WELCOME BACK TO TERM TWO
MOTHERS’ DAY STALL – Thursday 6th May
Looking ahead to the next weekend we wish all of our Mothers, Grandmothers a very happy Mother’s Day! Our Parents’ Club are holding a Mother’s Day Stall next Thursday 6th May for students to attend in the morning. Each class will be given an opportunity to visit the stall during the day to purchase something special to take home. This year there will be a new focus on sustainability with the addition of plants (mainly indoor) and a small selection of trinkets also available.
Please ask your children to bring their own bags. Please note this stall will be cash only and no IOUs will be issued.
Can you help out?
If you are interested in volunteering to assist with the stall we would love your help at any of the following times:
Wednesday 5th May
Afternoon (time to be confirmed)
Thursday 6th May
9am – 12pm
12pm – 2pm
Please email availability to help out to: Robyn via mckinnonpspc@gmail.com
SUPPORTING CHILDREN THROUGH ANXIETY – PARENT NIGHT with Heidi Rogers
Thursday 6th May 7pm at McKinnon PS – Book your ticket on Qkr!
Book your ticket on Qkr!
We are very excited to welcome Heidi Rogers to McKinnon next week to speak to parents about supporting children experiencing anxiety. Heidi will explore what anxiety is and what we as parents and educators can do to help reduce anxiety and fear in children.
Anxiety is an area that so many of us and our children experience and learn to cope with at different times in our lives and at school, so we are looking forward to seeing a lot of parents attend this night.
Heidi is a psychotherapist with extensive experience in working with children in this area and is also a highly engaging speaker so her tips and strategies are likely to stay with you for a long time. Please click here to watch Heidi’s 3 Minute Anxiety Video: heidilinks.com/anxiety-zappers
**Seats are limited but still some left! Please book your ticket on the Qkr! App
NAPLAN – Week Four from May 11th to May 13th for Year Three and Five students.
NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that have already been learnt through the school curriculum. Teachers have been ensuring that students are familiar with the test format and conditions and will provide appropriate support and guidance.
The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure them that NAPLAN tests are just one of many assessments they will complete this year and to advise them to simply do the best they can do on the day.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SCHOOL COUNCIL – Monday17th May at 6:00pm via Zoom
On Monday 17th May at 6:00pm we will be holding our Annual General Meeting of School Council where we will speak about and share the school’s Annual Report for 2020. You are all welcome to join.
This meeting will be held via Zoom. We look forward to seeing you there.
https://zoom.us/j/95579606339?pwd=MUVXUlRDYVc4T1VMK2RqRzhSTHlYdz09
EDUCATION WEEK and STUDENT LED CONFERENCES Tuesday 18th May
We are thrilled to welcome parents back into the school as part of Education Week! On Tuesday 18th of May between 3:45pm and 6:30pm students will be welcoming you into the classroom to reflect, demonstrate and share their learning. This continues the school’s priority of enhancing students’ ownership and agency. More information will be provided in the coming weeks via Compass including a booking system. The theme of Education Week is ‘Building Connections’ and we are excited to re-connect with the school community on the night.
2022 FOUNDATION INFOMATION NIGHT
On Tuesday 27th April we held an information night for new parents who may be considering sending their child to McKinnon PS in Foundation 2022. This night was well attended by families with around sixty people attending to learn more about our school. If you think you may know someone nearby who may be thinking of coming to McKinnon in 2022, please suggest they call the office to book in for a school tour which we hold every week.
Thank you to all those staff members who presented from Foundation, Specialists and the Leadership Team who put in a lot of effort in to making the night a real success.
EXPLORING ANZAC DAY
Many of our students have been looking at ANZAC Day as it relates to their units of inquiry or as a stand-alone concept to explore. This is a significant event in the Australian calendar and we take time to respect and value the significant contribution made by our diggers. Lest We Forget! It’s important that all Australians remember and acknowledge the sacrifice and history of the Anzacs.
On Wednesday 28th April, Year Six students shared the historical facts they had learnt about ANZAC Day at our whole school assembly and then led our whole school in a minute’s silence.
CROSS COUNTRY
On Tuesday 27th April students from Years Three-Six participated in the McKinnon PS Cross-Country at McKinnon Reserve. There was much excitement surrounding the day and also yesterday as winning classes and winning house teams were announced at assembly with some incredible prizes being given out. A big thank you to all staff and students who contributed to the success of this fantastic physical event!
EVERY DAY COUNTS – SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
We all want our students to get a great education and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day. Missing school can have a major impact on a child’s future – a student missing one day a fortnight will miss four full weeks by the end of the year. By Year Ten they’ll have missed more than a year of school. There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes.
Lateness is also an important form of absence to consider. Students regularly coming to school late miss out on vital, explicit teaching experiences. Students can feel unsure of what they have missed, even if it is re-explained to them when they arrive – a little bit like walking into a movie theatre half way through a film.
Coming to school every day on-time is vital, but if for any reason your child must miss school, there are things we can do together to help. If you’re having attendance issues with your child, please let your classroom teacher know so we can work together to get your child to school and on-time every day.
PARENT STATEMENTS
Parent statements will be sent out on Thursday 29th April. These are helpful reminders that let you know current balances with the school, events that have been paid for and any credit owing.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend,
Simone, David and Suzanne