Gosford Public School...GOSFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL Quality education in a nurturing, innovative learning...

GOSFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL

Quality education in a nurturing, innovative learning environment

Term 2 2017 Wed June 14 - Snaketails visiting show K-2 Tue June 27 - Science Fair Stage 3 Fri June 30 - Last day of Term 2 Term 3 2017 Tue July 18 - Students return for Term 3

Principal’s Message

‘Sorry’ – when was the last time you used that word? A simple word yet one which holds so much power! Last Friday, I spoke to your children about the power of an apology and gave the example of a student who had apologised to me recently over an incident – the student’s apology provided me a context to the incident which allowed me to ‘understand’ and then move very quickly into ‘forgiveness’ – both the student (concerned) and I felt much better after the apology had been given, allowing us to both move forward in a positive way. The timing of this event allowed me to link the example to the national context as we also acknowledged National Sorry Day on Friday. National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each year. The first National Sorry Day was held on May 26, 1998, which was one year after the tabling of a report in Parliament about the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. Australia’s Prime Minister (at that time), Kevin Rudd, tabled a motion in parliament on February 13, 2008, apologising to Australia’s Indigenous people, particularly the Stolen Generations and their families and communities, for the laws and policies that inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss. The impact of that apology, in that context, was significant and was another example of the power of saying ‘sorry’! This week, National Reconciliation Week is celebrated across Australia. In 2017, we reflect on two significant anniversaries in Australia’s reconciliation journey – 50 years since the 1967 referendum, and 25 years since the historic Mabo decision. As we commemorate these significant milestones, we ask all Australians to be a part of the next big steps in our nation’s reconciliation journey. The week is a time for all Australians (not just our students) to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort.

Gosford Public School

Quality education in a nurturing, innovative learning environment

50-64 Faunce Street West West Gosford NSW 2250 Tel (02) 4349 3600 Fax (02) 4349 3699 Email: [email protected] Term 2 – Week 6 Wednesday May 31 2017


2 Quality education in a nurturing, innovative learning environment

Deputy Principal’s Column Community Connections Speech Pathologist Information Afternoon Many thanks to our speech pathologist, Lina Williams, who presented an extremely informative talk last Thursday afternoon, 25 May, on ways to support young children (K-2) to become competent language users. She presented clues to look for to identify areas of weakness, and addressed age appropriate milestones for language use. Lina discussed strategies to improve children’s understanding and use of language (receptive and expressive language). Examples include:

• Correcting children’s sentence structure by rephrasing what he/she has said eg, ‘I need go bathroom.’ An adult states, ‘Oh you need to go to the bathroom.’ This example, ‘Oh you need to go to the bathroom before you leave the house’ corrects the sentence and models how to expand language. Words such as and, but, should be used regularly by kindergarten children and by the end of Year 2, children need to be using and, but, because, so, either, neither, then.

• Supporting children in expanding sentences using phrases stating when, where and how eg when talking about their school day, child may say ‘I made groups in maths.’ Parent could reply, ‘When did you make groups in maths?’ If your child cannot tell you, provide prompts and reply with, ‘Oh, you made groups in maths after Break 1.’ This is an outcome for kindergarten children in the English syllabus.

• Increasing your child’s vocabulary by challenging them to think of synonyms for verbs, for example, the crocodile in the picture is snapping, ask your child, for another word that can used. Identifying 3 or 4 other words helps to extend vocabulary.

• Playing word association games, for example: a. Saying or writing a noun eg carrot and identifying a word that associates with it eg

vegetable, nutritious OR kitchen, cooking, chef, food. b. Providing 4 words and asking your child to pick 2 that relate and ask them why eg candle,

mirror, frog, wax.

Reading nonsense words eg lut, drim, relt, spont, mespuntal, is a good way to play with sounds and helps children decode words they encounter in texts that they do not know so need to sound out. This can be a lot of fun between parent/carer and child.

This website developed as part of the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011 — 2020 has a range of age appropriate activities. http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie/ I have attached a few of Lina’s slides.

http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie/



Class contributions Caught in Action It was delightful to come across a peer mentoring session last week in the quadrangle, taking advantage of the beautiful weather as a healthy outdoor learning space. Our Year 4 students are to be commended for their peer-support skills including lots of positive feedback.

6H have been learning about Pablo Picasso, his painting style and how he developed cubism. The students spent a couple of lessons learning about Picasso. Their first drawings were in pencil. The drawings below by Marat, Phoebe and Sarah were completed using oil pastels.



Year 1 students attended Walkabout Park on Tuesday 30 May. As you can see, they were extremely engaged in the hands-on activities. In the photos below, it is evident that 1A students enjoyed the day immensely.

Choral festival Today, Wednesday 31 May, the following students attended Valley View PS for the second choral festival rehearsal: Oscar, Huxley, Ethan (5B), Charlie, Gemma-Lee (5N), Soleil, Bellanca, Jasmine (5M), Amelia, Dekea (5/6G), Sarah, Rowena, Charlotte, Connor (6H), Jessica (6Y). They have been representing Gosford PS with pride. Thank you to Miss Young who coordinates this group of talented singers.



Learning and Support and the NATIONALLY CONSISTENT COLLECTION OF DATA (NCCD) At Gosford Public School, we work together with families to support all students in their learning. Students who require additional support or reasonable adjustments to teaching practices and/or their environment, are included in the NCCD. Last year, we had over 100 students included in our school’s data. What is the NCCD? The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (the national data collection) is an annual collection that counts the number of school students receiving an adjustment due to disability and the level of reasonable adjustment they are receiving. The national data collection counts students who have been identified by a school team as receiving an adjustment to address a disability as defined under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (the DDA). The definition of disability for the national data collection is based on the broad definition under the DDA. The broad definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act includes people who may not consider themselves as having a disability, for example, people who have broken limbs from an accident and are temporarily using crutches or a wheelchair, people who are colour blind or who use corrective devices such as reading glasses. We have students at Gosford Public School who receive adjustments and provisions for a range of needs and are therefore are included in the NCCD eg support with greater social and emotional awareness, academic skills, speech, receptive and expressive language, physical challenges in fine or gross motor skills. What is The Benefit? The aim of the national data collection is to collect quality information about school students receiving an adjustment due to disability in Australia. This information will help teachers, principals, education authorities and families to better support students with disability to take part in school on the same basis as other students. The national data collection provides an opportunity for schools to review their learning and support systems and processes to continually improve education outcomes for their students with disability. The annual collection aims to, over time, lead to nationally consistent, high quality data that will enable schools, education authorities and governments to gain a more complete understanding of students who are receiving adjustments because of disability in schools in Australia, and how to best support them. What Information Will Be Collected? Every year your child’s school will collect the following information for each student receiving an adjustment due to disability: the student’s level of education (i.e. primary or secondary) the student’s level of adjustment the student’s broad type of disability. The information collected by schools will be available to all governments to inform policy and program improvement for students with disability. Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all students and their families is essential and is an explicit focus of the national data collection. Personal details, such as student names or other identifying information, are not provided to local or federal education authorities.



Disability Standards For Education

Reasonable Adjustments

An adjustment is reasonable if it:

• Supports a student with a disability to participate in education on the same basis as other students, AND

• Takes into account the student’s learning needs, AND • Balances the interests, including safety, of all parties, such as the student with disability, staff

members and other students.

In deciding whether an adjustment for a student with disability is reasonable, all relevant circumstances and information should be taken into account, including the:

• Impact of the disability on the student’s learning, participation and independence • Impact of the adjustment on relevant parties, such as other students, staff members, the student’s

family and the education provider • Costs and benefits of making the adjustment

Adjustments: In Practice ...

Examples of adjustments include:

• Giving a student with low vision all necessary information in enlarged text • Giving a speech-to-text device to a student with a broken arm to assist in completing work • Providing speech pathology services for students with communication difficulties • Allowing a student with anxiety to present his/her project to a small group of peers rather than to a

whole class • Adjusting activities at the annual swimming carnival to enable participation by all students,

including those with physical disability • Adjusting seating arrangements so a student with a wheelchair has enough space to move

independently around the classroom like other students or to cater for students with attention difficulties

• Providing additional social skills support in small groups for students who experience difficulty socialising with their peers

• Providing access to sensory tools for students with autism and additional sensory needs



Sean Lonergan Schools Project in Reconciliation Week 2017 Several staff members and students attended the launch of the exhibition last Sunday at the Gosford Regional Gallery. The exhibition was well supported by school and community members. Each school was asked to select students to speak to the audience about the inspiration and processes involved in the creation of their piece ours being "Tree Of Knowledge". Gosford Public school was represented by Tylah and Jack who looked impressive in their school uniform and spoke confidently. We are very proud of the way they behaved and represented our school. We urge the school community to pop over and have a look at the free exhibition. It is open from the 28 May to 3 June. Once again a special thank you goes to Mrs Boulton, Mrs Sprague, Beata, Sabine, Kristy and Carol our Indigenous artist in residence for imparting their knowledge and endless support to our students.



Environmental News What is cooking in the Little Sprouts kitchen this week?

• Pumpkin and Silverbeet Penne • Ratatouille • Herb Bread • Banana Pikelets

What is happening in the garden this week?

• Planting bok choy, eggplant and leeks • Harvesting celery, snow peas, carrots and silverbeet

A big THANK YOU to all of our weekly volunteers. Last weeks ‘Waste Free Wednesday’ winner was ……….. 2/3W! Remember ‘Trading Tuesday’ is every Tuesday at Break 1. SPORTING NEWS Well done to the 48 students who represented our school in the Brisbane Water Zone cross-country. Our school came fourth overall. A big CONGRATULATIONS to Charlotte, Meadow and Lucas who will represent the BW Zone at Sydney North on Friday, 9 June at The Entertainment Grounds, Gosford. Good Luck! GIRLS CRICKET The girls’ cricket team: Karla, Chloe, Rowena, Phoebe, Esha, Constance, Meadow, Arabella, Isabella, Rose, Alayne, Ella, Isabel and Sarah, coached by Mr Holland, played against Pt Clare last Thursday and won by 2 runs. Congratulations girls and good luck with the next game. GYMNASTICS The Stage 2 gymnastics program is up and running. I have heard great feedback from both staff and students. Stage 3 will be commencing the gym program in Term 3. A note will come home soon. Claudia Latta Sports Coordinator



Uniform Shop News

Uniform shop is open 2:45 pm – 3:30 pm on Thursdays in the Chapman Room. Cash or cheque only. No EFTPOS.

Orders can also be placed in the Uniform Shop box in the School Office or orders can be ordered online through Munch Monitor.

School hats are available from the school office for $15.00 all year round.

Library bags are available from the library for $13.00 all year round.

Winter Special All weather jackets, only available while stocks last $25.00 saving of $10.00. Some sizes now sold out.

New price list will be effective 1 June 2017.

New tracksuit for boys and girls available this week.

Jacket $40, Pants $28, great for winter.

Uniform Shop Coordinators

Canteen Roster Mon 5th June - HELP NEEDED Tue 6th June - HELP NEEDED Wed 7th June - HELP NEEDED Thu 8th June - Zoya Fri 9th June - Larissa

Gosford Public School...GOSFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL Quality education in a nurturing, innovative learning...

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