1 December 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Here is our new look fortnightly newsletter. This new format has many advantages:

• The newsletter is able to be read in multiple languages
• We can upload photos and videos
• Parent/teacher interviews can be made through this newsletter, along with event bookings
• Spot polls allow school to measure a consensus of opinion on a topic eg. Should the canteen sell sushi or pizza next Friday?
• The school can also launch more detailed surveys as part of the newsletter
• An up to date integrated calendar keeps you informed of school happenings
• There is a smartphone app which allows you to view the newsletter from your phone, iPad or tablet anytime and anywhere
• Push notifications can be sent to your IPhone from the school eg. PSSA is cancelled today

We hope you enjoy reading this new look newsletter and welcome your feedback.

Congratulations Mali

Congratulations to Mali Lovell who last week ran 2nd in the track events at the State Athletics Carnival last week. Mali has had an incredible year this year with her sporting achievements and we are all very proud of her.

Mali Lovell

Pink Stumps Day

Congratulations to Mr Bennett and the senior and junior cricket team who played in the Pink Stumps Day fundraiser last Friday. The boys had a lot of fun playing in their pink attire to raise money for the Glen McGrath Foundation. The boys have raised an incredible $2,530.00 for the foundation and have raised awareness for it amongst our Manly Vale Public School community. Well done cricketers.

Teachers Leaving 2017

This time of year is always sad as we farewell some of our staff.

Mrs Lori Learmont

This year we will say goodbye to Mrs Lori Learmont as she takes 6 months leave at the beginning of next year with the possibility of retiring at the end of her leave. Mrs Learmont has been a passionate educator at Manly Vale Public School for 9 years. She has taught all grades from Kindergarten to Year 6 over her 30 years as a teacher on the Central Coast, Campbelltown and Manly Vale. She has been a keen advocate and supporter of learning and support in schools and has trained as a Reading Recovery teacher. She has helped many students reach their potential in the classroom and raised 3 beautiful children herself. Mrs Learmont has led the Learning and Support team at Manly Vale Public School for 9 years and the English committee. She has been an influential Assistant Principal and a caring mentor to many beginning teachers. Mrs Learmont will be very much missed at Manly Vale Public School next year.

Ms Kirsty Hall

Ms Hall leaves us to take up a permanent position at Balgowlah Heights Public School. Ms Hall was successful in applying for a merit selection position at Balgowlah Heights Public School and will leave us to take up a permanent position in 2017. Ms Hall has been a popular teacher at Manly Vale and a keen contributor and facilitator of our ICT programs within the school. Ms Hall was the Junior Band Liaison teacher and a strong year 1 and year 4 classroom teacher for the past 4 years. We wish Ms Hall all the best in her new position.

Mrs Lexi McDonald

Mrs McDonald will be taking a year’s leave in 2017 to pursue other career interests and business opportunities. Mrs McDonald will return in 2018 but will be a “big hole to fill” next year on Year 2. We wish Mrs McDonald all the best in her career change.

Mrs Yasmin Sorensen (Maksut), Mrs Lauren Finlayson, Mrs Sarah Birrell

Three of our finest teachers will be absent next year as they will all be having their second babies. We wish all of these teachers and their families all the best and hope to welcome them back within the next few years.

Thank you Volunteers

This week we were able to host a morning tea for all our volunteers. Our parent and community volunteers are so important within the school and we appreciate all the hours they put into the students at Manly Vale. Thank you, if you are a parent who has helped out at the canteen, uniform shop, band program, Café Owl, Volunteer Reading Program, school carnivals, fundraising and in-classroom support. Many of the programs we run within the school cannot be done without the assistance of volunteers. Special mention to our band committee members who will be farewelled tonight at our band Christmas party Shay Gillings, Sioned Guard and Fiona Telfer, and to Helen Gay who has decided to take a break from the uniform shop. These parents have been vital in keeping these additional activities going within the school. We would like to express our gratitude for all of the unpaid hours you have done within the school.

Thank you also to our scripture and Ethics teachers for their commitment to these programs every Wednesday. We look forward to working with our volunteers next year.

School Leaders 2017

This week our year 5 students bravely nominated for the School Leader positions for 2017. This is the first of many leadership opportunities for our year 5 students for 2017 followed by Class Monitor, House Captain and Library Monitor positions to be voted on next year.

I wish to congratulate all of the Year 5 students who stood for these positions and congratulate them on their speeches to their peers on Wednesday. The SRC 2016 School Leaders will hand over the SRC to our new leaders tomorrow in an official ceremony. Thank you to Miss Phillips and Ms Fisk for all their work with the School Leaders and the SRC this year. The school captains and vice captains will be announced at the Celebration of Learning ceremony on Thursday 8 December.

Reports 2017

The final school report on your child will go home on Friday 9 December. Please look out for the report in your child’s school bag that day. If you are leaving for an early holiday please let your child’s teacher know so that you can take your report with you (if it’s ready that is).

Minifest - Friday 9 December

As part of our traditional annual celebrations Year 6 put on a fun activity/fair on an afternoon to say farewell and thank you to their peers. Money raised goes towards a present which Year 6 will give to the school at the Celebration Of Learning assembly. The afternoon will be like a mini-fair with Year 6 students running various stalls. Sweets and lollies are prizes for the stalls but strongly supervised by the class teachers. Please send a note to your child’s class teacher if you do not wish them to have any lollies that day.

Class Picnic Days - final week

All classes will have a final picnic day together with their peers from other classes. The following days have been set aside for these events and separate notes have been sent home with more details.

Monday 12 December - Year 6 Graduation assembly (school) and dinner South Curl Curl Surf Club)
Tuesday 13 December - Years 5 and 6 - Jamberoo (all day)
- Kindergarten graduation and picnic day at school
Wednesday 14 December - Years 3 and 4 picnic day at Dee Why Beach
- Years 1 and 2 picnic day at Collaroy Park and movies

This will be a great way to finish the year for all students. Please read the notes sent home carefully for dress attire and travel arrangements. All permission notes must be returned for these events.

Leaving next Year?

Please inform the school in writing if you are not returning next year. It is imperative that we know numbers of students so as to arrange classrooms and teachers for 2017.

Building works

The school council met this week to prepare for the JRPP meeting on 19 December. A decision regarding the new school development will be made at this meeting. In the interim we will have 2 new demountables next year and a new Kindergarten playground situated outside the administration block and behind the demountables near the chicken coup. These works will take place in the holidays. We will also be renovating the school oval during this break so access to the school will be very limited.

Kindergarten 2017

At this stage we will be making 4 Kindergarten classes for 2017. All parents will be emailed the details of their child’s class along with booking details so they can book in for their Best Start Interviews. All bookings will need to be made before the start of school next year.

School Last day

Please note that the last day of school for the students is Friday 16 December. If you require supervision for the following week please contact the Primary OSHCcare on 0430 369 288.

School Start 2017

27 January 2017 – Staff Development Day (no Students attend)
30 January 2017- Years 1-6 start school
31 January 2017- Kindergarten come to school for 1 hour to meet their teacher (9.30am). Best Start interviews begin.
1 & 2 February 2017 – Best Start interviews (Kindergarten)
3 February 2017 - Kindergarten first day of school 9.30am – 2.30pm.

Tina Lee - Principal

Manly Vale Public School has a new app!

SZapp is a great way to keep up to date with all of our latest news and information. Using SZapp will give you easy access to information such as:

• Newsletters on the go
• Latest News & Reminders
• Forms and Documents
• Absentee and Contact Forms

2017 Back to School Stationery

Stage 1 Learning Programs

2016 has been an incredible year for the students and teachers in stage 1. Through the collaborative development of quality teaching programs, year 1 and 2 students have engaged in a variety of activities that have aimed to meet stage 1 outcomes and the learning needs of all students.

Literacy and numeracy has been a major focus in all stage 1 classrooms this year. Students have actively engaged in a variety of explicit, guided and independent activities to consolidate their understanding in English and mathematics. Whilst our teachers at Manly Vale Public School ensure each lesson covers critical academic content, they are cognisant that the learning environment they establish provides innovative, hands-on and engaging activities for all students.

At Manly Vale Public School our aim is to develop a community of learners who are committed to working together to reach the highest levels of development of mind, heart, body and spirit. With this in mind, our teachers have developed programs that encourage students to work collaboratively with their peers and develop leadership skills.

Stage 1 students have attended excursions and incursions that have helped support learning taking place in the classroom, particularly in the areas of HSIE and science. They have also engaged in a range of activities that have provided challenging and creative pursuits such as performance initiatives and dramatic arts activities, sport clinics, visual art programs and cultural days. Stage 1 students have also had the opportunity to develop computer coding skills using the Lego WeDo program, Scratch and Code.Org as part of our ICT program.

As a result, it has been an extremely busy year but one that has been incredibly rewarding for all students and staff in Stage 1.

Carol Speight

Library News

2016 has been a wonderfully busy year in the library. Celebrating events such as Chinese New Year, Library Lover’s Day, Harmony Day, International Children’s Book Day (Han Christian Andersen’s Birthday) just to mention a few.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge took off in March with over 50 participants completing the challenge six months later.

During Library Information Week the children were invited to “Discover…” the many wonders in the library.

National Simultaneous Storytime featured the K-2 teachers performing, in their many hats, “I got a hat” by Jol and Kate Temple.

The annual Book Fair held in Education Week, gave families the chance to buy for themselves and donate to the school.

Book Week celebrations brought two performances, K-2 children saw the wonders of shadow puppetry with “The Owl’s Apprentice” and the 3-6 students were introduced to the power of words through poetry by Steven Herrick in his performance “Poetry to the Rescue”.

These were just some of the highlights from our wonderful year of Happy Reading! We look forward to an equally exciting and busy year in 2017.

Glynis Poole and Annette Murphy-Haste – Teacher Librarians

Dates for Your Diary

Canteen Volunteers Roster Term 4

Canteen News

The canteen urgently needs more volunteers for 2017. We will see many long term volunteers leave the canteen and the school. If you can help, please see Sarah in the canteen.

P&C News

We welcome all parents to attend the next P&C meeting on 6 December at 7.30pm. We will be sharing an overview of the strategy for next year, including the sub committee structures, the roles, new communication platforms and format for the monthly meetings. This meeting will include a Q&A at the end, regarding the sub committee in preparation for election at the first meeting next year. The team will also share opportunities identified that will enable us to support more educational outcomes across school. We had a great turn out last month, look forward to seeing you again.

Uniform Shop

Final opening times for the Uniform Shop in 2016 are:

Friday 2 December 8.30am to 9.00am
Monday 5 December 9.00am to 10.00am

This will also be the last day for all order forms. Thank you and Happy Christmas from the Uniform Shop

Reading Recovery

TOM AND OLLIE’S ADVENTURES - By Tom Stevens 2M

Tom was just a normal second grade boy with a friend called Ollie who was also in second grade. They both lived near a big forest and they called it the Forest of Secrets.

One day they went into the forest and walked and walked until they reached a creek. They were very thirsty, so they drank from the creek. But then a giant river monster rose from the creek. It showed off its ginormous fangs and scraped them on a tree.

‘What should we do Tom?’ yelled Ollie.

‘Get some vines from the trees,’ replied Tom as he was making a pile of rocks.

‘Done, now what do I do?’ asked Ollie.

‘Tie them around the trees that are directly behind the monster,’ said Tom.

When he finished that, Tom put the rocks on the vines, aimed for the monsters head and let go. The rocks were flung through the air and hit the monster in the head. The monster fled because of his injuries.

ERMA AND THE UNICORN - by Louella Goodsir 1C

Chapter 1

Once upon a time there lived a little nine year old girl named Erma. She lived in Woodland Hill. Like a lot of other nine year olds, she had a lot of things on her mind. She wasn't invited to her best friend's party. She was also worried about getting in trouble at school.

Erma never seemed to have time to worry about all of her problems because someone was always yelling at her to hurry up. At that exact moment her mum yelled out "HURRY UP ERMA. COME AND EAT YOUR BREAKFAST". Erma said "I'm coming, but after breakfast I'm picking some flowers for my teacher."

Chapter 2

After breakfast Erma went outside looking for flowers for her teacher. She started worrying again about why she wasn’t invited to her best friend's party. Erma looked at all the woodland flowers, and she felt hopeful when she saw some honeysuckle and bluebells. Fairies love honeysuckle and bluebells, so Erma hoped that meant there were some fairies nearby.

"Maybe today won't be such a bad day if the fairies are here" Erma thought. Erma started to feel her worries lift a little bit as she picked some flowers and looked carefully for the fairies. As she made her way down to the meadow Erma heard her mum yelling from the house "HURRY UP ERMA, you'll miss the bus".

Chapter 3

Erma wandered all the way down to the pond searching for fairies and picking flowers. At the pond Erma thought she saw her Flowers, her pony. Then, all of a sudden, Erma noticed that it wasn’t her pony, it was A UNICORN! No-one had seen a unicorn in Woodland Hill for one hundred years. Erma was speechless.

The unicorn looked straight into Erma's eyes. Erma felt peaceful and happy as she looked back into the unicorn's eyes. The unicorn said "I'm here to be your friend ". Erma could not believe what she was hearing, and she was still speechless.

"Now let's get going" said the unicorn. "We have to work out how I am going to get on the school bus".

Community Notices

Christmas Tree Sale

Northern Beaches Council School Holiday Program

Brochure & interactive booking request form are available to download from Council’s website. For more information please call 9942 2312.

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