The newsletter for our school community

Passfield Park School

53 Guernsey Avenue Phone: 9820 1700 Minto NSW 2566 Fax: 9603 6642

Passfield-s.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.passfield-s.schools.nsw.edu.au

Diary Dates………. April 7 Easter celebration and last day of T1 May 9 School Photos Nov 17 High school formal and reunion Dec 5 Presentation Day

From the principal…… Dear parents and friends of Passfield Park School We started the term with cloudy skies, wet weather rosters for staff, indoor play for students and it would appear that we will be finishing the term with similar weather. Fortunately for the Passfield Park School community, we make the most of bad or good weather and so, Term 1 was full of wonderful learning for our students who participated in a range of curricular and extra-curricular activities. This term, our senior students, Jessie and Blair started Vocational Education Training (VET) at Campbelltown TAFE, all our learning programs were put in place and our sports program commenced with students doing bowling each week. Kate Meredith, Principal Speech Pathologist re-commenced her work alongside our staff, to enable a whole school communication strategy to enhance each student’s language plans. From Week 2 and as part of our school’s partnership with the University of Western Sydney, four medical students participated in our volunteer’s program across the term. I know our students in particular enjoyed having Eunice, Rowan, Nicholas and Liam spend time with them both in and out of the classroom. Also this term, as part of our school’s creative and performance program (CAPA), our students continued to enjoy Akino Ogawa, Music Therapist’s amazing musicality. Unfortunately for us, Akino is moving to another position closer to her home and therefore the program will not be running during Term 2, but recommence from Term 3 this year. I would like to acknowledge Akino’s talent and expertise that has enriched each of our student’s capacity to engage with music as a medium of self-expression and enhanced their engagement and participation. We wish Akino all the very best for her future endeavours. Both students and staff will miss her.

March 31, 2017

Together we learn, participate and strive every day to achieve our best.

Throughout the term, our school had a lot to celebrate: Narelle Hanigan, School Learn-ing and Support Officer cele-brated 20 years of working with the Department of Education. I was delighted to present Narelle with a certificate of acknowledgement from the department for her dedication and service to education. On Friday 31 March, we held our school’s Harmony Day. During Harmony Day, as a nation we acknowledge the rich cultural traditions that all people who migrate to Australia bring with them and we celebrate multiculturalism as an integral part of our nation-al identity. To celebrate Harmony Day, our school’s Cul-tural Committee coordinated a series of learning activities that each class used to learn about other countries. We concluded our celebration by planting flags in our school garden with attending families, and then shared some de-licious treats from a range of countries. Continuing with this term’s cultural celebrations, is our Easter Day to be held on Friday 7 April. Notes have al-ready gone home, inviting families to join us from 11:00am-1:00pm. Activities we will be conducting during the day involve craft lessons, games and an egg hunt in the playground. Leaving the Passfield Park School staff team at the end of this term is Samantha Rowe. Sam was recently successful at gaining a permanent teaching position at Fernhill School and will commence her new appoint-ment from the start of Term 2. Sam has been a wonderful teacher and fantastic staff mem-ber, whilst part of the Passfield Park School community. We wish Sam all the very best as she commences in her new placement. I know staff, students and families of our Pink Class students, in particular will miss her.

For Term 2, we welcome Cassandra Barlow as our new-est staff member. Cassandra will be taking the class-room teacher role for Pink Class, until recruitment for the position occurs. Cassandra is familiar to the Passfield Park School staff team as she has previously been part of the staff. I know that Cassandra is very much looking forward to teaching Pink Class in the new term. As I hand the baton over to Wendy for next term, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, the Passfield Park School community; the staff, families and sincerely most of all the wonderful students that have made my role as Relieving Principal a truly unforgettable experi-ence, full of rich memories I will dearly treasure. It has been a privilege to get to know and learn from every sin-gle one of you. I wish you all a safe, happy Easter break and the very best for the rest of the school year!

Sandra (Mrs Ace)

White White class has been investigating different types of transport in their science lessons. We are learn-ing that people use different types of transport to go to different places. This week we have sorted types of transport into different categories and used play-do to create some of our favourite types of transport.

Congratulations to Phillip for reaching 100 PBL points. The first member of White Class 100 Club.

With the term coming to an end, we wish you a safe and happy holiday.

Karen and Julie

Please note that the Sarah Redfern PS canteen will not be open for the final week of Term 1. It

will reopen in Term 2

Orange Orange Class has worked very hard this term to establish our class routines and timetable. We are very proud of each students’ progress so far and have shared some images of them engaging in learning activities. We put our hands together on Epilepsy Awareness day to make purple

hand print

butterflies. Mixing red and blue in shaving cream to create purple was a favourite activity for all!

Amanda and Sonia

Yellow Class Yellow Class had a terrif-ic time last Friday at Le-umeah HS’s Harmony Day celebrations. The students loved the Kore-an wrestling and many of the students had henna tattoos done. We signed and sang the national anthem with students from Leumeah HS at the opening of the Harmony Day cultural performances. They all agreed the haka was the best. Music therapy is always popular and we are sad that Akino is finishing next week at our school. All the students have improved in holding a beat and making up their own rhythms. We hope you enjoy the holidays and we will see

you next term.

Belinda and Kris

Silver Silver Class has had a great start to the term. This term, students have been learning about the human body in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. They have learnt the importance of looking after their bodies by brushing their hair and teeth, washing their hands and being active in the playground.

Raquel and Rob

Pink Pink Class has been learning about our bodies this term. We enjoyed learning about our different body parts and what they can do! We acknowledged Epi-lepsy day and celebrated Harmony day. Next week, we will celebrate Easter! We have had a busy term but have settled in very well! I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the community of Passfield Park School for their support; and to intro-duce Cassandra who will be the classroom teacher on Pink Class from Term 2. Enjoy the break!

Sam and Michele

Check out our school website www.passfield-s.schools.nsw.edu.au

Blue

Purple Ten pin bowling is proving to be very popular for both Purple and Green Classes each Monday afternoon. Stu-dents excitedly engage in conversations with their friends on the bus trip to Leumeah. On arrival, each class walks into the venue as a group, change into their bowling shoes and take turns to bowl. It is evident from everyone’s enthusiasm and the smiling faces how much our students delight in bowling each week. Purple Class continue to enjoy their community access visits with Green Class to McDonald’s. All students are demonstrating improved independence when purchasing their lunch and in their ability to wait patiently for their order. We would like to wish everyone a relaxing holiday and look forward to a busy and exciting Term 2.

Di, Olena and Kris

Green Green Class has developed into a cohesive group of students keen to learn both inside the classroom and during out of classroom activities. The students enjoy their morning ten-minute exercise in adventure play area, particularly the flying fox and swing. It has been great to see the students’ confidence grow

as they have learnt to be part of a bigger group. Purple and Green Classes bowl at the same time and venue every Monday after-noon. Everyone really enjoys bowling and although their styles may differ, there is always excitement as pins are bowled down. All the students have been moving

safely, staying with their group, quick to change shoes and waiting their turn. Well done all! Fridays are another exciting day for us as we go to McDonalds. Each student’s ability to make personal choices has developed along with their money handling skills and communication. They all enjoy the opportunity

to order their own food and drink, meet the cashier and exchange their money. Then comes the best part: sitting and enjoying their chosen foods with their friends before clean-up time and the bus trip back to school. In-school work experience has been enjoyed by all. Dur-ing recycling, the students get equipment, do their small jobs and clean-up afterwards. It

has been great to see every student grow and take on their own responsibilities. Independence has continued to emerge during healthy snack making in preparation for the student canteen. We have been learning about hygiene and the correct handling of food along with the skills needed to fulfil specific orders. All the students have enjoyed counting out the bis-cuits and matching them with cheese. Along with the making of milk shakes, where all stu-dents have a task in the pro-cess which they perform out-standingly. Well done all! Con-gratulations parents and caregivers on your continued hard work in developing your child’s confidence and independence. It does so much in preparation for their future, thank you. Ooops nearly forgot! We have had four birthdays so far this year, along with the celebrations; Tony is a year older, as is Jayden (thanks to his mum for all the yum-my food), Rami and myself. What a great first term! Stay safe, enjoy the upcoming holiday break and we will be looking forward to your safe return next term.

Cheryl Armishaw and Rami