WYONG CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOL Wisdom in Learning- Freedom in Spirit wyongcreek-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Ph: 4352 1583 Principal - Tracey McKeown

NEWSLETTER Term 4 Week 7 – 21 November 2012

Principal’s Report Dates

No *Swimming Scheme continues until 30 Nov

*Nov 30: Carols @ Wyong Village Central 12md then swimming

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Merit Awards Wk 6

K/1- Erica, Will R 2/3/4- Lachlan L, Zeb

4/5/6- Riley W

Principal’s Award Lachlan Mc

Canteen News

Canteen Helpers 23 November

Alissa & Liselle

Due to Swimming lunch will be at 12.20 pm this

week.

NO CANTEEN NEXT FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER due to the carol singing.

DVD – Permissions

Some of our student leaders are working hard to produce a DVD of the 2012 school year. This DVD will be shown at the conclusion of our end of year presentation night and will also be available for school families to purchase. We have attached a permission note for families to sign to give permission for photographs of their children and other family members to be published in this DVD. Please return the note to school as soon as possible. Christmas Carols at Wyong Village Central

We have been invited to sing carols at Wyong Village Central again this year. The children will be transported by bus to the shopping centre on the way to their last swimming lesson next Friday; pick up arrangements will be the same as for all other swimming days. Please see the note attached to this week’s newsletter. School Image – a request for community support

I spoke with members of the P&C at this week’s meeting about how disappointed I was to hear that there has been negative talk circulating about the school. I am especially concerned about the impact this has on other parents and their opinion of our school, on staff morale and especially on our students’ academic growth and social and emotional well-being. Children benefit greatly from the knowledge that their parents and teachers are working together in partnership. Children experience confusion and a lack of security if they sense a break in this partnership. I understand that there may be occasions when parents have concerns and I am very open to meeting with parents to work through issues. I am grateful to all parents who have engaged in calm and productive discussions with me and/or with other staff members, when such issues arise. This is the best way to a reach a positive outcome. Children model their behaviour on the significant adults in their lives – if they see their parents and teachers working together to reach solutions they see a strong and positive example to follow when they face similar issues in their own lives. Wyong Creek Public School in an amazing small school – our students are talented and caring, all of our staff members are incredibly dedicated and we have many extremely supportive parents and community members. I extend a very strong request to all parents to work with us to stop the impact this negative talk is having on our students, our staff members and our parent community. Please do not listen to gossip and don’t allow it to create doubt in your mind, instead judge our school on your own experience of it and stand up for our school. Wyong Creek Public School is a wonderful school it would be a great shame to see our excellent reputation destroyed by negative talk. Wyong Shire Council School Environment Awards

We were very excited to receive two awards at the Wyong Shire Council 2012 Environmental Awards Ceremony. We received first place in the performance/oral presentation category and the runner –up award for the best overall small school. Stefanie and Ashlyn (two of our Year 1 students) prepared a written article on the awards ceremony. Their article has been inserted in this week’s newsletter and will also feature in the next grapevine publication.

WHAT’S ON

Canteen Purchases Our school canteen is becoming increasingly popular. We have noticed that some children are asking to purchase additional items from the canteen with the change they receive in their lunch bag. As our current system is an order only system we have been concerned that children may not have their parents’ permission to make additional purchases with the change they receive. Please note that children will not be permitted to make additional purchases and that all of the items they want to purchase must be recorded on their original order for the day.

Upcoming Dates

19-30 November – Swimming Scheme each afternoon

21 November – Aboriginal Students’ Talent Development meeting – Tracey

22 November – Tracey at Gosford Office to serve on an interview panel (afternoon)

22 November - PSSA Meeting- Andrew

28 November LMG meeting – Tracey

30 November - Christmas Carols at Wyong Village Central

12 December – Presentation Night

14 December – Band Tour Day

18 December – End of Year Fun Day

19 December – Last Day of Term 4

20 December – Staff Development Day

Special mention to:

Our amazing Green Team singers and dancers who, along with the students who presented oral and digital presentations, achieved 1st place in the performance/oral presentation category at the Wyong Shire Council 2012 Environmental Awards Ceremony.

Ashlyn and Stefanie who did a great job preparing an article on the Environment Awards for the newsletter and the next Grapevine publication – what amazing writing talent these two Year 1 students possess.

Heidi, Tui and Miss Williams who transported children to the awards ceremony last Thursday -we appreciate your practical support.

Miss Mullins and Miss Williams who put so much time into preparing the students for the environment awards this year.

Reminders Student Leadership 2013 Year 5 students are encouraged to start preparing leadership speeches to present to the school in Week 9 (the week after swimming). We are looking forward to hearing about their plans for leading the school in 2013. Safety in the Car Park Please work with us to keep our students safe in the car park. It is vital that all students are accompanied by an adult when walking in the car park. Regards Tracey McKeown Principal Help Needed Any parents with spare time are invited to see Kaylene in the school office to arrange a time to work on the student eating area. Some of the tasks that need to be completed include: painting the water tank; finish painting the support beams of the eating area shelter; and weeding and mulching garden beds. Unfortunately we have no further opportunities to run student working bees this year. We will be depending on parent helpers to complete the remaining work on the eating area.

Wyong Council School Environment Awards A couple of months ago the judges from the Environment Awards came to watch us do an environment presentation, it included digital and spoken presentations and our Green Team dance. They loved our Green Team dance so much that they invited us to perform at the awards ceremony. We were so excited. When we got to the ceremony we waited for half an hour, then we got to go on stage. We did the Green Team dance. There were lots of people watching. It was fun. We got first place for our dance and presentation and we got the runners up award for our school environment projects. After the show the reptile people came and we got to hold a blue tongue lizard and pat a snake. We had a big lunch. We had party pies with tomato sauce, sausage rolls, fruit, sandwiches and some yummy carrot cake. When we got back to school we showed everyone our awards. We were very proud of our awards. By Ashlyn and Stephanie in Year 1

P&C News

P&C Meeting – 19th December, the last for the year,

bring a plate of food to share! All welcome.

Fundraising – Thank you to all that sold raffle

tickets, we raised $471.35.

Look out for a Fruit Mince Pie/Pudding fundraiser

on its way home to you soon.

DVD’s – don’t forget to place your order. A

reminder that these DVD’s cannot be burnt or

images erased/cropped.

The P&C are funding a new concrete pathway

between Miss Mullins and Mr Smith’s room, this will

tidy up the area and make it safer for our children

and families.

A BIG THANK YOU for our helpers in the eating

area: Veronica and Geoff (Erica, Reilly and Lachlan’s

Mum and Dad); Barry (Daniel’s Dad) Mr Smith (Alex

and Garrett’s Dad) Katie, Cooper, Max, Diane and Ken (Kellan’s Mum, brothers and Grandparents); Alissa

(Chelsea-Leigh’s mum) and Jess (Hailee’s mum). Without all of your help this area wouldn’t be looking so

fresh and inviting, we appreciate all of you.

Mums Nights Out

Friday 23rd November

Meet at Movies @ 8.20 or car pool to see latest Twilight movie

afterwards at Lone Star

BINGO

Friday 30th November

BINGO at Yarramalong Hall 7pm start - bring your nibblies and drinks

Bunnings Tuggerah

Community Xmas Party

Thursday 6th December 2012

6pm – 8pm

Pony Rides

Slot cars

Jumping castle

Kids Craft

BBQ

Plus much much more Please book instore at the service desk

or phone 4350 1900.

Thankyou, Bunnings Tuggerah…

Upcoming NSW Xmas School Holidays

@ Bunnings Tuggerah

Bunnings Tuggerah will be running craft

classes each Tuesday and Thursday of

the holidays commencing Thursday 27th

December.

If you are looking for something FREE

and fun to do, drop by at 12pm, and join

in the fun.

To book please call 43501900, or via our

website www.bunnings.com.au/tuggerah.

Bookings are advisable by not essential.