Mount Kuring-gai Public School

Leeming Street, Mount Kuring-gai NSW 2080

T (02) 9457 9088 F (02) 9457 8691 E-mail: mtkuringga-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au September 2018

Principal’s Report

Year 7 Entry into a Selective High School in 2020

Is your child currently in year 5 and you are thinking of applying for a government selective high school for year 7 entry in 2020? You must apply online at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-clasees/year7 . Information regarding intention to apply for year 7 entry to a selective high school in 2020 went home today. Dates to remember:

Applications open 9th October 2018

Applications close 12th November 2018 (you must apply by this date)

Please read all information on the website carefully before applying. There is more information at https://education.nsw.gov.au/shs-oc . Parents should check the website for updates all the way through the application and placement process.

Grandparent’s Day

Last Monday the 17th September saw another remarkable turn out of grandparents for our annual

Grandparent’s Day. Our very special visitors were treated to a beautiful PowerPoint presentation put together

by Mrs Tudor, a delicious morning tea provided by the canteen committee and open classrooms where they

were able to see the children’s work. Thank you to Mrs Tudor and everyone who was able to attend to make it

such a special day for the children.

Area Athletics

On Monday 17thSeptember, Elijah H represented the Hornsby Zone in the junior boys discuss. Congratulations

and well done to Elijah who placed 9th overall, this is a fantastic achievement.

Senior Choir Congratulations to our Senior Choir who performed as a part of a combined schools choir at the Sydney Opera House last Thursday. They performed in the “Arts Alive” choral concert. This is always a highlight on my calendar and I know the children had a great night. Thank you to Mrs Slade for her continual support.

School Debating

On Thursday 6th September the school debating team had a fantastic win over Mt Colah Public school.

Unfortunately on Tuesday 18th the team missed out on the finals by a stronger Galston Public School. The

team has achieved great results this year and they should be extremely proud. Thank you to Mr Byrne for all

his encouragement.

Muogamarra Excursion

Last Friday, 21st of September, The Wallabies and Emus travelled by bus to Muogamarra Nature

Reserve. Muogamarra is a protected reserve located on the northern edge of Sydney between Cowan

and the Hawkesbury River. The students were able to explore many of the Aboriginal sites, including

rock art engravings and grinding grooves. This excursion helps the children to understand aboriginal

history and compliments the Local History unit they are studying this term.

Parliament House Tour

Today the school leaders from all our local schools including ours were invited by Mr Matt Kean,

Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation MP to attend a morning tea at Parliament House in the

city. There will be well known guest speakers to inspire them and the students will get to sit in the

House of Representatives and have a tour of the parliament. Our school leaders, along with their

parents and myself will have a great day.

“Star of the Month” Assemblies Friday 28

th September at 9:30am in the hall – The Black Cockatoos (4/5)

Friday 26th October at 2:45pm in the hall – The Powerful Owls (5/6)

Swim Scheme The first two weeks of next term, children from Years 2, 3 and 4 will be participating in the Swim

Scheme. This program has been designed as an intensive learn to swim program for children from Year

2. Thank you to Miss Wargren and Mrs Wasowski for accompanying the children.

Maternity Leave Some of you may be aware that Miss Cameron will be leaving the school this term on maternity leave. We would like to thank her for the great work she has done at the school and wish her all the best for her upcoming arrival. We would also like to welcome Ms Hindmarsh to the school. Share Our Space program Mt Kuring-gai Public School will be one of 81 schools opening our gates again to the public in the school holidays. This is part of NSW Government Share Our Space Program. Our school grounds will be open from 8am to 5pm, 7 days a week from 1

st – 12

th October 2018. Please take the opportunity to enjoy the

school’s facilities during the holiday vacation. There will be a guard onsite during these times to monitor the school.

Relieving Principal

A reminder that I am on leave next term till week 4. Mrs Natalie McDonald who is the current principal of Jilliby Public School will be the relieving principal while I’m away. Mrs Tudor and Mr Byrne will be onsite during this time to support her. School Holidays Term 3 has been an incredibly busy term for all students, teachers and parents. Next term promises to

be just as busy. Students return to school on Monday 15th

October and will be returning in their

summer uniforms. Please enjoy your holidays and travel safely wherever you may be heading and we

look forward to seeing you in Term 4.

Matt Pinchbeck

Principal

Thank you grandparents for

joining us on Monday 17th

September to celebrate

Grandparents Day 2018. It was

lovely to see so many smiling faces.

Stage One Muogamarra Excursion

Stage One had a wonderful day exploring Muogamarra with Claire and Brad from Gibberagong. They explored traditional bush tucker, weapons, shelter, local plant life and its traditional and medicinal uses. Stage One students tasted aniseed myrtle, lemon myrtle, bush pepper and lilly pilly jam on bread. The students respectfully explored sacred indigenous spaces and viewed ancient carvings. They went to Tucker’s Point for a spectacular view of the Hawkesbury River. The children then painted their faces with ochre in respect for the traditional owners. It was a steep walk through the bush back to base where the children were given a task to build a shelter using items from the environment. They got very dirty and loved every minute of it! It was a wonderful (and exhausting) day. Many thanks to our Stage One staff and parent helpers: Georgie, Leanne, Dan, Alison, Carolyn and Tanya, for helping out on the day.

K-2 HOME READING TIPS

Home reading should be a positive experience for both parent and child. The book they take home will be a familiar book and it is okay (in fact it is beneficial) for the book to be read more than once or twice.

Make it part of your routine and find the right time for you and your child to enjoy this special time together (mornings may work better than evenings in some cases).

Let the reader hold the book and turn the pages.

Before reading:

Ask some questions about the book : What do you think the books is about? Why?

What do you notice about the picture on the front? Or if they have read it before : Do you remember what happened in the story? What do you like about the book? Is it a story or a fact book?

During reading:

Listen to your child read the story.

Let him/her hold the book and turn the pages.

If they read correctly, praise them as they turn each page. Try and be specific with your praise.

E g. Great job! You corrected that all by yourself. Good job! That didn’t make sense and you corrected it.

You are trying to re-read the sentence. Terrific! Your reading sounds just like talking. Fantastic!

Well done! You are reading with expression for the talking parts.

If your child makes an error or stops at a word give him/her 5 seconds to self-correct. If they don’t self-correct, give them 5 seconds to have a go before telling them the word.

After reading:

Praise, Praise, Praise! The aim is for students to view themselves as successful readers.

Ask questions: What was your favorite part? What was the problem in the story? Which character did you like the best?

Important Note: Students who are reading beyond Level 17/18 are encouraged to read familiar books from school and also books from the school/local /home library, choosing books that they enjoy and are interested in.

If your child is becoming frustrated during the Home Reading process, please see your child’s classroom teacher.

Helpful prompts

When the reading doesn’t make sense…

When the reading doesn’t sound right…

Sounding out errors…

Look at the picture.

Does that make sense?

Read on and come back.

Think about what you’ve read.

Go back and read again.

Does it sound right?

Should you say it like that?

Does it look right?

Look at the first sound.

Say the sounds in order.

Look for any parts of the word you know.

Now have a guess. Now have a guess. Now have a guess.

Jump Rope for Heart kicks off this term!

Jump Rope for Heart is a fantastic physical activity and fundraising program that has been run by the Heart

Foundation for 35 years. It’s a great way for your child to keep fit and learn new skills, but it also helps raise

funds for vital heart research and education programs.

Since Jump Rope for Heart started in 1983, schools like ours have raised more than $75 million for the Heart Foundation’s lifesaving work. It’s important you register your child online, so they can receive the full benefits of the program and participate in online fundraising, simply follow the link below to get started. https://jumprope.heartfoundation.org.au/register Students will be skipping during sport ,you can share their online fundraising page with family and friends to

help raise money for this great cause.

We will hold our school Jump Off Day on Tuesday 30th October this will mark the end of the program and is a

chance for everyone to come together to skip and show off their newly learned skills.

Thank you for supporting the Jump Rope for Heart program!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2018

Friday 28th September

Last Day of Term

Star of the Month Assembly

Monday 15th October

First Day of Term 4

Swim scheme begins

Did you know ……..

Community Notice Board