EPPING PUBLIC SCHOOL Opportunity, Excellence, Success

Norfolk Road, Epping NSW 2121 Phone: 9876 1452 Fax: 9876 6873

Email: epping-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.epping-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

P & C Meeting: Second Tuesday of Each Month at 6.30 pm

Harmonious And Caring School Community

NEWSLETTER Monday, 13 February, 2012 Welcome to Week 4, Term 1

LEADERSHIP CAMP Last Wednesday the School Captains and Vice Captains attended the Leadership Camp 2012 at Vision Valley. Here are some excerpts from their experience:

We learnt many skills that are needed to be a great leader such as organising events, communication skills and working as a team player as well as a leader. An activity that really stood out to me; Circle Time Witch was when we got in a circle and did chants and songs. We had a professional Public Speaker come and talk about how to talk and how to speak well. In all I thought I learnt heaps and had so much fun. By Kayley I thought Leadership Camp was great. We got to relate to other leaders. Another good thing was that we learned so much about working as a team and not by ourselves. So in the end we all really enjoyed leadership camp. By Ben When we arrived we got into our groups, Ben and I were in the Lemons group whilst Kayley and Thishan were in the Kiwi Fruit group. On the second day we had activities such as organising events, communication, and team work. An amazing thing was when a man who had vision of 6% performed on the guitar for us. Being on a camp like this was amazing. Being a good leader is just as important as being a good team player. By Jemima At Leadership Camp we learnt some leadership skills such as organising an event, taking on a leadership role and working well in a group. There was a lot of singing and dancing but overall we learnt a lot from this experience and we had a lot of fun. By Thishan

COMING EVENTS Tuesday 14 February Beginner Conversation English Class

Wednesday 15 February Parent Information Night

Friday 17 February Leadership Induction 9.45 am Welcome BBQ from 6pm

Tuesday 21 February Beginner Conversation English Class

Thursday 23 February School Photos

Friday 2 March School Disco

ASSEMBLY Assembly is held in the hall on Wednesdays at 2pm. Please note: there will not be an assembly held this week.

2012 Captains & Vice Captains

Harmonious And Caring School Community

STAFFING 2012 Following the interview process conducted last week I am pleased to announce that Ms McGill has been offered and accepted a position at Epping Public School. Ms McGill will take up the position on Year 5 next Monday 20 February. However she will be at the Parent Information Evening this week to introduce herself. Staffing is currently working on a permanent teacher for Year 1. I am hoping to advise the school community of the outcome in next week’s newsletter. The delivery of the new demountable buildings is dependent upon fine weather as a 13 tonne crane is used and the ground needs to be dry.

PARENT INFORMATION EVENING We will hold our Parent Information Evening this Wednesday 15 February. This will follow a similar format to previous years. There will be a meeting for parents from Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) and Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2); Stage 2 (Year 3 and 4) and then Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6). For each session the initial meeting will be in the School Hall. During this time the stage supervisor will give a short outline of stage procedures. Parents will move to individual classrooms for a brief session with the class teacher. The meeting times will be as follows: Early Stage 1 & Stage 1 (Kindergarten Yrs 1 and 2) 4:45pm – 5:30pm Stage 2 (Yrs 3 and 4) 5:40pm – 6:25pm Stage 3 (Yrs 5 and 6) 6:30pm – 7:15pm Please remember that this is not an interview time and it would be unfair for one parent to monopolise the session. If you need time to discuss an issue with the teacher please do so through the normal channels. N.B. The P&C will serve light refreshments and coffee in the library from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

LEADERS’ INDUCTION ASSEMBLY On Friday we will be holding our Leaders’ Induction Assembly where badges will be

presented to our student leaders. This year we are very fortunate to have Mrs Helen Pinto as a special guest. Mrs Pinto is head of the Christian Community Aid. CCA provides services to people who are elderly and frail aged, or financially disadvantaged, or socially isolated. Heather Pinto is the General Manager at CCA. Heather has a BA (Econ.) degree and has completed a Bachelor of Community Welfare degree at UWS. She has worked in the economic and financial sector in the Sub Continent and in the World Bank in Africa prior to her move to Australia over twenty years ago.

SCHOOL PHOTOS Our school photos have been organised for Thursday 23 February. Information Packages will be sent home in the next few days.

INFORMATION NOTES This week you will receive notes requesting information or permission about publishing photos, contact details, walking in the local area, scripture and internet use. Please complete these notes and return to the class teacher. If you have any concerns about any of these notes please contact the school. In particular ensure your contact details are correct and if not, include the correct information. On a number of occasions we have been unable to contact parents because the contact details are incorrect.

SRC This week classes in Yrs 2 – 6 will elect representatives for the Student Representative Council (SRC). This is an important part of our school. Many students enjoy the honour of being elected to the SRC but do not understand that with it comes the responsibility of attending meetings. These meetings are held during lunchtime. I have taken the decision that any student who fails to attend a meeting without a reasonable excuse will forfeit their badge and a new class representative will be elected.

Opportunities for All

PARKING IN BUS ZONE Throughout the past two weeks I have had to speak to a number of parents who are parking in the bus zone at the end of the school day. The bus zone is in effect from 8:45am – 9:30am before school and 2:45pm - 3:45pm after school. This action makes it very difficult and sometimes impossible for the bus to park. This in turn puts at risk our students who catch the bus. I ask for your support in this matter, but also warn that I have contacted the local police to come and monitor the situation.

BEGINNER CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH CLASSES Our ESL team has organised a Beginner Conversational English Program throughout term 1. These classes will be held in our School Hall each Tuesday afternoon, commencing at 1:00pm. This is a fun way to improve your English and learn a bit about our school. I encourage you to come along. Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be served.

EBASCA

Please note that we have reached maximum capacity for after school care on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This means we have no vacancies for casual bookings on these days. If you require care on these days please contact us at the centre and we will add your child’s name to the EBASCA waiting list for that day. You will be contacted if a casual booking becomes available. If your child has a permanent booking at EBASCA please inform us of any absences as soon as possible. Your child’s absence allows for extra casual bookings for other families. B.Carroll (Centre Director) 9868 2201

The National Year of Reading will be officially launched on Tuesday 14th February.

This program is about children learning to read and keen readers finding new sources of inspiration. It's about supporting reading initiatives while respecting the oral tradition of storytelling. It's about helping people discover and rediscover the magic of books. And most of all, it's about Australians becoming a nation of readers.

Nearly half our population can't read with any fluency. It's a shameful and worrying statistic. Three goals have been identified which will help turn Australia into a nation of readers and encourage a reading culture in every home:

For all Australians to understand the benefits of reading as a life skill and a catalyst for well-being;

To promote a reading culture in every home; and

To establish an aspirational goal for families, parents and caregivers sharing books with their children every day.

This year will see a whole heap of amazing, fun, reading activities taking place around Australia and online, so people of all ages, from different backgrounds, can discover and rediscover the joy of reading.

Published, with amendments, by permission of the National Library of

Australia, January, 2012.

Mrs Lyn Campbell Teacher-Librarian.

Harmonious And Caring School Community

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Community News and accompanying advertising are a community service only and not endorsed by Epping Public School or its staff. Further information regarding these services may be found on the noticeboard on the front of the school building.

Opportunities for All

Opportunities for All

Monday 6 February 2012

Opportunities for All

P&C CALENDAR - TERM 1

Tuesday 14th February – P&C Meeting, 6:30pm

Friday 17th February – Welcome BBQ, 6pm

Friday 2nd March – Hey DJ School Disco

P&C Meeting 14 Feb – AGENDA

1. Welcome & Apologies 2. Minutes 3. Matters Arising 4. Correspondence 5. Reports

· Treasurer · Fundraising · Grounds · Canteen · Uniform · Band · Social · Sport · Grants · Principal

6. General Business · Welcome BBQ

Welcome BBQ 2012 Friday 17th March

from 6:00pm in the school grounds

FREE Sausage Sizzle & Vegetarian Curry (Pav Bhaji) Drinks & snacks can be purchased from the Canteen

*** Epping Public School Concert Band performance @ 6:30pm ***

Can you help with BBQ/Canteen/Setup/Cleanup? Contact Katrina Collins: ckcollins@optusnet.com.au. If you can help with the curry contact Sonali Munot: sonalimunot@hotmail.com or 0439 712 677 FRENCH SUPERVISION

DAY DATE SUPERVISION (Parent of)

Week 4

WED 15 Feb Senara Perera

FRI 17 Feb Grace Zhao

BAND ROSTER SUPERVISION TERM 1

DAY DATE

Week 4

THU 16 Feb Charlotte Hendro

Week 5

THU 23 Feb Fareez Kasad

EPS CONCERT BAND FIRST PERFORMANCE FOR 2012, is this Friday night at the P and C Welcome BBQ. Please wear full school summer uniform (pony tails for the girls and no obvious hair accessories please). Meet me outside the CAPA room by 6pm to set up and warm up for the 6.30pm performance. Thank you to all the parents who have replied to my email and note. Could the parent's of the 10 children who haven't replied, please do so. So I know whom to expect. Thanks, Suzanne – suzannesz@optusnet.com.au HEY DJ SCHOOL DISCO – FRIDAY 2ND MARCH

Lets kick off 2012 with a BANG! The first and only disco for the year is just a few weeks away! Please see the attached flyer and order form. Fingerlights, sushi & sausage sizzle can be pre-ordered. Fingerlights and sausage sizzle can also be purchased on the night. Sushi however must be pre-ordered to ensure you don’t miss out. As usual, we will need many parent helpers on the night to ensure the event runs smoothly. If you can help, please provide your details on the order form. In the meantime, we are looking for one parent to help us organise the event. The role primarily involves collating order forms. If you are interested, please contact:

Jacqui Pitcher: 0409325424 or jacqui.pitcher@optusnet.com.au

Marissa Kelly: 0408088449 or marissakelly@bigpond.com

Newsflash – the canteen menu is changing! We plan to relaunch later this year. A big focus will be on healthy menu items. Meanwhile, we will be talking with parents, kids and teachers to canvas opinions and to build the canteen’s support for the school.

Opportunities for All

CANTEEN NEWS

SUSHI is available for WEDNESDAY lunch orders. It must be pre-ordered either MONDAY at the canteen, or place your order in the Canteen Letterbox (located through the blue door near the school office) before TUESDAY 3:20pm. Choose from Teriyaki Chicken / Teriyaki Beef & Lettuce / Tuna & Lettuce / Avocado & Cucumber. Sushi cost $3.00 per roll

Canteen Days & Lunch Order Days – Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Current Canteen Menu - available outside the School Office or on the school’s website.

Lunch Orders – please write student name, class and food required on a paper bag with correct money (if possible). Drinks require a separate bag. Please hand lunch orders direct to the canteen before 9:20am on Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Volunteers should all have received the Term 1 roster. For further information please contact Sue, 0422 603 226 CANTEEN ROSTER

DAY DATE

Week 4 WED 15 Feb Ros A, Deepali S, Deepthi N, Marissa K FRI 17 Feb Karen G, Suzanne S, Bronwyn R, Jacqui P.

Week 5 MON 20 Feb Sonali M, Sue B

New Canteen Volunteers required! We’d love you to join the Team. Please see separate note.

Minutes of

Epping Public School P&C Meeting

Tuesday 13th December 2011 6M Class Room

Meeting commenced at 6.40pm pm, chaired by J. Pitcher Attendees: T Drego, J Pitcher, J Bailey, J Ford, A&R Kahawita, K Steele, B Rosada, J Barnett, M Kelly, S Szecsodi, P&K Goldsmith, P van Oppen, L Rebic Apologies: D Darley, S McLean, A Fraser 2011 Targets At the beginning of 2011 the P&C spending priorities were:

Purchase a new BBQ

Air condition the canteen

Trestle tables for the hall

Hall Video Projector

3 x Smartboards

Cricket Net renovation

Stage Lighting All of these targets were met. Minutes of Previous Meeting The Minutes of the previous meeting of 9th November 2011 were accepted as a true and correct record. Moved: B. Rosada. 2nd K. Steele. Carried. Matters Arising from Minutes Sinks – Josh to investigate plumber Stainless Steel bench – Epping Boys HS redesigning their canteen. Still interested, probably early 2012. Mrs. Bailey needs help planting 2nd garden bed Correspondence Various bank statements Year 6 thank you from Kerrie Todd-Smith Reports Treasurer – Apsara Kahawita $5,000 P&C $8,000 Uniform $2,700 Building Fund $4,500 Canteen Kathy Steele to hand over all statements, cheque books after last day of trade for 2011 for reconciliation. Fundraising – Marissa Kelly Gingerbread workshop - $405 profit $7,000 raised this year with Discos, Movie Nights, Father’s Day BBQ, Mother’s Day stall, State of Origin and Melbourne Cup. Grounds – Paul Goldsmith Working Bee 4/12 – replanted plants from back of hall to front garden. Will do cricket run up over Xmas Holidays, delayed due to rain. JF to give PG a key. Creek Area is becoming overgrown again sabotaging 12 months of work by the Grounds Committee. Whilst the Grounds Committee is prepared to work around the school the Dept of Education should take some responsibility. Canteen – Kathy Steele Red Day – 25th Nov – $400 profit

Opportunities for All

To maintain correct accounting, each time Fundraising (or others) use canteen stock, the money is to be refunded to the canteen and not declared as part of the profit margin. Uniform – Tanya Drego Uniform Shop doing well. Sue Bailey has offered to help Tanya next year – thanks Sue! Tanya showed 2 sample blazers, which she will try on the students. Motion: That the P&C purchase 8 blazers at $160 each for use by the Leaders and Debaters as required. Moved: K. Steele 2nd: M. Kelly K. Steele suggested that the Uniform Co-ordinator be a paid position – to be discussed in 2012. Band – Suzanne Szecsodi New committee members: Jane Barnett, Esther van Oppen, Katrina Collins, Alan Shao. Sincere thanks to Julie Farquhar, Catherine Collins and Bronwyn Reed for their outstanding work on the committee. 34 instruments to be repaired over holidays 19 in Training Band and 55 in Band. Social – Cynthia Ravinthran, Katrina Collins No report Sport – Sarah McLean No report Grants We received $5,000 from the Bendigo Bank for the lighting in the hall. Fantastic! Well done Jane and Deb. Principal – J. Ford

Year 6 students made it to Match It TV final, on air in Jan. Each student received $20 voucher, school $250.

Mind Marathon – team finished 8th. Excellent effort.

Chess Tournament

Stage 3 excursion to Sculptures by Sea

Stage 2 performed at Granny Smith

Musica Viva at school

Election of school leaders – new step of individual interview with candidates went well.

Captains: Jemima Collins & Ben Rosada. Vice Captains: Kayley Zelinski-Nicholson & Thishan Wanigasekera

Helper’s Morning Tea – 1st

December

Presentation Day 7th

December

Year 6 Farewell 9th December

Staff Lunch – thank you to Parent Catering Team for a wonderful lunch.

High School Orientations

Stage 2 – sang at the RSL and Senior Citizens group

Santa Visit – Dec 13

Last day – Friday 16 Dec – Stages 1&2 to see Puss ‘n Boots movie, Stage 3 – Pizza & water fight

2.45 pm – Farewell arch.

19/20 Dec – Teacher Development Days

Monday 30 Jan – first day back

Kindy – 2nd February Start

Swimming Carnival – Wednesday 1st

Feb

14 classes in 2012 (13 in 2011). 3 full kindys John gave a run down on the School’s Naplan results. Janette Bailey showcased all the new marketing material that is being worked on by the Marketing committee for 2012 launch. General Business 2012 Fete – Marissa Kelly SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2012 is the date!!! Checked everywhere and doesn’t clash with anything. There will be a mega raffle. What are we fundraising for? General consensus of the meeting was for new/refurbished play equipment with soft fall and a shade/fiberglass structure. Trestle Tables – TIP Turn on its back then legs fold down easily. ACTION: Josh/Jac to make stickers for every table. ACTION: Josh/PG to put new wheels on trolleys for easier maneuvering. Year 6 Farewell Ljubica Rebic presented her report and will give to Ms McKenzie for next year’s organisers. Students had a great time. Special meals for teachers were really appreciated. Suggestion for next year – check with other local schools and high school for their presentation dates to avoid clashes. Budget: approx. $1050 spent by P&C. Chinese & French classes Both will continue in 2012 During the holidays, Mrs. Bailey asked the P&C to help themselves to the vegetable garden (for a gold coin donation) and to water it at the same time. Being no further business the meeting closed at 8.15 pm Next meeting TUESDAY 14th February 2012 at 6.30pm

Opportunities for All

THE EPPING PUBLIC SCHOOL CANTEEN NEEDS YOUR HELP!!

Our Canteen currently operates Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Volunteers process lunch orders on these days, with the canteen opening and selling snacks, drinks and icy treats during lunchtime. Canteen Volunteers are essential to maintaining the smooth running of the canteen and ensuring delivery of the Canteen services to the students whilst raising funds for the P&C to be used to improve our children’s schooling experience. Volunteering is a rewarding experience and a great way to get to know other parents. Students love to see their special person serving in the canteen. No prior experience necessary, you will be guided through the preparation and serving routine by current team members. Volunteers need only help once a month, or on a casual basis. So, if you would like to be part of the regular canteen roster, or just a casual helper on MON, WED or FRI, please complete the form below and return to school as soon as possible. Sue Bailey O422 603 226 (Canteen Roster Co-ordinator) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…

Canteen Volunteer Form Please return this form to the CANTEEN LETTERBOX, behind the blue door, at the school office. Thank you.

Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………….

Phone (mobile if possible): ……………………………………………………………..

Email (to be used only for canteen communications):

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Childs name: ……………………………………………………………………………………

Childs class: …………………………………………………………………………………….

I agree/ do not agree to my contact details being listed for other volunteers to contact me. I can help in the Canteen once every 4 weeks (please circle) :

MON : 9AM-1PM WED : 9AM-1PM FRI : 9AM-1PM

Or Casual Mon/ Wed/ Fri (please circle one) I am unable to attend 9am - 1pm but could come for the following times: …………………… If there is someone who you would like to be rostered on with, please write their name here:

…………………………………………………………………………………………......................................................…….

Many thanks, we look forward to you joining the Canteen Team!

Opportunities for All

Opportunities for All