Paterson Post

02 4938 5114 This newsletter & attached forms are available to download at: www.paterson-p.school.nsw.edu.au

Term 1 Week 10 April 5th

Coming Events

APRIL

Mon 8th - Cricket v Gresford @ Paterson

- P&C meeting 7.30pm

Wed 10th - Assembly Year 6 - 2.15pm

Thu 11th - ANZAC commemoration

Fri 12th - Easter Hat Parade

- Last day for Term 1

Thu 25th - Anzac Day Service

Mon 29th - Staff Development Day

Tue 30th - All Students return for Term 2

NOTES SENT HOME:

AGM Minutes

P&C Minutes

Principal Report

Newsletter Week 10, Term 1

Parent Teacher Interviews

Thank you to the many families who attended the Parent/Teacher Interviews this week. For those who were unable to attend, your Term 1 Learning Snapshot report will come home today. If you have any questions at all please contact your child’s teacher to discuss their learning. We would love some feedback on the interviews so that we continue to meet the needs of our families. Teachers will send home a short feedback form if they have not already provided one, we hope you can complete it and send it back before the end of term.

P&C Meeting Date Change

Our next P&C meeting has been brought forward to Monday, 8th April due to the clash of the planned meeting with the school holidays. This is the final meeting before the Tocal Field Days event. All families are very welcome, and students and younger children can also come along. We hope to see you there.

Communication About Learning

This is the last week to complete our survey. We have had 40 responses so far, representing a 50% completion rate. If you have not yet had a chance, please help by clicking the link on our Facebook Page or typing the URL to access the survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K5LTFJY. It will close at the end of term. Early next term I will hold focus groups for families to contribute to a deeper conversation which will include seeking more feedback on the two formal academic reports that are issued each year. The afternoon focus group will be on Tuesday, 7th May at 5.30pm, and there will also be a session on Thursday, 9th May at 9am. Both will take place in the library.

Canteen Success

The P&C has been successful in a recent application for a $5000 Volunteer Grant to be spent on our school canteen. This will be a wonderful boost which will help to make our already impressive canteen even better. Thank you to Danielle Cowled for her hard work in preparing the grant application.

Eddie Woo Workshop

Our teachers and year 6 students attended a workshop with Eddie Woo on Wednesday. Year 6 reported that it was fun and exciting. Eddie spoke about the three main concepts of Maths - playfulness, exploration and teamwork. His main message was that there is Maths in everything, and everyone continues to learn about Maths throughout their lives. There was no cost for this workshop as it was funded by the Dungog District Community of Schools through a Middle Years Maths grant.

Cricket Match

Next Monday, 8th April our cricket team will play against Gresford PS at Paterson. We welcome spectators to cheer them on.

ANZAC Day

Our school ANZAC day commemoration will take place next Thursday, 11th April at 10.30am. Students are welcome to bring flowers to lay at the base of the flagpole if they wish. Families are most welcome to attend. Please remember that all students are encouraged to join us in the Paterson ANZAC march on Thursday 25th April. If your children are able to attend they should be in full school uniform and meet me at Stockers and Partridge at 5.30am.

Easter Hat Parade

Our Easter Hat Parade is on the last day of term, next Friday, 12th April at 12.15pm. Children from Paterson Pre-School will attend

and parade with us. The raffle will be drawn at the end of the parade. We look forward to seeing you there.

Term Dates

Next Friday, 12th April is the last day of term. Staff return to school for a professional learning day on Monday, 29th April, and

students return on Tuesday, 30th April.

With thanks,

Canteen Roster

Monday 8th April Danielle Cowled Wednesday 10th April Kristy Banister Friday 12th April Gen Fitzgerald

Tocal Field Days

Please remember to return your volunteer form and sold raffle ticket book asap. If you require more tickets they are available at the school office.

Easter Hat Parade ~ Friday 12th April Easter is fast approaching, so its time to get out the cardboard, scissors and glue to make a hat

for our annual school Hat Parade!

This year’s Hat Parade will be on Friday 12th April, the last day before the school holidays. It will be a fantastic day of fun! The parade will begin at 12.15pm. It will be followed by the announcement of the Egg Design Competition winners for each

grade, the drawing of the Easter Raffles and then an Easter egg hunt.

We would love donations of Easter eggs for our raffle.

If you can help, please drop them off to the office.

Your child’s hat can be based on any theme, it does not have to be an Easter hat.

Art Classes Next Term A local artist Marguerite Tierney is offering to run art classes for students next term. At the moment Marguerite is 2 students short for her to run these classes at school. Please read the above flyer advertising the classes. If you would like your child to participate please contact Marguerite as soon as possible so that she can finalise arrangements.

Please note New Assembly

Time

Year 6 assembly will start at

2.15pm on Wednesday 10th April.

We hope to see you there.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Meeting held: Monday 19th March 2019 Meeting opened: 7.30pm

Attendance: Danielle Cowled, Sarah Jane Hazel, Robyn Cowan, Kerri Hicks, Michelle Wright, Amy Merchant, Judy Styman, Leah Gale, Danielle Crebert

Apologies: Karen Ford, Alison Teasdale & Adam Kidd

1. Minutes of previous AGM accepted: Moved: Danielle Cowled. Seconded by: Kerri Hicks

2. Presidents Annual Report: Attached

3. Treasurer’s Annual Report: Attached

4. Elections:

No written nominations. All nominations to be taken from the floor.

(a) President – Danielle Cowled. Nominated: Danielle Crebert. Seconded: Michelle Wright. (b) Vice President/s – Michelle Wright. Nominated: Judy Styman. Seconded: Danielle Cowled. (c) Secretary – Leah Gale. Nominated: Danielle Cowled. Seconded: Danielle Crebert. (d) Treasurer –Amy Merchant. Nominated: Danielle Cowled. Seconded: Danielle Crebert. (e) Auditor – Carol Cheetham (Pending confirmation) (f) Representative to School Council – Danielle Cowled as President. Nominated: Danielle Crebert. Seconded: Judy Styman. (g) Representative to District P&C – There is no District Body (h) Representative for Merit Selection Panel – To be decided ad hoc, if and when needed. (i) Tocal Committee – Confirmed (j) Canteen Supervisors – 1. Kerri Hicks. Nominated: Leah Gale. Seconded: Michelle Wright. 2. Leah Gale. Nomi-nated: Kerri Hicks. Seconded: Michelle Wright. (k) Uniform Coordinator – Kristy Banister. Nominated: Amy Merchant. Seconded: Judy Styman.

5. Honorariums: Increased to $300.00 to be shared between position holders.

6. Signatories of Accounts: Executive

7. Fees for 2019: $1.00

8. Next meeting date: 16 March 2020.

9. General Business: Constitution to be reviewed this year, particularly with regard to the AGM date and time. Thank you very much to the previous committee for all their hard work and welcome to the new committee.

AGM closed: 7.46pm

ABN 65 197 447 936- item 1.1-Charitable institution C/- Paterson PO, PATERSON. 2421

Paterson Public School

Date: 18 March 2019

Meeting opened: 7.50pm

Attendance: Sarah-Jane Hazell, Judy Styman, Leah Gale, Danielle Cowled, Michelle Wright, Kerri Hicks, Amy Merchant, Robyn Cowan

Apologies: Karen Ford, Alison Teasdale, Adam Kidd

Minutes from last meeting were accepted as true and correct.

Moved: Amy Merchant Seconded: Leah Gale

Business Arising:

Amy advised the freezer claim has been accepted and food spoilage and freezer replacement cost has been paid. Amy is reviewing the costs and repairs of the old industrial freezer that is no longer to be used in the canteen. It will be sold in due course.

Sarah Jane received feedback regarding the See Saw app. It has been trialed in the Kindergarten classroom with great success. There is another “free” app called School Loop that Sarah Jane will review for parent feedback and also absent notifications.

Sarah Jane advised that someone is still needing to come to look at the 3D printer.

Traffic count review is still underway.

Sarah Jane will advertise for helpers for the Mothers Day Stall closer to the date. P & C will consider the costs of the Mothers Day breakfast closer to the date.

Sarah Jane has received a number of ideas from the kids about the covered area and will bring them to the next meeting.

Amy has emailed P & C Federation regarding the student injury insurance. She is yet to receive a reply.

Sarah Jane confirmed that the Year 6 students will be organizing a cake stall for the day of the election. Amy will organize for the Tocal buggy to be available on election day for raffle tickets to be sold.

Danielle Cowled suggested that the P & C bank account details should be added to the Uniform Order form that is available online. Danielle suggested that if parents pay this way they should attach a copy of the remittance to the uniform order form. Danielle will follow this up with Rhonda when she is back.

Danielle Cowled suggested that we follow up with the school again next meeting regarding the progress of the Year 6 shirts.

Correspondence

Nil.

Presidents Report

Not available.

School Council

There was not enough attendees for this week’s meeting and it will be rescheduled.

Principal’s Report

See attached.

Canteen Report

Convection oven is currently being assessed for repairs. No further advice on the grant. Amy has been reviewing freezer options as a second freezer would enable more shopping to be done in advance and would enable us to take advantage of specials. It was suggested that we wait until after Tocal to consider purchasing the second freezer. There may be an answer on the grant by then too. It was decided that decisions on further purchases for canteen would wait until after Tocal so we know our financial position. Amy has also reviewed options for the second drawer for the bench and they will be considered next meeting. Sarah Jane has advised that the insect screen windows will be repaired by the Assets Management Unit in due course.

Uniform Committee

Sarah Jane will continue to follow up on possibilities for donating the old uniforms. We are still waiting for the new uniforms to arrive.

Treasurers Report

Current balances:

Cheque account - $9,552.42

Saver account - $8305.39

Debit card – $1,979.50

There was a break in at the school over the weekend. P & C cash in the amount of approximately $1,500.00 was stolen and Amy will review the steps needed to make an insurance claim. Sarah Jane advised that School Security will do a review and make suggestions.

Tocal Report

Amy is contacting Mark Watts regarding the possibility of the school cow being used for meat at Tocal.

Some research has been done regarding gazebos. We have previously borrowed them but this has proved inefficient. BCF quote for 6 x gazebos was $2,094.00. Kings 4WD SuperCentre quoted $1,119.19.

Motion: That 6 x gazebos be purchased for Tocal from Kings 4WD SuperCentre for $1,119.19, and also that all necessary heavy duty pegs are purchased as well.

Moved: Danielle Cowled Seconded: Danielle Crebert

Volunteer numbers for Steamfest and Tocal are low at the moment and will hopefully increase closer to the date.

New Business

The freezers outside the school were not collected by Dungog Council. James Cowled will review the option of a pass to the dump.

It was decided to remove the appointment of a representative to the District P & C from the AGM as there is no District P & C. It was also suggested that the Constitution be reviewed particularly in relation to AGM date and start time.

Sarah Jane raised the question of a Tocal excursion. Normally it is held on alternate years with Starstruck. Last year both events were held in the same year. There are concerns with getting back permission notes given the timing of Tocal and school holidays. It was decided by members present that given the full timetable of the school this year and the fact that the school went last year, there would be no Tocal excursion this year.

Michelle queried the PA system in the hall that doesn’t work well. Sarah Jane advised that Mr Lowrey is reviewing options for repairing / replacing it.

Kerri asked if the school would be running the Interrelate program. Sarah Jane will chase that up.

Judy suggested that all students and teachers spend some time learning and practicing the school song. Kerri suggested that the lyrics to the school song could be printed nicely and framed as the Year 6 gift. Robyn suggested that the lyrics could be attached to the newsletter.

Next meeting: 8 April 2019 (brought forward to be before Tocal and Steamfest) at 7pm.

Meeting closed: 9.00pm

Principal’s Report – Monday, 18th March 2019

Staff Leave in 2019

As I mentioned at the last meeting, I will be on Long Service Leave from Tuesday, 11th June (Week 7, term 2) and will return to school on Monday 5th August (Week 3, term 3). The relieving principal will be appointed very early in term 2 so that we can ensure an effective handover. Miss Authers will also be taking long service leave from Monday, 27th May (week 5, term 2) and return to school at the beginning of term 3. Mrs Hunter has agreed to take Kindergarten for that period of leave.

Digital Technology Purchases

Our new iPads have been set up and are working very well. We have 14 laptops on order but there has been a delay in their delivery and we are expecting them to arrive in mid-April. Our Sphero robots have arrived and Miss Cooper has started to use them in her program. I have been lucky enough to secure a Virtual Reality kit through the STEMShare program for term 2, and staff will undertake training in its use at the end of term.

Recent School Events

Since the previous meeting we have participated in a number of school events. Our cattle judging team has continued their successful season and have now competed at Newcastle Show, Maitland Show and Gresford Show. The cricket team had a convincing win against Vacy Public School. All students participated in the National Day of Action Against Bullying and this week we are celebrating Harmony Week with a series of reciprocal visits with the Pre-School. Upcoming events include the school and zone cross country, and our STEAM day.

School Facilities

We have been informed that the year 6 demountable classroom will receive a refurbishment in the near future. This refurbishment will include a roof replacement, replacement of panels, painting inside and out, and replacement of floor coverings. It is anticipated that this will start in the school holidays, but this is not guaranteed. Year 6 will have to relocate for a period of approximately 2-3 weeks. We are currently planning the best option to maintain a successful learning environment, but at this stage I do not have a commencement date.

School Program Evaluation

You may have seen our communication about learning survey advertised in the newsletter and on Facebook. We have 27 surveys completed out of approximately 80 families. If you have not already done so, it would be very much appreciated if you could complete the survey as soon as possible.

NAPLAN Online

This year our school will be participating in NAPLAN online. This means that the testing period will be over two weeks from 14th May to 24th May. Students will be prepared for using the online tools with a practice test period.

Extracurricular Programs

Next term we will host a visual art program on a Monday at lunch time. Details are in our school newsletter.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Next week we will hold parent/teacher interviews with a telephone option. We will have a short, one page ‘snapshot’ learning report that will be provided at the interview, or sent home on the following day for families who are not able to attend.

Learning Sprints

We are well underway with one of our major programs for the year, Learning Sprints. This is a process whereby teachers

work closely together to determine a targeted area of learning and develop a series of lessons to support all students in

making progress in this area. Our first target for K-2 is letter formation, and building complex sentences in writing for 3-6.