COORANBONG PUBLIC SCHOOL ‘COOEE’ Innovation Opportunity Excellence

Government Road Cooranbong NSW 2265 Ph 4977 1122 cooranbong-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Thursday 15th February, 2018

Week 3 Well done to all our students on an outstanding Week 3. What a wonderful display of engagement, enthusiasm, respect and effort on Tuesday at the swimming carnival and K – 2 Water Fun Day. While there were some outstanding swimming results at the carnival, it was the effort, sportsmanship and respectful nature of every student that makes me most proud. Every age group had a number of swimmers that despite not having the best stroke, certainly had great heart. It is this sort of effort that results in wonderful results across all areas.

Class Information Sessions Class information sessions will be held this afternoon in classrooms. K – 2 classes will be held at 4:30pm and 3 – 6 classes at 5:00pm. Sessions should run for no longer than 30 minutes. Tea and coffee will be available in the canteen where Mr Quinnell and support teachers will be available for an informal chat between 4:30 and 5:30pm.

Class Structures As I mentioned last week there is a real possibility that we may be able to form another class. Hopefully this may happen in coming weeks. This will mean smaller class sizes across K – 6. It will also mean a small number of students will change their teacher. This change will not be confirmed until enrolments arrive and stay the required number of days. Fingers crossed we can confirm a new class soon!

Three Way Interviews Parents will be invited to participate in our three way interviews in Week 7. This date has been put back a week in case classes are restructured to ensure that interviews are held with the correct t teachers. These interviews will once again replace parent teacher interviews after Semester 1 reports. Three way interviews involve students, parents and teacher and support a strong partnership in the learning journey of our students. Students are also encouraged and supported to take ownership of their own learning journey through this process. Notes will be sent home shortly with available timeslots. Parents should return these notes as soon as possible so that teachers can confirm appointment times

Important Dates to Remember Due date

Thurs 15 Feb Class Information sessions

n/a

Week 7 3 Way Interviews TBC

Wed 21 Mar Getting Reading Right Parent Session

TBC

Wed 21 Mar Harmony Day n/a

Thur 29 Mar Easter Hat Parade n/a

Fri 30 Mar Good Friday n/a

Mon 2 Apr Easter Monday n/a

Fri 6 Apr Whole School Recognition Assembly

n/a

Thur 12 April Anzac Ceremony n/a

Fri 13 April Staff Development Day

Term 1 – Week 3

Yes!!! We are participating in the Coles Sports for Schools programme. Please bring your coupons into the school office. The more we collect, the more sporting equipment we can purchase for our school through the programme. Thank you.

Term 1 – Week 3

General School Contribution Fees for this year are as follows:

$60.00 per child or $100.00 per family

These fees benefit your school tremendously in all areas of the curriculum. We are currently providing every student with all the materials that they need, including their own individual white boards, whiteboard markers and whiteboard erasers. Our iPad APPS are also regularly updated. These, including many other things, are all significant expenses that are extra for our students and your contributions help immensely. It is important that these fees are paid promptly so that your child’s classroom teacher can begin normal class routines ASAP. If you have any concerns regarding payment, please call in and see me at the office.

Staff Development Day Swap This year all staff are participating in a compulsory staff development and training session on Friday 13th April 2018 (last day of Term 1). This is usually a school day, so instead, a swap has been made with the compulsory training day scheduled for the first day back of Term 2.

Many local schools are attending this valuable training day including Bonnells Bay PS, Wangi PS and Morisset PS. The session will be centred around a program called Seven Steps to Writing Success and is valuable training for all Primary teachers as skills in this program can be applied in teaching writing to Kindergarten to Year 6 students. OOSH services will be available at Morisset OOSH on Friday 13th April. Buses will run as usual on the first day back in Term 2.

What: Staff Development Day/Pupil Free Day

When: Friday 13th April

Students return: Monday 30th April

Life Skills The Life Skills Group program, Healthy Skills for Life Unit 1 has commenced! The students and teachers could not be more excited! The program is a curriculum based Health and Physical Education and Social Emotional Learning program. Each week Life Skills teachers facilitate classes aligning lifelong value based skills, fundamental movements, and positive psychology through various games, breathing techniques, guided stories and relaxation. We are happy to be working with you, your child and the school community to support, inspire, and grow happy, healthy, and well-adjusted kids and families. Please follow the ‘Snippets Newsletter’ and practise the daily activities with your child. We’ve also included one or two ways to practise family self-care. We can assure you it will be fun and a great way to spend a few minutes extra with your child and family.

Excitement was felt throughout the room as students entered to participate in the first week of the Healthy Skills for Life program this week. Students learnt breathing exercises which help in calming the mind, building resilience and developing self-regulation. Students were able to practise specialised movements and skills in games and breath work that are especially designed to calm the nervous system, foster positive relationships and teach problem solving skills. By working in teams, all levels utilised various strategies to complete different tasks, all the while understanding that there was no winner or loser, but what mattered was how well the combination of players on the team worked together. By participating in physical activities

Term 1 – Week 3

designed to enhance fitness, students came out with a greater understanding of the impact regular participation can have on health and wellbeing. All students had fun, calmed their bodies, and learnt the value of respect through fun games and activities.

Parents/Carers : Ask your child to show you the mindfulness practice or breathing activity they learnt this week and how it could help them.

Family self-care tip : Make time for a game at least once a week. Try to be fully present while playing that game.

Clancy Raffle Winner

Last week’s Clancy raffle winner was Harry (1N). He has received a $2 voucher from the canteen. Well done Harry!

Money Envelopes

When making payments to the office parents and students should use the school payment envelopes provided by the office. This makes things much easier when teachers are processing payments. All payments and permission notes are to be given to the class teacher. Envelopes are available from the front office.

Working With Children Check

All parent helpers are now required by law to undertake the Working With Children Check. If you are planning on helping out around the school in any way, whether it be in the classroom, canteen, garden, etc you MUST have this check done. Please see Trish or Sue in the office for the details. I encourage you all to come in and help out in some way throughout the year. The check is simply a matter of filling out a form and completing the 100 point check. Students love seeing mum or dad helping around school and research shows the benefits to student outcomes when these types of links are made. We look forward to seeing you around the school in the future.

The Music Bus The Music Bus are taking new student enrolments for Term 1. The program is open for all students from K to 6. Running weekdays at School. The Music Bus have limited availability in Singing, Keyboard, Guitar, Drum and Ukulele and so it is advised to enrol as soon as possible. The Music Bus is a wonderful music program that many of our students are already enjoying – a brilliant and cost-effective way for students to get fun and specialist music lessons without parents having to travel all over the area after school. Cost of lessons is only $16 per week (Drums $18). If you’re interested in your child having music lessons through The Music Bus, check out their website at www.themusicbus.com.au or call 1300 168 742

Term 1 – Week 3

Water Fun Day On Tuesday we had a water play day at school. I enjoyed the sponge monkey game. By Leilani (1/2K) On Tuesday we had a water play day at school. The part I liked was the bowling. By Georgie (1/2K) On Tuesday we had a wate rplay day at school. I loved the sponge game. By Maeve (1/2K) On Tuesday we had a water play day at school. The monkey was really really really fun. By Elizabeth (1/2K)

There are more photos of the swimming carnival and water fun day on our Facebook page. Aaron Quinnell PRINCIPAL

Term 1 – Week 3

Art Attack entries at Morisset Agricultural Show Cooranbong Public School is proud of the creative contributions of the Art Attack students at this year’s Morisset Agricultural Show which took place on the weekend of 11th to 12th February this year. The work attracted many compliments and we are proud to have received some places and even a first Prize.

Ursula H. received a “Third Place” in the Under 10 Section and Keelie S. received a second place. Still in the under 10’s category, Mia B. received a first place and a prize. In the Under 17 Section, we had another second place which went to the work submitted by Jackson T. Other participants were: Keira H., Asec T., Lily M and Giselle G. One of our students was even made an offer to sell a work that has been submitted! Keira H. also submitted great photos in the Photography section as well as winning a first prize in colouring. Art Attack is on Mondays (3.00-5.00pm) this year and I am looking forward to sharing many happy and creative hours with our school’s students in preparation for our Art Exhibition in Term 4 this year. During the first semester Year 3 to 6 students are invited to take part in Art Attack. Year 2 students are invited to join the classes in term 3 of the year. Mrs. Therésa le Roux

Great news!! Our canteen is able to open 4 days a week. Opening days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Thank you to our new volunteers. We are still in need of help so if you are able to help please contact the school office. We would eventually like to be open every single day! Paula, Canteen Co-ordinator

Term 1 – Week 3

Overdue notices have been sent out this week. If these books could please be returned promptly it would be much appreciated, as we are conducting a library stocktake next week. If there are issues with any resources listed on the overdue notices, for example if the books have been lost or already returned, please see me or write a note on the bottom of the notice explaining the situation and return the notice to the library. Library Borrowing We are strongly encouraging students to borrow from our school library every week, as it is important for children to enjoy reading and to read regularly. When students borrow, each week they will receive a Dojo point. These points will help me to keep track of borrowing frequency, and students who borrow regularly will receive a library merit award at the end of the term. Library Monitors I am overjoyed with the amount of Library Monitor applications that I have received this week. The library monitor positions are still open for open for students in Years 4-6 to apply, as we can never have enough helpers. Students who would like more responsibility at school, who enjoy helping teachers and younger students and who like being in the library are encouraged to apply. The jobs of a library monitor include running and co-ordinating activities for students to participate in at lunchtime, helping to set out and pack up computers and assisting the teacher librarian to re-shelve books. If you are interested in becoming a library monitor, please see Mrs Gibson in the library to collect an application form. Those students who apply by Monday 19th February will receive training next week during second half lunch. I am very excited to begin working closely with our reliable and responsible senior students. Happy reading, Mrs Candice Gibson

On behalf of the whole school community I would like to extend a very big thank you to Paula and the canteen volunteers. We now have the canteen open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday every week! This all takes a combined effort from everyone to happen and I’m sure there are a lot of students and families who appreciate this very much. So thanks again to all you wonderful people! I would also like to thank all those who attended our first P&C meeting for the year. Last night we voted in a Secretary and President. We would like to welcome Jessica Guy as our Secretary and myself as President. We have quite a few fun and exciting things planned for Term 1 from Easter and Mother’s Day celebrations to Sausage Sizzles and maybe even a Chocolate Fundraiser. So stay tuned, read the newsletter, get the School Stream App on your phone so we can all keep up to date. There will be more information coming about these events soon and there will be notes coming home. Again thanks to everyone for your efforts and attendance so far. Without you and your help a lot of these events would not happen and with growing numbers and increasing participation, the future of our school looks brighter every day! Steve Ward P&C PRESIDENT

Term 1 – Week 3