Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Tomorrow there is a public holiday to commemorate Remembrance Day. On this day, we remember and pay tribute to those Papua New Guineans who have fought and died in various wars over the years to allow us the freedoms we enjoy today.

Next week, New Ireland Province celebrates New Ireland Day. There is usually a public holiday announced for this day. We will advise parents of this as soon as it is confirmed. As part of the New Ireland Day celebrations, students from the Year 4-10 classes at LIS have had the opportunity to enter the Governor's Essay Competition. Students from all New Ireland schools were eligible to enter the competition. We wish all our entrants success!

Next Wednesday, 28th July, we are holding a high school parent meeting, commencing at 4.00pm in the Year 9/10 classroom. It is expected that the meeting should take no longer than 30 minutes.

At this meeting the following topics will be discussed:

-       The Assessment Policy and expectations for students and parents

-       The Behaviour Policy

-       National Exams preparation and expectations

-       Post Year 10 schooling opportunities

It is essential that there is a representative for every student at the meeting to ensure all parents have a common understanding about these topics. It will also be a time where parents can ask questions.

For parents who live outside of townsite, transport home can be organised for you - please let us know. Complete the slip on the parent letter that was sent home and return to school next week or contact your child's teacher by email or Whatsapp.

Please find Term 3 Parent Calendar attached below.

If  you have any concerns, or would like further information on any of the topics in this newsletter, please do not hesitate to make contact If you have any further queries or questions.

Regards,

Mr Greg Neville

There will be a School Council Meeting for School Council members next Thursday, 29th July, commencing at 6.00pm in the year 9/10 classroom.

It is imperative that parents and carers do not send their children to school if they are sick or showing any symptoms of a cold or flu. If your child is sick, please keep your child home and seek appropriate medical attention. Children who display any signs of sickness will be isolated under supervision in the school's sick bay and parents called to come and collect them.

1.  A comprehensive deep clean of the school will be undertaken by Nayal LTD, prior to school resumption in term 3.

2. Entrance to school for students and parents / carers will be via the Aginas Oval gate only, which will open at 7.45am. Students who arrive before this (which is discouraged) are to social distance and  wait in the carpark undercover area until 7.45am. Students should be at school by 8.05am, ready to start the day at 8.10am.

3. All students will be greeted at the gate by a teacher, where they will be temperature checked. They will then wash their hands at the wash station and then proceed to their classroom.  Parents and carers will be permitted to escort their children to classrooms, If parents need to go to the office, they will be permitted to proceed to the wash station and are then to make their way straight to the school office. 

4. Several wash stations are installed around the school and hand sanitiser is available in all classrooms. Students will be required to wash their hands in the mornings before school, before and after recess/lunch and before leaving school in the afternoons.

5. All desks, door handles, playground equipment and other high contact equipment will be sanitised twice daily or after use by cleaning staff.

6. Social distancing measure of 1.5 metres will be employed in classrooms through desk arrangements. Social distancing markings have been painted on cement areas where students line up and in the undercover area for recess/lunch eating times. The school will implement staggered recess breaks between the primary and high school to reduce the number of children using toilets etc.

7. Students will be issued with a reusable washable mask. Students will be need to wear these masks for travel to and from school and during all activities at school.

8. The school canteen will be open on Fridays in term 3. The P&W will send more info out regarding this in due course. Students will need to bring a packed recess snack and lunch each day - there is to be no dropping off of food by parents, siblings or haus meris. Students are also asked to bring a water bottle to school that they will refill.

9. Term 3 will see assemblies in the basketball court  throughout the term. Parents will be welcome to attend, adhering to social distancing protocols.

Term 3 - Monday 12 July to Wednesday 15 September

Term 4 - Tuesday 5 October to Thursday 2 December

Curriculum News

Term 3 parent overviews were sent home last week. Please contact your child's teacher if you did not receive a copy. Next week, Mrs Laien and Ms Yip will email high school parents a copy of the term assessment schedule. We encourage parents to monitor when an assessment is due so that students are on time with handing in their draft work and assessment tasks.

Assemblies

A reminder that parents are welcome to attend Friday assemblies. These are held on the basketball court, commencing at 8.10am. Please remember to social distance and wear a mask. Thank you for your cooperation.

Swimming

The years 3-10 swimming lessons commenced this week. Swimming is part of the PE program for this term and participation is compulsory. If your child is not swimming, please send a note or contact your child's teacher.

Prep-year 2 students will have an intensive swimming program over weeks 8 and 9. Prep-year 2 students will have a lesson each day in Week 8 and Monday-Wednesday in Week 9. On Thursday of Week 9, there will be an early years swimming carnival in the morning and a year 3-10 carnival in the later afternoon/evening.

Year 8 and Year 10 Exam Prep

Saturday morning Exam Prep sessions for all year 8 and 10 students will be on again this Saturday, 9.00am - 12.00pm, with Ms Edwina Jason and Mr Jeffrey Tore. It is expected that all students attend and be on time to begin class at 9.00am. Students should be organised and have their stationery materials with them.

Please advise your child's teacher (Ms Yip or Mrs Laien) if your child is unable to attend.

We will continue our after school sessions for year 10 students as per last term's schedule. Both year 8 and 10 students will be sitting Mock exams in Week 5.

Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

Ms Langusch

Our FODE students are continuing to work hard and submit the required assessment. This weekend, STMC staff will meet with parents and students to discuss student progress and future deadlines for the program.

Our STMC staff continue to support the local Lihirian teachers studying in the Primary Education Bachelor Upgrade Program. We are currently negotiating with local Education Authorities and Divine University re the timing of the next face to face workshops for the commencement of Semester 2 of this program.  

We currently have a number of our previous Work Ready Program trainees preparing for and undertaking interviews for a range of positions both within Newcrest Mining Limited and with Contractors and we wish them all the very best both with their interviews and their potential new careers,

The Kisim Save Library remains open to all Townsite Residents and Newcrest Employees every Saturday by appointment. Please email kevin.collins@newcrest.com.au .

Regards,

Mr. Kevin Collins