28 March 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Barefoot Bowls - Friday 5 April

Our first P&C event is the Barefoot Bowls evening at Manly Bowling Club on Friday 5 April. The teacher’s team is ready to take on the parents for a night of fun! It is a great way to get to know people so please come along and support this community event. Tickets are on sale on Flexischools. Buy your ticket(s) today!

Interrelate – Years 5 & 6 – Wednesday 10 April

Last week our year 5 & 6 students started their Interrelate personal development program covering topics such as puberty, respectful relationships, self-esteem, expectations of high school and physical development. These lessons often bring up questions and conversations for parents at home. We have organised a Parent Information Session on Wednesday 10 April in our school hall. We encourage all parents of all primary aged students to attend these sessions. Students are able to attend with you.

• Session 1: Where Did I Come From? (years 3, 4, 5 & 6 and their parents) 6.00-7.00pm
• Session 2: Preparing For Puberty (years 5 & 6, years 3 & 4 at parent’s discretion) 7.15-8.15pm

The cost of these sessions is:

• $32 (per family) for one session
• $37 (per family) to attend both sessions.

Payment can be made through the school office.

School Interviews - Weeks 10 & 11

It is hard to believe that we are reaching the end of term 1. Timeslots for parent/teacher interviews have been scheduled over the next 2 weeks. Please make sure you go to the link below, to book a time with your child’s class teacher. These interviews are 10 minutes in length and give you an opportunity to discuss plans and expectations for the year. As the teachers have only had your children for a term a full assessment of their ability will not be given until the end of term 2 with a formal written report.

NAPLAN 2019

All year 3 & 5 students have had a practice at doing the online NAPLAN test this week. All classes were given the opportunity to sit an “omnibus” test.

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy – important skills that each child needs to succeed in school and life. The NAPLAN tests are designed to help us make sure students are on track with their literacy and numeracy development. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in NAPLAN tests for reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

Between Tuesday 14 May and Friday 24 May, our school will participate in NAPLAN Online. Students do not need to be computer experts to take the NAPLAN test online. Making sure students have computer skills is part of our school curriculum, and our teachers will ensure your child is familiar with the online format. To see the types of questions and interactive features of NAPLAN Online, visit the public demonstration site.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN Online, please contact your child’s teacher.

For more info:

• How to support your child during NAPLAN
• Information for parents and carers
• Watch a video that explains NAPLAN Online
• Subscribe to ACARA’s monthly parent newsletter, Parent Update

A school NAPLAN information session has been arranged for any interested parents on Wednesday 10 April at 3.30pm in the school hall.

Design Make Innovate – Friday 29 March

This Friday the finalists in our stage 3 DMI challenge will submit their work in a final expo at Freshwater Senior Campus. The challenge to design an arcade game was taken on by all years 5 and 6 students. The rest of the school enjoyed playing the games and the most popular and well-designed projects will be on display in a final inter-school expo this Friday. Congratulations to all our stage 3 students on their designs and their ability to work cooperatively with our Mackellar Girls mentors. Good luck to our finalists this Friday.

PSSA Trials

This Friday all students from years 3-6 have the opportunity to trial for the winter PSSA sports programs. Sports on offer are; Boys and Girls soccer, rugby league and netball. All students are encouraged to bring protective gear if required along with their hats and drink bottles. As the trials will mainly be drills and mini games football boots and shin pads are not necessary to trial but will need to be purchased if your child makes a team.

School Council - Monday 1 April 7.00pm

Next Monday we will have our first School Council meeting for the year. We will have a project update at this meeting which will be communicated to the rest of the school in next week’s newsletter. Discussions will also be around the future directions of the School Council now that the school has been built. All parents are able to attend however only current Council members can vote on actions and motions.

Year 1 & 2 Observatory Excursion

Next Monday (year 1) and Tuesday (year 2) will attend their first excursion for the year. The children will travel by bus to the observatory for the day. Please make sure that you cancel your Flexischools lunch orders that day and pack lunch in a small back pack. All students must make sure that they are at school on time that day.

Year 4 Field of Mars Photography Excursion - Monday 1 April

Year 4 will have a photography workshop at school next week. All students will walk to Manly Dam to explore the environment through photography.

School Fees

The school fees were emailed to all families last week. Thank you to the parents who have paid already. The fees charged are for additional items including excursions, incursions and books that are not covered by government funding. These extra fees enrich your child’s educational experience and provide variety to the school curriculum. I encourage all students to attend the opportunities that are provided. There is no profit made on any of these excursions, dance and gym fees cover the additional costs of employing a professional gym and dance teacher.

The voluntary contribution of $90 will go towards a new screen and audio equipment for the hall, buses required for additional activities including band and dance performances, playground and sporting equipment and science resources for our RFF Science program.

Our ongoing financial support of the additional programs provided in the school is much appreciated. Payments can be made through the school website as a partial or full amount. You can pay off the fees gradually all year or as a lump sum every term. Fees should be paid prior to attendance of the events being attended.

Tina Lee - Principal

Dates for Your Diary

Waste Free Wednesday

Choir News

Both the Ensemble (Year 2) Choir and the Performance (3-6) Choir are well underway and learning their songs for the year ahead. The Ensemble Choir have received their red Manly Vale choir folders and will receive their music on USB sticks this week. The Performance choir have received their music books and USB sticks last week. If your child has not yet brought their USB stick to school, please send one in as soon as possible so that they can access their music at home.

Congratulations to Sakura Baker, our Choir Captain for 2019. Sakura has been an integral part of the Manly Vale choir for the last few years and we are very proud of her achievements so far. Sakura will receive her badge at the Friday morning assembly.

Rebekah Mason and Karen Lucey - Choir Co-ordinators

Debating Workshop

Last Tuesday, our debating teams enjoyed a highly informative debating workshop with a number of local public schools, which took place in our very own school hall. The workshop provided an opportunity for our students to hone their debating skills through a range of speaking and listening games and challenges. Each student was given feedback on their presentation skills and provided with tips to improve the structure of their arguments and rebuttals. The responses from our students highlight the value of this workshop in preparation for their upcoming debates.

‘I loved that Tony had a sense of humour and every other presenter did as well. I enjoyed doing the debate because it built up my confidence and skills for debating’ –
Isla Stedman 4T

‘I immensely enjoyed it. We learnt how to structure an argument, a rebuttal and we also learnt the three M’s (method, matter, manner). It gave me a great start to debating and I hope to attend it again’ –
Thomas Bradley 4T

Design Make Innovate

Congratulations to all Stage 3 students for all their hard work throughout the DMI process. Your arcade games were outstanding and were enjoyed by students and teachers at our school expo in the hall. A special congratulations to the following students who will be attending the final DMI expo at Freshwater Campus this Friday.

DMI Finalists:

• Pixaball: Kai Hughes, Kurt Paemaa, Callum Matheson, Louis Jornales
• Galaxy Gala: Josh Slatter, Miles Middleton, Ben Medway, Michael Miric
• Pool Hockey: Pipi Te Pania, Melanie Burton, Phoebe Crowe, Hannah Murgatroyd
• 5 Shots: Toby Kells, Asher Fitzgerald, Lizzy Bromiley, Keanu Jewell
• Meteor Rush: Toby Spence, Erick Choi, Tom Gay, Jacob Mako
• Bash the Duck: Kierra Atchinson, Diya Malhotra, Evie Carpenter, Rose Logan

Ellie Radan

Learning Support

World Autism Awareness Day 2019

Assistive Technologies, Active Participation

The 2 April 2019 is the 12th annual World Autism Awareness Day. On this day landmarks, buildings and people around the world display light blue in recognition of people living with autism. Autism-friendly events and educational activities take place all month to increase understanding and acceptance and foster worldwide support.

For many people on the autism spectrum, access to affordable assistive technologies is a prerequisite to being able to exercise their basic human rights and participate fully in their communities. Assistive technology can reduce or eliminate the barriers to their participation on an equal basis with others, with the use of these technologies often beginning at school.

The Autism Summit is a free online event occurring 1–5 April during Autism Awareness Week. Leading world experts, inspirational parents and empowered people on the spectrum are involved with the summit, sharing their knowledge and expertise. It is a free event and is open to parents, teachers and interested adults. You can register and participate here:

See the attached Fact Sheet from Autism Spectrum Australia to learn more about Autism or visit this website:

Learning Support Team

School Bus Safety

Uniform Shop

Canteen News

Canteen help needed for the following dates, even if it would be your first time we would love for you to help out. Please contact Robyn on 0402 911 655 or via email manlyvalepscanteen@gmail.com.

Tuesday 2 April 9.00am-1.30pm. Even if you couldn't make it in the morning if you could help out for the lunch time rush 12.00-1.30pm that would be fantastic.

• Thursday 4 April 11.30am-1.30pm
• Thursday 11 April 9.00-11.30am.

Kerry & Robyn – Canteen Coordinators

Canteen Volunteers Roster Term 1, 2019