Guildford West Public School
NEWSLETTER - 2021, Term 1, Week 10
Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been a busy term full of learning and fun at Guildford West Public School. This week we celebrated Harmony Day and National Day of Action Against Bullying. Our school’s diversity was showcased on this day and students learnt about being an upstander when encountering instances of bullying. I am so proud to be part of a school community that values and embraces our diversity.
As we embark on school holidays, take some time to relax and unwind and spend quality time together as a family. I wish you all a happy and safe holiday and a Happy Easter to all of our families celebrating.
Ms Weston
Principal
Dates for your diary
20 - Tuesday Students Return to school
27 - Tuesday Cross Country Carnival, Years 4, 5 and 6 at Guildford Leagues
May
5 - Wednesday Mothers Day Stall
13 - Thursday - Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2) Museum Excursion
20 - Thursday Auburn Zone Cross Country (by invitation)
June
14 - Monday Queens Birthday Public Holiday
17 - Thursday Athletics Carnival
25 - Friday Last day of School
Support Unit
Class spotlight S Smith
We have had such a fantastic start to the year in S Smith. We have loved engaging in Walker Learning sessions where we have explored, expanded our vocabulary and learnt to share and take turns.
We love going to the library to borrow a book each week. Miss A has been teaching us how to scan our own book once we have chosen one we like. We have also been learning all about living and non-living things and reading lots of books about animals.
We have been working hard during our daily ‘The Literacy Collective’ session. Each day we learn to hear, identify and say our sounds and build our knowledge of sound/letter relationships. We especially love the multi-sensory activities which help engage our senses by using sight, hearing, movement and touch.
Kindergarten
It has been a busy Term 1 for our Kindergarten students with lots of learning taking place. We have begun their Walker Learning journey. Walker Learning is a play-based approach to learning where students investigate a variety of themes across all Key Learning Areas, whilst developing their oral language and social skills. Students have the opportunity to work in the following areas:
- · Collage
- · Dramatic Play
- · Construction
- · Sensory
- · Tinkering
- · Literacy
- · Numeracy
- · Reading Corner
- · Science
- · Small world
This term, Kindergarten have been focusing on the concept of families whilst learning to make choices, share and work together as a team.
Stage 1
We have settled well back into school and have had a very busy term with lots of new learning. Students have been working hard during literacy, learning their sounds through ‘The Literacy Collective’ Program in Year 1 and ‘Soundwaves’ program in Year 2.
As part of the history unit this term, we have been exploring the following inquiry questions:
- What aspects of the past can you see today?
- What do they tell us?
- How have changes in technology shaped our daily life?
We have created personal timelines, explored how Guildford West Public School has changed, as well as researched the history of technologies such as telephones and cars. We have also been learning about how technology has had a positive and negative impact on our lives.
Below are some pieces of writing students have written during this history unit.
Furthermore, we have explored the past and present through Walker Learning where students have been exploring the past through an olden day office and playing olden day games such as elastics and noughts and crosses.
Stage 2
In Stage 2 this term we have had an incredible time building positive relationships and getting to know each other! Students have been working hard during literacy and have adjusted really well to the new interactive literacy program ‘Soundwaves’, which aims to enhance spelling skills and student understanding of sounds.
Stage 2 were fortunate enough to participate in a Water Safety Program organised by Health Promotion - Royal Life Saving Society Australia. Students learnt the foundation skills to respond to an emergency and stay safe in a variety of aquatic environments.
We have also worked really hard in our Humanities unit, which links History and English together.
We have been exploring the following inquiry question:
‘What was the nature and consequence of contact between Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and early traders, explorers and settlers?’.
In particular, we have explored what life was like for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people before European settlement and the different affects settlement had on the Indigenous people.
Stage 2 were fortunate enough to participate in an interactive Virtual First Contacts lesson with Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre. We learnt about Aboriginal life before Captain Cook arrived at Botany Bay and participated in a role play to find out what happened at that first meeting in 1770. We also engaged in other hands-on activities and it was really wonderful to see the students so interested in their learning. We will continue to explore this topic next term and broaden our knowledge & understanding within this topic area.
Stage 3
This term in Stage 3 has been a fantastic one! We have been dedicated to our learning and wanted to share with you what we have been learning during our Humanities unit.
Our Humanities unit links our History and English learning together. Our inquiry question is ‘How did Australian society change throughout the twentieth century?’.
We have specifically looked at investigating the significance of the Stolen Generation and the struggle for the rights and freedoms of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Focusing on persuasive writing this term has meant we have learnt about an author’s purpose, how to determine the difference between fact and opinions and how we can accurately communicate our own opinions through the way we write.
Each class has taken their learning down different paths and it has been wonderful to see students so interested and involved in their History and English learning. We will continue to work on this topic next term and deepen it to examine Australian human rights, past and present, affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and migrants.
National Young Leaders Day 2021
On the 25th of March, 2021, our leaders Mitchell, Rama, Ashani and Loretta attended the Halogen National Young Leaders Day conference at the ICC in Darling Harbour.
The conference is aimed to inspire students to develop their leadership skills and potential.
Students listened to different guest speakers and participated in engaging activities such as a whole theatre game of scissors, paper, rock, against the hosts of the show. Students were inspired by the stories of guest speakers:
Lachlan Smart – The youngest person to fly solo around the world in an aircraft
Jimmy Giggle – From Giggle and Hoot
Anastasia Woolmer – Two-time Australian Memory Champion
It was a rich opportunity for our leaders to be inspired by individuals who have overcome obstacles and hardships to make a difference in the world while also achieving their personal accomplishments. The leadership team and Miss Huynh had an enjoyable day and went back to school with many ideas to share with our peers.
First Foot Forward
Stage 3 were lucky this term to participate in the First Foot Forward (FFF) Program conducted Western Sydney University. FFF visited our school to host a workshop with students. During the workshop, students learned about sustainability and worked collaboratively in groups to create a windmill of their own! Our next visit will be in term 2 when we get to visit the university campus to participate in a variety of different classes as if we were in university!
We are really looking forward to that!
More information will come early next term.
Zone Swimming Carnival 2021
Guildford West sent a contingent of swimmers to participate in the Auburn Zone Swimming Carnival at Lidcombe. The students from Guildford West were treated to a stunning day, and they all did exceptionally well against some extremely good competition from other schools.
A total of seven schools that were competing on the day, Guildford West students achieved a respectable third place, earning 5 gold, 2 silver, and one bronze medal on the day.
A big congratulations and thank you to the students for all their efforts on the day, and also a further congratulations to Riona and Brandon who were selected to be a part of the Auburn team.
Water Safety Program
During week 9 term 1, students from stage 2 and 3 were enrolled to take part in a Water Safety program being held at our local pool in Guildford West. Monday morning, all the students were waiting and shivering at the COLA as the rain poured down, before we got on the bus to go to the pool. Once there, the students were given a quick ability test, and then split into groups where they would start to learn and practice water safety skills that would help them be confident and safe around the pool. By Wednesday, the weather had improved, and we were able to walk to the pool, enjoying the beautiful sunshine. The students and the instructors all really enjoyed themselves, and it was terrific to see students who had been so nervous about getting in the water on Monday, being happy and confident in the pool by Friday. Every student was able to learn something important about water safety, and not only about their own safety, but those of others with them.
Overall it was a fantastic week to be in the pool.
Attendance
Our school grounds are open from 8:30 for students.
Students should be at school and ready to enter classrooms at the first bell/music at 8:55 am ready to start the day at 9:00 am.
It is important that students arrive on time, as late students often miss out on the initial class overview for the day. Did you know that being late 5 minutes each day will equate to missing 3 days of school (being late 30 minutes will be same as missing 18 days of school!)
School Activities and Excursions Payments
Students should take all money for excursions and activities to the office and place in the payment box BEFORE school.
Parents please assist your child with placing money and permission note in a labelled envelope, snap locked bag or brown bag before they leave home.
If making payment by PoP (Parent online Payment), the permission note with receipt number should also be taken to the office.
Guildford West Public School
Email: guildfordw-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: www.guildfordw-p.schools.nsw.edu.au
Location: 23-51 Palmer Street, Guildford West NSW, Australia
Phone: (02) 9632-9942
Facebook: guildfordwestps