GORDON WEST BULLETIN V O L U M E 3 2 0 1 9 M A R C H 7 2 0 1 9

Principal’s Report Ryde Road Pymble 2073 Telephone: 9498 4644 Fax: 9498 4436 Email: gordonwest-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.gordonwest-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Sat/Sun 9/10 March

Dads and Kids Camp

Thurs 14 March

Selective High School Exam

Sat/Sun 23/24 March

Band Camp

Wed 27 March

Harmony Day

Thurs 28 March

Area Swimming

Tues 2 April

Yr5&6 Barangaroo

Thurs 4 April

Yr2 Schoolhouse Museum

Friday 5 April

Yr1 Schoolhouse Museum

Wednesday 10 April

Ecumenical Service

Friday 12 April

Easter Hat Parade

Last Day Term 1

Monday 29 April

Staff Development Day

Tuesday 30 April

Students resume

Dates to Remember

We have had certain challenges in relation to the morning (8018) and afternoon (9104) bus services from Gordon, operated by TRANSDEV. The bus company is taking our concerns very seriously in relation to the morning service consistently running late. They have escalated the challenge to Transport NSW and to the designated School Liaison Officer. TRANSDEV proposes to commence the service 10/15 minutes earlier but has to obtain permission to change the timetable. Parents are encouraged to phone or email TRANSDEV with evidence of the bus consistently running late to support TRANSDEV’S application. TRANSDEV can be contacted on 02 8700 0555 or www.transdevnsw.com.au The afternoon bus (9104) presents different challenges with mainly overcrowding the problem. However TRANSDEV Inspectors regularly check the number of children travelling on the bus and the number is always significantly lower than the designated limit

determined by the Australian Bus Standards. However because our children carry large bags and often Band instruments we have asked for special dispensation to be applied. We await a decision from Transport NSW. All NSW Government schools have been instructed by the Health and Wellbeing Unit of the Department of Education to ensure that all schools have incorporated in their School Uniform Policy specific short and pants options for girls. The Gordon West Uniform Committee has been working diligently on such options since the end of Term 2 2018. The Uniform Committee will now consult with student, teacher, official parent organisations and the school community before inviting the whole community to vote on proposed options. Given the sensitivity of uniform selection/change we are not going to rush, given that we have been allocated 3 years to make a decision. Parents will also be given sufficient time to purchase items and schools may need to give parents up to three years to purchase new uniforms. Annette Gray from the Primary English Teaching Association (PETAA) presented an excellent Teacher Professional Learning course titled The Explicit Teaching of Writing K/6 on Tuesday evening of this week. This very informative three hour presentation brilliantly complemented our Writing K/6 Strategic Direction for 2019.

J Huckerby Principal

The Gordon West Writing committee has planned professional learning to enhance the capacity of all teachers in the best practice explicit teaching of writing K-6. This committee has designed and are in the process of implementing standardised whole school writing assessments to collect consistent whole school data on student growth in writing. Data will then be used to inform teaching, track student progress, and target further professional learning. Later in the year an evaluation of this very exciting strategic direction will be presented to the school community at a Parents and Citizens Association presentation evening.

The recently updated Gordon West Public School handbook can be found on our school website or a hardcopy of which can be obtained from Administration. A big thank you to Mrs Sheehan from the School Administration staff for updating this very valuable resource.

We have deliberately kept information uncomplicated

to enable parents to very easily navigate all sources of

information.

We wish all of those planning to attend the “Fathers and Kids Camping Weekend” all the best for this traditionally exciting weekend. However parents are reminded that the school and the Gordon West Parents and Citizens Association are not officially involved in this adventure.

The Basin camping weekend does not meet the very strict risk management requirements of a school organised excursion. All school excursions have to have a very comprehensive risk management assessment completed. The “Fathers and Kids” weekend is a wonderful adventure but the presence of alcohol, snakes, monitor lizards, camp fires, swimming, boating, fishing and other campers would make it very difficult to complete an acceptable DoE risk management assessment. Every year we wish the campers well but continually

emphasise that it is not a school sanctioned event.

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE

The Premier’s Reading Challenge has now commenced for 2019.

Jonathan C 4W

Congratulations to the following students who have completed the challenge:

To access the website please use this link — https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html

Tell Them From Me Student Feedback Survey (Term 1, 2019)

This term, our school, like many other public schools in the state, will participate in a Department of Education initiative: the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey. The survey measures factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices.

More information about the survey is available at: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au

The survey is a great opportunity for our students to provide us with valuable and quick feedback on what they think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. More than 6,300 schools in Australia and around the world have used Tell Them From Me to survey 5.4 million students. Capturing the voices of our students will help improve how we do things at our school.

We want to assure you that the survey is confidential. The survey is conducted online and will typically take less than 30 minutes to complete. It will be administered during school hours between 11 March and 12 April. Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary.

A consent form and FAQs for parents/carers about the survey is being sent home with students. If you do not want your child or children to participate, please return the form to school by Friday 8 March 2019. Additional information and FAQs are available from:

http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/images/TTFM_Student_Survey_FAQs_Parent_and_Carers_T12019.pdf

STUDENT NEWS

CRICKET RESULTS 22/2/19 vs Pymble Juniors won 141-108 Seniors lost 73-101

MODBALL RESULTS 22/2/19 Snrs vs Jnrs vs

TOUCH FOOTBALL RESULTS

22/2/19 Jnr s mixed vs Masada won 2-0 Snr Girls vs Gordon East won 4-0 Masada won 3-0 Pymble drew 0-0 Snr Boys vs Lindfield won 2-1 Pymble 2 won 6-0

KD No awards this week KP No awards this week KT No awards this week KX No awards this week 1E Joanna N, Erixc X, Andy C 1F Steven N, Ema N, Hugo W 1G Bento G, Millie H, Gus B 1T Acton C, Reik K, Eileen M 2E Rebecca L, Kimberley Y, Justyn L 2G Jace P, Jane L, Emma M 2H Yiping P, Karina S, Isabella T 2T Lionel Z, Chloe L, Kaitlyn K 3A Grace P, Freddie G, Lucy N 3G Zara F, Talahassee V, Matilda D 3H Sally A, Hannah R, Jack B 4H Joshua T, Harry W, Cheryl Y 4W Jemima C, Alicia B, Hercules C 4/5C Zara d, Daniel G, Lillian O 5D Caitlyn B, Seung Woo C, Amy D 5T Oliver B, Misil S, Jazleen K 5/6W Andy H, Georgia B, Alex T 6S Cyrus L, Ada B, Nate D 6Y Katie R, Bryce P, Brenden S

6/3/19

Dads & Kids Camping Weekend 2019

It's on again! Dads & Kids are going away for the weekend!

When: Fr iday 8th – Sunday 10th March 2019. Can’t make it for the whole weekend (sporting commitments etc.), just camp for 1 night or come across for the day and say hello! Where: The Basin Campground, Pittwater Camping Costs: $34 per adult/$10 per child per night. Booking: Click to book. Alternatively contact the Customer Experience Team on 1300 072 757. Activities: Swimming, fishing, bushwalks, bonfire (br ing marshmallows) etc. Bring: Tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment, food & beverages, sun protection, swimming gear and spor ts gear (Br ing everything!). Food: The weekend is self-catered (it’s recommend dads share catering & each cook one group meal). There are free gas BBQs (you can also buy ice and bait each morning) Groups: If you would like to join a group but don' t know where to star t, please contact your class parents. Alternatively, please att end a social gathering on Thursday 28th February 2019 at the West Pymble Bowling Club from 7pm. Getting there: The Basin campground is on the western foreshores of Pittwater in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. To get there:

Take the Palm Beach ferry which departs on the hour between 9am - 5pm from Palm Beach Wharf If you own a boat, anchor in the sheltered bay opposite the picnic and campground. Drive and park along West Head Road, then walk along the 2.8km Basin Track to The Basin.

Facilities: Amenities block, cold showers, flush toilets, gas/electric barbecues, wood barbecues (firewood supplied), drinking water and public phone.

Note: This is not a School or P&C sanctioned event. Parents are advised that r isk management procedures and supervisory practices a re the

responsibility of the camp participants with the school having no involvement whatsoever.

STEWART HOUSE DONATION DRIVE

2019 Envelopes are being sent home today. Please fill in your name, address, telephone number and school. Insert $2 donation in envelope and seal it. Return the envelope to the school office to go in the draw to win a $4000 family holiday to the destination of your choice.