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William Street Email: bellingen-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Principal: Graeme Ross PO Box 42 Website: www.bellingen-p.school.nsw.edu.au Phone: 02 6655 1147 Bellingen NSW 2454 Fax: 02 6655 2615

Term 4 - Week 4 Monday, 29 October 2012

A SPELL OF BAD WEATHER

Our Stage 3 students and staff provided a fantastic night of

entertainment last Thursday when they

presented "A Spell of Bad Weather" as

their annual end of year musical. The

main characters Hunkey-Dorey the hero,

Miss Mist the weather forecaster,

Constable Catchem the policeman and

Miss Ruler the teacher set out to find out

why the little town of Bellingen is experiencing a spell of bad

weather - it won't stop raining! We wish!! Both good and nasty

wizards and their assistants, fairies, a giant and a storyteller

helped the story to unfold.

Soloists supported by the

Stage 3 choir and dances

choreographed and

performed by classes were

interwoven into the drama.

Congratulations to

Katharine Sutherland (producer/director), Denise Head, Craig

Ellem, Jackie Lee and Troy Metcalf for putting it all together

with their classes. A big thank you to Liz Scott, Stephen Glyde,

David Neville and Mark Willis for outstanding contributions to

music, technical details and drama coaching. This year's

musical certainly highlighted some amazing talents in singing

and acting and once again places the creative talents of our

fabulous students and staff firmly on the map.

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Monday, 29 October 2012 Term 4 – Week 4

BACK TO PRESCHOOL

Kindergarten and

Year 5 students

recently returned to

preschool as part of

our school's

Transition Program.

Burrows, Bellingen

and Dawnsong

Preschool Centres

were included in

these visits which

were a huge success. The students answered questions the

preschoolers had about big school and then they each read to

them in small groups. The Kindergarten students thoroughly

enjoyed the experience of showing the children they knew from

preschool last year, and their teachers, how clever they are.

Year 5 were wonderful ambassadors connecting so well with

the little ones that they didn't want to leave to come back to

school! This program highlights the positive partnerships

enjoyed by the four education providers.

Bellingen Primary School's Transition Program is currently

underway. If you have a child who is now school age and

eligible for Kindergarten please do not hesitate to contact the

school on 66551147 for further information.

Don’t miss our Whole School Assembly this

Thursday November 1 at 9.30am. Steve

Britcher will be presenting the school with

his book “Amazing Birds & Plants of

Bellingen Public School”. Everyone is

welcome!

Important Dates

November

Thursday 1 Whole School Assembly 9.30am

Friday 2 Kindy Orientation 9.10 to 11am

Sunday 4 P & C Bunnings Sausage sizzle fundraiser

Monday 5 P & C meeting 7pm in our library

Monday 5 - 9 Yr 6 Canberra Excursion Friday 9 Kindy Orientation 9.10 to 11am

Tuesday 13 Thank you luncheon

Friday 16 Kindy Orientation 9.10 to 11am

Thursday 22 Kindy Orientation General Info evening for Parents/Carers 5.30 to 7pm

Friday 23 Kindy Orientation 9.10 to 11am

Monday 26 Year 6/7 BHS Transition camp

Intensive Swim Scheme begins Yrs2& 3

Thursday 22 Kinder Orientation for parents 5.30-7pm

Friday 23 Kinder Orientation for students 910-11

Tuesday 27 Year 6/7 Transition camp boys & girls

Kindy Orientation 2.20 – 2.45pm at Stage 1 assembly

Wednesday 28 Year 6/7 TBHS Transition camp boys

December

Wednesday 5 Year 6/7 BHS Orientation day

Friday 7 Stage 1 Christmas Concert

Yrs 2 & 3 Intensive Swim school ends

Monday 10 Piano concert in the hall

Tuesday 11 Art Exhibition in the hall 5-7pm

Wednesday 12 9.30am Presentation day

Wednesday 19 Last day of Term 4

From the Principal’s Desk A Spell of Bad Weather

On with the show! I am sure this week’s Stage 3 musical will be

an outstanding success…..I wrote last week….

And it was! Fantastic performances by everyone involved. The

efforts of Katharine Sutherland, all teachers involved and the

students were superb. Thank you.

Classes 2013

Planning has commenced for classes for 2013. As part of this

process all students will be asked to list 2 buddies they would

like to be in their new class with, so that students can transition

to the new class and their teacher, with social support.

If you, as a parent or carer, would like to make us aware of a

particular aspect that is important to your child’s learning and

development, in terms of a new class please write to me, over

the coming weeks. Request for particular teachers cannot be

met, for a variety of reasons.

Neita National Teacher Award – Denise Head

Wow! Denise has been selected as one of the finalists for this

prestigious national Teaching Award. We will know more in

November I believe.

Denise, well done!

Regards

Graeme Ross, Principal

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Monday, 29 October 2012 Term 4 – Week 4

Canteen News

The supply curse that has been affecting the canteen continues to expand! Now, not only are we short of popcorn and Grain Wave chips, but also chocolate Freeze Pops.

This may not seem to be all that disastrous to some, as Freeze Pops may be considered to be a bit like “junk food” but that’s the idea. For many a growing little darlings- milk is a wonderful source of protein and calcium and therefore milk companies are subsidised to provide this healthy drink as cheaply as possible to encourage our growing future leaders to partake of its nourishing benefits. Unfortunately, as the weather warms up our kiddies are less inclined to drink milk.

There is an attempt afoot to overcome this climactic shortcoming in the plan to dose up the little scholars on calcium. Flavoured milk is frozen and sold in a form made to appear similar to confectionary, ie. the Freeze Pop. This ruse works very well, and would work better if I could get my hands on some more chocolate ones. This may seem dishonest but there is no subterfuge going on here, as the canteen does not promote Freeze Pops as junk food, we just don’t highlight how healthy they really are.

This week’s special will be ham and vegetable focacia. Or the ham can be left off on request and it becomes a vegetarian version. As usual these will be available on Thursday and Friday for $3.50 each or $5.00 with a beverage.

This week’s Freeze Pop flavours are Vanilla and Orange/Mango.

Eddy Vardabasso, Canteen Supervisor

Canteen Roster

October

Tue 30 Priya Curry

Wed 31 Leonie Jennings

November

Thur 1 Carrie Hain, Rachel Peart

Fri 2 Leonie Jennings, Gwenda Turner

Mon 5 Elaine Thornycroft

Tue 6 Dan Pullinger

Major Excursions

Yr 6 - Canberra $440 must be paid this week!

Current Notes Canberra excursion information note to Year 6

Emakhaya 4 Gogo Pie Fundraiser

Year 6 Farewell

We are forming a Year 6 parent committee to organise the 2012 Year 6 farewell. It is an easy role and rewarding as you have the chance of shaping some of the final activities of your child’s primary school activities. If you are

interested please leave your name and contact details at the office. Mrs Sutherland.

ATTENDANCE AWARD

Congratulations

K Yellow

You had the best attendance at our school last week.

It’s cool to be at our school!

Cello Group

Calling all potential or budding musicians in year 3. There are a few spaces for year 3 students to learn the cello in groups on Tuesday at lunchtimes. These lessons are fun, informative, affordable and provide a good training for the students to progress into the school orchestra. If you are interested please go and see Mrs. Matthews in the Reading Recovery room on Tuesday lunchtime, or parents can contact her directly on 0428 190 962.

Have you lost a lunchbox?

Looking for a lunchbox? Unlabelled lunch boxes are lined up on the stage for your collection. Named containers are in the lost property box. Please collect these and take them home!

Finding head lice

Half of the people who have head lice never scratch their head, so itching is not a reliable sign. Lice can be hard to spot because they move quickly. The easiest and most effective way to find head lice is to follow these steps weekly (Perhaps make Sunday night, checking night):

Step 1 Comb hair conditioner on to dry, brushed (detangled) hair. This makes it difficult for lice to grip the hair or run around.

Step 2 Wipe the conditioner from the lice comb onto a paper towel or tissue.

Step 3 Look on the tissue and on the lice comb for lice and eggs.

Step 4 Repeat the combing for every part of the head at least four or five times.

Step 5 If the person has been treated recently and only hatched eggs are found, you may not have to treat them again since the eggs could be from the old infection.

Step 6 If lice or eggs are found, the person should be treated.

Students should not return to school unless treatment has been administered.

Important Notice

All visitors to our school must come to the office to sign in and

wear a visitor badge. Whether you are dropping off a lunchbox

or coming to help in the classroom. It is a requirement of the

Dept of Education under the Enclosed land act plus an

Occupational Health and Safety issue. We appreciate your

cooperation with this.

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Monday, 29 October 2012 Term 4 – Week 4

Community Notices

Bellingen Public School does not endorse these products or services.

Australia Day Awards

Bellingen Shire Council Australia Day award nomination forms are available at our school office or online at http://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au. Categories are: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Community Service, Community Group, Community Event of the Year, Sportsperson of the Year, Junior Sportsperson of the Year, Team of the Year, Creative Arts. Closing date for nominations is Friday November 16, 2012.

Dancing Fun For The Whole Family – but not this week!

Due to the popularity of Halloween there will be no dancing this week. For more information please call Michelle on 0403011597 or email michellesdancing@gmail.com.

Life House pantry

What is it? The Lifehouse Pantry caters to low income earners by providing food assistance for a small service fee. The pantry is open to any person on a current health care card or pension, and also to qualifying persons for emergency care.

What can I get?

$10 for 11 items plus free fruit and vegetables

$20 for 22 items plus free fruit and vegetables

Where is it? Halpins Lane behind “Vintage Nest”

When is it? Tuesday & Friday 10am to 12noon

Dorrigo Show

Join the fun of the Dorrigo Show at the Dorrigo Showground on Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 November.

Why not join in the Dorrigo Show Fun Run on Sunday 25th?

Check out the details at http://www.dorrigoshow.org.au/fun-run/ or see the school office for more details.

Take Home A Big Brother Or Big Sister

Give your children the wonderful opportunity to have an international big brother or big sister by hosting one of our exceptional international students arriving in Australia in February 2013 for their 3, 5 or 10 month programs. Our international students from France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Canada and the U.S.A. will live as a local, attend a local secondary school, arrive with their own spending money and comprehensive insurance cover – all arranged by Southern Cross Cultural Exchange. Visit us at www.scce.com.au, email scceaust@scce.com.au or call us toll free on 1800 500 501, to request our booklets on international student profiles, and capture the spirit of family and friendship!