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Term 4 Week 8 25th November 2013

Principal Michael Spora

HTSS

Julie Waters

HTMY

Susan Young

Assistant Principal Lynda Peter

Captain Secondary

Amelia Washbrook

Vice Caps Secondary

Danielle Sciberras

Steven Leask

Captains Primary Tahlija Williams

Kevin Martin

Vice Caps Primary

Tayla Eyles

Jaike Mitchell

www.mendooran-c.schools.nsw.edu.au

PRIMARY CAPTAIN’S SPEECHES

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Mendooran Central School

PRINCIPAL’S NOTES

Exams

My congratulations to all students who have recently completed end of year

exams. I was very impressed with the classes that I visited and the reports from

staff indicating that all students were fully committed to making a genuine

attempt at all papers. Some of the conversations that I have witnessed late last

week between students and staff members regarding their exams indicate that

students are fully engaged in their process of learning, this is an essential element

for students to fully reach their potential. My congratulations to all

students for their efforts and the support and encouragement provided by

staff.

End of Year

I spoke to all students at last week’s assembly about the need to finish

the year well. There have been some outstanding efforts from individual

students as well as every class being fully engaged and working in a

cooperative and positive manner. A regular trap is for students to think

that it is fine to drop their own personal standards simply because exams

are completed. Please remember that my expectations for everyone to

show full respect and to follow reasonable instructions remain until the

last bell.

Presentation Day

The school community, invite all families and community members to

our Awards Presentation Day on Tuesday 17th December. The ceremony

will begin at 10:00am and families are welcome to bring their lunch and

stay for a picnic with their children. I hope to see all families for this

special day for the school and all students.

Michael Spora

Principal

calendar

Wed 27.11.13

Preschool/Kindergarten

Transition

9:00-3:10pm

Secondary Captain’s

Speeches

11:30am BER

Sun 15.12.13

Christmas Carols

Tues 17.12.13

Presentation Day

Wed 18.12.13

Last Day of School

Thur 19.12.13

School Holidays

Wed 29.1.14

School Commences

Next School

Council

Meeting

Tuesday

3rd December

2013

5:30pm

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Mendooran Central School

KINDERGARTEN/YEAR 1 NEWS Last week we looked at the Aboriginal Dreamtime story “How the birds got their colours”. Students

gave an opinion and described the part they liked the best. We talked about the illustrations and made

artwork of our favourite parts of the book.

This week we will be looking at natural and built areas in our school environment and building a word

wall identifying the things that make up those environments.

S Reynolds

TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN Transition to Kindergarten continues this week with next years Kindergarten students attending big

school on Wednesday from 9.00am – 3.10am. Students need to bring a drink of water, fruit cut up for

fruit break, recess and lunch.

S Reynolds

YEARS 2/3/4 NEWS We have continued our focus on fractions and decimals and are making some solid improvements.

Thank you to Mr Langes for his continued support in this area.

We have begun getting organised for Presentation Day and hope to have a polished performance on

the day!

We are really enjoying swimming each Friday and have been lucky enough to have lots of parents and

community helpers which make things run smoothly.

Thank you to those students last week who made a concerted effort to have their homework finished

and in on time! I realise that it is coming towards the end of the term, however this is still an essential

part of consolidating student learning.

R Freeth

Win Bins: Victoria Monk, Jake Swan

Birthdays: Carter Swan

Class Award Ribbons

K/1: Hollie Carey

2/3/4: Breea Campbell

4/5/6: Dylan Meyers

MERIT AWARDS

K/1: Bella Swan

Harrison Tobin

2/3/4: Carter Swan

Tori Rutter

4/5/6: Kaitlyn Reynolds

Thomas Yeo PRIMARY ASSEMBLY

AWARDS

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Mendooran Central School

YEARS 4/5/6 NEWS The children are already counting down the weeks/days until Christmas – but they need to remember

we have lots to do before then! Including lots of fun with Christmas activities!

Last Wednesday was a wonderful experience for all the Year 5 and 6 students. Morgan O’Reilly

conducted a ‘Human Sexuality’ workshop and all the students were able to learn or clarify things they

need to know about the changes that many of them are already experiencing.

This week in numeracy we will again be focused on conveying and extracting information using

different types of tables.

We have been having a bit of fun looking at various Limericks and will add to our repertoire this

week.

Swimming last week went very well, but I must say, we have some very tired children towards the

end of the day. Have a great week.

G Davis

GENERAL PRIMARY NEWS Year 5/6 Personal Development Session

Students in Years 5 and 6 participated in an excellent presentation on Personal Development

conducted by Morgan O’Reilly from Community Health last Wednesday 20th November. I’m sure

that lots of questions were answered but no doubt students may want to discuss or clarify their

understanding and possibly have more questions to ask.

Year 6 Transition

Students in Year 6 began their transition into Secondary last Thursday when they attended an

introductory session with Father Robert and Mrs Young.

Kindergarten Transition

The Preschool students will visit the school on Wednesday 27th November between 9:00am and

3:10pm and then again on the 4th December between 9:00am and 3:10pm.

Swimming for Sport

Swimming for Sport commenced on Friday 15th November and will run on each Friday for the rest of

this term. Students need to ensure that they have the following items: costume, towel, hat, sunscreen

and an extra drink during the hot weather. ALL items must be labelled.

L Peter

CANTEEN ROSTER

Mon 2.12.13: S Abbott

Tue 3.12.13: C Leask, S Tudgey

Wed 4.12.13: S Sladden

Thu 5.12.13: H McMahon

Fri 6.12.13: S Abbott

Mon 25.11.13: S Abbott

Tue 26.11.13: S Abbott

Wed 27.11.13: S Sladden

Thu 28.11.13: H McMahon

Fri 29.11.13: S Abbott

From all the Canteen Ladies

we would like to say a big

“THANK YOU”

for your beautiful manners!!!

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ACTIVE AFTER SCHOOL COMMUNITIES Thank you very much to everyone that has participated in AASC this year. We have learnt some

fantastic skills and have really enjoyed ourselves. AASC is finished for this year, however we have

been accepted into the program to continue in 2014.

R Freeth

SCHOOLBIZ - PRIMARY Kids, homework and lies Do you think your child is lying about their homework? Listen to psychologist Anne Hollonds chat

with James O'Loghlin on what to do when the dog eats the homework.

Homework tips: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/homework-tips/kids-

homework-and-lies

Maths at home

Kids' early experiences with measurement are often based on watching their parents. Seeing mum or

dad measure and pour ingredients for a recipe or weigh items at the fruit shop will often become part

of their play.

Maths at home: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/mathematics/

mathematics-tips/helpling-your-child-measure-mass-and-volume

SECONDARY NEWS GENERAL Two of our Year 10 students, Steven Leask and Danielle Sciberras will be taking part in the

University of NSW WOW (Week of Work) program next week. We travel to Sydney on Saturday,

touring the University on Sunday and then they will be participating in Work Experience all week.

Steven will be working as a Personal Trainer in Kensington and Danielle will be working in

Rehabilitation at Randwick.

In the coming weeks the Year 10 students have the opportunity to complete their First Aid

Certificate and White Card (WH&S).

All students have the opportunity to represent the school against Coolah Central in touch football

and participate in a soccer skills session at Coolah in early December.

Secondary Captain’s Speeches will be held after recess in the BER this Wednesday 27 November.

J Waters

SCHOOLBIZ - SECONDARY Maths tips for tweens Kids who find maths easy in the early years of school can be turned off quickly if they get confused

and can't work it out. Here are 10 ways to get your tween through the more challenging times.

Maths tips: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/mathematics/mathematics-tips/

tips-for-tweens-who-find-maths-hard

Time to party

While most parties go off without a hitch, celebrations can go wrong and get out of hand –

particularly if the party is unplanned. Here are tips to help ensure your teen and their friends have

fun but stay safe.

Time to party: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au//wellbeing/development/time-to-party

Mendooran Central School

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CHRISTMAS QUESTIONS WITH FR ROBERT The modern Christmas tree differs greatly from its origins. Today, we decorate an everlasting,

artificial tree with bright lights and dazzling ornaments, while traditionally, the tree was of course,

real and more importantly, decorated with edible food such as apples and nuts. The tradition started

with the elements symbolized by evergreens in pre-Christian winter festivals: immortality and

fortitude.

The evergreen was also known to have represented the same values to a variety of cultures, including

the Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. The worship of trees was also very common in European

Druidism and Paganism. In Christian tradition, trees were often put up in December to serve the dual

purpose of warding off the devil and allowing a perch for whatever birds still remained. Evergreen

trees decorated with apples and wafers were also used in Christmas Eve plays during the Middle

Ages to represent the tree by which Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating of its fruit. As for

decorations, the first evidence of decorated Christmas trees comes

from German craftsman guilds during the Renaissance.

There is also a legend about Martin Luther walking in the woods near

Riga and he created the first Christmas tree. Martin Luther 1483 –

1546 was the Catholic priest who started the Christian reformation in

1517. But actually, the Riga tree reference and the legendary Martin

Luther Tree are two different occurrences.

In fact, little is known about the original Riga tree of 1510 other than

the fact that it was attended by men wearing black hats, and that after a

ceremony, they burnt the tree.

This was a mixture of Pagan and Christian custom, as were very many

of the customs in Central/Northern Europe at that time.

The first recorded use of a Christmas tree decorated (without lights)

and used for Christmas celebrations is in the German region of Alsace

in 1541.

Fr Robert Bowman

COMMUNITY NEWS

Mendooran Central School

2013 Mendooran Debutante

Ball

7th December - Mendooran RSL Club

Be quick!!!

Limited seating available

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MENDOORAN PONY CLUB Our Christmas Party is the 13th December at “Condoomea”. Pony Club Santa will be attending -

please call Michelle on 68861 052 if you can attend.

We will be running the Chocolate Wheel at the Royal Hotel on Thursday 19 December at 7pm. We

have plenty of Christmas hams to be drawn - please come along to this fun fundraising night.

Nominations for Coonabarabran Combined Training and ODE are open until 2.12.13. Enter through

nominate.com.

We need to get memberships renewed and paid for asap cost is $55 riding member and $35 for

non-riding members.

J Smith

MENDOORAN/MERRYGOEN AMATEUR SWIMMING CLUB Pointscore was on again last Friday and it was great to see some new members .We will be having a

2 dollar sausage sizzle every Friday after swimming. New members are welcome and can contact

Sandra Tudgey on 68863 516 or email address scott.c3@bigpond.com for registration. Could

everyone please be paid up before swimming which starts at 3.45 pm each Friday. Swimming

training will be on each Wednesday at 4pm with Mrs Norwood. Thanks to Mrs Norwood for doing

the swimming training for our club.

Michelle Ward

68861052

Mendooran Central School

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Mendooran Central School

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Mendooran Central School

2013 Mendooran

Debutante Ball

Amelia Washbrook & Mitchell Ribbons Shaylah Taufa & Robert Austin

Danielle Sciberras & Steven Leask Charly Wood & Bradley Martyn

7th December - Mendooran RSL

Doors open 6.00pm for nibbles - Viewing from 6.30pm BYO - basket supper - DJ and disco afterwards

Tickets - $20.00 Viewing tickets - $10.00

All profits from the night will be donated to

Mendooran Youth Group

Enquiries and tickets please phone

Kylie - 0421 476 520 Genise - 0427 436 473

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SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS - 2013

Voluntary Infants/Primary Contributions: $25.00 per child

Voluntary Secondary Contributions: $50.00 per child

Voluntary FAMILY MAXIUMUM: $80.00 (not including electives)

Both Voluntary contributions and Elective fees may be paid by instalment.

COMPULSORY ELECTIVES COST

Year 7/8 Electives: Technology Mandatory $20.00 (enables students to take work home)

Year 9/10 Electives: Industrial Technology $40.00 first project ($30 per project thereafter)

Food Technology $15.00 per term ($60.00 per year)

Design & Tech (Textiles) $20.00

Art $25.00

Agriculture $10.00

Year 11/12 Electives: Hospitality $15 per term ($60.00 per year)

D&T Mixed Media $20

Art $25

Agriculture $10

Metals & Engineering $40 first project (2nd project dependent on cost)

Please tear off the following section and fill in details accordingly to the number of students you have

attending Mendooran Central School to calculate the amount owing

FAMILY NAME:………………………………………………………..

VOLUNTARY SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION

No Primary No. Secondary TOTAL $

Students Students SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS

(Maximum $80.00)

COMPULSORY COSTS SECONDARY ELECTIVES

Year 7/8 Electives: Technology Mandatory $20.00 $................................

Year 9/10 Electives: Industrial Technology $40.00 $................................

Food Technology $60.00 $................................

Design & Tech (Textiles) $20.00 $................................

Art $25.00 $................................

Agriculture $10.00 $................................

Year 11/12 Electives: Hospitality $60.00 $................................

D&T Mixed Media $20.00 $................................

Art $25.00 $................................

Agriculture $10.00 $................................

Metals & Engineering $40.00 $................................

TOTAL ELECTIVE FEES $

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE $

Mendooran Central School