Dear parents and carers,

Technology / STEM. I am pleased to witness Technology and STEM education moving full steam ahead at LIS. This week saw students in the high school using our new workshop for the first time. Thanks to Mr Collins who spearheaded this facility and the School to Mine teachers who put many hours into setting it up. We now look forward to the opening of our hospitality kitchen which we hope to have up and running by the end of this term.

Year 10 Leadership Camp. Over the last weekend in August, our year 10 students will participate in a leadership camp in Kavieng, which was postponed from earlier in the year due to Covid 19 restrictions.  The camp will focus on looking toward the year 10 exams as well as a visit to OLSH International School in Kavieng where several of our year 10 students will be completing year 11 and 12. 

Independence Day. This year the school will celebrate Independence Day on the last day of school for term 3. There will be some special activities (LIS Idol, dances, free dress and ice-cream to celebrate the day). Please note that this year it will be a school in-house celebration only - meaning that due to Covid 19 restrictions, we will be unable to invite parents and the wider community to  join us. Photos and short videos will be included in the school's newsletter and web page for parents and carers to view.

School Council. I am pleased to announce that Richard Toisiat has accepted his nomination as a parent rep on the School Council. We thank Richard for his commitment to the school.

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

Regards,

Mr Greg Neville

MOVIE TIME!

Student Council is holding a movie afternoon, this Friday, 13th August, for Prep-year 6 students. The movie will start at 3.15pm and finish at 5.00pm. We ask that parents who pick up their children ensure that students are collected by 5:10pm.

There is a K5 entry fee and popcorn will be provided. Students are asked to bring their own water bottle. The environmental benefits of this were raised in the meeting.

If students have not yet bought in their money, they can still pay on the day.

Later in the term, we have a movie for the high school students which will start at 6:00pm. The date is yet to be decided.

Only students from LIS are allowed to attend the events please.

BOOK DONATIONS

Please remember we are running a second-hand book donation for a nearby school that has recently opened. There is a colourful box outside the Year 3/4 classroom. Children can place the books in the box. At the end of the term, we will be delivering the books and other resources to the school. Thank you to the families who have already donated books.

Thank you!

from,

The Student Council

Thanks to P&W Canteen Coordinator and P&W ladies for starting up the canteen service for term 3. The menu is attached below.

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

Friday Assemblies

Just a reminder to parents that you are welcome to attend our Friday assemblies, commencing at 8.10am on the basketball court. Please remember to wear a mask and adhere to social distancing protocols.

Curriculum News

ICAS Assessments

Commencing in week 6, students in years 2–10 will participate in online ICAS assessments.

ICAS stands for International Competitions and Assessments for Schools and is a range of online competitions designed specifically for primary and secondary students, made by UNSW Global, a subsidiary of the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

ICAS is designed to target students’ knowledge, higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in a range of areas. Over weeks 6-8, students will participate in Spelling, English, Maths and Science.

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online results report.

ICAS testing gives students the opportunity to develop their test-taking skills as well as demonstrate their achievement against their peers from other Pacific countries, including Australia. These results do not impact on students’ semester 2 academic results.

To learn more about ICAS, please go to the website: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas or speak to your child’s teacher.

Year 8 and 10 Mock Exams

These have been held over the week and teachers are busily collating data and identifying areas for further revision and consolidation. These results will be discussed with students. Over the coming weeks, our year 8 and 10 students will continue to focus on exam preparation and we strongly encourage parents to monitor that their child is also completing appropriate study at home.

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. t 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. 

Homework Club

Homework Club has recommenced this term for the year 3/4 and 5/6 classes. This is held each Wednesday afternoon from 3.00pm to 4.00pm.

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

Kind regards,

Ms Langusch

Just a reminder about the Saturday soccer program beginning on Saturday morning. Students that are participating need to be at the school oval by 8:00am sharp. Please don’t be late as this will hold up the start of the activities for everyone involved. We also ask that students be picked up from school at 9:30am at the conclusion of the program. Students may wear any appropriate sports clothing and are encouraged to wear simple running shoes (no football boots) for player safety. A water bottle will also be necessary.

 If any students are unable to participate in soccer on Saturday due to other commitments but would like to be involved in sports activities, please email Mr McKeiver. Simon.McKeiver@newcrest.com.au

Thank you,

Mr McKeiver

This week we say goodbye to Aisa Victor; Aisa has worked with the School to Mine Campus (WRI) since 2017. We thank Aisa for her years of service and commitment to the STM Programs and wish her all the very best for the future.

STMC teachers continue to support the preparation for students with after school and Saturday classes. Please ensure students arrive on time with all required equipment to these lessons.

Our FODE students are continuing to work hard and submit the required assessment in preparation for exams in November.

Dates for the next Divine University: the next face to face lectures will be 13 - 24 September. STMC staff continue to support these local Lihirian teachers studying in the Primary Education Bachelor Upgrade Program as they work to complete assessment for their first semester.

Recruiting has commenced for the next Work Ready Program which commences 4 October.

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