Forrest Primary School eNewsletter

Message from the Principal

School Review

Thank you to the parents who spoke to the school review team this week. The team reported that parents spoke of a strong culture of support both academically and socially for their children and we are working on a strong sense of connection to the school for families. Children spoke to panel members and said they have lots of opportunities to provide feedback on their learning and it would be helpful if we could differentiate their learning more. That’s a process we’ve already started this year as we have broadened our reading intervention strategies and looked more closely at the knowledge, skills and understandings taught in the units of inquiry. Teachers said they have high levels of trust in the leadership team (that was nice as we are all new to the school!) but clearer expectations and consistency throughout the school were needed to support them. I couldn’t agree more and that’s an area we know to lead on but were consciously listening to our Directorate review team, and the IB review team next term, before we took a path that might need to shift following the outcome of the reviews.

Jemma O’Brien

It is with great sadness that we are saying farewell to Jemma O’Brien this week. She has been a mainstay of the school community for the last 17 years and is so connected with staff and families I know it is difficult for her and the community to believe there is a Forrest without Jemma next term! However, she is thoroughly deserving of her promotion to Deputy Principal and will be a huge asset to Laurel Rodrigues at Charles Weston who needs a person with extensive experience and knowledge of the IB to further their journey. Jemma is exactly the right person for that role and we wish her well. We hope you are/were able to join us for the assembly on the last day of term to acknowledge her work at Forrest and celebrate the recognition she deserves in her promotion.

Reminders

Please do not park in the school drop-off zones in the morning or afternoon within the times indicated (8.30am-9.30am and 2.30pm-3.30pm). Firstly, it’s not allowed, and you might receive a parking ticket. Secondly, it blocks other drivers from using that space, slowing down the process of dropping off and collecting children. Thirdly, if drivers cannot access these zones they might ask their children to walk between parked cars (please don’t- it is so dangerous).

Please remember dogs are not allowed on school grounds between the hours that children are here. That’s between 7.30am and 6.00pm because FOOSHC use the outside space for our children. Please tether them to the fence, away from the gates.

The gates are left open throughout the holidays, evenings and weekends and you and your family are welcome to come down to the school, again, being mindful that FOOSHC have primary use of the outside spaces when they are operating. If dogs accompany you, they are not allowed to be within the tanbark circles of the play equipment. Any mess needs to be collected before you leave, as it is in all public areas.

We thank you and appreciate your help.

School holidays

On behalf of the Forrest staff, we hope you enjoy some quality time with your children over the next fortnight. If you are travelling, please travel safely. Thanks for an amazing term, take care,

Chris

Farewell Miss O'Brien!!

Year 3 Excursion

On Thursday 26^th June, Year 3 attended an excursion to the Arboretum, as part of our Sharing the Planet Unit of Inquiry where students have been inquiring into soils, rocks and minerals. Students visited the National Rock Garden and completed a mapping task. We got to see and feel the different rocks, while using our learnt knowledge to classify the rocks as igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic. Many of the rocks are extremely old and are even from various places all over the world – including Antarctica!

We also participated in a program called the ‘Wood, Wide, Web’ which included three activities. First, we explored the carbon cycle, then a tree system cycle and how trees in a forest will support each other, then finally ending with a food web activity. Throughout all three activities, we learnt about how different resources are either infinite or finite and how it is important to be responsible and sustainable in using them.

Here are some of our reflections from the excursion:

I liked looking at and exploring the rocks at the rock garden – Scarlett

I enjoyed the part where we were all free trees, and we had to stay in the same spot. We were stuck in the dirt and the instructor threw a bunch of resources, sun, water and nutrients. We had to collect the resources to survive and figured out if we did it as one, you only got 1 or 2, but when we shared, you got all 3. – Yara

I liked playing on the pod playground with my friends the most. – Ray-Chen

My favourite part was looking at the extinct trees. – Amelia

I really liked finding out that there was the rock that was used to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the rock garden, and I liked playing at the playground with my friends. – Luba

I liked discovering the rocks in the rock garden because it was interesting. – Ella M

I really enjoyed when we did the carbon cycle activity, it was interesting and fun. – Kai

My favourite part of the excursion was going to the playground and going on the acorn slide. – Rohan

I liked the rock garden because there was lots of information about each rock. We had a map, and we needed to mark shapes on different rocks. I never knew that it had a rock from Antarctica! – Myra

I really enjoyed the elements game because it was fun, and we went to different stations to get different cards to see what journey it was taking you on. Then we got back in the middle to share our journeys. – Sammy

I liked the rocks because we got to mark them on a map, and I liked how you could see the minerals on them, and you could also see gold on some. – Svetlana

Congratulations Amaya, Rostrum semi finalist

On Tuesday night, 1st of July, Amaya from 6DU represented Forrest Primary School in the Rostrum Quarter Finals, at Queanbeyan West PS. This was the 7^th quarter final and had 8 schools competing. In total 77 schools took part in Rostrum this year and the numbers continue to increase.

Amaya spoke incredibly and will move forward to the semi finals at a date and time to be advised. Public speaking is a great way to develop confidence and an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate leadership.

Please join with me in congratulating Amaya on her achievements and wishing her success in the upcoming semi finals.

James Traviss

FPS Rostrum Co Ordinator.

ICAS

A reminder that the ICAS assessments close 28^th July. If you would like your child to participate and haven't already ordered the tests, please do so as soon as you can. Please see emails sent to 3-6 parents.

For assistance, please email Michelle Thompson - michelle.earnshaw@ed.act.edu.au

Gardening/Sustainability

Forrest Primary is keen to re-establish and renew our vegetable garden space and embark on a more conscious sustainability path. We are currently seeking parent volunteers to assist in clearing out and rebuilding the vegetable garden. If you have a green thumb, are affiliated with a ‘green’ or sustainable company or simply wish to volunteer an hour of your time, please contact Michelle Thompson - michelle.earnshaw@ed.act.edu.au.

Furthermore, we are also looking for parent community members to assist in developing ideas and writing a grant application for the ACT Environmental Grants Program.

Excitingly, students will be offered the opportunity to participate in the sustainability club at lunchtime and will be involved in designing, curating and managing the space with some exciting sustainability and gardening projects planned for the future.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Michelle Thompson

Big Action Week

Week 9 was a massive week of supporting the Earlyact Club with their amazing fundraising events!

We had 8 different groups fundraising for 8 worthy causes. Events and causes included –

A jellybean guessing competition to raise money to help save the tigers, through WWF - $237.35
A M&M guessing competition to raise money for the UN Refugee Agency, as it was World Refugee Day on Friday the 20^th of June - $68.10
Handmade stalls to raise money for MND and Marine Conservation - $241.40 and $280.15
A mufti day to raise money to help save the dolphins in Australian waters, through Action for Dolphins - $291.45
Dress up in your sporting team day to raise money to create a beautiful garden around Neo’s rainbow benches (Neo was a past student who sadly passed away) - $196.70
PJ day to raise money to support koalas through The Australian Koala Foundation - $240.55
A mufti day and disco to raise money to buy gifts for children in hospital over their birthdays, through the Canberra Hospital Foundation - $294.05

Thank you to the entire Forrest Primary community for supporting our Earlyact groups in raising awareness and funds for these amazing causes.

The Earlyact Club is already planning events for term 3, so keep your eyes peeled!