VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
JUNIOR SCHOOL WEEKLY
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL
Upcoming Events Science Week Week 6
Assalamu Alaykum Dear parents and carers It is difficult to believe we are four weeks into the term already and fast approaching the halfway mark. Now is the time to complete a ‘pulse check’ on our home learning program and find out from our parents what is working well and what we can improve. Please take the time to complete our home learning survey which will be shared via WhatsApp today. Your feedback will help us to continue to shape and improve our home learning program to ensure every child’s needs are met.
Book Week Week 7
All our teachers are ‘working from home’ but would really like to stay connected with you. Teachers may be calling to check in on how learning from home is going or to provide support for your child over the phone. As teachers will be calling from home, the number may appear as ‘No Caller ID’ or ‘Private Number.’ I encourage you to answer the call whenever possible.
Dental & Optical check ups RESCHEDULED to September
Lastly, does your child use TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat or YouTube? Register for the Office of the eSafety Commissioner's Parents' Guide to Popular Apps webinar via https://fal.cn/3heo2 to see how you can support them to enjoy safe online experiences. This webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8-13, there are two sessions available:
ICAS Assessments Postponed
Monday 16 August 12.30pm Tuesday 31 August 7.30pm As always, have a safe and restful weekend. Warmest regards Miss Harold
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
MRS STEVENSON DEPUTY HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL Dear Junior School Families, As we complete 1 full month of home learning, I have been reflecting on the importance of balance and family wellbeing more than ever. I have spoken with families during the week about the priority of harmony in the home and that not all learning will involve screens and worksheets. The College is mindful of keeping screen time balanced for all students. Our teachers carefully design learning tasks which provide a variety of activities throughout the week. Play-based learning, hands-on tasks and creative activities might not look like learning in the traditional sense, but they are so important to child development and we encourage all family members to get involved. Please remember that the main part of your child’s learning and task completion occurs during the online class, and that there shouldn’t be many other tasks that need to be done afterwards. If your child is struggling to complete the type or amount of work that has been set, please speak with your child’s teacher about ways we can support your child. On the following page is a lovely reminder about the important role parents play in teaching their children. I hope it is an encouraging reminder to you. Have a lovely weekend, Mrs Natalie Stevenson
ICAS Assessments Postponed ICAS has advised that they have postponed the 2021 Assessments which will now be held in October. Parents will be advised of the new dates closer to the time.
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
YEAR 6 CAMP IN TERM 2 At the end of Term 2, Year 6 was fortunate enough to attend The Bathurst Goldfields. They had lots of fun, and learnt about many facts on what life was like in the Bathurst Goldfields. Firstly, we visited the Sheep and Cattle Show. Students learnt about all the different types of sheep and cattle in NSW. After the show, we went to the farm and looked at all the farm animals. Next, we hopped back onto the bus and made our way to the Bathurst Goldfields! There we spent the night. Students were kept busy as they did many things! Some of the activities were: panning for gold, visit the blacksmith workshop, made damper, listen to bush stories by the campfire, and many more fun things! Overall, Year 6 had a wonderful time and were sad to leave. While away from families, Year 6 students demonstrated exceptional behaviour and represented Bellfield College proudly as they were engaged and respectful during the stay at the Bathurst Goldfields!
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
EID AL-GHADEER
Congratulation to the 12th Imam and the Imam of our time, Imam Mahdi, and all of his followers for Eid al-Ghadir. May Allah hasten the reappearance of him and bless him and all of his followers. On behalf of my colleagues at Bellfield college, I would like to congratulate all our brothers and sisters on the auspicious occasion of Eid Al Ghadeer and Al Mubahala. May we all be counted as the true followers of Imam Ali ( a.s) and achieve success in this words and the hereafter. I would like to thank the Illumination Department for their continuous efforts to engage the students in celebrating this special occasion during lockdown. Students completed colouring sheets, watched videos about Eid al- Gahdeer and listened to a nasheed related to this special event. Mrs Nour Nasereddine Arabic and Quran teacher
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
NEWS FROM 1A All About Water! Dear parents and families, Although these past few weeks have had its challenges of adapting to remote learning and dealing with lockdown, 1A has been doing some exciting things! This term for science we are focusing on water as one of earth’s main resources. Students have been thinking like scientists while investigating, collecting data and conducting experiments!
This week’s focus is the water cycle and students have been reflecting on where all our water comes from. Through experimentation and research, they have been able to discover the journey water takes before it arrives in our taps, showers, hoses and many other places around our homes. It is so great to see students learning through their home environments and turning remote learning into a meaningful and hands-on educational experience.
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
NEWS FROM 1A
Lockdown can mean that we are stuck inside all day, looking at screens or not doing much physical activity, however 1A has used this time to connect with nature and earth’s natural resources by going into their backyards and reflecting on what they find. Water is an important part of our lives – we need it to shower, wash our hands, for drinking and even cooking. When exploring their backyards, they found that water is even needed for plants and trees to survive. This term has so far taught us a valuable lesson on just how important water is!
Kind regards, Mrs Awada
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
WONDERFUL WORK FROM 4A
Students in 4A have continued to give their best in our lessons this week. I am very proud of the way they have participated in a variety of activities. Here is a sample of some wonderful work from 4A. Year 4 have been using the Book ‘My Place’ by Donna Rawlins in English. Students wrote their own addition to the book. Kind regards Miss Greenup This is an example from Abbass Y. My name is Abbass and this in my place, I live here with my mum, my two brothers and my little sister Jana. We speak both languages at home, Arabic and English. My dad bought this house in 2018 where 2 old people, a man and his wife lived in this house for 20 years. When they sold the house to my family, they were very emotional to leave it but we were very excited to move into this house because our backyard is right on the river.
My place in 2016 looked completely different to what is now, it is more spacious now and has mare light, my sister has a cubby house, and we have a jetty that goes all the way in the water where we can swim and fish.
Below is an artwork - perspective drawing by Hadi T
We have been working on the multiplication strategy of 'arrays' in 4A. Ali Nagi used different materials from around his home to make his arrays.
Students used a chocolate bar as part of a Science experiment on how Tectonic Plates work, Fatima J. said that she did the experiment with her sister.
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
KH GOT CREATIVE WITH THEIR TRICKY WORDS!
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
KH GOT CREATIVE WITH THEIR TRICKY WORDS!
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
WORK SAMPLES FROM 4N
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
PRIMARY SCHOOLS AUSSIE INVENTORS COMPETITION
The search is officially back on for Australia’s most innovative students. ClickView’s competition is now open to all students. Students have the chance to pitch their inventions to an expert panel, including some of Australia’s leading innovators. All primary school student inventors are invited to prepare an individual, team or class entry. Inventions can be any type, size or functionality and solve any kind of problem. Full entry details available via the ClickView website: https://www.clickview.com.au/aussie-student-inventions/ Inspired by the series, Aussie Inventions That Changed The World, the competition encourages students to think creatively as an individual or team. For inspiration, visit the ClickView website to watch the full series. Incredible prizes The winner in each category will receive $3,000 cash, as well as a money-can’t-buy prize. They’ll receive mentoring with our expert panel of judges, along with a cash prize, to help make the concept or prototype a reality: inventor Sally Dominguez, tech entrepreneur Evan Clark, and award-winning author and inventor, Mark Pesce. Important dates Competition launches 1 July 2021 Entries open 22 August 2021 Entries close 17 September 2021 Winners announced December 2021 Now is the time for students to start thinking creatively! For more information and to enter, visit https://www.clickview.com.au/aussie-studentinventions/
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
ART & WRITING COMPETITION
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
ART & WRITING COMPETITION To find out more about this competition, or for a full list of animals and plants that are classed as threatened species in the Macarthur region, please contact your local Council. campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/TSAC or phone 4645 4601 camden.nsw.gov.au or phone 4654 7777 wollondilly.nsw.gov.au or phone 4677 1100 2020 Artworks on front (top to bottom) Abigail, 7-9 years, 1st Place Black Chinned Honeyeater Keilana, 7-9 years, highly commended Gang Gang Cockatoo The Macarthur region, our backyard, is home to a wide diversity of native plants and animals that are at risk of disappearing forever. To raise awareness and to celebrate National Threatened Species Day on 7 September, kids across the Macarthur region are invited to learn more about local threatened species and create artworks and creative writing pieces that will help teach the wider community about how, together, we can help to protect these species.
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
ART & WRITING COMPETITION
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
ART & WRITING COMPETITION
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
ART & WRITING COMPETITION
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
ART & WRITING COMPETITION
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
NSW PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE Dear Parents and carers, What is the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge? The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The PRC is open to all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 9, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools. The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. Students must read a certain number of books to complete the Challenge. Upon successful completion of the Challenge, students will be eligible for a PRC certificate in Term 4. When is the challenge? The 2021 Challenge opened to students on Monday March 1, 2021. The closing date has been extended and will now close on Friday September 3, 2021. How does my child sign up? Students will receive their login shortly from their class teacher. Students will use their login to access their online profile and log the books they read online. What should my child read? Please encourage your children to read the books that have been shortlisted on the website prc@det.nsw.edu.au . Students can borrow books from the College library. Also, a trip to your local library is always a nice way to ensure you have the correct books, as they are easy to find. By encouraging and engaging all our students to partake in this initiative we hope to develop a greater love for reading and to further improve their literacy and vocabulary skills. If you need help using the website and the answer cannot be found on the PRC Support site, please contact us at the College on 9606 2666. Warm Regards Miss Balloot K-6 Literacy and Numeracy Instructional Leader
VOLUME 23 • AUGUST 6 2021
NSW PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE