NORTH STREET GRAFTON 2460 Telephone 02 6642 7466 Fax 02 6643 1679 email westlawn-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website westlawn-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Westlawn Public School A member of the Grafton Community of Schools

Week 2 23776734

212Message from the Principal Welcome to the 2017 school year at Westlawn PS. We extend a special welcome to the newly enrolled students and their families. Our friendly school community is sure to make you feel most welcome. Our new Kindergarten students will begin on Wednesday and will get to know their Year 6 buddies during the coming weeks. The Year 6 students do a fabulous job in introducing the Kinders to being at ‘big school’ to help

Tuesday 17 October 2017

Message from the Principal Mrs Twigg has made the decision to extend her leave until the end of 2018. I will be relieving for the remainder of this year and through 2018. Jacaranda Thursday The Canteen will be closed on Jacaranda Thursday. We have been advised that “Jacaranda Thursday” will be a half-day public holiday day this year, as it was last year. This means that Westlawn Public School will be open until 1:00pm on the Thursday of the Jacaranda week (Thursday 2 November), with no students in attendance after 1:00pm. However, we have been informed that organised activities on the day occur in the first half of the day and so acknowledge that many students and their families will still want to participate in those events. Last year most students were absent from school on this day. As such, whilst the school will be open for the morning, it is unlikely that normal lessons and routine will operate. Any students who attend school in the morning will be required to stay at school until 1:00 pm, unless parents sign them out of school, as per normal school procedure. Our main bus company has informed us that school buses will run to their normal school timetables in the morning BUT NO BUSES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS HOME WHEN THE SCHOOL CLOSES AT 1:00 PM. To assist with our planning and organisation we are asking parents/carers to return the note that has been sent home to inform us if their child will not be attending school on Jacaranda Thursday (Thursday 2 November). This note will be sufficient to explain any student absence on the day. Obviously, parents are responsible for the care and supervision of their children once they have left school at 1:00 pm or if absent from school for the day. Jacaranda Parade of Youth Our school will be participating in the Grafton Jacaranda Parade of Youth on Saturday 28 October. This is a wonderful opportunity for your children to experience the community spirit of the Jacaranda Festival which is so important to the Grafton community. We hope to have a great turnout of our students, in full school uniform, parading behind our school banner. We invite you to cheer on Westlawn in the parade. Students are asked to assemble at the river end of Prince Street adjacent to the Civic Centre at 8:30am. Just look for our banner and students in uniform. The parade begins at 9:00am. We ask that students wear our school uniform hat and bring a water bottle. Primary Disco The Primary Disco will be tonight from 6:30 to 8pm in the hall. The cost is $2.50 and the theme is “Odd Clothing”. Students can wear odd socks, different coloured wigs etc The money raised goes to pay for the Year 6 Farewell so that there is no cost to students. Thank you to the parents who have offered to help at the canteen. Leaving Westlawn this year? We are confirming student numbers and staffing needs for 2018. If your child/ren will be leaving this Term or over the holidays could you please phone the school office or complete the tear-off in this Newsletter and return it to the school office? Thank you. Athletics Good luck to the students representing our school at the NSW PSSA Athletics this week. We know they will represent our school with great sportsmanship and to the best of their ability.

Perpetual Trophies Perpetual Trophies need to be returned in preparation for the 2017 Presentation Day. If you have a Perpetual Trophy that your child received at the Westlawn Presentation Day last year could you please return it to the school office as soon as possible. Kinder Orientation Dates The dates for the Kinder Orientation morning visits for students beginning Kinder at Westlawn in 2018 are Friday 10, 17 and 24 November. The Parent Information Meeting is on 10 November while the children are at Orientation.

Year 5: Applying for a Selective High School in 2019 Parents of Year 5 students who wish to apply for their child to attend a Selective High School in 2019 (a Selective Class is at Grafton High School) need to complete and submit an online application no later than 13 November 2017. The online application website opened today. Selective High Schools cater for highly achieving, academically gifted students. The students sit the test on 15 March 2018. To be considered for placement students must sit the Selective High School Placement Test. For information about applying and the placement process go to https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-7. If you would like more information please contact Mrs Barnier, collect a booklet at the school office or go to the link above to view the website.

Trish Ellis Relieving Principal Diary Dates TERM 4 Week 2

Mon 16 Oct CSI catch up testing day

Tues 17 Oct Primary Disco

Wed 18 Oct NSW PSSA Athletics

Parent Meeting. Pat Cavanagh visit to assist with School Plan

3:15-4:15pm

Thurs 19 Oct NSW PSSA Athletics

Year 6 visit to Grafton High School

Week 3 Thurs 26 Oct CSI Excursion Fri 27 Oct Responsible Pet Program Sat 28 Oct Jacaranda Parade of Youth Week 4 Thurs 2 Nov Jacaranda half day Public Holiday from 1pm Week 5 Mon 6 Nov Parent Information Evening at GHS Wed 8 Nov Canteen Meeting and P&C Meeting at 6pm in Meeting Room.

Thurs 9 Nov Y6 excursion to SCU in Coffs Harbour as part of the Stellar program Fri 10 Nov Kinder Orientation and Parent Information Meeting Week 6 Tues 14 Nov Year 6 GHS Orientation Thurs 16 Nov Parent Helper Morning Tea at 11:00 am Fri 17 Nov Kinder Orientation Week 7 Mon 20 - Fri 1 Dec Intensive Swimming Tues 21 Nov Major Raffle tickets go home Wed 22 Nov-Fri 24 Nov Yr 4 to Yarrahappinni Fri 24 Nov Kinder Orientation Week 8 Mon 27 Nov – Fri 1 Dec Intensive Swimming continued Mon 27 Nov - Fri 1 Dec Yr 5 Excursion to Lake Ainsworth Mon 27 Nov - Fri 1 Dec Yr 6 Excursion to Canberra Wed 29 Nov – Thurs 30 Nov Yr 3 Excursion to Coffs Beach School

Week 9 Tues 5 Dec Presentation Day Wed 6 Dec Award Assembly Wed 6 Dec Canteen Meeting and P&C Meeting at 6pm in Meeting Room.

Fri 8 Dec Major Raffle Tickets returned by this date

Reports go home

Week 10 Mon 11 Dec Infants end of term treat day Tues 12 Dec Primary end of term treat day Carols Night and raffle draw Thurs 14 Dec Yr 6 Farewell Fri 15 Dec Students’ last day Week 11 Mon 18 Dec Staff Development Day Tues 19 Dec Staff Development Day

Sporting News NSW PSSA Athletics Championships

Best of luck to our star athletes Koopah Walters, Beau Hartmann, Bailey Sciberras, Zac Brady, Lanaia

Boorman, Sharni Firth, Shakeia Williams, Eliza Berrick, Marcus Makejev, Jimmy Ford, Cooper

Cochrane and Daniel Lavender as they travel to Sydney to represent Westlawn PS as members of the

North Coast team at the state athletics carnival this Wednesday and Thursday. Westlawn will have three relay teams competing:

Jnr Boys – Koopah Walters, Beau Hartmann, Bailey Sciberras and Zac Brady.

Jnr Girls – Lanaia Boorman, Sharni Firth, Shakeia Williams and Eliza Berrick.

Snr Boys – Marcus Makejev, Jimmy Ford, Cooper Cochrane and Daniel Lavender.

Students in individual events are: Girls

Athlete

Age/Group Event

Eliza Berrick 10 100m

Eliza Berrick Jnr Girls 200m

Shakeia Williams Jnr Girls 200m

Shakeia Williams Jnr Girls High Jump

Boys

Athlete Age/Group Event

Jimmy Ford 11 100

Marcus Makejev 11 200

Jimmy Ford 11 200

Marcus Makejev 11 Long Jump

Jimmy Ford 11 Long Jump

ARCO at Westlawn PS

ARCO stands for Anti-Racism Contact Officer. Our school has a new ARCO, Mrs Heidi Gough.

The role of the ARCO is to receive and mediate complaints of a racial nature.

Should you have any concerns please make contact through our school email address with RE: Heidi Gough- ARCO and Mrs Gough will contact you.

Student of the week

Ramie Simpson – 2H

SRC Citizenship Award

The SRC present a weekly Citizenship Award, at our Friday assembly. Each week

we meet to discuss what encouraging things we have seen happening in our

playground and classrooms. The SRC look for behaviours that are helpful,

demonstrate our school rules or an act that shows a student as a positive role

model for others. We then nominate children we have seen displaying these

behaviours. This week the SRC focussed on finding children demonstrating

sportsmanship towards others.

We all voted. The award winner was ‘caught’ during the week encouraging and

supporting others, helping others up if they have fallen during a game and never

bragging about how good he is even though we know he is REALLY, REALLY

good. This week’s Citizenship Award winner is Harry Oxenbridge in 5A.

Congratulations Harry!

Next week the SRC are looking for students displaying good manners towards

others.

2017 Visiting Artists Series

Butterflying:The Music of Elena Kats-Chernin

CONCERT Saturday 21 October 2017 3.00pm Clarence Valley Conservatorium 8 Villiers Street, Grafton

TICKETS $25 adults, $15 concession, $5 student (U18) WORKSHOP PIANO and COMPOSITION Saturday 21 October 2017 10.30am Clarence Valley Conservatorium 8 Villiers Street, Grafton

Westlawn Public School P&C Newsletter Term 4 Week 2

Our clothing pool is having a SALE to clear out stock. All Clothing items are reduced by 30%. Some sizes may be in short supply. There is also a rack of clearance items. Please call in and check out our sale. The sale will continue until all stock is sold. As from 2018 all uniforms will need to be purchased from the brewery uniform shop. Canteen News For all enquiries relating to the canteen roster please call 0416808614. There are some containers in the canteen that were left on fair day. If you are missing any please call into the canteen. BOOK CLUB Book Club orders are due in on Friday 20 October. CANTEEN ROSTER WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER Sara Linsley, Debra Watts, Belinda Wormald THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER Debra Watts, Campbell Timmins, Nadyne Castner FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER Sharyn Ellem, Jo Palmer MONDAY 23 OCTOBER Janice Ellem, Melinda Creighton, Sam Nacinovic TUESDAY 24 OCTOBER Debra Watts, Liz Hamlin, Jamie-Lee Skinner

Which is healthier: Fresh, Frozen or Canned vegetables? Buying your fresh vegetables in season means they are at their peak nutritional value and at their cheapest. It’s important that they ARE fresh, though, because as the time they are stored increases, their nutrients decrease. Frozen vegetables have their nutrients locked in by the freezing process shortly after gathering, so they are a good option: steam or microwave in a little water for best results. Canned vegetables are a little less nutritious as the canning process affects heat sensitive vitamins EXCEPT for canned tomatoes where the antioxidants are made more available by the heat! Remember when using canned vegetables to get the low salt varieties. Whichever you use it’s great that you’re getting the important five serves a day for your family!

Clarence Valley Council presents: PARENTING TOOLBOX

A parenting festival of workshops, events, information, advice, fun and it’s FREE

Toolbox is for all Clarence Valley parents - events include:

Mighty Me workshops for anxious 10-12yr olds

Parent/Child sewing workshop - make a library bag

How to talk so kids will listen

A Stitch in Time – manage challenging behaviors

Manage anger and build resilience for 13-15yr old girls

Tour the new Clarence Valley headspace facility in Grafton

Mindfulness workshop for parents

10TH – 15TH November

For a full list of events go to www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/parentingtoolbox or follow Council Facebook Page

@clarencevalleycouncil