64 Warialda St

Yetman, NSW, 2410

Principal: Charmaine Johnston

Phone: 07 4675 3150

Email: yetman-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Friday 28 February 2020

From the Principal's Desk

What a great start to the year! We have hit the ground running with the Macintyre Small Schools

Swimming Carnival. This event was hosted by North Star. All students displayed our school motto of

‘Play the Game’ with everyone giving all swimming events a red hot go. Congratulation to Georgina for

jointly winning the senior girls champion medallion. She competed at zone in Moree and qualified for

district in Armidale in the 50m breaststroke and 50m backstroke. We wish her the best of luck.

Our STEAMMEE rotations have commenced with the welcome addition of the instrumental music

program. All students are learning either violin, keyboard or guitar. The first day of instruction was very

exciting and it is evident that students have been practising at home. We look forward to many

performances in the future.

In 2020 we will continue to host two classes; K-2 and 3-6. We welcome Mrs Koppel to the school to assist

Mrs Weatherall, Mrs Walker and me to work as a team across K-6. Mrs Bailey, Mrs Frankcom, Miss

Lions, Mr Moncrieff, Mrs Kilner and Miss Jackson make up the schools’ student support team.

A big welcome to our Kindergarten students Clancy, Ted and Lily. They have settled in beautifully and it

is a pleasure to see them adjusting to, and thriving in, school life.

We are all looking forward to a wonderful year at Yetman Public School.

Charmaine Johnston

Principal

AGM

Thanks to all who attended the AGM, and to the outgoing committee for their service to the P&C. Congratulations

to the new committee: Kate Moffitt -Vice President, Lyn Grabham - Secretary and Emma Hill - Treasurer. I look

forward to working with you all. The minutes of the meeting will be sent home soon.

This year meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of the month during term time. The next meeting will be on

10 March at 1pm. Some of the meetings will be held late in the afternoon to give all parents the opportunity to

attend.

CANTEEN

I will be sending a canteen roster home next week. The menu will be different each time, so on Canteen week the

menu will be sent home on Monday to be returned to school with payment on Wednesday.

PIE DRIVE

A reminder that your order forms for the Pie Drive are due back by Wednesday 11 March, with delivery expected on

Wednesday 1 April.

CAR RALLY

Planning has commenced for the car rally later in the year. We look forward to hosting this great event once again.

Amanda Frankcom, President

Congratulations to Georgina and Filippa for their achievements in the CWA

Cooking Competition. Thank you to Mrs Hallam and Mrs Kimmorley for

visiting Yetman PS to present the awards.

MONDAY 2 QUALIFYING STUDENTS TO ARMIDALE FOR REGIONAL SWIMMING

WEDNESDAY 4 DOLLARMITE BANKING

FRIDAY 6 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER. 10AM AT THE ANGLICAN CHURCH

FOLLOWED BY MORNING TEA AT THE YETMAN STORE

TUESDAY 10 P&C MEETING. 1PM AT THE SCHOOL

WEDNESDAY 11 DOLLARMITE BANKING

FRIDAY 13 SCRIPTURE WITH MRS UEBERGANG

WEDNESDAY 18 DOLLARMITE BANKING

FRIDAY 20 NATIONAL ANTI-BULLYING DAY

TUESDAY 24 GIRLS’ SOCCER DAY IN INVERELL

WEDNESDAY 25 DOLLARMITE BANKING

FRIDAY 27 SCRIPTURE WITH MRS UEBERGANG

THURSDAY 2 WOOLWORTHS CRICKET DAY @ TERRY BARNES OVAL

WEDNESDAY 8 HEALTHY HAROLD

DOLLARMITE BANKING

THURSDAY 9 JUMP ROPE FOR HEART ‘JUMP OFF’

EASTER HAT PARADE

FRIDAY 10 GOOD FRIDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

SATURDAY 25 ANZAC DAY

MONDAY 27 STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY

TUESDAY 28 STUDENTS RETURN FOR TERM 2

WEDNESDAY 29 OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT THEATRE PRODUCTION IN GOONDIWINDI

FRIDAY 8 MACINTYRE CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL IN CROPPA CREEK

SUNDAY 10 MOTHERS’ DAY

TUESDAY 12 - THURSDAY 14 NAPLAN TESTING FOR YEAR 3 AND 5 STUDENTS

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K-2 All Stars News

The All Stars have seen lots of changes this year. Firstly, we have moved back into our old room in the brick building. We left

five of our classmates behind to join the Yowies as Year 3. And we have seen three new Kindergarten students join us this year.

A big welcome to Clancy, Lily and Ted - who have settled into classroom and school routines really quickly.

The All Stars have set their personal learning goals for reading, writing and maths and are working hard to achieve these so they

can set new ones.

We are studying a Natural Disasters unit in English- reading lots of stories about fire, flood, rain and drought, drawing pictures

and writing sentences using adjectives to describe what these weather events might feel like, sound like or look like. Our Art

lessons this term are following this theme as well with paintings and collages being produced. Maths is following a two strand

approach each week this year so that concepts are revisited

frequently. Mrs Walker reports that Music is lots of fun and

we have some enthusiastic participants in her lessons. K-6

are studying a Farms based Geography/ History/Science unit

on Mondays and Coding on Thursdays. Each Friday the All

Stars either do Garden Gurus/Science/PDH with Mrs

Johnston or Cooking Club with myself. Sport and Fitness

lessons are focusing on skipping and cricket skills in

readiness for our Small Schools Cricket day and our Jump

Rope for Heart, both of which will occur later in the term.

Just a quick reminder that Homework is due back on

Fridays. I understand that sometimes life gets busy and it

can’t always be completed entirely- but please do make the

time to listen to your child read every day. Library is also on

Fridays. On the that Thursdays we have canteen, please still

send a piece of fruit for your child to have at Fruit Break. If

you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to

contact me.

Mrs Weatherall

Welcome back for 2020! Don’t forget library day is on Fridays. It is great if you can tell your teachers and

friends what the books you have borrowed are about. If you really enjoyed reading the book, recommend it

to your friends to borrow.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge commences on 2 March so start preparing to fill out your reading sheets.

Go to www.premiersreadingchallenge.nsw.edu.au to see what books are on the recommended reading list.

Fire Raging fire swallows tree by tree and it roars through the county. House, burnt to dust and ash from the terrifying flames. The sun turns orange. It jumps from tree to tree. The burning blade burns; bush by brush James Y3 Fire Raging fires and smoky air with blood red walls of fire. Suffering koalas and dead birds fall from the leafless trees. The fire eats the trees and cars and the jumping tumbleweeds of fire. Sparks hit the ground and the grey, red leaves turn into fire. Stevie Read Y3 Fire Axes of flame knocking down trees and scrub. The tall flames are raging over the hills to the house. Spot fires are starting and they look like big red flares. The house is burning and is ablaze with only the frame remains. It is spitting out fire from all sides. The big red monster is not retreating. The house is gone and the ashes remain. These are fire filled days, scorched hot and dry, but the rain is slowly coming. Sam Y6

To the following children, who all turned 8

in February:

FILIPPA!

STEVIE! TEDDY!

BRADLEY!

and to CAITLIN! who will be 7 in

March

Firestorm Someone threw out a smoke bud onto dry grass and the next day it was out of control. The deafening roars of the fire bellowed out as animals fled from the giant monster. The fire brigade struggled to put the monster to sleep. Grey birds fall out of the tree as the air is full of ash, and we struggle to breath from all the smoke. We clean out the gutter and spray down the house. Pack up the car because it is time to get out! Georgina Y6 FIRE! One dark night one small spark bought FIRE! The next day fire was roaring up the hill. It was swallowing everything in it’s path .The sun was orange and the trees were burning. We pack food and water. Helicopters and trucks are fighting the fire but it was no use, more roads are closed and fire is burning. It is hard to see and birds are falling from the sky .Our house is gone and more trucks are coming .The day is taking forever to end. Kangaroos are dying and koalas are dead. Finally the fire is out and we all cheer. The sun is yellow again and soon life comes back. More animals are coming and more children are arriving .The day is over and soon everything will be back to normal. Zac Y3 Raging Fire It was a hot day so everybody was staying inside. One small spark could bring fire awake. At night everybody was asleep but fire awoke! The burning air keeps the fire brigade away as fireballs leap over houses. The roaring monster incinerates everything in its path. Every animal in the bush is suffering and everybody is fleeing to the coastline. Sheets of metal are rusting and sparks are going everywhere. The back burning is not working against the fire-storm. Aiden Y4 Bushfire I see the sparks jumping, house to house, destroying them. The fire brigade couldn't back burn because the red roaring monster got too close. Then out of nowhere a helicopter came and tipped water on the beast but it did not help. The fire brigade fighters were sticky and sweaty. Day after night it did not stop and the brigade rang other firefighters. The new fighters helped really well. Then the fire went smaller and smaller and it went out. Every-one cheered!!! Lachlan Y4

Welcome Mrs Koppel There is a new kid (teacher) on the block at Yetman Public School! Yes, that’s me with the funny

accent. I’m Deb Koppel and this is my brief story of how I landed in Yetman P.S.

My career in education started in Cape Town, South Africa where I taught Accounting, Typing and

Economics. After 17 years teaching at private and public high schools, my family and I immigrated to

Adelaide, South Australia. The transition was easy, similar weather and everyone was sports crazy.

After our boys had settled in nicely in their school and made friends, we were transferred to

Wollongong due to work commitments. This move was probably more traumatic than the move from

South Africa. My first shock was discovering that NSW Education Department don’t offer Accounting

as a subject and my second shock was realising that I will need to make changes in my subjects I teach.

So, after 2 years I had completed my Master in Education, specialising in Special Education. I always

had an interest or curiosity when working with students with special needs in my previous schools so

this path was confirmed when I gained a permanent position in a high school support unit in

Wollongong. After 9 years there, I transferred to a school specific for special needs. It is a K-12 school,

120 students with varying degrees of disabilities. I wore many hats at the school from Career Advisor to

Relieving Assistant Principal to classroom teacher. When an email arrived inviting teachers to join the

Rural Experience Program I didn’t hesitate to apply because it would mean I could get back into the

classroom and teach and leave the ‘executive stuff’ in the very capable hands of Mrs Johnston and staff

at Yetman. So, here I am, at Yetman PS, teaching two lovely boys integrated in the Yowie Class. I am

enjoying working with the teaching and support staff on supporting all Yetman P.S. students to reach

their learning goals.

You Can Do It! award winners: Lily and Caitlin

Coding in STEAMMEE

At Yetman Public School we aim to create a safe and supportive school community for everyone. This year, our stu-

dent leaders will once again be leading the student body in activities in taking a stand together against bullying.

Parents and community members are an important part of our work to prevent bullying and to respond effectively

if it happens. Stopping bullying involves everyone.

If your child talks to you about bullying:

Listen calmly and get the full story. Your calm response is

important to allow your child to tell you all about the

situation. After they’ve told you their story, ask questions

to get more details if you need: who, what, where, when.

Although you may feel some strong emotions about your

child’s experience, try to keep calm to avoid more distress

to your child.

Reassure your child they are not to blame. Many children

blame themselves and this may make them feel even

worse. You could say things like, ‘That sounds really hard

to deal with. No one should have to put up with that.’ or

‘I’m so glad you told me. You should be able to feel safe at

school; that’s not fair at all’.

Ask your child what they want to do and what they want you

to do. A critical part of your response is to avoid jumping in

to solve the problem. While it is natural to want to protect

your child, helping them to find their own solution is a

better option. It helps them feel they have some power in

the situation.

Visit www.bullyingnoway.gov.au to find some strategies. The

website has tips and ideas for different bullying situations.

One idea is to practise strategies at home to help your child

feel more confident.

Contact the school. Your child may be reluctant for you to do this, so discuss the idea and reassure them that the

school would want to know and is able to help. Make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher and, if

you need to, ask to talk with the principal. Contact the school immediately if you have a concern about your

child’s safety.

Check in regularly with your child. Keep the conversation going. It can take time to resolve issues, so check in

regularly with your child about their experiences and their feelings. Your ongoing support is important.

If you are looking for support for yourself to deal with a bullying situation, you will find ideas on the Bullying. No

Way! website for parents. As well, please feel free to contact the school if you would like to discuss any aspect of

our approach to preventing bullying.

Thanks for your support to make Yetman Public School a great school for everyone.