5 November: Beau M

10 November: Kaitlyn E

12 November: Emma T

13 November: Patrick O

Blacksmiths Public School _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Doing our best together

Amaroo Street Blacksmiths NSW 2281 Phone: 4971 1519 Fax: 4972 1407 Email: blacksmith-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Term 4 - Week 5 Tuesday 4 November, 2014

DIARY DATES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

We have almost reached the half way point of the term and it isn’t showing any sign of slowing down.

YEAR 6 CAMP Year 6 students all enjoyed a fantastic 3 days at Point Wolstoncroft Sport and Recreation Camp last week. Everyone had an amazing time participating in activities such as sailing, kayaking, the big swing and lots of others. I would like to congratulate all Year 6 students on their fantastic behaviour. They showed themselves to be a real credit to our school. Also a big thank you to Mrs Hellier for all of her efforts in organising and attending the camp.

P & C The P&C annual AGM will be held on Tuesday November 18. Many of our executive have now served their time in their position. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to take a more proactive role in the P&C. The P&C meet twice a term. Meetings usually go for about an hour. While fundraising is an important part of the P&C, it isn’t the only function. This year the P&C have reviewed school policies, approved school requests for resources and assisted with school planning and future directions for the 2015 - 2017 school plan. If you think you might be interested, come along to our next meeting and have a look.

HEALTHY HAROLD All classes enjoyed a visit to the Life Education van to see Healthy Harold last week. Students learnt about a range of health issues such as healthy lifestyles, personal safety, medicines, friendship, resilience, peer pressure, drug education and using technology safely. Healthy Harold visits us every 2 years. We look forward to seeing him again in 2016. Thank you to the Lions Club of Swansea for supporting our recent visit with Healthy Harold and the Hunter Life Education team.

Thu 6 Nov Mini Fete - 11.30am

Tue 11 Nov Remembrance Day

Thu 13 Nov Kinder Orientation - 9 to 10am

Tue 18 Nov P&C AGM - 6pm

Thu 20 Nov Kinder Orientation - 12 to 1.15pm

Mon 24 Nov Swim Scheme Commences

Thu 27 Nov Kinder Orientation - 12 to 1.15pm

Tue 2 Dec Volunteer Morning Tea - 11am

Mon 8 Dec Year 6 Farewell

Thu 11 Dec Presentation Day

Mon 15 Dec Party Day

Tue 16 Dec Concert

Wed 17 Dec Last Day for Students

Term 4 - Week 5 Tuesday 4 November, 2014

LIBRARY NEWS

MR CHAMBERS’ RETIREMENT Mr Chambers has been the General Assistant here at Blacksmiths and Pelican Flat Public Schools for a number of years. You may have noticed that he has been on leave for the last few months. This leave will now lead into his retirement. We will hold a special assembly for Mr Chambers this Friday to wish him well in retirement. In the short time that I have worked with Bob I know that he will be missed by all. Often going beyond the call of duty, he has been known to commandeer the Pelican RSL bus and help transport students on excursions on his days off. I would like to acknowledge his contributions to our school and wish him all the best on his many ‘days off’ in the future. DAY FOR DANIEL Thank you to all students who wore red for our fundraiser “Day for Daniel” last Friday. The school raised over $120.00 for this worthwhile foundation.

NUT AND PEANUT ALLERGY

Nut and peanut allergies are the second most common food allergy in children. Kids who are hypersensitive to nuts may have an instant and severe reaction to even the smallest quantity of nuts. Nut allergies are on the rise. Nut and peanut allergies can be life-threatening. Exposure to even the smallest quantity of what causes an allergy can result in anaphylaxis, a condition in which the child can stop breathing. An immediate injection of adrenaline can combat the allergic reaction. In 2015 Blacksmiths Public School will be a NUT AWARE SCHOOL. As part of this transition all staff will be participating in anaphylaxis training. I am also encouraging parents and students to leave nuts and nut products out of their school lunch boxes. I would ask that all parents start thinking in a nut friendly way for the rest of the year so that in 2015 we are already in the NUT AWARE mode.

Things you can do:

DO NOT pack nut or nut products for school lunches (peanut butter, nut bars, etc)

Ensure your child washes their hands before leaving for school each day. Even the smallest traces of nuts can cause a sever anaphylactic reaction.

Remind your child that we DO NOT share food.

If your child has these products in their lunch box they may be asked to eat in a designated area.

BUSH FIRE ALERT As we are in a bushfire zone, it is important that everyone is aware of what will happen in the event of a bushfire threatening the school. The school community will be notified of either a school closure or where/when to collect students via ABC radio, the school website and the School App. The principal will remain on school grounds until ALL students and staff have been removed safely. If you have any concerns please contact me at school.

MINI FETE Our very popular Year 6 Mini Fete will be held this Thursday 6 November. Children may bring in $5 - $10 to spend on tokens which will be handed out on the day. Children may come to school “out of uniform”. VOLUNTEER MORNING TEA We will be providing a morning tea on Tuesday 2 December to say thank you to our wonderful scripture and parent volunteers for their support during 2014. Please join us in the school library from 11am. THANK YOU A huge thank you to Lepa for all her hard work in the herb garden recently preparing the ground for the students to plant seeds after our memorial service. The students and staff really appreciate your efforts. SWIMMING SCHEME The Swimming Scheme will run from Monday 24 November to Friday 5 December. It is expected that all students from Years 1-3 will attend. Students from Years 4-6 are welcome to fill any vacancies that may be left. If you are interested in your child attending, please ask for a form from the office. Notes and money are due back by Friday 21 November.

KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS FOR 2015 Kindergarten enrolments are still being taken for 2015. If you have, or know of someone who has, children starting school next year please be sure to register at the office. Aaron Quinnell Principal

Well done to our school debating team who won their pool in Division 2 in our local debating competition. They then went on to compete in the finals for Division 2 and were narrowly beaten on the day by Floraville Public School. A huge “Well Done!” to Kiana T, Bridie E, Tarly H and Tom C for their outstanding efforts in our first year of debating. We are extremely proud of all of you. Mrs Hambleton Debating Coordinator

Stocktake will take place in the Library during week 8, so if you have any outstanding books at home, please make sure they are returned by week 7 at the latest. If you have a library book out that has been lost or damaged, please see Mrs White in the office on Tuesday or Thursday. Mrs Hambleton Teacher/Librarian

DEBATING NEWS

HOME READING AWARDS P&C NEWS

QUALITY WORK AWARDS

COMMUNITY NEWS

ASSEMBLY AWARDS - Weeks 3 & 4

Kinder Ethan C Tyler S

Madison H Grace H

1/2 Atlanta K TJ T

Halle M

TJ T

Year 3 Blake C Bede E

Shannon K Ethan A

4/5 Max G Aishlinn E

Shae H

Finley W

5/6 Ben R Ben P

Kinder Madison H Kayla K

Sienna K Jasmine W

1/2 Kahlia C Jackson C

Ty L

Tegan H

Year 3 Vanlida L Chey E

Eliel G Alex G

4/5 Tayah H Jordan J

Lilly M

Aaron C

5/6 Kiana T Tarly H

Term 4 - Week 5 Tuesday 4 November, 2014

50 Nights: Cameron R

75 Nights: Sienna K Kayla K

100 Nights: Jasmine W Sienna K Kayla K Alvey W

125 Nights: Joshua T Shannon K Finn W

150 Nights: Kaitlin R Ella P Marley M Grace H Ethan C

175 Nights: Ella G

GREEN CORNER Our market garden stall will be open today.

Produce available for purchase includes:

Lettuce

Sweet Potato

Spinach

Beans

Parsley, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano

And anything else that may be ready to pick

Come along and grab a bargain from 2.45pm.

P&C ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The P&C will hold their AGM on Tuesday 18 November from 6pm in the school Library. All positions will be made available for re-election at the AGM for the P&C Committee for 2015. Don’t forget to bring along $2.00 for your 2015 membership. CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISER Thank you to the families that have brought back their money and any unsold chocolates. There are still some outstanding monies that need to be returned so that we can finalise this fundraiser. We still have a number of boxes of chocolates to be sold. If you think you could sell another box please see the office.

The P & C will also be selling Freddos for $1 at the mini fete. Tokens will not be accepted so remember to bring a dollar to buy a Freddo. SAUCY SPICES FUNDRAISER Thank you to those families that purchased our Saucy Spices. With only 12 orders we still managed to raise $265.50. SWANSEA BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE Swansea Before & After School Care will finish on 17 December, returning first day of school.

Swansea Before & After School Care will be open on 18 & 19 December as part of Vacation Care/Pupil Free Day. This will be run at Swansea Before & After School Care. Hours of care are 7.15am to 5.15pm. Vacation care fees and percentage will apply. Payment is to be made on the day. Please ensure your child is booked in prior to these dates.

Vacation Care will start on 5 January, 2015. Children enrolled for kinder that year will be allowed to attend. Please contact Centrelink to advise they are no longer a preschool child.

Before the end of this term new enrolment forms need to be completed by all families that use this service and any new families that wish to attend the service. Please advise us of your days for next year.

Narelle, Robyn & Jen Swansea Before & After School Care

VOLUNTEER MORNING TEA INVITATION

The staff and students would like the chance to say “thank you” to all our wonderful

volunteers this year. Whether you have helped in class, canteen, on excursions, sporting

events, gardening or anything else that you may have volunteered your time for, we would

like to invite you to a morning tea on:

Tuesday 2 December - 11.00am in the Library

Hope to see you there!

YEAR 6 CAMP

On Monday of last week Mrs Hellier and Year 6 students went to Point Wolstoncroft on a Year 6 camp. We went for 3 days. Through all the adventures and stacks we had a great time learning how to kayak and sail, along with many more wonderful things. We cycled and kayaked our way through the first day. We woke up the next morning ready to conquer the giant swing and high ropes. After a much needed lunch we moved onto sailing. Once sailing finished we had a delicious dinner and a much needed rest. We woke up, did breakfast duty, and went to rock climbing. There are lots of harness wedgies here! Once we conquered the climb it was time for the wombat hole. Wombat hole was VERY dirty and fun. We crawled our way through pitch black tunnels, some people scaring on the way, and some little obstacles. We had races and then a much rejoiced shower. After the showers it was unfortunately time to go home. We said thank you to our safety director, Phil, and headed home.

We had heaps of fun at Point Wolstoncroft Year 6 Camp, 2014!

By Bridie & Kiana