Norths’News A Community with Expectations of Achievement and Success

School Phone Number 9623 1443 Fax Number 9833 1283 Office Hours 8:30am – 3:30pm Email: stmarysnth-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.stmarysnorth-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

14 August 2015

‘TELL THEM FROM ME’ PARENT SURVEY

Very soon we will be inviting parents/carers to participate in a ‘Partners in Learning’ survey. The focus of this survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices. The survey questions are aimed at helping us to understand parents/carers’ perspectives on your child’s experience at school. Data collected from the survey responses are compiled into reports for school leaders, which we will use to help identify any emerging issues and plan for school improvement. The survey takes about 15 minutes and is completed online through a secure website operated by the survey developers, The Learning Bar. There will be further information coming home soon about how you can access this survey.

CYBERBULLYING On 1 July 2015 the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner was formed. This office works to administer the cyberbullying complaints scheme under the Enhancing Online Safety for Children Act 2015. The Act allows children suffering from serious cyberbullying to contact the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner to have content removed if social media companies do not comply with users requests to do so. The Office also provides a range of resources to support schools and parents/carers in resolving cyberbullying issues. For further information please go to the website: www.esafety.gov.au

EXCURSIONS All excursions are aligned with what teachers are focusing on in lessons, however this does not guarantee that all students will be eligible to attend. Students must consistently demonstrate that they can meet the school’s behaviour expectations in order to be allowed to leave our school site. We need to be able to ensure their safety, and that of their peers and teachers. Currently, there are a number of grades who have excursions planned for Term 3 or 4. Please be aware that even if your child has paid for an excursion, only those who have earned the privilege will be permitted to attend. If your child is not permitted to attend, you will be notified of this in writing prior to the excursion and given an opportunity to discuss the reasons why with the Assistant Principal of your child’s grade/stage. Ultimately, we want every student attending the excursions, so please encourage your child to demonstrate appropriate behaviour at all times and explain they will be rewarded for continually making good choices.

Important Dates to Remember

Mon/Tues/Wed 17/18/19 August Life Education Mon-Fri 24-28 August Book Fair Wednesday 26 August Book Parade Wednesday 2 September Kindy Excursion- Golden Ridge Tuesday 8 September Year 1 Excursion- Pioneer Village Thursday 10 September Musica Viva Incursion

WHITE RIBBON SCHOOL – BREAKING THE SILENCE

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service (24 hours)

www.1800respect.org.au1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline (24 hours) www.lifeline.org.au 13 11 14

MensLine (24 hours) www.mensline.org.au 1300 78 99 78

Kids Help Line (24 hours) www.kidshelp.com.au 1800 55 1800

SYDNEY WEST TOUCH FOOTBALL

In Week 2 this term, Pacey Spaulding represented our school as part of the

Sydney West Touch Football team. He competed at the NSW carnival in Coffs

Harbour. Pacey’s team were Runners Up for the carnival and his coach

commented that they were the best Sydney West team she has ever coached.

Well done Pacey!

JUNIOR MAYOR PROGRAM

On Monday, Antonio Namoli, represented our school as part of the Junior

Mayor Program. He delivered a speech on the topic of Penrith City Council

amalgamation. Antonio was part of a select group of Year 6 students from

schools across the Penrith City Council area to be part of this program. His

responsibilities included attending ‘council’ meetings, and planning his

speech. He was required to work with Penrith Councillor, Mrs Greenow.

Despite his nerves, Antonio represented our school with pride and

presented his speech exceptionally well. Congratulations Antonio!

NSW BOXING

Next week, Blake Archer is representing NSW at the Golden Gloves Boxing

tournament in Queensland. Blake trains in boxing at St Marys R.S.L. Youth

Club. He is currently training hard most days of the week and has a strict diet

to ensure he is in peak condition for this tournament. Last year he won the

silver gloves. This year his goal is to come back with the ‘golden gloves’. Good

luck Blake! we know you will do your best.

Yours in education,

MrsBerwick

MT DRUITT-MINCHINBURY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

‘CREATING THE FUTURE’ CONCERT

LIBRARY NEWS This year the theme for Book Week is ‘Books light up our world’. At Norths, we will be having a Book Fair in the Library during Week 7, starting from Monday 24 August until Friday 28 August. A wonderful assortment of books will be available for students and their families to purchase with prices between $1.50 and $12.00. From Monday 17 August, tickets will go on sale for our Book Week Book Raffle. Tickets will cost 20c each or 6 for $1.00. Students may purchase tickets in the K-2, 3-4 or 5-6 raffles. The fabulous prizes will be on display in the Library from Monday. On Wednesday 26 August 9.30-11am, we will hold our annual Book Parade. It will be held in the Hall. Students are encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character and carry the book the character is from. Please note that in accordance with Department of Education policy, no weapons, pretend or otherwise are permitted at school. Parents, friends and toddlers are encouraged to dress up as well! Even the Norths pre-schoolers and ‘Starting School’ group join in the fun. Students who come prepared from home will have their name put into the raffle. One name will be drawn from each class and the lucky student will win a $10.00 voucher to spend at the Book Fair.

y 31 July, Sam and I went to Rooty Hill RSL for the Creating the Future Concert 2015. We saw performances from schools

On Friday 31 July, Sam and I went to Rooty Hill RSL for the Creating the Future Concert 2015. We saw performances from schools nearby. Two speakers from our school Nour Zahr and Grace Marchon, introduced the dance ‘Charlie Chaplin’. The dancers had canes and black jackets. Joshua Green who was a student from Rooty Hill High School ten years ago gave tips about his life and his school experiences. Some girls performed an Islander Dance. After the performance we went to a room for morning tea. We had cakes and yummy juice. By Pranav Angrish 4McB

On the 31.7.15, my teacher Miss McDonald, a boy named Pranav and myself , a girl named Samantha, went to a concert in Rooty Hill. It was called Creating the Future. There was singing, dancing and people telling what it was like in their childhood. 53 schools, including High Schools were represented by the performances on stage. Some of the performances were ‘Charlie Chaplin’, ‘Dear Future Husband’ and my favourite, ‘Hip to be Square’ as well as lots more! After that we had two brownies and a cup of orange juice. We had so much fun I didn’t want to leave. By Samantha Braid 4McB.

FRIDAY 21 AUGUST IS THE LAST DAY FOR THE PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE. All Years 3-6 completed recording sheets need to be handed to Miss Campbell by 3.15pm that day. If you need help, please see Miss Campbell urgently. As of today, there is only 1 week left to finish reading the 20 books. Congratulations to the following students who have also already completed this year’s Challenge: 1L, Dylan Brybag, Chelsea Niven, Breanna Niven, Malia Pine, Kiara Karaitiana, Jessica Atkins, Kirsty Thompson, Aaron Spiteri, Tanisha LLige, Jett Ryan, Hayley Horsfall, Jeremy-Paul Humphries, Jake Barker, Rose Lee Spiteri, Kryzjhynn Guevara, Tiffany Flack, Kiera Dunn, Emily Baker, Riley Dunn and Jayda Taylor-Robati. Great reading everyone!

OPERATION SHOE BOX Operation Shoe box is run by The Samaritan’s Purse which is an organisation that helps third world countries with a variety of relief programs. Each class will fill a shoe box with love and gifts to share the joy of Christmas with a child in need. Students will be asked to provide small gifts under $5 for a girl and a boy the same age as themselves that will fit into a shoe box. No lollies or food of any kind. These shoe boxes could go to places such as Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji and Vietnam just to name a few. 6 things that light up the world of a child in poverty Something to LOVE (teddy bear, doll, soft toy) Something to WEAR (t-shirt, shorts, socks, hat, sandals) Something for PERSONAL HYGIENE (soap, face washer, toothbrush, hairclips) Something for SCHOOL (pens, pencils, books, sharpener, rubber, chalk) Something SPECIAL (stickers, bangles, sunglasses, necklaces) Something to PLAY with (tennis ball, cars, skipping rope, finger puppets) To be able to send these boxes we will need to raise $9 per box for postage, so start collecting your 5 cent pieces towards this cost and be able to create the longest snail trail in K-2 and 3-6 for a class prize.

LIFE EDUCATION

In weeks 5-7 all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will have the opportunity to go to the Life Education Centre in Colyton, to learn about their personal health choices and safety. All students will travel by bus.The cost of the Life Education visit will be covered by the school. Please return permission notes to your child’s classroom teacher as soon as possible.

Monday 17 August- S3A, 1C and KJ Tuesday 18 August- 4S, 2D and 1SB

Wednesday 19 August- 4M and 3P P&C The next P&C meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 25 August at 9.30am.

PLAYGROUND AWARDS – Week 4

Walking on concrete

KIDS MATTER

KB Ajay Tyson 2/3B Tahlia Miller KJ Bailey Archer 3P Emillia Cartwright

KR Jack Gullo 3R Jordyn Duffy

KT Elizabeth Braid 4McB Brielle Portelli 1B Imogen Page 4M Regan Hemi

1C Bilal Syed

4S Tanisha Llige

1L Cody Martin S3A Murdoc Wilkes 1SB Sienna Tolmie S3B Harmony Tobin

2D Max Soltani S3M Jake Saroukos

2W Amalia Bradney S3R AJ Anae

VALUE AWARDS – Week 4

Support-showing care and compassion KB Miley Alderton

2/3B Troy Vale

KJ Paige Stacy 3P Jazzy Borg KR Koby Halvorson 3R Miah Baker

KT Kade Flannery 4McB Brendan King

1B Emma Hobson 4M Hayleigh Hathaway

1C Saige Spaulding 4S Joshua Niuila

1L Emily Bartlett S3A Justice Reynolds 1SB Candice Carr S3B Keat Wilkes 2D Orlando Hunt S3M Brooke Roff

2W Grace Marchon S3R Peta-Lea Hepenstall

PLAYGROUND AWARDS – Week 5

Playing sensibly

KIDS MATTER

Isabella Tabone

Makeyla Graham

Madison Flannery

Tema Yates

Kiera Dunn

Tiffany Flack

KB Connor Knibbs 2/3B Johanna Christiansen KJ Ajay Namoli 3P Charleise Thode

KR Oceana Kemara 3R Izzabella Shortland

KT Edward Hatfield 4McB Kyra Vaughan 1B Aiden Dunn 4M Nicholas Tabone

1C Liana Haynes 4S Jordan Sant

1L Siennah Smale S3A Hayley Horsfall 1SB Beau T Tobin S3B Kyla Warren

2D Jermaine Marshall-Taylor S3M Jayden Parker

2W Dakota Kemara S3R Leroy Brown

VALUE AWARDS – Week 5

Cooperation KB Peter Ankuma

2/3B Adam Bartlett

KJ Jai Thompson 3P Kyeesha Grisedale KR Kye Davis 3R Seth Armodoros

KT Elizabeth Braid 4McB Joshua Hammond

1B Brock Hathaway 4M Janai Smale

1C Blake Dick 4S Aaron Spiteri

1L Rayanne Zahr S3A June Atua 1SB Makayla Haack S3B Dakoda Phillips 2D Gracie Haynes S3M Taina Holden

2W Matari Niko S3R Peta-Lea Hepenstall