24 September 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

How the year is flying by and here we are at the end of another term. It has been a busy term with our annual dance concerts and On Your Soap Box competition ending. Congratulations to all students for their participating in the years 3 and 4 Hip Hop dance program and the year 5 Ballroom Dancing “Dancesport” presentations. Both of these concerts have been filmed and links will be provided to parents next term so you are able to see the performances.

The Dancesport will be a professional recording done by Gordon Gilkes from the Dancesport academy however Mrs Birrell has provided us with an early preview of the concert. See the link below

Kindergarten Orientation Zoom - Monday 21 September

Last Monday we had our first Kindergarten orientation Zoom meeting. We had 54 parents participate in the Zoom hosted by Mrs Sharon Oscroft our Deputy Principal. It was a great start to the introduction of our school and its programs. We are hoping to have some face to face time later in the year when restrictions ease but in the meantime Kindergarten Information packs will be available from the office from Monday 26 October (term 4 week 3).

The packs will include information about the school, school readiness activities, and an information sheet with a link to some online films and activities, prepared by our current Kindergarten team. We are hoping to have a face to face picnic day at Manly Dam on November 19 or 20. More information will be sent via email at a later date.

The uniform shop will be taking online orders through the P & C website:

Uniform size samples will be available for viewing from Monday 2 November to Friday 20 November in the front office.

School Holidays

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our parents, teachers and students a very happy and restful holiday. During the holidays the school will be occupied by our Before and After school care providers. If you require care for your child during the holidays please contact Manly Vale OSHcare on 0430369288 or mvoshc@primaryoshcare.com.au

All students return on Monday 12 October.

State Funeral- The Honourable John Fahey- Friday 25 September

Tomorrow our flag will be flown at half mast all day as a mark of mourning and respect for the former NSW Premier John Fahey (1992-1995).

Banner assembly- Friday 25 September

This Friday the following students will be presented with a School Banner in recognition of their outstanding behaviour and commitment to learning. Congratulations to the following students:

Melly Dargeyko 6B
Hannah Sollberger 4B
Ariel De Souza-Bell 2C
Sean Meredith 6B
Kate Fewtrell 5S
Cleo Jones 5W
Lenny Krause 5W
Macy Sherlock 5BC
Madeleine Smith 4M
Isabella Earl 5R
Reuben Te Pania 3T

Photos of these above students will be taken at the assembly and published in the Bush Telegraph next term.

Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to all the students who are receiving a ribbon in tomorrow’s Athletics Carnival Recognition ceremony. Thank you to Mrs Birrell for taking the time to write out all the ribbons and to all the teachers in years 3-6 for the commitment to running all of the field events in lunchtimes and Friday sport sessions. It has been wonderful to be able to complete all of our events for this year under the current restrictions.

School Fees

Term 3 reminders will be sent out this week. If you are experiencing financial difficulty please contact Mrs Lee for a confidential interview.

Student Safety

Please talk to your child/ren and remind them on the correct procedures for crossing the road and riding bikes and scooters to and from school. Parents and neighbours have voiced concerns regarding some unsafe practices around the local streets from some of our students. Bike and scooter licences must be obtained from Mr Dylan or Mrs Robertson prior to students riding to school where rules and safe practices are communicated and reinforced.

Lost Property

Please make sure that you put a name on all your child’s belongings. Lost property is increasing even though we check and return items every week.

Parking

Every week a neighbour calls the school with complaints of driveways being blocked due to parents illegally parking in the pick-up and drop off times. Please do not park across the neighbour’s driveways. There is plenty of parking just a short walk from the school. Please respect our neighbours and their property.

Tina Lee – Principal

DanceSport Showcase

On Monday, Year 5 looked fantastic dressed up in their costumes ready to be filmed for our online DanceSport Gala event. Mrs Lee and the Year 5 teachers enjoyed dressing up for this special occasion as well. We are so proud of all our students and their focus, commitment and enthusiasm throughout the DanceSport program. It was wonderful to see our year 5 students working cooperatively with their dance partner, communicating and feeling confident while performing before the camera.

Best of luck to our finalists who were filmed and will be judged by an external panel in the coming weeks: Pietro and Naomi, Paloma and Zak (Cha Cha); Isla and Alex J, Isaac and Charli (Tango); Ellie and Louie, Mason and Kayla (Jive). Thank you to Thabang Baloyi (Mr. T) for all the extra rehearsals he put in to prepare our finalists for the day. Year 5 loved his fun nature and professional dancing skills. All the class dances, individual performances and results of the competition will be made available to Year 5 parents to access via a secure online portal. More information on this will be sent out next term.

Finally, we would also like to congratulate Alex M, Kate F, Isabella, Cleo, Zak and Isla on their excellent interview which was also filmed on the day. All students spoke beautifully and provided thoughtful responses to the interview questions. The Year 5 teachers were beaming with pride. Congratulations to all students on a spectacular showcase!

Ellie Radan

Library News

Book Week Celebrations

The theme for Book Week this year is Curious Creatures, Wild Minds. Students continue to complete literacy activities around the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Week theme and shortlisted books during library lessons. We have enjoyed all of the books that we have shared so far – we wonder which books will win!

Book Week Dress-up Day

Do you love reading? Do you love dressing up? Book Week Dress-up Day will be held on Wednesday 21 October (Week 2, Term 4). Please start thinking about your favourite book character and creating your outfit. We love it when students get imaginative and try to create their own book-based character from recycled or borrowed materials.

Curious Creatures, Wild Minds Challenge

Students can visit the library to see the Curious Creatures, Wild Minds display on the front windows. Each letter of the display represents a different book character. We challenge you to figure them all out! See Mrs Webster or Mrs Morrison in the Library for an entry form.

Ali Webster – Teacher Librarian

K-2 On Your Soapbox Public Speaking Competition

Over the last few weeks K-2 have been presenting their On Your Soapbox speeches in class. The teachers are all very proud of the efforts and dedication that all students have put in to prepare, rehearse and perform their speeches in front of their peers and teachers.

One student from each class were chosen to represent their class in the finals (Jules Chapell, Ella Wilson, Darcy Richmond, Camilla Taylor, Matilda Bromiley, Cleo Treacher, Jack Weatherston, Zac Keanly, Rebecca Andrews and Solara Butt). These students should be extremely proud of show casing their talents in front of the whole stage. It was such a hard decision for the judges to choose just 3 speakers. Congratulations to everyone on a job well done!

We would like to congratulate our OYSB K-2 finalists.

Kindergarten - Ella Wilson

Tegan Robertson - OYSB Public Speaking Competition Organiser

Stage 2 On Your Soapbox

Last Friday Stage 2 held the school finals of the On Your Soap Box public speaking competition. There were 14 class finalists from 7 stage 2 classes. Our adjudicators Miss Taylor and Mrs Johnston were very impressed with a high standard of the contest. All students presented their speeches with confidence and appropriate expression.

Each class’s School Council Representative introduced contestants to the stage and together made the finals run smoothly. They should be very proud of themselves as they put time and effort into learning the pronunciation of very complex surnames.

The winners of this year competition are

Year 3 - Rueben Te Pania
Year 4 - Finlay Blanchard

The runner up for year 3 was Thea Edgerton and for year 4 Abigail Wilson.

On behalf of all of the stage 2 teachers, Miss Taylor and Mrs Banham would like to extend a warm congratulations to all contestants.

Hannah Taylor and Aga Banham - OYSB Public Speaking Competition Organisers

On You Soap Box- Finals

Congratulations to all the finalists in the On Your Soapbox Public Speaking competition. Unfortunately, our Stage 3 finalists will not have the opportunity to compete at NSW Parliament House this year due to the restrictions. Our Stage 3 winners were:

Year 6- Mackenzie Jeffs
Year 5 – Kate Fewtrell
Stage 3 Highly Commended- Isabella Earl

Nicole Blackband – OYSB Public Speaking Competitionb Organiser

Stage 2 Virtual Excursion to Botany Bay

This Tuesday, year 3 and 4 classes enjoyed our virtual excursion to Botany Bay with the Kamay Botany Bay Environment Education Centre.

Students learned about Dharawal life and culture for the first inhabitants, examining indigenous artefacts from the area and discussing how they were used and traded. We decorated our own possum pelts, skins that were traditionally worn and decorated with markings that represented identity. It was then time to step aboard the Endeavour and come ashore at Botany Bay, where students role played first encounters in Botany Bay in 1770. Students learned about botanical artists and drew their own drawings, just as Solander and Parkinson did in 1770.

It was fantastic to be able to participate in our interactive excursion, answering questions and joining in discussion with specialist educators and students from other schools, all from the comfort of our own classrooms!

Dates for your Diary

Community Notices

Lifeline Northern Beaches

Lifeline’s HUGE $2 Spring Clearance, Saturday & Sunday 26-27 September 2020, 10.00am to 3.00pm, 18 Roger Street, Brookvale. All books are $2, with CDs and DVDs only $1, children’s books $1 or less. Bring your carry bags with you. Thank you for your ongoing support of Lifeline’s Book Fairs, every purchase helps Lifeline continue to provide crisis support to the local community.

All Girls Northern Beaches Cricket Camp