Term 3 Week 8 Newsletter 2021
From the Principal
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Eight weeks in to home schooling and between five and eight weeks to go, depending on the cohort. The good news is we are at least half way through and we can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
To help us on our way, I would like to thank our thoughtful teachers for planning a number of syllabus related welllbeing activities for the students this week. It was lovely to see the smiles on teachers' and children's faces!
COVID UPDATE WITH REVISED LEVELS
As announced by the Premier on Friday, schools in Greater Sydney are due to return to school under Level 3 Plus restrictions. When stay-at-home rules are in place but other community vaccination and transmission conditions are met, students will return to school in a staged way. This involves a staggered return for prioritised cohorts, with no mixing of cohorts, no extra-curricular activities and no non-essential visitors on site.
- Kindy and Year 1 are due to return on Monday 25 October 2021 (Term 4 Week 4).
- Year 2 and Year 6 are due to return on Monday 1 November 2021 (Term 4 Week 5).
- Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5 are due to return on Monday 8 November 2021 (Term 4 Week 6).
The organisational details in terms of how this will look at John Purchase, will be finalised over the coming weeks and months and will be communicated closer to the return dates.
KINDY 2022 ZOOM INFORMATION SESSION
We look forward to meeting our 2022 kindergarten parents for an introductory information session tomorrow evening:
6pm on Tuesday 31 August 2021
Parents who have enrolled their children into Kindergarten for 2022 should have received an email invitation to attend the Zoom session last week. If you have not received an invitation, please contact the office on 98753100 between 8.30am and 3pm, Monday to Friday or email the school at johnpurch-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
HOW DO OUR STAGE 3 TEACHERS SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLVISION?
EMPOWERING LEARNERS TODAY FOR TOMORROW
- I believe in encouraging my students to embrace that they are individuals who are cared for and acknowledged.
- Find out what my students are passionate about and use this as a driving source of inspiration to support their learning.
- Preparing students for their future by discussing what they can expect as they continue their studies into high school and university.
- To work collaboratively with their peers, to explain new strategies and ways of thinking across all areas of learning.
- Encouraging students to take ownership and to take risks in their learning and to challenge them to think and speak critically and creatively.
- Create an environment that is safe and comfortable allowing students to grow academically and socially.
- Build confidence in students in order to attempt tasks.
SPOTLIGHT ON STAGE 3
Take a look at what our students in Stage 3 have been learning at school and at home.
Learning at School
Learning at Home
Children and social media
Many 8-13 year olds have their own TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube account. While these apps have social connectivity benefits, they also come with challenges. To help parents support the young people in their life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences, the Office of the eSafety Commissioner is hosting free, live webinars. They will focus on popular apps used by young people and include case studies, research, and targeted advice. Sessions will be held on Tue 31 August at 7:30pm and Mon 6 September at 12:30pm. Parents can register online for these webinars.
WELLBEING WEEK
Last week our teachers embedded a focus on wellbeing activities that aligned with syllabus outcomes, within the learning plans. What a wonderful range of tasks students were involved in.
PUTTING SAFETY FENCES AROUND TECHNOLOGY USE
Watch the Parent TV video below to hear Jason Gibson, behavioural specialist, talk us through some areas of our kids' and teens technology use that are important to put fences (boundaries) around.
PARENTING IDEAS
Building resilience during the COVID pandemic
Promoting resilience is a crucial part of parenting. This evidenced-based approach from the team at Harvard University shows parents how to build resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope you find the article helpful and informative.
Until next week, keep safe, happy and well!
Mrs Leonie Black
From the Deputy Principal
Welcome to Week 8 of Term 3!
Here’s a quick trivia quiz to begin the week:
- What are the ‘five food groups’?
- According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, how many different serves of fruit should you eat each day?
- What are the 'building blocks' of our bodies?
- The average Australian consumes how many teaspoons of sugar per day?
- True or False? What you eat affects your mood.
Our focus on wellbeing continues this week, as we read how good nutrition can have a positive impact on the behaviour and academic performance of young people.
Has 9 weeks of ‘lockdown’ impacted your family's diet?
Usually at school, we timetable a brief, 'crunch and sip' break each day, where every student has the opportunity to consume a small quantity of fruit or vegetables and sip on some water. While learning from home, these healthy routines can still apply. I have included some useful resources about nutrition and some great snack recipe ideas from Jamie Oliver, for further inspiration.
I find it incredible to think that it’s already 12 months ago since we began the orientation process for Kindergarten 2021. I look forward to seeing lots of new parents on zoom tomorrow night, as we begin the transition to school, for Kindergarten 2022.
Our SRC representatives have again shared further insights into their lives at home, this week, and I know you will enjoy the Book Week Gallery too.
Until next week, take care of yourselves and stay safe!
Mrs Adela King
Deputy Principal
adela.king@det.nsw.edu.au
The 'Crunch and Sip' ideas we use to support parents, when children are at school, can naturally be used at home too. Additionally, here are a few minutes of inspiration from Jamie Oliver, about preparing some nutritious snacks for your children! I particularly like how Jamie presents the hommus! Enjoy!
Welcome Kindergarten 2022!
Tomorrow evening (31st August), the executive team will be hosting the first of our Kindergarten 2022 Parent Information sessions, via Zoom.
I have 'filmed' the JPPS virtual tour, available from the homepage of our school website, for your information below.
Where is Johnny Purchase? Chapter 5
It's time to welcome new Kindergarten students and their parents to JPPS! There's so much to see and learn. Our new Kindergarten students will receive a special story book about our school.
Where is Johnny Purchase? Chapter 4
Books. Books. And more books! Johnny Purchase went searching high and low for interesting books to read this week. Don't forget to check out which titles are this year's Children's Book Council of Australia award winners, in the video above!
Where is Johnny Purchase? Chapter 3
Johnny Purchase has been getting his exercise this week! What an adventure; nibbling herbs that have been growing beautifully in 3/4B's garden, climbing on the row of box trees, practising public speaking in the hall, counting Purchase Pride badges in Mrs King's office and even discovering a brush turkey, scratching about, next to the Year 3 classrooms.
Where is Johnny Purchase? Chapter 2
Can you find Johnny Purchase, our school mascot, as he explores the Year 1 picnic area, knocks on the principal's door, has a sleep outside 6C, finds a book to read from the Library, relaxes in the Library ampitheatre and gets some exercise shooting goals in the K-2 playground?
Where is Johnny Purchase? Chapter 1
Johnny Purchase escaped from Mrs King's office! Can you recognise where he visited on his adventure?
What are our SRC reps up to?
Who would’ve thought that in March 2020 we’d experience our first lockdown due to Covid-19. No one saw it coming. But in that first lockdown we began to understand what it really meant. It meant you couldn’t go outside to do your normal daily activities. It meant you couldn’t invite your friends to your house. It also meant that you’d feel isolated from the world outside.
But this time it's different. We know what we have to do and we know how to keep ourselves occupied. Recently, I have been going on walks with my dogs and bike riding on the empty streets with my dad. I also have been playing soccer with my dogs in my backyard. (By soccer, I mean my dogs stealing the ball from me and running around like crazy cheetahs attacking their prey.) Although, some parts of lockdown are fun, I still miss visiting my friends and having the freedom to go where I want to go. But it's nice to think that if we do the right thing, then we will be able to earn our freedom back and the long line of restrictions can disappear into thin air.
Sanaya D 6LW
Lockdown has taken a toll on many people. However, don’t worry, I will be telling you things that I have been doing to stay active and get over this potential mental block.
I have been using this free time to my advantage. How, you may ask? You may not be able to interact with your friends very often but I have come up with a solution. You can play sports such as: handball and many more ball games, by playing against your wall.
Even better, I can tell you what I did. I divided my free time into indoor and outdoor activities.
Outdoors, I’ve played soccer, American football, badminton, and basketball, all of which I did with my family. Indoors, I also did some gymnastics and some body weight exercises (calisthenics). I’ve practised magic tricks, hyper realistic drawings and chess. In the evenings, I like to watch short documentaries on Netflix ‘Explained’ about dogs, pandemics and healthy eating.
It might not sound fun but believe me, it is better than sitting in your room contemplating reasons of why lockdown sucks!
So, if these ideas are not good enough reasons for you to be more active, I don’t know what will. So, get out there and have some fun!
Nikola M 6LW
Hello parents, teachers and students of John Purchase
I understand that this current Covid lockdown has been extremely difficult for everyone. During this uncertain time, I’ve been ensuring that myself and my family get outside to enjoy the simple things. These include going to our local park, going on lengthy bike rides and skating. These activities have helped me to stay healthy, both mentally and physically.
I highly encourage getting outdoors, completing physical exercise and spending time with immediate family members to help us all survive this challenging time.
I really miss seeing my JPPS friends in person and can’t wait for the day that we return!
Hoping everyone stays safe and healthy.
Oliver B 6C
Hello parents, teachers and students
I hope that everyone is doing alright during this lockdown. My family and I have been stuck together for 9 weeks, trying to find creative ways to cure our endless boredom.
My mum has been gardening a lot! My sister and I named some plants, as if they are part of the family because we think that she takes care of them more than us! My dad has started baking and is trying to make loaves of bread and pizza bases, key word there…‘trying’. My sister mostly stays in her room and enjoys watching TV shows alongside her studying routine.
It was my birthday in this lockdown. I celebrated by playing birthday games and riding my bike. Together as a family, we go on long walks, watch old family videos and classic movies.
I hope everyone stays healthy and alive. I hope to see everyone next term!
Leo N 6C
Expectation of the Week
Responsibility: report cyberbullying
Congratulations to all students, demonstrating our school expectations of Respect, Responsibility and Aspire.
Purchase Pride Badges
When students receive ten Purchase Pride award cards, these should be left in Mrs King’s ‘award shelf’ in the administration corridor. The ten awards need to be bundled together and clearly labelled with the student’s name and current class. Purchase Pride cards have a tear off strip. This strip may be removed by the recipient and placed in the appropriate stage box outside Mrs King’s office, to go in the lucky dip draw for a canteen voucher. Badge recipients, whose names have already been published, will be presented with their awards when we all return to school.
Congratulations to Bradley C (KM)!
Class Awards System
JPPS has an incremental class awards system. When a student has received ten class awards, these should be left on Mrs King’s ‘award shelf’ in the administration corridor. The ten class awards need to be bundled together and clearly labelled with the student’s name, current class and award level reached:
10 Class Awards = Bronze 20 = Silver 30 = Gold 40 = Bronze Medallion
50 = Silver Medallion 60 = Gold Medallion 75 = Platinum Medallion and Principal for the Day!
A clear, snap lock bag is ideal for this purpose!
With the exception of Bronze Awards (which are published at the end of the term and presented at a Principal’s morning tea for students and parents), all awards received by 3pm on Thursday afternoons, are ‘stamped’ and published in the next school newsletter, which is usually on the following Monday. At this time, I indicate when these awards will be presented at the next Thursday afternoon assembly.
Students need to be responsible for their own awards, as replacements are not issued. Please note: During the learning from home period, teachers are issuing awards remotely and they will present these to students, when we all return to school.
Book Week Gallery 2021
Missing school? Take a 3-minute fly through tour!
Our John Purchase community is representative of many cultural backgrounds. Parents please be advised that the SBS portal provides Coronavirus information and updates translated into 60 different languages. I have shared the link below.
Week 8: Trivia Quiz Answers
1. What are the five food groups?
Vegetables and legumes/beans
Fruit
Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties
Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes/beans
Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat
2. According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, how many different serves of fruit should you eat each day? 2
3. What are the building blocks of our bodies? proteins
4. The average Australian consumes how many teaspoons of sugar per day? 20
5. True or False? What you eat affects your mood. True
Source: Australian Dietary Guidelines 2013
From the Teachers
Kindergarten 2022
Do you have a child enrolling in Kindergarten at John Purchase Public School in 2022?
With the year flying by, it is time to start thinking about Kindergarten enrolment for 2022.
If your child will be starting Kindergarten at John Purchase Public School in 2022 please go to the link below and complete the online school enrolment application.
https://enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/#/?schoolCode=4572
Dates and details regarding information evenings and transition will be provided in the coming months.
We look forward to welcoming our new students to John Purchase Public School in 2022!
Miss Claire Eiffert
Relieving Early Stage One Assistant Principal
ICAS 2021
Due to the uncertainty of the unfolding COVID situation in NSW, the ICAS exams have been postponed until Term 4 from 5 Oct – 29 Oct 2021.
Miss Brennan
ICAS Coordinator
How can I help my child stay safe online?
Young people usually don’t discuss with adults social problems they experience online, for fear they will have their access to the internet or mobile phone taken away from them. Therefore, it is recommended that each family establish a ‘Family Agreement’ for use of the Internet and mobile phones.
When negotiating a family agreement, the most important consideration is that it works for your family. Having an effective family agreement is about building a positive relationship with your child. It ensures that technology can be enjoyed in a safe and mutually acceptable manner. Young people understand that they are responsible for their behaviour online. As such, the agreement should include consequences for unsafe or unacceptable use of technology.
Discuss with your child what they think are reasonable consequences if the agreement is broken. The most effective agreements are those where mutual decisions are made in negotiation with your child. Whilst it is important to discuss all technologies with your children, the final agreement needs to be clear, simple, concise and manageable, and should be reviewed regularly.
Please click on this link for more information and ideas for parents. https://www.esafety.gov.au/
More helpful resources and information for schools, parents and carers, and students can be found on the NSW Department of Education anti-bullying website at:
https://antibullying.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/Keeping-my-child-safe-online
Mrs Leonie Cole
Learning and Support Teacher
Community Announcements
JPPS Parents are invited to a free webinar about digital wellbeing presented by Dr Kristy Goodwin on Wednesday 8 September at 8pm. Details appear in the flyer below.