Newsletter June 21st 2018—Issue No 19 Also available on our website @ www.narnargoonps.vic.edu.au

PRINCIPAL CONFERENCE Both Fran and I attended at two-day Regional Leadership Conference in the city last week. The theme was Leading Excellence in Teaching and Learning- Unleashing Greatness Together. The opportunity to engage and learn from and with, other school leaders, and local and global education leaders is always insightful. Fran and I heard some very enlightening speakers, and had some thought-provoking discussions about the content. Conferences like this are valuable as they enable educators to get together and discuss similarities and differences in and between schools. We hear about some wonderful initia-tives and we also share some of the fantastic things we do here at NNG that we perceive as ‘normal’. It is always wonderful when we get feedback that we are doing something brilliant. As always, it makes me very proud that, although we are a small ‘country’ school, the quality of our programs and the educational opportunities we offer all our students is exemplary. STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES We are all looking forward to our first Student-Led Conferences,

which are taking place on Tuesday 26th from 1.40pm. These will

be held in your child’s classroom and both teachers and our

students are very excited about sharing and celebrating the

learning that has gone on so far this year. Our students intend to

share some special pieces of work that they have chosen and will

talk about the skills and competencies they have gained through-

out the semester. You will be shown the SeeSaw App, which has

been a fantastic way our teachers have been setting tasks across a

range of subjects, and collecting work samples and evidence of

learning. From Semester Two, we hope to activate the Parent

Access facility which will enable individual parents to see and

hear, in real time, what their child is doing in the classroom. We

will keep you posted. Some housekeeping issues for Tuesday,

whilst at school:

Students will be separated into smaller groups to enable parents to

find their children

Foundation and Year 1 students will be in the Library. Parents can collect their child from here to take to the F/1 rooms for the interviews as these classes are running an adapted student-led conference

Year 2/3/4 students will be in the Multi-Purpose Room. Teachers present will be given a list of the students’ conference times to support the transition from the MPR to classrooms. All students at this level will also be given a paper bracelet to help them remember times

The 5/6 students will be in the Art room and on the oval. Teachers supervising here will also be given a list of the students’ conference times to support the transition from the MPR to classrooms. Students from these grades will meet their parents at their classroom

Our 2-6 students will be notified of their time to present their

work and will be supported by the supervising teachers

to make their interview times

Teachers will have a stopwatch to enable conferences to run

on time

Families with more than one student may elect to take all the

children in their family to each conference to save time

Families are welcome to take their students home after their

interviews if they are during school hours

Given this is our first attempt at this format, it may be

challenging. We are all very excited about the prospect of having

our students lead their parents through a conversation about their

learning.

YEAR 23G

Unfortunately, Alice Greenaway will be unable to return to her

position as classroom teacher for another term. She is, however,

on the mend and is supporting other teachers and even using the

SeeSaw App to look at and comment on student work. We are in

the process of securing a replacement for the class.

SENSORY GARDEN

We are beginning to get underway with the planning stage of our

garden. Over the holidays, we hope to isolate some of the area

and move the soil around in preparation for the foundations of a

dry creek bed and the related bridges and jetty that will work

around it. We hope to be close to the planting stage by the time

our students return for Term 3, as each class will have a section of

the garden that they will contribute to. PAFA have generously

allocated some funds for us so we can really create an area which

is enticing and supportive to all students in the school. The

current gazebo, veggie gardens and chess board will stay as they

assist in making the space a genuine exploration of the senses.

Again, we are looking for anyone who can offer expertise or

materials to get our project started.

Kind Regards Jacqui Cutler

From the Principal’s Desk:

Nar Nar Goon Primary School 27 Spencer St, Nar Nar Goon 3812 Phone: 5942 5311

nar.nar.goon.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au www.narnargoonps.vic.edu.au

Please enrol your siblings as soon as possible so

that we can finalise our numbers for 2019

School Council News:

What age are your children? Their names and grade level? I have Ayden who is 10 and in year 5, Joel is 9 and in Year 4 and Blake is 8 and in Year 3 As a family, what do you like doing together and where do you like to spend your holidays? We like going to the drive in together to watch movies. We also spend time each year in the country at a family members farm enjoying the peace and quiet

What is it about Nar Nar Goon Primary School that you and your family enjoy the most? We enjoy the size of the school it’s great all the kids from Prep to Year 6 all know each other.

How long have you been on School Council and why did you elect to go on School Council? This is my 5th year. I initially joined as I wanted understand more about how the school works. You know I used to think as it was a Government School that meant the government funded everything for the school. I’ve learnt that is definitely not the case. The fundraising and voluntary contributions to the school are essential for the school to run well as it does. To date, what do you believe has been the most valuable actions of School Council since you have been a councillor? I think the change over to a new Principal especially when our previous Principal was in the role for such a long period of

time. I think the changes that have been implemented have been embraced, in most part, by the wider school community. What advice would you give to someone considering electing for School Council in the future? Have a go – as Karen said the other week ‘we don’t bite’ Do you have any other comments to make? My children know that volunteering your time is something normal and I think that’s something positive to instil in children.

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR 2018 SCHOOL COUNCIL MEMBERS This week’s featured 2018 School Councillor is Kathryn Trotter

JUNE

Friday 22nd Girls Footy CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF NUMBERS PAFA Pie Drive Collection 2pm-4pm Tuesday 26th Parent Teacher Interviews 1.40pm-7.30pm Friday 29th LAST DAY TERM 2 2.30pm finish, buses run to this timetable.

JULY Monday 16th First Day Term 3 Tuesday 31st Y 5/6 Tiger Paws (home) info to follow

AUGUST

Thursday 2nd—Friday 3rd Y3 Taskworks Camp Monday 6th-Wednesday 8th Book Fair –info to follow Monday 6th School Council 4.45pm Tuesday 7th Y5/6 Tiger Paws (away) Thursday 9th Y3/4 Hooptime - info to follow Monday 13th Y5/6 Hooptime -info to follow Friday 17th CURRICULUM DAY

SEPTEMBER Monday 3rd School Council 4.45pm Prep 2019 Info Session 6pm-7pm Wednesday 5th—Friday 7th G4 Camp – info to follow Thursday 6th—Friday 7th G5 Camp – info to follow Wednesday 12th P-2 Swimming – info to follow Thursday 13th P-2 Swimming Friday 14th P-2 Swimming Monday 17th P-2 Swimming Wednesday 19th P-2 Swimming Friday 21st P-2 Swimming LAST DAY TERM 3

DIARY DATES

URGENT IMPORTANT

If you have received an email regarding use by dates on your child’s medication, please make sure you supply the school with current and up to date medications as soon as possible.

Last week’s E4 Excellence Award Winners are pictured below:

Jasmin F, Taya S, Kiara P, Chelsea B, Josh M, Jo Jo B,

Lilly D, Mikayla B, Hayley W, Tye B

PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION

**WEDNESDAY CANTEEN** See weekly Facebook messages for what’s on the menu!

All items are 50 cents each ----

**PIE DRIVE**

Collection of pies will be on FRIDAY 22nd JUNE from the Canteen from 2pm. ----

**BINGO DUTY**

Our next Bingo Duty is on Thursday 19th July – it would be great to have a few more helpers.

At our last duty, we were a very lucky table with winning over $1,100!! Please let Ally Seebeck know if you can help out on the night – you might be lucky enough to win a game or two!

**FACEBOOK PAGE**

Join the

Nar Nar Goon Primary School – Parents & Friends Group as another way to stay informed and up to date with the activities and events happening within the School.

(*this is a closed group only available to parents/carers with current students at the school*)

LATE ARRIVALS 43

Koby P

As well as the usual coughs and colds there are also many cases of

gastro currently in the school. Gastroenteritis is highly contagious. Please keep students home who are

exhibiting any symptoms or are com-plaining of feeling unwell.

EARLY LEAVERS

30 Down by 13

A Reminder………………. That if you have changed your email address you will need to resubscribe to our Newsletter mailing list. You can do this via the link on our website.

Please note that it is an expectation that students who attend sporting events, representing our school, should remain at the event to support their team!

ATTENTION PARENTS We would respectfully ask that every person who comes onto the school grounds between the hours of 9:15am and 3:15pm does so through the main office to ensure that we know who is on the school grounds at all times. We would ask for your cooperation as parents to ensure that if you have a message for your child or an item that needs to be delivered to the classroom that you ask the office staff to pass it on rather than interrupt the class and/or the teacher during instruction time. Anyone without a WWCC lanyard or Visitors badge will be redirected to the front office.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK

It is a DET requirement & Nar Nar Goon Primary Policy that any volunteer in the school must have a

current Working With Children Check. This must be displayed at all times when you are in the school.

You can apply on line, at no cost as a volunteer, at the following link. www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

You can then present your card to the school office so that details can be kept on file.

Your feedback is important to us. If you have a concern or would like to raise a complaint as a parent, please speak to the classroom teacher in the first instance, Team leader in the second instance (ie: F-1: Jodie Watt, Grade 2-3: Kimberly Feher, Grade 4-6: Jacqui Cutler). Otherwise, please contact the Principal Mrs Fran Van Lambaart by calling the office to arrange an appointment.

CHILD SAFE STANDARDS

Nar Nar Goon Primary School is committed to child safety. We want children to be safe, happy and empowered. We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers. We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children. We have zero tolerance of child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently with our robust policies and procedures. If you would like more information please go to the ‘Wellbeing’ or ‘Policies’ tab on our website where you will find our Child Safe Policy and/or further information and resources go to: www.education.vic.gov.au/protect

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Important Medical Information

Please note that there is currently an immune

compromised student in the school, therefore it is even more important to keep sick students at

home.

STUDENT SUPERVISION

Please be aware that staff are on yard duty in the playground from 8:45 am before school and until 3:45 pm after school. Students travelling on late buses are supervised in the Multi Purpose Room after school until the final bus leaves. For your own child’s safety it is recommended that children do not arrive at school before 8:45 am.

Library News

Congratulations

2/3M, 4CL and 5/6H who have no overdue books this week.

Great effort by these students. Down by 13

WANTED

Old, clean towels for use in the Sick Bay, please.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

REPORTING ABSENCES ON LINE

Please note that when submitting them on line that you

need to click on the submit button at the end of the

process and wait for a confirmation.

If you don’t receive a confirmation, please try again.

We would appreciate it if you could let us know if you

are having issues with the reporting system

PREP ENROLMENTS FOR 2019

If you have a sibling of a child already attending here who is starting their Prep year, or likewise, if you know of anyone who lives in the area (within our school boundary) and are thinking about enrolling their child for next year, enrolment packs are now available from

the office.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR EVERYONE

A reminder that EVERY HELPER in our school must

wear their Working With Children Card on one of our visitor lanyards, or a visitors badge when helping in

our school.

This could be for reading helpers, sport helpers, classroom helpers, PAFA friends etc.

This is policy in our school and we will be monitoring this diligently.

Remember, it is not only for the safety of our children, but protection for yourself.

Our students have also been instructed to look for these.

Also when signing in please sign in your toddlers too, just in case of emergency.

POETRY GROUP

This week in Poetry Group the Grade 5 children created some HAIKU poems (Three lines - line 1, 5 syllables, line 2, 7 syllables, line 3, 5 syllables)

WHAT AM I?

Carrot for a nose I am made with three snowballs

I melt in the sun

The group also continued looking at the work of AB Patterson. This week was ‘The Man From Snowy River’

Ayden T, Cody H, Tayla B, Sean B, Stirling S, Sean B, Bailey P

TRAFFIC SAFETY Please adhere to the No Standing zones that are in place on

Spencer Street. There are a number of parents who persist in parking in the immediate vicinity of the supervised school

crossing in the No Standing zones which is extremely dangerous and highly illegal. This practice has been noted by the Pakenham Police who will be visiting the school during pick up and drop off times regularly during the term. Also, please ensure that when you drop your child off on Spencer

Street that your child alights from the vehicle on the curb side of the road- not straight out onto the street for obvious safety

reasons.

A huge thank you………

To Maurice and Anja Potter from the

Beaconsfield Tennis Club for yet another very generous donation of tennis balls to our

school.

PLEASPLEASE NOTE THAT PAYMENTS FOR BOOK CLUB CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AT THE SCHOOL.

ALL ORDERS AND PAYMENTS MUST BE DONE ONLINE-NO