PRINCIPAL’S REPORT…. I returned to school on Monday of this week feeling very relaxed after a wonderful break in Nelson Bay and then Noosa. My sincere thanks go to Martha Adams, Julie Robinson and the Executive for their very professional management of the school in my absence.

In my absence Years 3 and 5 students participated in NAPLAN and I have been informed that the whole process ran smoothly. We use this “snap shot on a day” assessment to look at strengths, areas for improvement and to compare our school and students to those across the state. It also provides parents with a “standardised” assessment and an additional piece of information to contribute to the picture of how their child is progressing.

For your information, the 2017 Annual Report and the 2018-2020 School Plan were both uploaded to our school website on the last day of Term 1. You might like to look them up at your leisure.

Our key Strategic Directions for the next 3 years are: 1. Student centred learning fosters excellence and

continuous improvement; 2. Students are future focused, active, engaged and

informed learners; and 3. Positive partnerships promote success and

wellbeing.

Our focus on Visible Learning (VL) is reflected throughout. On that topic, I would like to thank Trisha Ambrose for the excellent workshop she conducted on Visible Learning prior to the last P&C meeting. I believe parents were really appreciative of being included in the VL “journey”.

Promoting positive partnerships is a key feature of our third Strategic Direction. To this end the Canteen Committee is working really hard to ensure that the school community is consulted as they review canteen operations and food choices. Their desire is to make informed decisions that are representative. If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes to complete their survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XKCG3SR This is a very well timed review. It will give our new Canteen Manager, Sally Rowell, direction in carrying out her duties.

Our Season 1 PSSA teams will be playing in the finals on Friday and I would like to wish the Netball and Rugby League teams involved good luck and, above all, a good game. Season 2 PSSA trials are being held this week with Season 2 PSSA commencing on Friday, 8 June.

With my very best wishes,

Sandra Palmer.

Congratulations to Talia Tabet who is performing at the “In the Spotlight” Dance Festival. Talia is a member of the NSW Public Schools Primary Dance Ensemble and will be performing at the Seymour Centre from 18 – 29 June. Congratulations to Taliah Vajdevski who has been selected in the East Hills District Netball Team.

WRITING AWARDS

Congratulations to Abigail Duggan, 1/2N, for a great first draft using outstanding technical language. Writing samples can be viewed on the Writer’s Wall of Fame near the School Office

CLASS SHOWCASE Our showcasing of student work is located at the bottom of our front web page under Social Media Profile. Check out 1/2N’s experience of the Lambeth Park walking excursion. http://www.panania-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

PAYMENTS - WHAT’S DUE WHEN Year 5 Narrabeen Camp Due Friday, 1 June Deposit $50 Balance Due Friday, 10 August Year 6 Canberra Due Friday, 1 June Deposit $50 Balance Due Friday, 10 August Athletics Carnival Due Wednesday, 13 June $12 Wadjiny Incursion Due Wednesday, 20 June $5 School Contribution Due end of Term 1 All Years $45 per student OR $120 for a family of 3 or more

Term 2 Week 4

23/5/2018 CHATTERBOX

Panania Public School 21A Lawler Street, Panania NSW 2213 Phone: 9773 9017 Fax: 9792 3907 Email: panania-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

http://www.panania-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Term 2 has only just begun, but already is moving fast with so many activities and events happening at Panania.

One of the major events of the year is our Education Week and Book Week celebrations in Term 3. Again this year we are combining the two events and will be holding a Book Fair and a Book Character Parade on our school Open Day which is Wednesday, 8 August.

In the meantime we want to give parents/carers and students time to think about some ideas and prepare for the event. There are so many characters that students and teachers could “dress up” as on the day from both fiction and non-fiction books that it is sure to be a wonderful event.

Education Week Committee.

FIELD OF MARS EXCURSION On Tuesday, 10 April, Stage 2 travelled to the Field of Mars and Buffalo Creek Environmental Education Centres at Ryde. As part of this term’s geography unit, ‘The Earth’s Environment’, students investigated how the eucalypt forest provides a habitat for native animals. Students undertook a bush walk through a eucalypt forest, recording characteristics of the forest as well as evidence of animal inhabitants. As part of their fieldwork investigation, students participated in sensory observation, invertebrate hunts, habitat building, sketching, mapping and watercolour painting. The students had a wonderful time exploring the forest and were extremely excited to discover wombat holes, stringy bark caterpillar markings, a water dragon’s cave, spider webs, ant mounds and possum scat. It was fantastic to see the students further develop their knowledge of the interconnection that exists between animals and the environment. Mrs R Walker, Excursion Coordinator.

VALUE OF THE FORTNIGHT Fairness

Please support us at home by having discussions with your child/children about what ‘Fairness’ means at home, at school and in the community.

DIARY DATES Friday, 25 May

PSSA Finals Monday, 28 May

Sydney South West Softball

Bulldogs Clinic Years 1-4 Tuesday, 29 May

ICAS Science Monday, 4 June

Bulldogs Clinic Years 1-4

P&C Meeting 7pm A Block Staffroom Thursday, 7 June

Boys & Girls Softball KO Friday, 8 June

PSSA Season 2 Commences Monday, 11 June

Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday Tuesday, 12 June

Paul Kelly Cup - Blacktown Thursday, 14 June

Sydney South West Cross Country Tuesday, 3 July

School Athletics Carnival Wednesday, 4 July

Incursion – Wadjing 11.30am and 2.00pm Friday, 6 July

Reports go home to parents

Last Day Term 2

TERM 3 Monday, 6 August – Friday, 10 August

Education Week Monday, 6 August

P & C Meeting Wednesday, 8 August

Book Fair and Book Character Parade

STAGE 1 LAMBETH PARK WALKING EXCURSION On Thursday, 17 May, Stage 1 investigated a local area which has played a significant part in the lives of the local people for many years - Lambeth Park on the banks of the Georges River. This investigation will form part of our History unit this term where we will be discovering just how Lambeth Park has been a special place both in the past and in the present. Approximately 150 students walked down to the end of Picnic Point Road and crossed Henry Lawson Drive under vigilant supervision provided by both staff and volunteers. There was great excitement as we entered the park via a steep bush path, the exploration of the boardwalk, the discovery of local flora with sketching, the viewing of the historical rock (detailing events in years gone by), the study of fishing sustainability on the Georges River, the making of a pledge to protect the park and the delicious taste of pancakes cooked on the barbeques as students discussed what indigenous people would have eaten in the past. Every activity was attended to with enthusiasm by students and adults alike. The behaviour of the students was exemplary, and it was a joy to watch how everyone, staff, volunteers and students, took such pleasure in participating in all the activities in a place which is literally in our own back yard. At the end of the day, a very tired group of trekkers plodded back up Picnic Point Road to the school. Such a successful day could not have occurred without such an amazing group of parent volunteers. So, on behalf of all the Stage 1 staff, I would like to thank each and every one of you for making our day the special day it was! Mrs S Nott and Stage 1 Staff.

P & C UNIFORM SHOP

The Uniform Shop has had a very busy couple of weeks! This Friday, 25 May will see the introduction of both our EFTPOS and also our Electronic Receipt system. EFTPOS is available for all chip reader (‘Tap and Go’ style) debit cards, MasterCard and VISA cards only. A $1.00 surcharge will apply to each card transaction. All receipts will now be sent to you via email or SMS. Please remember – we are still learning this new system, so please be patient. Our Uniform Shop Convenor, Tas Winkler, has resigned from her position due to other commitments. We would like to thank Tas for her invaluable contribution to the Uniform Shop. Tas will continue to volunteer at the Uniform Shop and we look forward to keeping in touch. Kristy Cottee has volunteered to be our new Convenor. The lost property baskets are again overflowing with school jackets and other uniform items. We will be clearing the Lost Property basket on Friday, 15 June. Please make sure you have checked the baskets before this date as any unlabelled items will be donated to the Uniform Shop for resale. Uniform orders and enquiries can also be emailed to pananiapublicuniformshop@gmail.com or left in the Drop Box at the School Office. Orders will be sent to your child’s class the following Monday, once payment has been received in full. Thank you for your continued support of our school. The Uniform Shop Committee. Open Fridays 8.45am-9.15am

PSSA SPORT Congratulations to the Netball and Rugby League teams who will play their PSSA Grand Finals this Friday, 25 May. Junior games will commence at 12.40pm with the senior games expected to commence at approximately 1.20pm. Netball will be played at Clark Reserve Padstow while Rugby League will be played at Killara Reserve Panania. We wish all students the best of luck! Mr B Dodd, Sport Coordinator.

We sincerely thank our advertisers for their support of our school. The Department of Education and Panania Public School do not necessarily endorse these companies or their services and products.

HEALTH MATTERS This section of Chatterbox will be a regular feature, once again, over the coming weeks. We belong to Live Life Well @ School which is a joint initiative between the Department of Education and the Ministry of Health in NSW. The program promotes a whole school approach to physical activity and nutrition, aims to get more students more active more often and focuses on developing healthy eating habits. Please note, we are not preaching to you rather we are providing information.

RULE OF THE FORTNIGHT The rule we are focusing on for

Term 4, Weeks 5 & 6 is:

Be Safe

You can support us at home by having discussions with your child/children about “Being Safe” and what this rule means in different settings.