Laura Primary School East Terrace LAURA SA 5480

Telephone: 86632543/86632230

dl.0220.admin@schools.sa.edu.au Term 1, Week 7, 16th March, 2017 Newsletter No 5

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS NAPLAN TESTING All schools are involved in the NAPLAN testing regime early in Term 2. The dates are set Australia wide as Tuesday 9 May to Thursday 11 May. Students from Years 3, 5 and 7 will undergo the tests in aspects of Literacy and Numeracy across the 3 days. If you have children involved in the year levels please try to have them at school on those dates so that they can participate in the testing. In 2017 we will remain a ‘paper test’ school and will not be part of the ‘on line’ testing trial. If your child feels anxious about the test, please talk to their teacher so that we can ensure that they are supported. Parents are able to withdraw their child, after consultation with the school. This needs to be in writing, addressed to me before the day of the test. AMALGAMATION MATTERS

• The two working parties have now been formed. The Identity group will be chaired alternately by June Cowin (Laura Pre School) and Jayne Mainprize-Potter (Wirrabara Primary School). Members of this group will consist of parents, staff and students. The Education group will be chaired by Prue Hunter (Laura Primary School). This group comprises of the leaders of each school, teaching staff and support staff reps.

• A survey went home this week to all families in the communities affected by amalgamation. Please complete and have them returned to school by 24th March so that results can be collated and we can start forming working committees. The primary students and staff are completing the same survey so that we get everyone’s opinion.

• The tender has been advertised for the Lead Facilities Consultant (Architect). This process closes this term. The company that wins the contract then liaises with us to decide on facilities.

• We are currently gathering numbers of children that will use any of the programs that the amalgamated site will offer in the future. (Rural Care, OSHC, Pre School, Primary school). We are planning ahead until 2020. Please let us know of any families who may have small children or even starting a family! These numbers will influence not only the structure of classes and early learning programs, but potentially the facilities and their placement on site.

• The next meeting of the Project Control Group is on 30th March, 1:30-3pm at Wirrabara.

• Laura Primary School reps on this group are: Prue Hunter and Bianca Schultz.

MNSEC ATHLETICS Congratulations to Samuel Shepherdson, Lara Zanker and Lillie Shepherdson who have been selected in the Gladstone HS MNSEC Athletics team to compete next Tuesday at Jamestown Community School. George Klemm has been named as a reserve.

Dates to Remember

Week 8 Mon.20th March – Governing Council meeting 7.30pm Tues.21st March – Harmony Day Wed. 22nd March – School Photos (Corrected Date) Fri.24th March – Assembly Week 9 Sat.1st & Sun.2nd April – FOLK FAIR Week 10 Tues.4th April – Science Expo, 5pm -SAPSASA Football & Netball trials Thursday 6th April - Assembly Fri.7th April – Rocky River Sports Day, Laura Week 11 Tues.11th April – R.E. Easter Seminar Thurs.13th April – last day of term, early dismissal/short assembly Fri.14th April – Good Friday

Quelch ice block bars (Zooper Doopers) will be sold on TUESDAYS for 50 cents each. SRC students

will be rostered to sell them after students have

finished their lunch outside the multi-purpose

room.

principal news cont…. HARMONY DAY Next Tuesday, 21st March is Harmony Day. We are using this day to combine with the students from Wirrabara for a sports’ practice as we are merging for the team games on Sports Day. Wirrabara students will arrive at school before recess and have a tour of our site followed by recess. We will all then go over to the town oval to practise Sports Day events before we have lunch together. Students can wear something ORANGE on that day to highlight Harmony Day. STAFF TRAINING Staff attended a workshop last Friday to learn about a new assessment tool that we will trial for DECD this year. The tool helps us to moderate and assign grades to pieces of writing so that grades are consistent across the state. We are excited to be part of this trial as it will give us more tools to develop the writing expertise of our students. Other schools in our Upper Mid North Partnership are also involved so we will have opportunities to share our practise across schools. We are also involved in a research project into what are the best practices to improve results in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Initially this will involve Robyn Staker and the upper primary class. Robyn will attend a session on 29th March to meet and plan with other schools that feed into Gladstone High School as well as the Year 8/9 teachers form that school. BUSY TIMES Have a good fortnight. Prue

On Thursday March 9th Year 6/7 students competed in the Gladstone High School Athletics Day. Congratulations to Samuel Shepherdson who won the 6/7 boys trophy with 4 first places and 1 second place in his events. Lillie Shepherdson also did very well coming runner up in the girls 6/7 events. Samuel is pictured with our Education Director Dean Angus and his trophy!

SAPSASA NEWS Football and Netball trials will be held on Tuesday 4th April at Jamestown. Tom Winter, Cooper Nayda-Carter and Lara Zanker have been nominated to trial. Good luck to all students.

FORMS! FORMS! FORMS! Sorry you have been all inundated with forms, it is a very busy time. Just a friendly reminder of all that need to be returned thanks. Folk Fair BBQ roster RRSN Sports Day return for parent help on sports day and donations of food. Rocky River Schools Network (RRSN) Sports Day lunch orders OSHC (Out of School Hours Care) needs survey School Card forms Payment of school fees – if required, an instalment plan for payment of school fees can be negotiated, so please

contact Pauleen to organise this. Book Club orders Amalgamation Survey Family photograph envelopes are available from the front office. UNSW Competitions 2017 returns (years 3-7 only)

FOLK FAIR PARADE Students of Laura Primary School will be participating in the Opening Parade at the Laura Folk Fair on Saturday 1st April. The students are asked to ‘dress up’ in the theme of ‘Future Careers’ and assemble at the Caravan Park by 11.45am for a 12pm start. The students will then walk in the parade accompanied by staff. Once arriving at centre stage the students will sing the National Anthem with the Sing Australia Group. The students will then move to the back stage for a show of their costumes after which they will receive an ice cream voucher. Students have been talking about possible costume ideas in their classes which may be of help. If you have any questions please catch up with your child’s teacher. Many thanks,

Future Careers

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SOUTHERN FLINDERS NETBALL CLUB TRIALS: A to F Grade Senior Competition. Trials will be held on the following dates. Wednesday 8th March at Laura 6:30 p.m. start Sunday 19th March at Laura 10:00 am start Thursday 23rd March at Laura 6:30 p.m. start We ask if you could attend minimum of 2 trials or contact Kelly(04121898830) or Bern (0439864330)through Southern Flinders Netball Club Page. Squad Training Thursday 3oth March at Gladstone 6:30 p.m. start Thursday 6th April at Wirrabara Easter week Training to be confirmed. G and H grade Training will start on Thursday March 16th 5:30 p.m. at Laura. Other grades will be advertised at a later date.

Would you like to play SOCCER??? Rangers Soccer Club invites all new players and

existing players to our “Come & Try/ Registration Day”.

Tuesday 28th March. Gladstone High School Oval. 4pm – 5pm.

*For all school aged children. (U 6’s, U8’s, U/10’s, Primary & High School)

*Coaching positions also available. For more info- Contact Tracey Cunningham

P: 86622246/ 0428 314 596 E: conynghamcottage@bigpond.com