Edition 5 - Malkara School

JENNIE LINDSAY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Diary Dates:
P & C meeting
Wednesday 1 June @ 7pm
Family Picnic
Sunday 5 June @ 10.30am
Queens Birthday
Monday 13 June
Onesie Day
Friday 1 July
Last day of Term 2
Friday 1 July
First day of Term 3
Monday 18 July
Malkara Railway Exhibition
6- 7 August
Board meeting
Wednesday 17 August
@ 5pm
Inside this issue:
Report from Red
Fresh Tastes
P&C Picnic
Dental Clinic
Holiday Program
Assembly
Fridays @ 2:15pm
Week 6
Mauve
Week 7
Red
Week 8
Blue
Week 9
Emerald
Week 10
Pink
Subject to change
WENDY ALDER P&C PRESIDENT HER EXCELLENCY LADY COSGROVE PATRON NICOLE MACKEY BOARD CHAIR 31 May 2016
Dear Malkara families Three special events have taken place at Malkara this week. Firstly, along with other ACT schools, we are observing Reconcilia on Week – a week for acknowledging our cultural history and for crea ng stronger es between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians. At assembly on Friday, Mauve Class are going to lead us in some fun ac vi es with a reconcilia on theme, and many students have par cipated in art ac vi es that explore Indigenous themes as well. At staff mee ng on Monday a ernoon we cut a huge cake and celebrated the highly valued contribu on of Malkara’s longest serving staff member, Bev Murrell. Bev has been working at Malkara for 30 years, longer than some of our current staff have been alive! Bev con nues to give our students strong, steady and kind a en on every day and is a great role model for us all. The third celebra on was a more public one. On Monday, Minister Shane Ra enbury visited our school, along with staff from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA), to launch Onesie Day 2016. The event was filmed in Green Class with selected students from other classes, and aired on WIN news on Monday night. Canberra Times also a ended, so watch out for a possible ar cle in the paper. Onesie Day happens on 1 July and we’ll be encouraging all students and staff to be in onesies on that day in support of CPA. From me to me staff need to be moved to other roles around the school and this means changes in the classrooms. Our inten on is always to minimise disrup ons however over the next few weeks, several staff will need to change classrooms to cover things like long service leave, changes in part me hours and extended sick leave. Families will be no fied of any changes affec ng their child as soon as possible. The 2015 Annual School Board Report has been signed off by Nicole Mackey, Board Chair, myself and the Directorate and is ready for distribu on. It will be on the website shortly however if you would like your own copy, please call Michelle in the Front Office. Jennie Bev Murrell 30 Years at Malkara A day in the life of… The Red Apples
The Red Apples get up to so many fantas c things throughout the week. Here’s a snapshot: A dip in our lovely Malkara Hydrotherapy pool is a great way to start the week. Liam loves to have a splash. Niki is super‐confident and feels right at home in the pool. Joey loves the water as you can see by his huge smile. Music is a big part of life in the Red Room. Here’s Finn choosing a song from the songboard, The Wheels on the Bus. Great choice Finn! Our unit of inquiry this year is Healthy Tastes. We love ge ng together with our friends in the Pink Room and trying delicious, healthy foods. We also love growing food and Liam especially enjoys tending to our garden beds. Niki loves hugging the monkey, when we read the Monkey and Me. Margie, our specialist art teacher, comes to the Red Room each week. Here’s Michael ge ng crea ve with some playdough. Wri ng le ers to our many friends around the school is another thing we love to do. Here’s Finn wri ng about one of his favourite foods, cake…
yum! A er all that hard work some mes it’s good to burn off some energy. Look at Aydin and Tristyn having a race down the slide, while Michael relaxes on the swing. There’s plenty to celebrate in the Red Room. Tristyn looks pre y happy about turning six and Aydin loves being the Writer of the Week. Red Room, 2016, it’s a great place to be. Fresh Tastes Last week saw the launch of our new Fresh Tastes song at assembly. The “Healthy Choices” song is sung to the tune of Bob the Builder, and is supported by Jon playing the guitar and an Aided Language Display. Each week a class will be acknowledged for one aspect of the program and will be awarded the Fresh Tastes Class Award. Congratula ons to White Class who were presented with the inaugural award for “drinking water aŌer every break”. Healthy Choices, can we make them? Healthy Choices, yes we can! Healthy Choices, can we make them? Healthy Choices, yes we can! Apples, yoghurt, sandwiches too. Carrots and cheese are good for you. Healthy choices will help you to be Strong and healthy just like me. Healthy Choices, can we make them? Healthy Choices, yes we can! Healthy Choices, can we make them? Healthy Choices, yes we can! Malkara will be holding a healthy breakfast for students at school on Wednesday 22 June. We will be providing a number of heathy choices for students and focus on sharing breakfast together. National Simultaneous Storytime
Classes enjoyed engaging with the story ‘I GOT THIS HAT’ by Jol & Kate Temple.
Students made hats and some even brought in hats from home. The hats were worn while
they watched and listened to the story. Some even wore them onto the playground.
Everyone enjoyed the book along with thousands of other children in Australia.
Dental Consultation Clinic at Malkara
Late last year a dental team visited Malkara to give lessons on dental care
and to give individual dental assessments as part of a project for Oral Care
for Special Needs. We wish to thank the wonderful staff at the school for
their support and assistance in providing this service and also to the beautiful children for
allowing us into your classes. Kaye and I had a terrific time meeting you all and checking so
many healthy clean mouths. Dental topics discussed included oral hygiene, the names/
function of teeth, tooth eruption, tooth friendly foods and visiting the dental clinic.
Following on from the resounding success of the program, we are delighted to offer dental
screenings again shortly. It is also planned to resume the Individual and Parent Consultation
Clinic at Malkara this year, a service that was offered many years ago, so that parents can
meet with the dental therapist to obtain advice on their child’s dental needs.
For those children who have not had a dental screen, it takes place in the classroom using a
disposable dental battery operated mirror light to check the mouth for any signs of dental
disease. A written consent from a parent or guardian is required if you would like your child’s
mouth checked. Following the dental screen, a letter will be sent home to parents with the
results. Some students may be existing clients within A.C.T Health or the special needs
paediatric dentist. Children who received a dental screen last year are welcome to be
screened again.
The aim of this program is to not only give your child a quick dental assessment but also to
help build their confidence and tolerance of someone looking in their mouth in the familiarity
of their school environment.
Information and consent forms have been sent home, please complete and return to school
by Friday 3 June.
We look forward to visiting your school again soon.
In the meantime, take The Sugar Swap Challenge by ACT Health online at:
www.act.gov.au/goodhabitsforlife
Yours sincerely,
Carolyn Stroud
Kaye Evans
Dental Therapist
Dental Assistant
Tuggeranong Health Centre Dental Clinic
FreedomonWheelsClinicatMalkaraTuesday7June
Ever wanted your child to ride a bike with friends or family but the traditional design
made it impossible? We know one product doesn't suit all so we have a range of
innovative bike solutions to help your child get some wheels! A Freedom on Wheels
Cycle gives a new kind of independence to children with disabilities by allowing them to
ride a bike for the first time. The bikes are made using a range of special components
designed to meet the individual needs of each child.
The Freedom on Wheels Cycle Clinic provides an individual assessment that results in
design solutions to suit the age, height, weight and type of disability as well as the
physical and cognitive abilities of your child. This assessment process is carried out by
a physiotherapist supported by TADACT staff. The assessments can take up to 45
minutes per child and bookings are essential. Input from carers and children's ongoing
therapists can form an important part of the assessment and we welcome their
attendance at the clinic.
TADACT is a registered provider with the NDIS. We can put together the information
the NDIS will need to add a Freedom on Wheels Cycle to your child’s NDIS plan.
For those who already have the provision in their plan for a cycle, please fill in the form
below and return via email to projects@tadact.org.au to be included in this Freedom on
Wheels Cycle Clinic.
If your plan is coming up for review and you have not yet added a provision for a cycle,
be sure to include a Freedom on Wheels Cycle when developing your revised plan so
your child can attend a future cycle assessment clinic and then be provided with a bike.
If you don’t have NDIS funding but would be interested in attending the clinic for an
assessment and possible bike please contact our Office Manager Jennifer Merriman by
phoning 6287 4290 or via email at jennifer@tadact.org.au.
If your child is unable to attend this session and/or you have an interest in future
Freedom on Wheels Cycle Clinics at Malkara, please register your details by emailing
projects@tadact.org.au so we can arrange for future clinics and supply bikes to all
those who want the freedom of a set of wheels!
FreedomonWheelsMalkaraBookingForm
Name:______________________________________________________________
DOB:_______________________________________________________________
Gender: M/F
NDIS number:________________________________________________________
NDIS:
Managed or Self-Managed____________________________________
Name/s of Parent/s, Carer/s and/or guardian:_______________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Contact phone numbers:________________________________________________
Email:_______________________________________________________________
Current physio/OT:_____________________________________________________
All information collected is for internal use only and will not be shared without your
prior consent.
End of May is Hats OFF day. Due to low UV levels (under 3) in Canberra in June and July, the Cancer Council recommends that people not wear hats during these months. Adop ng sun protec on when it is not really necessary can compromise Vitamin D levels. We should aim for 2 or 3 hours of sunlight to the face, arms and hands, or equivalent areas of skin, each week to maintain Vitamin D levels over the winter period. Of course some of our Malkara children have a sensi vity to sunlight so parents are advised to use their discre on. CIRCUS QUIRKUS QUIRKUS
The Rotary Club of Canberra
proudly presents
It’s that time of year again! The Rotary Club of Canberra is proud to be hosting its’ annual
Circus Quirkus on Thursday 21st July at the Queanbeyan Bicentennial Hall for the local
special needs and disadvantaged children and families.
CIRCUS QUIRKUS is a non-animal, family oriented show with plenty to thrill all ages. It will
feature a troupe of local and international performers steeped in the traditional Circus
disciplines of clowning, juggling, acrobatics, contortion & balancing as well as unique comedy
routines. The show lasts for 90 minutes, with a short interval for refreshments.
I am writing to ask if you would like some of the free tickets for your children/families to
come along to this wonderful show. There is no charge for those attending as the tickets
have all been kindly sponsored by the local business community.
If you would like some of the tickets, please return your order form to school by Friday,
10th June. Please allow one ticket per person.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to call on 1800 132 003.
Kind regards
Andre Luca/Michelle Penfold
___________________________________________________________________
ORDER FORM: TO BE RETURNED BY FRIDAY, 10TH JUNE
** One ticket per person is required for entry
Date/time Thu 21st July – 12:30pm Thu 21st July – 4:00pm Thu 21st July – 7:00pm No. of tickets
Students Name: ____________________________________________
Students Class: ____________________________________________