Thursday 17th May 2012 Term 2 Week 4

Posted on May 17, 2012 by traceye

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Julianna Term 2 Week 4

Posted on May 17, 2012 by juliannam

Hello Currambena,

Have you noticed our new notice board? We are looking so very posh!

Mikee has typed up the different rosters so take note the bar has been lifted!

No more tatty bits of paper….well not this week.

Thank-you to Mikee for finding and ordering these great boards and to Andrew of B-MAC for attaching them to our old board.

 REMINDERS…… 

STAFF MEETING – next week we will be starting are meeting at 3.00pm sharp so if you need to catch a teacher maybe an email will suffice.

AGM – only 11 days left till we nominate five members to our Council. Are you going to join the team who are an integral part of running Currambena? Please remember your nomination must be in by Monday 21 May. The forms are here in the office

EDUCATION FORUM – This is also happening the night of our AGM and will be starting with soup and rolls at 6.30pm sharp. Please come and be part of a gathering of information so we can collectively make decisions about the future of language and music in the school.

 Canteen – Is definitely on, please see the menu under CANTEEN

Next Council is our AGM Monday 28th May starting at 8.00pm

Love Julianna

-       With one person, it is hard to see very far. With two people, you can see a little more. But if you have a whole group of people around really caring about you and telling you, ”You are doing the right thing! We want you to be around! Give us your gifts!” it helps you fulfil your purpose.

-       Sobonfu Some‘

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ABC’s and XYZ’s Term 2 Week 4

Posted on May 17, 2012 by franm

The ABC’s

The current topic for the ABC’s is dinosaurs and Nicola has incorporated this into cooking. The children have creating some amazing looking dinosaur toasties. The class has begun to explore spelling and are currently up to P in the alphabet. In Maths the ABC’s have been learning addition.
The current topic for the XYZ’s  is Aboriginal studies which up until this point we have been learning about mainly through read aloud stories. We have just started to integrate cooking into this unit. Yesterday Nicola gave a very well researched informative presentation to the students on indigenous cooking methods and ingredients. The first cooking group will be making crocodile kebabs today and we will all get a chance to taste them. The class has been doing a lot of working on spelling recently with a focus SH, TH and SH blends. In Maths we have been exploring addition of single digit numbers up to twenty.
On behalf of all the XYZ’s I would like to say a big thank you to Susan and Uli (Matthew and Alba’s mums) for the amazing work they have done. Susan has been teaching the children hockey while Uli has been looking after Kai (Susan’s baby). Our hockey unit is ending on Monday and the children would like to learn yoga for the rest of the term but so far we have no one to teach it so if you have the time and the knowledge please contact Blake.
We still need transport for our rock climbing excursion on the 22nd of May so if you can help please sign the transport sheet on Fran’s window.
Have a great weekend from Blake, Fran and Nicola.

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Preschool Newsletter Week 4

Posted on May 17, 2012 by sueg

Hello Everyone

This week we have been planting seeds – parsley, leeks, broccolini, peas and beans into individual pots. We have also been exploring the properties of water by experimenting and playing with plastic tubes, funnels and containers. In Group Time we have been talking about how seeds grow and discussing ‘clear messages’ – when you use them, what you say and what the content should be.

In Craft today we are going to begin making the milk bottle igloo. Lots of people have brought in milk bottles but we suspect we need more, so keep bringing them in (with their lids on please). Thanks!

There have been headlice throughout the school. Everyone please check their child’s hair and treat it if necessary. Be aware that headlice can be tiny and not readily visible. The eggs must be removed as well. A good way to identify headlice is by the conditioner method. Just google it and the process will be explained. Children’s heads need to be checked routinely to nip any problem in the bud. Thank you everyone for your cooperation!

Another reminder is that no children are to climb on the school fence. This is an important safety rule and needs to be observed by everyone. Thanks!

Another request – please do not let your child swing on the gate as the hinges can’t sustain it. Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who has signed the regular excursion permission form. There are a few people who have no signed it or only one parent has signed. Please come and check if you need to complete the form. There is a mistake in the heading of the form. It says “…Regular Excursions in the Lane Cove Community on Mondays 2012.” This should read “…Regular Excursions in the Lane Cove Community in 2012″. Sorry for the confusion. This enables us to go on excursions in the Lane Cove area on any day.

Next Wednesday 23rd May from 8.00am – 9.00am we are holding a Nature Exhibition Opening Breakfast!! Each child has taken photos at school and they will be displayed on the big wall. Preschool will provide croissants, tea and coffee. Could the parent community bring fruit or anything to share for breakfast (no nuts please)?

Thanks to Amanda for the beautiful little mattresses for the dolls’ beds and for fixing the dolls’ clothes. Thanks to all the people who do our washing as well.

Love from

Sue, Chris and Michael.

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The Exploding Jack-hammers! Week 4

Posted on May 17, 2012 by sarahm

Hi Everyone!

This week has been an interesting one. Kasia, Izzy’s mum, very kindly came into class on Monday and Tuesday. She taught us some Polish and shared some of the Polish culture with us. We ate some traditional food and some of the children dressed up in authentic Polish dress. Kasia also told us a folk story which on Tuesday, we turned into a cut paper mural. The experience was brilliant and all the children loved finding out about another place in the world. Thank you Kasia!!

We would love for any other parents to come in and share their heritage with the children.

Belinda, our teaching aid, has started to settle in with our class now. She is a trained dance teacher and on Tuesday, took our class for a lesson. Hopefully this will continue for several weeks and the children can build on what they have learnt so far.

We have been focussing on division in maths this week. Most of the children learnt how to do division on a number-line and have enjoyed working out some very challenging calculations.

We planted some seeds last Friday in the classroom. We have been inspecting them every morning and are looking forward to planting them up in the garden area when they are ready.

Just a reminder: There are nits back in school so please check your child’s hair and treat when needed, thank you.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Louise

 

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Wendy’s Group Week 4 Term 2

Posted on May 17, 2012 by wendyp

An enormous thank you to Polly, Annie, Karen and Myung-Jin who helped us to get to Macquarie Ice Rink on Tuesday for a session of skating, our PE for this week. It was wonderful to see the persistence and steady progress made as the kids regained their balance and remembered or developed their skills. The inevitable falls were not enough to dampen enthusiasm for most of the group, who gained in confidence and competence over the 90 minute session. Thanks again to the parents who made it possible for us to go.

Thanks also to Ann-Marie who took the group last Thursday and Friday. The group seemed to have a good couple of days with her.

Belated thanks to the Maintenance Day worked who made such a difference to the school the weekend before last. It is delightful to see the school looking so well cared for!

Today we are holding our Mini Fair to practise our organisational skills and to raise money for Cancer Research. It will be a busy one!

A Reminder: Please do not to let children climb or swing on the front gate. It damages the hinges.

And NITS ARE AROUND AGAIN. Please be vigilant and treat as soon as you see evidence!

This week we are continuing work on area, writing and editing stories, reading and writing reviews and making and learning about crystals as well as running the Mini Fair. Self-managed learning is continuing to be a feature of our week with a  new computer booking system to ensure times  are adhered to, distributed fairly and responsibility taken by individuals.

A couple of coming events include:

* student teachers from Macquarie Uni

* Vision Day next Tuesday with Science students from Sydney Uni teaching us about sight and how the eye works

*CLCR Trivia Night Saturday 26th

* AGM and Education Committee Forum on Monday 28th May All Welcome!

* Children’s Voices for Reconciliation in Lave Cove Plaza on Thursday 31st May and Alexandra Park students coming here for a BBQ lunch afterwards (Please offer to help if you can!)

Our group is also planning a Movie Night at school before the end of term but the date hasn’t been decided yet (I don’t think).

We have been having on-going discussions about social issues especially how to treat people respectfully and share space amicably even if we don’t particularly like how someone else is behaving. I hear myself saying “If you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” and “Whose problem is it?” and “If you have a problem with somebody, speak to them directly about that problem and solve it with words”….many times some days. I hope these messages or similar ones are repeated at home too!

Please also remember to help children practise times tables if they still need it and remind them to read every night at home.

Thanks!     Have a great week.          Love,   Wendy

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The Famous 19

Posted on May 17, 2012 by sarahm

Hi

We’ve had a very inventive and creative week this week! Last Friday, Skylen (our student teacher) performed an experiment with the children. The design task was, to create  something to protect and prevent a hard boiled egg from cracking once dropped from considerable height. Some of the designs were extremely inventive and it was evident that a great deal of thought and creativity went into their designs. Check out the photo montage outside our classroom.

We continued to learn more about the arrival of the First Fleet through a wonderful website, “My Place”, where the children can make their way through time investigating and exploring different periods in our Australian history. They will be using this site each week for a web-quest! This week, they had to log on and locate 2 characters from 1788, then find a character’s campsite, discovering answers to questions posed. Each week I will be presenting a different task from a different period for their research. The children worked harmoniously, in 2′s and 3′s, communicating and helping each other as they perused. Some,  are more familiar with the use of the computer than others and this was a wonderful way for peer teaching and fun to be added to the discovery process.

Skylen was with us again on Tuesday and facilitated the class through creating,  “Arrival of the First Fleet”, a wall display! Come check it out. They were so engaged in this activity, pausing every now and then to ask questions about convicts and the supplies that were transported on the ships. In the afternoon we went to the bomb park and played ball games. We practiced hand/eye coordination by throwing and catching, balancing and also team skills. It was a lovely afternoon with lots of laughs! Next week we will be honing our footwork by playing soccer with Steve (Lucy’s dad).

Wednesday, there was Italian (with Claudia) and French (with Britta), craft and a lesson on how to use PREZI. This is a wonderful ICT tool some of the children are becoming more and more engaged with as a very different way to research and present their projects.

PE EXCURSION: Rock climbing at “Climb Fit” in St Leonards is confirmed for Tuesday, 5th June between 10:30 – 12:30pm. We will plan to leave shortly after 10am and the parents I have confirmation from thus far are: Deborah, Lisa, Steve and Carolyn. I still need 1 more parent to volunteer so please come forth asap!!

Well done to the group in my class who raised $125.00 from their stall last Friday. The money went to “Sydney Homeless Connect”.

NITS, NITS, NITS are back!!!!!!!!!! Need I say more?

And that was the week that was,

Sarah.

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Thursday 10th May 2012 Term 2 Week 3

Posted on May 10, 2012 by traceye

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Julianna Term 2 Week 3

Posted on May 10, 2012 by juliannam

Hello Currambena, 

THANK-YOU to….

- Everyone who came to maintenance day and did a clean-up last Sunday. The school looked fabulous Monday morning.

- Rodney for the great job he did fixing the palings to the new fence at the back of the craft room. 

A wee tiny reminder…. when I was checking the bins this morning there was fresh green waste sitting on top of a heap of styrofoam. Not so sure these two go together.  If you see something is out of place please follow-up about fixing it.

GENERAL WASTE….

To have our general waste bonza bin emptied the costs involved are:

Pick-up and transportation                                 $280.00

I x load disposal at general waste depot              $253.00

Yes and yes it is very expensive but comparable to other systems.

My question or request to everyone is, how can each family make a change to reduce the waste at Currambena? All ideas and suggestions would be very welcome.

We usually need to empty the big bin every five weeks. 

Let our challenge for the community be –

TO REDUCE THE PICK-UP TO ONCE A TERM!! 

WHAT’S HAPPENING…..

The B-Mac Team arrived at Currambena bright and early this morning and work has started on the replacement of the veranda roof. 

Canteen – Mikee and Martin are your gourmet cooks tomorrow.

Next Council is our AGM Monday 28th May

Love Julianna

-       They dance as they walk, or they walk as they dance, to the sound of an inner melody, for with their bodies they pass through the world around them in quest of a still-remembered harmony.

-       Dr Raymond Johnson

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Louise’s Class Term 2 Week 3

Posted on May 10, 2012 by sarahm

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much to the parents that have volunteered to come into class and help out, it’s really appreciated.

We have been focusing on multiplication in maths and have even been multiplying some two digit numbers. The children have enthusiastically learnt a new strategy to do this and are enjoying the challenge and the success. Division will be next week.

We have looked closely at information texts this week to help the children with what to include and how to organise their personal projects. Several of the children have already finished and presented their projects and they have been excellent.  We are looking forward to the rest.

Last week we planned out a science investigation into explosions. We are looking at the well known combination of bi-carbonate of soda and vinegar. Each group is changing one variable to try to find out what makes the largest reaction. Hopefully we will know by the end of today!

I would like to book the trip to go on the James Craig later in the term. The minimum number for a group is 24. At the moment, there are 15 of us including me. That means we would need 9 extra adults to come along to the over night trip to enable us to go. Please could you email me and let me know if you think you’d like to come with us. I don’t have a firm date but if possible, it’ll be a Thursday afternoon, coming back Friday. You can read more about it here: http://www.shf.org.au/JCraig/Sleepovr.html

Enjoy your weekends!

Louise

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