Dear Parents,

This week marks my last week at Kororo Public School for quite a while. At the present time, I anticipate being on

leave until the end of Term 2. I will be returning then for a couple of weeks to pack up my office, say my farewells

and leave KPS for a life of retirement. I hope over the next term and a half to pop back into school regularly to

keep in touch with everyone. During my leave, Mrs Smith will be stepping into the role of Principal and

Mrs Attwood will be taking up the Deputy Principal role for the remainder of Term 1 and into Term 2. Until my

retirement is formally submitted, I am unable to say how my position will be eventually filled. In the meantime,

you are in very capable hands and as information is forthcoming, we will let you know.

ESSENTIAL CONVERSATIONS

Midway through Term 1, our classroom teachers are providing the opportunity for parents to have a

parent - teacher meeting. During this Essential Conversation, teachers will be available to discuss how each child

has settled into their new class for the 2018 school year. It will be a time for two way information sharing and for

teachers and parents to discuss how we can best work together to support our students.

Our school has undertaken a new initiative, the Student and Parent Portal, to provide parents with the

opportunity to book interviews online. Each family was sent an individual letter yesterday that outlined the

instructions to access the Parent Portal to book your interview. This letter contained your unique access key

which will allow you to register on the portal and access the timetables associated with your child or children.

Each teacher has a scheduled time before school, during the day and after school for their class interviews. For

those parents who are unable to access the portal to make their interview time, an opportunity to return a paper

request will be available on the bottom of your letter.

The portal is open for bookings and will remain so until Friday 9th March. After this time, you

will need to contact the teacher directly or return the paper slip. Interviews will take place

across Week 7 of this term. From Monday 12th March through to Friday 16th March.

Should you have any problems accessing the Portal using your key, please contact the office and we will do our

best to assist or pass your information along to your child’s teacher. We encourage all parents to take advantage

of the opportunity to get together with your 2018 class teacher and open up a dialogue of support for your

child.

Look forward to hearing how you have enjoyed the new booking system,

Sue Mackay

Principal

Week 5 Term 1, 28th February 2018

Kororo Public School

Important Dates

Thursday, 1st March

Parent/Police Cyber Safety Talk 5.30pm - 6LS classroom

Friday, 2nd March

4CA Assembly at 2.30pm

Wednesday, 7th March

NC Swimming at Murwillumbah

Monday, 12th March

Commonwealth Games Day - all Students

Monday 12th - Friday 16th

Essential Conversations Week

DEPUTY’S REPORT by Leonie Smith

Our school is taking part in ICAS in 2018. This assessment can help benchmark, track and monitor learning progress. It can help identify the true capabilities of students so that we can work together to help your child to reach their full potential.

Closing Date 16th MARCH 2018. No payment will be accepted after this date under any circumstances

About ICAS ICAS is an independent, skills-based assessment program which recognises and rewards student achievement. ICAS is unique, being the most comprehensive generally available suite of academic assessments for primary and secondary school students. The assessments comprise eight Digital Technologies tests, eleven English tests, eleven Maths tests, eleven Science tests, six Spelling tests and ten Writing tests.

For more than 30 years, Educational Assessment Australia (EAA) has continuously improved and enhanced ICAS. Today, this experience means ICAS is a 21st century quality assessment that keeps pace with classroom learning.

UNIVERSITY OF NSW ASSESMENT

CHILD’S NAME …………………………………………………… CLASS ……………………

SUBJECT CLOSING DATE ASSESSMENT DATE COST TICK WHICH TEST

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES Fri 16th March Tues 8th May $9.00

SCIENCE Fri 16th March Tues 29th May $9.00

SPELLING Fri 16th March Wed 13th June $12.00

WRITING Fri 16th March Thurs 14th June $18.00

ENGLISH Fri 16th March Tues 31st July $9.00

MATHEMATICS Fri 16th March Tues 14th August $9.00

If your child is very competent in Science, Writing, English, Spelling, Mathematics or Digital Technologies this testing programme may interest you. ICAS is an independent skill-based assessment programme which recognises and rewards student achievement. It gives

high achieving students the opportunity to perform against their peers nationally. It is part of the University of NSW Assessment Program. The results can be used to help identify gifted and talented students who may need extension.

Easter Raffle –

Can you help? Our Easter raffle needs to get started. We would like to

ask all families to send in a contribution to the raffle –

some form of Easter egg, chocolate or Easter merchandise.

All donations can be left at the office. Each donation will

receive a lucky ticket in our raffle to be drawn at the

Easter Hat Parade on Thursday 29th

March at 9.30am

Raffle tickets will be distributed Week 7.

REMINDER - The Easter Hat Parade for K – 2 is on the

same day – GET THAT CREATIVE ENERGY FLOWING!

A NOTE FROM THE OFFICE

We are all still adjusting to the new year and classes. It is really important for you to have a conversation with your child to find out who their class teacher is and where their classroom is. As you can imagine with 655 students we do not know this information for every student off the top of our heads and would be most grateful if you could assist us by giving us their class when you ask us to pass on a message. Please try to avoid calling for a changed go home message after 2.55pm as we can not guarantee your child will receive the message.

It would be helpful if instead of phoning the school with a reminder of what your child needs to do of an afternoon, to place a note in their bag that they can check for themselves. You could also ask them to repeat the instructions you have given them that morning. If you ring on or after the last bell it is impossible to relay a message. We try to help as best we can but we need your help too.

Thanks from the Office Staff

https://eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/digital-technologieshttps://eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/englishhttps://eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/mathematicshttps://eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/sciencehttps://eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/spellinghttps://eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/subjects/writing

Starworkers KA Liam Y, Lilly M, Charlotte D.

KC Jazzy P, Tera H, Tyson K.

KM Archie E, Lily K, Milla S.

KR Paige H, Mahli P, Finn G.

K/1S Kitri C, Cameron D, Kye B.

1GS Ava G, Abel H, Krewe W, Chloe Z.

1LO Jackson H, Archie D, Sian M, Zoe C.

1SG Amber F, Bailey C, Hayden B, Molly E.

1SJ Erin G, Rose C, Grace U, Koda E.

2CB Griffin H, Jontee H, Olivia K, Marije CG

2LB Lincoln B, Khaleb M-N, Lola H, Louis T.

2LM Baylian T, Ty P, Taylah D, Kobyn P.

2NP Stephanie G, Harmony C, Seth W, Zoe T.

3CS Neveah S, Zac D, Gurjot C, Mexico C, Penelope G.

3HM Lily J, Kweller H, Zion P, Ashley H, Annabelle C.

3MW Dakodah D, Zac S, Cooper S, Isabella W, Sam O.

3VW Hayden C, Blake M, Bree L, Ebony B, TJ Rullis.

4CA Billy D, Milli F, Indy P, Tyson S, Flynn H.

4DH Annalise C, Tyler C, Reuben P, Noah T.

4TS Zach W, Wyatt B, Rachel L, Chanice C, Harry W.

4/5LF Indyanna M, Te mana R, Eddie M, Hannah D, William C.

5AF Stanley M, Oliver K, Cayden F, Beau G, Kora S.

5JS Mia B, Levi F, Sunny H, Kalynde S, Daniel W.

5/6JC Jacob P, Riley N, James D, Henry B, Charlie M,

Titan B.

6KG Maucello G, Georgia K, Chantell D, Flynn T, Tadhg Y.

6LS Joey K, Krystal E-F, Heath S, Oskar G, Evie R.

The Army Rugby League visited Kororo Public School On Wednesday 21st February players from Army Thunder Representative Rugby League team visited Kororo PS to talk to all students in Stage 2 & 3. They presented a fantastic slideshow that included videos about team work, nutrition and the benefits of playing Rugby League. They also talked about their role in the army and the opportunities to play many different sports at their units. Thanks to Anthony Donovan (NRL) for organising the visit and making all students (girls & boys) aware of the opportunities to play Rugby League in our local area and perhaps one day represent our Coffs Harbour district.

WELL DONE TO ALL OF OUR SWIMMERS COMPETING AT THE DISTRICT CARNIVAL

LAST WEEK

Junior Girls - 4th Place Junior Boys - 1st Place

Junior Boy District Champion Kororo School over all winners of the

District Carnival!

Congratulations to all our swimmers!

Good luck at the Mid North Coast

Carnival!

Get involved in the School Banking program.

Kororo Public School is excited to offer the Commonwealth Bank School Banking program to all students. School Banking is a fun, interactive and engaging way for young Australians to learn about money and develop good savings habits. Children who deposit money into their Youthsaver account through School Banking can earn exclusive School Banking rewards in recognition of their regular savings habits. The rewards available during 2018 are:

Twister Power Handball

Secret Scratch Pad

Sparkle Glitter Pens

Glow Light

Mighty Boom Handball

Heat Reactor Pencils

Slushie Maker Cup

Zoom Flying Disc

School Banking is also a great fundraiser for our school. Our school receives a Regular Savers Contribution of $5 for every 10 deposits processed per student as well as an Annual Contribution which is based on the number of students who made at least one School Banking deposit in the prior year. Getting involved in School Banking is easy! All you need to get involved in the School Banking program is a Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account. You can open an account for your child in one of two ways:

1. Online Visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking and click on the link to open a Youthsaver account. 2. In branch Visit a Commonwealth Bank branch with identification for yourself and your child, like a driver’s licence and birth certificate.

If your child has an existing Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account they can start banking straight away. They just need to bring their deposit in every week on School Banking day using their Dollarmites deposit wallet.

School Banking day is Friday. Each week children need to drop their School Banking wallet in the box outside the hall. Banking will be processed and the books returned at the end of the day. If you would like to know more about School Banking, please ask for a 2018 School Banking program information pack from the school office or visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking

NB: Our school has decided to no longer issue silver Dollarmites tokens each week with School Banking. The number of deposits made by students will be tracked by the School Banking Co-ordinators on the Commonwealth Bank School Banking Portal. The School Banking Co-ordinators will advise students when they have reached 10 deposits and can order a reward item. A Reward Redemption Day will be held at the end of each term with information on this included in the school newsletter closer to the date.

CANTEEN ROSTER FOR 2018

Once again we are hoping that with your assistance we will be able to operate the canteen 5 days a week.

This can only be done with your help.

The aim of our canteen is to provide a variety of nutritious food at a reasonable cost to our children. Our canteen is co-ordinated by Community OOSH Services and it relies on the help of volunteers to work in the canteen. The procedure for ordering lunch is – the children bring from home a paper bag with his/her name, class and lunch order written on it and, if possible, the correct money enclosed. This order is to be handed into the Canteen prior to the start of school. It will be delivered to the classroom as usual.

Below is a list of days and times that our canteen operates. If you would like to meet and make new friends this is an easy way to do so. The children love to see their Mum, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa at the Canteen. You can choose between weekly, monthly or once a term. Just tick the appropriate square and return it to the Canteen.

Any questions please contact Lynda Henry at the canteen on 6653 6201 in school hours.

Please return to the canteen by ASAP ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I would like to help….

Name …………………………………………….…. Phone Number ………………………………

Child’s Name ……………………………………… Class …………………

Monday All Day ( ) AM (9am – 11.30am) ( ) PM (11.00am – 2pm) ( )

Tuesday All Day ( ) AM (9am – 11.30am) ( ) PM (11.00am – 2pm) ( )

Wednesday All Day ( ) AM (9am – 11.30am) ( ) PM (11.00am – 2pm) ( )

Thursday All Day ( ) AM (9am – 11.30am) ( ) PM (11.00am – 2pm) ( )

Friday All Day ( ) AM (9am – 11.30am) ( ) PM (11.00am – 2pm) ( )

Once a week ( ) Monthly ( ) Term ( )

DESPERATELY