Warragamba Public School

Keeping in Touch – Term 4 Week 6

16 November 2017

Thursday 30 April 2015

Thursday 2 April 2015

Principals Message The end of the year is fast approaching and the staff and students are preparing for some exciting days ahead. All students have been completing class, grade and stage assessments ready for reports and we are seeing some great results coming through. Our NAPLAN results this year reflected some pleasing gains by the school and have also highlighted areas that we need to focus on, moving forward. As a school we analyse our NAPLAN results every year and then look at our school assessment data also to gain the ‘big picture’. From there we look at areas of strength and areas for improvement. This information then assists us in our planning for the following year. Teacher professional learning and school programs are planned for to ensure improvements in learning outcomes for all students. Reading levels are monitored each term and that data is also used. The staff are currently undertaking our school evaluation process which will then lead into our next three year strategic plan. This information will be shared with the school community as the process progresses. Your feedback through surveys and day to day discussions with staff are also a valuable part of the process. Assistant Principals have been working closely with their stage teachers both in the classroom, in a team teaching situation, and also having one to one discussions with teachers around assessment, students who may need extra support heading into 2018 and also students who require extension. These are valuable discussions that keep us all well informed and also assist with planning for the new school year. Our numbers for 2018 are looking promising with the possibility of us going back up to 15 classes. We are very closely monitoring the numbers so that we can start planning our class structures and staffing. I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming events. This is always an exciting time of the year but also a sad one as we say farewell to our Yr 6 students. There will be one more newsletter in Week 9 to finish off the year. Thank you Mrs K Shepherd Principal WPS

Principal’s Merit Award Respect Rule: Demonstrates exemplary manners at all times!!!!!! KE –Cooper N 3E – Tyla L KJ – Ateyah B 3/4M – Ella-May C K/1K – Ryan P 4/5L – Benjamin S 1A – Annabelle F 5/6C – Jessica H 1C – Briana P 5/6K – Jemmah H 1/2K – Chloe T 5/6M – Shay K 2B – Bailey P Mrs Gerrie – Casey D 2/3R – Chelsea K Miss Foster – Emeline P

Remembrance Day

Last Saturday Mrs Luc and I attended the Remembrance Day service in the memorial Park @ Warragamba. It was a lovely service. I would like to congratulate Sophie L, Nicholas C, Shay K, Olivia W & Luke C for coming along to represent the school on this day. They all looked fantastic in their uniform and all assisted with the laying of the wreath.

Photography Awards

Congratulations to all of our photography students who entered their photographs into the Macarthur Nature Photography competition. Jordan & Corey came 2nd in their categories and Maverick F came 1st in his category and Maverick & Warragamba won the overall primary schools section. Well done on a great achievement for our school. We are so proud of all of you. Thank you to Mrs Cleary

for the wonderful work she has done with her Photography groups this year!!!

Yr 6 & Kinder Buddies 2017 – Afternoon of FUN!!!!!

Last week our kindergarten students went to visit Yr 6 for the afternoon and they all spent the afternoon playing together. This was a nice way for the kinder students to reconnect with their buddies and to enjoy some quality time together before Yr 6 leave our shores. There was much excitement up in the 5/6C and 5/6K rooms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing Work!!!!!!!!

Ky D Audrey L Evelyn K Some amazing independent sentence writing from students in Kindergarten (K/1K). I was so excited to have them visit me yesterday to share their fabulous work. Each of them left my office with a big sticker and a magic writing pencil!!!!!!!

KE, KJ & K/1K Warragamba Dam Excursion

Last Thursday we had KE, KJ & K/1K attend their Warragamba Dam walking excursion. Many parent helpers went along on the day to help out which was very much appreciated by the staff. It was quite a warm day and I think they were all very tired on their return to school!!! Even the adults were exhausted.

School Swimming Scheme

The students have been participating in swim scheme for the past two weeks and have very much enjoyed their experience. We have had the odd piece of clothing left behind but on the whole the students have kept track of their belongings quite well. Congratulations on the achievements they have made over the two weeks.

Water Polo Congratulations to Keenan and Nicholas for being selected for the regional Water Polo Team. The event was held on Monday of this week. It is always great to see our students trying out for sporting teams and going along to participate. Keenan was unable to attend on Monday however Nicholas said that he had, had a great day.

Well done!!!!! :)

Upcoming Events

Date Event

20.11.17 Councillor Speeches (assembly)

22.11.17- 24.11.17 Stage 3 Great Aussie Bush Camp

28.11.17 Last day of scripture for 2017

29.11.17 Warragamba PS Disco (during the day)

30.11.17 Canteen Hot Dog day

01.12.17 Warragamba Dam excursion – 1C, 2B & 2R

05.12.17 Yr 6 HS Orientation Day for all Public HS students

06.12.17 Presentation Day

07.12.17 Yr 6 Farewell

08.12.17 Last canteen Day 2017

11.12.17 Parent Helper Morning Tea @ 10.30am

12.12.17 Yr 6 Graduation Day @ 9.30am

13.12.17 Yr 6 Picnic day & K-2 Movie Day

14.12.17 Semester 2 reports go home

15.12.17 3-6 Pool Day & Last day of school for 2017

K-2 Christmas Picnic Day

Please note if there is a need to change a date we will let you know through the newsletter.

A message from the Canteen

The last Canteen Day this year is Friday 8 December (Week 9).

Special Canteen Day – Don’t forget to get your Hot Dog Orders into the canteen before Wednesday 22 November 2017.

ASTHMA and ASCIA PLANS for 2018 - Important Information! If your childs Asthma or Ascia Plan is more than 12 months old or if there have been any changes in medication or condition the school requires a new plan from your doctor as soon as possible.

Payments to the School

Please ensure that receipts for payments made to the school for any School event are kept until after the event so that this allows us to check information against school records if there are discrepancies. Receipts need to be provided as proof of payment. The school will no longer be able to cover disputed payments unless proof of payment is provided.

Kindergarten 2018 Enrolments

Kindergarten enrolment packages are now available at the front office. Children turning 5 before the 31 July 2018 are eligible to enroll. If you have a child who will be starting school in 2018 please call in to the office to pick up an enrolment package. Office hours are 8.30am to 3.15pm

New Students 2018 If you know of anyone who wishes to enroll at WPS for next year could you please ask them to call into the school to pick up an information pack asap.

Leaving us in 2018? If you know for sure that you won’t be returning to Warragamba Public School in 2018, please advise the school office in writing as soon as possible.

Stewart House School Clothing Appeal 2017

Please note that the scheduled date for pick up of the clothing collected by students and their families is Friday 24 November 2017.

Message from Mrs Bogart – Library Please check at home to see if you have any books from our Library and return them to Mrs Bogart as soon as possible.

Prescribed Medication

If your child has been prescribed antibiotics a Medical Form must be completed and signed by the Parent before the school can administer the prescribed medication. Forms can be collected from the office.

IMPORTANT ROAD SAFETY REMINDER FOR

PARENTS AND CARERS THESE HOLIDAYS

As the school holidays approach, it is important to remember when walking near roads, on footpaths, near driveways and in car parks always:

hold your child’s hand. Until they are at least 8 years old children need to hold an adult's hand. Until they at least 10, children should be closely supervised by an adult and hold hands when crossing the road.

talk to your child about road safety. Talk about how to be safe when near roads. Be a good role model.

point out road safety dangers and differences in new environments. This is especially important when on holidays in different surroundings. Roads, footpaths and pedestrian facilities may look different in holiday areas.

The best way to keep your child safe on or near the road is to hold their hand.

Talk with your child daily about road safety.

Remind other adults and carers about this too.

You can find out more at Transport for NSW. http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/children/pedestriansafety.html

OFFICE OF THE CHILDREN’S eSAFETY COMMISSIONER – NEWSLETTER ARTICLE

HELP FOR PARENTS TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHILDREN’S

eSAFETY COMMISSIONER

The Commonwealth Government’s Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner has developed a resource for parents –

iPARENT – which is designed to help parents learn how to be safe and secure with the connected devices in their children’s

lives.

iPARENT – found at https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent - provides facts and stats about Australian

children online, managing technology in the home and strategies used by parents to keep children safe online.

A Parent’s guide to online safety can be downloaded from the site and a range of useful information is available. For example

parents can access information about cyberbullying including:

how to talk to your child;

a parent’s guide to responding to cyberbullying;

what to do if your child is being cyberbullied or cyberbullying others; and

sources of professional support and help.

You may like to check out the Office of the Children’s e-Safety Commissioner’s eSafety Christmas Gift Guide, if you are

contemplating buying technology for your children this year.

The Department of Education also has a cyber safety resource for parents on its website – Raising Good Digital Citizens which

is accessible at: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/en/technology/using- technology/raising-good-digital-citizens.

Check them out when you get the chance.