Week ten, Term One, Tuesday 28st March 2017 Edition Two Hundred and seven.

STEM Education

A student tosses a ball into the air and watches it fall. Then he films the falling ball and graphs the movement on his computer. Nearby, a

classmate scrawls out equations with a blue marker, while a friend looks over his shoulder and shakes her head. “I think that number should be negative.” They come to an agreement before the teacher stops by, nudging them to explain how they got it. This action-packed hour is a science class. This type of noisy, exuberant classroom exemplifies what Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) classes are about. Learning is collaborative and project-based; kids work closely together in a hands-on way to solve real-world problems. Learning problem-solving skills — and helping students develop into creative, critical thinkers What you might find in a STEM classroom Students behaving as scientists: On a typical day, they may be recording observations, carrying out experiments, or conducting their own research. Learning is project-based and sometimes messy, but students learn by doing, not by rote memorization. Connecting STEM learning to a career: To help students understand what kind of STEM jobs are available, schools may bring in tutors from local technology companies or organize internships at hospitals or research institutions.

Integrating with other subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math subjects are woven into other areas of the curriculum. Making use of technology: By taking quizzes on their laptops, entering data into spread sheets, and creating graphs to illustrate the results of their experiments, students are using technology in their daily studies. STEM programs participate in one-to-one programs through which students are given their own individual computer iPad for their work. Teachers may have web pages featuring necessary classroom materials, which may also allow students to work ahead if they want to or review a lesson if need be. Noise: Classrooms are not quiet and are often arranged so that students can sit and work in groups. This encourages collaboration as students discuss their work and challenge each other’s ideas.

Mick McCann michael.mccann@det.nsw.edu.au Change of address/phone numbers If you have moved house recently or have a new mobile phone number or perhaps a new work phone number – please call in to the office and we can update the details. Monday Morning Community Assembly Week 11- Achievement awards then Easter Hat Parade – 8.45

Hilltop News

Harmony Day

NEPS has celebrated Harmony Day, a day of important significance for all of us. On Harmony

Day, we celebrate our rich cultural diversity, not only in our school community but in our local area, and our home Australia. Our diversity makes Australia a great place to live. Harmony Day is a celebration of our cultural diversity – a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home. The message of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs’, the day aims to engage people to participate in their community, respect cultural and religious diversity and foster a sense of belonging for everyone. This of course is something that we should all be doing every day not just on Harmony Day. Please use this celebration as an opportunity to discuss these important concepts with your child.

Congratulations to all the students and teachers who made a donation or bought a cookie on Harmony Day. Our school made $549.65 which will be donated to MESCH to help the children on Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. We all learnt that caring for our fellow man makes us feel great. A special thank you to all the parents and children in 4/5T who donated their time and effort to supply the delicious cookies for sale at recess and lunch time.

Tell Them From Me Survey

Tell Them From Me is an online student survey. Students from Years 4, 5 and 6 participate. Students in over 1200 public schools in NSW have participated in this survey. It is not a test. It is confidential. No-one at the school will know which answers came from which student. It is a chance for students to give their opinion on things that matter to them at school. It also helps

teachers and the principal identify changes that can improve our school.

All the survey questions are multiple choice and it is completed in class computer lab time with class teachers.

If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, please contact the school office.

PSSA Knockout Sport Update Many senior primary students have been trying out for knockout teams in netball and touch football over the past two weeks. Selected teams will play in knockout competitions in each of the sports in Terms 1 and 2. We are training hard to be successful in our upcoming first rounds. Our first game of netball is on Tuesday 4th April at school at 10am. We will be playing Minmi Public School. The netball team is yet to be announced. Students hoping for selection are training on Thursday at lunchtime and after school on Fridays. Touch football tryouts were last Wednesday. Mr and Mrs Fleming and Mrs Thomas selected 10 boys and 10 girls to play in the first round in Term 2. Training sessions for touch football will be announced each week and will usually be in lunchtimes at King Edward Park. The boys’ team includes Lachlan M, Marshall R, Harrison F, Riley E, Teal M, Angus G, Alex G, Max B, Darcy O, and Mani B. The girls’ team includes Adelaide T, Ruby C, Nat F, Lara E, Ela G, Rebecca F, Imala C, Heidi S and Violet O.

End of Term 1 School Disco

The first School Disco for 2017 is on Friday 31 March 2017 from 5.30-7.30pm. Come and dance the night away with the one and only PEP C and DJ Perry. The theme is "Sleepwear and Active wear" so get you’re thinking hats on, raid the wardrobe and come dressed to impress!

3/4D and 3/4H are on the BBQ that night and volunteers are needed. Please sign up at the genius sign up app. Link attached: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4daeab29aaf94-bbqroster2 Please remember that children must be accompanied by parents/caregivers for the duration of the Disco. Easter Hat Parade The Easter Hat Parade will be held at 8.45am on Monday 3rd April. This celebration is a fun way to end the term and will give each student the opportunity to showcase their fabulous Easter hat. Some classes are making hats within the classroom so please check with your child’s teacher. Students are encouraged to wear their hats to school in preparation for the event. Parents and grandparents are also welcome to attend the parade which will be held under the COLA after the merit awards have been handed out. Easter Egg Guessing Competition Main prize; the jar of small Easter eggs 2nd Prize; larger bunny 3rd prize; smaller bunny 1 guess= $1 3 guesses for $2. Closest to the number will win the main prize, 2nd closest the larger bunny & 3rd closest will win the small bunny.

Will be drawn at the school disco on 31st March

The jar will be kept at the canteen & OOSH and students, teachers & parents will be encouraged to join in on the competition. Students can come and try and work out the number and buy a ticket in their break time. This is a small fundraiser for NEPS. Be in it to win it.

Absences You are only required to phone the school for sickness if you child is away for (3) days in succession. A note on your child’s return to school is necessary. If you are going away and the leave is over (5) school days, you must complete an “Extended Leave Form” from the office prior to your leave. 2017 Inter-School Snowsports Regional Championships: Northern NSW & QLD- This competition is like zone swimming or athletics, and competitors can advance further depending on the outcomes for individuals & teams. They can then go to NSW State Interschools Championships at Perisher from August 22-27 & from there to the Australian competition from September 6-10th at Mt Buller in Victoria. The first event is Northern NSW & QLD regional championships and to be perfectly frank I would expect that is what our team would focus on for 2017. (We may have Olympic skiers & snowboarders amongst us that I do not know about, so who knows national titles could also be an option) Dates: July school holidays depending on the event chosen. The date range is from 4-8th July, 2017. Cost: The cost includes $30 annual registration per team member, plus $45 per person per race, plus lift ticket. Cross country events require no lift tickets. There would be additional costs to travel there and for accommodation. We will see how many children and families want to go and then we will source the best priced accommodation, either in Jindabyne or Perisher. Families can choose to stay in accommodation they source themselves of course.

Age Divisions: Division 4-Years 5 and 6 Division 5- Years 4 and 3 Division 6 -Kindergarten to year 2 What events are on offer? • Alpine - Skiers are timed on a modified giant slalom course • Skiercross - Skiers are timed individually on a course including jumps and high-banked turns. • Freestyle Moguls - Skiers are scored on a bumps/jumps course. • Snowboard Giant Slalom - Boarders are timed on a modified giant slalom course • Snowboard Cross - Boarders are timed individually on a course including jumps and high-banked turns. • Cross Country Freestyle - Raced with skate or classic cross country skis or style with a mass start. Teams need to field three skiers to achieve a team result. • Cross Country Relay – Three skier relay team event only.

• Ski Slopestyle – Skiers are scored on a variety of obstacles including jumps, rails and/or other terrain park features (Division 1-3 only).

• Snowboard Slopestyle - Snowboarders are scored on a variety of obstacles including jumps, rails and/or other terrain park features (Division 1-3 only).

Two of the parents have said that they will be acting as co-ordinators for the event and will be our NEPS nominated people at the event, James Sulzberger & Tom Seyerl.

Next steps: If interested in the event please email Tom Seyerl on tomseyerl@yahoo.com.au or James Sulzberger on jsulzberger@gmail.com and let us know your child’s name & what event they wish to go in. Notes home this week All notes will also be sent via the SkoolBag App

NEPS Canteen Update

There will be no sushi orders this week. Canteen Term 1 We only have 2 weeks left of Term 1. Following are the volunteers helping out with canteen over these remaining weeks. A big thank you to everyone who have volunteered in Term 1.

27 March Joanna White & Kelly Wyman

31 March Cherry Connew Shaun Olson

3 April Aamnah Imran

7 April Amy Hooper Liz Saunders-Walker

Canteen Term 2 Term 2 is fast approaching and we now are looking to get organised for Term 2! 😊😊 The Term 2 dates are noted below and if you can help out on any of these dates please text Kelly Wyman on 0421 299611 with the details.

CANTEEN ROSTER Term 2 2017 Monday Friday 28 April

2 volunteers needed 1 May 1 Volunteer needed

5 May Kelly Wyman 1 Volunteer needed

8 May 1 Volunteer needed

12 May 2 volunteers needed

15 May 1 Volunteer needed

19 May 2 volunteers needed

22 May 1 Volunteer needed

26 May 2 volunteers needed

29 May 1 Volunteer needed

2 June 2 volunteers needed

5 June 1 Volunteer needed

9 June 2 volunteers needed

12 June 1 Volunteer needed

16 June 2 volunteers needed

19 June 1 Volunteer needed

23 June 2 volunteers needed

26 June 1 Volunteer needed

30 June Kelly Wyman 1 Volunteer needed

Term ONE - Planner 2017 – this will be updated on a regular basis.

Term Two – Planner 2017 – this will be updated on a regular basis.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 27 – Wk10 Assembly-1/2P Sailing Band

28

29 School Cross Country

30 Zone Soccer Trials HAM Olympics Writer’s festival yrs3-6

31 School Disco – 5.30-7.30

3 April – Wk11 Assembly – Captains (short) Easter Hat Parade 1.45pm Band

4 Newcastle City ANZAC Event – Civic Theatre

5

6 Goal Ball Day

7

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 24 Wk1 Staff Development Day No students

25 ANZAC Day

26 Students Return ANZAC Day Assembly

27 Police Liaison Officer Visit

28 Zone X-Country

1 May Wk2 Band Assembly – 5/6D

2 3 Gym K-2

4 World of Math Incursion

5 World of Math Incursion Primary Sport 11.05

8 Wk3 P&C Meeting School Council Meeting Band Assembly – 5/6T

9 NAPLAN

10 NAPLAN Gym K-2

11 NAPLAN

12 Primary Sport 11.05

15 Wk4 School Athletics Carnival – Blue Track

16 Assembly – Captains

17 Gym K-2 GRIP Training – Snr Students

18 19 Primary Sport 11.05

22 Wk5 School Photos Band Assembly – Captains (short)

23 24 Gym K-2 ICAS – Digital technology

25 26 Primary Sport 11.05

29 Wk6 Band Assembly - 3/4H

30 ICAS – Science

31 Gym K-2

1 June 2 Primary Sport 11.05

5 Wk7 Band Assembly – 3/4D

6 7 Gym K-2

8 9 Primary Sport 11.05

12 Wk8 Queen’s Birthday

13 Assembly – Captains (Short) ICAS – Writing

14 Gym K-2 ICAS – Writing ICAS - Spelling

15

16 Primary Sport 11.05

19 Wk9 P&C Meeting School Council Meeting Band Assembly – 1/2V

20

21 Gym K-2

22 Band Link

23 Band Link Primary Sport 11.05

26 Wk10 Assembly – Both Kinder Classes

27 28 29 30