OC Class Applications - Year 4 for 2016 Application to seek OC placement in 2016 opened on Monday 27th April and close on Friday May 15. ALL applications must be made on-line at www.schools.nsw.edu.au/ocplacement. This is for any 2015 Year 4 student interested in applying. See more information below. Why would you apply? Perhaps you are just interested to see how your child might go sitting the OC test – but I am sure most parents and carers would not want their child to travel to another school instead of attending Harcourt. You attend the best. We can’t imagine why you would want to move.

School Photos – Next week. Have you paid ? Next week we are having our school photos taken (Tuesday May 5). Please send your child to school in their BEST SCHOOL UNIFORM and black school shoes. Your payment for photos should have been made before then or the company will apply late fees.

ANZAC Commemoration On Thursday last week we held the school’s ANZAC Assembly. Totally run by our seniors and student executive it was a credit to them. Thanks to the seniors and to Mrs Worrad. As a part of the ANZAC commemoration our school Captains were invited to dinner at Campsie RSL where the school received a $5000 cheque and a plaque to place on our Lone Pine Memorial for the 100 years anniversary of Gallipoli. Our school also had many of our stories and posters represented on the walls of the RSL – works done by our students as a part of the centenary. This $5000 donation from the RSL is a real bonus for the school and a wonderful example of the community participation and co-operation we have. Sincere thanks to all those at Campsie RSL! Finally - on ANZAC day two Harcourt students (George Lala and Cameron Goff) represented Harcourt in the ANZAC Day march. They also had speaking parts in the memorial speeches. Our thanks and congratulations to both students.

5 First Avenue, Campsie NSW 2194 Phone: 9718 5929 Fax: 9718 7234 e-mail: harcourt-p school@det nsw edu au URL: http://www harcourt-p schools nsw edu au

George and Cameron represent Harcourt at the Campsie ANZAC ceremony.

P&C Meeting Wednesday May 6 at 7pm The extraordinary P&C meeting to vote for a new President and other P&C executive is on Wednesday May 6th at 7pm in the school staff room. If you are interested in the school, in knowing what happens at Harcourt, in wanting the BEST education for your child and in wanting to make improvements – please come to the meeting. Nominate yourself for a position on the P&C and help to rebuild our P&C into an important voice within and for your school. Without YOUR voice and involvement the P&C will cease to exist – and the active role it has had in the progress of our school will also cease. We need you to step up and be involved. Nepal Earthquake The SMH reported that “in Kathmandu: Shell-shocked and sleeping in the streets, tens of thousands of Nepalese braced against terrifying aftershocks on Sunday while digging for survivors in the devastation wrought a day earlier by a massive earthquake that ripped across this Himalayan nation and killed more than 2500 people.” We have around 20 Nepalese students at Harcourt (about 3%) – and we want them all to know that we have them in our thoughts. Their concern for Nepal, relatives and friends must be excruciating.

Easter Rabbits from 1/2V Late last term my office was visited by a bunch of Easter bunnies! - and Students with their Projects from 1C

Reflection on 10 Years at Harcourt On 26th April, 2005 Mr Rieger was appointed as the new Principal at Harcourt PS. It’s now ten years on and it has been a volatile time in education. It’s easy to lose track of what has happened – so in the table below are SOME of the changes the school has seen in the last 10 years. My thanks to my wonderful staff – and especially my executive (Assistant and Deputy Principals) without whom these changes could not have happened.

BUILDINGS RESOURCES Tennis court and COLA were built – along with the K-2 play equipment and softfall and the cricket net

Hall sound system upgrade, big screen and projector installed and stage microphones installed.

Access road built from Second Ave. Canteen re-built G and H blocks built OOSH – before and after school started Re-roof library after 30 years of leaking PA system whole-school COLA PA system Entrance path built where access was previously around A block

Phones in every room for communication and safety and new bell and music system

Entrance gardens established around new pathway

Computers in every room and laptop class sets available.

Entrance lighting installed Courtyard and COLA PA systems installed School perimeter fence built Community room established Retaining wall built in courtyard Student Toilets upgraded/painted with hand

soap sprays and air-fresheners installed Meeting room established in A block with counsellor’s office established in B block

Hot water installed in staff toilets and staffroom and filtered water installed in staffroom

Front office was rebuilt making it larger and safer

Kitchen replacement in Staff room

2 AP offices established with sick bay moved to office area

Air conditioning installed in library, staffroom and offices

The library teacher resource room was built, the computer lab was built and the connected classrooms facility was installed

On-line payments and bookings for parent-teacher meetings and for canteen orders introduced

Upgraded entrance Suggestion box in office Vinyl to landings Resource/reading room Anti-slip steps painted Hall flooring and painting upgraded MDR built – and then Demountables and MDR removed to build Wangee Park SSP

Drainage upgrade to prevent water inundation to hall

Computers and interactive whiteboard installed in staffroom

Interactive white boards installed in EVERY classroom

Disability access installed along with the lift to access almost all areas

Wireless network installed throughout school and Connected classrooms resource in library

Disabled toilet and shower installed Library upgrade - carpets and flooring. Blocked areas on stairs re-opened Evacuation plans/ alarms upgraded

We have also introduced a myriad of educational programs and changes – including: Crunch and Sip, Healthy canteen, sport diversity of programs and outside providers used to maximize learning experiences Instructional rounds for staff development and Bring Your Own Device for Stage 3 students to maximize their exposure to ICT SRC and student executive has been restructured and re-vitalised (several times) with student committees/ teams to teach responsibility. Vice-captain system introduced ROSE and step systems were devised and introduced along with the You Can Do It program School planning days, Stage planning each term, Learning Support team established G&T classes and extension programs established No morning, recess and lunch line-ups for classes but movement straight to class Speech therapy alliance with Sydney uni and Multilit alliance with Macquarie Uni. LAMP – learning mentor program School website developed Email staff bulletins & agendas SENTRAL communications system installed across the school – including generation of school reports Community SMS system, Emailed and SMS Newsletters and notices Management folder established for staff as a one-stop for all school and DEC procedures and policies First aid boxes on major buildings with CPR masks and epipens and improved First Aid and health care procedures On-line payments system and On-line teacher meeting bookings On-line school calendar available for the whole community Budget and finance committees established and active AP Mentoring program (leading to many of Harcourt staff successfully applying for promotion) Venetian blinds and insect screens to offices and staffroom There are times we wonder if we do enough. When you see the changes in a decade you realise just how quickly the school has progressed. WITHOUT A P&C this progress will be more difficult and we won’t have a community body with whom to discuss changes. Please come to our meeting on Wednesday evening next week and get involved in your school’s P&C.

ROSE Awards Scheme and “Good Workers” TABLE This table is in the Newsletter every week and shows which students have

achieved a special level in our ROSE (Respecting Our School & Each other) awards program or have been noted for a really great effort in class – or have done some fantastic handwriting. The following students have achieved a higher level on the ROSE program or they have come to the Principal to show their excellent work. When they come to see me, they get a sticker for their good work – and a stamp on their forehead, their nose, their cheek or their chin. SO – if your child comes home with a stamp from the Principal – tell them how proud and pleased you are! Congratulations to these students:

Just Joshing This is the section for jokes and riddles. Send your best jokes and riddles to put in the school Newsletter. Put your jokes into the suggestion box in the school office – or send them to the school email (harcourt-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au) with the subject line “newsletter jokes”.

Q; Why doesn’t Dracula have any friends ? A: Because he’s a pain in the neck. Q: Why did the teacher have trouble walking? A: She had a ladder in her stockings. Q: What is an “ig”? A: An eskimo’s house with no loo. Customer: “Waiter! There’s a snail in my salad.” Waiter: “Sorry sir. You didn’t tell me you were vegetarian.”

Parenting events in May Stay tuned for the launch of the new 'Early Learning' section Early Learning tips and ideas in the home, playgroup events and Resources. Tell your friends, schools and Sign up to our monthly newsletter so that they can also find out

what Early Learning events and Parenting courses are around in their local area. Click the link: http://resourcingparents-

sfrp.cmail2.com/t/ViewEmail/r/B5FCCDD6BB15ED282540EF23F30FEDED/7BEA7B248E95DECB74AF8F7A76570606

CLASS Good Works & Handwriting 1/2V Wali, Hana, Ryan, Cathy who were wonderful Easter bunnies (see picture)

1C A big group of students showing their project work (see picture)

1E Jun Yong, Ruth

4G Vithushan – who did a wonderful PowerPoint on redback spiders

OC Class Applications - Year 4 for 2016 Application for Year 5 opportunity class placement in 2016 opens on Monday 27 April 2015 and closes

on Friday 15 May 2015. Late applications will not be accepted. Parents of Year 4 students are advised of

the online application process and that you must complete your applications online. There are no paper

applications.

All students seeking Year 5 opportunity class placement in 2016 will be required to take the Opportunity

Class Placement Test on Wednesday 22 July 2015.

An Intention to apply form is available. Parents of students seeking Year 5 opportunity class placement in

2016 must submit their application between Monday 27 April 2015 and 15 May 2015.

The application website is at www.schools.nsw.edu.au/ocplacement

Parents without internet access should try a public library to complete their online application. Parents with

a disability that prevents them from using a computer should contact the Unit for assistance.

Enquiries

Enquiries regarding opportunity class entry should be directed to the High Performing Students Unit on

telephone 1300 880 367.

Sport-In-Schools Australia is the company Harcourt uses to help provide experiences in sport and fitness for our students. They have returned for 2015 and we are very excited! Our first lesson focused on the fundamental movement skills of kicking and striking. It was so much fun!