6 April 2023

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

What a wonderful term we have had and a great way to finish today with our Easter Hat Parade. It has been great to see parents attend the various information evenings and the formal Parent/Teacher interviews. It seems that the rest of the year is now set up and all the students seem to have settled into their new classrooms and routines.

Staff Development Day- Monday 24 April

Just a reminder that there will be no student supervision on Monday 24 April due to a staff training day. Please be sure to make alternative care arrangements for that day if you need. Our Before and After School Care provider can be contacted on:

Our students will not return to school until Wednesday 26 April after the ANZAC day holiday on 25 April. Have a great holiday everyone.

Banner assembly last Friday

Congratulations to all the Banner recipients who received a School Banner last Friday. Thank you to all the parents who attended the assembly.

Band Rehearsals Term 2

Due to the Staff Development Day and the Anzac Day holiday, the junior band will not start their rehearsals until week 2 of Term 2, Monday 1 May. The Senior Band however will begin their tuition and rehearsals from Wednesday 26 April (day one of the term).

Our next band meeting is scheduled for Monday 1 May.

Mother’s Day Stall

Yesterday our fundraising team (Kindergarten) met in the library to discuss the set-up of the Mother’s Day stall on Friday 12 May. Thank you to the group of volunteers for their work in preparing for this day, as it is one of the most loved events for our students, who enjoy shopping for themselves at their own stall.

Please make sure you have purchased a Mother’s Day gift to be sold at the stall and send it into your child’s classroom. Only students who donate a gift, can attend the stall.

PSSA Winter Competition- Starts Week 3 Friday 12 May

All the winter PSSA team have now been finalised. We are just waiting for final confirmation from the bus companies.

PSSA is due to begin on Friday 12 May so payment and permission notes will need to be in before this date if students are attending. Permission notes and invoices will be sent out next term.

Thank you Uniform Shop

Thank you to Wendie in our Uniform Shop who has spent many hours processing the Back-To-School Vouchers and opening extended times for parents. Thank you to the team of volunteers who have supported Wendie with the additional opening times, even coming in on Saturdays. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful group of volunteers.

Thank you, Karen Murgatroyd, Amy Hansen, Dahni Sollberger, Shay Gillings, and the wonderful Wendie MacDougall.

Tina Lee - Principal

Dates for your Diary

Stage 2 Field of Mars Excursion

Stage 2 headed off to Manly Dam last week for our Field of Mars excursion. Students learned about many aspects of digital photography and created booklets which will be ready to take home next term. Here is a selection of stunning shots taken by Year 3 and 4 students during our trip.

Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition

Optional Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition

Attention all interested PUBLIC SPEAKERS!

Thank you to the students so far who have requested information regarding this competition, held yearly during term 2.

Last week, permission notes went home to students (Years 3-6) who showed interest in participating in the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition. This is an optional, extracurricular activity which encourages primary school students to explore ideas of Multiculturalism in Australia while they practise public speaking skills and improve confidence.

The expectation is for students to write a prepared speech on one of the listed topics over the Easter school holidays (see permission note and ‘Speaker Advice Note’). This will give teacher/organisers Mrs Radan and Ms Cash an opportunity to provide students with feedback in our Public Speaking Workshops during lunchtimes next term. These workshops will also be a time for students to prepare impromptu speeches in front of a small audience.

If your child did not receive a note and you would like them to participate in the competition, please feel free to fill out the attached permission slip to be returned in Term 2.

Mrs Ellie Radan and Ms Lisa Cash

Mother’s Day Stall

Mother’s Day Stall - Friday 12 May

Students can now bring in their Mother's Day gift donation and hand to their classroom teacher. Each student who donates is allowed to buy one gift from the stall for $10.00 on Friday 12 May.

Mother’s Day Raffle

Exciting news - Mother's Day Raffle tickets now available online! Click on the link below:

P&C Committee

Raising Your Child in a Digital World

Screen Time and Bedtime

Over the past two weeks of parent teacher interviews, many of you have sought advice on how to manage devices and bedtime for your children of various ages.

I would like to take this opportunity to refer you to the following website:

There is a particular article titled ‘Screen time and digital technology use: How it affects child and teenage sleep’ covering the key points below

• Screen time and digital technology use before bed can affect when children and teenagers fall asleep and how well they sleep.
• You can reduce these risks by encouraging children to avoid screens in the hour before bed.
• It’s best to keep phones and other digital devices out of bedrooms at night.

This is a great website for advice on many different topics for school age children.

Library News

IT’S BACK FOR 2023!

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE - how to enter books online.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. Participation is voluntary.

Books can be entered from now until 18 August.

The school library has hundreds of PRC books for students to borrow. The K-2 Challenge is for students to enjoy 30 books with an adult or by themselves. K-2 students will be completing the challenge entirely at school. They will receive a participation certificate at the end of the year.

Year 3-4 and year 5-6 challenges are for students to read 20 books independently, with support from library staff as needed. They need to enter their PRC books on the website by the closing date, Friday the 18 August, to qualify for a certificate at the end of the year.

More detailed information can be found online at the link below:

How to enter books online

• Go to student portal
• Click on the Premier’s Reading Challenge Icon
• On the left-hand side of your screen, click on Student Reading Log.
• Enter book– type the title or author I the box, then click the title that appears. ‘Add’.
• The book doesn’t come up at all. Use the ‘Add a Personal Choice Book’ box.

Thank you for supporting your child’s reading. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Sue Yardley and Laurenza Butcher - Teacher Librarians

Canteen News

Happy Easter! The canteen hopes you have a wonderful Easter break, and we cannot wait to see you in term 2.

Flexischools Ordering

Please remember that without an order confirmation your order has not been placed correctly.

If you have an outstanding IOU payment with the canteen, please make payment before the end of term.

Volunteers

It is almost term 2. Sign up now to get organised for next term.

The canteen needs your help to get all the lunches made as well as serve at the counter. We really need volunteers on Friday mornings to help get all the sandwiches and toasties made. Without volunteers the canteen will not be able to offer the full range of yummy foods each day.

Please sign up below, feel free to sign up with a friend if you want, just pop both your names in the sign up sheet.

Birthday treats

Please only order frozen birthday treats through the birthday section to ensure we have enough stock. Orders must be placed by 1.00pm the day prior (or Friday for Monday orders).

Becky McGowan - Canteen Manager

Community Notices

School Information