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SAMUEL GILBERT PUBLIC SCHOOL
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
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February, 2007 |
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Issue No. 2 |
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
This year has moved quickly and it is difficult to believe that we are now already at the end of Week 4. The Parent Information afternoons held last week for Years 3-6 were well attended and parents reported that they were very informative. The Year 6 Leadership Day held at the Castle Hill Community Centre on Monday, 12 th was an exciting opportunity for our Year 6 students to learn about leadership qualities, values and opportunities. The students had an exciting day and the skills they learned are already evident in their behaviour around the school. Thank you very much to our wonderful Year 6 teachers for organising the day!
It was an important occasion yesterday when we recognised our elected school leaders for 2007. Our School Captains, Prefects and House Captains took their Pledge of Service in front of the whole school and gathered parents. They committed themselves to be good role models, to uphold the school rules at all times, to assist other students in difficulty and to conscientiously undertake all allocated tasks. Our Student Representative Council members were also recognised and presented with their badges. We are indeed fortunate to have such wonderful school leaders!
School Car Park: The school car park is primarily a staff car park but by agreement parents have been allowed to drive in before 8.00am and after 3.30pm. Students have never been allowed to access or exit the school via the carpark because of the dangers associated with the movement of vehicles. The number of vehicles in the carpark in the morning and the erection of the security fence (which tends to funnel students into the school via the carpark) has created a potentially dangerous situation with vehicles reversing, after dropping off students and then leaving at speeds greater than the allowed 5kph. Consequently the approval to use the carpark to drop off students has been changed.
Band : Parents are not to use the car park to drop off students for Band in the morning at any time. Students should be dropped off at the front of the school in Ridgecrop Drive and walk in with their instruments. If you have any issues please feel free to discuss the matter with me.
OOSH Centre : Parents may still use the car park to drop off students to the Before and After School Care Program (before 8.00am and after 3.30pm) but must do so with the utmost care. Please exercise extreme care when reversing and adhere to the 5kph speed limit. I will monitor the movement of vehicles in the car park to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Your cooperation in these matters is appreciated.
School Access: The security fence has had an immediate impact on the security of the school. During the recent Christmas holidays, when we traditionally have considerable graffiti, vandalism or theft I am pleased to report that there were no incidents at all and we were able to resume school without disruption.
It is also timely to remind parents that the gate at the bottom of the Knightsbridge car park will open in the morning at about 7.30am and will be closed at 9.30am for the remainder of the school day. It will be reopened at 2.30pm each day and locked again at around 3.40pm. All the other gates will remain open as usual.
Please remind your children never to come onto the school grounds out of school hours even if the gates are open. Community users hire the school’s facilities and lock up as they leave. They do not check for other children on the school grounds and if children enter the school they may find themselves locked in and unable to get out. This could be a very distressing situation so please chat with your children about this issue. Your support will be greatly appreciated.
Good Guys, Castle Hill : A reminder to all parents about this great scheme which last year generated nearly $2000 for our school. It’s very easy and costs you nothing. If you are purchasing any item at Nash Patel’s Good Guys just tell the customer service desk that you would like to claim your reward vouchers under the Support your School Program before you pay. They will give you the vouchers which can be sent along to the school office. The school then uses them to purchase equipment.
Gordon Fraser
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DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
School Leadership Team : Our school offers many opportunities for students to be involved in leadership development. I would like to congratulate the students recognised in the Leadership Induction Assembly yesterday and thank parents for their attendance.
Life Education :
We are very fortunate to have the Life Education program visiting from Friday, 9th March to Tuesday, 20th March. The Life Education Program links closely to the PD/H/PE syllabus. The cost per child is $7.50 and includes the session, a student workbook and a sticker for each child. Students may buy merchandise which assists with the continuation of the Life Education NSW programs. Please send your child’s order or donation on the day they are attending their session. The timetable is included below. A parent session will be held on Friday, 9 th at 9:30a.m. Please return the slip at the bottom of the permission note to indicate your attendance.
Castle Hill Gifted and Talented Program :
High school application forms for Year 7, 2008 will be sent out early March. If you are considering applying for a position in the Gifted and Talented Program at Castle Hill High please note the information below:
An Information Evening will be held for parents on Tuesday 6 th March at 7:00 p.m. in the school auditorium.
Students in Year 6 who wish to apply for the Gifted and Talented class at Castle Hill High School for Year 7, 2008 will be required to apply for Castle Hill High School as your first choice school on the High School Application form Year 7, 2008. These forms will come home early March.
Parents will also need to return the Gifted and Talented Application form available from your Year 6 teacher. The form together with a $40 fee needs to be returned to Castle Hill High. Students will be required to sit for the Placement test at Castle Hill High on Tuesday 22 nd March.
M. Martin
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY
Welcome to the new families in our school. The library program is now underway with Kindergarten settling quickly into the routine of borrowing. Apart from their set library time students are able to borrow before school from 8.25am and at lunchtime each day. Students may borrow up to 4 books at a time and they should be returned to school the following week. Books are considered overdue after two weeks and notices will be given out to ask for their return.
Library Monitors
Congratulations to the Year 5 students who have undertaken training and are our new Library Monitors for 2007. They are doing a great job, displaying responsibility and leadership.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge
Volunteers Required!!
The Premier has moved the goal posts!!
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a reading program where students have to read a set number of books from a pre-determined list.
Students who complete the challenge will receive a certificate at the end of the year from the Premier. Our library has been set up to make this easy for the students to achieve.
Unfortunately new data entry has been incorporated and we now have to enter the details for each book for each child electronically. The library staff is unable to spend the time doing this. If you feel you can assist by entering the data please come in to the library or call me. The data entry is not difficult to do just time consuming.
Here is the web site address if you would like to familiarise yourself with this program.
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/premiersreadingchallenge/
Book Club
Our school participates in the Ashton Scholastic Book Club. Book club brochures will be distributed during the term. Where possible I will inform you of the due date in the newsletter, otherwise it will be posted on signs in your child’s classroom and in one of the library windows.
If you are sending in an order, please put your child’s name and class on a well sealed envelope with the order inside. On several occasions last year I received order forms with no name or class. Please put a name on the order form.
Please feel free to come into the library before school with your child to help them choose books.
I look forward to seeing you in the library!
Jenny Craft, Teacher Librarian
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BAND REPORT
Our bands are in full swing for 2007 and there are lots of good sounds coming from the rehearsals.
Your child would have brought home a note this week regarding our band AGM on Thursday, 1 st March at 8.00pm in the Staffroom. All band parents are most welcome. Our Bandmaster, Mr Mark Strykowski will be presenting is annual band report. Looking forward to seeing you all there. A light supper will be served.
There has been concerns raised about children being dropped off in the staff car park at 7.30am for band rehearsals. The school policy is that the staff car park is NOT to be used to drop children off at school or even to pick up their instruments after band. Please use the drop-off bay on Ridgecrop Drive so we can keep our children safe. Thank you. If you have any concerns regarding this issue please speak to Mr Fraser.
Although you may be keen to pay your band fees for 2007, you will be receiving an invoice for the exact amount later this term. Please wait until you receive this personalised invoice so you can pay the correct fee. Thank you.
Your committee is already working hard planning our 2007 Band Camp and workshops. Dates will be given out as soon as they are confirmed.
Looking forward to another great year.
Sue Lack, Band Committee
FROM THE CANTEEN
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered in the Canteen so far. There are still some vacancies so if you have an hour or two a month to spare please come and see us.
We have sent copies of the roster home to our volunteers via your children. If you haven’t received a copy or are unsure when your rostered day is please collect a copy from the Canteen.
Just a reminder for anyone who orders a frozen item or apple slinky on their lunch bag that the child must bring the bag down to the Canteen after eating time to receive their treat.
A copy of the menu has been distributed to all classes. If you did not receive a copy we have spares in the Canteen.
Please remember that there is NO hot food on Fridays in Terms 1 and 4. If hot food is ordered a vegemite sandwich will be given instead.
The Streets Lemonade Ice Twist price has risen to 80 cents each.
Julie & Carolyn, Canteen Supervisors
FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP
Help!
Can you spare an hour and a half on Tuesday mornings? The Uniform Shop needs your help! Please phone Karen on 9634 5897 or email karenpike@bigpond.com
Second Hand Clothing
The Uniform Shop accepts clean, good quality second hand clothes for sale. If you would like your school uniforms sold at the Uniform Shop you will need to fill in a slip (see attached forms) for each item and attach it to the article of clothing. Only school uniforms can be accepted (no bags, hats, etc). The school retains 25% commission for the sale of clothing and payment cheques are drawn twice a year.
Items handed in with no identifying tickets will be sold as school donations.
Karen Pike, Uniform Coordinator
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FROM THE P & C
Our AGM is just around the corner on Tuesday March 6 at 7.30pm. There will be some pertinent issues discussed (our agenda will be posted on the web-site) so I encourage as many parents as possible to attend. We will also be electing a new committee. All positions will become available so we are looking for enthusiastic, willing and “can do” people to make-up our team.
If you feel you or someone you know would be able to fulfil a role on the committee nominations (stating their name and position nominated for) are asked to be forwarded in writing and handed in at the front office or sent via email to sgps.pcinfo@gmail.com.
Please ensure that you have your nominee’s permission before putting them forward . As time will be paramount at the AGM, if we could get all nominations in beforehand it will enable us to spend more time on other pressing issues.
Should you need further information or think you’d like to participate but are a bit unsure, please feel free to contact myself or our committee members via email who will be happy to contact you to discuss what’s involved. I have attached a brief outline from the P&C Federation of NSW’s website which may clarify some queries.
Fundraising schedule for 2007, School Fete, Investing in Our School Program (how to best spend $80,000), are just a few of the HOT topics we’ll be discussing so I hope you can join us – we’d love to have parent and community input.
See you on the 6 th March.
Lynnea McGowan
President
OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
. Castle Hill BMX Club is a volunteer group of families who enjoy providing a safe place for kids of all ages to ride their bikes – mountain bakes, BMX bikes, bikes with trainer wheels – you’re all welcome. For more information please contact David Solomons on 0404 074 166.
. Glenhaven Netball Club currently has a few vacancies available for 2007 netball season for children turning 7,8,9, 12 or 13 years in 2007. No netball experience necessary. For further information please contact Michelle Mules on 9659 6292.
. Gazelles Netball Club still have vacancies for girls turning 7,8, or 12 in 2007. Many members of the club are Samuel Gilbert families and we would love to see some more. Experience is not necessary. Training commences in March at Coolong Road Reserve and games are played at the Kellyville Complex in Commercial Road commencing 21 st April. For more information please ring Carlijn van Baal (Wilkinson family) on 9680 9703 or go to www.gazellesnetballclub.org.au
. Newcomers Club is a registered, non-profit women’s social club operating in the Hills area through to the northern suburbs of Sydney. It provides women of all ages (& their families) who are new to the area, with an opportunity to meet and make friends. For a friendly chat and to learn more about our events, please call Veronica on 9484 4506 or www.sydneynewcomers.com
. Student Exchange Australia is looking for volunteer/unpaid host families to provide overseas students with the opportunity to study and experience life in Australia. This is a great way to learn about another country and culture and establish a lifelong link to a family in another country. For more information please call Student Exchange Australia on 1300 135 331 or www.studentexchange.org.au
. Destiny Care is holding a three-part series to help individuals affected or will be affected by the recent changes to Welfare to Work. The first part, ‘Work Readiness Seminar’ will be held on Friday, March 2. If you have any questions please contact Trisha Aventurado on 9659 2751 or email trisha@destinycare.org.au
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