1 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

We held the last of our parent teacher Information nights and we hope you found these evenings informative and worthwhile. Thank you to all the teachers who stayed back each evening and to Mr James Fewtrell our new P & C president who attended every evening. Class Coordinators were selected for each class and we would like to have a start-up meeting for all the coordinators next Wednesday afternoon 7 March at 3.15pm in the computer room. Thank you Kristen Te Pania who will be organising the coordinators this year.

Class Contact Lists

If you were unable to attend the Information nights you won’t have filled out the contact list for the class. These lists are used to contact you regarding social events, fundraising events and for general class organisation eg. requirements for excursions etc. The lists are only to be used for school and P&C business. If you haven’t filled out your details on the night you will receive a slip in your child’s bag to complete your details. You do not have to go on the contact list if you don’t wish. Please return these slips to your child’s class teacher.

PSSA/School Sport

Last Friday we had our first round of the summer PSSA competition. Our teams were very excited and coaches reported that the students enjoyed their first round of competition demonstrating good sportsmanship and healthy competitiveness. Our teams and coaches for the summer competition are:

Volleyball and Newcombe ball- Ms Jaala Kemp, Mr Pat Dylan
Cricket- Mr Andy Bennett
Eagle Tag- Mrs Mel Ward, (Boys A), Miss Ellie Martin (Boys B) Mrs Sarah Humphreys (girls)
Softball and T-Ball- Ms Natalie Panetta

Our coaches back at school offered a variety of fundamental movement activities to lead up to major games. Skills include skipping, catching, throwing, passing, trapping, kicking and yoga. The coaches are:

Mr Marc James, Ms Lisa Cash, Mrs Nicole Blackband, Mr David Chapman

School Council AGM - Monday 26 March – 7.00pm

Our school Council AGM will be on Monday 26 March. All positions will be declared vacant at the meeting. If you are wishing to nominate for one of the following positions please collect a nomination form from the front office. You do need a seconder for your nominations. Only current elected members can vote on the evening. Positions are President, Secretary, and 2 parent representatives. The teacher representatives on the School Council for 2018 are Mrs Sarah Humphreys and Mr Pat Dylan. Our current community representative is Mr Yorick Sweetnam.

Dance Program 2018

This year we have changed the dance program. Our kindergarten, year 1 & year 2 students will still be doing dance for 2 terms with Mrs Orrick culminating in a Dance concert at Balgowlah Boys Campus on the last week of term 2.

Other changes include:

Stage 2 (year 3 & 4) students - Hip Hop dance in term 3 for 10 weeks
Stage 3 (year 5) - Dancesport program in terms 2-3
Stage 3 (year 6) Dance2Bfit - in term 4 as a lead up to their graduation.

As the programs are run by specialist dance teachers the costs will be added to your school fees. Please keep in mind that costs will differ due to the varying lengths of time of the program and the costs of the teacher.

Life Skills

This year during terms 3 & 4 we will be trialling a well-being and mindfulness program for all grades from kindergarten – year 6. The program lasts for 8 weeks and is run by specialists in this area. It will be a 40 minute session every week for all classes. This program will form part of our personal development and health programs in term 3. The trial program has been discounted to $26 and will appear on your school fees.

Forensic Science Incursion

Next Monday in our school hall all year 3-6 classes will attend a “Forensic Science” incursion. The incursion is run by Education Interactive. This incursion will be a great way to launch our science program for the year. The cost of the program will be invoiced on your school fees.

School Fees

Next week you will receive an outline of the school fees for the year. All excursions (other than stage 3 camp) will be invoiced as part of the whole school program of fees. You can pay the fees all at once or throughout the year as the events occur. Prepayment of all excursions is required for children to attend these extra-curricular events.

Tina Lee - Principal

Assistant Principal’s Report K-2

Developing independent, resilient students within a safe learning environment

Fostering Positive and Effective Communication within the School Community

At Manly Vale Public School we are continually striving to improve the communication that takes place between parents, carers and teachers. Our goal is to deliver communication that is clear and concise, ensuring parents and carers are well informed of school routines and structures pertaining to their child/children.

Our staff are friendly and always approachable, so please do not hesitate to share positive experiences and or queries with us. We truly believe that working together collaboratively as a team, in the best interest of the child, we can achieve anything!

If you have any questions or concerns that need clarification, we encourage you to seek that information directly from us, rather than through third parties on social media platforms. Thank you.

Please trust that your child’s wellbeing is our main priority and we are extremely proud of how quickly our K-2 students have settled into their new classes. They are a joy to teach.

Carol Speight – Assistant Principal

Assistant Principal’s Report Yrs 3-6

Transition to High School Information

Several students will be sitting the selective high school tests for entry in 2019 on Thursday 15 March. Please be aware that there are many open and orientation days being planned at various high schools. Please ensure you are looking at the high schools’ specific websites for more information. Year 6 received their 2019 high school expressions of interest (EOI) forms yesterday. Please read the accompanying letter very carefully and fill in the form according to the instructions given. If you are unsure of your preferences and need help with the form please make an appointment and I will advise you. Entry into public schools is based on your home address and school boundaries. Mr Dylan and I used the locator tool to record your child’s local school on the form. This is a requirement but you may use the locator tool to look at school boundaries. These will differ if you do not live in the Mackellar Girls or Balgowlah Boys High Schools’ catchment areas. Please ensure the EOIs are returned by Friday 16 March so they can be checked and submitted on time.

SRC Badges, Class Manager Badges, Band Leaders & Library Monitor Badges

Tomorrow, Friday 2 March, SRC badges will be handed out at the Friday morning assembly to students who were voted in by their peers to represent their class at the Student Representative Council meetings. This forum is a special opportunity for students to engage in a democratic process throughout the year. In doing so, students are able to put forward class suggestions for school changes, present these at student council meetings and then students vote on the suggestions. The suggestions are presented to the principal, staff members or P&C etc for approval. We have had excellent suggestions in the past and our ‘Buddy Bench’, science week and computer time at lunch; are some examples of these. The SRC is where students have a voice and bring about change in our school. Congratulations to the following students for being voted as Student Council Representatives for 2018:

The following year 6 students have accepted the Class Manager leadership position. In this role the leaders will help the K-2 SRC representatives in the meetings and help them report back to their class afterwards. The year 6 class managers will also help the K-2 teachers with any jobs they may need doing. Mrs Lee, Mrs Speight and our wonderful office staff often need help and so this year we have allocated some responsible year 6 students to help out when needed. I’m sure they’ll be put to work and will love the extra responsibility and challenges presented to them.

Band Leaders

Congratulations to Kaeli Chew and Noah Corner who are being presented with their Band Leader badges. It is quite an achievement to have been committed members of our band program for three years and to continue in year 6 when there are so many extra commitments already. Kaeli and Noah have shown exemplary musicianship and behaviour and are reliable band members.

Library Monitors

The following year 5 students are learning leadership skills this year and have accepted their first leadership positions as library monitors. As we have so many wanting to be library monitors we will have semester 1 and semester 2 library monitors. They will be supporting Mrs Poole, Mrs O’Connor and Mrs Abrahams in the library. Congratulations to these semester 1 library monitors;

Sakura Baker, Zarifa Ahmed, Caitlin Fisher, Talia Stedman, Evie Carpenter, Diya Malhotra, Rose Logan, Kierra Atchinson, Alyssa Puchner, Imogen Kirkwood, Madeline Toole and Lydia Choi.

Lisa Phillips – Assistant Principal

Dates for Your Diary

School Photos

Your child will have received a photo envelope in class earlier this week. The easiest way to order photos is to order online at the link below. You will need to type in our specific school photo code which is P2B 27Y HEW. Parents who place orders online DO NOT have to return the photo envelope. However, if you wish to pay by cheque, cash or money order you will need to return the envelope to school prior to or on photo day. Sibling photos may be ordered online using the same 9 digit code P2B 27Y HEW or via a sibling envelope available at the front office.

Library News

Welcome to another year of Happy Reading!

We have a number of events to look forward to in 2018.

Recently our library celebrated Library Lover's Week, and is beautifully decorated with little red hearts and flowers containing special messages from the students.

The Premier's Reading Challenge officially starts in early March.

This is an initiative from the NSW Premier's office to promote a love of reading by students K-9, with the support of their families. It is a Challenge not a Competition! Students read or share a number of quality titles from a dedicated list, and enter the titles online, using their DET username and password. All Manly Vale kindergarten children will participate in this event at school, with the support of their teachers. If the challenge is finished the participants receive a certificate of completion.

Library Lessons have started and borrowing is well underway. K – 4 students need to bring a library bag each week for borrowing, please help your child to remember to pack their library back the night before their library lesson.

Happy Reading 2018!
Glynis Poole – Teacher Librarian

PSSA Results

Choir News

The 3-6 Choir has started rehearsals in preparation for the Arts Alive concert at the Sydney Town Hall later in the year. The students have been very dedicated and excited and are already sounding wonderful. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday lunchtimes in the 1L classroom. The Arts Alive note and the 2018 Choir Code of Conduct will be sent home with the students today. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs Lucey or Miss Mason via the school email address.

Mrs Lucey

Coles Sports in Schools

It’s Coles Sports in Schools time again! Please bring your vouchers in and place them in the box at the front office or at Coles Manly Vale to earn more sports equipment for Manly Vale!

Scholastic Book Club

Orders are due back at school no later than Friday 23 March 2018.

School Banking

We will be holding a School Banking Information Session at our school:

Time: 8.30am – 9.30am
Date: Tuesday 6 March 2018
Location: near the Uniform Shop

Canteen Volunteers Roster Term 1, 2018

Community Notices

Balgowlah Bolt Fun Run