TE RM 1, WEEK 6 Wilberforce Public School March 7 2019

NEWSLETTER Macquarie Road, Wilberforce NSW 2756 Phone: 4575 1424 Fax: 4575 1096

Email: wilberforc-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Webpage: www.wilberforc-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Swimming Carnival & District Swimming Carnival

We were once again fortunate with the weather for our annual swimming carnival, despite the odd shower. Congratulations to our students for their outstanding behaviour and participation levels on the day. We were also fortunate to have so many parents and grandparents joining the cheer squads. Mrs Wilkes organised an outstanding carnival, which certainly flowed smoothly throughout the day. Many thanks to our parents: Mrs Psillis, Mrs Tuckerman, Mrs Dickerson, Mrs Barbara, Mrs Mensforth, Mrs Graham, Mrs Place, Mrs Peacock, Mrs Davies, Mrs Griffiths and Ms Greenhalgh on the day with time keeping duties and ribbons.

Last Monday our District swimmers represented our school at our Hawkesbury District swimming carnival. Many of our students achieved PBs and the level of support and encouragement from our students and parents was fabulous to be a part of on the day. Great work Wilberforce swimmers and their families for another wonderful event.

Learning Award

As of the last assembly, I will be celebrating the best learning attributes I see each week. Daily I get to see the work students do at our school either, in their classroom or when it is sent down with the student. The first recipients were Callum H and Victoria H who both have displayed great learner qualities this week. Callum is always willing to give things ago and frequently reflects on what he has learnt to improve his work. Victoria, who was very hesitant to answer questions, has become more confident and willing to make and accept mistakes are part of learning new concepts.

Extra – Curricular Activities

We currently have many teachers who are dedicating their time before school, at recess, lunch and after school to ensure our students gain access to different extra-curricular opportunities. With our student number we are also looking at ways in which students can gain access to these opportunities ensuring some form of equity across all students. The idea has been floated to consider a maximum number of 2 activities per student, however, there are some activities, which do not fit into these suggested guidelines. Please be aware we are not trying, to disadvantage any child but instead ensure that every student, especially in years 3-6 has an opportunity to participate in at least one extra-curricular activity/group throughout the year. We also realise some activities go for the entire year and others have a small amount of time in which students are involved.

• 7 March – Cricket NSW Program begins

• 12 March – Rugby League Program (Stage 3)

• 11 & 12 March – Brewongle EEC Excursion (Years 1 & 2)

• 19 March – Cake Stall & Kindy Grandparents Day

• 26 March – Paul Kelly AFL Cup (Stage 3 Selected Students)

• 3 April - School Photos

• 4 April – Western Sydney Debating Coaching Day (Selected students only)

IMPORTANT DATES

Election Day Stall at Wilberforce – Saturday 23rd March

Have you signed up to help at our BBQ Elections Stall?

WE NEED MANY HANDS AND SMILES TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT. We have quite a few gaps where we require help to ensure this stall is a success. If you can help on the day please go online to www.schoolinterviews.com.au and

enter the code eahxv to book your hourly time slot.

The P&C have a big target of $30 000 to help us improve the technology in every classroom and the playground for our students. We need everyone to get behind all these fundraising ventures. Our shade shelter, which was purchased by the P&C, is currently being fabricated and painted and should be going over the equipment very soon. This year we are working on upgrading some of our play zone area and for more technology.

Learning Support

To facilitate and coordinate a whole school approach, we are currently reviewing how the learning support team guides individual students and teachers at our school. In any one school there will be students who experience difficulties with learning. These difficulties vary in cause, nature, intensity and/or duration. Students may experience difficulties because of the ways in which they learn, the rates in which they learn, or having second language learning barriers. Each member of staff brings with them a wealth of knowledge and experience that benefits the well-being and learning of the students in our care. In addition to this, where required, the faculty also works with a wide range of external agencies and specialists in order to best provide for the learning needs of the students. Currently we are targeting students who are finding writing difficult. These students will be targeted for a 5 week program which supports their learning in class. Some students are also in our Multilit and sight word/sentence program. Over the next few weeks staff will also be trained in MacLit. All students placed on a Learning Program will be notified by a letter home. This is part of our broader aim to make learning more transparent for students and teachers and ensure all students are making progress in learning.

Permission Notes and Online Newsletters

As a parent, I understand it can be hard to keep track of permission notes. A lot goes into organising incursions and excursions, and as a school, we have deadlines so the office can organise all these for students. Reminders are posted regularly on Facebook and the Skoolbag App, and I would ask all parents to assist in ensuring notes are returned promptly. For older students, my suggestion would be to give some of that responsibility to them as this is the expectation in High School.

In an effort to reduce our environmental impact, from next term our newsletters will be distributed online and students will not be given a paper copy. A limited number of paper copies will be available from the front office for collection by our families and grandparents who do not have reliable internet. All notes will still be printed and distributed to students.

Graham Wilkins

Principal

Thank you

To Mrs Wilkes for coordinating the District Swimmers

To Mrs Chapple for the support on Monday night with the P&C

To Mr Hughes for organising the Cricket and Rugby League Days

NEWS, NOTES AND HAPPENINGS

School Photos

A photo envelope and note have been sent home today with your child. This year the photographers are also offering ONLINE ordering. Please follow the instructions on the note that has been sent home on how to place your order.

Please Note:

FAMILY PHOTOS – If you would like your children to have a family photo, please collect a Family Envelope from the front office. Family photo orders cannot be placed online.

Harmony Day

On Thursday 21st March we will be celebrating Harmony Day. Students are encouraged to dress in colours or an outfit that represents their heritage (E.g. colours of their flag, kilt, kimono, etc.). Alternatively, dress in the colour orange which is the colour of Harmony Day.

Soundwaves

Week 7

Term 4

Graphemes: Graphemes: Extra Focus Concepts:

d dd

Blends: dr, nd, ld

remained Adding ing, Adding s or es, Rhyming, Compound words: playground, beside, weekend, ladybird,

Week 8

Term 4

Graphemes: Graphemes: Extra Focus Concepts:

i

Patterns: ish, ink, ich, itch, ing, ill, ick, ift

syrup, women, busiest, pretty, building

Adding s or es, Definitions, Combining syllables, Suffix: ish, Prefix: in

CHOIR This year we have a combined school choir and have had a good response from both boys and girls. Rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays and Friday at Lunch. In a few weeks we will be performing on the 21 March for Harmony Day. Years 5 and 6 will also get the opportunity to audition for the Schools Spectacular and we are currently rehearsing for the audition. We will also be performing at the Hawkesbury Gallery later in the year and hopefully there will be further opportunities this year for choir to perform.

Mrs Ahmedi

NOTES Home NOTES Due School Spectacular – Choir (Selected students only) ASAP Electronic Newsletter Friday 15 March Dance Group Commitment (Selected students only) Friday 15 March Choir Commitment Friday 22 March Western Sydney Debating Coaching Day (Selected students only) Thursday 28 March Peer Support Training Day (Stage 3) Friday 29 March School Photos Tuesday 2 April Expression of Interest Stage 3 Camp Friday 12 April

STAGE NEWS

Early Stage 1

In Kindergarten we have four ability-based Writing groups: Anemone, Jellyfish, Turtles and Fish. Each group is working towards the next level of learning on our Writing “Bump it Up Wall”. Our Fish group has impressed us with their ability to independently write more than one sentence. Keep up the wonderful Writing Kindergarten!

I can see a dog. The dog is brown and white. Annabel.

I can see the dog. I can see the box is brown. Michaela. S.

Look here is the dog in the box. The dog is brown and white. Bobbie.

I can see the dog. The dog is in the box. Ashalina.

WEEKLY ASSEMBLY Whole school Assembly every Friday 12:15pm. Swimming champion trophies and medals will be presented at tomorrow’s assembly.

WEEKLY AWARDS

Bronze Cailin M 3/4H, Luke W 1D, Andi-Marie C 3/4F x 3, Annabel R 3/4H, Juliet R 5/6T x 2, Zoe G 3/4F, Aaron A 3/4F, Imogen B 3/4R, Felix J 5/6C, Summah H 3/4H, Amelia M 5/6R, Maya W 5/6T

Silver Ashlee D 3/4H, Cailin M 3/4H, Andi-Marie C 3/4F, Annabel R 3/4H, Juliet R 5/6T, Zoe G 3/4F, Imogen B 3/4R, Summah H 3/4H, Amelia M 5/6R, Maya W 5/6T

Gold Ashlee D 3/4H, Annabel R 3/4H, Zoe G 3/4F, Millicent L 5/6T, Amelia M 5/6T

Date Class Teachers

8 March 2A Mrs Ahmedi

15 March 3/4H Mr Hughes

22 March 5/6C Mrs Chia

SPORT

District Swimming Carnival

On Monday 4th March, 25 Students represented our school at the Hawkesbury PSSA District Swimming Carnival, at Windsor Pool. These students all tried extremely hard, with many beating personal bests. They need to be commended for their exemplary behaviour, which was noticed by parents and other schools. Congratulations to Jazmin S on winning the 8 years 50m Freetstyle, Noah B placing 3rd in the 50m Backstroke, and the 4 x 50m Freestyle Junior Boys Relay consisting of Jake H, Archer V, Anthony P and Noah B placing 3rd. These students will represent Hawkesbury at the Sydney West PSSA Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 12th March 2019. We wish them the best of luck! Lastly a big thank you to the parents who came to support, transported students to and from the pool, and assisted on the day.

Mrs Vanessa Wilkes

Swimming Co-ordinator

UNIFORM OPEN EVERY 2ND Monday FROM 3PM

Orders can be placed online through our online store at www.wilberforcepandc.com.au

The shop will be opened next on: 18 March If you have any spare shopping bags to donate to the uniform shop for packing orders it would be much appreciated.

CANTEEN

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for next Wednesday 13 March. If there is no one to volunteer, the Canteen will have to close on this day. Please contact the Canteen Volunteer Facebook page if you can help out.

Frozen Custard Pops – 50 cents

Frozen Juice Cups – Apple, Pineapple, and Apple/Blackcurrant – 50 cents

Monday Wednesday Friday 11 March 13 March 15 March

Rebecca Stephen Emily Read

VOLUNTEER NEEDED VOLUNTEER NEEDED VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Tanya Alofia Rachel Van Drie

Mel Moxon Monday Wednesday Friday

18 March 20 March 22 March Rebecca O’Sullivan

Kate McInnes Suzanne Ainslie

Rebecca Zerk Rachael Abercrombie

Rebecca Dutschke

Helene Giggins Leah Follington

VOLUNTEER NEEDED