Monday 15th September 2014 Dear parents and carers,

As this is the last newsletter for term 3 I thought you would like to know about some things that have been happening behind the scenes. Although out garden expert, Megan Halcroft has taken up other work her legacy lives on, with students now working on the next stage of the garden, our bush tucker and Aboriginal heritage sections. We now have a dry creek bed, some native flowering and bush tucker garden areas have been started, the native bee area is now well-defined and the cultural walk is also ready. Once these areas are established we will work on the Pacific Islander vegetable garden and cultural area. The Library is finally open, after the devastating flood. We have purchased replacement books, with more orders on the way. Our Library roof will be replaced soon, and stormwater drains will be flushed out in the holidays, so hopefully we won’t be flooded again. If you are looking for something special to do in the holidays the University of Western Sydney is offering two free workshops for 9-12 year olds. Please see the advertisements at the end of this newsletter for more information. As this is the last newsletter for term 3 we will soon take a well-earned two week break. For those of you who are travelling in the holidays I wish you a safe journey and for everyone else, I hope the weather is warm and you find time to relax and regenerate before the start of the busiest term of the year.

Mrs Lock Principal

WHALAN PUBLIC SCHOOL Karangi Road, Whalan N.S.W 2770

Telephone: 02 9625 9437 02 9625 9038 Facsimile Number: 02 9832 2452

www.whalan-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Our school is built on Darug land

A Message from Mrs Polios

We’re in the final week of term 3 and are looking forward to awarding our first lot of Whalan Medals at this Wednesday’s whole school assembly.

We’ve had a fabulous term with a number of highlights including:

A very successful K- 6 athletics carnival. A fabulous presentation of ‘Living Books’ in Book Week. A hugely successful Community Day. An impressive art show. The publication of stage 3’s Poetry Anthology.

At the moment, our stage 3 students are busy planning their mini fete which will be held early next term on Wednesday 22nd October.

Thank you everyone for a fantastic term. Another great term begins for teachers AND students on Tuesday 7th October (after the Labour Day long weekend).

2014 YEAR 6 GRADUATION & FAREWELL will be held on Monday 15th December

NAPLAN results

Our Years 3 and 5 students brought home their NAPLAN results last week. After receiving the results, if you need to discuss your child’s performance in these external assessments please contact Mrs Lock.

Lunch with Mrs Lock

Invitations have gone home today to all children who have had no whole day absences this term and less than 5 partial absences.

‘Lunch with Mrs Lock’ will be held this Friday 19th September.

KINDERGARTEN 2015 ORIENTATION DATES

If you have a child at home who has already turned 5 or will turn 5 by the 31st July 2015, please let us know and come up to the office to get an enrolment form.

Our Kindergarten 2015 Orientation program will begin soon and we would like you and your child to be a part of it.

Dates for Kindergarten 2015 Orientation program:

Monday 20th October starting at 9.30 – 10.30am Monday 27th October starting at 9.30 – 10.30am

Friday 21st November 2.00 – 3.00pm

If your friends or neighbours have a child who is ready to start school next year, let them know that we are enrolling now and they can come and get an enrolment form from the office.

POETRY ANTHOLOGY

Stage 3 Poetry Anthologies feature poems and illustrations from our stage 3 students. They are available from the school office at the bargain price of $5.00.

Mrs Polios Deputy Principal

SCHOOL PHOTOS

Our school photos will be taken next term on Thursday 23rd October and Tuesday 28th October. Prepaid envelopes for photo orders will be sent home on the first day back to school next term. The flyer below will give you an idea of the packages that families can pre order. This year, families can choose to order and pay online.

Parents and carers want the best for their children – a good education can be life changing!

Week 8 ‘Best attending’ class results

Congratulations 2C and 3/4P!

Week 9 ‘Best attending’ class results K-2 results 3-6 results

2C 92% 2/3P 93% 2M 89% 5/6N 93% 1S 89% 3-6L 92% K-6K 88% 3/4P 88% 1K 84% K-6M 87% KR 81% 5/6K 86% KH 71% 3/4K 83% 3-6D 81% 5/6C 80%

Congratulations 2C, 2/3P and 5/6N!

K-2 results 3-6 results 2C 91% 3/4P 93% KH 89% 5/6K 91% 1S 85% 2/3P 90% K-6K 84% 3/4K 90% 2M 83% 5/6N 89% 1K 77% 5/6C 86% KR 64% 3-6D 81% K-6M 78% 3-6L 72%

The most important thing parents and carers can do to help their

child get a good education, is get them to school every day!

What does our school attendance look like now?

The bar represents 100%. The shading represents what our school percentage for attendance is now, after 140 days of school (90%)

Girls percentage = 90% Boys percentage =89.5%

Kindergarten = 86.4% Year 3 = 91.9%

Year 1 = 89% Year 4 = 95.7%

Year 2 = 91.2% Year 5 = 92.3%

Year 6 = 92.1%

How can we get our attendance back up to the mid 90s?

As the number of school days increases, if the number of absences decreases we will raise our school attendance again.

COMING EVENTS September

Week 10 No assemblies this week – there will be a whole school assembly on Wednesday 17th September

Tuesday 16th After School Sport (Stage 2) – final session (Please note – ASS finishes at 4.15pm) Wednesday 17th Whole School Assembly under K-2 cola – 9.15am Thursday 18th School Disco

Preschool - Year 2 3.30-4.45pm Years 3 – 6 4.45-6.00pm

Friday 19th Lunch with Mrs Lock After School Sport (Stage 3) – final session (Please note – ASS finishes at 4.15pm) Last day of term 3

Week 1 Term 4 October

Monday 6th Public Holiday

Tuesday 7th Students return to school for Term 4

Friday 10th PSSA summer competition continues

Week 2

Monday 13th 3-6 assembly

Tuesday 14th P&C meeting in Connected Classroom - 9.30am

Wednesday 15th Junior Camp K-2 assembly

Thursday 16th Junior Camp

‘WHALAN ON CANVAS’ ART SHOW Huge congratulations to the following students for their artworks, and for taking out the following awards:

Community choice award - Caitlin Mitchell and Kaleb Watkins Students’ choice award - Kaylin Sione and Kiara Rogers Teachers’ choice award - Catherine Griffiths and

Sheehan Hossain

Congratulations also to 3-6L for their work entitled "My Fair Lady" which was a winning entry in Operation Art.

This artwork will hang in the Royal Commission office for 12 months before being gifted to a regional hospital.

My Fair Lady By 3-6L

Our school is committed to excellence, equity and humanity. We have talented and innovative teachers and support staff who care about educating and engaging students in quality learning programs.

For further information, go towww.whalanp.schools.nsw.edu.au

Karangi Road, Whalan

Phone: 9625 9437

Whalan Public School

Enrol now for Kindergarten 2015

School Disco Don’t forget that this Thursday afternoon is our School Disco. Preschool - Year 2 3.30-4.45pm Years 3 – 6 4.45-6.00pm Cost is $3.00 and it includes entry, a snack and a drink.

See you there!

Is your bub turning 4 next year?

Call in to Whalan Public School Preschool for an enrolment form or call 9625 9437 today!

Whalan Public School Preschool Corner of Karangi Rd and Bulolo Drive, Whalan

Exciting preschool experiences with friendly and caring staff. Please come in to see for yourself!

School Leaders’

Spot

Congratulations to the following students who have earned 5 Connected Certificates and are halfway to a Whalan Medal. They are also eligible for a prize:

KR: Ayden Mahara

1K: Lara Hillebrand; Logan Mason; Tarneka-Lee Gough; Jarvis Isa’ako; Alexis Abra; Reece Lee; Natasha Cauchi; Kai Rule; Tyrell Ropati

1S: Sasha Wellfare; Kayla Mitchell; Annabelle-Lea Buttriss; Jahvahn Petersen; Leonidas Noonan; Rhiannon Reid; Logan Dartnell

3/4K: Malia Vatikani

3-6L: Thomas Fragomeli; Damian Cauchi; Jayden Appleby

3-6D: Jake Turner

K-6K: Mark Turner

When students receive 10 Connected Certificates, they are eligible for a medal.

At that time, they will complete their Whalan Medal goals form (with signatures from all of the teachers that work with the student).

The completed form and the 10 Connected Certificates are given to the Principal for approval. Upon approval, the student is awarded the Whalan Medal at one of our fortnightly assemblies.

You’ve earned a Whalan Medal! Aleyah Fekitoa

Georgia Davis

Daniel Nisa-Blake

Jesse Kruse

Kai Rule

Isabelle Davison

Reece Lee

All students who earn a Whalan Medal this term, will receive their medal at our whole school assembly this

Wednesday 17th September 2014 Starting at 9.15am Under the K-2 cola

(Students who earn their medal after Friday 12th September will receive their medals at our fortnightly assemblies next term)

Are you 9-12 years old…?

When: Friday, 26th September Time: 9am – 3pm

Where: Penrith (Werrington South) Campus

Cost: FREE!

Morning tea & lunch will be provided

RSVP by 19 September, 2014 to: www.uws.edu.au/schoolholidayworkshops

For more information please contact:

Widening Participation (02) 9678 7603

Are you 9-12 years old…?

When: Wednesday, 24th September Time: 9am – 3pm

Where: Penrith (Kingswood) Campus

Cost: FREE!

Morning tea & lunch will be provided

RSVP by 17 September, 2014 to:

www.uws.edu.au/schoolholidayworkshops For more information please contact:

Widening Participation (02) 9678 7603