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SAMUEL GILBERT PUBLIC SCHOOL
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
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February, 2007 |
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Issue No. 1 |
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Welcome Back to 2007! This year has started very well and with many new enrolments we easily met our projected numbers and were able to move into our new classes for 2007 last Friday. Our new class structure has settled in very well and students are already hard at work and again enjoying all the exciting learning experiences Samuel Gilbert has to offer them.
This year we have 22 classes and welcome a number of new staff members. Mrs Marcolin who will teach Year 3 this year, Mrs Bridie is replacing Mrs Solly who is on leave for this year, Mrs McLeod is replacing Mrs Jeffress who is on maternity leave, and Mrs Campbell is replacing Mrs Kerry who is also on leave for 2007. Mr Yendle and Mrs H Johnson will be relieving Mrs Solly as Grade Supervisors.
Ms Buonocore has returned to class teacher duties and Mrs Elliott has taken on the Reading Recovery role. A warm welcome to all these staff members. We are very fortunate to be able to engage such wonderful teachers.
New Families and Students : I would like to publicly welcome all our new families to Samuel Gilbert. Firstly I would like to welcome our wonderful, cheery and enthusiastic Kindergarten students. We also have 21 new students from all parts of Australia and in fact the world.
I am sure that you will enjoy your time at Samuel Gilbert.
Castle Hill High School Information Evening: Last night a great information session was run for our parents by Castle Hill High School. Thank you to all those parents who attended. The Principal, Ms Christine Del Gallo, the Head Teacher, Teaching and Learning, Mr Ross Warren, two students - Tamara and Jacob and a parent Mr Gareth McCray outlined the vast array of educational programs, welfare structures, leadership opportunities and extra curricular activities available to students. They spoke passionately about the school’s Gifted and Talented Program and the school’s commitment to students with learning difficulties and highlighted the outstanding results achieved by their students at the HSC in 2006, with over 16% of the Year 12 students achieving a UAI of over 90. Parents left with a clear understanding of the wonderful opportunities available to students at our local high school - Castle Hill High School.
Security Fence: It is wonderful to inform you that our new fence did its job over the Christmas holiday period. For the first time in many years we had no graffiti, vandalism or theft allowing us to return to school with no disruption to routine. A great sign for the future!
Whilst on this subject let me remind you that the back gate near the supermarket car park will be closed about 9.45am each school day and not re-opened until about 2.30pm. It will again be closed around 3.45pm when parents and students have left the grounds.
Please ensure that your children do not come on to the school grounds after hours or on the weekends even if the gates are open. We have community users who are often on the school grounds out of school hours and when they leave they lock the gates. If children (or adults) are inside they may find themselves locked in and this could be a very traumatic experience. Please discuss this with your children.
Gordon Fraser
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YOUTH OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY
Wow! What an experience for 73 of our children! As a teacher I feel very proud of our students who took part in this event. They handled the long rehearsals, learnt their part well, looked after their belongings and learnt so much in such a short time. Hopefully they have fond memories for many years to come.
Many thanks to the group of parents who worked tirelessly to help have our costumes ready for the big night. Without your help we would not have made it.
To all the parents and students a big thank you for your acknowledgement in showing your appreciation towards the staff who gave up much of their own time for rehearsals etc.
I would like to acknowledge the work done by Mrs Tudor, Mrs Percossi, Mrs McLeod, Mrs Martin and Ms Barclay because without their help and assistance this opportunity would not have been possible for so many of our children.
If anyone has any of the costumes borrowed I would ask that you please return them. We are missing 1 checked shirt (from My Country item) and 1 blue T-shirt (from placard bearers). I have 1 size 12 Samuel Gilbert shirt. As these are all items from the Year 5 and Year 6 group would you please pass this request on to any families of children you might have contact with that have now left our school.
Once again thank you for your support and appreciation.
Elaine Cater
FROM THE CANTEEN
Welcome back. We hope everyone had a great holiday break.
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered so far this year. The Canteen is now in full operation and copies of the roster will be sent out shortly.
We still have MANY vacancies. Please come and let us know if you can help, even for one hour a month.
Don’t forget to order Sushi on Mondays for Wednesday’s lunch. Varieties include chicken, tuna or vegetarian at $2.00 per roll. Available in Terms 1 and 4 only.
Price rises:
- Deli Rock Chips are now selling at 90 cents per pack. Popcorn is 40 cents a half bag and 70 cents a full bag.
- New 600ml Playwater drink in Fruit Fest and Raspberry flavours at $1.80 each.
Canteen Supervisors
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FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP
Congratulations to those of you who found the Uniform Shop at its new location behind the Canteen opening Mondays from 8.30-9.30.
The medium size hats, large school bags and yellow socks are now in stock.
Remember to drop off your good quality second hand items for sale. (We have no size 8 Zippered Jackets).
The Uniform Shop is a valuable school asset so please consider volunteering. Hilary will be leaving this term when she has finished training me. I need someone to help me in Term 2 on Tuesdays from 8.30-9.30am so if you can spare the time and want to do something to help the school please call me at home or email me.
Karen Pike, Uniform Shop Coordinator
Phone: 9634 5897 Email: karenpike@bigpond.com
BAND REPORT
A very warm welcome to our music program for 2007. Rehearsals have already commenced and we have a very enthusiastic band of musicians. We look forward to another great year of music.
Behind every successful music program there is a hard working committee. Each year some of our committee parents leave the school as their children move onto high school. This leaves an opening for new and enthusiastic new members to join our committee. Our next committee meeting is on Thursday, 15 th February at 8.00pm in the Staffroom. Our AGM will be in early March and we look forward to seeing lots of new parents at this meeting where they will also be able to hear from our Band Master, Mr Strykowski, who will give his annual report.
Sue Lack
Band Committee
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FROM THE P&C
Welcome back to school and another fun year at Samuel Gilbert. To all the new parents joining the school this year, I hope you are able to come along and be involved in our very active P&C.
We will be holding our first meeting next TUESDAY, 13 th in the Staffroom at 7.00pm. This meeting is specifically designed to encourage “membership” to our P&C. “Membership” is $1 for the year however your membership will not come into effect until the following meeting. So if you’re considering sitting for a position on the committee (very rewarding) or want to vote for representatives for our 2007 committee you’ll need to attend next Tuesday. The following meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6 which will be our AGM whereby the 2007 committee will be elected. I would encourage everyone to come along and join as a member.
For those that are new and a bit unsure, you can still come along to our meetings however should a matter requiring a vote be put forward, you would not be eligible to vote. Also, if you’re unable to attend next Tuesday, membership is open at every meeting so you can join throughout the year.
Enough of the serious stuff.
If you haven’t already heard we have a very exciting project underway. We are currently getting quotes to COVER our ASSEMBLY AREA. This is through the “Investing in our School Program” so once accepted, we hope building can commence in October. It may sound a way off but well worth the wait.
On a personal note, decisions like this are never easy and I’d like to thank Miranda Ransome, Mary-Anne Martin, Cathie Barclay, Marion Johnson, Sue Lack, Jenny McNaughton and Gordon Fraser. A lot of personal time was spent on this project looking at sites, speaking with “experts”, studying product, round table discussions, etc which went on for several months and all this just to come up with the site where the children and teachers would reap the most benefits.
It’s a very exciting project and one that has been well worth the wait.
Another project is the re-establishment of the area between years 3 and 4. Brad Crossman is working extremely hard to put together an area for the kids to enjoy not only for “play” but to expand their knowledge of our environment. This is a fantastic opportunity for the kids to be really involved, help make “their own area” and taking ownership. Having the children involved in the planning, layout, planting and care of the area will only broaden their enthusiasm. It is an exciting project and I look forward to the P&C being involved and supporting this adventurous and fun project.
The P&C has done some fantastic work in the past and this year looks set to be just as rewarding.
Look forward to welcoming you next Tuesday
Lynnea McGowan
P&C President
EARLY CHILDHOOD CLINIC
From Monday, 5 th February, 2007 the Early Childhood Clinic (currently a drop-in clinic) based at Samuel Gilbert Public School will operate by appointment only. Appoints may be made by contacting The Hills Community Health Centre on 8853 4500.
Community Nurse
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OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
. Hills Learning Community Concert Band is looking for students in Years 5-9 who play an instrument and would like to perform in a band. The band rehearses every Thursday at Jasper Road Public School, Baulkham Hills from 4.30-6.00pm at a cost of $50 per term. For more details please contact Mrs Brenda Thompson on 9624 7486 or Mr Scott Luther on 9634 3774.
. Kellyville Rouse Hill Bushrangers Junior Rugby League Club is holding registration day on Saturday 10 th February and Sunday, 11 th February from 10.00-2.00pm at Kellyville Park. For more details please contact Serena Pumipi 0410 257 842.
. Gazelles Netball Club is looking to finalise teams for 2007. At present we still have some places for girls turning 7,8,9,13 & 15. We have many members from the Samuel Gilbert school community so if you are interested in playing or know someone who is please contact Carlijn van Baal on 9680 9703 or www.gazellesnetballclub.org.au Experience not necessary. Training at Coolong Reserve and games on a Saturday at Kellyville.
. Baulkham Hills Sports Club Netball Division is looking for players for the 2007 season. If you are keen to play netball please contact Jeanette Edwards on 9636 8842 for registration details.
. Joeys, Cubs & Scouts are involved in a variety of outdoor activities including camping hiking and canoeing. 1 st, 2 nd & 4 th Castle Hill, 2 nd Baulkham Hills, Balcombe Heights, Dural, Kellyville and Pennant Hills Valley Scout Groups are currently enrolling girls and boys between the ages of 6 and 14. For more information call Jan Carter on 9639 2488.
. A local support group for Divorced or Separated people is held on the 4 th Saturday of every month. We meet at 7.30pm at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Castle Hill. We present talks on relevant topics as well as running social activities and dinner groups. This is a safe, friendly, non-threatening environment. Please contact Michael or Julie on 9629 6680 for details.
. Hills Touch – Baulkham Hills for boys & girls aged 9-15 competition starts 6 th February. To register ring 0433 766 655 or www.touchfootball.com.au
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