GORDON WEST BULLETIN V O L U M E 1 9 2 0 1 6 D E C E M B E R 1 2 0 1 6

Principal’s Report Ryde Road Pymble 2073 Telephone: 9498 4644 Fax: 9498 4436 Email: gordonwest-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.gordonwest-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Fri 2 December All band lessons finish Tues 6 December Speech Night Wed 7 December Commendation Awards Thurs 8 December Band returns all music and instruments Friday 9 December K-2 Xmas Concert Mon 12-Fri 16 Dec Year 6 Camp Thurs 15 December Picnic day Friday 16 December Last day of term

Dates to Remember

Congratulations to everyone involved in last Thursday morning’s Band Breakfast where “Friends of the Gordon West Band Program” were treated to an array of music from Concert Band 1, Concert Band 2, Training Band and the Jazz Band. The quality of the musicianship was a credit to all involved and was a fitting finale for Mrs Walmsley’s last Gordon West performance. Mrs Walmsley has superbly conducted our bands over the past 13 years for which we are truly grateful and there are many children from Gordon West who have Mrs Walmsley to thank for introducing them to the lifelong skill of playing a musical instrument. Ms Bella Harvey will now take over the Director’s role with assistance from Mr Cameron Harker who will conduct Training Band Blue and the Jazz Band. We look forward to the future with excitement and are all committed to working together to take our Band Program to even greater heights. A big thank you to Mrs Jane Baxter and Mrs Wendy Hawkins for organising such a scrumptious breakfast.

Congratulations to Lachlan Herbert on his wonderful performance at the National Athletics Titles held at Sydney Olympic Park recently. Although Western Australia didn’t participate because of the cost factors involved in travelling to Sydney, Lachlan is the National 10 Years boy champion in the 200 metres, the long jump, the medley and a combined event including 800 metres, 100 metres, long jump and shot put. In long jump Lachlan jumped 5.01 metres and if you care to measure this distance on your lounge room floor it will give you some idea of his wonderful achievement. Lachlan would like to thank his whole family (mum, dad, grandad and his two brothers) for their great support. Well done, Lachlan.

Thank you to those 258 families who responded to our School Song and Pledge Survey. A significant percentage of Gordon West parents have voted to maintain the status quo. Although a number of parents (51 votes or 24% of parents expressed some concerns with the wording of the current pledge) the majority of parents have voted in favour of retaining the current wording. Thank you to the Gordon West parents for responding to this survey. The organising committee will now examine the written responses in more detail and then report to the school community via the Bulletin. The Girls Winter Uniform survey closes tomorrow. At this point in time of the 160 responses received 62.3 % have voted in favour of maintaining the current uniform and 37.7 % have voted for change. Likewise the Uniform Committee comprising of staff and parent representatives will meet to discuss the survey results and then report to the school community via the Bulletin.

The Year 6 Farewell held on Tuesday evening was a resounding success. It never ceases to amaze me how beautifully the hall is decorated in the chosen theme for the occasion which for this year was “The Jungle.” In true Gordon West fashion everyone rose to the occasion and worked closely to ensure that the six graders would have a memorable night. An ex Gordon West student, Riley McTeigue provided the music for the evening so that the children could dance the night away or more correctly “bopped until they dropped.” Congratulations to the Year 5 organising committee and to all those people behind the scenes who contributed in so many ways. Nights such as these makes everyone feel good to be associated with our school community and on the drive home you often reflect on how lovely these evening are.

Acacia Tree Services recently conducted the Annual Tree Safety Audit which is reassuring given the number of trees that we have onsite. A tree was identified that had probably been struck by lightning and needed to be immediately removed with the area being cordoned off until the work was completed. The emphasis of the program is to ensure the safety of Gordon West children with particular attention to the high traffic areas which has necessitated in the removal or thinning of a number of trees. For every tree removed five additional trees are planted in areas away from high volume traffic areas. Although this sometimes very expensive program has to be funded entirely from school resources the safety of our children is paramount. We will continue to work towards making the playground as safe as possible but as you can appreciate even the healthiest of trees do randomly shed branches. We also have a playground safety policy where on certain days of high wind sections of the school are cordoned off.

Congratulations to the newly elected office bearers of the Gordon West Parents and Citizen’s Association. At the recent AGM outgoing members of the association were acknowledged and thanked by Mr James O’Keefe who was re elected unopposed as president of the Gordon West P and C. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all outgoing members of the P and C and to wish them all the best in their future endeavours. At Gordon West we are so fortunate to have such an active, supportive parent organisation albeit small in number. Given the high demands placed upon Sydney families Mr O’Keefe and the P and C are always looking for innovative ways to involve and inform the Gordon West parent community as to the organisation and operation of our school. SurveyMonkey has been an effective method of ascertaining parental opinion with 258 responses being received to a recent School Song/School Pledge survey. A committee with teachers and P and C representation has suggested a number of new initiatives to be implemented early in the new year. Ms Wenk, Miss Harper and Mrs Sheldon have analysed the last School Satisfaction Survey results and have identified areas to be targeted that will hopefully improve communication between the school and community.

Congratulations to Thomas FitzGerald and Izzy Brooker on being elected to the position of School Captains for 2017. Both Thomas and Izzy will be ably supported in the execution of their roles by Caitlin Blackburn, Sarah Hudson, Christopher Goh and Daniel Keith who were elected School Prefects for 2017.

In a closely contested election campaign the preselected candidates really gave their all and were very impressive indeed. The confidence and quality in which the election speeches were delivered was great. Congratulations to the successful candidates, commiserations to those who were preselected but eliminated in the ballot.

Given the high calibre of students attending Gordon West Public School it is a remarkable achievement to even reach pre selection.

Finally I would like to acknowledge the great job our current captains Nick and Ella, wonderfully supported by their prefect team, have done over the past year.

J Huckerby Principal

Term 1 2017 Tennis Coaching Enrolments are now being taken for before and a er school tennis lessons catering for beginners to advanced standards. Enquiries to Sco on 0414 554 612.

Holiday Tennis Clinics Two Holiday Tennis Clinics will be conducted at Gordon West Public School during the holidays: Clinic 1 December 19th‐23rd (Mon‐Fri) 9:30am– 2:30pm Clinic 2 January 16th‐18th (Mon‐Wed) 9:30am– 2:30pm Cost 3 days $140 Enquiries and bookings to Sco on 0414 554 612

STUDENT NEWS TOUCH FOOTBALL RESULTS

Junior Boys: semi final Gordon West vs Roseville won 1-0 final Gordon West vs Lindfield East drew 0-0 Gordon West declared winners as they were on top of the table Junior Girls: semi final Gordon West vs Beaumont Rd drew 0-0 final Gordon West vs Lindfield East lost 0-2 Senior Girls: semi final Gordon West vs Pymble lost 0-1 Playoff for finals Gordon West vs Chatswood won 1-0 Finished 3rd overall Senior Boys: Gordon West vs Pymble won 1-0 and finished 7th overall.

Junior Boys Touch Team Junior Girls Touch Team

30/11/2016

KH Zara F, Cindy H, Lucas S KP Soufian M, Selena Q, Leila Z KS Talahasee V, Isabella C, Lachie P KZ Vivian Z, Shan L, Elizabeth C 1A Jack F, Lilly O, Luka S 1F Austen Z, Talin S, Joy H 1W Jasmine C, Macayla W, Chen R 1/2S Daniel D, Zoe S, Eleanor K 2D Skye W, Amelia H, Leo S 2K Cailin N, Summer M, Jack P 2Z Vivian C, Charles H, Sam M 2/3E Leona L, Alisa L, Connor S 3A Lucas C, Kate W, Bryce P 3H Rohan N, Ava L, Glori L 3/4M Aryan B, Max T, Aarya V 4F Elise A, Shawn C, Tayah A 4R Ollie R, Ava L, Josh C 4/5T Alyssa R, Alex C, Lily P 5D Jimin K, Amber D, Tom V 5/6W Scarlett A, Ella M, Adele K 6R Alex T, Alicia T, Jaimee A 6S James C, Kieran K, Clare K