Metella Road Public School

Friday – Sensory exploration and creative expression

Our week concluded with a rich range of sensory-based and creative activities including sensory bottles, clay creations, regulation dice making, sensory exploration trays, canvas painting and building tasks. These experiences allowed students to explore their individual sensory preferences in a safe, supportive and flexible environment.

Students were able to choose activities that best suited their needs, supporting self-regulation, creativity and personal expression. It was a calm, engaging and highly inclusive way to end the week, reinforcing the importance of providing multiple pathways for students to connect, learn and thrive.

Thursday – Teamwork and connection with the Parramatta Eels

On Thursday, students enjoyed an exciting NRL Parramatta Eels experience focused on teamwork, communication and collaboration. Through interactive activities, students explored what it means to work together towards a shared goal while recognising that everyone brings different strengths to a team.

The experience was intentionally designed to reflect neurodiversity principles, valuing different communication styles, levels of participation and ways of contributing. Students demonstrated enthusiasm, resilience and a strong sense of belonging as they engaged in team-based challenges and activities.

Wednesday – Movement and regulation through gymnastics

Wednesday saw students participating in a gymnastics session designed to support coordination, body awareness and regulation. Through structured movement opportunities, students were able to explore how physical activity can support focus, emotional regulation and readiness for learning.

The session also highlighted the importance of flexible participation and individualised engagement, with students encouraged to participate in ways that felt comfortable for them. It was great to see students supported to take risks, persist with challenges, and celebrate their own personal progress in a supportive environment.

A massive thank you to Mr Sooriakumar for leading these sessions!

Tuesday – Understanding neurodiversity

On Tuesday, Miss Jing, our school psychologist, led an insightful session with students exploring what neurodiversity means and how we can celebrate the unique ways different brains work. Students asked thoughtful questions and demonstrated a growing understanding of inclusion, empathy and acceptance.

We also hosted a parent information session led by a Speech Pathologist and a neurodiversity specialist, Mrs Elayna Galea. The session provided practical strategies for supporting neurodivergent learners at home and at school, while also highlighting the importance of strength-based approaches. It was wonderful to see strong attendance from both families and staff, with rich discussion and shared learning that will continue to strengthen our partnerships and support consistent approaches for our students. A big thank you to Mrs Tayla Butler for organising the resource bags!! We are very grateful!

Neurodiversity Week 2026:

What a wonderful week we have had celebrating and learning about neurodiversity across our school community. A sincere thank you to our dedicated staff, School Learning Support Officers and particularly to Mrs Tayla Butler for their thoughtful planning, care and commitment throughout the week. Your work ensured that students were always at the centre of every experience, with a clear focus on inclusion, engagement and celebrating every learner’s strengths. This week reflected our shared belief that every student belongs, every student is valued, and every student’s needs and interests are prioritised in meaningful and authentic ways.

Monday – Cooking, creativity and connection

Our week began with a fantastic hands-on experience led by a visiting chef from Ciel Restaurant. Chef Josh supported students to combine yeast, flour, water and salt to create their own focaccia dough. Our 3–6 students then personalised their creations with a range of toppings, producing some truly delicious outcomes.

Beyond the cooking, students explored how following step-by-step processes can build confidence, and how sensory experiences like touch, smell and taste can support different ways of learning. It was a fun, inclusive start to the week that encouraged curiosity and creativity.

🏆🎉 Week 9 Attendance Champions! 🎉🏆

Woohoo! A huge congratulations to 1T and KS, our Week 9 Attendance Champions, who achieved the highest attendance rates across the school! 🌟👏

These students are showing an outstanding commitment to their learning by coming to school every day, ready to learn, grow and participate in all the opportunities school has to offer.

Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in student success. Every school day provides valuable opportunities to develop literacy and numeracy skills, build friendships, strengthen wellbeing, and engage in meaningful learning experiences. Even missing a small number of days can make it harder for students to keep up with classroom learning and maintain strong connections with their peers.

We encourage all families to continue making school attendance a priority. By ensuring children attend school every day, arrive on time, and are ready to learn, we can work together to support their learning, wellbeing and future success.

Well done, 1T and KS! We are incredibly proud of your dedication and commitment to learning.

🎤🌏 Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition

We are incredibly proud of the four students who represented Metella Road Public School at the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition.

Through their thoughtful and engaging speeches, our students explored the importance of embracing diversity, respecting different cultures, and celebrating the rich multicultural community that makes Australia such a vibrant and inclusive nation. Their presentations highlighted how understanding and valuing different perspectives helps build stronger connections, promotes empathy, and fosters a sense of belonging for everyone.

Our students represented our school with confidence, maturity and pride, demonstrating outstanding public speaking skills and a commitment to the values of inclusion and respect.

A special congratulations to Sare from 6O and Phoenix from 4G, who were both awarded Highly Commended for their engaging speeches. This is a wonderful achievement and we couldn't be more proud!

Congratulations to all four students on their outstanding efforts. We are so proud of the way you represented our school and shared such important messages with the wider community!

🌈✨ Neurodiversity Week at Metella Road Public School ✨🌈

This week, we are proudly celebrating Neurodiversity Week and recognising that every brain is unique. Neurodiversity reminds us that people think, learn, communicate and experience the world in different ways – and that these differences are strengths that enrich our school community.

Throughout the week, students will participate in a range of exciting activities designed to promote understanding, inclusion and celebration of neurodiversity. We would like to thank Mrs Tayla Butler, our SLSO, for leading this important initiative.

👩‍🍳 Monday – Cooking Session
🎤 Tuesday – Whole School Presentation and Parent Information Session
🤸 Wednesday – Gymnastics Session
🏉 Thursday – NRL Parramatta Eels Experience
🖐️ Friday – Sensory Exploration Activities

📢 Don't miss our Parent Information Session tomorrow!

Join us on Tuesday, 16 June, from 3:15pm – 4:00pm in the school library for a practical and informative session presented by Speech Pathologist and Neurodiversity Professional.

Parents will learn practical strategies to support neurodiverse children at home, gain a deeper understanding of neurodiversity, and explore ways to build connection, communication and confidence.

👧🧒 Children are welcome to attend with their parents, and child-minding will be available during the session.

We look forward to celebrating Neurodiversity Week together and continuing to build a school community where every child feels valued, understood and supported.

💙 Different brains. Different strengths. One inclusive community.