PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Our current School Value focus is “EXCELLENCE”

Dear Parents, Welcome to the first edition of the 2010 “Beauty Point Buzz”, our school newsletter that is published fortnightly and sent home with the youngest child in the family. This newsletter will keep you informed about the many exciting activities that your children are involved in so look out for it every second Wednesday. On behalf of the whole school community I would like to welcome all of our new students and their families to Beauty Point Public School. I know that you will enjoy your stay at our school and find it a very positive experience. We have enrolled 264 students and have formed an extra class, taking us to 11 classes this year. I must congratulate the students on their very positive start to the year. It is a pleasure to visit the classrooms and see so many happy eager faces. The students were placed into their new classes on Monday and have settled in very quickly to their new learning environment. I would like to welcome three new members to the staff. Ms Paige Batta is our new School Counsellor and will be available for appointments on Fridays between 8:30am and 12 noon. Catherine Williams will be working three days a week in 1HW sharing the class with Eliza Hall. Ms Katrina Bartroff will be with us this term teaching 5/6 and then 1/2. A complete list of staff is included in the “Buzz” for your information. The school is very fortunate to have a group of such dedicated and experienced teachers to support and help each child reach their full potential. All parents are invited to attend an information meeting to be held on Thursday 11th February in your child’s classroom. It is very important to attend these meetings as you will be able to met your child’s teacher and learn about what is happening in the classroom. Please note that this is not the time to discuss individual students. If you wish to talk to your child’s teacher please make an appointment. Below are the times for the information evening. KW, KK, KC, 1HW, 1 /2, 2D – 6pm to 6:40pm 2/3E, 3H, 4J, 5C and 5/6 – 6:45pm to 7:25pm The annual school swimming carnival for students in Years 2 to 6 will be held on Tuesday 9th February at Lane Cove Aquatic Centre. All children took home a permission/information note earlier in the week. Parents are most welcome to attend and if any parent would like to assist in the running of the carnival please see Mrs. Heath. The students need to stay in their assigned areas in the grandstand so the canteen and the indoor pool will be out of bounds. The first P and C meeting for the year will be held on 15th February at 7:30pm in the school hall. All parents are encouraged to attend these meetings. Our new sport program being run by “Sports in Schools Australia” will begin this Thursday. The students in 3, 4, 5 and 5/6 will be attending at 12:00pm. Kindergarten will go at 1:45pm and 1, 1 /2, 2 2/3 will attend at 2.20pm. Please make sure that your child is wearing their sports uniform and a hat on that day. We have a “no hat no play” policy at our school so it is very

BEAUTY POINT BUZZ 17 Medusa Street, Mosman NSW 2088. Telephone: 9969 4260 Fax: 9968 1210

Website: www.beautypt-p.schools.nsw.edu.au Email: beautypt-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

OOSH Telephone: 9960 1095

TERM 1 WEEK 2 3 February, 2010 Small School – Big Opportunities

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE

All Beauty Point Public School students as they start the year with such enthusiasm and high expectations.

important that your child has a hat with them every day. Please label all hats and clothing with your child’s name to ensure that it can be returned to them if they misplace their property. At Beauty Point we actively promote the values of the NSW Public Education system. The first value focus for this term will be “Excellence”. I have included in the Buzz our school policies on bullying and behaviour/discipline for your information. We have had a few cases of ‘nits’ already this year so I would appreciate it if you could regularly check your child’s hair, especially in the warmer weather. All parents are reminded that the staff carpark is out of bounds for all children due to safety issues. Please use the other three entrances to exit or enter our school grounds as this will keep our children safe and sound. Students also need to be reminded to use the pedestrian crossing at all times when crossing Medusa St. Our school also has a nut free policy to protect our children who suffer from anaphylaxis; a severe and sudden reaction to an allergen. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. A mandatory K – 6 program in NSW Public Schools involves Child Protection lessons. This program will be taught at Beauty Point this term. An information letter about the program has been sent home with each student today. If you do not wish your child to participate in this very positive program, please return the tear off section of the letter to your child’s teacher Below is a complete list of staff members and their roles in the school. Please feel free to introduce yourself to any staff member as we all work together as a team to support and nurture your child in the school environment.

STAFF MEMBER ROLE

Ms Sue Gilks Class 5/6G Assistant Principal; Relieving Principal Term 1 Weeks 1 - 5 Mr Kevin Gallagher Class 1 /2G Assistant Principal; Relieving Principal Term 1 Weeks 6 - 10 Miss Danni Conway Class 5C Mr Neil Jensen Class 4J Ms Rowan Heath Class 3H Mrs Amelia Ewan Class 2 /3E Mrs Robin Dunne Class 2D Ms Catherine Williams (3 days pw) Class 1 HW Mrs Eliza Hall ( 2 days pw ) Class 1HW Mrs Lisa Curvey Class KC Miss Carina Weir Class KW Mrs Maria Kaloudis Class KK Mrs Mirelle Farrell Science teacher and support Mr Alan Cockerill ( 3 days ) Teacher Librarian Mrs Pam Cohen ( 1 day pw ) Support Teacher Learning Mrs Judy Smith ( 1 day pw ) Teacher English as a 2nd Language Mr Noah Sharwood ( 2 days a week ) Performing Arts teacher Ms Katrina Bartroff Term 1 Classes 5/6 and 1/2 Mrs Paige Batta ( ½ day pw) School Counsellor Madame Myriam Dixon ( 2 days a week ) French Mrs Celine Donnell School Administrative Manager (SAM) Mrs Sue Hill ( 1 day ) School Administrative Officer (SAO) Mrs Gina Carline ( 2 day ) School Administrative Officer (SAO) Mrs Janelle Patchett School Learning Support Officer Mr Michael Armour ( 1 ½ days pw ) General Assistant Mrs Annette Lutze ( 2 days pw ) School Administrative7 Officer (SAO)

I look forwards to seeing you at different events throughout the term. The staff and I appreciate your support as we work together as a team to ensure a quality education for your child. Yours truly Sue Gilks Relieving Principal

Proudly sponsored by

P&C NEWS - next meeting: Monday February 15, 2010 at 7.30pm

Mosman and Neutral Bay Welcome back to school for 2010. I would like to extend a special welcome to all the new parents who have children starting at Beauty Point this year. I hope you have an exceptional time as members of our small school community. Some noticeable changes around the school over the holidays. The playground looks amazing. After all these years of talking about it, the children finally have some shade when playing on the equipment. The new soft fall is both far safer and looks great. Even some of the grass grew back. Unfortunately, within the first week there have been instances where children have been seen climbing on the cloth, using it as a trampoline and a skateboard ramp! The structure has not been built to take this kind of punishment and will rip within weeks if this continues. It will cost at least $6,000 to replace the cloth alone. Worse is still someone could get seriously injured. Please ask your children not to swing or climb on the shade cloth at anytime. The first P&C meeting of the year will be held in the school hall on Monday, 15th February at 7.30pm. All parents are welcome. The Father and Sons and Daughters camp is getting close. This is open to children in Years 3-6 and their Dads. The date is Saturday and Sunday, March 20 & 21 at the YMCA Camp Yarramundi. More detailed information and consent forms will be coming home with your children in the next week. I look forward to catching up with those who can make the next P&C meeting. Howard Portrate President P&C

SWIMMING CARNIVAL – TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY The program can also be viewed on the web.

Calling all future Grant Hacketts and Stephanie Rices to get into training for the Beauty Point Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 9th February at the Lane Cove Aquatic Centre. Don’t forget sunscreen, hat, morning tea, lunch and lots of water. You may wear house

colours (mufti) to support your house. Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to be officials on the day. Have fun swimming for Beauty Point! * PLEASE SEE SWIMMING PROGRAM IN THE BUZZ

Rowan Heath Swimming Carnival Coordinator

LUNCH ORDERS Lunch orders have commenced for this term, they will be available on Mondays and Thursdays. Returning families – please remember to update your child’s class for 2010. New families – please log onto fleximeals.com.au and click on THE REGISTER NOW BUTTON to set up a new account. Our school name is Beauty Point Public School. Once you are registered feel free to browse all available menus, they change seasonally and there are specials at different times of the year. All lunches must be ordered no later than 8.00am on the day. For any queries please contact Fleximeals through their website.

CHILDREN RECEIVING AWARDS

CHILDREN RECEIVING AWARDS - 2009 KK Scarlett Fairfull KW Hamish McLeod, Jazz Gregan, Charlie Barge, YR 1 Charlie Gregan, Couper Baskus YR 1/2 Jessica Percy, Maya Reed, YR 3 Alysha Percy

DATES TO REMEMBER

FEBRUARY 2010

Tuesday 9 Beauty Point Swimming Carnival - Lane Cove Aquatic Centre

PROGRAM AVAILABLE ON WEB

Thursday 11 Parent Information Night

K-2 - 6.00 pm Years 3-6 - 6.45 pm

Monday 15 School Council Meeting 5.00pm

P&C Meeting 7.30pm

Tuesday 16 Years 1 and 2 excursion

MARCH 2010

Sat-Sun 20-21 Camp Yarramundi children's weekend away with their fathers run by Howard Portrate

LIBRARY NEWS

Invitation to Join Library Committee

In 2009 parents and grandparents provided invaluable support to the school library. Michelle Kibble covered many of our new books throughout the year, and assisted with a very successful book fair. Michelle Theunissen

assisted with end of year stocktaking. Other parents and grandparents assisted on occasion with shelving and book covering. This year we are forming a library committee to give more parents the opportunity to help in this way. It is envisaged that the committee would meet once a term, possibly followed by a morning tea with the student library monitors. Members of the committee could discuss ways to improve the library, and assist with book covering, shelving and decorating the library. When we are ready to move into our new library building, the committee could possibly assist in making the space as attractive and homely as possible. If any parents or grandparents would like to join the committee, please see Alan Cockerill in the library. Library Bags Borrowing has already commenced for students. Please make sure all children have a library bag at school so they can borrow books. HAPPY READING! Alan Cockerill, Teacher Librarian

HELPFUL HINTS

My School website launches The Federal Government launched the My School website on 28 January. The My School website (www.myschool.edu.au) provides a snapshot of every government and non-government school in Australia.

A short video is available for parents to help explain My School and how it relates to the information NSW public schools already provide to parents about their children’s progress and the performance of schools - www.schools.nsw.edu.au/myschoolwebsite A fact sheet is also available. Parents are reminded that the national tests in reading, writing and maths for Years 3,5,7 and 9 (NAPLAN) reported on My School are snapshot tests taken at one point in the year and sample only part of what students learn, and that like all tests they are subject to some margin of error. Anyone using My School to choose a school, or assess a school, should not stop there. If parents are unsure or concerned about any of the information on the My School website, you are encouraged to call or visit the principal to discuss the school’s achievements, values and plans.

New to the school? Changing schools can be an anxious time for your child. There are new friends to make, new schedules to work out and a whole new school layout to contemplate. The latest issue of the School Parents ezine contains information on helping your child adjust to a new school. It includes expert advice from preparing for the move, choosing a school and settling in. There are also special links for advice for travelling teens and defence families. Check it out at: www.schools.nsw.edu.au/ezine.

Primary school Get organised A new school year is a perfect time to get all your school related paperwork organised. On the NSW Public Schools website, you will find a handy DIY school days folder. Here you can file all of your child’s school information in a good looking folder with dividers for sections such as Health, Homework, Awards and Artwork. The folder can be downloaded from: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/news/schooldays/index.php

OOSH NEWS Dear Parents and Carers! All the staff and management would like to welcome the children and parents to the new school year! A special warm welcome to Kindy parents and children, some of you already know OOSH from our January Vacation Care Program. January Vacation Care In past years, OOSH only be opened for only one week in January. However – thanks to your participation in the survey we decided to open OOSH for the whole of January for vacation care. I’m very pleased to inform you that our program proved to be very popular! We extended our invitation to new kindy parents and many new kindergarten children joined us in our Vacation Care Program. These little troopers bravely joined us in a variety of excursions! We had heaps of fun! Kindergarten Kids Especially for the Kindies, during the first weeks of this term OOSH is running Kindy Club. Just like last year, for the first four weeks of Term 1 OOSH is dedicating additional staff members to our ratio to look after our younger ones. The staff member’s role focuses on the Kindy group exclusively and involves duties such as: collection of children from their classes, bringing them to OOSH, helping them with afternoon tea, instructing them about OOSH rules (boundaries, toilets, roll call, and so on) and supervising activities in this group. During this time, the children are encouraged to strengthen their relationships with classmates and gradually adapt to the routines of OOSH so they can socialise and develop relationships with all the children in OOSH. In our Kindy Survey last year, parents were very pleased with the Kindy Club arrangements; we hope you will also find it useful. Additional Activities Children learn their social skills and develop their friendships through sport and play, therefore we believe it’s important to continue giving them plenty of opportunities to practice their skills in the after school care setting. For this reason, OOSH has joined this year with an Active After School Care Program (AASC). This is a national initiative program that provides primary school children with access to free, sport and other structured physical activities in after-school time. The program aims to engage traditionally inactive children in sport and other structured physical activities and through a positive and fun experience, develop a love of sport, teach the children about sportsmanship and fair play. But most importantly – we will have lots of fun!! This program (AASC) will run twice a week for seven weeks every term. Each term we will choose two activities that children enjoy. This Term we will have: Tuesdays-> multisport Thursdays -> hip-hop dance We will encourage all the OOSH children to participate in the program. At the end of the term we will present the OOSH sportsmanship awards. We start this week!

Child Care Rebate If you are registered with Centerlink, you might be eligible for the Child Care Rebate on your fees. If you provide us with your and your childs CRN and date of birth, our program will calculate your fees according to your entitlements. Registration Form Every family using OOSH is required to fill in Annual Registration Form. By asking families to do so every year, we make sure that information about your child’s dietary needs, medical conditions, and your contact details are up-to-date. This form enables us to provide care for your child’s safety and wellbeing. OOSH website Have a look at our website where we regularly update our program, upload useful forms and publish photos of our activities. Kind Regards, Meg Trop OOSH Director

BAND N TES Welcome back to another great year of Band at BPPS! An Enrolment Form was sent home today to all returning 2009 Concert Band members and those students who were invited to join the Training Band following their audition in November 2009. If you missed out, please email carrie@heddonbuilders.com.au for further information about joining. Thursday 6 - Friday 5 February

Return Enrolment form with payment (in envelope marked Band) to office

Wednesday 10 February: 3.00pm Bay Music sign ups in the School Library School Instrument Hire, Concert and Training Band 2010 Registration in the Music Room / Mr Gallagher’s room

Instrument Hire Please note we have a number of instruments for hire. Please contact Neelam Russell 0448 748 114 or Chloe Cantwell 0403 392 486 for details. Concert Band – First rehearsal will be on Monday 15 February at 7.45am, supervised from 7.30am by Brad Madigan. Subject to numbers a second rehearsal is envisaged fortnightly at lunchtime commencing 15 February. Training Band – First rehearsal will be Friday 19 February at 7.45am. Please bring instrument, Essential Elements music book for your instrument, notebook and pencil. The Music Room will be open and supervised by Brad Madigan from 7.30am. Subject to numbers a second rehearsal is envisaged fortnightly at lunchtime commencing 22 February. Sharing the classroom will require each student to be diligent in the set-up and clear-up of the space. Please ensure that we start on time. Late arrivals cause disruption to other band members and time is lost practising! Volunteers are a vital part to the success of the Band year! Please assist where possible. Happy Music Making! Carrie Gray (0410 696 309)

Community Notes

Registration for Mosman Swans Junior Australian Football Club in 2010

Do you want to be active, healthy and have loads of fun? Why not try playing AFL footy with Mosman Swans. AFL footy is all about learning

new skills, having fun and making new friends- it doesn't matter if you have never played before! All ages welcome! Parents can get involved too- by becoming a coach, umpire or club volunteer. Reigstration Day is Sat 6th February at Mosman RSL from 10am -2pm or ring Leisa Johnston on 0412 691 391 for more details.Our home ground is Middle Head Oval and our clinics and matches are on Sunday

PLAYTIME TO BIG TIME

JOIN YOUR JUNIOR AFL CLUB FOR 2010

REGISTRATION DAY

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6, FROM 10.00AM – 2.00PM

MOSMAN JUNIORS REGISTRATION LOCATION: MOSMAN RSL CLUB,

CONTACT LEISA JOHNSTON ON 0412 691 391 For more information visit playafl.com.au

A SPECIAL REQUEST

DESPERATELY SEEKING LARGE FOAM (NOT PLASTIC) MEAT TRAYS AS USED IN WOOLWORTH’S PACKAGING OF MEAT.

TO BE USED IN ART LESSONS

PLEASE SEND TO ROWAN HEATH, YEAR 3H