La Perouse PS Newsletter
Respectful, Responsible, Learners.
Week 10, Term 2, 2021
HAPPY NAIDOC WEEK! This year's theme, Heal Country! is a very important message for all Australians. It is a call to action to protect and preserve our lands, water, sacred sites and cultural heritage as it is an integral part of our identity as Australians. At La Perouse Public School we seek to embrace First Nations' cultural knowledge everyday and understand the importance of Country and the role this has in our national identity, we seek to be respectful and nurture our students so that they feel connected and celebrated at our school, where we embrace diversity and foster belonging. We also very much understand that we must look after our environment, learn from it and learn about it so that we can ensure it is there for future generations. I hope this week despite many NAIDOC week events being on hold, that we all reflect on the rich and diverse history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise that they form the oldest continuing culture on this planet, something that is invaluable and is to be celebrated and cherished. To learn more, please visit: https://www.naidoc.org.au/get-involved/2021-theme
We are into our second week of lockdown, and hopefully it is treating you kindly and that everyone is safe and well. I thought to sum up Term 2, I would share a selection of photos from the range of learning opportunities and events organised for students. In order for these events to take place, staff and community spend a lot of time planning and arranging. I'd like to thank everyone who has supported our school and students this term, especially our staff who always go above and beyond to make learning exciting and meaningful.
Please note that right at the end of this newsletter we are asking families to complete two surveys:
- Reducing our paper use - opting in to paper copies
- COVID Restrictions, Learning from Home - helping us to plan for next week.
NAIDOC
During the last week of term, we held our NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Celebrations. Students took part in a range of activities to celebrate, share and learn about Australia's First Nations Peoples. We held a NAIDOC assembly, run by our SRC and spoken at by Michael O'Loughlan from the GO Foundation and Michael Cooley from the Gamay Rangers, followed by a community morning tea. Students also took part in a Gamay Rangers incursion, Indigenous cooking using bush tucker as well as art, craft and language activities.
Unfortunately due to the COVID outbreak we had to postpone the Kadoo Incursion for K-2 as well as the Torres Strait Islander performance and 3-6 excursion to Kurnell with Dean Kelly.
Thanks to our Aboriginal Education Officers, Aunty Selina and Aunty Victoria supported by LPPS staff, students experienced and learnt about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
CELEBRATIONS
Congratulations to Chloe who represented La Perouse Public School, you have made both your family and school community proud.
Very proud of Malakai for being selected into the Talented Sports Program (Rugby League Team) at Matraville High School. Malakai is not only a very talented sportsman but also a fantastic leader who is a good sport whilst also supporting his peers.
Our very own Kindergarten class, Lomandra, was a Regional Runner-Up in this year's Harmony Day poster competition. Their entry was one of over 5000 entries in the poster competition from 400 schools. Congratulations Kindy!
STORIES IN THE SKY - BARANGAROO
We were invited by Lendlease to take part in a community art activation to tell the story of Barangaroo, the Cammeraygal woman, and her cultural connection to the water, land and sky, with our entries part of the land series. This project saw students learn about Barangaroo and create artworks that told the story of her connection to the land. Artworks were judged and the following students will have their artwork turned into a 10mx10m stencil, which will be put onto the side of side of a Lendlease residential building during the construction phase.
The winning entries were by:
- Alice
- Theodor
- Roxanna
We value our ongoing partnership with Lendlease, which has seen Lendlease staff spend their last two annual community days at La Perouse PS, working with Indigigrow to plant numerous lemon myrtle trees at the bottom of the school field and complete the pathway, yarning circle and garden area for the Yarning Tree Project just in front of the school.
NAIDOC Week - Indigenous Games
Stories of the Sky Barangaroo Competition Winners
SRC Pyjama Day - Murnong
Term 2 Award Assembly
SRC Pyjama Day - Warrigal Greens
ORGANISATION
REDUCING OUR PAPER USE
We understand that more and more of our families are choosing to use our digital platforms (SchoolStream, Facebook, Class Dojo) to access information, which we are happy about as this reduces our cost and impact on the environment. We therefore, are going to trial going paperless in regards to our school newsletter and event flyers, and are asking families who wish to receive a paper copy of these, to please complete this form: https://forms.gle/qZsLExDu38f8FjkT8
Please note that we will still be sending home paper copies of permission notes and other correspondence needing to be completed and returned.
CONSTRUCTION WORKS
When school returns you may notice that construction works are underway. Our basketball court is finally been resurfaced and the whole area will be fenced off until approximately week 4, which means that we have limited stroller access into the school. In the event that COVID restrictions are lifted or if you have an appointment, please just call the school office to let us know that you need help to access the school because of limited mobility or due to you having a stroller.
In addition to the basketball court being upgraded, the outside boys toilet has had a new urinal installed and our hall and multipurpose rooms are now linked up with our school network and therefore will soon have internet access.
COVID RESTRICTIONS - Learning from Home
As you may have learnt this morning, the lockdown in Sydney has been extended until midnight July 16th .
Please complete this survey as soon as possible to help us plan for next week: https://forms.gle/jPwdGrjM9r6eUbjX6
The advice from the Department is as follows:
- For the first week of Term 3, students in Greater Sydney – that is, those LGAs currently affected by NSW Health stay-at-home orders and including Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour – will be learning from home. This will stay in place until Friday 16 July.
- Our schools will remain open for the students and families who need it, although parents will be encouraged to keep their children at home. There will only be minimal staff supervision and schools will provide one unit of work for students, whether they are learning from home or in the classroom.
- For those on site, all staff in all school settings and students from year 7 upwards will be required to wear masks. This is consistent with current requirements for masks to be worn in office and workplace settings and on transport services across Greater Sydney.
- All staff and any visitors to school who have prior approval from the Principal (including parents) must use the QR code to check in and out of school premises.
- Any student, teacher or staff member with any symptoms, or who is feeling unwell, should not attend school and should take a COVID test immediately. Anyone who has been off sick from school will be required to return a negative COVID test before being permitted to return to school. Students and staff who have attended any venue of concern identified by NSW Health should follow NSW Health advice.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
26/6-12/7 - School holidays
13/7-16/7 - Learning from Home in place.
20/7 - School Athletics Carnival
22/7 - Celebrating 100 Days of Kindy
26-30/7 - Education Week: Lifelong Learners
2-15/8 - Goal Setting Interviews
16-20/8 - Science Week
19/8, 3.30-4:30pm - STEM Fair
21-27/8 - Book Week
24/8, 9:00am - Book Parade
25/8 - SRC Indigenous Literacy Fund Book Swap
10/9 - SRC Fundraiser Footy Colours Mufti Day
Please see below for the Term 3 Parent Calendar. You can also keep up-to-date by downloading the SchoolStream App.
Kind regards,
Lisa Haller | Principal
La Perouse Public School
Email: laperouse-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: https://laperouse-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/
Location: La Perouse Public School, Yarra Road, La Perouse NSW, Australia
Phone: 02 9311 2210
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/La-Perouse-Public-School-222433287925124/
Twitter: @LaPerousePS