Important Information … MPS website: www.moree-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/

• Monday, 5th March – Regional swimming carnival at Armidale • Tuesday, 13th March - Kindergarten information session for parents – 5.00pm meet at the hall

1. PRINCIPAL

Moree Public School staff are committed to ensuring that every child receives the very best education we are able to deliver. I am proud to say that we have a great team of teachers whose focus is on the education and well-being of each and every child. However, it is important that parents and teachers work together to provide the best possible learning experiences for the children. Teachers are most willing to speak with you about your child but please understand that they cannot always stop what they are doing to give you their full attention – playground duty and moving the class from the assembly lines must take priority. It is for this reason we ask all parents to make appointments if they would like to talk with a teacher about their child’s progress, concerns that may arise, ideas or clarification about coming events.

Happy role models – Amelia, Kaitlyn, Brock and Chaz

I continue to be impressed by the way in which our students have started the year. In classrooms across the school children are busy with learning – in the playground they are active and playing well together. Again, I stress the importance of good manners, paying attention in class, doing as the teachers ask and trying one’s best. When, on occasion such standards are not demonstrated by a student, it is our responsibility to contact parents and discuss a course of action that will provide support and encouragement to make positive changes. Premier’s Reading Challenge provides a wonderful opportunity to read the vast range of specially selected books and to be recognised for such commitment. I urge all students to participate in

the 2018 Premier’s Reading Challenge as a great way to encourage and develop a love of reading. Over the period of the challenge, students simply have to read a number of books that can be selected from a recommended reading list. The Challenge is divided into three sections: Kinder to Year 2, Years 3 and 4 and Years 5 and 6. Many of the books on the list are probably already in your home. However, the school library does have the majority of the listed books available for students to borrow. Children will need to start reading as the challenge begins on 5 March and ends on 10 August. Mrs Beattie has sent home Reading Log sheets in an earlier Newsletter. If your child has lost their form please see Mrs Beattie in the library. MPS has had numerous students awarded a beautiful gold embossed certificate from the Premier, recognising four years of participation in the Challenge. PRC participants may also go on the GOLD and PLATINUM Honour Roll. Parents and citizens – we need and appreciate you! On Wednesday 7th March we will celebrate P&C Day so I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to each and every member of our P&C. The Moree Public School P&C is a hard-working group of parents who have supported our school with activities and fundraising. They make a fantastic contribution to the wellbeing of students and staff in our school. With their support, we have been able to provide many fabulous opportunities for our students. I invite all new parents and current parents to join the P&C. You can come along to the Annual General Meeting at 6:00pm on Monday 19th March. McKechnie Shield congratulations are extended to all of our swimming representatives for completing a wonderful team effort in retaining the zone shield at the carnival held last Friday. The students swam brilliantly and no matter where each placed in their respective events, all should be very proud of their achievements. Thank you to all parents who attended the carnival and supported the children. Special thanks to those parents who assisted on the day and congratulations to Mr Burgess, Miss Carlin, Miss Everingham and Miss Ryan for their hard work to ensure a smooth running and successful day.

Tuesday, 27th February 2018

Sport and more sport …. When it comes to sport there is no shortage of children willing to try out for various school and zone teams. As with any selection process some children make the team and others may not be ready for the particular level. While parents should encourage their child’s participation they should also prepare them for the possibility that they may miss out. As always, our school has entered a number of PSSA competitions throughout the year. When children are required to play, we provide parents with as much notice as possible. Sometimes however, the timeframe provided is short. In the knockout competitions we do not always have control over this as the opposing school may be organising the match or there may be delays in playing the previous round. Your understanding of this and your support in returning permission notes as soon as possible will be greatly appreciated. Hello kinder parents! Are you keen to learn more about school routines? Mrs Fitzgerald and her team will be holding an information session next Tuesday 13th March commencing at 5:00pm. There will be an afternoon tea and brief introduction in the hall near the office followed by visits to your child’s class. Our kindergarten students have been participating in lots of fun learning experiences so I encourage parents to come along and meet your child’s teacher and in particular, learn about the exciting home reading program that will soon commence. Regular attendance at school is a vital element in every child’s education. Frequent absences from school can have serious academic and social implications for students. Moree Public School has set a clear target to improve attendance by 1% this year. We ask for parent support in achieving this target by making sure that your child attends every day. If your child is going to be absent for a significant period of time please contact the school. You may be eligible to claim an exemption from school. Parents are reminded that if your child is absent from school an explanation is required. Please ensure that you inform the school in writing of the reason for your child’s absence from school. Your note should: • explain why your child missed school; • include how many days your child was away; and • include the date or dates. Every school is required to check irregular attendance and report it to the appropriate personnel in the Department of Education for follow up by the Home School Liaison Officer. Of course, arriving at school prior to the 9.00am bell does ensure that children are prepared and understand what events may be happening throughout the day. Remember, being ten minutes late each day, often means a child misses much of the vital reading lesson and over the course of a term this can be a loss of five or six hours of learning time. A similar equation for missing one day a fortnight creates an alarming scenario – 20 days per year or almost a whole school year by the end of Year 6. No one can afford to lose such time from their schooling or later, in their career.

Keeping our children safe …. Please take moment to read the attached Road Safety Information. There are seven new school zone traffic offences with fines and demerit points for those who choose to ignore the rules. Mobile Phones/IPods and other gadgets are not required at school – children should not bring personal technology such as mobile phones, tablets and IPods to school. The school is NOT responsible for lost, stolen or broken personal technology. Parent helpers are most welcome, particularly for the literacy sessions. During the first weeks of the year, teachers are establishing the class routines and during the next two weeks, will send home an information package for parents who may wish to join a class roster. Thank you for your support.

Mr Adrian King

2. P&C ASSOCIATION • MEETING: The AGM meeting will be held on Monday, 19th March commencing at 6.00pm in the school library. • UNIFORM SHOP: The uniform shop is kindly opened by volunteer co-ordinator, Mrs Deb Hardman and Ms Erin Livet each Wednesday and Friday morning between 8.30 and 9.30am. • CANTEEN: The 2018 menu will be confirmed in the near future to assist with your ordering procedure, either online or by dropping the order at the canteen upon arrival at school. • FUNDRAISING PROJECT: The very popular Easter raffle is currently being co-ordinated and families are invited to send along donations of Easter items that can be included in the hamper baskets. Please send them along to the office by 12th March. Hampers will be created and the tickets will then be sent home. The draw will be conducted at the K-2 Easter hat parade on Thursday 29th March.

KK-11 students, Annabelle Sasha, Alec and Jayden looking smart

and feeling smart in their uniform … Kinder Books in Homes – home this week!

3. COMING EVENTS – Term 1 Please check each week for possible variations on Skoolbag App or listen to local radio 2VM for the daily School News segment a little after 7.00am. Term 1 4 Mon 26 Tues 27 Book Club out Wed 28 Thurs 1 March Fri 2 Assembly: 10.30 2J-1

Tennis Regional trials - Tamworth Young Leaders Conference – Brisbane 5 Mon 5 Regional swimming carnival - Armidale Tues 6 Book Club due

Wed 7 PSSA trials: 11.20 B Hockey & G soccer; 1.00 G hockey & B soccer

Thurs 8 Moree zone U 11 & open rugby league trials Fri 9 Assemblies: 10.30 KF-10; 11.30 5R-17 6 Mon 12 Tues 13 Zone cricket trials;

5.00pm Kinder parent information session Wed 14 Thurs 15 Selective High Schools (Yr 7 2019) test Fri 16 Assemblies:10.30 2R-29;; 11.30 4J-13 7 Mon 19 6.00pm P&C AGM; Tues 20 Wed 21 Winter trials: 11.20 open & U 11 Rugby league 1.00 Rugby union Thurs 22 Fri 23 Assembly: 10.30 KK-11; 11.30 6E-16 8 Mon 26 Nth’n soccer trials Tues 27 Wed 28 Moree zone hockey trials Thurs 29 K-2 Easter Hat parade and dancing display Fri 30 Easter - Good Friday 9 Mon 2 April Easter Monday Tues 3 Wed 4 Thurs 5 Final of PSSA regional soccer trials Fri 6 N’thn Rugby league trials Assemblies: 10.30 KH-9; 11.30 3AP-22 10 Mon 9 Tues 10 Wed 11 PSSA State swimming – Homebush Thurs 12 Fri 13 Assemblies: 10.30 2B-30; 11.30 6W-18 & 4/6C-34 Final day of Term 1 Holiday events:

Wed 25 ANZAC DAY – MPS students invited to represent at Moree Community Service (summer uniform) Fri 27 Moree Show Term 2 1 Mon 30 April Staff resume school Tues 1 May Kinder – Yr 6 students resume school; MPS ANZAC Service Wed 2 Thurs 3 Northern cricket trials Fri 4 Final Rugby League trials / MPS Fun Run 2 Mon 7 Gala trials: netball, touch football (G&B) Grip Leadership conference – Moree Tues 8 ICAS – Digital technology PSSA state tennis at Albury Wed 9

Thurs 10 Fri 11 Cool at School open day K-6

A happy start to Year 1!

4. COMMUNITY EVENTS