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SAMUEL GILBERT PUBLIC SCHOOL
COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
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PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Welcome back to Term 2 and although it seems that we have already been back for some time I do hope that everyone enjoyed their break from the routines of school. The students certainly returned to school looking very well and ready for the challenges ahead. Despite the rain our Anzac Day service on Tuesday of last week was a solemn remembrance of all those who gave their lives for our country and in particular to keep alive the memories of the “ANZACS”. Many thanks to our Captains and Prefects who ran the service and to Mr Greg Smith who was contacted through the sub branch of the Castle Hill RSL and who spoke at the service. Our school Captains also represented the school at the Dawn Service.
P&C Meeting: At the last P&C meeting in Term 1 it was decided that the P&C would pay for accident cover for all our students. This is an important and beneficial decision as it gives all parents some relief from the costs associated with injuries sustained by students whilst at school. The cover is organised under the auspices of the P&C Federation and an important aspect of this cover is that it covers students who may have had an accident at school from the beginning of this school year and not just from the time the policy was paid. If your child has had an accident at school this year which required significant medical treatment and you would like to know more please contact the office. They will direct you to where you can find out the particulars of the scheme and the benefits it offers. I thank the P&C for this move and feel sure that parents will appreciate this decision.
At this week’s meeting there was further discussion about the school sign and shade cover for the seats installed near the basketball courts and it was decided to seek a number of additional quotes.
A huge thank you must go to Mrs Ruth Didsbury and all the parents who gave up their time to help sort out and distribute the chocolates for the chocolate drive. I think they waded through over 400 boxes of chocolates and mixed and matched to meet family requests.
Investing In our Schools Program: The school lodged our application last Friday for funding to construct a shade shelter over the courtyard block where assemblies are held in the morning ($80 000) and a further application for $20 000 worth of new computers. We will know the outcome of our application later this year and we are very hopeful that we will be successful with both items. Many thanks go to Miranda Ransome for all her work associated with the application.
Relay for Life: The school has entered a team in the Cancer Council Relay for Life and there is still time to join us in this very worthwhile fundraiser. If you are interested in registering for the school team it will cost $11 and you will be provided with a Relay shirt to wear on the day. It is a great cause supported by all the local schools and it would be great if you could join us. All money raised goes directly to the Cancer Council for research. If you are unable to join us on the day but would like to sponsor a student please contact the school office.
Annual School Report: The 2006 Annual School Report is coming home with the newsletter today. Please take the time to read the report and to become aware of the wonderful achievements of our students.
Gordon Fraser
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DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Anzac Day : On Anzac Day our School Captains braved miserable weather conditions to attend the Dawn service to lay a wreath on behalf of the students, parents and staff at Samuel Gilbert. I was very proud of them and would like to thank them on behalf of the school community.
Mother’s Day Stall:: We have a fabulous team of parents who have been working very hard to organise a stall for Mother’s Day to enable students to buy a gift for their Mum, Grandma or Nana. The classes have been rostered to shop either on Monday or Wednesday. The roster below lets you know your child’s shopping day. If students forget their money or are absent on the day there will be a lunchtime stall on Thursday. Thank you to all the parents who have worked so hard to ensure the success of this activity.
Mother’s Day Stall Timetable
Monday, 7 th May -
KT, KB, KM, KE, 1D, 1Y, 2J, 2V, 4E, 3M and 4/5D
Wednesday, 9 th May –
6S, 6H, 5/6B, 4C, 5PS, 1B, 5C, 3J,. 1S, 2S and 3N
Chocolate Drive: A big thank you to the dedicated team who worked very hard on Thursday and Friday to deliver the chocolates to our children. Just a reminder that if children are selling the chocolates, they should only sell to those they know and not go door to door.
Stage 2 Science Enrichment Afternoon: It was great to see a number of our students attending a science activity session after school. Thank you to Ms Mannile and Mrs Nelson for coordinating the activity. Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to assist with the activities.
Australian Schools Science Competition :
On Thursday 10 th May students in Years 3-6 will participate in the Australian Schools Science Competition. Students will need to bring afternoon tea, a book to read, 2 2B lead pencils and a rubber. The competition commences at 3:15 p.m. Parents are asked to collect students at 4:30 p.m.
Grandparents' Day: Our students are eagerly anticipating showcasing the items they have prepared for their grandparents next Friday, 11th May. An outline of the program is included below -
Grandparents' Day Program
| 9.00-9.15 |
Performance Band |
| 9.15-9.25 |
Vocal Ensemble |
| 9.25-9.40 |
Year 5 Choir |
| 9.45-10.00 |
Year 2 Choir |
| 10.05-10.20 |
Year 3 Choir |
| 10.20-10.40 |
Morning tea in the Hall |
| 10.50-11.00 |
Year 6 Choir |
| 11.05-11.20 |
Year 4 Dance |
| 11.25-11.40 |
Kindergarten Dance |
| 11.45-12.00 |
Year 1 Health Hustle |
| 12.00-12.55 |
Picnic lunch |
** Grandparents can visit classrooms between 9.40am to 10.20am and 11.25am to 12.00pm.
Education Week : The theme for this year is ‘A Love of Learning’ and I ‘m sure our students are very keen to show you the many things they have accomplished throughout the year. We would love you to join us on Wednesday, 16 th May. The Education Week Program is attached. Your support in adhering to the times is greatly appreciated.
Enrichment & Support Teacher:
We are very fortunate to have a teacher, Mrs Helen Eldridge, funded by our P&C to provide support for our students in a number of programs. We will be highlighting these programs in the Newsletter throughout the year.
Talking and Listening is one of the components of the English KLA that is addressed by providing opportunities for students to develop and showcase their oral skills. Offering students the opportunity to learn about debating enhances thinking skills and their confidence when addressing an audience. Students in Year 6 will be taught debating skills during Term 3.
A number of students expressed an interest in extending their skills by auditioning for the Debating team that competes against other schools. Mrs Eldridge trains the Stage 3 Debaters.
Mary-Anne Martin
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LIBRARY REPORT
Book Fair
The Book Fair arrives at school on Thursday, 10 th May and Grandparents and students are invited to view and purchase books during Grandparents’ Day.
Students and parents can purchase from the Book Fair on Monday, 14 th from 8.15am–5.00pm, Tuesday, 15 th from 8.15am-4.00pm and Wednesday, 16 th from 8.15am-5.00pm during Education Week.
If you are available to help with the Book Fair could you please leave your name, contact number and time you are able to help at the School Office. Your assistance is very much appreciated.
Jenny Craft, Teacher Librarian
BAND REPORT
Band rehearsals appear to be going smoothly – just a quiet reminder to be punctual as later comers disrupt the band session – thank you!
The Performance Band is playing at Grandparents’ Day on Friday, 11 th May. Please remember to bring your instrument/music as it is not a band morning. Please be prepared to help set up the stands/chairs/drums from 8.30am so we are ready to play at 9.00am. We are looking forward to hearing our top band in action.
The Concert Band is playing at Open Day on Wednesday, 16 th May at 9.00am. This will follow on from your morning rehearsal. We are looking forward to hearing your music. It is hard to believe that you were our Training Band only a few months ago!
Our Band Camp is just around the corner (Wednesday, 23 rd May and Thursday, 24 th May) and all band camp forms should have been returned. The Camp Committee is working hard to organize a fantastic program of music tutorials as well as recreational activities. It is going to be a great time away together!
Thanks to all those families who have paid their fees promptly. If you have an outstanding invoice please attend to this matter as soon as possible.
Friendship lists are soon to be collated for each band. If you have not yet submitted your details and would like to be part of this list, please complete the ‘Friendship List Form’ and place it in the band box.
Good luck to all our students sitting AMEB exams. Please let me know your good news when you pass your exam and I will present them all in the next newsletter report.
The next band meeting will be Thursday, 3 rd May at 8.00pm in the Staffroom.
Sue Lack
Band Committee
FROM THE CANTEEN
The new Winter Menu has been issued via your child’s classroom. If you did not receive a copy we have spares in the Canteen. Please note that there are new menu items and some prices have changed. There is also limited hot food on Fridays. The soup available for May will be fresh pumpkin and/or tomato.
The Canteen provides a complimentary morning tea for grandparents on Grandparents’ Day, Friday, 11 th May. If anyone can help by either donating a cake or slice (no nuts please) or by helping serve on the day please let us know.
A big thank you to Cahla for staying on and helping out in the Canteen for a double shift last week. We really appreciate your help.
Carolyn and Julie
Canteen Supervisors
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FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP
Remember the Uniform Shop is only open on Tuesdays from 8.30 to 9.30am.
The manufacturers have finally made their deliveries and the Uniform Shop is fully stocked. If you can’t make Tuesday morning to pick up your waterproof jacket I will send it to your child’s classroom next week.
I am very grateful to Carlijn, Grace and Roselyn who have come forward with offers of help. Thank you!
Karen Pike
Uniform Shop Supervisor
P&C REPORT
Back for Term 2 and we’re kicking off with the Entertainment Books, Chocolate Drive and Mother’s Day.
Don’t forget to send in your order forms for the Entertainment Books – the books will be sent home Friday, 11 th May.
Ruth D idsbury is powering on with the Chocolate Drive and to keep us all in good health has organised Samuel Gilbert’s participation in the Relay for Life (just in time to walk off those extra kilos from the chocolate drive). Relay for Life and the funds for cancer research is a fantastic reason for us all get involved so I hope you have all returned your participation forms. If you have any queries – see Ruth or contact the office.
In the last letter we mentioned the Shrek 3 Movie Night – unfortunately we have had to cancel this event as the only time available was the Monday of the long weekend and an evening session which would have been too late for the younger kids. But don’t be too disappointed we have plans for more new exciting things e.g. FAMILY BUSH DANCE (more details will follow).
Don’t forget Mother’s Day - a time to put your feet up, be pampered and relax (really?). Judy and Christine have sewn, stuck, beaded and glued all through the holidays to make some very precious gifts for the kids to buy. Thanks ladies we’re all very grateful.
Some of you may or may not be aware, but the P&C have a container at the rear of the school stock full of P&C items accumulated over past years. As parents have come and gone, and events seen and gone props, craft items, fete leftovers and bits and pieces have stockpiled in the container and no-one really knows what’s in there. Hence we will be having a THROW OUT / STOCK-TAKE of the P&C container on Friday, 18 th at 3.00pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and help (kids are welcome maybe bring along a ball or something for them to entertain themselves).
Some of the items may be of particular interest to teachers who may want to salvage some of the goodies for future use for assemblies, plays, discos, etc and for parents organising the Year 6 Farewell. Items of absolutely no use will be tossed and reusable items will be boxed, clearly marked, stored and referenced so we have knowledge of what is held in the container. If anyone has spare cardboard boxes or shoe boxes we could use – they’d be appreciated. If you can hand them in at the office and I will store them until the 11 th.
At our meeting on Tuesday night, Jackie and Kristen presented the array of samples for the suggested new school uniform. WHAT A FANTASTIC JOB THEY HAVE DONE. You are all going to be VERY pleasantly surprised. I can’t even begin to imagine how much time they have put into this and we are all going to benefit from the work put in by these ladies by getting a choice of modern, good quality, comfortable items to choose from. We could have easily ended up with no samples – so we all need extend our thanks for all their time. Now we have the samples step 2 is the surveys which will be coming home shortly.
We are still looking for FETE HELPERS. I will send out a separate note next week regarding this – but remember without helpers the Fete won’t be on.
Lynnea McGowan
P&C President
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