15 July 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Welcome back to all our Manly Vale families for Term 3. It wasn’t the holiday we were all expecting but I hope you did manage to get some rest and relaxation over the past few weeks. I’d like to firstly acknowledge the school’s Executive team of Sharon Oscroft (Deputy Principal), Carol Speight (Assistant Principal- Stage 1), Catherine Nelson (Assistant Principal- Stage 2), Nicole Blackband (Assistant Principal- Stage 3) and Melinda Ward (Assistant Principal -Science, sport, WHS) for their extraordinary commitment and support of all staff, students and parents this week. The executive team had to cut short their holidays and leave their families to come into school last week to prepare for online learning. The teachers also have spent many hours away from their families to prepare for this online learning phase and are now ready to teach remotely for the next few weeks until at least Friday 30 July (end of week 3). It has been such a team effort! The photo below shows all of us on our Staff Development Day zoom meeting:

Thank you to all the families who have negotiated the home schooling this week. We had 40-60 students at school and were able to easily manage supervision at home along with online teaching and preparation too. We realise that these are challenging times for all people and especially parents who are trying to work and home-school their children. We can only hope that the limited movement and exposure of people to the COVID 19 virus in our community will mean we are able to get back to normality as soon as possible.

Class Coordinators- Thank you

Thank you to Kristen Te Pania and all our Class Coordinators who have spent the last few weeks forwarding on emails and online communication. With the cyber attack on the Department of Education’s systems, many of our applications and services were unavailable to us. Teachers were without their emails and so it was fortunate that we were able to disseminate information out to our community through our Class Coordinators. If you are not receiving emails from your Class Coordinator it would mean that you may not have given approval for your email to be added to the class’ data base. Please email the school with permission for your email to be given to your child’s Class Coordinator as soon as possible as this is the way we are sending out our online learning packs.

Cancelled /Postponed Events

Due to the current level 4 restrictions we are unable to proceed with the following events. These restrictions will be in place until at least the end of week 3 Friday 30 July. As the situation changes and restrictions ease over the next few weeks, we are still hoping to run some incursions this term (specifically dance, band and gym).

Unfortunately, the following events have been postponed or cancelled until further notice.

1. Arts Alive Drama festival (next week)
2. All Schools Cross Country Championship (16 July)
3. Bushlink visit (next week)
4. Year 1and 2 Botanical Gardens excursion
5. Band camp (this weekend)
6. NSWEE Band Festival (next week)
7. Science incursion ‘Kaleidoscope Science”- week 3- cancelled

P&C meeting (Next Tuesday via zoom) 7pm - Please contact Karen Murtgatroyd or Kristen Te Pania for details. A registered Zoom account is required for attendance.

With Level 4 Restrictions now in place until Friday 30 July, students will remain at home for online learning. Supervision at school is available for those parents who require it. Please make sure you pack all food and drinks if your child is attending school as there is no canteen during this time.

Congratulations Zac Nethery and Rena Kim

This week we have received notification that Rena Kim and Zac Nethery, two of our Year 6 students, were successful in being offered a place at Manly Selective Campus next year. We are extremely proud of these two students and the outstanding academic achievements they both have made during their time at Manly Vale Public School. We wish them every success in their educational journey at Manly Campus next year!

Congratulations Alex Matheson

Alex Matheson missed our banner assembly due to participating in a representative rugby game, however received his banner on the last day of last term Well done Alex, our school captain!

Congratulations Rick Andrews

An ex-student of Manly Vale Public School, who received the “Caring and Sharing” award in year 6 a few years ago, has been made vice-captain of St Augustine’s College for 2021-2022. It is always so wonderful to hear of the great achievements our previous students go on to make after they leave Manly Vale. Well done Rick!

On Your Soap Box- Term 3 Public Speaking K-6

Our annual school public speaking competition “On Your Soap Box” will be run this term. Topics and notes about this competition will come home next week. Speeches are usually prepared at home and students will all present a speech as part of the competition in class later this term.

Organisation around finals will be sent home later this term when we know what the restrictions for parental attendance is going to be. Look out for the topics in home learning packs next week.

Laptop borrowing- Friday 16 July

If you child requires a laptop from the school for remote learning over the next few weeks, please come to the office between 8am- 3pm on Friday to pick one up. You will need your child to attend as they need to log on with the school’s internet (otherwise you need to have your child’s log in and password details to log in yourself). A formal agreement will also need to be signed before the laptop leaves the school.

Please email or call the office before Friday if you wish to borrow a laptop so we have the right amount ready for pick up.

Support for families

Some helpful links below:

Provides free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help families grow and thrive together. Contains information on COVID-19 and how to help your family cope.

Information on how to stay safe online during the COVID –19 pandemic

1300 130 052

Provides telephone counselling, information and referral service for parents and carers of children ages 0 to 18 who live in New South Wales

1800 066 757

Brings together families, support services and community resources so that our children and young people are safe and well

1800 512 358

Information, advice and strategies to help you manage your wellbeing and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Resources for parents and carers to best support their children and reduce worry and distress during the COVID-19 pandemic

Tina Lee – Principal

Stage 1 – Learning from Home

Dates for your Diary

Premier’s Debating Challenge

On Thursday in the last week of Term 2, our two premier’s debating teams went up against Harbord Public School in the third round of debates. Later in the afternoon, our Manly Vale teams went head to head and debated the topic ‘That Year 5&6 classes should set aside 20 minutes each day to watch and discuss the news.’ It was great to have the debates still go ahead with the adjudicators tuning in via Zoom. Our students had a wonderful day. Both teams have improved immensely with each debate and should be proud of their efforts.

Round 2A: Manly Vale Foxes (affirmative) vs Manly Vale Owls (negative)

Topic: That Year 5&6 classes should set aside 20 minutes each day to watch and discuss the news. Winner: Manly Vale Owls

Round 3B: Harbord Maroon (affirmative) vs Manly Vale Foxes (negative)

Topic: That kids in Years 5 + 6 should have to do 2 hours of community service each week. Winner: Manly Vale Foxes

Round 3C: Harbord White (affirmative) vs Manly Vale Owls (negative)

Topic: That no teacher, student or parent should ever be allowed to wear make-up on school grounds. Winner: Harbord White

Mrs Radan – Debating Coordinator

Library News – Meet the Monitors

Canteen

Café Owl

Community Notices

School Information