I am always impressed by our Gawura students but there have been some extra particular moments that have come to my attention in this past fortnight. Our students are working beautifully in their classrooms and the engagement that I see happening around the school is wonderful. I spent some time in our Kindergarten class earlier this week and I was most impressed with how they answered questions and the work habits they were displaying. Engagement and excitement were in abundance. I will make my way around to visit other Gawura classrooms in the coming weeks. I’ve also been impressed with how several older students have made their way home independently after school. This is a big task and one we should not take for granted.

Sadly we had to postpone our planned Gawura cultural excursion last Wednesday March 14 due to the inclement weather. We have rebooked buses and the elders for our planned bushwalk on our new day which is Wednesday April 4. Same times will apply and we hope to see as many parents, carers, aunts and uncles present as much as possible. The new Gawura shirts were distributed last week and they look amazing. These can be worn on Gawura cultural excursions and events but are not to take the place of the regular sports shirt on a Thursday.

Thank you to the parents who have returned the Medicare details for the oral health assessment which is to take place on Monday April 9. We understand that several of you have your own family dentist and do not require this service on this occasion. If you would like your child to receive an oral health assessment there is still time to return the required form by later this week.

Finally next Tuesday March 27 we have the Charity Bounce Organisation coming in to visit Gawura along with the Firsts Basketball team for SACS. The Charity Bounce group will be demonstrating some basketball skills and drills while also talking about nutrition, resilience and following your dreams. Former Harlem Globetrotter player Tracy Williams will be presenting to our students in the school gym. It will be a wonderful afternoon involving our K-12 Gawura students.

Have a wonderful fortnight ahead.

Mr John Ralph
Head of Gawura

Art teaches children how to view their world from different perspectives. It stimulates them visually and encourages problem solving, self-expression, imagination and creativity. Art appreciation is a valuable tool for life that you can help inspire in your child.

Keep art supplies in the house
Allow your child to explore their own creativity by making an art box with colourful textas, crayons, pens and paints, plus lots of scribbling paper. This will allow them to get creative when the mood takes them. Praise them on their artworks and display them around the house.

Principles of art
Talk about shape, colour, size, line, design, tone and texture of everyday items.

Participate in art workshops
Look out for free and inexpensive art courses that your child can attend in your local community. These can be great fun for children, as they learn new creative skills in the company of their peers.

Discuss illustrations in books
When you are reading with your child, talk about the illustrations in the book. Ask your child to talk about the pictures and how they relate to the story, or how they make them feel.

Visit an art gallery
Your child will love going with you for a visit to a local art gallery. Spend time looking at the pictures and discuss the artist’s technique, colours and textures. Talk about the story the art is telling. Many cultural institutions provide tours, activities or rooms specifically designed for children.

'This article is reproduced from Learning Potential, a product of the Australian Government Department of Education and Training. For more great articles visit www.learningpotential.gov.au and download the app.’

Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) 2018

It’s open for 2018!  The individual usernames and passwords for your child/ren will be coming home in the next couple of days (many in their homework folders).  The welcome letter includes everything you need to know about logging in, entering titles and the basic rules.  There are thousands of titles to choose from and all the books we have in the JS & Gawura library from the lists are clearly labelled so you can easily identify them.

Basic requirements for completion:

• K-2 need to read 25 PRC titles and any 5 of their own choosing (30 total)
• 3-4 need to read 15 PRC titles and any 5 of their own choosing (20 total)
• 5-6 need to read 15 PRC titles and any 5 of their own choosing (20 total)

To complete the challenge students can read titles from categories above their own to challenge themselves.  K-2 can be read to but students in higher categories need to read (with help is ok) the titles themselves.

TOP TIP: Everything you read from September 1st last year can count towards this year’s challenge.  It closes on the 31st August this year.

For more information and the booklists visit the PRC website https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html

*If you attended a different school and completed the PRC there, please come and see me so I can request that your records be merged.  Otherwise this will be your first PRC year.  This is especially important if you are eligible for your gold or platinum certificates this year and if you are looking at earning your Premier’s medal.

Parent / Teacher Challenge 2018

We’ve launched this again this year too, so come on teachers and parents, grab a book and read alongside your child/ren and complete the Parent / Teacher Challenge this year.

Requirements for completion:

Read any 6 titles (in any language). Email me spaul@sacs.nsw.edu.au the titles and I’ll add you to our wall of wonderful reading role models.

“Children who know adults who read for pleasure take it for granted that reading is a valuable and worthwhile activity.”  - Csikszentmihalyi, 1991

“Books are a uniquely portable magic” – Stephen King.

Svetlana Paul
Junior School and Gawura Teacher Librarian

Uniform Reminder to parents and carers about uniform requirements

St Andrew’s Cathedral School is one of the most visible schools in NSW with students moving between buildings throughout the day, seniors visiting the Town Hall Arcade during lunch and over a thousand of our students catching public transport all over Sydney and beyond as they travel to and from school. Parents send their children to St Andrew’s because of its high standards in academic, pastoral care, co-curricular and Christian education. In turn, St Andrew’s has high expectations of students. Literature also shows that good uniform standards lead to reduced discipline problems, an increased sense of belonging and higher academic engagement and standards. It also shows pride in the school.

As we have moved to summer uniform this term, students have been reminded of our uniform standards.

Below is an outline of the topics that have been discussed:

• Hair – to be neat and tidy. Hair cuts must be conventional and unlikely to cause comment. No shaved sections, no facial hair. Girls’ hair to be completely tied back; boys’ hair to be cut above the collar and eyebrows.
• Shirts & Ties –shirts must be tucked in, top buttons done up and boys’ ties worn correctly at the neck. Shirt sleeves not to be rolled up.
• Blazers – to be worn to and from School and between buildings. (If it is very hot, I will communicate to students a variation to this rule on the day)
• Jewellery – no rings, bracelets, necklaces. Only one pair of earrings for girls - small sleepers or simple studs only. No other piercings allowed. No earrings for boys.
• Makeup – no makeup or nail polish allowed.
• Sport Uniform – students to wear SACS tracksuit/sports uniform to and from venues.
• Shoes – black leather traditional school shoes. No casual style allowed. Please see student diary for allowable styles.
• Socks – Boys must wear grey or black socks. Girls must wear white plain socks that sit above the ankle. Socklets are not allowed.
• Skirts – skirt hems should be at the knee. Skirts must not be rolled.

Please be aware that these expectations and standards remain applicable to the very last day of the school year. For those who have summer uniform requirements, please contact Mr Ralph or the Uniform Store, on 9286 9547 for a fitting time.

• Please label all new (and old) items of uniform.
• The Uniform store normal Hours of Operation are:
• Monday – Wednesday – Thursday  |  8am to 3.30pm

Wiradjuri Language Nest – Gawura and SACS parent workshop

The parent Wiradjuri workshop has started for 2018. This is an amazing opportunity to support and contribute to the revival of Indigenous languages. I am delighted to say that the program is absolutely free. The weekly workshop is on Tuesday afternoons, 3.15pm-4.15pm and is open to all Gawura/SACS parents and family members.

Please contact Mr Ralph on 0411 040 193 if you are interested in joining the group.

Term 1 - Sport

This year the K-2 students will be participating in an In-School Sport Program (with the exception of Term 4 when the Kindergarten children are swimming).

This term’s sport for Years 3-6:

• Year 5-6 Boys AFL (Queens Park)
• Year 5-6 Girls Touch Footy (Queens Park)
• Year 4 Gymnastics (Eastern Gymnastics Academy, Waterloo)
• Year 3 Auskick (Wentworth Park)

Please remember your drink bottle, school cap and tracksuit top, and ensure that all the uniform/sport equipment is clearly named.

Uniform Store

For those who still have 2018 uniform requirements please contact the Uniform Store, on 92869547 for a fitting time. Remember that students in Kindergarten to Year 6 wear the same uniform so please label all items of uniform.

Mobile phone use

Older students, who travel to and from school on public transport and have a mobile phone, need to ensure that they are switched off during the school day and kept in school bags or handed to your child’s/children’s teacher each morning.

Health Centre

Please send in a note detailing any daily medication needs. Daily medication is to be dispensed by the School Nurse at the Sick Bay. Any medication to be dispensed by the School Nurse must be given to the nurse in its original box (containing the prescription label and your child’s name).

Absences

If your child/children are absent from school, I ask that you text or call Neal or the Reception on 9286 9500 before 9am to notify us. The school requires a note from a parent or guardian explaining any absence from school.