RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESILIENCE

Newsletter of the Leura Public School Community Volume 3, Issue 16 Term 4 , 2014 Week 2

Coming Events

Week 2

17/10 – Peer Support

Commences

Week 3

20/10 – Kindy Orientation

Evening 6pm to 7.30pm

23/10 – Stage 1 Soccer Clinic

Week 5

3/11 – UBMMF Open Rehearsal –

Katoomba Public School

4/11 – Music Festival Performance

KPS – 6.30pm to 7.30pm

4/11 – Kindy Orientation Classroom

Activities, 1.45 - 2.45pm

6/11 – Music Festival Performance

KPS – 6.30pm to 7.30pm

Week 6

11/11 – Milo T20 Cricket, Stage 2

12/11 – Kindy Orientation Library

Visit – 2pm to 2.45pm

14/11 – Year 6 Fun Day

14/11 – P&C Meeting, 1.30pm

WALKATHON 2015

Some comments from our children on the Walkathon ……

I walked 21 laps. It was fun and I was happy. Jude, KF

On Tuesday, it was the walkathon and everyone had to walk as many

laps as they could. When you got to the table, Mrs Clarke would tick

your name off. We didn’t have to do work. I walked 28 laps. I had fun.

Grainne, K/1C

On Tuesday, Sienna, Audrey and I were walking in the walkathon. At

lunch all my friends were sitting with me having a sausage sizzle and an

iceblock. Antonia, 1R/B

I did 32 laps in the walkathon. For me, the walkathon turned into a

talkathon. Lucius, 2J

I really enjoyed the walkathon because it’s great to be outside

exercising. Jordan, 3/4D

On Tuesday we had the walkathon. We were surprised we got to walk

outside and it was a good day for everyone. Lucas & Max, 3/4M

Everybody had a fantastic day. It was a great chance to walk and talk

with friends. Oscar, 5/6A

I had so much fun walking around the school in the walkathon – laughing,

chatting with friends and all while raising money. Thank you Mrs

Colton, Mrs Getley and Mrs Aldred. Lucy, 5/6D

From Mrs Getley …. A warm welcome back to Term 4 – well sometimes it’s warm and other times we’re freezing!

We certainly opened the term with gusto; last week we had the Upper Blue Mountains Dance

Festival and Stage 3 attended The Big Day In, both held at Katoomba High School.

We finally managed to hold our walkathon – and even though the forecast predicted storms – we

managed many laps before the rains hit after lunch. We weren’t so lucky on photo day, however,

but the smiles still shone through in the hall.

Sherpa Kids Leura has commenced before and after school care in our school hall. They start

from 7am each morning and go til 6pm each afternoon. Pop in and say hello to Rose, Sydney or

Jones – they are more than willing to answer your questions. There is a voucher for a free

introductory session in this newsletter.

There will be a few staffing changes next year. Mrs Overmyer will be retiring at the end of the

year after 29 years at Leura PS. Mrs Clarke has been at Leura since 2002 in a full-time capacity

and feels it’s now time for some extended long service leave next year as she leads into

retirement. This means that we will be farewelling them both at the end of this year. These

wonderful teachers are icons at our school and will be sorely missed.

As our interactive whiteboards begin to age, I am replacing them with interactive LED

screens – these have a much higher resolution than IWBs and require no data projector as they

plug straight into the computer. Two units will be installed this term, one in KF and the other in

3/4O. Over the next few years, the school will gradually replace the aging equipment in other

classrooms.

As promised – our Skoolbag App is ready for you to download to your smart phone or tablet

device. Go to the App store on your device and search ~ Leura Public School Skoolbag :: click

on - FREE - then - INSTALL - click - OPEN - then - OK - the Push Notifications. If you

are running iOS 8, there are apparently a few hitches with receiving alerts at the moment-

Apple is sorting that out. I’m sorry, the App is not supported on Windows phones. Instructions

can also be found in the latter pages of this newsletter.

This week sees the beginning of Peer Support groups. These groups are formed across K-6 and

are lead very capably by our Stage 3 students. This year’s theme is “Resilience”. So ask your

child what they did in Peer Support on Fridays as they should have some good stories to tell.

´Everybody has talent, its just a matter of moving around until you discover what it is.’ ~ George Lucas .

yours in learning

Deborah Getley

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION INFORMATION EVENING Just a reminder …. On Monday, 20th October at 6pm there will be a Kindergarten Orientation

evening in Mrs Forrester’s classroom. It would be appreciated if you could please let any

prospective Leura school parents know about this event. We look forward to seeing next year’s

Kindergarten parents at this information session.

WALKATHON Against all odds, the weather held out long enough for the Walkathon to go ahead. It was a

wonderful day and we are proud of the efforts of all children. Well done to the staff for

cheerfully recording laps and encouraging the walkers.

Thank you to our wonderful P&C for the sausage sizzle; it was greatly appreciated on such a

chilly day. Also thanks to Mr van Gemert for ensuring our track was clear and in perfect order.

A special thank you to Vicki Cook, Janine Cullen, Tara Howell, Leanne Daud-Smith and Pilly Arce

for managing the tricky points along the walking route. Your help ensured the day went by

without incident.

Don’t forget to return sponsorship forms and money before Friday, 28th November. (You may

prefer to use the “Parent Online Payment” system (POP). Payment description: Walkathon). The

draws will take place during the second Principal’s Assembly this term.

E. Colton

Walkathon Co-ordinator

CORE VALUES – Term 3, Week 8

Class Respectful Responsible Resilient

KF Jai Elke Cody

KJ Ahmad Kiara Jacq

K/1C Aidan Joshua Ruben

1R/B Sienna Lauren Levi

2J Lola Darby Ashleigh

2W Ava James Annabella

STEWART HOUSE CLOTHING

APPEAL

The Stewart House clothing bags

went home to parents on Monday.

It would be appreciated if filled

bags could be returned to school no

later than Wednesday, 22nd October.

Bags can be left outside the 5/6D

classroom.

THE 2014 BLUE MOUNTAINS ORAL READING AND

PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION

Last Thursday four Leura Public School students

represented our school in this annual competition. On the

day, Mia [Year 3] and Tegan [Year 4] were commended on

their choice of reading passages and the quality of their

deliveries in the Oral Reading section.

Both Sebastian [Year 5] and Lucy [Year 6] presented

outstanding prepared speeches in their senior

competitions. Sebastian was awarded runner-up in the Year

5 section.

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the

school competitions and these four worthy contestants.

Jan Dickie

CALENDAR FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY 2015 Mrs McDougall recently submitted artwork for consideration for the Calendar for Cultural

Diversity 2015 “Beyond Borders”. The selection process for artwork for the calendar has now

been finalised and Leura Public School’s work will be featured for the month of July.

KINDERARTEN ENROLMENTS 2015 Just a reminder …. We are now taking enrolments for 2015. If your child turns 5 before 31st July,

2015 he/she is eligible to commence school. Please contact the school office if you would like an

enrolment form.

THE GREAT BOOK SWAP

The GREAT BOOK SWAP is back!

Leura Public School P&C, teachers and students are once again supporting the Indigenous Literacy Foundation for

our combined fundraiser for 2014.

The GREAT BOOK SWAP will be held at school on Thursday, 30th October - Indigenous Literacy Day.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Students and staff donate one of their favourite books and pay a gold coin donation to swap it for

someone else’s book.

So students…

Choose a book (or books) they loved reading but are ready to let go to a new home.

Will receive a bookplate to fill in to tell its new owner why they loved it.

Bring in their chosen book/s, along with a gold coin for each book to donate to the Great

Book Swap.

Will be given a voucher, in return for their book and coin donation, to use at the GREAT

BOOK SWAP.

NOTES/PAYMENT REMINDER To assist families, the following is a list of activities and associated costs, for which permission slips and/or monies are to

be returned to the school. If there are any difficult circumstances in regard to any payments by the due date, for

incursions/excursions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

EXCURSION/INCURSION AMOUNT DATE/PAYMENT DUE UBMMF Concert Permission Slip - Performances 4th/6th November

School Swimming Scheme Years 2,3, and 4 $83/$43 Monday, 24th November

Walkathon Sponsorship Forms - Friday, 28th November

Community Announcements: Family Energy Rebate: to help cover the cost of energy bills for NSW households with dependent children. 2 minutes to fill in a form

https://applications.fer.trade.nsw.gov.au/ . For more info ph: 137788 or email fer.program@trade.nsw.gov.au *eligibility criteria apply

My Time: creating a time for parents and carers – a calm space to share experiences, issues, parenting concerns or time out from a busy

week. My Time meets on Fridays at 2 West End St, Katoomba – 17th October to 12th December. For more info contact Connect on 4758

9966 or email Natalie.Dash@connect.asn.au

Blue Mountains Artfest 2014 – Wentworth Falls Public School, 7th Nov. Opening Night 7.30pm; 8th Nov. 9am to 5pm; 9th Nov. 10am to 4pm

Doll, Bear and Craft Show at the Museum of Fire. 25th & 26th October, 9.30am to 4pm. For more info call 4731 3000.

Leura Public School P&C’s NEXT MEETING

1.30pm to 3.00pm on Friday, 14 November

2014

Everyone’s welcome - hope to see you there! Don't forget if you can't make it to a meeting but have something to discuss with us please email P&C President, Di Kipp at lpspc.president@gmail.com

Thank You! to all the wonderful helpers

at the Walkathon Sausage Sizzle … so many helpers made the whole day a lot

easier! Ken Stockbridge, Zoe Butler, Penelope

Sai, Belinda Fisher, Niki Martignago, Di Kipp, Lisa Scott-Smith, Dindy Boutagy,

Belinda Ottmann, Beck Williams, Leah Douglas & Anna Feord.

Great work everyone!

Coming up soon …

Leura First Sunday Markets

21st Birthday

Markets Sunday, 2 November 2014

Our school markets will be celebrating this HUGE milestone & it would be great

to have school families involved!

If you are a musician/artist/performer who would like to help make this day extra

special please contact Markets Manager Di Kipp 0432 021 863

leura-markets@hotmail.com

Help support the markets which

support our school!

Don’t forget: discount rate for Leura school parent stalls & student stalls are

free!

Canteen Opens

this Friday, 17 October ! Starting with sandwiches this week but

there will be an updated menu coming out soon with hot food available!

Orders need to be in at the school office by midday each Wednesday. Don’t forget to

include a lunch bag with your order (the canteen can provide one if needed –

just add an extra 50c to your order).

** Late orders cannot be accepted. **

This is a P&C initiative so payments cannot be made online.

To volunteer please contact

Natalie Martin 0416 528 611

lpspc.canteen@gmail.com

Can you help with Ethics? Ethics classes have proven so popular at Leura we

have waiting lists just to be a part of the class!

Our volunteer teachers have been doing a fabulous

job, but due to a few retirements, we urgently

need new volunteers to help keep this program up

and running in 2015.

Teaching ethics is fun and rewarding, and takes

just half an hour each Tuesday morning. Even if

you cannot commit to a weekly class, we also need

help coordinating the program at LPS.

If you have ever thought about becoming an

Ethics teacher, or know someone in the community

who might be interested, now is the time to find

out more. Full training and support are provided.

Please visit www.primaryethics.com.au or

contact Cara McDonald on 0421 210072

or cara@bystander.net.