Each year we commemorate two significant events in our calendar. Last Friday was National Sorry Day and this week is National Reconciliation Week.

On Thursday 24 May the whole JSGS met together on the roof to talk about National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2018. We started with an Acknowledgement of Country by Year 5 student Aliyah and then several prayers were read about reconciliation and unity by Year 4 student Joylara. All students in both Junior School and Gawura School then joined with their buddy classes and completed an activity based on reconciliation.
K-2 focused on an art activity titled ‘Together We Can Make a Difference’ using everyone’s hand prints around the theme of Sorry. Stage 2 students focused on the activity titled ‘We Walk Together’ where individual footprints were created but placed together walking in unity. Stage 3 students were given a piece of an artwork and created their own design on it but then worked as a group by putting all 20 pieces of the puzzle together to come up with a large completed piece of artwork that demonstrated unity by bringing it altogether.This year’s theme is ‘Don’t Keep History a Mystery’ and Reconciliation Australia invites all Australians to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, to share that knowledge and help us grow as a nation.

On Friday 18 May both JSGS students participated in the annual Disco for Charity which was led by the Senior School Leaders in Years 11 and 12. The theme was Superheroes and all monies raised were sent to the TEAR Foundation. Our students dressed up very appropriately in their superhero costumes and looked amazing.

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.

A special thank you to our school librarian Mrs Paul who helped our Stage 3 students construct a research booklet on three significant indigenous people. Burnum Burnum, Bennelong and Joyce Clague. This was done during the Indigenous perspectives lessons which Mrs Paul runs as a class research activity each week. Gawura Stage 3 students have shared these with the rest of the Stage 3 students in the Junior School.

Finally on Wednesday 6 June I would like to invite everyone to attend our very first cultural awareness training/meeting which will be run by the indigenous Mirri Mirri group. They will guide everyone attending through traditional dance, music and spirituality within indigenous culture. It will be both interactive and educational and show the connection with the land. This is an invitation to all Gawura and Junior School parents who are interested and would like to attend. 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 the School Disco or Reconciliation Day Activities please visit the Gawura Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gawura.sacs/

Your invitation to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture

Dear Junior School and Gawura parents and carers,

You’re invited to an experience not to be missed - our inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Awareness session conducted by Mirri Mirri in the Heath Centre of St Andrew’s Cathedral School. The session will be conveniently run after school, on Wednesday June 6, from 3.15 to 4.45pm on Level 5.

Mirri Mirri is an Aboriginal owned company helping all Australians improve their understanding and awareness of our Indigenous cultures. They will guide us through traditional dance, music and spirituality, within Indigenous culture. The session will be both interactive and educational and show the connection with aboriginal people and land.

Lendlease, our new corporate partner, is providing funding for this initiative so the session will be free for you and the family. While parents can attend individually, we highly recommend you bring along your children so you can learn and enjoy the experience together.

Please RSVP either online via trybooking www.trybooking.com/UHNZ or by texting Neil on 0439 653 334 and you will have the opportunity to win a free family pass to Taronga Zoo!

Please RSVP by text to Neil on 0439 653 334 or Mr Ralph at jralph@sacs.nsw.edu.au by Friday 8 June.

As mentioned earlier, a special thank you to our school librarian Mrs Paul who helped our Stage 3 students construct a research booklet on three significant indigenous people. Burnum Burnum, Bennelong and Joyce Clague. 

Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) 2018

Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) 2018Congratulations to the following students who have completed their challenge:

Allan Perkins, Matthieu Bonpain, Adele Wong, Alexander Goddard, Anna Kotsiou, Charles Squire, Blake Harvey, James Cuthbert, Matthew Ting, Claudia Wyatt and Erin Winsbury.

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 requestspaul@sacs.nsw.edu.au 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 six 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.

Book draw - Finished the PRC for 2018? Well don’t stop reading!

The Junior School and 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 are two 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 will happen in Week 5 of this term.

"You can’t buy happiness but you can buy books and that’s kind of the same thing”

Svetlana Paul
Junior School and Gawura Teacher Librarian

When you prepare food together, your child learns many things, such as how to measure, how to work with ingredients, and how cooking changes one form into another. It also teaches them about contributing to an everyday activity—making food.

Maths
Ask your child to help measure out various ingredients. It will give them a practical understanding of numbers and measurement. For example, show them the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon and compare sizes.

Fine motor skills
Give your child some cooking processes to perform such as sifting to improve their fine motor skills. If you’ve got bigger children helping, you could ask them to cut fruit or vegetables.

Healthy food
Discuss the importance of healthy food choices with your child—you can talk about healthy options. Talk about the process the food has gone through from paddock to plate. It may also make them more willing to explore new foods.

Science
Talk your child through the cooking process, such as why the butter is melting and how the water in the pot boils. These are early science concepts in everyday settings.

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.