It has been a delight to welcome everyone back for Term 2 over the last week and we have certainly had a busy start to the term with our special ANZAC Day assembly and our Cross Country Carnival last week! I can’t help but reflect on how different things are to this time last year when we were still in the midst of home learning. The good news is that restrictions have been largely eased for all of us in schools. We are delighted to have our full range of programs operating again and to be able to welcome parents into the school. We still need to be mindful of COVID safe practices including social distancing, good hygiene and signing in with our COVID safe QR code.
ANZAC Day Commemoration
We came together on Friday 23 April for a special Anzac assembly to commemorate the men and women who have served our nation. Our leaders shared important messages about the significance of this day and student representatives from each class presented wreaths as tributes. It was wonderful to share this occasion with many of our parents.
We saw big crowds on Sunday at the North Sydney RSL Dawn Service and I was very proud to see all the Anzac Park students in their uniforms in the crowd and to lay a wreath on behalf of the school.
On the Field- APPS Cross Country Carnival
Thank you to all the wonderful students who ran in the Cross Country Carnival on Thursday. What a fabulous day we had, including the amazing weather. All students participated with enthusiasm and determination to finish either their 1, 2 or 3km race. It is a long way to run for many students and the staff at APPS are so proud of all students who ran. Thank you to the parent helpers who worked tirelessly all day in their designated duty.
Zone Cross Country will be on May 21 at Blackman Park in Lane Cove. The top 5 students from each age group will compete in the carnival.
Parent Partnerships Initiative
Thank you to the parents who have already responded to our Parent Partnership Initiative Survey. As part of this program, we are initiating parent community workshops called Connected Conversations where we will invite speakers to present on topics that you as a community have identified as an area of interest and recommence the APPSChat Podcast series. So far we have had over 100 responses! We are still keen to get your feedback about what topics you would be interested in. Please complete the survey using the link below by Friday 30 April. It gives you the opportunity to have a say in what speakers and topics we will organise as part of this program.
Effective reading across the school
Reading is a foundational, yet complex cognitive skill upon which other skills are built. Early success in reading is a powerful predictor of later achievement in a range of other academic areas. Individuals without literacy skills are at risk of being unable to participate in the workforce or engage fully in civic and social life.
Since 2000, there have been major reviews of the teaching of reading in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. These reviews, along with other research, have consistently identified five key components of effective reading programs: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. The CESE literature review ‘Effective reading instruction in the early years of school’ summarises this research and concludes that, to be most successful, the five key components must be taught explicitly, sequentially and systematically.
Our Deputy Principals, as instructional leaders, are going into classes each week to work along side teachers and students to implement data-driven personalised reading with a focus across the five key components of effective reading.
How you can help support reading at home:
- Be confident that your child will learn to read. Give positive messages and involve them in everyday conversations and opportunities to read.
- Read aloud to your child. It helps them to learn about the language of books and will encourage them to enjoy books and reading.
- Read to your child in your home language if your first language is not English.
- Make reading enjoyable and talk about books, magazines and computer stories that you have read together.
- Try not to let television intrude on reading time. Make a special time for reading with your child, away from interruptions.
- Listen to your child read as often as you can, every day if possible, even if only for a short time. When reading together at home try to make the time relaxed, enjoyable and positive. Vary it. Read together, read to your child and take turns or have them read to you.
- Before reading, talk about the cover, the title and the pictures, and discuss what the book may be about.
- During reading, discuss what has been read up to that point and predict what might happen next.
- After you've finished reading with your child, talk and ask questions about the story and the pictures.
Useful reading tips
When your child is reading and encounters words that are difficult for them, use the Three Ps technique ('Pause, Prompt, Praise') to support them.
Parent Volunteers for Learning and Support Literacy Intervention
We will be running the evidence based MultiLit Literacy Intervention for students and we are looking for volunteers to commit to at least one hour per week to implement this program with our students. You will receive training in the program and support throughout the process. See the link below for further information regarding this intervention.
If you are interested in volunteering for this program or would like further information please contact Simone Hirsch our Learning and Support teacher at simone.hirsch@det.nsw.edu.au
Winter Uniform Reminder
A reminder that all students should be in their winter uniform from next Monday 3 May. That includes black socks or stockings for girls and long trousers for boys. Please check that your child's winter uniform fits now so that your child is ready to come to school in correct uniform next Monday.
2022 Enrolments have opened!
Enrolments have opened for students wishing to enrol at Anzac Park Public School from Kindergarten to Year 6 in 2022. Information about enrolment can be accessed on our school website or by contacting the school. Please find below our 2022 enrolment flyer which details all events for students enrolling for next year. Please let friends and neighbours know about this flyer and that enrolment forms are available at the school office or on the school website. If you have a child starting school next year, please go to our school website and follow the link to complete an online enrolment form.
Communication the Key to Success
Regular and detailed communication is the key to any successful organisation and especially a school. As a school we are continually looking at how we can enhance our communication processes to keep you as informed as possible. I encourage you to contact the school if you have any questions, concerns or something you would like to discuss at any time. We are always happy to talk to you about any issue be it big or small. Often small issues can be solved through a discussion between parents and staff before it becomes something big for your child. As a school we make a commitment to listen, respond and work with you to resolve any concerns. Please contact your child's Key Teacher in the first instance if you have any concerns.
Save The Date Semester 1 Mountain Top at Anzac Park
Mountain Top Wednesday 23 June OR Thursday 24 June 2021
Mountain Top at Anzac Park is an exciting initiative and will take place at Anzac Park over two nights this year. Mountain Top is an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the work of every student at Anzac Park and will be the culmination of student achievement for Semester 1. The evenings will involve all students sharing at least one aspect of their learning from Semester 1 and students will be acknowledged on the evening for their commitment to our six global competencies. This will be a wonderful community celebration and I would like to encourage you all to save the date now so that you will be able to attend this fabulous Anzac Park event. Due to COVID restrictions, families will need to book into a session on either Wednesday 23 June or Thursday 24 June to limit the number of families onsite at any one time. More information about session bookings will be sent later this term.
Spotlight on Forest 2!
This term in Forest, students have been investigating the materials that objects are made of and their observable properties. This week, Kindergarten went on our first excursion to Grasmere Local Playground! Students recorded what natural and manmade materials they could see in the playground, before rigorously play testing the equipment. We can’t wait to see how their knowledge continues to develop throughout the term and what playground designs our students will produce. Students have also been exploring genre and theme in our English lessons. We are learning to see relationships between texts within a genre and how a text’s theme is supported through its use of literary devices such as rhyme, onomatopoeia and alliteration.
Congratulations!
Finally, a big congratulations to our K-2 Deputy Principal, Mrs Amy Sackville, who is expecting her first child in August! Mrs Sackville will be taking leave from the end of Term 2.
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday 5 May K-2 Mother's Day Breakfast
Thursday 6 May 3-6 Mother's Day Breakfast
May 6 - May 7 Stage 1 Drumming Incursion
Friday 7 May NSSSA Winter Sport Commences
Tuesday 11 May P&C Meeting @ 7pm
Thursday 13 May Year 4 Excursion
Friday 14 May Year 3 Excursion
Friday 21 May Zone Cross Country
Monday 24 May Stage 2 Public Speaking Finals
Tuesday 25 May Stage 3 Public Speaking Finals
Tuesday 8 June P&C Meeting @ 7pm
23 June - 24 June Mountain Top
Friday 25 June Last Day Term 2