We have passed the middle of the year and the official shortest day or Winter Solstice occurred on Sunday 21 June.  After we return from a well deserved two week break for Term 2, we should notice the days starting to become a little warmer and longer, with more sunlight hours.

Unfortunately the end of this term means we are farewelling a number of staff as they move on to new horizons.  One of our SSOs, Nathan Adams will be starting a full time contract at McLaren Vale Primary School and our PE and Year 6/7 teacher Henry Carey will be moving on to contract work across a number of different sites. We wish them both the very best of luck and know they will be wonderful additions to their new schools.

In other internal changes Mrs. Belinda Finlay-Smith will return from Maternity Leave as our Deputy Principal, Mr. Richard Kemp will act as our Wellbeing Leader and Mr. Michael Sboro will return to his role as our PE and Year 6/7 teacher.  I want to acknowledge the incredible focus and professionalism that both Michael and Richard have brought to their roles in Semester 1 and thank them profusely for their leadership skills, flexibility and humour.

I am looking forward to spending time these holidays with my favourite sidekick, my husband.  We are planning to explore some more of this beautiful state and check out some of its features.

Who is your favourite sidekick? Send your entry in to be in the running to win a tshirt (sized X small) featuring Luigi, from Super Mario Brothers. According to Wikipedia, Luigi was rated as the second most underrated sidekick in the world. We are keen to see some more names.  Entries must be submitted by 9.30am this Friday 3rd July, 2020 to be considered for our lucky draw from the hat.  You can email them to  dl.1059.info@schools.sa.edu.au or drop them into the Administration Office.

Kind Regards

Penny Wilde

Principal

As is usual practice, school will dimiss 1 hour earlier than the usual time at the end of  every term. 

School will dismiss at 2:10pm on Friday, 3rd July, 2020.

Individual written student reports for the first semester of this year will be sent home on Wednesday 1 July.  The timeline for reports was delayed this term, to allow more time for teachers to assess students after the disruptions imposed by COVID 19.  You will notice that reports are a modified version this semester, and do not include the curriculum areas of Technologies, Visual Arts and HASS (for Years 3-7) which will be reported on later in the year. 

If your child has a One Plan (for a verified disability, or to support complex social/emotional/behavioural needs), this will be included in the envelope with their report. Due to COVID-19, we were unable to follow usual processes this year to meet and consult with you about your child’s One Plan and require some information from families to suport the process. For more details, please read the letter which accompanies each One Plan.

Three Way Interviews will be held in Week 2 of Term 3, 27th - 30th August. 

Three Way Interviews are an opportunity to connect with staff face to face in an uninterrupted time. These meetings are a key component in developing a successful partnership between home and school; which is an important aspect of your child's academic and social development.

A main purpose of Three Way Interviews is the exchange of information with the teacher about your child's academic progress and social development, which is reflected in the report you will receive next week.  Students are encouraged to attend.

Please follow this link to make your booking. 

https://pimpalaps.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/5

Bookings open today, 29th June, 2020 and close on Friday, 24th August so please book your appointments during these dates.

If you are unable to make a booking between now and the 24th August, you are still able to have a Three Way Interview, but you will need to book your appointment time through the Administration Office.

If you have any technical difficulties in making a booking, please also contact the Administration Office.

Reminder:  The Special Lunch is on Wednesday, 1st July for those who ordered and paid by the cut off date last week.  No late orders can be accepted.

On Friday, 3rd July there will be a Crazy Hair Day - so wear a different hair style, or different hair colours, create a new character, even put things in your hair to make a statement or you could wear a hat you wouldn't normally wear! Be creative! Let's have some fun!

The cost to participate is a gold coin donation.

Please note:  This is NOT a casual day and the school uniform is expected to be worn as usual.

Proceeds will go to  Puddle Jumpers which is a non-profit, non-government organisation committed to responding to the social development needs of society's most vulnerable children and young people. They believe that all kids matter and deserve the right to engage in happy and fun experiences in their life.

Here are a few ideas for you to try!

There will be a Student Free Day on Monday, 20th July to enable staff to undertake Professional Learning.  POSHC will be available.  Please contact Hazel Godfrey at Hazel.Godfrey850@schools.sa.edu.au or phone 0413 482 521 for bookings.

A number of students have  nut allergies so we ask that the Allergy and Nut Awareness  Policy be followed by everyone. Please help to keep everyone safe by not sending any food containing nuts includiing Nutella and Peanut Paste.

Unfortunately, due to COVID -19 the Kitchen Garden Program ran a little differently this term with classes unable to participate in the cooking component of the program. Instead classes focused on preparing our winter vegetable garden and beautifying some of the green spaces around the school. The recent cold, wet and wintry weather conditions did not dampen the enthusiasm of the students with the winter vegetable garden having a complete makeover; needless to say it is looking fantastic!

Students worked tirelessly mulching the garden paths, constructing new garden beds, planting new citrus trees, sowing seeds, planting out seedlings, netting garden beds, making cabbage moth decoys, planting new native edibles in the Bush Tucker garden, composting, weeding, weeding and more weeding.

Earlier in the term we had a few special visitors in the garden; a koala and a possum. The koala was obviously very happy within the garden compound as his visit lasted for over a week. Students enjoyed observing him while they worked away in the garden.

Term 3 will see Miss Currer, Mr Branson and Ms MacLean’s classes participate in the kitchen garden program during weeks 3-7 and the Year 1/2 classes participating in weeks 8-10 (COVID-19 restrictions permitting). We will be requiring lots of helpers for our kitchen and garden classes!! If you would like to volunteer and have completed the RAN-EC Training for volunteers and have a current DHS clearance to work with children, we would love your help! Please message me of your availability.

If you would like to obtain a DHS working with children clearance please see the Administration Office staff. The Department for Education is offers online RAN-EC training for volunteers, please see the Department for Education website for the link or speak to the Administration Office staff for more information.

Michele Smith

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program Coordinator

Volunteer Mobile 0408 637 850

 How long have you been at Pimpala and what is your role at the school?

Since 2018 (started as Pre-Service Teacher – 2 years)

Classroom Teacher – Years 4-7

Specialist Teacher – PE

Did you always want to be a teacher/work with children? If not, what did you want to be?

Yes! In Year 10 I spent my Work Experience week in a Primary School. When I was younger I wanted to be a fireman.

If you could change or fix anything on the earth, what would it be and why?

Racism & starvation.

What is your speciality in the kitchen?

Mi Goreng & Spaghetti Meatballs

Where is your dream holiday destination & what would you like to do there?

To spend a winter in Canada snowboarding.

If you hosted a dinner party, what 3 famous people would you invite & why?

Kobe Bryant – To learn about his mentality & work ethic.

Will Ferrell – For the laughs.

Eminem – Background music.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be & why?

Teleportation. I hate flying.

What do you enjoy about living in Adelaide?

Beaches, wineries, lack of traffic & the sports!

Do you know of a song that describes your life?

Forever Young by Youth Group

Ms Currer thoroughly recommends the Harry Potter series of books as there is an amazing world created in them, although she particularly likes "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".

This book is the second in the series about of boy wizard Harry Potter's adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  A mysterious elf tells Harry to expect trouble during his second year at Hogwarts, but nothing can prepare him for trees that fight back, flying cars, spiders that talk and deadly warnings written in blood on the walls of the school.

These books are recommended for readers 8+ years of age.

Although Ms Currer has seen the movies, she likes the books much better!

Her favourite character in the series is Luna Lovegood - and for those of you who are well versed in the characters, plots and storylines of the books, you are right, Luna Lovegood is not introduced until Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, much later than the Chamber of Secrets.

SZapp for iPhones - Version 3.5.0 - 28

iPhones using iOS Versions above 13.3 are experiencing intermittent push notification issues to the lockscreen. Push notifications are being succesfully sent and accepted by the device but are not shown on the lockscreen.

Messages are still delivered and accessible within SZapp. Messages are indicated by the 'Badge' shown on SZapp's icon. Additionally, push notifications may also be visible in the 'Notification Centre' on your device. 

Schoolzine is working towards the release of our next app update, this is currently scheduled for Mid-July 2020. This verison will address iOS Notifications as well as provide an improved user experience.

Users with automatic updates enabled on their device will have this update installed automatically upon release.

Pimpala Kindergarten is now accepting registration of interest forms for those wanting to enrol there in 2021.

Please follow this link for the registration of interest form.  https://www.education.sa.gov.au/doc/preschool-registration-interest-form

Time is ticking so make sure you get busy this week, and during the school holidays and enter Nat Cook's Colouring In Competition. 

There will be two winners per school in the groups:

• Reception – Year 2
• Year 3 – Year 5

Winners will receive Derwent Colour Pencils and will be announced in Term 3. Entries will be displayed in Nat Cook MP’s electorate office.

Please note double sided printing is required to ensure student and parent permission details are included with entries.

 The theme for 2020 is “Bugs, Butterflies or Beetles” and we can’t wait to see what the students come up with. This will be something for the students to think about and finalise in their school holidays.

Blank forms are available from the Administration Office or you can print your own.

Nat Cook MP's Colouring Competition

Nat Cook will attend an assembly in Term 3 (COVID-19 restrictions permitting) to give out the prizes.

Good luck with your entry everyone!