120-126 Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

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Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

Hezlett Happenings ~ 3 April 2020

First Week of Remote Learning It has been a challenging week for almost everybody. Our students have largely been learning from home, our teachers have been connecting via technological solutions and our parents are juggling the demands of normal life with the added responsibility of facilitating remote learning for their children. After one week, I have been most impressed with the resolve of all to unite and work collaboratively for the common good. I see examples each day of students, staff members and parents rising to the challenge. Whether it is a teacher experimenting with a previously foreign form of technology, an administrative team member supporting a parent with an enquiry, a student asking an insightful question on their Google Classroom or a parent posting an image of their child/ren online deeply engaged with learning, it has certainly been encouraging to see these positive insights. Of course, this week has been our first attempt at facilitating remote learning and just as we encourage a growth mindset in our students, we try to model it ourselves. To that end, we know that we don’t get things ‘perfect’ on our first attempt and we would love to hear your feedback. It is unknown how long health authorities will request that students learn from home but we believe it is best to continue to reflect and refine. Whether you have found our approach to be outstanding, satisfactory or unsuitable, I would encourage all parents to complete this survey now. Changes cannot be made in time for next week but we can certainly consider making amendments in Term 2, as appropriate.

TO DO NOW – Complete survey USEFUL LINKS – Learning from Home webpage with Remote Learning Plans. Week 2 Remote Learning Plans will be uploaded over the weekend. Department of Education Poster The Department of Education has supplied a poster, attached to the back of this newsletter, summarising health protocols on their sites. Department of Education Vacation Care Survey As we move toward the Term 1 vacation period the Department’s Before and After School Care (BASC) team has committed to collecting and collating vital information regarding vacation care. To support this process, we are asking that all families who require care for their children complete a survey regarding care arrangements for the upcoming holiday period. The Department is working with vacation care providers to ensure that the needs of all families are met during the Term 1 holiday period. Please complete the online survey to confirm your child/children’s care requirements, which can be found here. Please complete the survey as soon as possible.

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

120-126 Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

https://northkellyville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

Support is Available Our school counsellor, Shayne McIntyre, has provided a comprehensive document of support services for families which might of be interest during these difficult times. Please see the list of support available at the back of this newsletter. If you would like assistance in connecting with services, the school may be able to help. Contact me directly and confidentially through email to thomas.moth@det.nsw.edu.au. Additional advice has also been provided about learning from home at the back of this newsletter, while a poster about the importance of sleep is available on our website here. Continuity of Learning When the Premier announced that students should stay away from school, the immediate concern for Department officials, our teachers and me was to ensure continuity of learning for all. After a few head scratching moments, our team rolled up their collective sleeves, formulated a plan and sprung to action. This week, despite some teething problems, we have seen tremendous evidence that our students continue to learn even though most are not here with us at school. Thank you to the parents who have provided some of these images. Please keep them coming through email and for those who use Twitter, please include the tag #IBelongAtNK. That will help me find your post and include in upcoming newsletters or galleries.

120-126 Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

https://northkellyville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

Virtual Assembly This morning in excess of 300 participants joined our first virtual assembly where we heard from our school captains, met Northy our turtle mascot and celebrated some birthdays. If you missed the assembly, a recording is available here.

Modelling Department Values The NSW Department of Education has adopted key values which are designed to drive our actions as employees of the Department. This week I have witnessed an abundance of excellence, service, integrity, equity, trust and accountability and I’d like to publicly acknowledge the incredible work of the whole team at North Kellyville Public School. Our staff members have their own families to consider and many have been on site at various times throughout the week putting their responsibilities at school first. I am sincerely grateful.

Positive Feedback Form Have you downloaded the School Stream app to your smart device? If so you are probably already enjoying the benefits of push notification reminders, being able to log absentee explanations and access the newsletter. Did you also know that we have a specially designed form on the app where parents can offer positive feedback to staff members? While of course constructive feedback is always welcomed through email, in person or over the phone, the intent behind this positive feedback form is to make it quick and easy for parents to give a virtual ‘thumbs up’ to a staff member which adds a little spring in the step and helps them feel appreciated. It is the perfect time to give it a try! Uniforms for Collection If you have been notified by Back to Basics that your child/ren’s uniform is ready for collection, you are able to pick them up from our administration office between 9:00am and 2:30pm. We are currently holding many uniform orders.

120-126 Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

https://northkellyville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

Opportunity Class Placement Test The Department of Education is currently considering different options for the Opportunity Class exam in 2020. They will provide further information as it becomes available and I will disseminate that to the community. NAPLAN Cancelled The National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will not proceed in 2020. 2019 Annual Report Each year schools must produce a report outlining expenditure, key targets and progress towards those targets. The North Kellyville Public School Annual Report for 2019 is now available here. Shortly it will also appear on our website. Deputy Principal Recruitment After a recent merit selection process, Luke Hogan has been appointed to the position of Deputy Principal at North Kellyville Public School. Luke is an experienced Deputy Principal who comes to us via John Palmer Public School. Luke has deep experience serving school communities in the local area, having previously been Assistant Principal at Kellyville Ridge Public School. Tom Moth Principal

Virtual Easter Hat Parade With Easter only a week away we’d like to still give the students the opportunity to participate in a hat making exercise and then share a ‘virtual parade’. More information can be found at the back of the newsletter. Participation is entirely optional. Mrs Newth & Mrs Johnston Assistant Principal

School Song Video with Lyrics Available It has been stirring to hear students singing our new school song at assemblies throughout the term. However, now that most students are at home the opportunities to practice are limited. We have compiled a video, accessible on our website here, featuring the song and lyrics. Please consider practising with your child/ren while they are at home. Mr Bondfield Assistant Principal Anti-Bullying & Harmony Day On March 19, the school community came together to celebrate our cultural diversity as part of Harmony Day. Many students came to school wearing traditional cultural dress, while others wore orange – a colour symbolising open communication and team work. A brief video has been produced which is available for viewing on our website, here.

Miss Dang, Miss Princi, Miss Rizzotto Harmony Day Coordinator

TEACHER TALK

120-126 Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

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Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

Thank You! Many volunteers continue to offer their services to contact books. This is greatly appreciated and will mean more books are available more readily for students! Storybox and EPlatform At the back of the newsletter are details about how to access Storybox and EPlatform. Both are outstanding resources to support learning from home.

Until next time…happy reading! Ms Katie Whelan Teacher Librarian

New Logo! The North Kellyville P&C Association has adopted a new logo. When you see this logo you know that the information attached is direct from your Association.

Back Soon Due to current health alerts, Mr Moth has asked that the P&C suspend its activities. At the moment we are unable to plan events and activities. Although this is a shame, we are supportive of this decision as it is in the best interest of everybody. Our AGM will be held at a later date.

School Banking Program Until the health situation is resolved, school banking will not occur. Alison Nicolson P&C President nkps.pca@gmail.com A Note from the Secretary Hi everyone, hope you are all well and happy. I just wanted to reach out and say hi to all of you, and hope you have as great a support network as I do to get through the next little while. I know there have been a lot of adjustments to your lives in recent weeks, so I hope you have found (or are finding) ways to manage the chaos of life. My household is still finding a balance, with 2 adults trying to work full time from home, and the same 2 non-teacher adults trying to help deliver two (Stage 1 and Stage 2) remote learning modules from our dining table. Technology and I have not always been friends, so it has been a less-than-fun few days trying to get all the apps downloaded, all the websites added to Favourites, and all the printed pages organised. If you need any help with the remote learning modules, the best advice I can give you is to contact the school. Email your Home Hub teacher, or call the school. The NKPS Staff is there to support you - don't be afraid to ask. They do appreciate feedback, but please be kind and gentle - we are all learning how to do this, so please know the staff is feeling just as frazzled as you are. What the NKPS Team has pulled together for us is beyond amazing - they've done this in a couple of weeks, when it would have normally taken 12 months of planning to have the modules and materials ready to roll. Hands down, we have the best school in the known universe, and they deserve a bit of love from all of us. If you want to chat to someone, to vent, to let it out, to get a virtual hug, you can email me at nkps.pca@gmail.com. I'll do my best to reach through the waves of the net and give you the biggest hug, and a guarantee to you that, when it is safe to do so, I will personally deliver the hug to you. Join our Facebook page to connect. Stay safe and take care. Gloria Hill P&C Secretary nkps.pca@gmail.com

LIBRARY BIZ

P&C NEWS

120-126 Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

https://northkellyville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

Out Of School Hours Care – Wesley Mission has been appointed as the provider of out of school hours care. The centre will run out of the school hall both before and after school. Morning care will commence from 6:30am, while care in the afternoon will be provided until 6:30pm. Contact OOSH on 96266620 or email oosh@wesleymission.org.au.

Facebook Page – ‘Like’ our Facebook page and encourage all of your friends, families and neighbours to do likewise!

Mailing List – To be added to the Hezlett Happenings mailing list, click here.

Parent Handbook – Edition 1 of the North Kellyville Public School Parent Handbook if available here. Please read this document to become acquainted with many school programs and procedures.

School Stream App – A lot of news, forms and notices are pushed out to mobile devices through our School Stream App. If you haven’t yet downloaded the app, do so now!

Parent Volunteers – must supply 100 points of ID to be brought to the office where it will be photocopied and kept on file for audit purposes and Appendix 5 which is a summary of the 100 points and a signed declaration about character and previous offences.

Follow our staff on Twitter: @moth_t @KaseyLeaMcGill @NewthSamantha @SoniaKadian1 @Miss_M_Cannon @Caitlin65032239 @NKPSLibrary @Lauren33421276 @muqadasa_ghaf @cheahmilly

Dollarmites School Banking – The P&C led school banking initiative occurs each Tuesday morning. Students can bring their bank books to the special programs rooms between 8:30 and 9:00am. More information here.

QUICK INFORMATION

Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

https://northkellyville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

https://northkellyville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

https://northkellyville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

TIP SHEET- LEARNING FROM HOME As schools close their doors, many parents are concerned about the disruption to their child’s education. So, what’s the best way to keep kids learning at home? Focus on What you Can do It is important that children are supported to focus on the things we can do in responses to the changing environment. Explaining the importance of staying home and good hygiene is a way for children to feel empowered and helpful.

Establish a Daily Routine

Follow the advice and the protocols put in place by the school and support your child to maintain a routine while at home. Routines help create predictability and reduce anxiety. Ensure that the daily schedule includes a balance of academic, creative, physical and social activities with clear expectations for wake-up and bedtimes.

Using visuals or the attached schedule worksheet may help!

KEEP IT POSITIVE

Reward the hard work well done.! Make sure you

acknowledge the efforts your child

has put into their work!

Stay CONNECTED

While social distancing is VITAL,

staying in touch with friends is als0 important for

children. Providing opportunities to

interact socially with peers will help

maintain connections and boost their mood. Schedule this into the day just as recess and lunch at school. There are many technology options available to

support virtual connections!

Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

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Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

STAY ACTIVE

Children spend a lot of time moving around at school, so it’s important to ensure that they are still engaging in activities they enjoy while they’re at home.

If it’s practical, spend some time outside riding, jogging or walking. It’s worth walking. It’s worth also looking into some of the many fitness apps available that can ‘organise’ your activity for you.

Family board games or working on a project can also keep the mind active!

Consider how long your child is working

Children learn best if learning is completed in short bursts. Working for 30-40 minutes and then scheduling a break or snack is an important way to optimise your child’s engagement when learning at home.

Monitor Screen Time

Online learning means children are spending extra time online. It is important that parents monitor the chat rooms and activities online. Having conversations about safe online behavior is especially important during these times.

READ!

Reading is a wonderful way to improve language and knowledge. Use this time to encourage your children to read a new book, magazine or even

computer game instructions!

Reach out to your

child’s school, other parents or friends if you need support.

#WE ARE ALL IN THIS

TOGETHER

Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

https://northkellyville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155

https://northkellyville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 8801 1911

North Kellyville Public School Library

Hezlett Road, North Kellyville NSW 2155 | P: 88011911 | E: northkellyville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

North Kellyville Public School students in K-2 complete the Challenge through sharing books

with the teacher librarian, their Blue Hub teachers and home room teacher. Their reading

records are administered at school by the PRC coordinator, Ms Whelan, the teacher librarian.

Years 3-6 students are encouraged to participate in the Challenge but must complete their

reading records independently. Assistance is available if needed - students should consult

their home class teacher or the teacher librarian, Ms Whelan. It is recommended that students

access the PRC website via their student portal.

The following information for parents/caregivers comes directly from the Premier’s Reading Challenge website. The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge is managed and administered by the NSW Department of Education’s Arts Unit.

Tips for parents/caregivers:

9 Familiarise yourself with the new PRC student website. There is a video on the PRC Support site that you

can watch that demonstrates how to login, search for books and add them to a Student Reading Record

(SRR).

9 Visit the Premier’s Reading Challenge Support website. It allows you to search for information about the

PRC and how to use the PRC website and also how to contact the PRC team.

9 Set reminders for Challenge opening and closing dates in your and your child’s calendar.

9 Find out your child’s logon details. For public schools, students’ logon will be the same one they use to

access computers and the internet at school.

9 Assist your child to borrow books from the school or local library. Listen to your child read and talk about

the story/ characters/ information. Read to or with your child if she/he is participating in the K-2 Challenge.

9 Help your child to add books to her/his Student Reading Record regularly.

9 Follow the Arts Unit on Facebook and the NSW PRC on Instagram to keep up to date about information

about the Challenge throughout the year. We regularly run contests and Author events your child may be

interested in taking part in.

9 Contact your child’s PRC coordinator if:

o Your child has any difficulty using her/his logon details to access the PRC website.

o You are concerned that your child’s name is spelt incorrectly in the PRC website.

Important notes:

If you need to check your child’s Challenge history, please contact your child’s PRC coordinator.

Your child’s online Student Reading Record must have the required number of books recorded to complete the

Challenge by the student closing date. School PRC coordinators have an extra two weeks to validate the SRR.

Only students with a validated SRR are eligible for a certificate.

In the final weeks of the Challenge, log on regularly to the website to check the status of your child’s

SRR. Contact your child’s PRC coordinator if you are concerned your child’s SRR has not been validated.

|| Premier’s Reading Challenge 2020 ||

Links and Information to support children and their families This period of time may be challenging for many families. As we navigate these challenges there are organisations and information available that can help to support families.

Organisations supporting and informing families: The following organisations can provide support and information to families:

• Parent Line - www.parentline.org.au PHONE: 1300 1300 52 - Parent Line is a free service for parents. Parent Line has trained counsellors and can also provide

referrals to other service providers. Parent Line provides support and advice on parenting issues such as behaviour, family relationships and communication within families. Parent Line can provide advice and counselling on specific issues that may be affecting families, such as worry or anxiety related to COVID 19, as well as more general issues that may come up as families spend increased time together.

• The Family Referral Service – http://www.familyreferralservice.com.au/ PHONE: 1300 403 373 - The Family Referral Service is a NSW government organisation that can assist families by linking

them to support services. These services can include confidential counselling, financial assistance and mental health support services. It is a free service and helps support finding relevant support services for families in NSW. Parents and carers can contact the Family Referral Service and speak about your family’s needs and they can provide advice or help you link up with supports.

• Raising Children Network - https://raisingchildren.net.au/ - The Australian Government parenting web site. This site provides information, resources, Apps

and links related to parenting. This includes health, wellbeing and mental health information for parents and their children.

Mental Health and Wellbeing support for children, parents and carers

• Kids Helpline - https://kidshelpline.com.au/ PHONE: 1800 55 1800 - Free and confidential counselling for children and young people through phone or web chat. Kids

Helpline has trained counsellors and can talk to children and young people about their concerns or worries. There is also information available for children and young people related to wellbeing, relationships and mental health along with specific information on coping with stress and anxiety related to COVID 19.

• Headspace - https://headspace.org.au/ - Information and support for the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 12-25. There is

also free and confidential phone and online counselling available for young people through eheadspace https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/

• Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/home PHONE: 1300 22 4636 - Free and confidential phone and online counselling service. This site also provides information

and links on mental health and strategies to support wellbeing. There is specific information and support related to COVID 19 and also general wellbeing and mental health.

• Life Line - https://www.lifeline.org.au/ PHONE: 13 11 14 - Support for people experiencing a crisis. This is a free service allowing people to connect with a

counsellor over the phone or online.

• MensLine Australia - https://mensline.org.au/ PHONE: 1300 78 99 78 - Free phone and online counselling, information and referrals to support men with their wellbeing,

mental health and relationships.

• 1800 RESPECT - https://www.1800respect.org.au/ PHONE: 1800 737 732

- National Domestic Violence counselling service. A free 24 hour service providing information, counselling and referrals for people impacted by domestic and family violence.

• Mental Health Line - https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/Mental-Health-Line.aspx PHONE: 1800 011 511

- A seven days a week, 24 hour NSW Department of Health service staffed by mental health professionals. If you have mental health concerns for yourself or a family member this service is available to provide advice, information and contacts for referrals to local mental health services where appropriate.

Families and COVID 19 These links have practical information on coping as a family with COVID 19 and tips on how to talk to children and young people about COVID 19 to support them in this time. Raising Children: Guide for parents and carers regarding families and COVID 19: https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/coronavirus-covid-19-guide Red Cross: Talking to children about COVID 19: https://www.redcross.org.au/stories/covid-19/talking-to-kids-about-covid-19 UNICEF: How to talk to your children about COVID 19: https://www.unicef.org.au/blog/news-and-insights/march-2020/how-to-talk-to-your-children-about-coronavirus Raising Children: Managing self-isolation and social distancing as a family. https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/coronavirus-covid-19-guide/coronavirus-tips-to-manage-distancing-or-self-isolation

Health Information

• Health Direct - https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ - Australian Government website with free and reliable health information.

Financial Assistance

• The Australian Government: There are a number of policies designed to assist Australian families that may be financially impacted through the effects of COVID 19 on business and employment. The following link at The Australian Treasury provides information and advice around what financial support may be available to families:

- https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/households

• Salvation Army Australia - https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/need-help/financial-assistance/ PHONE: 1300 371 288

- The Salvation Army may be able to provide financial assistance or financial advice for eligible families experiencing significant financial difficulties.

• St Vincent De Paul - https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Find_Help/NSW/Finances/Family_Assistance_Hotline/ PHONE: 13 18 12

- St Vincent’s De Paul may be able to provide financial assistance or financial advice for eligible families experiencing significant financial difficulties.

Before Reading During Reading After Reading • Look at the cover of the story. What can

you see? • What do you think this story is about? • Why do you think that? • Why did you choose this book? • Do you think this piece of text is fiction or

non-fiction? Why do you think that? • What characters do you think might be in

the story? • What clues are in the title or any pictures? • What do you already know about the topic

of this story? • Does the topic of this story remind you of

anything you have seen or done before? • What do you think is going to happen?

• What will happen next in the story? • Why do you think that? • How do you feel about the main character? • Are there any ways that you can identify with

any of the characters? Who? • Why/why not? • How do you think the story is going to end? • Did you learn any new words or facts so far? • How does this story connect with you and

your life? • Has anything like this ever happened to you

before? • If you were that character, what would you

have done differently in that situation? • What emotions do you think the main

character is feeling? Why? • Do you know someone in your life who is like

one of the characters? Who and how? • If the book was a TV show, which actors

would you cast in it? • If the main character in that story lived next

door, would you be friends? • How are you different to the main character? • What pictures have you had in your mind as

you’ve been reading? • If you were in the story, what do you think you

would hear, taste, smell or feel? • Can you put what you have read so far in your

own words?

• What is the main message of this story? • What did you like or dislike about the story? • What was the author’s purpose? How do you

know this? • Was there a problem to be resolved in the

story? If so, how was it resolved? • Have your feelings about any of the

characters changed? How? • Did the problem of the book’s plot get solved? • How did the story make you feel? • How would you feel if the problem in the story

happened to you? • Did you enjoy the story? Why/why not? • Were you surprised by the ending? • Why/why not? • Would you recommend this story to someone

else to read? Why/why not? • If this story had a sequel, what do you think it

would be about? • What questions do you have for the author? • What was your favorite part of the book?

Why? • What was the most interesting thing you

learned from the book? • Would you have ended the book differently?

Did it end the way you thought it would?