17 May 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Mother’s Day

Last Friday we had a wonderful morning. The mother’s day breakfast and stall was a great success and the children really enjoyed spending time with their mums and purchasing a gift from the stall. Thank you to Penny Dixon and her team of helpers for all their work on the day, with special thanks to Chris Nicholls and the Café Owl team, who cooked all the bacon and egg rolls for the morning.

The morning concluded with a truly special performance from our school choir who sang beautifully. Thank you to Mrs Lucey and Ms Mason for conducting our choir.

NAPLAN online

This week our year 3 and 5 students have been sitting the NAPLAN tests online. All students seem to have taken the change in their stride and performed at their best on the days. The NAPLAN tests will continue until Friday 25 May with catch up days for students who have missed any of the tests. Please make sure your children get a good night’s sleep and arrive at school on time for the next week. Thank you to Mrs Blackband and Mr Dylan for coordinating all of these tests and assisting with the technology.

Walk Safely To school Day – Friday 18 May

This Friday all students are encouraged to walk to school. The day is set aside to trial walking with friends to school. All of our PSSA teams will walk up from their morning’s training session at David Thomas. Teachers will be on the gates to welcome children who walk on Friday.

New School

Apologies that the car park was closed last Monday but there is quite a lot of work happening on and around the bike track this week. The bike track is closed at the moment to allow for pipes to be laid. The track is closed from the school car park to just around the other side of the oval until Sunday morning, so that this major work can be completed. Apologies for the inconvenience to all community members who use the track. The construction of the new school seems to be moving very quickly at the moment as you can see from the photos below.

Band Meeting - last Monday 14 May

Last Monday we had our Band meeting for the term. Thank you to John Logan and all of the committee members for their attendance and support of the band program. The band is a parent run activity supported by the P & C and relies on parent volunteers to help out with organisation. The band fees cover the costs and no profit is gained from these fees so it is important that all fees are paid on time and to the full amount.

Both bands had their first performances at NSWEE last week and are now rehearsing for performances for open day, assemblies, the Manly Vale Kindergarten and the Northern Beaches Festival. Rehearsals are important. The band will be having 2 workshop days at school on Monday 28 May (senior band) and Thursday 31 May (junior band) so please ensure that students are prepared with their instrument and arrive on time to the morning rehearsal.

Students who chose to leave the band must see Mrs Lee for an exit letter that needs to be signed by the parent. Students are encouraged to remain in the band until at least the end of the term and definitely not until after a performance. The band is a team and children dropping out prior to main performances are letting the team down.

Cross Country

Results will be published in next week’s newsletter and ribbons will be handed out at next Friday’s assembly.

School Fees

Term 2 school fee reminders were sent out today. School textbooks were distributed term 1 and payment is now overdue. If you are experiencing financial difficulties please contact me for a confidential meeting.

Tina Lee - Principal

Assistant Principal’s Report 3-6

iPLAY Research Project – Fit Bodies and Healthy Bodies

Manly Vale Public School has an amazing opportunity to participate in a fitness and well-being project, promoting active lifestyle and healthy minds. Students across K-6 will be involved in various fitness and activity sessions during 2018.

In the coming weeks researchers from the Australian Catholic University and the University of Newcastle will be collecting survey data from students in years 3 & 4 as part of the iPLAY research project. The iPLAY project aims to develop teacher’s skills and strategies to improve sport and PE lessons, and to increase students’ physical activity and health. Our school has been invited to participate involving teacher professional learning workshops, cooperative programming and also by having students in Years 3 & 4 complete online surveys. Data collected from Stage 2 students will be treated as strictly confidential and de-identified.

Parents can choose to withdraw their child/children from the data collection at any time. Information notes were sent home earlier this term providing parents with the opportunity to opt out. Parents of Years 3 & 4 students do not need to return consent forms if they wish for their child/children to participate.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact myself or the iPLAY Team at admin@iplay.com.au or 9701 4629.

Anti-Bullying Poster Competition Winners

We would like to congratulate our winners of the Anti-Bullying Poster Competition held in Term 1.

2P submitted a whole class poster, with every student contributing a small square. Three students from 4/5H - Kurt, William and Trisha collaboratively drew the Owls supporting each other and Katie from 3P had an Owl giving a hand to two students in the playground.

The three winning posters have been framed and are on display in the office foyer. Thank you to all the Manly Vale Public School students who took the time to provide an entry. The Student Welfare Team were extremely impressed with the quality of all the posters.

Opportunity Class - Online Applications

Year 5 2019 Opportunity Class applications close this Friday 18 May

An information note was sent home earlier this term with information and an intention to apply form to be returned to the school.

If you wish your child to be considered for the Year 5 selective Opportunity Class in 2019, please complete online application using the following website by this Friday.

This class is for high achieving academic students.

Nicole Blackband

Assistant Principal’s Report K-2

Developing independent, resilient students within a safe learning environment

Literacy groups are in full swing!

Dear Parents and Carers,

Literacy groups form an integral component of our K-2 English program. Students in kindergarten, year 1 and year 2 have been engaging in literacy groups since the beginning of the year. Literacy group sessions enable teachers to differentiate learning for students in their class so all English outcomes are effectively covered and individual needs are being met.

This term, your child’s teacher may request support from their class parents/carers or grandparents to help assist them in the classroom with literacy groups. Please keep an eye out for information from your class coordinator. I will be running some parent information sessions in the coming weeks that will focus on our English curriculum and the importance of early literacy strategies for students in K-2. More will information will follow soon.

I would like to sincerely thank the parent helpers who have already offered their assistance this term. The Learning Support Team (LST) are also on the lookout for anyone who could potentially offer help for a minimum of ½ an hour a week, to help support personalised learning programs in the school. Please contact the school office, Mrs Speight or Mrs Abrahams if you are able to assist in any capacity. Thank you.

Kind Regards,
Mrs Carol Speight

Dates for Your Diary

Winter PSSA Sport 2018

Walk Safely to School Day – Friday 18 May 2018

Please remember tomorrow we are encouraging as many students/families as possible to WALK TO SCHOOL! Try and set up this HEALTHY and SOCIAL habit! Collect a special sticker on your way in the school gate on the day. PSSA coaches will walk their teams to school after training.

Ms Cash

Chess News

In round 1 of the NSW Junior Chess League, Manly Vale A (Isaac Sherlock, Morgan Armstrong, Thomas Bradley & Oliver Sherlock) won a close match against Manly Vale B (Rory Edgerton, Daniel Andrews, Kaelan Markezic & Cooper Dixon) 2.5-1.5. It was a great start to this year’s chess season and all players competed with great enthusiasm.

Andy Bennett

Choir News

A very big thank you to the Manly Vale Choir, who have been working hard this year to learn their songs and rehearse for all their upcoming performances. Well done on a lovely performance at the Mother’s Day Breakfast. Congratulations to Eva Cole and Georgina Diaz De Rivera, our new Choir Captains for 2018. Eva and Georgina will receive their badges at this Friday morning's assembly.

Mrs Lucey and Miss Mason

P&C News

Mother’s Day 2018

Last Friday the weather favoured us and we enjoyed a great Mother’s Day community event celebrating all our mums and carers.

This year we decided to attempt both the breakfast and the stall and with some simple changes were able to deliver two great events.

Events like these involve loads of help and a big thank you to all who played a part. Thank you to all parents who provided a gift into the classroom and sent along the money for the stall, to the teachers who were so organised in the class and at the stall, to the class coordinators who helped with communications, to the kitchen team lead by Chris who were able to cook 330 bacon & egg rolls, to our coffee cart for warming us up, to Wayne at Summer Signs for the great signs, the choir for providing entertainment, the parent team who helped on the day to sort, select and help the students to decide on what gift to choose……. THANK YOU!!!!

Stewart House Donation Drive

Stewart House envelopes are due back at school tomorrow 18 May 2018. No late envelopes accepted.

Canteen News

We have a new Volunteer time slot Thursdays and Fridays 11.30am – 1.30pm that has been added due to the increase of orders. If anyone can help on one of the vacant days/time slots please contact Robyn 0402 911 655 or email manlyvalepscanteen@gmail.com.

Canteen Volunteers Roster Term 2, 2018