26 May 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Reconciliation week 27 May – 3 June “Be Brave, Make Change”

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. At Manly Vale Public School, we commemorate and acknowledge significant milestones in the reconciliation journey- the successful referendum of 1967 and the High Court Mabo decision.

As teachers and students, we learn about the local history and culture of the Traditional Custodians and respectfully that Reconciliation is something that we must feel in our hearts and believe in our minds and actions. We aim to create a culturally safe environment for all Aboriginal people and forge respectful relationships with Aboriginal people and the local AECG (Aboriginal Education Consultancy Group).

The design of our new school was done in consultation with Aboriginal people and reflects the respect of Country, the Saltwater people had in and around Manly. The rock crevasse, the preservation of the bushland within the school, and the library as the centrepiece of the design were extremely important to the local Aboriginal people. Learning and education was the only Road to Reconciliation.

This week begins with National Sorry Day today 26 May. This day of significance reminds the colonist-descended people of the nation to remember the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

At Manly Vale Public School, we regularly acknowledge the First Nations People in assemblies and through our teaching of Aboriginal history and perspective. We fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ flag alongside the Australian Flag as a sign of respect of our Aboriginal people. This week all students will receive Indigenous armbands to wear in recognition of our efforts to reconcile the past mistakes and work towards a better future for all Australians.

Acknowledgement to Country - Mrs Lee

I would like to acknowledge that we are meeting today on Aboriginal land.

“Always was, always will be”

I would like to pay my respects to elder’s past, present and emerging and extend a warm welcome to any Aboriginal people here today.

We meet on the land of the saltwater people.

A land where the bush meets the sand, and the sand meets the ocean.

The original inhabitant’s hunted, lived in an organised family clan system, had comfortable homes and passed down their history through yarns, carvings and art.

A people that survived the dark ages after the military invasion of 1788 to the renaissance of the 80’s and the 90’s.

It is our duty as educators to ensure the true history of this land is told to our students. Aboriginal perspective is taught in conjunction with Anglo-Saxon history.

We fly the National flag alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag in representation that Manly Vale Public School will hear, teach, and learn all the stories of this site, on our Road to Reconciliation.

Simultaneous Story telling - Wednesday 25 May

Yesterday the whole school took part in reading the story ‘Family Tree” together between 11.00am and 11.30am as part of the National Simultaneous Story time.

Classes shared the story with their “buddy “classes and as part of this nationwide initiative to engage children in books. Thank you to Mrs Webster for her organisation of the event.

Defence of Sydney Commemorative Service

Tomorrow Mrs Oscroft and our school captains Soraya Shalav and Frankie Waring will attend the Commemorative Service at North Head along with various other school leaders and local military and community members. This service is held to mark the anniversary of the night war came to Sydney.

In late May and early June 1942 submarines belonging to the imperial Japanese navy made a series of attacks on Sydney from the harbour. Mrs Oscroft, Soraya and Frankie will lay a wreath at the monument and represent our school has part of this local event.

Congratulations Miss Mason - Wedding 4 June

Next week one of our Kindergarten teachers Miss Rebekah Mason will be taking some leave to get married. We wish her and her partner Ben, all the best for the day and look forward to when she returns as Mrs Mauger.

Leaving school for holidays or permanently

It is important to notify the school if you are intending to go on leave for a holiday out of the school holidays. Certificates of leave must be applied for through the office of you are travelling overseas or if you intend on being away from school for more than 10 school days.

If you are moving schools or houses, please also let the office and the class teacher know as soon as possible.

Café Owl is open!

Café Owl reopened last Friday, what an amazing turnout considering the rain, thanks to all our amazing Café Owl volunteers for re-establishing this great community partnership. Don’t forget Café Owl is open every Friday morning from 8.00am, come on down and get your bacon & egg roll and hot chocolate.

Tina Lee – Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report

Kindergarten Enrolment 2023

I know it sounds early, but our planning for 2023 has begun and our enrolment forms for Kindergarten 2023 have started “rolling in”. If you have a child starting Kindergarten at Manly Vale in 2023 or if you have friends or family in this position, it would be appreciated if you would encourage them to submit their enrolment forms and accompanying documentation (birth certificate, proof of address and immunisation) as soon as possible to assist us with our planning and administration. Enrolment forms can be found online on our school website.

Please see attached below for an overview of the 2023 Transition to School Program.

Sharon Oscroft - Deputy Principal

Dates for your Diary

PSSA Venues – term 2

Premier’s Debating Challenge Round 1 Results

On Thursday last week our 2 debating teams met their opposition for the first time. The Manly Vale Owls team consisted of captain Finlay Blanchard, Curtis Puchner, Bill Knoyle, Alejandro Bernal Granados and team supporters Finn Adelbert and George Gregor who debated as a negative team that: ‘we should only ever give feedback in primary school instead of grades or marks’ against the Brookvale Bandicoots.

It was a close debate, but unfortunately Manly Vale lost. Thank you, Maddie, for acting as a chairperson during this debate.

The second team, Manly Vale Foxes consisting of captain Georgia Harris, Zoe Jelinek, Emma Dixon and Maddie Smith and team supporter Ava Lau debated as a negative team that: ‘schools should make their top students spend one afternoon a week helping a struggling classmate’ against Allambie Heights Public School and confidently won this debate.

Thank you, Finn, for acting as a chairperson during this debate. We were delighted to have Mrs Lee listening to our arguments and rebuttals.

K-2 Dance Concert

Our spectacular K-2 dance concert will be on Wednesday 29 June, with the dress rehearsal the day before on Tuesday 28 June. Information will come home via Class Coordinators and students about the details of this concert. Entry to the concert will be a gold coin donation.

This year we have decided to separate the dance showcase into Early Stage 1 and Stage 1, due to the increase of audience members.

The Kindergarten dance showcase will commence approximately around 10:00am.

The Stage 1 (Year 1 & Year 2) dance showcase will commence approximately around 11:30am.

The students who participate in the dance concert will be invoiced $10. This cost covers costumes and props for their performance. If your child is going to be away on this date, please let your teacher know.

We ask that toddlers who attend the showcase be supervised and seated on an adult’s lap, due to the limited number of seats.

The school will not be filming the K-2 dance showcase this year. Unfortunately, parents and visitors are not allowed to film during the dance concert.

Thank you for your understanding.

K-2 Science

Mrs Holman our wonderful K-2 Science teacher has been doing some hands-on lessons with our students. Our science program is engaging and interactive and all students enjoy going to these lessons every week.

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop will open the last Friday of each month 27 May and 24 June, 8.30am – 9.30am and online for all other dates.

Canteen News

The finger bun morning tea was a HUGE success. Thank you to everyone who joined in and bought one. We sold over 300 finger buns! A big thank you to our wonderful volunteers who came in to help us get them all ready. Thank you as well to Baker’s Delight Balgowlah who prepared the delicious finger buns for us.

The Canteen is open at lunch for frozen treats and snacks. We still encourage you to order as much as possible through Flexischools to reduce crowding at the canteen.

Frozen items for years 3-6 will now be handed out from the canteen after lunches have been collected. Kindy- Year 2 will still have their frozen items placed in their lunch bag.

Please remind your children to collect their frozen items from the canteen.

We are now offering Hot Chocolate at recess. Order now on Flexischools as we are only able to offer a small number each day.

Emergency Lunch Payments

Please make payment for any lunches that have been provided by the canteen.

PSSA Lunch Orders

If your child is participating in PSSA sports on Friday’s please remember to select the PSSA option when ordering so that we have their lunch ready for them at the earlier time. Do not forget to order any drinks, snacks or ice blocks they might want.

Remember no hot foods are to be ordered.

Flexischools Orders

Please remember to check your confirmation email to ensure you have correctly placed your Flexischools order. If you are having trouble placing an order check out the link below for some helpful instructions.

Volunteers

In order to open for counter service we need your help to volunteer. Volunteers need to be up to date with your vaccinations and we request that you wear a mask.

Please do not cancel your shift without emailing or calling us to let us know. If you can find a replacement please do.

Canteen Shifts still Vacant:

7 June
9 June
16 June
Sandwich preparation on Friday Mornings 9 - 10.30am

If you would like to sign up for Term 2 Use the link below:

Robyn Lambley & Becky McGowan - Canteen Managers

Community Notices

Voyager Tennis Free Class

Eye Heart Science Term 2 Marine Biology Program – Tuesday mornings

Please see website below for information:

Email: info@eyeheartscience.com.au

Australian Red Cross – Give Blood

School Information