15 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Apologies for the lack of parking today due to the positioning of the crane to move all the sheds on the site. Our Kindergarten students will be in their new classrooms as of Tuesday 20 March and the old classrooms will be removed sometime next week.

Over the next few months the construction will be expedited as there will be 2 parts of the build happening at once, the hall and canteen from the southern side of the school and the classrooms to the north of the site. There will be an increase in tradesmen and traffic during this time but the school buildings could be all complete by February 2019.

National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence - Friday 16 March

Tomorrow our School Leaders and the SRC will talk at assembly about some strategies to combat bullying. The day has been set aside to make students aware of what bullying looks like and ways they can deal with at school. There will be some notes sent home about the day. Our anti-bullying and cyber-bullying policies are available on our school website under the heading school documents/school policies.

NAPLAN Online Practice Days

Next week on Tuesday 20 March and Wednesday 21 March, year 3 & 5 students will practise doing the online NAPLAN assessments. These days have been set aside as a technical check for the school in preparation for the actual tests beginning on Tuesday 15 May through to Friday 25 May.

For more information regarding NAPLAN online please go to:

High School Expression of Interest forms

Just a reminder that all year 6 students must return their expression of interest forms to school by this Friday 16 March. Today was the Selective High School test. Students do need to nominate a back-up school other than the selective high school as they may not be successful in receiving a place at the selective high school.

Magic Flute

Yesterday we had our Magic Flute incursion in the school hall. This will be invoiced as part of the “Whole School Program”. The children enjoyed and appreciated members of the Opera Australia performing pieces from this opera. The incursion was a great way to begin our student’s appreciation of a variety of musical pieces. Thank you to Mrs Poole who organised the incursion.

To hear some of the pieces please follow the link below:

School Fees

School fee information was sent out today. There will be a special draw on Friday 13 April 2018 for all families who pay their full fees by the end of term.

Student Representative Council SRC

This Friday we will have our first SRC meeting for the year. The SRC will follow up feedback from our environmental committee on Clean Up Manly Vale day last Friday and introduce the charities for the year. Guest classes for this week are 6L, 4/5H and 4K. The meeting will begin at 11.20am in the school hall. Parents are welcome to come and watch. The SRC meet usually every 3 weeks during a term. Their next event will be our Harmony Day fundraiser on the Tuesday 20 March where students will be asked to wear a splash of orange (the Harmony day colour) and bring in a gold coin to raise money to provide an additional flag pole in our new school so that the aboriginal flag will be flown alongside the Australian flag.

Leadership Camp

Our 8 school leaders attended the Northern Beaches Learning Alliance (NBLA) leadership camp this week, along with representatives from 12 other schools. The leaders participated in team building exercises and workshops on leadership. Our school Leaders will now lead the SRC through some of the projects discussed at the camp. Thank you to Mr Dylan who attended the camp.

Easter Hat Parade - Thursday 29 March

We will have our annual Easter Hat parade on Thursday 29 March at 2.30pm. The older students in years 3-6 will buddy up with the younger students (K-2) to make the Easter bonnets at school. The K-2 students will then parade their bonnets on that day cheered on by their older buddies. It is a lovely day for all and parents are welcome to come and watch. Ms Sussanna and Ms Pembroke will be organising the day. A note from individual classes will come home with more specific details on what to bring in for the bonnet making.

Zone Swimming – Wednesday 21 March

Good luck to all our 36 school swimmers who will be competing at the Zone Carnival. This is a very high level of competition and all our students should be proud to be competing in this carnival. Mrs Birrell and Mrs Ward will be accompanying our school team.

Class Coordinators

Below is the list of the class coordinators for 2018. Thank you to all of these volunteer parents. The Class Coordinators will be communicating through email any school events, happenings and fundraising activities. Please refrain from setting up Facebook or Whatsapp communication links with your class. Important announcements and events will come through the email. No student’s details or photographs should be shared over these social sites.

If you haven’t been included in a class email communication yet please make contact with your coordinator, as you may not be on their list.

P & C Meeting

Last Tuesday night we had our second P & C meeting for the year. We discussed refurbishment of the new canteen and uniform shop and the relocation of the current uniform shop during the next few weeks. Thanks you to Penny Dixon and Helen Gay for all their research into the best way forward for the operations of these two important school facilities and to all the parents who have been helping out with the organisation.

Mr Ian Hills was elected as the P & C representative on the School Council for 2018. Mr Hills will represent the P & C at the next School Council AGM on Monday 26 March at 7.00pm. All nominations for other positions will close by Friday 23 March. Nominations forms are available from the front office.

Bus Issues

Our school buses are very over-crowded in the mornings and afternoons. Students need to swipe opal cards to show the amount of children using the service. I have expressed concerns from the school to the bus company about this over-crowding but unfortunately as most students do not use the Opal card for travel there is little evidence in support of obtaining more buses.

Tina Lee - Principal

Parking and Walking around schools

Assistant Principal’s Report K-2

Developing independent, resilient students within a safe learning environment

PROVIDING A HEALTHY LUNCH BOX

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been wonderful visiting classrooms during fruit break sessions and seeing students on the playground eating healthy recess and lunch items. I am constantly amazed at the creative options parents and carers provide their children with to ensure they have nutritious snacks at school.

As a parent, I know how difficult it can be to not only get yourself ready for work, for the day ahead, but to also ensure that in the morning rush hour our kids are out of bed, dressed, have had a good breakfast to kick start their day, have brushed their teeth, and their school bag is packed ready for the school day ahead.

Over the years I have sought inspiration from family, friends and various websites to help keep my children’s lunch boxes healthy and ensure they have plenty of variety to encourage them to eat everything I have packed.

I have listed below a couple of websites I have personally used to help provide inspiration. If you have any tips to share with our Manly Vale Public School community, I welcome you sending me through quick and easy recipes, photos of your children’s lunch boxes, or tips and tricks for getting ready for the school week ahead. I will collate the responses I receive and share them with our school community. Together we can hopefully make each other’s lives a lot easier whilst ensuring our children are happy, healthy and ready for a successful day at school!

Carol Speight – Assistant Principal

Dates for Your Diary

ICAS Competitions 2018

Yesterday all year 3-6 students received a note outlining the voluntary ICAS Competitions for 2018. All permission notes including payment are required by next Tuesday 20 March to allow test papers to be ordered. Unfortunately no refunds are possible for absences on the day of each competition.

These are a voluntary competition and considered an enrichment activity. Students with learning support needs are not encouraged to participate. Should you feel unsure about the suitability for your child, please have a conversation with your classroom teacher. All children who will be sitting the OC or Selective High School Placement Tests are required to undertake ICAS as part of the school ranking process.

Band Rehearsal - Before School Behaviour Expectations

Just a reminder that students arriving early for morning Band Rehearsal are required to sit with their parents quietly on the silver seats outside the Tech Room, until the Band Conductors arrive and the rehearsal session begins. Students must remain under the care and responsibility of parents during this time before school hours. Recently several students have had to be reminded of behaviour expectations prior to staff supervision commencing on the playground at 8:40am. Thank you for your support in caring for our students wellbeing.

Nicole Blackband - Assistant Principal

PSSA Results

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

Brochures were handed out this week. Orders are due back at school no later than Friday 23 March 2018.

Canteen News

The deadline for sushi orders has been moved to Wednesday morning for Wednesday lunch orders and Friday morning for Friday lunch orders.

Canteen Menu Term 1 2018

The new canteen menu for Term 1 is attached to this newsletter in the left hand column under forms & documents.

Canteen Volunteers Roster Term 1, 2018

Community Notices

Manly Vale Football Club – Players Wanted

Manly Vale FC is looking for more players for the following age groups, to fill up our teams:

Saturday U/10 - Additional players to complete our teams in the “Green” (3rd division) grade.
Enquiries to John Scoon – 0407 263 146 (vpjuniors@manlyvalefc.com.au)

Sunday Girls U/10 - Additional players to complete our teams in the “Red” (1st Division) and “Blue” (2nd Division) grades.
Enquiries to Jules Nickson-Pole – 0419 241 995 (vpgirls@manlyvalefc.com.au)

Sunday Girls U/8 - Additional players to complete our teams needed.
Enquiries to Tom Miles – 0488 424 122 (vpsubjuniors@manlyvalefc.com.au)

Northern Beaches Council

Northern Beaches Vacation Care School Holiday Activities Autumn 2018 brochure is available from the school office or by visiting the council’s website below. Bookings open 19 March.