Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members

Welcome back to Pia Wadjarri Remote Community School for Term 2.

What a great start to the term with most students attending school on the first day and several new enrolments. It was great to see everyone’s smiling faces again.

New Equipment

With Corona Virus looming over our nation and having to maintain isolation to prevent others from getting sick, all of our staff stayed in community these holidays. We were kept very busy though building new garden beds and putting up shelters on the oval for students. I have to say that they look fabulous and I have to thank some very handy men and myself for all of our hard work. Thanks Mr Sean, Mr Bradley and Mr Charles for your hard work and help! The efforts of these volunteers has meant a huge savings.

These new shelters were erected as a result of the 2019 Priority Maintenance Program where we received $31,000 to upgrade our facilities. These also included the work completed in 2019:

• Upgrading and replacing the bathroom sinks in both the male and female toilets – Completed 2019.
• Replacing the drinking fountain on the classroom veranda – Completed 2019.
• Installing a new fountain in the undercover area outside the Home Economics Room – Completed 2019.
• Purchase of 5 trees for the school grounds and oval area – Completed 2019.
• Two outdoor patios for the oval with seating for team sports – Now Completed 2020
• Purchased and erect a dome shelter for the sea containers – Purchased but still to be Erected 2020.

Increased Cleaning Regime

Due to COVID-19, we are implementing new practices at the school to minimise the potential spread of COVID-19 at our school. This includes the regular cleaning of desks, door knobs, sinks and all surfaces that students and workers might touch throughout the day. This also includes play equipment and the playground. We are encouraging all students to keep 1.5m apart wherever possible, making sure desks are separated. In addition, we have introduced hand washing every time students exit or enter the classroom and using hand sanitiser regularly during class activities.

Reminder for On-line Shopping every Thursday afternoon

Last week I sent a notice out to everyone in the community about the online shopping. The aim is to reduce the need for people to go into town to purchase food and potentially infect others with COVID-19 or other infectious diseases.

A combined effort between Boolardy Station, the Wadjarri Meenangu Wajarri Aboriginal Corporation and Pia Wadjarri RCS has enabled everyone in the community to access this resource. This will help many to save money in travelling to and from Geraldton and keep safe from infection. Remember – the more you contact the outside communities, the greater chance of spreading disease.

 I will continue to open the school on a Thursday afternoon between 3pm to 5pm so that people can come and complete their online shopping orders through IGA. 

Goods will be delivered by Midwest Freight every Monday. (Unless there is a public holiday. The delivery will then come on the next day.)

This will continue for the next 5 months to ensure that you do not need to go into town for groceries. If you need to order other items, from other stores, please let me know and I or the staff of Pia Wadjarri RCS will be happy to assist you.

Examples of other shops you might like to order from include Bunnings (click and collect) and online shops such as EBay, Target, Kmart etc. who can mail items out to you in the post.

Kind Regards,

Fiona Tamminga                      

Principal

Over the term break staff were kept busy making improvements to the school. Mr Bradley, with the help of Lulu and their children, built garden beds outside the Home Ec room in prepartion of planting in term 2.

Mr Tamminga, Mr Bradley and Mr Sean all worked hard to install the new structures on the oval. these will provide shade for our outdoor classroom activities and future sporting events. Thank you all for a job well done!

Mr and Mrs Tamminga welcomed variety to their travels to the Murchison Shire to get fuel and do some shopping. Nice to see some water in the river crossings.

Flu shots! Great to see Dr Rohan and the team here at Pia Wadjarri RCS and the whole community coming out to get their flu shots. Some very brave kids!! And kept our social distancing.

Enjoying some wonderful sunsets this time of year.

It was with much pleasure, and appreciation, Mrs Tamminga received a card from Jill Clements, Prihncipal Chaplain to Pia Wadjarri RCS.

Dear Fiona,

 As this term concludes, I'm thinking of you, and praying you will be able to have a restful and restorative break, what ever the circumstances.

May you find Joy and Peace in unexpected places and un-looked for events. 

Here's hoping your community stays safe and keeps well, as a 'new normal' continues to affect us all. 

Be still .... for there is Glory all around....

Sincerely,

Jill Clements

Constable Care wants everyone to stay safe.

Constable Care encourages everyone to wash their hands regularly

Term 2 has commenced well with students being active either with tennis training with Mr Ted or planting a banana tree with Mr Bradley.

The Healthy Food for All^® team at Foodbank WA has created a new Facebook group which is now live!  The URL link is  Quarantine Quisine.

Their team of university qualified Nutritionists and Dietitians provieds helpful tips and ideas including:

• Cooking healthy meals with pantry items
• Managing a food budget
• Cooking with kids
• Planning meals
• Food safety and storage
• Ideas to boost your vegetable intake
• Food rationing
• Quick and easy family meals
• Nutrition resources
• Healthy recipes

Looking for things to keep you busy during isolation?

Looking for recipe inspitation?

Want to get the kids in the kitchen?

Superhero Foods HQ has a range of engaging resources the whole family can use including Collectable Game Cards, Colouring in sheets, Superhero Foods Bingo, Breakfast Placemats, Storybooks and posters, including our legendary handwashing poster. 

All of the quick, healthy and budget friendly recipes we use in our Food Sensations sessions are also found here and can be downloaded for FREE.   

Superhero Foods HQ also has a separate Kids Zone, where kids can find recipes which are easy to prepare and delicious

 For these and all our resources, please go to superherofoodshq.org.au

Pia Wadjarri RCS has enjoyed TLG visits each semester over the past few years. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions they will not visit this term however has introduced an initiative to remain in contact by writing letters to each other - students and TLG volunteers - to build a positive relationship with a university student role model and practice their writing/reading skills.

the TLG team created a wonderful At Home Heroes Handbook filled with different science, art, maths and prblem solving activities for all ages. You can download it here:

Past program coordinators also wanted to pass on a message to our students.