A Message from the Principal
Aboriginal and Torres Strait lslander Children's Day @NPS
Students at Ngunnawal Primary School enjoyed a day of cultural learning this week to celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day with the theme ‘My dreaming, My future’.
Historically the 4th August was used to celebrate the birthdays of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families at a young age, without knowing their birthday – the Stolen Generations. Today, this date celebrates the strength and culture of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children.
To celebrate and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day this year, students at Ngunnawal Primary gathered together as a whole school for an assembly and participated in cultural activities within their classes.
Throughout the day, students listened and learned from Ngunnawal Elder Richie Allan and his daughter Shaenice. They participated in cultural activities, learnt songs in Ngunnawal language, and about traditional symbols used in storytelling. Richie is also a proud grandparent to one of the students and the school. Ngunnawal Primary School Principal, Rebecca Turner said “by listening and learning, we can build respectful relationships which we can then preserve and pass on this cultural knowledge to others”.
Community and connection is extremely important to the Ngunnawal Primary School community. Koori preschool students invited their families to share morning tea and participate in cultural craft activities, donated by Gungahlin Child and Family Centre who have a strong partnership with the school. Manager of Gungahlin Child and Family Centre, Gerard Nolan said, “Ngunnawal Primary School demonstrates amazing cultural awareness and commitment and its always a pleasure to partner with them”.
“Ngunnawal Primary is committed to developing empowering partnerships between the school and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community”. Being able to acknowledge, embrace and engage the community has positive benefits for students and families at our School”, says Early Years Engagement Partner, Nat Munoz.
Adult English Conversation Group at NPS
Do you know someone in our school community who may like to connect with other adults whilts developing English conversation skills? Let them know about the new group we are offering to our parents.
The English Conversation Group is held on Fridays. This group is for adults wanting to practise English. Young children who are not at school are able to attend.
ACT School Sport Representation
ACT School Sport offers the opportunity for students to try out for ACT representative teams. These are not our school based representative teams for gala days. Students wishing to register to try out for school sport representation at regional, state and national levels should register via the parent link here: https://schoolsportact.org.au/ You can also follow School Sport ACT on facebook. Use the menu at the top to search by sport or view the calendar of upcoming events: 2022 Sport Calendar
A message from the ACT Education Directorate: Keeping our students learning in Term 3
Every ACT public school is working hard to manage the impacts of COVID-19 and the flu in our schools to ensure minimal disruption for everyone and keep students learning.
Face-to-face learning in the classroom remains the core way students are learning this term; however, staff shortages may see them learning a little differently from time to time.
What can parents and students expect?
When schools do not have appropriate staffing levels to support students in their usual classrooms the following measures may be put in place:
- Older students may learn online in a supervised setting.
- Students may be engaged in a modified program of learning in their regular classroom with supervision from school staff.
- Students may participate in self-directed learning (supervised by other classroom teachers this may be via Google Classrooms or a pre-prepared activity).
- Students may be split into classes across the school, where children may engage in self-directed learning and/or the learning of their host class.
- Some activities may be put on hold (eg lunchtime clubs)
Where schools are no longer able to manage using the above strategies students may move to learning from home for short periods of time.
If this is the case your school will work with the Directorate ahead of time to make this decision and families will be provided with learning activities for use during this time.
Sometimes this decision will need to be made quickly. We appreciate that the short notice is difficult for families and, where we can, will ensure we give as much notice as we are able.
Non-essential events and excursions
There may also be the need to postpone/cancel planned activities and events offsite (eg camps, excursions, sporting days etc) from time to time, sometimes at short notice.
We appreciate any cancellation is disappointing and wherever possible schools will reschedule these missed opportunities.
Thank you once more to our parents, carers and staff for their ongoing support and commitment again this term.