22 November 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Skip-a-Thon

Congratulations to all our students who managed to skip, move, jump and run for a solid hour last Friday morning. The rotation of activities included obstacle skipping courses, continuous single skipping and doubles and group skipping. It was great to see how the teachers and students were innovative in using the limited playground space to provide a morning of fun and fitness for all who participated in our skip-a-thon. Thank you to every parent, friend and grandparent that sponsored a child. Money raised will go towards the new hall sound and screen system and assist with fitting out our new classrooms with new resources for next year. Thank you Penny Dixon for all your organisation and collection of money for the day, and to Mrs Speight, Ms Durazza, Ms Panetta and Mrs Lucey for organising the activities. Funds raised $12,500 and still counting.

Summer PSSA

Congratulations to all our summer PSSA teams on their efforts this season. We had 4 teams in the semi-finals last week and our Senior Boys’ Eagle Tag team will play in the grand-final this week. Good luck to all the boys and their coach Mrs Ellie Radan. Thank you to all the coaches for providing such a wonderful PSSA season for all participants. It was wonderful to have so many students participating in this inter-school competition each Friday. Coaches and teams were:

Mr Dylan and Ms Kemp - Newcombe ball
Mrs Ward and Mrs Radan - Boys eagle tag
Mrs Humpherys and Mrs Blackband - Girls eagle tag
Ms Panetta - Softball/T-Ball

2019 Kindy Picnic – Postponed to Thursday 29 November

Due to wet grounds and inclement weather the 2019 Kindy picnic will now be on Thursday 29 November at 10.00-11.00am.

Year 5 School Leadership

Next week our current year 5 students who have been nominated for a school leader position in 2019 will write their speeches at school with Mr Dylan on Tuesday 27 November and deliver the speeches the following day on Wednesday 28 November. The students from years 3-5 will then vote on the nominees to select the final 8 who will lead the SRC next year. Thank you to all the students who have stood for leadership this year.

Principal on Leave

I will be taking a week’s leave for my daughter’s wedding. I will return to school on Thursday 29 November. Mrs Carol Speight will be relieving principal in my absence.

School Tour - Monday 3 December

On Monday 3 December there will be a school tour for any interested families who are considering enrolling for next year. Enrolment forms for all new students should be given to the office by now. If you have not completed an enrolment form for your new Kindergarten child please do so and hand into the office.

Celebration of Learning - Thursday 6 December

Our annual presentation day will be held on Thursday 6 December. There will be 2 assemblies a K-2 presentation in the morning followed by a 3-6 presentation after recess. If your child is receiving an award you will receive a letter home this week. Unfortunately due to limited space in the hall we ask that only parents of the children receiving prizes attend on the day. Year 6 parents of the new school leaders are also are invited (if they would like to attend) as the new School Leaders will be presented with their badges that day.

Year 6 Graduation Assembly - Monday 17 December

Year 6 parents are all invited to attend a special end of year assembly for all our Year 6 students. The assembly will be held after lunch in the school hall. A graduation dinner has also been arranged on Tuesday 18 December. Year 6 will officially leave the school on Wednesday 19 December. The students and staff of Manly Vale Public School will clap them out.

Thank you to our Volunteers - Breakfast Friday 30 November 8.45am

We would like all the parents, grandparents, SRE and SEE teachers, and community volunteers to come to a breakfast on Friday 30 November hosted by the teaching staff. We thought we would try a different day this year in the hope to get more people attending. If you have helped out with reading groups, in class support, P & C events and fundraisers, been a Class Coordinator or assisted anyway in the school, please feel free to come along on the Friday morning. The teachers will be supplying breakfast as a thank you for all the time and support you have given the school. Please rsvp via email to the school office if you intend on coming.

School Fees

Please finalise all school fee payments by the end of November.

Tina Lee - Principal

Waste Free Wednesday

Dates for Your Diary

Summer PSSA Sport 2018

PSSA Results

Minifest 2018 – Kindergarten – Year 6

Year 5 & 6 students are organising their annual MINIFEST for Friday afternoon 7 December. Small groups of senior students will be running a variety of fun and exciting activities and stalls. All students have the opportunity to have a go for a token. The children purchase tokens in the morning of the Minifest from Year 6 students in the playground. It costs $2 for 10 tokens. The children may purchase more tickets during the afternoon. Please ensure they have a small carry bag which they can put their prizes in throughout the afternoon.

This will be a mufti-day with no school uniform. As the weather will likely be hot clothing should be sun sensible.

Children are being asked to bring in small prizes to donate to the activities. The prizes can be small trinkets or wrapped lollies. If the children bring in wrapped lollies we request there are no chocolate type lollies owing to traces of nuts which some children are allergic to. They need to begin bringing in the prizes to their class teacher now if possible please. This year we are including the option to bring in a small donation of $5 instead of contributing to the prize pool.

Proceeds from the day go towards the year 6 fundraising efforts which include their gift to the school.

Massive thank you from the Stage 3 staff.

Pat Dylan

Choir News

Last Wednesday the Manly Vale choir walked down to the Estia Health nursing home to perform for the residents. They sang a number of songs and were very happily received. The students upheld the Manly Vale values of caring and sharing with pride. They were respectful and friendly and delighted the residents with their musical talents and smiling faces. We are so very proud of the empathy and care they showed whilst interacting with the residents and look forward to more performances at Estia in years to come.

This week we had a very successful ‘Taste of Choir’ day. There was a large turnout of interested year 2 singers and the choir were very welcoming and encouraging towards our potential new members. Miss Mason and I are looking forward to expanding the choir in 2019, adding to the already wonderful, enthusiastic and conscientious group of singers we have had the pleasure to work with this year!

Karen Lucey

Scholastic Book Club

Book club orders are due back at school no later than Friday 30 November 2018.

Science Stage 2

This term Stage 2 learnt about biology. Students set up their long-term experiments where they are trying to determine what the best conditions are for a plant to grow. As predicted, we had the most success with a broad bean growing in full light and with a sufficient supply of water. Surprisingly perhaps, some broad beans seeds sprouted in darkness with some access to water.

Every week students were looking at their plants under the Go Micro microscopes and many were surprised at the fine detail of roots or leaves they were able to observe.

At the conclusion of our experiment, we supplied the plants with soil and thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow. In a couple of weeks, students will bring their plants home.

During week 5, our resident botanist, Peter Macinnis, visited all five classes and delivered a fascinating talk about plants, their life cycles and adaptations to the natural environment. Students were touching plants and exploring different textures of leaves and flowers such as a flannel flower and needle bush.

My students inspired me with their engagement, willingness to care for the plants and share their stories and knowledge this term.

Aga Banham

Wellbeing & Welfare Support

Making Decisions: Helping Children to Choose Wisely (kidsmatter.edu.au)

Effective decision making is a skill that children can learn

To be able to make good decisions children must learn to:

• recognise when there is a choice for them to make
• understand that they are responsible for making the decision
• take others’ needs into account
• think of different possible choices or solutions and decide which is best.

Children learn skills for effective decision-making when they are taught the steps and given opportunities to practise using them to solve problems.

Being able to plan ahead and choose wisely are very important skills that help children succeed at home, at school and in life. Parents and carers can help by teaching children how to think through decisions and giving them opportunities to practise their skills.

Learning the steps

Helping children take responsibility

Children often focus on immediate wants and don’t consider long-term consequences. They need adult guidance to develop their decision making skills. Parents and carers can prompt good decision-making by identifying appropriate choices for children to make and using questions to help them think through the steps.

To learn to use decision-making skills children need to be shown how to use the steps and be given opportunities to practise them. Practice and experience are necessary for building skills.

It is important to remember that children’s thinking skills develop gradually and so does their capacity for planning ahead and weighing up options in order to make decisions. Children do not learn to make good decisions overnight. They need to start with simple things.

How parents and carers can help

• Give children a choice between two options. This helps to make decisions manageable.
• Limit the number of choices to ones that are realistic for children to make (depending on their age and ability).
• Encourage children to give reasons for their choices. This teaches them to think through their decisions.
• Ask, “Is that a good idea?” or “Do you think that will work?” Instead of saying, “This is what you should do,” ask “What about this?” Asking encourages children to develop their own judgment.
• Listen with interest to children’s explanations. Learning to explain their thinking helps children think better.
• Give children a role in family decisions, for example, when planning activities or deciding on household jobs. This helps children learn how to make decisions that take others into account.

Mrs Humphreys - (Welfare Committee Member)

School Student Transport Scheme 2019 Applications (including Opal Cards)

School Student applications for 2019 open from Monday 15 October 2018. Students progressing to year 3 and year 7 do not need to re-apply if they:

• Are continuing at the same school;
• Are residing at the same address;
• Have not been sent an expiry notification from Transport for NSW.

Where a student meets the new distance eligibility, the system will automatically update their entitlement. If they do not meet the new eligibility, they will receive an expiry notification.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

If students need to update their information or re-apply, they should go online to

Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2018 to ensure student entitlements are updated and their current entitlement/card is not cancelled. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2018, the system will automatically cancel a card and a new one will need to be issued.

Students in the Opal network applying for a SSTS or Term Bus Pass entitlement for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out during December 2018 and January 2019.

Transport for NSW

Canteen News

URGENT Help needed in the Canteen

The sun is out and the weather is getting hotter which means we are getting more orders at the canteen and selling loads more frozen treats so it is really important that we are able to fill all the volunteer shifts at the canteen to cater for this demand. If you are able to help out for any of the following shifts please contact Robyn on 0402911655 or send her an email manlyvalepscanteen@gmail.com.au .

Last week we had Mel and Huw come in to help out. Such a great opportunity for a date night/day!!!! and at the same time helping out the canteen.

Shifts that are available:

Monday 3 December - 9.00-10.30am
Tuesday 4 December - 9.00-10.30am
Friday 7 December - 9.00-10.30am
Tuesday 11 December - 9.00-1.30pm
Wednesday 12 December - 9.00-10.30am
Thursday 13 December – 9.00-10.30am

Kerry Smallman - Canteen Senior Supervisor

Canteen Volunteers Roster Term 4, 2018

Community Notices

Northern Beaches Council Vacation Care

Please see Council’s website for more information