Online Waste Education Resources
Cool Australia has joined with Visy to deliver free recycling education resources to teachers and schools.The resources, prepared by leading Australian curriculum designers in collaboration with Visy, includes 32 free and effective curriculum-based lesson plans focused on the best ways to recycle, demystifying the collection process and what happens to the recovered materials once delivered to a Visy sorting facility:Schools within Cumberland can start using the resources today to get kids involved with hands-on learning to encourage confidence in recycling-related topics and enthusiasm for how they can be advocates for closing the loop.In addition, Visy is providing fully-funded scholarships to the first 125 teachers who enrol in their Professional Development Course Introduce Primary Students to Design Thinking. The 100% discount coupon will be provided to interested teachers.For more information, please email Naomi at Cool Australia.
First Nations Banner Program
First Nations artist Dennis Golding will lead a series of online creative workshops with First Nations youth exploring themes and ideas that celebrate Country and cultural identity.
Each student will have the opportunity to create an individual artwork that explores what community, identity and culture means to them, and how these are interconnected through their history, experience, and connection to place.
Local First Nations students from across Cumberland LGA are invited to participate in this program that will occur at the end of Term 4 in November and December 2021.
To find out more information, or to register your First Nations student’s interest in participating in this program, please email Cumberland City Council’s Aboriginal Education and Program Officers.
All art materials for the workshops will be provided and sent out to participating students.
Art Therapy Online Group for Adolescents
Uniting Counselling and Mediation, Youth and Family counselling Parramatta is hosting a free art therapy group online for adolescents aged 12-15 years in the month of October. The sessions will run across 4 weeks and uses acceptance commitment therapy and art to assist young people to understand challenging feelings and experiences.
Dates and Times: Tuesdays: 5, 12, 19, and 26 October 2021 between 3:30pm - 5:00pm.
This group will be run online via Zoom and access to a computer and internet is essential. Please contact Lucy, Annette, or Effie from Uniting on 8830 0700 to RSVP by Friday 24 September.
Child Safe Creative Competition
Cumberland City Council invites children and young people to enter the Child Safe Creative Competition for their chance to win a $50 gift card and have their design featured on our child safe signage. The competition opens on Sunday 5 September 2021, marking the beginning of National Child Protection Week and closes on Sunday 17 October 2021. To be eligible to enter:
- You must be under the age of 18 years
- Be a resident or current student that attends a school or education and care centre in the Cumberland City Local Government Area, and
- Complete the simple Entry Form and gain parent or guardian consent.
For more information, visit the Cumberland City Council website
Junior Colouring Competition
As part of September Health Month, Cumberland City Council will be holding a Junior Colouring Competition for children aged 0-12 years. If you follow the steps below and submit a healthy themed colouring sheet or bookmark you will be in the chance of winning a kid’s book pack valued at $100. Council’s favourite entries will also feature on Council’s Library Social Media Pages. Competition entries close on Monday 4 October 2021.
Simply follow these steps to enter:
Download, print and colour either the colouring sheet or bookmarkEntries should be scanned or carefully photographed and submitted via email and ensure you include your name, age, and contact telephone number.For more information, please visit the Cumberland City Council website
Healthy Recipe Competition
Got a favourite healthy recipe? Why not enter Cumberland City Council’s Healthy Recipe Competition for your chance to win a healthy cookbook collection valued at $150. Competition entries close on Monday 4 October 2021. Our favourite recipes will also feature on our Library’s social media pages. Simply email your winning recipe, including photos, your name and contact phone number.
WSRC Writing Competition
Western Sydney Rainbow Connection is holding a writing competition around the theme “What’s it Like to Live in Western Sydney?” There are two categories,14-20 years, and 21 years and over. The deadline to submit entries is 20 November 2021 at 5pm. All stories and/or poems should be inclusive to all spectrums of the Western Sydney Rainbow Connection community. Visit Western Sydney Rainbow Connection to find out more including cash prize categories.
NSW Children’s Week 2021 #Drawing My Friends Art Competition
This competition is being run by Cumberland Multicultural Community Services, Cumberland Migrant Resource Centre and CCA NSW to celebrate NSW Children’s Week.
The competition is open to children between the ages of 2–18 years. The competition is divided into three sections: Juniors (aged 2-6), Intermediate (aged 7-11) and Seniors (aged 12 -17). There will be one winner and one runner up for each section.
In order to be eligible to enter the competition, the child must draw, paint, or use a modelling medium and create their art. When the art is complete, take a photo of it and either:
- Email it to drawyourfriends@yahoo.com no later than 22 October 2021 - OR
- Post it to one the Facebook pages no later than 22 October 2021
- Make sure you add a name and age for the child entering the competition. Do not enter any other identifying information.
- Make sure you add the hashtag #DrawMyFriends
Bush School Connections
Join Cumberland City Council’s Children’s Development team for some virtual fun with songs, stories, and nature play.
The philosophy of the Bush School promotes engaging in play-based experiences fostering an understanding and appreciation of the environment and sustainability through literacy.Nature play sessions are now available online to share with your children.
For more information visit the Cumberland City Council website
Cumberland City Council Library Service
Students of all ages can join Cumberland City Council Library Service online and receive temporary membership which will give immediate access to e-Resources. This temporary membership expires in 90 days. The online registration form can be completed by visiting the Cumberland City Council website
When library services reopen, students can come into one of the libraries to upgrade their temporary membership to a full membership. Membership applications must be signed by a parent or guardian if applicant is under 18, and they will be asked to provide one current form of identification that shows their full name and current residential address.
Student Resources
For a list of our primary school resources, including early literacy, talking picture books and coding, please visit the Cumberland City Council website
For a list of secondary school resources, including our eLibrary and online databases, please visit the Cumberland City Council website
Health and Well-being
Cumberland City Council Libraries have partnered with Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) to bring families the latest health and wellbeing information during Health Month in September.
We will be hosting free Healthy Lunchbox presentations delivered to parents of school age children about healthy snack and lunch ideas. Bookings are essential. To register please visit the Cumberland City Council website
Mental Health Presentation
Cumberland City Libraries will be hosting a Mental Health Presentation via Zoom. Louise Murphy, a Senior Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Wade, a Director of Nursing and Paul McFarlane, Chief Chaplain for NSW Ambulance will be hosting a presentation for Mental Health Week. Louise, Wade and Paul routinely support emergency workers on the frontline of COVID and provide St John teams mental health support and education.
Questions are encouraged and can be asked at the session.
Date: Tuesday 5th of October
Time: 19:00
Topic: Move from surviving to thriving despite the pandemic
To register, email: library.events@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Information for Children and Young People
Activities for Children and Young People
Resources for children, young people, and families for keeping healthy at home, as well as information on how to talk to children about COVID-19 can be found on the Cumberland City Council website
Physical Activities
Get your children active at home with these fun custom videos and links to physical activities accessed by visiting the Cumberland City Council website
Kid’s Activities
Enjoy a growing range of entertaining activities for children up to 12 years of age - from Story Time to exercises and learning crafts. To find out more, visit the Cumberland City Council website
Youth Activities
Discover a range of activities and programs available for youth. To find out more, visit the Cumberland City Council website
Youth Gaming and Gambling
The Australian Institute of Family Studies showed that last year’s COVID-19 lockdowns made gaming and gambling problems increase among young people.
In response, Council in collaboration with the Youth for Youth Group, have codesigned resources on youth gaming and gambling as part of the ‘Odds on Youth’ project funded by the NSW Government.
The resources include an animation on youth gaming, a video on youth gambling harm, and gambling helpline flyer and poster, available in English, Arabic and Dari. These be found on the Cumberland City Council website
Youth Activities
Discover a range of activities and programs available for youth. To find out more, visit the Cumberland City Council website
Youth Gaming and Gambling
The Australian Institute of Family Studies showed that last year’s COVID-19 lockdowns made gaming and gambling problems increase among young people.
In response, Council in collaboration with the Youth for Youth Group, have codesigned resources on youth gaming and gambling as part of the ‘Odds on Youth’ project funded by the NSW Government.
The resources include an animation on youth gaming, a video on youth gambling harm, and gambling helpline flyer and poster, available in English, Arabic and Dari. These be found on the Cumberland City Council website
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