5 April 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Our New school

Last Friday the Education Minister Hon. Mr Rob Stokes came to the school to announce the beginning of the tender process for the redevelopment of Manly Vale Public School. Channel 9 news reported the announcement of a State of the Art, 21st century learning facility for the students of Manly Vale. 40 classrooms, 4 special programs rooms, a new library, a new communal hall and canteen, and undercover learning spaces. Follow the link provided for the news story:

The revised plans have allowed for the preservation of more than 500 trees, 10% more than previously proposed. The Asset Protection Zone (APZ) a bushfire buffer area around the school, will extend into approximately 0.1% of the adjoining Manly Warringah Memorial Park (50% less than previous plans) and the announcement that the park will now become a new State park. This new status recognises regional environmental and recreational asset and provides enhanced protection of this valuable natural resource.

“The outcome balances the integrity of the redevelopment and the preservation of the local environment” Mr Stokes said.

Information on the changes made to the original plans, along with questions and answers on environmental concerns and a look at the new school (3D model) can be found by following the link below.

For the staff and students of Manly Vale Public School our new school will be an opportunity to engage with our natural environment and enhance our digital capabilities and competencies. To provide collaborative learning spaces that encourage creative and critical thinking, to offer authentic environmental and sustainability programs using our new environmental area and playground and allow students to balance “screen” time (technology) with “green” time (natural environment), and develop the foundations of a well-rounded global citizen.

Examples of these new learning spaces and practices can be seen in the clip below on Harbord Public School:

Next term we will offer information sessions on the new school development for interested parents. The delivery timeline for the development project is as follows:

Tender and Contract award: 31 March 2017 to June 2017
Construction Commencement: July 2017
Construction Completion: January 2020

Bushlink visit

A big thank you to the Bushlink team and stage 2 teachers and students who have created a beautiful native garden next to the basketball court. The garden will be a lovely resource for native plant lessons and studies and a beautiful feature for our upper playground. Special thanks to Mr Fisk (Ms Sally Fisk’s dad) who helped design and supply all the plants for the garden.

Congratulations Kindergarten 2017

As Term 1 2017 draws to a close I would like to congratulate our new Kindergarten students on a successful transition to primary school. It has been a very hectic start to the year but very satisfying to see all our Kindergarten students settled in their new classes. Last Friday we opened our new playground and all the students enjoyed the extended play space during lunch and recess.

The new equipment is out of bounds before and after school as it has to be supervised directly by a teacher on duty, so please don’t allow your toddlers to play on it as it only encourages everyone to use it without supervision.

NSWEE Band Performance at Forest High

Congratulations to our senior and junior bands on their first performances for 2017 at Forest High last Monday night. Both bands enjoyed the experience of playing to an audience. Our senior band has many new members and is just coming together as a team. Our junior band members have only been playing their instruments for a couple of months and were a little nervous about playing to an audience. We were all very proud of their performances on the night. Hopefully it will be a great motivator for all band members to do some additional practice in the holidays.

Photos

Our 2 photo days are now complete with all students being able to have a class and individual photo done last Monday and Friday. SRC, sibling and leadership photos were also done and ready for ordering online using the code P2B 27Y HEW.

Thank you Miss Phillips for your organisation of these days. Please do not send envelopes to school now, orders online are still available.

Parent/Teacher interviews

By now you should have had a one to one interview with your child’s class teacher. If you were unable to attend this interview please feel free to make an appointment with the teacher next term. These interviews are a great way for parents and teachers to share knowledge and further support each student academically and socially throughout the remainder of the year.

Class Coordinators

The class coordinators have been busy sending out information on the Easter Hat Parade and class excursions as well as surveying families on their traffic concerns around the school. Please remember to check the class emails weekly for updates of information and school events. If you are not on the email list please contact your class parent or teacher so that your details can be added. A list of coordinators appeared in the last Bush Telegraph (archive).

P&C meeting - Tuesday 4 April

A P&C meeting was held last Tuesday night at 7.00pm in the staffroom. Our P&C are very committed to supporting all the school’s programs this year and have organised various fundraising events for the year. Please come along to meetings or get involved via your Class Coordinator. The fundraising events are a great opportunity to meet new people whilst raising necessary funds for our school.

Congratulations to Mr Ian Hills who was voted in as the P&C representative on the School Council for 2017. Nominations for other School Council representatives need to done by Friday 5 May 2017. Nomination forms are available from the front office. The School Council AGM is on Monday 15 May.

Easter Hat Parade - Thursday 6 April - 2.15pm

Today we will be having our annual Easter Hat Parade on the basketball court weather permitting. The making of the hats has been thoroughly enjoyed by our Kindergarten students as they have been able to work with their senior buddy on their hat. Thank you to Ms Sussanna and Ms Pembroke for the organisation of the music and program for the event. It is a lovely way to finish off our term.

Winter PSSA

This year we have decided to enter a PSSA rugby league team for the boys. Mr Guzman will be coaching the team. This is in addition to our boys’ and girls’ soccer teams and our girls’ netball teams. Please be aware that PSSA is our gifted and talented sport program and there is a strict selection process. Even though you may play on Saturday it doesn’t mean that you are an automatic selection into a team. Trials for teams have been going on at school these last few weeks and teams will be finalised by this Friday. Bus transportation to PSSA venues is an added cost for all participants. If you have been selected for a team make sure that you order your football socks from the uniform shop and purchase mouth guards and protective gear if required for your sport. Drink bottles and hats must be brought every week.

Our home sport program is an alternative no cost option offering skill development in our winter sports, cross country and athletics training and small sided games. Students who are not selected in PSSA teams participate in school sport on a Friday afternoon.

Cyber Bullying workshops and information sessions

This week Mr Guzman has organised some information sessions cyber-bullying for our Stage 3 students. Tui Ormsby our local police youth liaison officer along with 4 other officers, attended the school to run these workshops. A parent information session will also be organised for next term to support parents in the supervision of their children when accessing the internet.

Traffic Survey

The School Council is surveying the school community on their concerns about traffic around the school in the hope to come up with positive ways to solve some of our ongoing issues. The survey is to try and get an idea of the problems around the school but also to brainstorm solutions/suggestions from the community as to how to improve the current situation. Please follow the link below and complete the survey. The survey closes on Friday 7 April.

Kindergarten 2018 Open Day- Tuesday 30 May

Our Open Day for our Kindergarten 2018 prospective students will be on Tuesday 30 May. Please inform friends and neighbours who are local to our school and have a child to start next year that this day will be an opportunity to get to know the school and prepare for enrolment.

2017 Junior Cricket Gear Appeal

Recycle cricket gear your child has outgrown or no longer uses. The Caribbean Children’s Cricket Charity provides equipment to cricket-loving Caribbean children who could never hope to own a cricket bat, ball or pads of their own. If you have any cricket gear please drop off to the school office or contact Tracy on 0405 255 994 for a pick up.

Happy holidays!

May I take this opportunity top wish you all a safe and happy holiday. Enjoy your break from school. The students do not return to school until Wednesday 26 April (day after ANZAC day). If you require care for your child in the holidays or on the Staff Development day (Monday 24 April) please call our before and after school care provider primaryOOSHcare on 0430 369 288.

Tina Lee - Principal

Dates for Your Diary

Clean Up Australia Day

After a very successful Earth Hour event on 24 March, class 4D put forward a suggestion to the SRC that the school also supports Clean Up Australia Day. Their suggestion was that this could become a regular event each term to encourage students to take greater pride in their beautiful environmental surroundings. The suggestion was easily carried at the SRC meeting and was handed onto the Environment and Grounds Committee. They further developed the idea by developing a map for each class to look after, selling the plan to Mrs Lee and suggesting a suitable time for the clean up.

We are now very proud to announce that our first Clean Up Australia (and Manly Vale Public School) Day for 2017 was held today. A big thank you to all the students, the SRC, Year 6 committees and community for their support in this event.

Pat Dylan

HOT (Higher Order Thinking) team…

It has been a busy and exciting Term 1 for our gifted and talented students. We are humbled by the wealth of gifts and talents that students are developing further.

Our weekly sessions engage our students in flexible thinking and the application of problem solving strategies as well as building persistence and resilience. Teacher gain an opportunity to understand their strengths and personalities as well. Children are keen and enthusiastic and it has been a privilege to teach them.

Our gifted and talented program at Manly Vale Public School is designed to foster the child's talents by providing extension opportunities at school and expose them to suitable competitions. In term 1, selected students from year 1 to year 6 entered Operation Art competition and others attended Science workshops. We have been working closely with local high schools and a small group of year 6 students have had an opportunity to attend an extension studies at Balgowlah Boys Campus.

I am looking forward to a busy term 2. Selected stage 1 students will participate in STEM activities and writing workshops. Stage 2 students will attend science extension studies at school and selected students from stage 3 will be working in teams consolidating problem solving skills and participating in Maths Olympiad. The Tournament of Minds workshops will continue to run in term 2 enabling the selection of the final 7 students for the ToM Team.

Parents of students selected to participate in gifted and talented opportunities will be notified in writing during Term 2.

Library News

We have had another fabulous term of reading and discovering new books and authors.

Here are some ideas to keep your children enthusiastically reading and happily occupied during the holidays.

Take a visit to the city and participate in one or more of the many activities offered at the State Library, in Macquarie Street.

Kids @ the State Library

• Kids tours (free)
• Coding workshops ($114.90/child)
• Leigh Hobbs (Children's Laureate) drawing workshop ($5.00)
• Drop in: Horrible Harriet and Old Tom Activity Centre (gold coin donation)

Manly Library – Holiday events

Warringah Mall Library – Holiday events

Australian Museum: Celebrating 190 Years

Premier's Reading Challenge

A number of children have successfully logged on to the website using their school username and password to record the book titles they have completed.

Remember your local library will have PRC titles for you to borrow through the holidays.

Reading Survey

Stage 2 and 3 students participated in a survey about reading and book preferences. Here are some interesting results, which may suggest how we can help to encourage and support your child in their attitudes to reading, and choice of reading material.

Stage 2 – Statistics

• 69% students read every day.
• 39% students are read to frequently by a parent
• 62% students belong to a public library

Most students choose books that are going to make them happy and laugh.

Some comments include:-

• Reading makes you relax.
• LOVE to read it's a good way to start and end a day.
• Reading is great for getting better vocabulary.
• I only dislike reading when I am being tested.
• Reading can take me to a world far far away!!

Stage 3 – Statistics

• 42% boys say they read everyday
• 30% girls read everyday
• 17% boys are read to by a parent
• 14% girls are read to by a parent
• 50% girls belong to a public library
• 31% boys belong to a local library

Girls tend to read a broader scope of books.

All read funny stories followed by adventure stories.

More information about this survey can be found in Manly Vale Primary School library.

Annette Murphy-Haste – Teacher Librarian
Glynis Poole – Teacher Librarian

Canteen Volunteers Roster Term 2, 2017

P&C News

SAVE THE DATES! Term 2 P&C Fundraising events

The P&C’s charter is to support the amazing work of our teachers in the classrooms and we fundraise to buy the resources and equipment for classrooms.

We are thrilled to confirm the following Term 2 events. What do you need to do now?

Go to your diary now, lock in the dates and call the babysitter!

Mother’s Day Breakfast, Friday 12 May 2017:

This is always a lovely morning and the children love having mum, carer, gran, nanna, aunty there for breakfast!

Time: 7.30am – 9.00am
Where: Manly Vale Public School

You will receive final details of what will be happening and how to order after the school holidays.

Trivia Night 2017: It’s back and you don’t want to miss it!

This is traditionally our largest fundraiser of the year and is for parents only. The theme is yet to be confirmed. It’s 3 months away but you do not want to miss out! For new parents at the school, this is a great social evening. Lasting friendships and bidding rivalries are made on Trivia Night so you want to be there.

When is it you ask? Saturday 17 June 2017
What time do you need to be ready? 7.00pm for 7.30pm Trivia start
Where: Mackellar Girls Campus School Hall
Theme: To be announced next term.
Dress code: Dress up BUT Flat shoes only – no high heels allowed!

This is a massive event and there will be loads of opportunity to donate prizes, make your outfit and help set up. We will be updating you as soon as we can via the Bush Telegraph and the MVPS P&C website but for now lock in the date and book your babysitter!

We are always looking to work with like-minded, fun parents and community members, so please get in touch if you have a special prize, talent or idea you’d like to suggest. Contact Penny Dixon on 0412 406 306.

Community Notices

High School Open Days 2017 - NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus

Tuesday 9 May 3.00-7.00pm, see the campus in action – lessons and co-curricular activities conducted throughout the afternoon. View the spectacular facilities and discuss, with students and staff, the full range of programs offered at the campus. Enquiries: 9905 2634

Northern Beaches Council Vacation Care

All day vacation care for school age children. To make a booking visit the council’s website to register or phone 9942 2312 for more information.

Cliff Side Fun Run at Long Reef

A community fun run on Sunday 9 April 2017 at Long Reef headland to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and refurbishments to Mona Vale SLSC, 7.00am start, 3km & 10km courses. Register below, use code: YZJVTNWS.

8 Week Mindfulness & Meditation Course for Mums

Starting Monday 8 May, for more info:

or

NSW Govt Office of Sport & Recreation Autumn Kids’ Camps – bookings now open

More info below or phone 13 13 02.

FREE Gardening Classes @ Flower Power

Monday 10 April – Thursday 13 April, Tuesday 18 April – Friday 21 April, 11.00am. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult. Visit flowerpower.com.au.

Writing Classes

Manly Vale Public School Mum & author Zena Shapter is running a two full-day writing class at Mosman these April school holidays for those in years 5 & 6: ‘Write Your Own Book’ on Monday 10 April and a ‘Writing Technique’ day on Wednesday 12 April. Further infobelow. To book, call the college on 9968 4000.

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School Holiday inserts