Belair Public School Newsletter Take Just Pride 34 Carolyn Street, Adamstown Heights NSW 2289 Phone: 4952 1735 Fax: 4956 2450

Email: belair-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Term 4 Week 10 December 12th 2017

Principal’s Message ~ Warwick Beard Greetings Everyone, We have had a lovely end to the year with lots of opportunities to get together as a school community. The three presentation assemblies have showcased the wonderful talents of our students and the amazing achievements across the year. Congratulations to all award winners who have demonstrated something extra special this year. Congratulations to our new Prefect Body and special congratulations to Maya and Jack, our 2018 School Captains. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs McNulty, Mrs Brander, Mrs Sutcliffe and Ms Bramble, four of our long term temp teachers who have worked at Belair this year. Unfortunately, with a reduction in the number of classes and the return of staff members from leave, there is no position for them in 2018 at this stage. I wish them well in their future and expect to see them back at Belair in some capacity in the future. To our outgoing Yr 6 students and families, I wish you all the best in the future. For some of you this will be the end of an era and I thank you for your many and varied contributions to Belair Public School over the years. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday period and a merry Christmas. Regards Warwick Beard

Principal

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

D E C E M B E R

Wednesday 13th

Year 6 Farewell 6pm

Wednesday 13th

ES 1 (Kindergarten)

Party Day

Wednesday 13th

Stage 1 (Yrs 1 & 2) Party Day

Thursday 14th

Stages 2 & 3 (Yrs 3,4,5 & 6)

Party Day

Friday 15th

Talent Quest Last Day of school

for students

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8

Monday 29th

Pupil Free Day Staff Development Day

Tuesday 30th

Students in Yrs 1–6 Return

Tues–Thurs

30/1–1/2

Kindergarten 2018 Best Start Testing

F E B R U A R Y

2nd

Kindergarten 2018 Students Begin

Reports Home Today Today your child is bringing home their Semester 2 school report. This report is based on the work and learning displayed by your child this semester. As always, application grades are just as important as achievement grades. Please remember that a “C” or “Sound” grade indicates that a student is working at a grade level. Our new Sentral data management system is used to translate regular assessments across the semester into report grades which are then reviewed by teachers for the final report. The learning area grades are weighted according to the amount of syllabus content to which they refer so it is possible, for example, for a student to have more B grades than C and still end up with an overall Sound grade for the subject.

Swimming Carnival Clarification There was confusion amongst some of our Year 3 students attending their first carnival this year that we would like to clarify. At school, Zone and Regional Carnivals all results are based on timed heats rather than conducting a series of heats and finals. As a result a child may even win their heat but their time may be slower than the students who ultimately finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the event. There are two reasons for this approach. Firstly it allows us to actually complete the Carnival in one day and secondly it reduces the load on some students who are already swimming in up to six events on the day. It also allows time for the 25m races and a “house swim” which provides weaker swimmers the chance to participate. I hope this clarifies any confusion. Kind regards, Warwick Beard

Deputy Principal’s Message ~ Kathie Colley I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate all Belair students on a wonderful year of learning. Every day I am inspired by the talent, work ethic and citizenship that Belair students display!!! I wish all students and their families a beautiful Christmas and Happy Holiday and look forward to another exciting year of achievements in 2018.

Here are some fun Christmas websites you might like to check out: http://www.northpole.com/ https://www.kcedventures.com/blog/14-festive-christmas-websites-for-kids http://www.thekidzpage.com/christmas/ https://www.jibjab.com/ http://www.santagames.net/

Kind regards,

Kathie Colley

School LEGO group The LEGO group have been busy in Terms 3 and 4. We have been working on our Theme Park MOC (my own creation). Thank you to all contributors from K- Year 5. The LEGO group happens each Tuesday in the library straight after the eating bell at lunch. LEGO group is a quiet activity in the library. All students are welcome.

Swimming Carnival Well done to all students who took part in the swimming carnival last Thursday. The high level of participation in each race was fantastic! Congratulations to the following students who were our champion swimmers: Senior Boy - Lucas W Senior Girl - Charli N Junior Boy (joint champions) - Kynon H and Liam S Junior Girl - Isabella W Many thanks to the families who supported our students and helped with time keeping. The champion house was Kookaburra.

Year 6 Transport Information Parents of Year 6 students who will be attending Kotara High School in 2018 will have received information regarding the School Student Transport Scheme ~ OPAL student cards. Parents can now access the online School Transport Scheme. Parents requiring OPAL cards for their children are asked to apply now to allow time for verification and processing. This is the online link:

http://www/transportnsw.info/school-students

Outstanding Money Still Owing There are still some long overdue accounts which need to be finalised. Invoices have been sent home so if anyone still owes money to the school, would you please pay ASAP. Some parents are still to pay for their child’s Swimming Carnival and Christmas Party Day. Please remember to include permission notes. If your child will not be attending the carnival or party day, please let your child’s class teacher know.

School Environment News - Plastic Police Thank you to everyone in the community with your support of our new waste management system and plastic police program at Belair. It is all going along well and we have reduced our landfill waste significantly during Term 4. We look forward to continue this during 2018. During the school holidays could you please take your soft plastics for recycling to Recycle at Coles. The bins are located outside each Coles store near the checkouts. We will then resume the program during Week 1 of Term 1 next year.

Student Awards

Weekly Class Awards

KE

Jayden K, Indi B

2C

Eden G, Grace E

4B

Emily M, Olivia C

KM

Brock S, Molly M

2L

Liza C-W, Lauren P

4K

Aaliyah H, Callan F

KZ

Sarah L, Levi R, Kai K, Oliver C

2M

Cooper M, Jiayuan Q

4/5P

Angus F, Alera H, Aya P

K/1A

Evie W, Anabelle E, Isabella H, Charlotte F

3HP

Riley M, Oscar G, Alexander J

5B

Jonah H, Charlotte A

1B

Elias V, Sam P

3M

Lila H, Archie C

5S

Flynn A, Felix P

1M

Mikaeel K, Annika D

3/4J

Lucy M, Charlotte M

6C

Charli N, Lexie B

1S

Hugo W, Sophia E

6F

Sophie R, Jasmine B

6G

Madi B, Elliott L, Gabriel F-H

Additional Special Awards Junior Dance Macy W Senior Dance Olivia S Honours Certificate Amelia T, Isla M, Chloe L, Samara P, Madi B, William F, Austin M-P, Benjamin C, Bodie Z, Charlotte M, Maggie C, Allira B, William P, Oliver S NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge- Gold Award Callan P, Laura B NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge- Platinum Award Keely D

Canteen Roster and News ~ (Canteen Supervisor Sonja 0438 684 401)

Wow! 2017 was a busy year in the canteen. As of this newsletter we have provided 9600 lunches, 3334 of these being online! Thank you to all our wonderful helpers that have made the canteen a great place to be throughout 2017. Good luck to those who have children moving on to High School – your company will be very much missed! Vacancies are now open to fill next year’s roster. Please let Sonja know what day would suit you best. We love to see new faces.

Sick of finding loose change for the canteen bag? Only have a big note?

Children forgetting to put their order in? Turn to flexischools online canteen ordering

to never miss out on a lunch order again!!

13 Dec 17

Wednesday Robyn S

14 Dec 17

Thursday Perin P

15 Dec 17

Friday Amy O, Nikki N, Debra

29 Jan 18

Monday

30 Jan 18

Tuesday

P&C News P&C email: belairpandc@hotmail.com The P&C would like to thank the many families who have supported their many fund raising activities throughout the year. We especially look forward to using the new play equipment due to be installed in 2018!

Community News

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Community News

This is a reminder regarding the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) and students progressing from year 2 to 3 and year 6 to 7. We have made some improvements to our system which now means that students who are progressing

to year 3 and year 7 do not need to reapply if they meet the following three conditions:

• are continuing at the same school • are residing at the same address • have not been sent an expiry notification from Transport for NSW.

The system has automatically validated a student’s ongoing eligibility if they’re at the same school and progressing to year 3 and year 7. Where a student met the new eligibility the system has updated their entitlement and card. If they didn’t meet the new eligibility, they would have been sent an expiry notification. If students need to update any information or reapply, they should go online to https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/updateDetails. Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2017 to ensure students’ entitlements are updated and their current card is not cancelled. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2017, the system will automatically cancel their card and a new one will need to be issued. Students in the Opal network applying for an SSTS or Term Bus Pass entitlement for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out during the 3rd week of January 2018. Students residing in Rural and Regional (R&R) areas should receive their new travel pass at the commencement of the new school year in 2018. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students should check with their operator for more information. Concessions 131 500

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