Dear parents and carers,

Please ensure your child has a school hat to wear during playtime and other outdoor activities. Please make sure hats are clearly named. If you require any item of school uniform, please see Rachael in the front office.

Thanks to those parents who are endeavouring to drop their children off and collect them on time. With the Covid-19 requirements, children should arrive at school from 7.45am to 8.00am. Classes start at 8.10am. Please do not send your child to school if they are displaying signs of cold or flu.

Resusable and washable masks have been provided for all students. Children are encourged to wear these masks to and from school. Children will also be instructed to wear masks by teachers in the event of close contact activities. Masks are not worn during physical education classes.

I would also like to remind parents about the importance of children having a healthy lunch each day. Students are not to bring chips (either crisps or hot chips), lollies, chocolates, whole packets of sweet biscuits or soft drinks to school. There is to be no dropping off of recess or lunch to school - children are to bring a packed lunch and a water bottle.

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!

This term, Student Council is inviting LIS students from Prep to Year 10 to enjoy a movie here at school. There will be one movie session for primary students and one for high school.

Friday of week 5, August 13th, is for the students from Prep to Year 6. It will start at 3:15 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.

Students are encouraged to bring in their money to give to their class teacher by next Thursday. If they forget, 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

The P&W is running a logo competition for the new and exciting Kibung Café opening at the Lihir Social Club. Students have been talking about their design ideas and the possibility of having their very own artistic design on the logo.

The entries need to be completed on A4 paper and are due by Friday 13th August. The prizes include the honour of having your design printed on menus and various merchandise, along with the club’s generous donations of:

1st prize - K100 club voucher

2nd prize - K50 voucher for the runner up

3rd prize - kiddie hamper

Kids, it is time to get drawing! Make your design relevant to the theme of Kibung Café (coming together) and try to make it original and creative.

If you have any questions, please ask Anesia Wai or Mrs Neale.

Have FUN!!!

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

Next week, year 8 and 10 students will sit their their third set of mock National Exams. It is essential that all students attend school (unless sick) and are punctual in order for the exams to commence on time as per our schedule. The data that is collected from these exams is used to inform our exam prep focus and student support programming for the remainder of this term.

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 Aisa Victor and Mr Joseph Takaundo. 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. 

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

This is a reminder about the Saturday soccer program that is beginning next Saturday, 14th of August, for students in Prep to year 6. Letters were sent home with students last week, however, if needed, please download using the link below. Permission slips are due back to school by Friday 6th August.  If any parents are available to assist with the program on Saturdays, please contact Mr McKeiver by email, as any assistance would be very much appreciated.  Simon.McKeiver@newcrest.com.au 

Thank you,

Mr McKeiver

We wish the year 8 and 10 students all the best for their mock National Exams next week. STMC teachers continue to support this 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.

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

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