Dear Parents/Carers

COVID-19 Update

I have just been informed from the Department that the lockdown is to be extended until Friday 28 August 2021.

Can I start off by thanking  you for keeping your children at home where possible. It is the safest place for them to be. The current spread of COVID-19 is most serious, especially as it seems to be increasingly affecting children. Now is certainly not the time to be sending children to school unless it is absolutely necessary. The school is running on a skeleton staff with 2 teachers and a School Learning Support Officer to provide minimal supervision of students.

The aim is to prevent the movement of people and therefore the spread of the virus.

Due to extension of the lockdown, our delivery team will be out on Monday to get the next two week's of work out to families.

There are many tools for parents and carers to explore, to support themselves and their children. See attached sheet of Apps that has been collated by Reachout.com which you may find useful. 

Our Facebook page is certainly humming. I took great pleasure in reading parent comments in relation to our staff delivering the, ‘Work at Home Packs,’ to my wife last night. Thank you for the positive feedback and thankyou to the delivery team who are looking  foward to delivering your packs to you again on Monday.

Happy Times At School Last Week

Afternoon Tea with the Principal. (If I owned a bakery, I would have a good cash flow.) There were two sittings last week, a junior and senior afternoon tea due to high numbers of guests. Students can buy an afternoon tea for a whopping 25 Green Grins which students earn through our Positive Behaviour for Learning reward system. I need to either buy a bakery or put up the cost of Green Grins needed to attend…. maybe 50 Green Grins! It is a great time which we all enjoy.

I think I’m becoming a trend setter. Check out Isaac’s tie which he wore to school last week. A very sharp look!

Thank you again to all of our GPS community for working together and helping us stay safe by following the COVID-19 lock down guidelines.

 Mark Sullivan

 Principal

Follow the link below for excellent resources that can support you and your child/ren while ‘Learning from Home’. Explore the lessons provided in the learning packages and continue as a ‘Lifelong Learner’ alongside your child/ren!

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/learning-from-home/learning-at-home

Remember, the program provided by your child’s class teacher is the priority learning program for your child. From this site, you can choose one or more learning packages from any of the four streams in literacy/English, numeracy/mathematics, physical activity and more key learning areas.

LEARNING PACKAGES

Each learning activity package has a parent/carer guide with instructions, with many containing multiple play and do videos and audio resources to help you with your child’s learning.

These learning packages have been designed for use in the home if you are unable to access the learning provided by your school or you are looking for additional learning opportunities. Each learning package has options for students who may find the work too difficult or too easy. We recognise that students across NSW have a diverse range of learning needs and some of these materials may need to be adjusted to support your child.

Access and get ready for #EducationLIVE, 10am AEST daily:

Example: Friday 20 August: Get colourful and creative with an art lesson by Ken Done in his studio - The Ken Done Gallery.

OR

Catch up on previous Education LIVE Videos, including Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis; Science Extraordinaire, Dr Graham Walker or Award-Winning Hip-Hop Dancers Libby Montilla and Shaun Parker.