Katoomba North Public School Community News

Barton Street, Katoomba 2780 Website: www .katoomban-p.schools.nsw .edu.au Office Hours: 8.30am – 3.00pm Email: katoomban.school@det.nsw .edu.au Principal: Cathy Clark Phone: 4782 2743 Fax: 4782 3871 Facebook: KatoombaNorthPS

11th December 2018, Term 4 Week 9

December 10th – 14th Swim School 11th Talent Quest 12th Captain Speeches 13th Talent Quest 14th Presentation Day Community Christmas Carols 17th Primary Fun Days 18th Year 6 Farewell 19th Year 6 Graduation Last day for students 20th Staff Development Day 21st Staff Development Day

2019 January 28th Australia Day Holiday 29th Staff Development Day 30th Students Years 1 - 6 Return February 4th Kindergarten start

Katoomba North Public School would like to

thank and wish parents, community members and

local businesses who have supported our

school a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy

New Year

Dear Parents and Carers, I must admit it is with some relief this is my last contribution to the newsletter for the year. Every three weeks seems to come around so quickly and the end of the year has literally zoomed in. I’ve been asked if we are slowing down and no we are not. We have so much on the last two weeks. Swim school is on every day this week. I know some parents were disappointed their child was not given a spot due to the 60 places being filled. Our school is only allowed to have 60 children in the scheme. We offer the places to year 2 first then a week later the note is for years 3 and 4 and finally seniors are given the opportunity to attend just before the cut off date. Children will be doing a double session this week so they complete the program in five days. We are having our in-school talent quest on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. This is for students primarily. I’m sure you can appreciate some students are not keen to perform in front of adults. If your child is performing please check with them which day so you come on the correct afternoon. Year 5 students keen to be school leaders in 2019 will give their speeches on Wednesday the 12th after recess. The whole school then votes. Positions are determined by “first past the post” for- captain, vice-captain and prefects. The 2019 leaders will be announced on Friday at the Presentation Day ceremony. Our school has been invited again to provide a musical item for the Katoomba Chamber of Commerce on Thursday the 13th at the Carrington. I’m sure our school ensemble will entertain the guests with their medley from the musical Darryl Kerrigan’s Family Snaps. Thanks to the parents who have organized their child to be at the Carrington for this after school event. Friday the 14th is our annual Presentation Awards Ceremony. This will commence at 12pm in the hall. There will be a light lunch after the ceremony for award recipients (students) and family members in the library. Then to defy all weather predictions we are hosting the Community Carols on Friday the 14th. The carols commence at 7pm. Katoomba Rotary will have the BBQ going. Please bring a chair. This year we have the help of Purple Sky Productions who are assisting with a stage, sound and lighting. The Blue Mountains City Band will accompany all the singing. My thanks again to Katoomba Rotary, The Deliga Foundation, The Blue Mountains City Band, Purple Sky Productions and the individual singers for supporting this event. In our last week you may think we were finished but no not yet…… Monday the 17th classes are having their end of year celebrations. Notes may have already come home letting families know how your child’s class will celebrate. Tuesday night the 18th is the Year 6 farewell. It promises to be a beautiful night with the theme “A Winter Wonderland”. Thank you to all the parents who have helped Ms Cosgrove and Mrs Fendall, during the year with any preparations. A pre-thank you also to the parents who will decorate the hall and then pull everything down for the finale for year 6 on Wednesday the 19th - their graduation.

Principal’s Log - 9th December 20.30 hours

I have included in the final newsletter a survey for parents, carers or extended family members. Please find the time to complete this and leave it in the office when you are visiting during the next two weeks. I will be asking parents in the playground over the next few days this survey. Your opinions and suggestions are very important to me personally and to the school so we can continue to improve the education your child receives at our school. If you are in the school PLEASE check lost property. I took a huge bag of clothes to the Cancer Op Shop on Saturday. These were clothes left at school for a considerable period of time. Unfortunately there were no names or identifying marks in the clothes and we do not have enough storage for lost property. And finally, may I wish you a happy summer holiday? Enjoy Christmas with family and friends. We will see you in 2019. Staff return on January the 29th and students in years 1-6 on the 30th of January. Keep safe and let’s hope we have warm summer weather without any bushfires. Cathy Clark, Principal of the Best School in the Mountains

Fa la la …………… Hope to see you at the community carols this Friday 14th December. Carols start at 7pm and finish about 8.30pm. Come along in your Christmas gear and make sure you have your costume if you are performing in one of the dance ensembles or the Carrington Ensemble. Make sure to bring a fold up chair and your best singing voice. Fa la la ……. BREAKFAST PROGRAM Volunteers run this wonderful program Monday to Friday between 8.40 – 9.00 a.m. with the appreciated ongoing support from Bendigo Bank Katoomba, Rotary Club of Katoomba, Earth Recovery, Blue Mountains Food Co-op, parents and students. Donations of jam, vegemite, honey, marmalade, long-life milk, fruit and milo are always welcome. Contact Caroline (mobile: 0426 399 355) if you are interested in helping to run our breakfast program or drop off donations to the school office or the community room. SCHOOL CANTEEN The canteen is a special part of the children’s school week and to keep it going we really need your help. Even if you can only help one Friday a term it would be very much appreciated. Please put your name down in the office if you would like to help. SCHOOL UNIFORM NEWS Please see Caroline Monday-Thursday down in the hall at uniform shop 3.00pm – 3.15pm and Fridays 2.45- 3.15pm. Caroline can also be contacted on 0426 399 335 for more information.

PLAY AND CHAT PLAYGROUP Is on for 0-5 year olds and their parents/carers, Monday and Tuesday mornings, 9.15 – 12.15 during the school term. Sandpit, cooking, music, outdoor play, painting and more. All welcome!

Music News

P & C News

Community News

TERM 4 CALENDAR 2018

9

December 10

Swim School

11 Talent Quest

Swim School

12 Captain Speeches

Swim School

13 Talent Quest

Swim School

14

Presentation Day

Swim School

10

December 17 Primary Fun Days

18

Year 6 Farewell

19 Year 6 Graduation

Last day for

Students

20

Staff Development Day

21

Staff Development Day

2019 Term 1

1

January 28

Australia Day Holiday

29

Staff Development Day

30 Students Years 1-6

resume

31 February 1

2

4 Kindergarten start

5 6 Swimming Carnival

7 8

3

11 12 13 Swimming Carnival (back up)

14 15

4

18 19 20 21 22

5

25 26 27 28 March 1

6

4 5 6 7 8

7

11 12 13 14 15

8

18 19 20 21 22

9

25 26 27 28 29

10

April 1 2 3 4 5

11

8 9 10 11 12

SCHOOL BANKING Tuesday is School Banking day this year. Please bring your bank books to the office before 9.30am.

SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION The school contribution is a small yearly fee that is used towards the cost of classroom resources, arts and crafts materials, books and sporting equipment. If you haven’t already paid your contribution could you please do so through the school office? Fees are as follows:

$42.00 per year for 1 child $75.00 per year for 2 children or $90.00 per year for 3 children or more.

The Year in Review

Katoomba North Public School Barton St Katoomba NSW 2780

Ph: 02 4782 2743 Fax: 02 4782 3871 Email: katoomban-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website: http://www.katoomban-p.school.nsw.edu.au

2018 Survey for Parents

Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members, I would appreciate if you could spend a few minutes to complete this survey which covers general areas of the school. It can be returned to the front office.

1. Do you feel welcomed when you visit the school by Staff in the office - Staff in the school and classrooms -

Yes Yes

No No

2. Does the school seem organized? Eg events well planned Yes No 3. Do you know how to access information about what is happening in the school?

Yes No

4. Are there enough events for parents and community to attend during the year?

Yes No

5. Do you have enough access to staff and classrooms? Yes No 6. Are your children’s reports easy to understand? Yes No 7. Do the grounds and facilities appear well maintained? Yes No 8. Are staff approachable especially if you have a concern? Yes No 9. Do you think your child is given extra activities and opportunities at KNPS? Yes No 10. Do you feel the school is a safe place for your child? Yes No

Are there any concerns you have about our school or your child’s education? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are there any suggestions you would like to add that may improve Katoomba North PS? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Cathy Clark Principal