Newsletter Week 3 Term 2

From the Principal

Dear Families and Carers, 

I hope you have all enjoyed the new format of our Five Islands School Newsletter. This term is already going so quickly, we hope all families enjoyed their Easter break. We have had a busy start to the term and this week enjoyed a visit from our Director, Educational Leadership, Dr Fiona Walsh. She enjoyed meeting many students, parents and staff and was warmly welcomed by all.

Mother’s Day

We hope mothers, grandmothers and all primary caregivers had a relaxing and enjoyable Mother’s Day. Last week we had a lovely Mother’s Day Morning Tea. You will read more about this lovely get together and see photos from the day later in this newsletter. Thank you to everyone that joined us on the day, you helped make it such a special time for our mother’s and students.

New School Uniform update

During Winter and the cooler months, both boy and girl students can wear plain Black Tracksuit pants (no logos or stripes please). Girls may wish to wear Black Opaque Tights under a Black Skort or Black Skirt, however, Black Trackpants are quite suitable and can be purchased through outlets such as Big W, Kmart, Target or Best and Less.

The school have a small self-run Uniform Shop and hold in stock Polos, Shorts and Hoodies in several different sizes to try on and make the purchase process easier for parents. Parents and carers who need financial assistance to purchase the new uniform should contact me directly. Uniform orders can be made through the School Bytes Parent Portal or by contacting Office staff.

Attendance

Please remember to notify the Office staff should your child be absent from school – same day notification would be appreciated to save further follow-up. Following Department of Education guidelines, same day text messages will be sent to parents/carers should a student be absent from school.

Dental Van

In the Week from Monday 19^th May, Oral on the Go will provide a Dental Van and a basic dental service to interested students. They will park their Dental Van within School grounds and consenting students will be supervised to visit the van for a dental check-up. They will provide a report on each child they see, which they send via the school to the families. Please ask the Office staff should you require further information.

Administering Medication at School

The Department of Education (DoE) require any staff member who administers medication to a student to complete official DoE training. Parents are required to send the medication to school in a Webster Pack to ensure the correct medication is administered. Along with the Webster Pack, the school requires a Medication Summary letter from the prescribing doctor detailing the drug name, strength, dosage, and route. A new doctor letter will be required each time medication changes are made, new medication is prescribed, or dosages changed. We appreciate parents support in this process.

If you child travels to school via Assisted School Travel, could you please hand any medication directly to the Driver or ATSO to hand over to school staff upon arrival. This way it will keep all students safe.

 School Website

Since our recent official School Photos were taken, staff have been busy updating our School Website. If you get a chance, look at the lovely photos and videos on our website. Not all photos and videos have been updated yet as it is a work in progress, however, you will find a lovely video on their from our recent Mother’s Day Morning Tea.

Warmest Regards 

Clare Fleming 

Principal 

The Smith Family Saver Plus

The Smith Family have emailed me information to share with families.

Term 2 is a great time to support families with Saver Plus—a free program that helps eligible parents save for school costs, while receiving up to $500 in matched funds.

What can families use the money for?

Saver Plus can help cover the cost of school uniforms, excursions, technology, sports fees, and more.

Who can join?

Participants must:

• Have a child in school (or study themselves)
• Have a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
• Have some income (self or partner)
• Be 18+ years old

Why Saver Plus works:

• $500 matched savings to ease school expenses
• Free online money skills workshops called Money Minded
• Proven to improve financial wellbeing and savings confidence

 Please see the Flyer for more details.

From the Assistant Principals

Term 2 is off to a great start, and it’s been lovely to see students settling back into their routines and engaging in a range of learning activities. Classrooms are involved in meaningful learning experiences, and our school community is enjoying a positive and supportive atmosphere. Our Wellbeing programs are now back in full swing, including yoga, sporting skills sessions, Zones of Regulation, and Community Access activities. These programs continue to play a vital role in supporting our students’ social, emotional, and physical development, and it’s been great to see consistent participation across all settings. 

One of our highlights has been the beautiful Mother’s Day Morning Tea. We were thrilled with the fantastic turnout and loved welcoming so many mothers, grandmothers, and special guests into our school. It was a lovely morning filled with warmth, connection, and appreciation. Your presence made the event truly special, and we are so grateful for everything you do to nurture and inspire our students. It was great to see so many families join us, and the staff and students did an awesome job making the morning feel really special. We’re looking forward to the weeks ahead and all the exciting opportunities Term 2 has to offer.

Mother's Day

Magpie Class

This term, Magpie Class has been diving into the captivating theme of "Under the Sea." The students have shown great enthusiasm as they explore various aspects of marine life through both fiction and non-fiction books.  

In Creative Arts, the class enjoyed the creative process of designing a vibrant wall display for the administration entrance, showcasing their artistic talents and knowledge about the ocean. This display not only beautifies our school but also highlights the students' learning journey. We are excited to see how this theme continues to inspire our young learners, fostering a love for reading and creativity.  

In addition to their exciting theme of "Under the Sea," Magpie Class is also enjoying our dynamic drumming program. The students are exploring the various sounds they can create on drums, as well as experimenting with other instruments. Their curiosity even led them to try a bit of DJing, allowing them to express their musical creativity in new ways. 

Another enriching activity that Magpie Class loves is yoga. They are learning different poses and techniques to help them relax and focus. This practice not only promotes physical well-being but also teaches mindfulness and self-regulation. 

Together, these activities are fostering a holistic approach to learning, combining creativity, music, and wellness. We look forward to seeing how these experiences impact our students.

Office Display

Weekly Events:

Student Birthdays

Little Wings

Little Wings is a not for profit organisation that provides free, professional, safe flight and ground transport services for seriously ill children in rural and regional NSW, ACT and QLD. They strive to ease the journey and help sick children access specialised medical services and treatments that are only available in major cities or towns. They do everything they can to support families by easing the financial burden, emotional strain and travel fatigue that they experience due to long-distance travel associated with receiving vital medical treatment.

Little Wings started by providing services to children undergoing cancer treatment at The Children's Hospital in Westmead, Sydney. Since then they have extended their services to assist other seriously ill children receiving treatment at;

• Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick
• Westmead Childrens Hospital
• John Hunter Children's Hospital in Newcastle
• Royal Far West in Manly
• Queensland Children's Hospital

How can we help?

Five Islands School will be collecting eligible drink containers to redeem for 10c each under NSW's Return and Earn Scheme. It's a great way for the community to get involved in recycling, help reduce litter and raise money for Little Wings Australia. 

Little Wings State v State Recycling Challenge

Zones of Regulation Check In