy and numeracy skills in classroom. Yay. Thank you all parents for being so supportive and cooperative . Wishing you all a safe and happy term break.

Pooja, Leanne and Nicole

CLASS NEWS

Pink Class Purple Class has had a fun and interesting Term 3. We have enjoyed learning all things Aboriginal Australia. We focused on the traditional Aboriginal way of life and compared it to how we live today, we explored some special places around Australia and looked at the traditional uses for native plants. We have been able to celebrate some different occasions including Father’s Day and SASS appreciation week. We have also been able to continue to participate in some of our favourite activities including music with Daniel and Special Olympics. Here are some photos of Purple Class enjoying the term. Have a safe and happy holiday.

Alana and Rami

Purple Class

Check out our school website www.passfield-s.schools.nsw.edu.au

CLASS NEWS

Green Class has had a very exciting term. Students have thoroughly enjoyed the introduction of a cooking program. Students are learning to read and follow a recipe, measure ingredients, display safe behaviours around the kitchen and eat together as a group. We have consolidated our learning of Aboriginal Australia through the creation of a variety of artworks. This has included creating Aboriginal symbols with sand, making an Aboriginal flag and a variety of other themed art work. We hope everyone has a fantastic break and look forward to seeing you all back for a great Term 4.

Amanda, Lucinda, Glynis, Rayeen and Nicole R

Green Class

White Class has had a great term! We have

continued to have fun in our weekly lessons with Rhythm Village, experimenting with a range of wonderful instruments. This term, White Class has been learning to play soccer each week in our Special Olympics lessons. White Class has been completing lots of fantastic Aboriginal Art including; didgeridoos, cave paintings, wreaths and rock art. Each Wednesday, White Class has participated in cooking lessons and we are developing our skills cooking, cleaning and setting up tables for meals.

Cameron and Rob

White Class

This second half of Term 3, Yellow Class students have demonstrated continued growth in their learning journey. After a lot of practise most students now confidently navigate the Wushka Readers and complete the quiz with minimal support. We are exploring the features of the book, The Gruffalo, for our book study. Students love singing the song that describes the characteristics of the Gruffalo. We have even watched the movie of the story. Working on their communication skills, Isabella and Shon are attending PECS session with Thanah, the school speech therapist. They are making excellent progress. Yellow Class is exploring numbers on the calendar and the minute numbers on the clock face and learning what these numbers mean. Money and mass are our other two focus areas. Students are enjoying creating beautiful work of art of a lyrebird using paint and different coloured cellophane. We are taking advantage of the school’s new djembe drums and making loud and soft, fast and slow music with Daniel our music therapist. Students demonstrate immense confidence and talent when singing their favourite songs into the mike for their peers. In Term 3, we have celebrated 10

th birthdays of Abbie and Isabella. Our in-class artist, Mahee made them beautiful

Frozen themed birthday cards. We wish all our families and students a safe and happy spring break. See you back in Term 4. Sukhraj and Sharon

Yellow Class

CLASS NEWS