Important Information … MPS website: www.moree-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/

• Tuesday, 13th March - Kindergarten information session for parents – 5.00pm meet at the hall • ANZAC Day – Community service – please join MPS in marching on 25th April meeting at 9.30am outside Moree Secondary College

wearing summer uniform and MPS hat

1. CONSTRUCTION ZONE

Construction Work: To begin with a positive note - our leaking roof in the library block is going to be replaced. Work will begin next Monday and will take about four weeks. To ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors fencing will be erected around the building and the car park will be closed. Once work has commenced we will not have access to the building. The work will require that we make significant changes to how students access the courtyard and the canteen. Some library services and the QuickSmart program will be relocated to other areas and the infants assemblies will be held in the main auditorium. While we acknowledge that there will be some short-term inconvenience - already staff have committed many hours of additional work to ensure that educational programs can continue uninterrupted - the new roof will certainly improve our school facilities. We do also ask that parents support our efforts to ensure a safe and happy environment particularly with the following three issues: • Ensure your child does not arrive at school prior to 8.30am but most definitely in time for the 8.55am morning assembly. • As only one window of the canteen will be open, students will take a little longer to be served during peak periods - using the on-line ordering App will reduce the lines and make the process of ordering a little easier. The App is available at: www.flexischools.com.au. • Always attend the school office in the first instance throughout the day – collecting children for appointments, messages and lunches will be arranged by staff. Parent helpers are very much appreciated and we welcome assistance with a range of activities from reading groups through to sporting events. A note has been sent home with this newsletter to seek helpers and inform parents of the procedures for volunteering (WWCC). If you would like to assist, please read the note, complete the forms attached and return them to the office along with 100 points of ID.

Kindergarten information session will commence at 5:00pm this afternoon, Tuesday 13 March 2018 in the hall adjacent to the administration office. All kindergarten parents are invited and encouraged to attend. There will be a brief introduction in the hall, an afternoon tea followed by visits to your child’s class. Our Kindergarten students have been participating in lots of fun learning experiences so I encourage parents to come along and speak with your child’s teacher and learn about the home-reading program that is about to commence.

John Monie and Ally Duncan ( KF-10) enjoy the literacy lesson

P&C Annual General Meeting will be held next Monday 19 March commencing at 6:00pm in the hall near our administration office. As the P&C will elect a new executive for the year I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the current executive for their tireless work. They have made a fantastic contribution to the wellbeing of students and staff in our school and I also encourage new parents to come along, join the P&C and work with a small but welcoming group. School Development Days Moree Public School will not hold school development days on the last two days of Term 4 2018. The school will be closed on 20 and 21 December. In lieu of these days staff will complete additional professional learning activities after

Tuesday, 13th March 2018

hours to implement the school professional learning priorities including Language Literacy and Learning (L3), Targeting Early Numeracy (TEN), the new Learning Progressions and Digital Technologies in Focus. This model of professional learning will allow delivery of training in 2-3 hour blocks with follow-up in class guidance and support from experienced teachers to implement these new programs. SRC 2018 is now underway with the presentation of badges at the primary assembly last week for the class representatives – congratulations! The SRC is a group of students elected to represent all students in the school and who organise ways for students to participate in school life. SRCs work democratically to represent the student body in school decision-making. Students work together to improve school life and to contribute students' ideas. These students have taken on a big responsibility in representing their fellow students and we can be confident that they will do a tremendous job. The students are: 3B-21 Travis Munro, Aisha Moore; 3AP-22 Moses Humphries, Abbey Grantham; 3M-23 Layne Trotter, Meg Cooper; 3/4B-35 Jeremy Blatchford, Bella Singleton; 4R-24 Harry Guest, Emily McDonald; 4J-13 Mana Noble, Ava Urquhart; 4L-39 Mitchell Beddoes, Ella Lavery; 5M-15 Zac Bowerman, Georgina Quinlan; 5R-17 David Edwards, Samantha Collier; 5/6M-14 James Fitzgerald, Kailani Bartlett; 5/6B-19 Ziggy Henderson, Sienna Moore; 6E-16 Sunny Henderson, Millie Mitchell; 6W-18 Cooper Ireland, Chloe Nicholls; 3/6C-34 Elisie Politis; and PB-27 Casey Holman.

2018 - SRC

Regional swimming carnival congratulations are extended to the MPS students who travelled to Armidale to compete last Monday. Our students showed great enthusiasm, swam their best, represented our school very well, displayed exemplary behaviour and great team spirit. Well done boys and girls! Thank you to the parents who transported the children and to Mr Burgess who coordinated the squad and managed the team on the day. Congratulations to the boys and girls who now move on to the State Championships at Homebush. These people are Chloe Elbourne, Mitchell Beddoes and Ben DiDonna – we wish them well at the state carnival being held at the Olympic Centre Homebush on 11th and 12th April.

Regional tennis at Tamworth was also a great experience for two MPS students, Lauren Appleby and Georgina Quinlan. Lauren and Georgina joined a student from Boomi, a student from Pallamallawa and two from Gravesend to play as the Moree zone team. From this round robin tournament, Lauren was selected in the north west regional team to play in the state carnival at Albury early next term. Well done and thank you to Mrs Kaukiainen who attended as the Moree zone manager. On Time Ready to Learn - Punctuality is an important quality for all of us to have and it is something that children need to have modelled for them so that they can learn. In our lives we need to get to appointments on time, we need to get to work on time and children need to get to school on time. I grow increasingly concerned about the number of children arriving late to school. Children who arrive late to school miss valuable learning activities such as reading groups and the morning assembly when children are reminded of daily events including sport training. They also disrupt lessons as they come into the room late – greetings and roll marking are all necessary. I ask all parents to ensure their children arrive on time and ready to learn. Young Leaders Day Our student leaders recently travelled to Brisbane to participate in Young Leaders Day where they interact with other young leaders from around Australia. They enjoyed every minute of the experience, learning from and motivated by speakers including, The Voice winner Harrison Craig, children’s author Jack Heath, international women’s cricketer Holly Ferling and inspirational speaker John Coutis. While some of the leadership skills comes from natural talent most leadership skills are learned. It is pleasing that our student leaders take every opportunity to learn through the opportunities that the school provides. This year our school was represented by Marni Ryan, Wallace Foreman, Dusty Smith, Ellah Briggs, Eliza Warby, Ryan Macey, Sam Carter, Jemma Jackson and Christian Tantoy. Our thanks go to Miss Carlin and to the parents for making the journey to Brisbane. Personalised Learning Plans: At MPS we are committed to providing opportunities for students to excel and achieve the highest possible learning outcomes in all areas of schooling. We believe that all parties – teachers, students and parents – have a role to play. Together we can set goals for each child and work collaboratively towards achieving those goals. To support this concept, we are again working to develop Personalised Learning Plans (PLP) for all students. PLPs are an opportunity for all of us to work on the goals for your child and to put in place strategies to achieve these goals. Goals set are simple, achievable and written in plain English. They may cover a variety of areas such as reading, numeracy, school attendance and sport. A form for personalised Learning Plans will be sent home shortly. All parents are encouraged to complete the form and return it to their child’s teacher – a phone call to further discuss the goals and/or to arrange a meeting is most welcome.

Selective High School: Good luck to the students sitting the selective high school assessment this Thursday, in readiness for Year 7 in 2019.

Mr Adrian King

2. P&C ASSOCIATION • MEETING: The AGM meeting will be held on Monday, 19th March commencing at 6.00pm in the hall adjacent to the office. • UNIFORM SHOP: The uniform shop is kindly opened by volunteer co-ordinator, Mrs Deb Hardman and Ms Erin Livet each Wednesday and Friday morning between 8.30 and 9.30am. • CANTEEN: The 2018 menu will be confirmed in the near future to assist with your ordering procedure, either online or by dropping the order at the canteen upon arrival at school. • FUNDRAISING PROJECT: The very popular Easter raffle is currently being co-ordinated and tickets are attached to this week’s newsletter. The draw will be conducted at the K-2 Easter hat parade on Thursday 29th March.

Chloe Muggleton and Charlee Williams writing a sentence!

Olivia Tonkin and Jannarlie Smith are busy reading and writing!

3. COMING EVENTS – Term 1 Please check each week for possible variations on Skoolbag App or listen to local radio 2VM for the daily School News segment a little after 7.00am. Term 1 6 Mon 12 Tues 13 Zone cricket trials;

5.00pm Kinder parent information session Wed 14 PSSA trials: 11.20 B Hockey & G soccer; 1.00 G hockey & B soccer Thurs 15 Selective High Schools (Yr 7 2019) test Fri 16 Assemblies:10.30 2R-29;; 11.30 4J-13 Werris Creek PS Horse Sports at Quirindi 7 Mon 19 6.00pm P&C AGM; Tues 20 Wed 21 Winter trials: 11.20 open & U 11 Rugby league 1.00 Rugby union w/s + trials Thurs 22 Rugby Union – 7 a side Weebolla Grounds Fri 23 Assembly: 10.30 KK-11; 11.30 6E-16 Cricket: MPS v Gravesend (at Gravesend) 8 Mon 26 Nth’n soccer trials Tues 27 Wed 28 Moree regional hockey trials Thurs 29 K-2 Easter Hat parade and dancing display Fri 30 Easter - Good Friday 9 Mon 2 April Easter Monday Tues 3 Wed 4 Thurs 5 Final of PSSA regional soccer trials Fri 6 N’thn Rugby league trials Assemblies: 10.30 KH-9; 11.30 3AP-22 10 Mon 9 Tues 10 Wed 11 PSSA State swimming – Homebush Thurs 12 Fri 13 Assemblies: 10.30 2B-30; 11.30 6W-18 & 3/6C-34 Final day of Term 1 Holiday events:

Wed 25 ANZAC DAY – MPS students invited to represent at Moree Community Service (summer uniform) Fri 27 Moree Show Term 2 1 Mon 30 April Staff resume school Tues 1 May Kinder – Yr 6 students resume school; MPS ANZAC Service Wed 2 Thurs 3 Northern cricket trials Fri 4 Final Rugby League trials / MPS Fun Run 2 Mon 7 Gala trials: netball, touch football (G&B) Grip Leadership conference – Moree Tues 8 ICAS – Digital technology PSSA state tennis at Albury Wed 9

Thurs 10 Fri 11 Cool at School open day K-6

3 Mon 14 Tues 15 Wed 16 Thurs 17 Fri 18 Assemblies: 10.30 KM-8; 11.30 3B-21 & 3/6C-34 4 Mon 21 Tues 22 We 23 National Simultaneous Story Time Thurs 24 Fri 25 Assemblies: 10.30 2M-7 & 11.30 5/6B-19 5 Mon 28 Zone cross country – North Star Tues 29 ICAS – science Wed 30 Thurs 31 Fri 1 June Assemblies: 10.30 KF-10 & 11.30 3/4B-35

MPS Kitchen Garden Students in Year 4 are invited to apply to become a garden helper. Successful students will be a buddy for kinder students at lunchtime as well as water and care for the plants. Once the produce has grown they will be invited to attend after school cooking sessions (3:50- 5pm, approximately 1 or 2 sessions a term). Year 4 students were informed of the program last week (Thurs 8th) and are invited to obtain an application form from Mr Pirie or Mrs Fitzgerald. To be considered for a position, students need to return their completed forms (signed by parents) by Friday 16th March. Should you or your child require further information, please contact Mrs Fitzgerald via the school office.

Dates to remember!

• P&C AGM - Monday, 19th March 2018 commencing 6.00pm at the MPS hall (adjacent to school office). • 10.00am Thursday, 29th March - K-2 Easter Hat parade and dancing display

4. COMMUNITY EVENTS

The race is on! Thank you to all the parents, friends and supporters of The Coles Sports for Schools program.

Please place your vouchers in the collection bins which are located at Coles Moree and our school office.

We ask that your vouchers are retuned promptly in order to verify and begin the exciting process of ordering and receiving the new sporting equipment. Last day for vouchers in Coles stores will be

Tuesday 3rd April.

Thank you again

Playground activity - amazing work Muggleton Cranes!

Attention Parents

Infants Assemblies

New venue for remainder of Term 1

Auditorium 10.30am start

Gate at primary pickup (near school oval)

will open at 10.45am

Nineofourschoolleadersandyear6mediatorstravelledtoBrisbaneonFriday2ndMarchandenjoyedadayofinspiringspeakersonthesubjectofLEADERSHIP.Theyrepresentedtheirschoolwithprideandlearntaboutthequalitiesneededtomakeagreatleader.Ahugethankyoutoparentswhomadetravelandaccommodationpossibleforthisveryspecialexperience.Belowisasnapshotofsomeofthethingstheylearntwhilstattheconference.JohnCoutis…wasbornwithaphysicaldisabilitybecauseofspinabifidabutthathasn’tstoppedhim

fromenjoyingthebestthingsinlife.Hedidn’tstartschooluntilgrade5andfoundmakingfriendschallenging.Despitebeingbulliedterriblyasaschoolboy,hislovingfamilyhelpedhimtohaveapositiveoutlookonlifeandovercomeadversity,hissense

ofhumourhascarriedhimthroughmanytoughtimes.Hesaid‘ILOVEWHOIAM’andtoldusthatnomatterhowtoughlifegets,bethebestyoucanbe.Johnalsotalkedaboutdoingsomethingaboutthethingsyoucancontrol(myplay,myeffort,mywords,myactions,myideas,mymistakes,mybehaviour).John’sgoldenruleis:Treatpeoplethewayyouwishtobetreated. SamCarter&DustySmith

HollyFerling…isamemberoftheAustralianWomen’sCricketTeamandtheQueenslandstateteamtheBrisbaneHeat.Shehasgainedsuccessasafastbowlerthroughhardworkanddetermination.Hollywasschoolcaptaininprimaryschoolanddidn’tstartplayingcricketuntilshewas12yearsold–beforethatsheplayedanysportshecould.Shedecidedearlyonthatshewantedtobeknownforallthethingsshedidoffthefield,thelegacyshewantedtoleaverelatedtobeingagoodleader,anadvocateespeciallyforgirlsinsport.Hollysaidthatshehashadmorefailuresthansuccessesandthatsheisprouderofthewayshehasdealtwithherfailuresthatanyofthesuccessshehasachieved.Hollyhashadtofaceinjuryandlackofperformancedespitetheknowledgethatsheputin100%,butunderstoodthattherearesometimespeoplebetterthanyououtthere.However,shesaidto‘embracethescarybutexciting’,failurehappens–findthepositive,seewhatyoucanlearnfromit.

EllahBriggs,ElizaWarby&MarniRyan

Young Leaders DayBrisbane2018

HarrisonCraig…wasthewinnerofTheVoicein2013attheageof18.Hisjourneyuptothatpointwaschallengingbecausehehadaseverespeechimpediment(stuttering).Hewasteasedatschoolbuthelearnttoovercomehisdifficultiesthroughhisloveofallthingsrelatingtomusic.Harrison

lovedtospendtimeinthemusicroomatschool,joinedthechoiranddidn’tevergiveuponhisdreams.Hedecidedatayoungagethathewantedtoperformonstage,sohehasworkedhardinlearninghowtoovercomethehurdlesinfrontofhimandnowhasreleased3albumsandwrittenachildren’spicturebookcalled‘Harrison’sSong’toinspireotherstopersistwiththeirdreams. WallyForeman&ChristianTantoy

JackHeath…isachildren’sauthorwhohaswrittenthe‘Danger’seriesandthe‘CountdowntoDanger’seriesamongstotherbestsellingtitles.Duringgrade5hesufferedfromsevereearinfectionsandhadalotoftimeoffschool.Thelibrarian,MissPeach,triedtokeephimoccupiedathomebygivinghimbookstoreadandreviewforher.Thisleadtoaloveofstories,readingandwriting.Hesaidthathewriteswhathewantstoread,notwhathefeelslikewriting.JacksaysthatleadershipisnotlikeIKEAfurniture,youdon’tgettherebyfollowingtheinstructions.Howevertherearesomestepsyoucanworkthrough.LeadershipisGROSS:G....isforgoal(setgoalssoyouknowwhatdirectionyouareheadingin)R…..isforreason(haveapurpose)O…..isforobstacles(therewillalwaysbeproblems,findawayaroundthem–failureisthebestteacher)S…..isforstrategy(enlistotherpeopletohelpyou)S.….isforstart(oftenthehardestpart!)

JemmaJackson&RyanMacey

Thank you to our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles & the school

for a wonderful day of learning!

Regional Swimming Carnival 2018 On Monday 5th March, 26 MPS students and their parents headed to Armidale to compete in the North West Swimming Carnival. An exciting day was had by all, everyone doing their best to achieve goals individually and in the relays. It was wonderful to see the camaraderie of the MPS students and I was also impressed with their fantastic sportsmanship as they encouraged one another and students from schools within the Moree district.

Congratulations to: Ben DiDonna, Hunter Warby, Declan McGuire, Henry Johnston, Jasper Taunton, Mitchell Beddoes, Jake Ryan, Preston Tighe, Harry Warrener, Mitch Custance, Ambrose Swan, Darcy Brazel, Chloe Elbourne, Eliza Warby, Rose Mealing, Savannah French, Alex Warby, Georgina Quinlan, Jessica Knowles, Harriet Beattie, Marni Ryan, Millie Mitchell, Lorraine Townsend, Phoenix Sweeney, Ashley Odero and Olivia Turner.

Senior boys relay team

A special mention goes to Chloe Elbourne (1st 11yrs Backstroke, 1st 11yrs Breaststroke, 2nd 11yrs 50m Freestyle, 3rd Snr Individual Medley), Ben DiDonna (2nd 11yrs 50m Freestyle, 2nd 11yrs Backstroke) and Mitchell Beddoes (3rd 10yrs 50m Freestlye, 2nd Jnr Breaststroke, 3rd Jnr Backstroke). These students will now go on to represent the North West in Sydney on the 11th & 12th April of this term to compete in the State Swimming Championships.

Goodluck to Chloe, Ben and Mitchell as they compete in Sydney this term.

Thank you to all parents who supported their children at this event, it is a long way and a long day – but a great experience that I am sure the students will remember for many years.

Millie Mitchell sharing her carnival experience on the Prime news