Last Friday 8 June the Junior School and Gawura School held our annual Grandparents Day. Over 30 grandparents and their grandchildren attended from Gawura. I know many grandparents travelled from afar and special mention to Djani’s grandparents who left Bathurst at 4am and Anthony’s grandparent who left Cessnock at 5am to make our Cathedral service commencing at 9.15am. It was a lovely service with several performances from our schools choir groups. I would like to acknowledge all of our grandparents even those who could not make it on the day by referencing a segment from my address which refers to the influence that you have on your grandchildren;

‘In the Acknowledgement of Country which was said earlier in this service, you would have heard the last sentence which says, ‘We would like to pay our respect to the elders, past, present and emerging’. We tell our indigenous students in Gawura that emerging refers to them. They are not elders now but one day they will be and the knowledge that you as grandparents pass down to them today will be remembered and used tomorrow and well into the future’.

On Wednesday 6 June we had over 20 parents and students from Gawura and another 20 parents and students from the Junior School attend a cultural awareness afternoon run by the indigenous Mirri Mirri group. Paul and our very own Derek (Mizpah’s dad) lead a wonderful afternoon delivering indigenous culture to everyone in attendance. It was both interactive and educational and showed the connection with the land. Several people were selected to play the didgeridoo and others were selected to participate in traditional dance. The afternoon was a wonderful success and we look forward to further interaction with the Mirri Mirri group in the future.

We have had a report of head lice from one of our parents. I’d just like to remind everyone that if a child is suspected of having head lice here at school our school nurse will do a thorough check and if it is confirmed that the child does have head lice then the school will ring and ask you to collect your child immediately and treat the head lice appropriately at home.

Finally on Tuesday 26 June I would like to invite everyone to attend our annual NAIDOC Week Assembly. This year’s theme is ‘Because of Her We Can’.  It will start in the Cathedral at 9.15am followed by morning tea in the Heath Centre on Level 5 from 10.15am where students will be presented with NAIDOC Week certificates. We look forward to seeing you all on this special annual occasion. Please see below for further details.

May everyone have a safe and wonderful fortnight ahead.

Mr John Ralph
Head of Gawura

Want more photos?

For more pictures of Grandparents Day or the Mirri Mirri Cultural Awareness Session please visit the Gawura Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gawura.sacs/

Gawura invites all parents, carers and friends to
attend the 2018 Gawura NAIDOC Assembly

Tuesday June 26, 9.15am
at St Andrew’s Cathedral
followed by...

Morning Tea at 10.15am
in the Heath Centre at
St Andrew’s Cathedral School

The ceremony will include student performances and guest speaker Sharon Minniecon

Please RSVP by June 19
via email to kswibel@sacs.nsw.edu.au or jralph@sacs.nsw.edu.au
or by text to Neal Flatley on 0439 653 334

Junior School & Gawura library gets new furniture

We have new lounges and ottomans for students to read and relax on!  The proved very popular when they were delivered during stage 2 lunch.  Thank you to all the helpers who helped give them a great new home.

Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) 2018

Congratulations to the following students who have completed their challenge:

Damian Briffa, Prince Tashi, Lovelyn Nakashima, Archibald Miles, Amelia Pensabene, Rama Chadda-Harmer, Alexandra Lazaridis, Valentin Damour, Edgar Eidel and Peter Joseph.

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.

Finished the PRC for 2018?

Well don’t stop reading! The JS & Gawura library has a new challenge for you.  Pick up an entry form, read any ten books, complete the entry form and return it to Mrs Paul for your chance to win a book of your choice.  There’s 2 draws this term and you can enter as many times as you’d like.

So, the more you read the more chances you have of winning! What are you waiting for?

The first draw has happened.  Congratulations to Ilia Campbell who was our first winner.  Our next draw will happen in week 9, so keep your entries coming in.

"You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.” – Paul Sweeney

Svetlana Paul
Junior School and Gawura Teacher Librarian

Some children may like to keep a diary or journal. If you encourage your child to spend some time writing their thoughts down in a diary, you are helping them learn the following skills:

Memory and social skills
If your child chooses to write about the events of their day, they will be strengthening their memory as well as developing their own sense of belonging and control. Your child’s diary will help them get to know themselves better.

Planning
By writing in their diary, your child might be thinking about upcoming events and planning for the future.

An outlet for emotions
A diary can be a good way for your child to let out their emotions. By writing their thoughts down, your child can communicate a range of feelings such as anger, excitement and happiness.

Solve problems and resolve issues
By writing their thoughts in a diary, your child may be working problems out and resolving issues through seeing them in black and white.

Should you read your child’s diary?
Talk to your child about their diary and see how they feel about sharing it with you. Do not push the issue if your child would prefer to keep it private. You can still be part of the diary writing process by encouraging your child to write in it regularly.

Type of diary
You can buy your child a diary from a stationery shop or you can easily make a personalised one by covering an exercise book with colourful wrapping paper.

'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.’

Head lice infestations are a common occurrence, particularly in primary schools

The facts

• about 23% of primary students have head lice at any one time
• anyone can catch head lice regardless of their age, sex, or how clean their hair is
• head lice move from one person’s head to another via hair
• head lice do not survive long when they are off a human head
• head lice do not live on furniture, hats, bedding or carpet
• head lice have built up some resistance to head lice treatments

Treatment

Daily combing of white hair conditioner using a fine tooth comb is effective in getting rid of head lice and eggs (nits)

Tips for parents in reducing the spread of head lice

As infestations are particularly common in primary schools, it is best to choose a treatment that can be used over time. There is no single solution to eradication, only persistence.

• regularly check your children’s hair
• teach older children to check their own hair
• tie back and braid long hair
• keep a fine tooth head lice comb in the bathroom and encourage all family members to use it when they wash their hair.
• Where one student has head lice this serves as a warning light that there is likely to be an infestation in either specific classes or across the whole school population, including staff. The school will contact parents when infestations of head lice occur and request that parents examine their child’s hair and undertake treatment where eggs or lice are identified

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/headlice/Pages/treatment.aspx

Winter uniform requirements for Term 2

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.

Winter uniform is to be worn from the beginning of Term 2, 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 winter 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 2 is an exciting term for sport!

We’ll see our annual Junior School and Gawura Cross Country Carnival being held at Queens Park on Monday 7 May. It’s an exciting opportunity for Year 3-6 students to represent their house with the challenge of the cross country.

Year 1-2 will be doing gymnastics at the Eastern Gymnastics Academy for Thursday sport, where they’ll explore fundamental movement skills in a safe and structured environment. Winter sport opportunities have arrived, with soccer, netball and rugby all becoming available for Year 3-6 students!

Tony Dunseath
PDHPE Teacher

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 on 0439 653 334 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.