Alawa Primary School Newsletter

Wow the week we just had!!!!!

• The Tek Ninja's with Ms Sacha took out the overall trophy for the NT with their Innovation project designing a delivery drone. Ms Sacha won the award for the Best Coach for the NT teams. Stay tuned later in the newsletter for lots more about this!
• The first ever Alawa Masterchef competition led by Ms Sullivan - 7 teams entered and designed and created some amazing dishes for our esteemed judges.
• The Alawa Student Commissioners attended the NTLC Pitch to the Minister Day and shared their journey and recommendations for improving 'How Students Learn' at Alawa.

I am so very proud of all our students who continue to engage in so many of the extra opportunities available and so appreciative to our staff for their efforts in coordinating and offering these opportunities.

This week: a few things NOT to miss......

• Final netball games of the season Wednesday evening. We even have Alawa playing against each other
• Transition Parent Session - Thursday 2nd at 5pm
• Alawa's Got Talent during lunchtimes this week coordinated by Mr France and Mr T.

I can assure all families our core programs and explicit teaching are still in place in all classrooms through the school right through to the end of Week 9. Through Week 10 alternate programs / timetables will be in place as we wind up the year. Letters will be coming home from class teachers with specific details for your children with regards to events, class parties etc. which will have a slightly different format again this year in many classrooms.

Christmas Craft / Activities

As usual from the start of next week students may be engaging in various Christmas crafts / activities. These are NOT focused on religion or beliefs but the fun aspects. If you have any issues or concerns or would prefer your child NOT to engage please contact your child's class teacher to discuss.

Leadership Planning

Last Saturday the Leadership Team spent the day reviewing feedback from the year, discussing focus and priorities for 2022 and aligning our energies to ensure we are all set and focused for 2022. After presenting our Annual School Improvement Plan and draft budget to School Council last week we are all clear now on the direction for continuous improvement at Alawa through the coming year.

Have a great week and stay hydrated and safe,

Sandy Cartwright [Principal of the Best School in the Multiverse]

On the 26 of November the Learning Commission joined by the Junior Learning Commission later in the afternoon went to the Darwin Convention Centre and pitched their 2021 journey to the Minister. It was a great success and throughout the day they did different activities with the other schools across the NT.

We were joined by Summer, Mr Cleary and our partners from pivot. The Chief Executive Officer for Education, Karen Weston. We all had a great day and enjoyed connecting with the other schools and listening to their journey so far. We all loved how all the pitches from other schools was different and interesting. Seeing other schools canvas made by Jessamy Gee while the schools were sharing their mid way pitch.

Hien Ta

The choice of learning environments

• To give the students a choice for where different subjects take place

The choice of strategies

• To let them choose their own strategies for problems to gain a deeper understanding of their learning

How students take in information

• How teachers give information and how students take it in. It is important for students to have a good relationship with their teachers

Flexible seating

•  Allocate out different flexible seating for different times to stop distractions.

Hello everyone and welcome to Week 8!

It is incredible how fast Term 4 has gone.  As we prepare for many final celebrations and activities for the year we are also starting to think about and prepare for 2022. Our aim is to ensure the changes next year will be as smooth as possible.

Our Preschool and Transition information sessions were held last week and it was wonderful to welcome new families who will be joining our Alawa community next year.

Café: Our orders at the café have definitely improved and our specials have been popular. Yenni received a wonderful letter from our school captains complimenting her on the food she is cooking.

Just a reminder to please let your child know if you have ordered their recess through Quickcliq as they need to come to the café to collect. We will be having our sausage special as part of our attendance award on the last week of school, so keep your eye out for details.

Mindfullness Room: This Thursday after school, our Wellbeing team will be working in our Community room to begin our project. Please don’t hesitate to get in contact if you would like to assist in any way. Your children can stay with you and help if you like.

Have a lovely week.

 Genevieve Donohue [Assistant Principal]

Students at Alawa receive raffle tickets [house points] for their attitude and behaviour in the playground and out the front of the school at the end of the day. These are then counted on a Friday along with the points for students in full uniform, wearing house shirts etc.  At the end of each term we also include the points earnt through the recycling project and water bottle checks.

In Week 7 of Term 4 Manton was ahead of Finnis and Goyder. 

Goyder is in the lead for the year!

Muster is held at Alawa after each recess and lunch break. This gives us an opportunity for everyone to settle from playtime, share any celebrations and work on consistency of messages and expectation.

Each day we allocate class points during Muster time recognising those students who were ready and waiting to go back to class calmly and quietly after break times. The winning class from each 3 weeks will receive ice-blocks from Ms Cartwright and get to choose 5 songs that will play before our bells for the following 3 weeks.

In Week 7 of Term 4, the class with the most points was... Transition Connelly with 157 points!

The development of gross motor skills is an ongoing focus of the preschool program. Children have lots of opportunities to explore gross motor activities through outdoor investigation times and, through more explicit, teacher directed activities.

In the outdoor learning environment activities are programmed in relation to children’s interests and also their needs. Children love exploring the obstacle course which is ever changing and focuses on the skills of climbing, balancing and general coordination Children ride different kinds of bikes, scooters and balance boards and enjoy investigating what balls can do; throwing, catching and bouncing them with their friends.

Children take part in teacher directed games and activities which focus on the development of a particular skill or skills. We utilise a program called KIDDO which is aimed at children and focuses on the development of fundamental movement skills through fun games that the children love. Preschool have even been visiting the big school assembly area this term, playing games and utilising the amazing sports equipment.

Alice, Emma, Kelly and Flor [Preschool Team] 

Last Thursday the Tek Ninjas participated in the First Lego League Cargo Connect NT Remote Regional Competition. Along with five other teams from the Darwin Region they attended an online Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony/Award Presentation along with presenting their innovation project, robot design and addressing the core values. The judging also took in the robot mission videos uploaded earlier in the week. The team was praised for their work, including teamwork, organisation and gracious professionalism. They were very excited to receive the Championship award. On Tuesday the team shared what they had been doing with the rest of the school. They were then presented with certificates and the Championship Award trophy by the Organiser of the Darwin Regional Competition Roy Anderson and one of the Judges Guy Glover to much excitement from the team.

You can view the awards closing ceremony here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HYlDiGoZYLE

Miss Sacha [Library and ICT Manager]

We had so much fun at Playgroup last week. It has been a lot of fun meeting new Alawa families and 2022 Preschoolers. We love to show them around their Preschool, make them feel welcome and introduce them to other 2022 Preschoolers. It's wonderful for parents to connect too as they are warmly welcomed into our community. This week we baked scones, taking turns to add ingredients, mix and stir, press and cut out our scones. There were many happy faces when we covered them in jam and cream and shared them round.  

We enjoyed our time indoors this week with playdough, puzzles and jungle figurines. Outside we painted, played in the cubby and kitchen, rode bikes together and had a great deal of fun in the sand pit.

Next week we'll visit the Farm (weather permitting). Please note that the last Playgroup for the year will be on the 10th December.

See you on Friday,

Miss Maria [Playgroup Coordinator] 

Our Mission - is to provide the Alawa School community with delicious healthy meals and snacks and to create meaningful links to our kitchen garden program.

LUNCHTIME SPECIALS: Weeks 6 -10

Available every day lunch only [Wednesday - Friday]:

- Mini beef burgers  $3.50

- Spaghetti bolognaise small serve $3.50 or large serve $5.50/Gluten Free Spaghetti $6.50

Wednesday - Nachos - Large size $5.50, Small $3.50

Thursday – Sushi, Tuna and corn OR Chicken and cucumber - one size only $5.50

 Friday – Chicken fried rice - Large size $5.50, Small $3.50

A reminder that our school Cafe is open Wednesday to Friday ONLY. Closed on Monday and Tuesdays. 

Order online at www.quickcliq.com.au  

In conjunction with our attendance reward day ,Wednesday 15th December [Week 10], the Cafe will be selling a lunch special available for all students to purchase. 

$6.00 - Sausage in bread, popper juice and icy pole

Orders are now open and can be made via QuickCliq or please note 'Lunch Day special' on students lunch order bag.