PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Congratulations to all our swimmers who participated last week in our annual swimming carnival – it was a fabulous day, with big thanks to all staff and parents who assisted on the day. 2019 Welcome BBQ & Information Session The staff are looking forward to catching up with our Middleton families and sharing some information about plans for the classes in 2019. The free sausage sizzle will start at 6:00pm and give you a chance to chat with teachers and friends before the information sessions start in classrooms at 6:30pm.

Farewell to Geoff This week we say farewell to one of our cleaners, Geoff. I have seen Geoff’s dedication and commitment to the school in the short time I have been here. Both of our school cleaners, Geoff and Allan do an exceptional job, with the inspections of the school always receiving high grades. It will be hard to replace someone as thorough as Geoff, but we wish him all the best for the future in his new endeavours.

Professional Learning I will be in Sydney from tomorrow afternoon, attending the Department of Education’s Principal Induction Conference. I am looking forward to hearing from the Senior Executive of the Department speaking on the Department’s strategic plan, The Principal and System Improvement, Supports for Teaching and Learning, Coaching for improvement and self-assessment. Representatives from the P&C Federation and the Primary Principals’ Association will also be in attendance. Each of the executives here at school will be acting for me while I am out of the school and will be available should you need to discuss something with us.

Attendance Attendance at school every day a child is well enough to attend is very important for them to be able to achieve the best they can in their learning. Parents and carers must explain their child’s absences within seven days of the first absence occurring and this can be done through a written note, a phone call to the school, through the SkoolBag app or via email. I regularly review student attendance, as does our Learning Support team. Currently, our whole school attendance rate is 95% which is pretty good so far. Let’s keep it up so everyone is learning every day!

Paul Principal (Rlg) Thought for the week:

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela

WEEK 4 TERM 1 18 February 2019

Middleton Public School NEWSLETTER Principal Relieving P&C President Mr Paul Gray Mrs Trudy McMaster

Medlyn Street PARKES 2870 Ph: 6862 1999 Fax: 6862 5310 https://middleton-p.schools.nsw.gov.au middleton-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Bryce Reynolds—5/6E

* Bryce always listens attentively in class and is ready when the teacher is ready. * He is polite and kind to others and he always has a smile on his face. * He is respectful, responsible and has a positive attitude. * He will be a great role model for Middleton students for the rest of the year. Well done,

Bryce!

Term 1

Personal Best Award

Winner

IMPORTANT DATES!

Monday, 18 February Parent Information and Welcome BBQ at 6.00pm Wednesday, 20 February Kindergarten Bus Safety Tuesday, 26 February Parkes High School Open Day Friday, 1 March Lachlan Swimming Carnival at Condobolin

Our school Assembly is every Thursday commencing at 2.10pm

TERM 1 WEEK 4 Tuesday, 19 February Julie Hayward Wednesday, 20 February Jody Swindle Thursday, 21 February Jody Swindle Friday, 22 February Ethel Pearce TERM 1 WEEK 5 Monday, 25 February Michelle Skinner Tuesday, 26 February Wednesday, 27 February Jody Swindle Thursday, 28 February Jody Swindle Friday, 1 March Joanne Onley

Watermelon cups 50c Muffins 50c Juice Tube (ice block) $1.50 Moosies $1.00

Slushies are unavailable until further notice.

Canteen menu will be sent home with the newsletter today.

Jodie Milne - Canteen Manager

Positive Behaviour for Learning - Student on Target

Nathan Purtell

Congratulations to the children who were presented with Student of the Week Ribbons for their effort last week:

Keanau Robinson (KJ), Levi Reidy (K/1W), Charlotte Masling-Francis (1/2L), Aisea Folau (1/2S), Max MacGregor (3/4D), Miller Brazel (3/4O), Meg Skinner (4/5R), Emily Richards (5/6E), Jaylen Kelly (5/6H), Aliza Roberts (Mrs Butler), Zion Pearce (Mrs O’Donnell), Harley Stevenson (Mrs Fisher) and Riley Jones (Mrs Standen).

MERIT CERTIFICATES - Swimming Carnival / Infants Sport: Emily Wild, Tori Bennett, Noah Hansen, Bobby Webb, Ruby Ford, Krystal Dunn, Jai Byrne, Lachlan Jennings, Sienna Callaghan, Jace Cheney, Jaylan Richardson, Ashlee Trim, Myla-Rose Studdert, Maicey McGuire, Rigby Milford, Shyla Logan, Natalia Scherer, Jane Webb, Walter Smeaton, Shanise Smith, Leela Bradley, Shayleigh Johnston, Kaleb Gould, Lachlan Lowe, Ella Jablonskis, Josie Jennings, Holly Duncan, Charlie Skinner and Georgie MacGregor. Well done!

Infant Sport: Jordii Ah-See Primary Sport: Riley McMaster Assembly Item: No item

K-2 HISTORY—FAMILY PHOTOS K-2 students are learning about “Families, Past and Present” this term. Could K-2 students please bring in a family photo. If possible they can also bring in a copy of a family photo of their grandparents or great grandparents when they were young. Mrs O’Donnell

MEAL DEAL—THIS WEEK

Burito and choice of drink (juice, milk or Chill J)

Available as a wrap or in a container $6.00

STAGE 2 KITCHEN GARDEN PROGRAM Thank you to the keen volunteers who have offered their assistance this year. Kids LOVE having someone they know help in kitchen and garden classes. Remember NO experience necessary as the students do everything. Let Mrs Orr know if you can help out, even once would be appreciated on a Friday between 12.00 – 1.50pm.

In the Garden…

This week we will be giving our vegetables a much needed feed with seasol fertiliser. We will also learn about safety when in the garden. We will also be removing sunflower seeds to package and sell. We will be designing and making sunflower seed labels with real instructions.

In the Kitchen…

This week we will be learning about kitchen and knife safety. We will be making yellow squash fritters with fresh squash picked from the school garden. We will also make some zucchini muffins and a salad of the imagination! Stage 2 Enrichment groups

Stage 2 enrichment groups will commence this Friday. Year 3

and 4 students will be in mixed groups and rotate each

fortnight through garden, kitchen and technology/science

groups. The technology group will start with coding using the

Scratch program.

YEAR 4 RADIO SHOW Final reminder for Year 4 students interested in participating in the 2LVR radio program to return their notes

by the end of this week.

UGANDAN CHOIR TOUR There will be a performance from a Ugandan Children’s Choir at Middleton Public School on Monday, 4th March 2019. They will be preforming traditional songs, dance and drumming. This is the choirs second visit to Middleton and their first visit was thoroughly entertaining and enjoyed by everyone. The cost will be $4.00. All money raised goes back to the orphanage where these children live and will be used

to build new classrooms. More information is in the newsletter.

Parkes Shire Concert Band welcomes new players of all ages and abilities who might already play an instrument, or want to learn. You just need to be in Year 3 or above and able to come to practice nights on Tuesdays in term time 6.30pm to 8pm.

Would you like to COME ALONG IN 2019 Learn to play an instrument or play your instrument more? Play with a band? Play in street parades for Elvis and ANZAC Day? Wear a cool band uniform? Make new friends? Time: 6.30 – 7.00pm New Learners Group 7.00 – 8.00pm Development Band Where: Music Room Upstairs Town Pool complex Dalton Street Cost: $25 per term plus $25 per term instrument hire if needed Music Director: Duncan Clement - 0405 035 164 or President: Rhonda Redenbach - 0459 373 624

SPORT

LACHLAN SWIMMING CARNIVAL The following students will make up the Middleton swimming team which will compete at the Lachlan Swimming Carnival on Friday, 1st March at Condobolin. These students have received information and need to return their permission note to school. Riley McMaster, Hayden Lamond, Riley Duncan, Kaleb Gould, Walter Smeaton, Bobby Parker-Lee, Charlie

Skinner, Caylan Neilsen, Oliver Neilsen, Hugh MacGregor, Max MacGregor, Jett Clarke, Logan Roberts, Toby

Fliedner, Harrison Kennedy, Joselyne Folau, Holly Duncan, Georgie MacGregor, Sally Medlyn, Ella Jablonskis, Nell

Smith, Chelsea McMaster, Meg Skinner, Kiarah Peitre, Ashhley Trim, Tamika Meers, Elizabeth Smeaton, Josie

Jennings and Lilly Gosper

STAGE 2 SPORT—SWIMMING Stage 2 students (Years 3 and 4) will be swimming for sport on Wednesday morning. Students need to bring their swimmers, towel, sunscreen and a water bottle in a separate bag. Students will get changed in and out of their swimmers at the Parkes Pool.

Welcome back for 2019. Tuesday: 5/6E, 5/6H, 3/4D, 3/4O Wednesday: KJ, K/1W Thursday: 1/2S, 1/2L, 4/5R

Borrowing is: Kindergarten - 1 book Year 1 - 2 book Year 2 –2 book Year 3 - 2 books Year 4 - 2books Year 5-2 books Year 6 - 2 books

Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students Need a library bag to borrow. Library bags are available from the office for $7.00. Please encourage and remind your child to borrow on their designated day. We are looking forward to a fantastic year in the Library.

WASTE 2 ART Start collecting for our 2019 creation - baling twine, plastic strapping, plastic lids—all sizes 2019 LIBRARY MONITORS Hugh MacGregor, Oliver Neilsen, Elizabeth Smeaton, Olivia Alexander, Leela Bradley, Indianna Kennedy, Meg Skinner, Nathan Purtell, Lilly Callaghan, Riley Jones, Ashlee Trim and Makayla-May Simpson were presented with their library monitor badges at last weeks assembly. Congratulations.

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE Middleton Public School students will have the opportunity to be involved in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. This is a special initiative of the NSW Government, to foster a love of literature and encourage children to read widely for leisure and for pleasure. The Premier will send a signed certificate to all students who meet the challenge.

The K-2 Challenge is to experience 30 books from a booklist. The books can be read to the child, read by the child or in a shared reading situation.

The 3-6 Challenge is to read 20 books, with at least 15 of these books chosen from the Premier’s reading booklist.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge starts in February and finishes in August. Come and take up the challenge! If you would like more information please come and see me. Premier Reading Challenge record sheets will be sent home over the next 2 weeks. Mrs Standen—Librarian

You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book. Dr Seuss

Ugandan kids Singing, Dancing & Drumming troupe

Middleton is hosting a performance by the 100% HOPE Choir on Monday, 4th March 2019. The performance is a highly energetic concert with traditional African acapella singing, dancing and drumming, leading into more contemporary dance, culminating in head-spinning breakdancing. The choir has composed several songs plus choreographed all the music

What is 100% hOPE? 100% hOPE was founded in 2011 by Gold Coast teacher Trishelle Sayuuni. It is an Aussie charity tpartners with the local Ugandan community to provide education and support for children facing profound hardship

How will your participation benefit Ugandan children? 100% of funds raised will go directly to building classrooms at the 100% hOPE village in Mityana, Uganda.

This is the Ugandan choir, dance and drumming troupes second visit to Middleton Public School and their first per-formance was thoroughly entertaining and enjoyed by all. What a wonderful opportunity to experience African music and culture at Middleton. Please pay your $4.00 to the school office by Monday, 4th March 2019.

____________________________________ cut here_________________________________________________________

100% HOPE Ugandan Singing Dancing Drumming Performance

Please find enclosed $4.00 for my son/daughter/ward ____________________________________________ in class ______________ to attend the 100% Hope Ugandan Choir Performance. Parent/Guardian _____________________________________ Date _________________

Middleton Public School Medlyn Street, PARKES NSW 2870

Ph: (02) 6862 1999 Fax: (02) 6862 5310 https://middleton-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

middleton-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Middleton Swimming Carnival 2019

On Wednesday, 13 February, Middleton held its annual swimming carnival at the Parkes Aquatic Centre. The weather was a perfect sunny 25 degrees.

Every child had the opportunity to compete in at least two events whether it be in the freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke or the 30m swim and run or the wade and bob. It was great to see so many students compete and receive points for their house.

This year the students’ behaviour was amazing. Throughout the day house teams cheered, were well behaved and looked after their designated areas. Teams received high bonus points throughout the day. Well done Middleton! Everyone cheered all day, supported each other and had a great time. The students’ were enthusiastic throughout the whole day with house teams even cheering for other house team’s swimmers. What great sports we have at Middleton. Students also enjoyed the free swim times between each session. These free swims allowed children a chance to have some more fun and cool off between events.

Our day concluded with the relay events and houses cheered their teams on to the finish. Following the relays was a final free swim time, pack up and presentations. Congratulations to our Champion swimmers. Senior Champions: Joselyne Folau and Hayden Lamond Second place: Holly Duncan and Riley McMaster Third place: Sally Medlyn and a three way tie between Caylan Neilsen, Riley Duncan and Kaleb Gould Junior girl swimming champions First place: Chelsea McMaster and Meg Skinner who tied for first place Third place: Tamika Meers Junior boy swimming champions: First place: Oliver Neilsen Second place: Hugh MacGregor Third place: Logan Roberts Dean Shield: Sally Medlyn and Riley McMaster were the fastest 50m swimmers on the day and were awarded the Dean Shield. Kingsford won the House Competition and they also won the Standen Family Supporters Trophy. Congratulations Kingsford! An enormous thank you to our parents and staff who worked all day to ensure the day ran smoothly.