tallowood school newsletter

28 May 2021

Tallowood School

Newsletter

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

3 June Year 11 Trans it ion Meet ings

8 June Year 11 Trans it ion Meet ings

25 June Last day of Term 2

13 Ju ly F irst day of Term 3

[email protected]

https://tallowood-s.schools.nsw.gov.au

9836 3810

https://www.facebook.com/tallowood5459/

44 Redden Drive, Kellyville NSW 2155

@TallowoodSchool

RESPECT PROFESSIONALISM INCLUSION WELLBEING CARE & EMPATHY

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are now just over halfway through term 2 and it has been great to see all the wonderful learning taking place across the school each day. Teachers are all busy writing reports and these are due to go home in Week 9. I’m sure you will all be looking forward to reading about all the great achievements your child has made in the first half of the year.

If you have visited the school recently you will have noticed some new signage as you enter our administration foyer and in the foyer area itself. With the launch of our new logo last year, it is great to now see our foyer area updated. We now have our school values proudly displayed along with our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) expectations, our acknowledgement of country and great new signage on our administration doors to welcome visitors to our school.

Pirate DayOn Friday 14 May, students and staff dressed up in their best pirate outfits for Pirate Day to raise awareness and funds for kid’s brain cancer research. We raised $178.45 which is a great achievement. Thank you for your generous support, every dollar raised makes a difference.

Swim SchoolOver the last couple of weeks, students in our junior classes have participated in swim school. This is a great program offered by the Department of Education, providing qualified swimming instructors who run an intensive 2-week program for junior students to develop water safety and basic swimming skills. Our students really enjoyed the program.

COVID-19 UpdateThe Department of Education recently provided some updated guidance to schools regarding managing potential COVID-19 cases in schools. The latest advice is as follows:

Staff and students should not attend work or school if unwell, even with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Any person with any COVID-19 symptoms should be sent home and should not return until they have received a negative test result and are symptom-free. In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms a letter from their GP is sufficient to negate the requirement for a negative test.

The addition of the last sentence in the above is a change of information for schools. If your child has recurrent symptoms as a result of an ongoing medical condition, your GP can now provide a letter to the school outlining these recurrent symptoms. If your child then presents with only these symptoms, we will not need to call you to come and collect them from school and you will not need to provide a negative test result. If your child presents with any additional symptoms or symptoms that look different to those described in the GP letter, we will still contact you.

Creating Pathways for LIfe - We Learn - We Care - We are Safe

Creating Pathways for Life - We Learn - We Care - We are Safe


It is still the case that your child must be well enough to attend school and if they have been sent home or kept home with cold or flu like symptoms you must still follow the previous advice as outlined below:

Students with flu like symptoms will need to provide a copy of a negative COVID-19 test result and be symptom free before being permitted to return to school.

OR

Where COVID-19 testing for students with complex health or disability may be challenging, parent/carers are asked to have their child assessed by their medical practitioner. Where a medical practitioner determines that a COVID-19 test is not indicated, a medical certificate must be provided to the school to confirm that the student does not have symptoms that warrant a COVID-19 test. The certificate must also indicate that the student is able to return to the school environment.

By continuing to work together and follow the advice from NSW Health, we can keep our students, families and staff safe. If you have any questions, please contact the school on 9836 3810. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Kind regards,Greg WoodPrincipal

PIRATE DAY



CHAPLAIN CHATS ...Culture

We often think of culture in terms of ethnicity. And yes, it is that, but it is so much more; including the feeling and interpretation of the environment around us. The behaviour we accept as normal, the traditions and rituals, the beliefs and values we hold as a group of people. Whether the group is a football team, a church, or a family; if we are a part of the group, we all have input into, and experience the results of culture.

I read this great quote by Ellen Ronalds Keene who is a teacher and a wellbeing and resilience coach. She said this about culture:

“If we were all fish, culture would be the water we are swimming around in. How’s the water in your fish tank?”

So I’m wondering how you feel about the group cultures that you are part of? Are they a positive environment? Do they welcome a growth mindset? Are they accepting and inclusive?

If the answer is no to those questions, then you’re probably experiencing a stagnant or even toxic group culture. But the good news is that you can make a difference. It can sometimes take a bit of bravery to start setting new standards, and it can feel like a long journey, but as the quote attributed to Gandhi says “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

* Question group culture * Stand your ground with your standards * Talk about culture * Review your progress * Encourage and reward desired behaviour * Consider changing groups if nothing changes

Lastly, on “The Chaplains Page” on Facebook, we will be sharing in “Journal in June” - 30 questions to get to know yourself better. Feel free to join in.

Juanita McMillanChaplain



Class 2

The Physical World is our Science unit of work for this term. We are loving observing and participating in a variety of experiments around movement, force and magnetism. So far we have experimented with rolling,

spinning and pushing a variety of different balls and pushing and pulling cars. We loved experimenting to songs but a highlight was definitely experimenting with these forces in paint and creating an artwork! Recently we have begun experimenting with magnets, building using magnet blocks and joining together magnetic trains.



Class 9 and 10

It never seems to slow down in class 9 and 10. We have some important jobs we do around the school that require all hands-on deck. We make sure the shopping gets done each week so that we can run our Kids’ Café program on Thursday and get all orders ready for Tuckshop on Friday.



Class 9 and 10 continued ... We have also been enjoying Men’s Shed where we made some really cool things like spice racks and pencil cases. Our soccer team, the Tallowood Tigers, played a big match against The Hills School. We played an enthusiastic game and kept the score close. We are busy practising for our next game.

Some great friendships have already been formed this year so when we have some down time we like to play card games, board games and complete puzzles together.



Class

16

Class 16 have been exploring different environments this term in geography. The first environment we looked at was under the sea and kelp forests. While some of us were very brave and picked up the seaweed others preferred just to look at smell the seaweed. We then created a kelp (seaweed) forest during visual arts using tissue paper and pictures of fish, whales, octopus and sea horses. We continue to enjoy swimming, music, sport and community access each week as you can see in the photos.



Class

16

continued. ..



IS YOUR CHILD'SWHEELCHAIR COMFORTABLE& SAFE?

Call us on 1300 582 022 to arrange a complete service of your child's wheelchair - hassle free at school service option available.

1300 582 [email protected]

alkirawheelchairservices.com.au

Growth adjustmentsNew belts & harnessesService, Repairs & parts replacement REGISTERED

NDIS PROVIDER



Ages 5 - 12 Ages 12 - 17

Please contact:[email protected]

02 9679 1032 / 0438 213 32810-32 Terry Road, BOX HILL

NSW

ALL DAYS 9am to 3PMNDIS Funded (activity cost not included)

Registrations Close 15th June! Spaces limited

5th July- Golden RidgeAnimal Farm Visit $20

8th July- Inflatable World b $16 9th July - Movies: SpaceJam 2 $20

28th June - Cooking Day $5

29th June - Shine Shed $15

30th June - Sports Day $5

6th July - Arts & Craft $5

1st July - Bushwalking $5

2nd July - Bowling $18

7th July - Cooking Day $5



AbilitySkill-mate!Your interactivelearning space

School Holidays Schedule (June-July 2021)*schedule includes the pick-up and drop-off time

Zone Bowling

We will play bowling at the Zone Bowling centre inCastle Hill. Afterwards, we will have some activities toenhance social skills and interaction with otherparticipants and create meaningful friendship.June 28th 2021 (Monday)Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PMLocation: 3 Salisbury Rd, Castle Hill NSW 2154Cost: $8 per game

Indoor Swimming Day

Our group will have a fun swimming day at a heated indoorpool. And after the group settles, we will do some socialactivity where they can practise mindfulness and how theycan manage their negative emotions.June 29th 2021 (Tuesday)Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PMLocation: TBDCost: TBD

Fun Day in Ability Skill-mate Centre

Our group will do centre activities where we doemotional counselling, teach them the importanceof personal hygiene and what personal boundariesmeans.June 30th 2021 (Wednesday)Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PMLocation: 106/33 Lexington Drive, Bella Vista NSWCost: Free



Your mate to discover your Ability!

Life Skills Development | CommunityParticipation | Behaviour Management |

Employment Skills Training |Case Management

www.abilityskillmate.com.au106/33 Lexington Drive Bella Vista NSW 2153

0492 987 242 | [email protected]



Centre BasedActivities

Community Outings

( M O N D A Y - F R I D A Y )9 : 3 0 A M - 3 : 3 0 P M

(Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)

Ability Skill-mate organisesvarious group activities in thecentre and the community...

We provide engaging activities inthe disability centre and in thecommunity to enhance the socialexperiences of the participants...

We provide activities that kidscan do after school time in ourdisability centre. We have socialeducators and qualified skill-mates that could help your lovedones learn many things anddiscover their true Ability.

We have different options thatyou could consider for your kids!

We provide day programs to helpadults with disabilities theopportunity to develop life skillsand other activities that willsupport them to become moreindependent and sociallyengaging.

We have developed a program tohelp participants be confidentand build an active social lifestyle.



Ability Skill-mate Programs



Visit museums and appreciate artDo beach walks and leisure walksPlay in the parkEnjoy interactive learning spaceOutside sensory activitiesSailabilityPlay fun sports and group gamesVisit restaurants and cafeAttend community eventsVisit Zoo and leisure parksMovie time

Hey Skill-mates!At Ability Skill-mate, we call each other “Skill-mates”In our disability centre and community activities, we are each other's skill-mate. May you be a facilitator, social educator, support worker, or participant, we will calleach other skill-mates! Because everyone in Ability Skill-mate will be your partner tolearn new and develop your skill.

Our social educators and allied team members are qualified individuals to helpparticipants learn skills that are needed for them to live independently. Our team iscomposed of compassionate people that empowers client and prioritise their needs.

What do you we usually do on community outings?

*Schedules are sent to families, carers and guardian or a regular basis, so theycan confirm which activities they would like their participant to join




Weekly Schedule for Social Group Activities*This schedule serves as a guide for group activities we are organising forthe centre and in the community.*We group our participants based on their age range so they can getalong well during the activities

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Canvas Painting ScrapbookMakingPhotographyStreet ArtDIY CraftsSocial SkillsBuildingTenpin Bowling *(Once a month)

Italian CuisineMaking RiceDishesBurgersPastries andBakingPizzaMeal Planning andGroceryNutritionFollowing a recipeGroup SingingActivity Play Along withmusical instrument

Making andBuilding newfriendships andconnectionsBuild up socialskillsAttendingCommunityEvents as agroupVisiting FoodEstablishments,Restaurantsand Café

Making andBuilding new friendships andconnections Cooking Baking Movie Time Arts & Crafts Bowling Day Outings InteractiveGamesVisiting FunParks

Beach and ParkGroup WalksLight ExercisesHealthy HabitsMeditation andBreathing ExercisesZumba, Yoga,TaichiTeam BuildingGamesNintendoSwitch GamesBoard & CardGames

What else you should know...Personalised Services

We can provide individualand personalised planbasing on therecommendation of yourOT or existing Allied HealthprovidersWe offer specialisedtraining based on yourchoices and individualinterestWe have expertise inproviding support andguidance to help you reachyour goals

Extensive ServicesAssist when your loved onesneed to participate in socialand recreational activitiesProvide individual or group-based learning environmentFinding a suitable group foryour participant either basedon their age or interestsWorking with you tounderstand more about theNDIS and how you getsupport that you needConnect you variousmainstream, informal, andcommunity-based supportsand link you with othergovernment instutions.



GeneralInformation


Activity confirmation will be sent once minimumnumbers have been reached. Note that a minimum of 3participants should be required for any group activityto proceed. Once confirmed, brief information will besent to all participants who express their intent toparticipate in the activity which is prior to the day ofthe activity.Always bring a companion card, opal card, lunch foodor money, or any essentials that may be needed for anyactivityPrices are based on the current NDIS price guide. Thesupport ratio will depend on what type of support aparticipant may need for any activity.When you need to cancel a confirmed booking, pleasecontact directly Ability Skill-mate at 0492 987 242 /[email protected] and give at least 24 hoursnotice.If the event has a ticketed entrance where the entryhas been purchased prior to the activity date, aninvoice will be sent to you for the cost of it. The invoiceof the ticket will need to be paid before we purchasethem on your behalf. If you are unable to attend afterthe tickets have been purchased you are still liable forthe cost.We will always continue the social distancingrequirements to protect the participants' health. Wewill always be following hygiene and infection controlmeasures.

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