‘Endeavour to Excel’ ‘Excellence, Opportunity, Success’ 121 PACIFIC HIGHWAY, OURIMBAH 2258 PHONE: 4362 1033 FAX: 4362 2531 Email : ourimbah-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website : www.ourimbah-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

‘Communicating with our Caring Community’

Wednesday, 16th December 2020

DATES TO REMEMBER

PRINCIPAL

Stars of the Week – 3AG For the very last ‘Class of the Week’ we have put the spotlight on the amazing students in 3AG and the dynamic duo of Mrs Alamango and Miss Gordge. As you can tell from their class photos and work samples, this group of Year 3 students are a very creative bunch who love doing visual arts and challenging themselves across all subject areas. They also enjoy engaging with technology as they sharpen their coding skills.

You have had a fantastic year, 3AG! I look forward to seeing you all progress as you move into Year 4, next year.

Annual Presentation Assembly Last week, we held our annual Presentation Assemblies for all stages. Due to the ongoing restrictions regarding COVID-19, it was decided by the school leadership team that we would livestream and record each ceremony individually so the school could ensure that we were abiding by the physical distancing regulations determined by the NSW Department of Education and the current health advice. Whilst there were a few minor technical issues, I would like to thank those parents who were in attendance for their patience and feedback. I would also like to give a huge shout-out to Jacob Hughes and Daniel Waugh who have spent many hours downloading, editing and uploading the videos and photos online for families to access. • K: https://youtu.be/UEa_mnmWryU • S1:https://youtu.be/vXq6PKX8V2U • S2: https://youtu.be/74dJ58KAIT0 • S3: https://youtu.be/-tI-m3NzZeM

A separate note detailing how to download photos from each Presentation Assembly was distributed today. Congratulations to all award winners. These awards recognise high achievement and outstanding effort throughout 2020. A big thank you to the executive staff (Mrs Kenny, Mrs Wakelin, Mrs Bowd and Mrs McLean) and all of the

DATE EVENT 14 – 16 Dec Year 6 End of Year Celebrations

15 & 16 Dec Canteen open for over the counter sales ONLY – No orders

16 December Last Day for Students 17 & 18 Dec Staff Development Days

27 & 28 January Staff Development Days – staff only

29 January *Please note - Year 1-6 students will now start on Friday, 29th January

28 & 29 January 1 February Kindergarten Best Start Interviews

2 – 5 February Kindergarten – partial days 8 February Kindergarten – start full time

teachers for their help in organising the virtual Presentation Assemblies, and to the wonderful office staff (Sue and Darrelyn) for typing all of the certificates and sending out all of the relevant letters of invitation.

Safe and Happy Holidays Well… we’ve managed to survive a very crazy and challenging year and I could not be prouder of our students, my staff and the parent community as a whole. The resilience, initiative and compassion demonstrated throughout a tumultuous year has been nothing short of remarkable when learning from home and then learning from school under very different guidelines and restrictions which seemed to change daily. I think everyone will let out a collective sigh of relief as we usher out 2020 and aim to start the 2021 year off with a fresh but cautious outlook. As this is the final newsletter for the year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ourimbah PS community for all they have done to ensure such a busy year was also a successful one. I would like to acknowledge, and applaud, the efforts of the staff and students because learning in today's classroom can be very challenging and complex as we aim to prepare each student to become active and informed citizens of the future. Please do not underestimate the contribution you make to our school and your child’s education. By being active participants in your child’s education, you will help them to develop a ‘love of learning.’ The school has a cohesive and learning-focused student body that are directed, guided and supported in their learning and wellbeing by a professional, caring and dedicated staff. I would like to thank our teaching and executive staff for their tireless efforts in what has been a very extraordinary, demanding and sometimes complicated year. I wish all of our staff a Merry Christmas and a well-deserved and relaxing break. The school’s administrative team led by Sue Vila, Darrelyn Ward, Stella Dawson and Jade Vila deserve a huge amount of credit for the multitude of roles they assume each and every day. Our hardworking general assistant, John Rainger, has been a great support in ensuring the school’s facilities are kept at a high standard and our gardens and playground areas are maintained so our students, staff and families can enjoy our beautiful school grounds. My thanks also to Victoria Keegan (Canteen Manager) and her loyal band of volunteers who continued to provide lunches once the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. I would also like to thank our caring and supportive Student Learning and Support Officers Suzie Matheson, Judy Worth, Rhys Smith, Mel Kenny, Niamh Formby, Amanda Hampson, Elise Brewster, Sharon Snedden, Ruby Lenton, Polly Thomas-Priest Leanne Dibben, Matthew Knight and Danielle Grech

who provide that extra bit of TLC for those students in need – your compassion and commitment to improving student learning outcomes does not go unnoticed!

Thank you to all of our parent volunteers and community members for the work you have done in support of the students and staff at our school throughout the year, although many of our regular parent helper programs were cancelled this year. A special thank you to Venessa Wheeler and the fundraising committee who, with the support of the P&C executive members, continued to push for those fundraising events that could continue to operate within the COVID-19 and AHPPC guidelines. Whilst the overall tally was down on previous years, success is measured in many different ways and the P&C have done an amazing job in supporting the school financially and fairly through their generosity and hard work.

This year, we saw the installation of some new playground equipment ($50,000) on C-oval as well as new readers for the primary classes ($3,000) and maths equipment ($3,000) for all classes (K-6). Additional robotics kits ($3,500) were also purchased along with a contribution to the new long-jump pit ($7,000) – GREAT JOB, TEAM!

I would also like to acknowledge and thank the students of Ourimbah PS for being the fantastic kids you are – thank you for making our school the special place it is through your enthusiasm, respect and responsibility!

I wish all of our students and their families a Merry Christmas, a safe holiday and a Happy New Year.

School Year Commencement Dates for 2021 Please note that the school year for students in Grades 1 – 6 commences on Friday 29 January whilst Kindergarten children will commence on Tuesday 2 February 2021. Parents of kindergarten children will

have received letters regarding the Best Start assessment times commencing on Thursday 28 January and continuing through to Monday 1 February 2021. We look forward to officially welcoming our new students and their families to our school!

Staffing News and Class Structures 2021 Like in many other years, it is difficult to finalise classes until the commencement of the new school year as little as 1-2 extra / fewer students can have a vast impact upon class models and staffing allocations. Over the past few weeks, we have seen an increased number of families leaving our beautiful school to explore other educational options for their children, especially in Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6). This recent movement has seen our anticipated school enrolment figures drop to 387 students to start the new school year. As a result of these declining numbers, it is likely that we will go from having 16 classes to having 15 classes across the school. This will also have an impact upon the number of staff we have working in the front office each day and has resulted in a number of composite classes being formed across the grades to ensure we are working within the NSW Department of Education’s guidelines regarding class sizes. The staff and I have spent countless hours poring over possible class compositions taking many factors into consideration, including parental requests, student friendship groups, student wellbeing and learning needs and the teachers’ professional judgement on what works best. At this stage, and I must emphasise that these are subject to change in the new year if our numbers are altered in any way, we anticipate that the class groupings and staffing structure will be as follows: • Principal: Greg Francis • Assistant Principals: Nicki Wakelin (Kindergarten,

Years 1 and 2), Linda Bowd (Years 3 & 4), Tina McLean (Years 5 & 6) and Jodi Golding (Learning and Support).

• Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten): Jakie Adams, Sarah Gordge, Nicole McMurtrie / Jessica Brewin.

• Stage 1 (Years 1-2): Nicki Wakelin / Emma Elsey, Melissa Young, Melissa Nebauer, Matthew Bradbury.

• Stage 2 (Years 3-4): Tara Alamango / Aly Anderson, Mary Rae, Gary Edwards, Linda Bowd.

• Stage 3 (Years 5-6): Paul Castles, Louise Kimpton, Dean Wilson and Tina McLean.

• Library: Jodi Golding • RFF Teacher: Susan English, Rebecca Pasfield.

• Learning Support: Brooke Miranda and Angie Nagle.

• SaS Staff: Sue Vila (School Administrative Manager), Darrelyn Ward, Stella Dawson (School Administrative Officers), Victoria Keegan (Canteen Manager), John Rainger (General Assistant), Wesley Daniels (IT Co-ordinator), Amanda Hampson, Judy Worth, Rhys Smith, Suzie Matheson, Niamh Formby, Mel Kenny and Elise Brewster (Student Support Learning Officers).

Unfortunately, there are some farewells to staff to end the school year. Firstly, I would like to congratulate Ms Rebecca Adams who has been successful in gaining a full-time teacher/librarian position at Woy Woy South PS to commence next year. Bec has not only been instrumental in making our school library a place where students develop a love of literature, but she has also headed our Aboriginal Education Committee for a number of years and has been the driving force behind many programs and initiatives that have allowed all students to connect with their own culture and thrive within an environment that promotes equity and inclusivity free from vilification and ridicule. Bec will be sorely missed and we all wish her well for the next chapter of her teaching journey. Happy and safe travels, Mrs Kenny! Mrs Kenny and her family will be undertaking an adventure of a lifetime as they embark upon a trip around our beautiful continent, Australia. We will miss Lauren’s technical expertise and the amazing work she does organising the new Kindergarten students and supporting the newest families to our school… don’t forget to pack the toothpaste! Mrs O’Connell has decided to take leave in 2021 to enjoy more time with her growing list of grandchildren. I am sure Stella will find great delight in her babysitting duties. Mr Miller will continue to be on a leave of absence next year as he extends his contract working as a NAPLAN Online Training Facilitator… let’s hope no plagues or epidemics obstruct his progress next year! Congratulations again Mrs Brown! Sally will commence the new year with us on a part-time basis before going on maternity leave in preparation for the birth of her second child. We also welcome back Mr Dean Wilson who re-joins the OPS staff following a year working within another branch of the NSW Department of Education.

School Security – holiday break As we approach the Christmas break, I ask all families who live in close proximity of the school to report any suspicious activity on our school grounds to Wyong Police (4356 6099) or the School Security Unit (1300 880 021).

If you notice damage to school property, anti-social conduct or suspicious activity on the grounds, or after school hours, please do not hesitate to call the abovementioned numbers. The school is very proud of its grounds and the positive partnership it has with the broader community - it would be a shame to lose this identity! Kind regards, Greg Francis (Principal) K-2 CLASS AWARDS Week 8 – Madison B, Callie S, Jack E, Oliver T, Elijah W KL; Imran L, Kade D, Florence N, Mana U KSB; Sian C, Alyssa P, Blair A, Zaria C 1/2Y; Lucas S, Lachlan K, Ashlyn B, Amelia L 1/2N; Noah G, Jackson T, Jessica M, Sarah K 2ME; Nate M, Willow Y, Cooper W, Cooper E 2B; Capri F, Alexis V, Lucy M, Aleia K Library 3-6 CLASS AWARDS Week 8 – Jaxon O, Kayla D 3AG; Josiah W, Imogen S 3/4B; Ethan W, Toby D 4E; Amir L, Charli S 4/5EA; Dylan M, Dana M 5C; Clay T, Liam D 6F; Lukas E, Benjamin L Library CLASSY ARTICLE – 3AG In Mathematics, the students have been working hard to consolidate their knowledge of multiplication and division as inverse operations. They have enjoyed applying these skills to solve two-step multiplication and division word problems.

Visual Arts is one of our favourite parts of the week. This term, students have experimented with colour, line, pattern and shading to create optical illusions in their work. They have done an amazing job!

In technology lessons, students have enjoyed learning new skills on code.org. They have applied these skills to create programs to solve puzzles and challenges.

Through exploration of the 2020 NAIDOC Week theme ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, we learnt how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples used meteorological events to determine the best time for hunting and gathering different plants and animals. This term, 3AG have been competing in ‘Minute to Win It’ challenges, on Friday afternoons. The students have enjoyed applying problem solving strategies to battle it out for the title of the ‘Weekly Champ’. It has been fantastic to see their teamwork, friendship and ability to support each other grow through these activities. Students are often seen cheering each other on and giving their peers advice and tips, even when it means their time or score will be beaten. 2020 has been a challenging year, but the 3AG students have displayed impressive resilience and maintained a growth mindset. We are two very proud teachers! Mrs Alamango and Mrs Gordge

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS Staff Development Day – Additional Trading Hours The Uniform Shop will open on Thursday, 28th January from 10 – 11 am, which is one of the staff development days for 2021. All students in Years 1-6 will return on Friday, 29th January. Operating Hours – Mondays & Thursdays The opening hours for the uniform shop are as follows:

Mondays 8.30 am - 9.15 am Thursdays 2.30 pm - 3.15 pm

P&C NEWS P&C CHRISTMAS RAFFLE Congratulations to the following prize winners of our P&C Christmas raffle: K-2 1st prize – Oliver S 1K 2nd prize – Noah G 2ME 3rd prize – Matai I KA 4th prize – Mindy H 1K 3-6 1st prize – Lachlan P 3AG 2nd prize – Toby S 4/5EA 3rd prize – Brayden C 4E 4th prize – Sophie D 4E Thank you to all the school community for supporting our raffle this year. A total of $886.35 was raised. FUNDRAISING FOR 2020 – APPRECIATION First of all I wish to give a massive thanks to my offsider and right-hand assistant this year, Skye Dunn, for all your time and help this year. It’s been very much appreciated. Also, a special mention to Shannon Howlett and Skye Dunn for their help with the Christmas raffle fundraiser. I also wanted to thank all the parent helpers and volunteers who helped with other fundraisers throughout this year in such trying Covid times. Thank you also to Mr Francis and Mrs Wakelin for letting us run certain events during the Covid process. A lot of preparation went into regulations for Covid and I thank you both. A special mention also to the office ladies, Sue and Darrelyn, for your help throughout this year. I am very grateful for all the help and time that you all have put in, including all the teachers. It’s very much appreciated. Have a safe and merry Christmas. Venessa Wheeler Fundraising Coordinator

COMMUNITY NEWS

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ATTENTION YEAR 6 PARENTS If you have a student heading to Lisarow High School for 2021, we would love for you to come and volunteer in our canteen. I am very open to days that suit you. I have ladies that come in from once a week to once a month and it’s a very friendly and supportive environment. Some parents have found it to be a very good way to help children who find the transition hard and some just come because they love the social side. If this interests you please contact me (Rachel) canteen manager Lisarow High School via email at

lhscanteen2012@gmail.com or mobile 0413 774 794 for a chat. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you, Rachel Cook