MULTICULTURAL DAY 2023
We are very excited that MC Day is coming! It will be held on Friday, 3 November 2023 (Week 4, Term 4), raising money for Obwororo Academy in Kenya and celebrating the many cultures in our school. We hope that everyone will come to school wearing national dress on the day.
Students can donate coins into the house cylinders all of Week 4. Students can also bring money on Friday for the many stalls that staff will be running at B1 (cash only event). There will also be a pre-paid Primary BBQ that can be ordered through Flexischools no later than Friday 20 October (Term 4, Week 2). MC Day will start with a whole school assembly and a parade of nations into the Gym – it will be Amaroo amazing! Our theme for the day is: “Small change is big change for Obwororo!”
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LEARNING SPOTLIGHT - PRIMARY
Year 2 Learning Spotlight
Welcome to our Week 2 ‘Learning spotlight’! Each newsletter we will feature a ‘learning spotlight’ from one of our grades across primary. We will share with you their words and reflections of why the learning we do at school is important and why it matters. Join me in celebrating our students thinking about their learning.
Student interview - Tyler 2DGE
Learning area - Integrated inquiry
Big understanding: We are connected to places in different ways.
What have you been learning about?
We have been learning about places in Canberra and why they are special to us. We have been learning about how the Ngunnawal people have a special connection with these places in Canberra too. We have looked at different places like; Tidbinbilla, Mount Ainslie and Black Mountain and how they are significant. Significant means important and special.
Why is this learning important?
It is important to learn this information so that we can know more about them and how we can look after these places in Canberra. We can look after these places by following the rules and cleaning up rubbish.
How did you take this learning further?
We are working on making posters about a place in Canberra that is significant to us. We are researching to answer questions about our connection to this place and how we can care for it and also learning facts about the places. I am doing a poster on the Arboretum. It is special to me because I have been there a lot of times and I go there with my friends to the park.
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LEARNING SPOTLIGHT - SECONDARY
Creative Writing Workshop
On Thursday 19th October, some of students who love creative writing participated in a workshop with author Lisa Fuller.
Lisa Fuller is a Wulli Wulli woman from Eidsvold, Queensland, also descended from Wakka Wakka and Gooreng Gooreng nations. She currently lives on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country (Canberra). Her debut novel ‘Ghost Bird’ was published in 2019, written in the Pancake Parlour in Civic. Lisa has signed copies which are now available in the library for students to borrow.
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Some of the things we learnt about writing from Lisa. Lisa’s characters talk to her in her head. She listens to playlists, when her character is sad she listens to a sad playlist. Lisa recommended that students continue to read, listen to authors and continue to find time for writing. You don’t need to sit for hours to write, you can find time to write, look at how you’re currently spending your time, instead of snapchat and Instagram, pick up a pencil. Finding a space where you can write, it doesn’t need to be a formal desk at home. It can be outside, at a park, on the bus (just don’t forget to get off at your stop). Lisa ran through some writing activities and also shared her experiences with writing, publishing and being an author.
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Remember daughter, the world is a lot bigger than anyone knows. There are things that science may never explain. Maybe some things that shouldn’t be explained.
Stacey and Laney are twins – mirror images of each other – and yet they’re as different as the sun and the moon. Stacey works hard at school, determined to get out of their small town. Laney skips school and sneaks out of the house to meet her boyfriend. But when Laney disappears one night, Stacey can’t believe she’s just run off without telling her.
As the days pass and Laney doesn’t return, Stacey starts dreaming of her twin. The dreams are dark and terrifying, difficult to understand and hard to shake, but at least they tell Stacey one key thing – Laney is alive. It’s hard for Stacey to know what’s real and what’s imagined and even harder to know who to trust. All she knows for sure is that Laney needs her help.
Stacey is the only one who can find her sister. Will she find her in time?
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LEARNING SPOTLIGHT
Outdoor Education
This semester the focus for Outdoor Education has been land based activities. Students have been introduced to a range of outdoor adventure activities including bouldering, artificial surface climbing, navigation and bushwalking/hiking. The theory lessons that students undertake adequately prepares them for the new challenges they face in the practical tasks.
Rock Climbing and Bouldering
A highlight thus far has to be the trips to Mitchell Indoor Rock Climbing and Mountain Strong Bouldering gyms. Our students conquered a variety of challenging climbs and routes, whilst teaching them resilience, determination, and trust in their abilities and their peers. Through this, they discovered the importance of teamwork, encouragement and problem solving skills to successfully climb their chosen routes.
We have also dusted off the holds on our school's climbing wall and have utilised this in lessons throughout the semester. Students have learnt how to safely set up and correctly rig an artificial surfaces wall and have then problem solved in their groups to successfully climb the predetermined routes.
Navigation
Navigation was a concept which was new to many. Students have developed their map-reading skills and learned to use compasses effectively. Whether it was plotting routes, reading topographical maps or working out the distance of our planned hike, students developed critical problem-solving skills and teamwork. They were able to link the theory and classroom work into their Centennial Trail hike which was undertaken week 1 of term 4.
Centennial Trail Hike
During this activity, students were able to appreciate what is so close to Amaroo School and available to them within the community. Using their pre plotted points from navigation lessons, students hiked a 14km return trip from Mulligans Flat in Forde to the Northern Border Campground. During this experience students practised the ideology of minimal impact to the environment and were lucky enough to see a number of native animals to the area.
We encourage every student to consider Outdoor Education as an elective in year 9 or 10. If anyone has any questions about the Outdoor Education program, feel free to chat with Mr Williams or Mr Slegers in the PE staffroom.
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CAPTAINS REPORT - PRIMARY
Week 2, Term 4
Hi Amaroo! This is Levi and Cristiano (filling in for Laura). Term 4 has started smoothly, we have enjoyed seeing our classmates and teachers again. Term 4 is a really busy one. There are a lot of exciting events happening, such as the Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 camp, Level Up day, and the Year 6 and 10 graduations.
Last term, Year 6 held the famous Market Day which was a culmination of the integrated inquiry learning, about economics, advertising, mathematics and business. There were 41 market stalls selling food, drinks, games and activities and crafts. The day was very successful raising a whopping $6,800 dollars. This money will be used to fund our Year 6 Graduation party and end of year activities.
At present the Year 5 students are starting their learning about democracy and visited Parliament House last Friday. It is with this learning that they begin the campaign of School Captains for 2024. We wish Year 5 luck in this fun learning experience and democratic process.
Our youngest learners, in preschool, begin their visits to Kindergarten to learn about ‘big school’ and all the learning they will do next year… including coming to school 5 days a week for the next 11 years! We are so proud to be finishing our primary journey at Amaroo and look forward to seeing the new Kindies of 2024 when we see them from Year 7.
We encourage all students in primary to bring a Grandparent or Special friend (who doesn’t come to our school) to share in reading stories on Monday 30 October 9-10am, followed by a nice morning tea. This is a lovely opportunity for us to share with our loved ones our school, our teachers and our classmates.
On Friday of Week 4, it is Multicultural Day and this day is a huge celebration of diversity and inclusion in our school. Remember to dress up in the cultural attire that is special to you and to bring cash to purchase food, crafts and activities from the year group stalls. All the money raised will go towards the Obwororo Academy in Africa (our partner school).
Have a great week!
Levi and Cristiano
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ThinkUKnow Presentation
Amaroo School will be hosting a ThinkUKnow presentation on Tuesday 24 October at 6pm in the Inspire Centre (school library) and all parents, carers and teachers are encouraged to attend.
ThinkUKnow Australia is an evidence-based education program delivered nationally to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
ThinkUKnow Australia is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police, Microsoft Australia, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The program is delivered in collaboration with policing partners New South Wales Police Force, Northern Territory Police, Queensland Police, South Australia Police, Tasmania Police, Western Australia Police, as well as Neighbourhood Watch Australasia.
The presentation will be delivered by a local law enforcement member and an industry volunteer. The presentation is pro-technology and addresses topics including self-generated child abuse material, online grooming, sexual extortion, and importantly encourages help seeking behaviour.
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about young people and the online environment, and how you can help them to be safe and responsible users of technology.
For more information, you can visit www.thinkuknow.org.au or contact Rebecca Tobler.
Please register your interest in attending by filling in the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/C1gbKK79tDkK...
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2024 School travel applications are now open
Students who need a new or replacement School Opal card or travel pass for 2024 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement because of a new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).
For more information please see button below or visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-for-a-school-travel-pass.
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