31 July 2014

Phone: 9971 8352, 9982 2475 Fax: 9982 5617 Email: wheelerhts-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website: wheelerhts-p.schools.nsw.edu.au From the Principal This week is Education Week for all public schools throughout NSW. We are indeed very proud to be a highly inclusive comprehensive public school. It was lovely to see so many parents, grandparent, carers and friends visit the school today. The two school choirs, senior band and senior dance performed at a school concert run by our school captains Kiera and Jordan. One of our recent multicultural public speaking competition participants, Luke Rodr then entertained the audience with his speech on ‘Every family has a story’. Our parents were then able to visit the open classrooms and see what is happening across the school, before enjoying light refreshments. PCS Music Festival On Monday evening we had our Wheeler Wailers choir and class 2M performing at Pittwater HS as part of the Peninsula Community of Schools (PCS) Music Festival. It was a wonderful community event with over 140 children in the combined choir with our own Ms McCombie as the conductor. Our class 2M line dancing item was a big hit with the audience, special thanks to teachers Ms McColl and Ms Svendson. Well done to all Wheeler Heights performers. Athletics Carnival Congratulations to all competitors for their great efforts at yesterday’s carnival. We were very fortunate to have a lovely warm day. Well done to organizer Tyson Blanshard and all staff and parents for their support and encouragement on the day. A full list of results is attached to this newsletter and ribbons for placegetters in finals will be distributed at the 9.15am assembly on Monday 11 August. Auctioneer Required We are on the lookout for an Auctioneer for our Art Exhibition and Auction on Thursday 4 September. If you are an auctioneer or may know a local person (a real estate agent perhaps) who may be suitable qualified…please see Mr Scotter or the front office. Car Park Safety We have just placed some new signs reminding parents and students about walking through the car park. Please again be advised that such areas are extremely dangerous and that is why parents and students must use the appropriate walkways and stairways at all times. Please help us to set the correct example for our children. OOSH Super Heroes Week Well done to our OOSH students who had a very successful and practical super hero day last week. The boys and girls (and staff) completed a number of jobs and tasks around the school and presented teachers with delightful ( and edible!! ) prizes. Thanks to coordinator Michelle and all her super OOSH staff. Staffing News It is certainly our goal to minimize disruptions to class teacher arrangements throughout the year. Sometimes a number of staff changes are necessary as unexpected periods of sick leave or other circumstance arise. Generally, children are very resilient to change and enjoy learning from a variety of teachers. We also ensure that a range of different programs are provided as part of the RFF (Release from face to face teaching) program each week. I know that our K-2 students are enjoying Drama with Mrs MacPherson and Years 3-5 are enjoying Italian with Mrs Polito this semester This week we welcome Ms Rani Donohoe who has begun teaching 6C as Ms Waldock is the acting Deputy Principal. Please also note that Mrs Lanham is currently on leave.

Term 3 Week 3

COMING EVENTS Fri 1 August 10.15am Uni NSW English Competition PSSA Sun 3 Aug Jazz Band Festival @ WHPS 1-4pm Mon 4 Aug Student Leadership Team & Choir to War Vets 9.30-11am Thurs 7 Aug Yr 2 to Art Gallery Legends of League 2.30pm K-2 assembly Fri 8 Aug Yrs 5&6 Spelling Bee 9.15am PSSA Mon 11 Aug Yrs 3&4 Spelling Bee 11.45am Band Meeting 7pm Wed 13 Aug Yr 3-6 Uni Maths competition 2pm School Tour Thurs 14 Aug 2.30pm Yr 3-6 assembly Fri 15 Aug PSSA Mon 18 Aug P&C AGM 7pm- all welcome!! Wed 20 Aug Mufti Day

P&C News Next month is the P&C AGM on Monday 18 August and so now is the time to consider being involved in our great school! Please talk to your friends, myself or any current P&C representatives to see what the role may entail….Please see more details later in the newsletter. David Scotter - Principal

Art Auction – Thursday 4 September- 6.30-8pm

The P&C is conducting a major fundraiser in Week 8 of this term. It will take the form of an ARTFEST. Each class of students and their teacher are creating a masterpiece of art, which will be auctioned on the night of September 4th. As well as the class major art piece, all students in each class are producing individual art works, which will be sold to their parents for $10. During Week 8, all art pieces will be available for viewing in the school library, prior to Thursday. We hope you lock this date into your diary and we look forward to seeing you on ‘Auction Night’. Cost: $TBC- entry will include drink and canapés. Format: The 22 major pieces of class art can be viewed from 6.30pm. The auction of pieces will begin at 7pm. Prior bids and phone bidding will be permitted. Ms Linda Williamson Debating Camp Twelve students in Year 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to attend the Sydney North Debating Camp on Tuesday 16th-Wednesday 17th September or Wednesday 17th-Thursday 18th September at The Collaroy Centre, Homestead Ave, Collaroy Beach. The camp is run by Northern Sydney Debating and provides a rich learning environment to further develop the debating and speaking skills of primary school students. The cost for the 2 days is $240 all inclusive. If your child is interested in going to the camp, please see Mrs Smith to collect a permission note. Due to the popularity of the camp, medical and permission notes are to be returned to Mrs Smith with full payment by Friday August 8 to secure your child’s place. Mrs Julia Smith

Chess News Last Friday, the Rookies "A" team played their final game of this year's NSWJCL competition against Collaroy Plateau Cs with a resounding 4 v 0 win, making them the division winners (as expected). Unfortunately 2 of our wins were due to forfeits on boards 1 and 4, but fortunately that meant more post-game snacks for all! Congratulations Ethan, Jet, Luke and Kai and many many thanks again to all involved with helping out throughout the season. Ms Zillhardt

BOUNCEBACK STUDENT WELFARE PROGRAM

All classes K-6 commenced lessons last week using the BOUNCEBACK program. The program aims to develop and build a child’s resilience and their capacity to cope well with times of adversity or hardship (and even be strengthened by them.) It is the ability to bounce back from difficult times to a fulfilling life

while retaining a positive sense of self. Resilience skills are also needed to academic success. e.g. persistence, courage and goal setting. Each week, class lessons focus on a letter in the name ‘BOUNCEBACK’. FOCUS THIS WEEK: Unhelpful thinking makes you feel more upset. Think again. Lesson 3: Core values: It is important to be responsible and care about and support others.

SPELLING BEE

Students in classes 3-6 are sharpening their spelling techniques and teachers are finalising the stage competitors. Details regarding the Spelling Bee are available on the school website.

Stage 3 (Year 5/6) Friday 8 August at 9.15am in the hall. Stage 2 (Year 3/4) Monday 11 August at 11.40am in the hall.

CHAMPION FENCER VISITS

Last Monday, Wheeler Heights students were given a real treat with a visit from champion fencer Sally Bennett. Sally is an ambassador for the Premier’s Sporting Challenge program. Our school has continued to participate in the program which supports the PDHPE curriculum.

It was a very interactive session with the opportunity to view video footage of Sally winning the state titles as well as students from the audience demonstrating their ‘new found’ fencing skills with modified equipment on stage. It also highlighted the surprising amount of intensity and fitness that is involved in the sport. Some enterprising students managed to collect Sally’s autograph at the end!

The Premier’s Sporting Challenge also provided 600 pieces of fruit for our school which was distributed among K-6 classes and at the Athletics Carnival.

We will be watching Sally as she represents Australia at the Olympics in Rio in 2016. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

Year 5 students Lily Grenenger and Will Green enthusiastically challenge each other to a duel with ‘modified sabres’. Here they are under the guidance of Australian champion fencer, Sally Bennett.

STUDENT LEADERS & SENIOR CHOIR TO VISIT WAR VETS

This Monday 4 August our senior choir, school captains, vice captains and prefects will be visiting the War Vets as part of the ANZAC Centenary Service. Captains and vice captains will be reading passages and poetry and the prefects will be laying crosses to commemorate Australian soldiers who died while serving our country during World War I. Our Senior Choir will be singing “Lest we Forget’. Mrs Butler and myself will also be attending this important ceremony on behalf of the school. Parents are welcome to attend the ceremony which takes place in the Montgomery Centre in the RSL Anzac Village at 10am.

Ms C Waldock – Deputy Principal (Acting)

KINDERGARTEN INCURSIONS

As part of our “Needs & Wants” unit last term, Kindergarten welcomed some visitors who spoke about their vital roles in our community. First we had Wayne Ferguson (Lara KT) & his firefighter friends come with their fire-truck to talk about fire safety. Then we had “Nurse Simone” Sakovits (Taj KT) who talked (& demonstrated!) the different ways nurses help us. To conclude the unit focus we welcomed Police Officer Matt Thompson (Jamie 1B & Elise 3C) & friends who talked about road safety and how the police help us. The police cars & motorbike were enthusiastically explored! The children enjoyed this mode of learning & had many questions. There may be a few future firefighters, nurses and police Officers in Kinder 2014! Many thanks to these parents, who so willingly and enthusiastically gave of their time. Tracey Mavromatis Kindergarten Teacher

LLW@S Committee Insert – Term 3 Week 3

Live Life Well @ School

The focus this fortnight – Eat fewer snacks and select healthier alternatives

All students will bring home a healthy living information sheet with a homework activity attached next week. Please read this information and discuss it with your children. Further information can be obtained for the Healthy Kids website below.

http://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/kids-teens/eat-fewer-snacks-and-select-healthier-alternatives.aspx

Mrs Priscilla Wright – LLW@S Co-ordinator

Lunchbox snack foods

Children need to eat a range of different foods to provide nutrients to meet growth and energy needs. Snacks need to be everyday foods rather than sometimes foods.

Everyday Snacks

fruit loaf plain popcorn plain or fruit yoghurt cheese and crackers fresh fruit or canned fruit dried fruit and cheese cubes wholemeal biscuits or crackers vegetable sticks and dip or salsa corn or rice cakes with or without spreads celery, cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks

Sometimes Snacks

muesli bars and dried fruit bars potato crisps / chips and corn chips lollies and confectionary chocolate cordial soft drink

Confectionary and lollies are very high in sugar, provide extra kilojoules and cause tooth decay. They are not recommended for lunch boxes. Keep these foods for special occasions only.

Environmentally friendly snack foods

Choose an apple, mandarin, orange, pear, banana, plum, mangoes, pieces of melons, nectarines, peaches or other fresh seasonal fruit for a quick, easy, environmentally-friendly snack. No packaging, full of nutrients and antioxidants, plus it tastes delicious!

Treats for special occasions

Food is an important part of special occasions for everyone and should be enjoyed. Your child may be invited to a party with lots of foods high in fat and sugar or to a meal at a fast food restaurant. These meals will do no harm as long as they are only eaten occasionally. But remember, children’s parties don’t need to be filled with junk food to be fun. Try to include some healthy foods as well. Here are some suggestions:

pretzels mini pizzas fruit platters fresh berries finger sandwiches

low-fat mini fruit muffins

homemade popcorn

slices of watermelon frozen orange wedges hummus and pita bread

cheese cubes and crackers

vegetable sticks and rice crackers with dips

toasted Lebanese bread in place of corn chips and crisps.

WHPS P&C

Notice of Annual General Meeting Notice is hereby given that a meeting of members of the Parents & Citizens Association of Wheeler Heights Public School will be held at 7.00pm on Monday 18th August 2014 in the school office staffroom. Agenda:

1. Apologies 2. To confirm the Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting 3. To receive and accept the Annual Report of the P&C President for the 2013

/2014 year. 4. To receive and accept the Financial Statements for the financial year ended

30 June 2014. 5. To receive and accept the annual reports from the Uniform Shop, Canteen,

Dance and Band Committees. 6. To elect the Executive Committee of:

a. President b. Vice President(s) c. Secretary d. Treasurer e. Executive Members

7. To endorse the elections to the following Sub-Committees: a. Canteen b. Uniform c. Fundraising d. Band e. Dance f. Grounds

Please join us at our next meeting on the 18th August. The AGM will be followed by a General Meeting. At the AGM all positions on the Executive Committee will be declared vacant and nominations for positions will be taken and voted on.

Auditor Needed Did you know that the P&C tries to give back every dollar raised through fundraising to the school? From chickens to computers, and play equipment to smart-boards, the P&C has contributed to providing better facilities for our children. As part of our operations, we are required to have our accounts audited annually, and are looking for any parent who is a qualified auditor that might be able to help. If you are able to assist, please contact the P&C Executive at whps.committee@gmail.com. Remember that a volunteer to help means we don’t need to hire someone and therefore the more we can give back to the school. Thank You, P&C Executive Committee.

Age Group Event Place Name 8 years 100m Girls 1st Lulu Ryals

2nd Rosie Cannell 3rd Taylor Nickson

100m Boys 1st Luke White 2nd Max Turner 3rd Ale Briones

9 Years 100m Girls 1st Mia Herriot 2nd Taylor Lay 3rd Abigail Green

100m Boys 1st West La Torraca 2nd Zac Cleary 3rd George Saunders

10 Years 100m Girls 1st Kahli Johnson 2nd Honey Piper 3rd Madi Simpson

100m Boys 1st Archie Saunders 2nd Daniel Jenkins 3rd Oliver Hendriks

11 Years 100m Girls 1st Megan Green 2nd Erin Gaw 3rd Kiera Kilbane

100m Boys 1st Mac La Torraca 2nd Toby Neal 3rd Elliot Keary

12/13 Years 100m Girls 1st Izzy Morris 2nd Carly Adams 3rd Mia Giladi

100m Boys 1st Jayden Harris 2nd Dallin Pukeroa 3rd Thomas Gale

Junior 200m Girls 1st Kahli Johnson 2nd Honey Piper 3rd Lily Grenenger

200m Boys 1st Archie Saunders 2nd Daniel Jenkins 3rd Oliver Hendriks

11 Years 200m Girls 1st Chloe Herriot 2nd Megan Green 3rd Erin Gaw

200m Boys 1st Mac La Torraca 2nd Ethan McCullum 3rd Toby Neal

Senior 200m Girls 1st Izzy Morris 2nd Mel Morris 3rd Carly Adams

200m Boys 1st Jayden Harris 2nd Thomas Gale 3rd Jake Lowe

Age Group Event Place Name Junior 800m Girls 1st Kahli Johnson

2nd Honey Piper 3rd Mia Herriot

800m Boys 1st Daniel Jenkins 2nd Archie Saunders 3rd Kyan Hickey

11 Years 800m Girls 1st Erin Gaw 2nd Alice MacDermott 3rd Sophia Thomas

800m Boys 1st Mac La Torraca 2nd Elliot Keary 3rd Harry Ryals

Senior 800m Girls 1st Holly Lay 2nd Chloe Galwey 3rd Ashley Johnson

800m Boys 1st Jarod Thacker 2nd Liam Benson 3rd Liam Hazell

Junior Shot Put Girls

1st Kahli Johnson 2nd Jenna Manson 3rd Madi Simpson

Shot Put Boys

1st Archie Saunders 2nd Daniel Jenkins 3rd Sean McConnell

11 Years Shot Put Girls

1st Sophia Thomas 2nd Erin Gaw 3rd Alice MacDermott

Shot Put Boys

1st George Herbert 2nd Max Braund 3rd Bailey Swain

Senior Shot Put Girls

1st Alyssa Logan 2nd Carly Adams 3rd Olivia Baillie

Shot Put Boys

1st Luke Brown 2nd Liam Hazell 3rd Jake Lowe

Age Group Event Place Name Junior Long Jump

Girls 1st Kahli Johnson 2nd Honey Piper 3rd Madi Simpson

Long Jump Boys

1st Archie Saunders 2nd Daniel Jenkins 3rd Sean McConnell

11 Years Long Jump Girls

1st Erin Gaw 2nd Chloe Herriot 3rd Kiera Kilbane

Long Jump Boys

1st George Herbert 2nd Toby Neal 3rd Ethan McCullum

Senior Long Jump Girls

1st Alyssa Logan 2nd Mia Giladi 3rd Carly Adams

Long Jump Boys

1st Reid Forsyth 2nd Jordan Devires 3rd Jake Lowe

Junior High Jump Girls

1st Kahli Johnson 2nd Abigail Green 3rd Mia Herriot

High Jump Boys

1st Archie Saunders 2nd Daniel Jenkins 3rd Oliver Hendriks

11 Years High Jump Girls

1st Chloe Herriot 2nd Erin Gaw 3rd Sophia Thomas

High Jump Boys

1st Sam Cale 2nd Ethan McCullum 3rd James Kofoed

Senior High Jump Girls

1st Mia Giladi 2nd Izzy Morris 3rd Alyssa Logan

High Jump Boys

1st Jordan Devires 2nd Dylan Szabo 3rd Reid Forsyth

Relays Junior Girls

1st Jenkins 2nd Ramsay 3rd Wheeler

Junior Boys

1st Wheeler 2nd Jenkins 3rd Ramsay

Senior Girls

1st Wheeler 2nd Jenkins 3rd Ramsay

Senior Boys

1st Wheeler 2nd Jenkins 3rd Ramsay

Wrap Up Overall, a fantastic day! I would like to congratulate not only the place getters, but all those who pushed their comfort zones and had a go! It was reported by many teachers the great level of sportsmanship displayed at all the events.

A special congratulations to Wheeler who took out the overall point score for the day. With only 20 points separating the houses (Wheeler 1st, Jenkins 2nd and Ramsay 3rd) this is testament to how important participation is for your house!

Of course this day would not have run as smoothly as it did without the effort from all the teachers and student teachers getting involved. So a big THANK-YOU!

That’s the WHPS Athletics Carnival wrapped up for 2014! Looking forward to some extra training sessions in preparation for the District Carnival which is on 26 August. Notes and more information will be sent home once the district team is finalised.

Mr T Blanshard Athletics Carnival Organiser 2014 Relieving Assistant Principal

Weekly PSSA Wrap Up

So, another week and another round in the great PSSA competition! With mixed results across all sports in the previous weeks, the students were out to showcase the talent we have here at Wheeler Heights!

The Netball girls demonstrated some excellent skills during their matches last week. Their slick passing and shooting saw wins for all the netball teams! Great work girls! The senior A’s was a close one at 13-12 and the MVP was Alice MacDermott. The B’s won comfortably with a score of 10-3, and Mia took out the MVP award. The junior A’s won by a convincing margin with 8 goals to 1. Lily Grenenger took out the MVP for this match. The B’s won by an equally impressive margin with a score of 11-2 and the MVP was Lucy Cattonach. It’s great to see the girls developing those skills over the season and really hitting their strides. And of course, some excellent coaching!!

The soccer girls played their matches with enthusiasm and vigour. With wins in both seniors and juniors they were a very excited bunch. Mia took out the MVP in the seniors and Indika in the juniors. Fantastic job girls and enjoy the week off!! The Soccer Boys had some very hard fought games against Narrabeen North at Boondah. Both teams played very well considering the late withdrawal of their super coach Mr Cox. Luckily for WHPS, we had a fill-in coach at the grounds within minutes in Mr Scotter. The seniors had a very close match going down 1-0 in last minutes of the match. The juniors also played a great game but also came away with the silver.

The league boys were looking to put in a great performance at the tail end of the season to cap off what has been building all year. The juniors took to the field and the first half was a see-saw affair with both teams having the lead at some point. Lachie ‘B’day’ Bremner (MVP) had a solid performance including an outstanding dummy-half try in the 1st half which was his gift to the team! Unfortunately, the Avalon boys were just too strong and ended up bagging a couple of quick tries to take the match 24-16. The seniors were just happy to have enough players on the field this week! “We have been plagued with injury throughout the last few games, so it is a relief to get a couple of the boys back after passing their medicals” Stated Mr Blanshard at the pre-match conference. Knowing this was going to be a tough match, the boys muscled up in defence and Elliot Keary showed some of his fancy footwork to break the line earning himself MVP this week. Again, another see-saw match but the WHPS boys managed to walk away with the silverware this week. Well done fellas!

This week sees all other teams besides league having a well-deserved rest with a bye. The league boys are facing Mona Vale at Rat Park and if you haven’t bought your tickets for the match, I suggest you do as it’s sure to be a great clash!!

Written by A Reporter

Wheeler Heights Press

SIMPLE LOVE CHARITY DONATION

Simple Love is a charity that collects and distributes essential items to asylum seekers on bridging visas or who have recently been granted residency in Australia. In August the H30 Church in Dee Why will be collecting donations for the charity and will deliver to the Asylum Seekers Centre and House of Welcome in Sydney. Both of these centres distribute to those in need in the community. There will be a box in the admin building at Wheeler Heights School where anyone can make a contribution from next week onwards. All goods will be collected from the school and added to the H30 Church collection.

If you would like to donate, please choose from the below list to ensure that all items are non-perishable, unopened, and culturally sensitive.

• Breakfast Cereal , Cooking Oil, Rice, Noodles• Tinned Fruit & Vegetables• Tinned Fish, Tomato Paste, Spices & Curry Powder• Tea, Long Life Milk, Instant Soups, Chocolate and sweets

• Travel 10 bus passes (1 or 2 section). These help refugees get to appointments withlawyers and case workers.

• Nappies

• Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap ,Toothbrushes & Toothpaste• Sanitary Napkins, Washing Powder, Deodorant, Razors

For any further enquiries please contact Sarah Kearney (kindergarten parent) on 0425 262 289

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge News

It’s all excitement in the school library as we’re almost at the finishing line for the 2014 Premier’s Reading Challenge. All on-line entries must be submitted by midnight on August 22nd to count towards this achievement. To ensure that they read the required number of books a few very keen students are borrowing over their usual class quota.

It has been very pleasing to see how many students have embraced this voluntary ‘challenge’ with enthusiasm. A total of 101 have already completed their on-line entries and had their records validated. Another 150 have registered on-line and partially completed. Special congratulations is due to all the Year 4 students who are definitely leading the way in the PRC.

Watch this space for final numbers and the highest achieving PRC class!

Ms Fairweather and Mrs Bevan (WHPS Library)