2 December 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

It is hard to believe that we only have a few weeks left until we clap out our Year 6 students for their end of year exit to high school. The clap out will be on Thursday 16 December with only the Year 6 parents able to attend. All parents must be double vaccinated and will be able to line the school oval for the final part of the exit journey. The clap out will be done at 2.45pm with all students gathering on the basketball court for their final bell at 3.00pm.

Congratulations School Leaders 2022

After the presentation of speeches last week and the final voting for our school leaders from our students and teachers, the following students will lead the Student Representatives Council in 2022. I would like to congratulate all the Year 5 students who stood for school leadership and presented speeches to their peers and teachers. The standard of speeches was extremely high, and all must be commended on their preparation and presentation.

Congratulations Banner Recipients

Congratulations to the following students who will received the School Banner at this week’s assembly.

Tilda Shepherd - 1P
Niki Brown – 4S

The final Banner assemblies will be next week with Wednesday 8 December our last K-2 assembly and Friday 10 December being our last 3-6 assembly for the year.

Celebration of Learning - Monday 6 December

We will have separate Celebration of Learning assemblies this year. Students will assemble in cohort groups as per the COVID guidelines. Unfortunately, no parents are able to attend these assemblies. We realise these are special occasions so photographs will be taken of Stage 1 & 2 award recipients and placed in a gallery on the school website. The Stage 3 ceremony will be recorded and a link distributed via the class coordinators next week. Should your Stage 3 child receive an award, please advise the school office if you do not want your child filmed.

Spelling Bee 2021

Congratulations to Bailey Watson (6W), Oscar Baleikasavu (3J) and Lia Meyer Perez (4S) for winning the 2021 school Spelling Bee.

Picnic Days - Week 10

Next week we will have our final stage picnic days. Please be sure to add the following dates to your diary and cancel all lunch orders for those days. Notes have been sent home with all students with the final details.

Teacher’s Strike - Tuesday 7 December - 24 hours

Next Tuesday there will be minimal supervision at school. Most teachers at Manly Vale Public School will be participating in a 24 hour stop work industrial action organised by the NSW Teachers Federation. Please try and organise alternative supervision for your children that day.

P & C AGM

Last Tuesday night we had our final P & C meeting for the year. I’d like to thank and acknowledge James Fewtrell (president) and Tony Sherlock (treasurer) for their commitment to the P & C over the past few years. Along with Karen Murtgatroyd (secretary) and Kristen Te Pania (class coordinator) the committee for 2021, have done an amazing job in supporting parents and teachers this year. We farewell James and Tony and thank them for their commitment and dedication to the P & C and school.

Thank you to the new parents who stood for office for next year. The committee will be:

President - Karl Treacher
Vice President - John Gillings and Chris Nicholls
Treasurer- Peter Weatherston
Secretary - Karen Murtgatroyd
Class Coordinator - Kristen Te Pania

We will also farewell Kerry Smallman who has been working in the canteen. Kerry will retire from her role this year with Becky McGowan stepping in for 2022. Thank you, Kerry, for your ongoing commitment to the canteen, for the implementation of the healthy canteen policy, for your organisation of our wonderful “special lunch days”, for your recycling initiatives and for always being a friendly face behind the counter of our canteen. You will be greatly missed.

Tina Lee – Principal

That’s a R.A.P.

Ms Cindy Berwick

This week we remember Ms Cindy Berwick. A proud member of the Ngunawal nation and tireless advocate for the power of education to help Aboriginal people achieve equality and self-determination. Ms Berwick was the President of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) for more than 10 years. In that role she was instrumental in co-leading and contributing to many state and national policies and strategies that have made a considerable impact on Aboriginal students and Aboriginal people more generally.

Ms Berwick grew up in Paddington with extreme poverty. After the death of her mother she moved to live with her aunt and uncle who saw “Education as a way out of poverty.” Ms Berwick went on to become a teacher at Cleveland State High school for 7 years and moved on to become the longest serving president of the NSW AECG.

Ms Berwick’s funeral was on Wednesday 1 December and as a mark of respect, Manly Vale Public School lowered our National, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to fly half-mast for the day.

Dates for your Diary

DanceSport Champions 2021!

Last Friday, we recognised the achievements of four, Year 5 DanceSport students. Dylan S, Ashleigh F, Jake S and Abi W showcased the Tango and the Cha Cha with amazing skill and poise. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions the students in Year 5 were unable to compete at Olympic Park this year, however, the Manly Vale Public School students marvelled at the quality dancing shown at our assembly.

Congratulations again to Abi W for making the top 16 in the Cha Cha and Ashleigh F for making the top 16 in the Tango and the Salsa. Huge congratulations go to Jake S for placing 6th in the Cha Cha finals and to Dylan S for placing 5th in the Tango finals.

DanceSport Gala Event 2021

Disappointed that you didn't get to dance at Homebush this year? Well, do not despair! Now that restrictions have lifted, ALL students who did DanceSport this year are invited to attend.

DanceSport Confidence Gala Event
Saturday 11 December
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Netball Central, Olympic Boulevard, Homebush
Registration from 1:00pm

A separate email has been forwarded to Years 5 families with further information about this event.

Emily Kilbane - DanceSport Coordinator

Library News

As we near the end of the year we ask that you send back all Manly Vale Public School library books so that we can prepare the library for next year. Overdue notices were sent home this week for students who have outstanding books on their account. You do not need to pay the amount listed on the notice unless you can’t find the book to return. Many of these books are understandably from before the learning from home period so please have a thorough check at home.

If you have any questions or issues regarding your overdue notice please email me at manlyvale-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au and I will be happy to help.

Ali Webster – Teacher Librarian

Kindergarten Science

Kindergarten have had a lot of fun growing vegetables from seeds and watching them grow. Two classes used plastic bottles cut in half to create a mini-wicking to plant seeds in and two classes used test tubes to plant seeds in and then had a lot of fun transplanting their plants into containers to take them home. Students were real scientists and used magnifying glasses to observe the roots to see how the seeds changed and grew.

Mrs Holman - Kindergarten Science Teacher

Ethics Coordinator & volunteer teachers needed

We’re looking for a volunteer from our parent community who is interested in supporting the school’s ethics program from term 1 in 2022 onwards. Ethics classes are an alternative to scripture, teaching our kids to think, reason and discuss a range of ethical issues. At Manly Vale Public School, we have a strong program, supported by a fantastic team of volunteers. Ethics coordinating is an interesting way of being involved with the school and a great opportunity to interact with our community.

The focus of the role is making sure we have enough volunteers to meet the demand for ethics classes, and liaising with the school to make sure the program runs smoothly. Coordinating typically takes about an hour or two a week. The role is completely flexible and can fit around your other commitments and you will receive full training and support.

If co-ordinating the ethics program or becoming an ethics teacher is a possibility for you, contact Cathy Chase at cathy.chase@primaryethics.com.au or 0414 784 272. For more information about the ethics program, go to www.primaryethics.com.au

Lorna Galt – Ethics Coordinator

Catholic Special Religious Education Message to Students and their Families

We have missed seeing you this year and can’t wait to come back next year! We hope you have a Happy Christmas and a lovely break over the holidays. Click on the link below for an E-Message from your SRE Teachers and enjoy working your way through the beautiful Advent Activity Book containing art/craft/printables/recipes/stories etc based on The Christmas Story. Warmest wishes to your school community and may the joy and peace of Christmas fill your hearts. From, your Catholic SRE Teachers.

Canteen News

2022 Bus Travel Information

From 1 November 2021, the bus service provider in the Northern Beaches area will change from State Transit Authority (Sydney Buses) to Keolis Downer Northern Beaches.

Students, parents or carers applying for a School Opal card will need to nominate Keolis Downer Northern Beaches as their bus operator.

Students with an existing School Opal card will automatically have Keolis Downer Northern Beaches added to their travel entitlement.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out via the link below:

Community Notices

Northern Beaches Lifeline Book Fair

Our next book fair for 2021 will be running from Thursday to Sunday, 9-12 December at St Augustine’s College, Federal Parade, Brookvale. We will be following all NSW Health COVID-19 and venue protocols required at that time.

Vinnies Xmas Appeal

Head to your local IGA store this November and December and purchase a $2 IGA Appeal token. By giving your spare change to help locals in your community doing it tough, you’ll have the warm feeling of bring hope and joy to those that need it the most.

Fairlight Manly Cub & Scouts Xmas Trees

Northern Beaches Council Vacation Care Services

School Information