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SAMUEL GILBERT PUBLIC SCHOOL
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
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ENROLLING NOW FOR KINDERGARTEN 2008 |
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Welcome back to Term 3.
It has been an interesting first two weeks particularly with the weather initially showing us some really wintery days followed then by some wonderfully warm and fine days. In fact Wednesday’s Athletics Carnival was held under just such conditions. Warm and fine. I would like to thank all those parents who gave their time to work with the teachers to make it such a successful day. Without your help our carnival would not have been possible.
On the assembly this morning I also congratulated all our students for their fabulous behaviour at the carnival and the enormous enthusiasm and good sportsmanship they all displayed as they competed in their events. We are indeed fortunate to have such wonderful students.
Kindergarten Enrolments 2008:
We are now accepting 2008 Kindergarten enrolments and I ask parents who intend enrolling a child next year to contact the school office and complete an enrolment form. Our Kindergarten Transition Program has its first session in the last week of this term and we are keen to inform new parents of the program. If you are aware of neighbours or friends who intend to enroll a child next year it would be appreciated if you would also ask them to contact the school as soon as possible.
School Maintenance:
Maintenance work has begun on several areas around the school and involves replacing rusted guttering and downpipes which will considerably improve the areas under the walkways in wet weather. There will be some disruption caused by the noise but it will be kept to a minimum. We have also been informed that two of our classroom folding door sets (between 5C/5PS and 4/5D / 5/6B) will be replaced and this will greatly improve teaching flexibility for the teachers involved.
Traffic and Student Safety Issues:
I would like to remind parents that the designated car pick-up zone for students in the afternoon is at the Ridgecrop Drive exit. Students are very familiar with the procedures and there are teachers on hand to supervise this area and ensure the safety of our students. I am concerned about young students waiting at the Gilbert Road exits in the afternoon without any supervision. There are no teachers supervising there in the afternoon and I ask that parents who pick up children by car do so in the designated area in Ridgecrop Drive. This also means that if children are not picked up - for whatever reason (traffic, illness etc.) staff can bring them back to the office and make contact with parents. Your help in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Assemblies:
Parents are always welcome to attend school assemblies and many parents take up this opportunity particularly when their child’s class is performing. However once a month there is a whole school assembly and space in the hall is very limited as every student in the school attends. It may not always be possible to accommodate all parents but we will do our very best. Safety will always be the deciding factor.
School Fete: The school’s Annual Fete will be held on Sunday, 26th August and I hope all our families are able to attend. Mark the date in your diaries now. The success of this day depends on many hands being available and I urge any parent who is available to help for a few hours on the day to give the school office
a ring so we can put you in touch with the P&C. Remember the money raised benefits every child in the school.
Important Dates: Years 3 and 5 will sit the Basic Skills Tests in Writing next Tuesday, 31st July and in Literacy and Numeracy on Thursday, 2nd August. It is vital students are at school on time on these two dates. I am confident that our students will perform well on these tests.
Gordon Fraser
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DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Universityof NSW Competitions:
Congratulations to those students who participated in the Maths and English Competitions last term. Results from these competitions are:
Maths - 1 High Distinction, 20 Distinctions, 24 Credits and 86 Participations.
English - 16 Distinctions, 23 Credits and 66 Participations.
Well done!
Athletics Carnival:
Congratulations to all students who took part in the Athletics Carnival on Wednesday. Your behaviour, enthusiasm and sportsmanship were outstanding. On our return journey the bus driver commented on the excellent behaviour of our students. What a delight it is to receive such positive feedback. Congratulations to Miss Cater for her terrific organisation and to all the staff and parents who worked so hard to make the day such a success.
Lost Property:
We currently have a huge amount of lost property in our duplicating room. Previously this was managed by a parent who would sort lost property on a regular basis and return the labelled items. We would be very grateful if another parent would be prepared to take on this role. It probably entails about an hour per fortnight. If you can help I’d love to hear from you.
Safety Procedures:
In the interest of student safety all government schools are required to have evacuation procedures in place and rehearse these regularly to ensure students have a clear understanding of the procedures. All classrooms have the evacuation routine displayed prominently and rehearsals occur throughout the year in both announced and unannounced situations.
OC Test:
Some of our students will sit the OC Placement test on Wednesday 1st August. We wish you good luck as you undertake this.
Mary-Anne Martin
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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
There is an opportunity next Wednesday, 1st August for you to come to a presentation about the use of new technologies and the impact on teaching and learning. It will be held in our Computer Lab beginning at 3.15pm and concluding by 4.00pm. Members of the Technology Committee will present information and demonstrate lesson activities using the Interactive Whiteboard.
We can accommodate up to 35 parents comfortably. If numbers exceed the space available we will repeat the session at a near future date. Ms Barclay has offered to mind any preschoolers and students in the KB classroom if their parent is attending the session. Please indicate below if you would be interested in attending this presentation.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Technology Committee
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SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SESSION – Wednesday, 1st August
I will be attending the Technology Information Session next Wednesday.
Parent Name: __________________________
Child’s Name & Class: _____________________
_____________________________________
Phone Number: _________________________
Number of children needing supervision in KB: _____________________________________
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NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY
Premier’s Reading Challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge for this year will conclude on 1st September. Our online entries must be completed by this date. Please ensure that your child’s form is at the library by Friday, 17th August.
Please read and understand the following information taken from the Premier’s Reading Challenge web site.
It is a condition of entry that all students entering and successfully completing the Premier’s Reading Challenge will receive an official PRC certificate and their names will appear on the PRC Honour Roll. To successfully complete the Challenge the student must have an online reading record entered and validated by 1st September.
Schools registering students must ensure that a parent/caregiver understands that all students entering the Premier’s Reading Challenge will receive a PRC certificate and appear in the PRC Honour Roll. The certificate shows the student’s name and school. Only the students’ name will appear in the Honour Roll with no other identifying factors. Participating schools appear as a separate list and home schools are not listed individually.
Students who do not wish to receive a certificate or be on the Honour Roll should not register for the Challenge. These students may do the Challenge unofficially, they may use the PRC booklists and can seek recognition in their local school community but they cannot enter an official record.
Book Club
Book Club orders are due Friday, 3rd August.
READiscover
Book Week Performances
The students will have the opportunity to experience a performance by Mic Conway on the 23rd August. This performance will take place in the hall at school. The cost is $3.50 and a note will be sent home with further information.
Jenny Craft
Teacher Librarian
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BAND REPORT
This week, on Friday, 27th July, we have our Term 3 Band Workshop for the Concert and Performance Bands. Please meet after school near the Canteen for afternoon tea. The workshop will start at 3.30pm and conclude at 5.30pm. It’s sure to be a very rewarding afternoon.
Later this term we have the McDonald’s Performing Arts Eisteddfod, the District Music Festival and our school fete. Please watch out for notes for these upcoming events.
The next Band meeting will be Thursday, 26th July at 8.00pm.
Sue Lack
Band Committee
FROM THE CANTEEN
Welcome back to Term 3! We are currently running a ‘Sydney Markets’ Fresh Food for Kids promotion from Monday, 23rd July to Friday, 17th August. When children buy any item of fresh fruit or vegetables from the canteen (eg. Apply slinky or salad wrap) they will be given an entry form. Once 3 items have been purchased they can redeem their voucher for a small prize (a spinning top) and their name will be entered into the Sydney Market competition. All entries must be returned to the canteen by Monday, 20th August. Good luck!
Sushi and soup can still be preordered this term for Wednesday lunch. All orders must be in by Tuesday morning at the very latest.
We are currently running short of canteen volunteers on the following shifts. If you can spare an hour or two to help once a month your children and the canteen will greatly appreciate it.
Monday 3rd in the month 2nd shift
Monday 5th in the month 2nd shift
Tuesday 3rd in the month 2nd shift
Thursday 4th in the month 1st shift
Friday 3rd in the month 1st shift
Friday 5th in the month 1st & 2nd shift
Julie Dalmazzo & Carolyn Chamberlain
Canteen Supervisors
OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
. Oakhill College Cricket Club registration is on Sunday, 29th July from 2.00pm to 4.30pm at 33 Battlement Crescent, Castle Hill. We would like to encourage boys and girls aged 9, 10 & 11 years to fill our teams. For more information contact Mark Collins on 0402 339 642 or collie66@bigpond.net.au. Come on kids if you want to play real cricket come and join us because we don’t think your backyard is big enough!
. Castle Hill Softball Club needs you! Come and play Softball and Teeball with a friendly locally-based club this summer. Softball competitions available for girls/boys, ladies, mixed and men’s teams and Teeball for girls/boys under 10. For more information contact Debbie Armsworth on 9894 2274 or email castlehillsoftball@yahoo.com.au. Registration days are at Crestwood Park on Sunday, 29th July between 10am and 2pm.
. Destiny Care Crafting Lives is holding a free seminar on ‘Are You a Candidate for Business?’ on Saturday, 28th July at 11a Hudson Avenue, Castle Hill from 9.30am to 1.00pm. Please call 9659 2751 or email destinycare@destinycare.org.au to register.
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