Dear families,

We wish our families moving on from Ngunnawal Primary School all the best with their new schools. We especially acknowledge those of you who have been apart of our school community from preschool and now have children transitioning to high school settings. We hope all of you have a restful break and look forward to reconnecting with everyone returning to NPS next year. 

Here is a snapshot of some of the great things we were able to do throughout the year.

Thank You Volunteers!

It has been a difficult year for volunteers to be involved in the school and we look forward to opening the doors in the future. A big thank you to Sarah, Bruce, Chantel, Rochelle, Steven C, Gabriella, Stephen T, Karen and Nadean who have represented our community in positions on our P and C and School Board in 2021. You all do an amazing job and are brilliant to work with. 

Reports 2021

On Friday last week all families should have received end of semester reports for 2021. We congratulate all students for their many achievements despite the challenges of 2021. If you have not received these please check your junk folder and then contact the front office. 

Classes 2022

Yesterday every student received a note with a photo of their new teacher for 2022 and classroom location. We have an amazing team ready for a fantastic year of learning in 2022. 

Yarning Circle

Over the past few weekends the construction of the Yarning Circle was completed. Our students have been making use of the space during break times. We look forward to sharing this space with our community in 2022. 

Return Dates 2022

Beginning of Week Preschool - Monday 31 January

Kindergarten - Monday 31 January

Year 1 to 6 - Tuesday 1 February

End of Week Preschool - Thursday 3 February

What will school look like in 2022?

The return of on campus learning this year included a range of COVID safe measures undertaken in schools, including:

• Limiting on-site visitors to essential visitors only and continuing our current policy of mandatory use of the Check In Canberra app for all adults
• Cohorting of classes or year groups to minimise the impact of any COVID positive cases on whole school communities and assist contact tracing efforts
• Improved ventilation measures including the provision of Indoor Air Quality Plans for all public schools
• Mandatory vaccination for all staff working in education settings where there are students under 12 years of age
• Other practical measures including students being encouraged to remain seated during class, staggering the use of common social spaces including playgrounds, canteens and school libraries and using outdoor learning spaces where possible
• Wearing of masks in indoor spaces for people 12 years and over

All of these measures will remain in place for the beginning of 2022. This means we will be adjusting our Day 1 procedures.

K-2 Pencil Cases

Due to COVID-19 restrictions we are asking all families to add a pencil case to the book pack so we can minimise the sharing of resources in the early years next year. Pencil cases have been included in year 3 to 6 book packs. 

Day 1 Preschool and Kindergarten Staggered Starts

Families will be given a time for arrival between 8.45am and 10 am with a small number of other families at the same time. Teachers will meet students and parents outside. Parents will say goodbyes outside, and teachers will take the children in to settle them. There will be additional staff in the classrooms to support children.  If your child is having difficulty separating our staff will support you and some parents may need to stay a bit longer to settle their children.

Year 1 to Year 6

We would like to continue the great work our families are doing at present with saying goodbyes outside of the gates. When students arrive they should go to the designated area below and remain in this area. This allows us to maintain our cohorting. If your child is having difficulty separating our staff will support you and some parents may need to stay a bit longer to settle their children.

For new students and families, we will have friendly staff available at the front office to take you to classes.

All K-6 families will have the opportunity to have virtual check ins with teachers in week 4 in place of our Get to Know You Chats. 

Regular Pick Up and Drop Off

Kindergarten

Teachers will bring Kindergarten classes to the front of the school at 2:50pm. We ask that parents on foot wait on the grass area next to the preschool building and your child will be sent to you or assisted to the car in the pickup zone. 

Preschool – Wanganeen Ave

We encourage our families to use the Wanganeen Avenue entrance to avoid walking through our K-6 students at the front of the school.

Preschool Drop Off

A staff member will be at the gates from 8.45am to 9.45am to enable you to stagger your arrival. We ask that one adult brings your child to the gate. Educators will meet children at the gate and take them to the playground where other Educators will provide supervision. Say your goodbyes before the children enter through the gate. We know some children will struggle with transitioning back to school, our friendly staff will support you if needed. Please remember to social distance and wear a mask at the gate

Preschool Pick Up

Please use the Wanganeen Avenue entrance to avoid walking through K-6 students in front of the admin building. In the afternoon we are asking for our adults to wait outside the gate remembering to social distance. When a staff member identifies you at the gate your child’s teacher will send your child out to you. Please leave the area immediately.

Classes will move to the playground near the gate to enable families to stagger their arrival.

Staff will continue to provide supervision if families can’t make the earlier than usual pickup time. All children should be collected at 3pm if not before as usual.

New Families in K-6 2022

We will be offering new families an opportunity to view the school and meet teachers on Tuesday 25 January at 2pm. Please rsvp to info@ngunnawalps.act.edu.au.

Get to Know You Chats for Preschool Families 2022

Below you will find the link to booking a 15-minute chat with your child's preschool teacher. The chats are scheduled for January, the week prior to students starting preschool.

Beginning of week classes will be scheduled on 25 January and end of week classes on 27 January. Preschoolers are welcome to come along with you to see their classrooms and meet their teacher.

Please refer to the information pack for your child’s class name and teacher. Information packs were posted at the end of last week. Contact the school next week if you still haven’t received yours.

https://ngunnawalps.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/12

In person meetings will have the following COVID safety requirements:

• facemasks
• social distancing
• hygiene practises upon arrival
• Check-in CBR app sign in
• Please reschedule if you or a family member are unwell

Virtual meetings will also be accommodated if this suites your family’s needs. Please book a time and contact the school if you would like your meeting to be virtual.

Families will receive an email with an updated version of these procedures at the end of January. 

Rebecca Turner

Principal

LSUEB

We came back in week 4 ready to learn, and we haven’t stopped since! We have worked really hard on establishing and following our learning routines and this has supported our engagement in learning.

Our highlights this term include our HASS learning, exploring and writing about our favourite celebrations and learning about new ones. We even learnt about Chinese New Year and Holi, sharing our personal experiences of different celebrations with each other.

We have enjoyed our design challenges, beginning with designing a haunted house, and then exploring animals and their habitats.  We researched interesting facts about animals and used this information to create our own unique creatures and home for them. We used the design process of researching, planning and making. We also  discussed changes we could make to our designs to improve them.

LSUSG

Everybody was very happy to return to face to face learning this term after a long period of remote learning.

In literacy students worked on comprehension and understanding the text. This has been done through asking questions, group and individual discussions and reflections about books we have read. Students have been working on increasing their reading stamina through independent reading time. Students spend time either reading to themselves or to one of the educators in the class. Everyone enjoys engaging in stories being read to them, this is an activity we do every day.

In maths students have developed their understanding of place value and the value of tens and ones in two-digit numbers. They have also focused on numeral sequencing, addition and subtraction.

As a class we have been working on our design challenge. The students have really enjoyed creating houses and robots with various construction equipment. This has been a fun activity that requires the students to work as part of a team and practise their sharing and negotiation skills.

LSUMA

It was lovely to see the students return to school eager to be back after remote learning. Everybody was excited to see their peers and get back into learning routines.

During our literacy sessions, students worked on the reading strategies of predicting, questioning, and clarifying texts. Learning experiences ranged from modelling the strategies, group work, individual tasks, and one on one instruction.

During our maths sessions students have been enjoying engaging in authentic number skill development through explicit teaching and maths games. For our maths strand this term students had a lot of fun learning about coordinates and creating maps of treasure islands. Some lucky students even got a principal’s award.

A high point for our students this term was participating in the Ngunnawal School Design Challenge. Students created beautiful dioramas based on their favourite books and characters using the design process of researching, planning, and making. Students also had the wonderful opportunity to participate in art classes with our Deputy Principal Arianna. Students produced outstanding works of art during these lessons.

Respectful

Responsible Learner

Samaira S	Taskeen S	Jessica T	Alex N
Richard M	Trishaan S	Thomas P

Safe

Anaya J	Liam D	Amelia H
Lola DS	Ben W	Vivieen G
Isabella R

Responsible Learner

Oliver M	Indiana G	Ava O	Muzna S
Gaveleen K	Abbey B	Jonah H	Koby W
Lillian B	Nehara M	Cameron S

Respectful

Ezana A	Ayva B	Tenzin D	Alexander H
Jessie L	Odon B	Ekam D	Leila S
Charlotte D	Kayleigh L	Claudia W	Aiden G

Safe

Logan B	Alen S	Felix S	Joel S
Jason P	Jack O	Evie G	Yvette G

Respectful

Kirubel H	Gabriel R	Sierra B	Taskeen S
Aanya J	Mason I	Logan H	Lucas S
Sebastian O	Millie O	Jaime H	Xander M
Elodie S	Lucas S	Cooper T

Responsible Learner

Sierra B	Araiz A	Felix AR	Zoe B
Quentin EP	Mia E	Sebastian F	Heidi G
Fadi G	Makayla S	Lucas S	Shreya H

Safe

Sierra B	Prisma B	Ahmed G	Nehara M
Thomas P	Elodie S	Maia V	Maaka W

School Board Parent Vacancies

Appointments commence 1^st April 2022

There is one position available.

Nominations open:

7^th February 2022 to 21^st of February 2022

Please complete the attached nomination form

Any concerns please contact Trina Clyde

Trina.clyde@ed.act.edu.au

School Board P&C association member Vacancies

Appointments commence 1^st April 2022

There is one position available.

Nominations open:

7^th February 2022 to 21^st of February 2022

Please complete the attached nomination form

Any concerns please contact Trina Clyde

Trina.clyde@ed.act.edu.au

If your student has or requires medication at school, please contact the front office to arrange a time to drop off new medications and or pick up expired medications.

If your student, no longer requires medication at school please notify the office and or organise to collect medication.

Attached are the medical forms required for 2022.

All students must return:

• Medical Information and Consent Form

Students with a known medical condition which does not require medication must return:

• Medical Information and Consent Form
• Known Medical Condition Response Plan

Students with a known medical condition not listed below who require medication must return:

• Medical Information and Consent Form
• Known Medical Condition Response Plan
• Medication Authorisation and Administration Record

Students with Asthma must return:

• Medical Information and Consent Form
• Known Medical Condition Response Plan
• Asthma Management Plan downloaded from National Asthma Organisaton Website
• Medication Authorisation and Administration Record

Students with Anaphylaxis must return:

• Medical Information and Consent Form
• Known Medical Condition Response Plan
• Anaphylaxis Management Plan downloaded from Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Website
• Medication Authorisation and Administration Record

Students with Diabetes must return:

• Medical Information and Consent Form
• Known Medical Condition Response Plan
• Diabetes Management Plan downloaded from Diabetes Victoria Website (click on “How we help” and “Schools and early childhood settings”)
• Medication Authorisation and Administration Record

Students with Epilepsy must return:

• Medical Information and Consent Form
• Known Medical Condition Response Plan
• Epilepsy Management Plan downloaded from Epilepsy Action Australia Website (Register and call 1300374537 for free access)
• Medication Authorisation and Administration Record
• Medication_authorisation_and_administration_record.pdf

  Medication_authorisation_and_administration_record _pdf 549.07 KB

• Known_medical_condition_response_plan.pdf

  Known_medical_condition_response_plan _pdf 312.31 KB

  Medication_authorisation_and_administration_record.pdf

  Medication_authorisation_and_administration_record _pdf 549.07 KB

Applying for ABSTUDY – a message for parents of children finishing year 6

Please share this message with parents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who are finishing year 6. These students are eligible for ABSTUDY from the start of secondary school. Their parents and guardians should claim ABSTUDY now as it may help with the cost of school materials, school fees, boarding fees and travel.

ABSTUDY is a group of payments that can help students from secondary school through to tertiary studies. There are ABSTUDY payments for parents whose children live at home as well as away from home. The ABSTUDY Resources eKit can help families work out what payments they’re eligible for. For more information, visit ABSTUDY – Secondary and primary students ­– Services Australia.

Contact Amani Vassiliou on STUDENT.COMMUNICATION@servicesaustralia.gov.au.