TERM 4 Week 8

Principal’s Report

Carols on the Green I warmly invite all families to come along to our Christmas Carols on Tuesday evening, next week. The band will be playing from 5:30pm, with carols commencing shortly afterwards. Weather permitting, we will be holding the event in our bottom playground. Recently landscaped, with support from the P&C, the tiered sandstone blocks will create a natural amphitheatre for a relaxed twilight event. A BBQ, Mr Whippy, and other snack options will be available, while Santa will also make an appearance. Put on your Christmas bling, pack a picnic rug, and join us for a fun evening of carols on the green. Year 6 Fun Day I never doubted my sock-wrestling ability, but the stakes were high. A victory would ensure the correct school socks would be worn for the last two weeks of term, while a loss would mean that Nash could wear whatever socks he liked until the end of the year. Thankfully, the principal won the day, and law and order was maintained. Sock wrestling was one of the marquee events for today’s Year 6 Fun Day. Face painting, games and a range of other activities were hosted by our Year 6 students, raising money for their gift for the school. Year 6 have been tremendous role models for our students this year. Consistent in their demonstration of our school values, today’s event was another example of their fine leadership. Belmont Combined-Schools Choir This week, Susan Johnson, from Belmont High School, came to speak with students in years 3 to 5 about a new initiative for the Belmont Community of Schools. Our students have been invited to audition for a combined-schools choral group, with weekly, afternoon sessions at Belmont High School. Belmont has a proud tradition of excellence in musical performance, and the choral group would see students from each of the partner primary schools benefit from this expertise. While, at Floraville, we have also achieved success in this area, a combined-schools choral group would provide enriched curriculum opportunities and strengthen the school’s capacity to implement the new High Potential, Gifted Education policy (2021). Auditions will take place from 11:30am, Friday 13 December, in the school hall. A permission note is on the school website.

Finally Presentation Day is one of my favourite days of the year – a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our wonderful students. Last week, two early presentation ceremonies were held, at different venues outside of school. The first was the NSW University ICAS Medal Presentation, where Lillian received her spelling medallion (see video – Facebook); the second was the Hunter PSSA Sports Ceremony, where some of our sporting stars were recognised for their achievements this year. Our victorious soccer team have been invited to form an honour guard as the Newcastle Jets take the field on 28 December. Simon Mulready | Principal

Term Calendar

Week Date Event

8

5/12 Year 3 & 4 Party Day Infants Assembly (1F) 2.15pm-3pm

5/12/-6/12 Swim Scheme Year 2 10.30am-12.45pm 6/12 Primary Sport 9.40am-11am

Primary Assembly (3R) 12.20pm-1pm PSSA Meeting 1.30pm-3.30pm

9

9/12 Year 6 Excursion to Luna Park Year 5 party Day 9am-1pm

10/12 Carols on the Green 5:30pm – 8:00 pm Junior Choir to Narla Village 1.30pm-2.30

11/12 Hour of Code at Hunter Sports High School 10am-2pm

12/12 K-2 Presentation Day 9.30am-10.45am 3-6 Presentation Day 11.45am-1.30pm

13/12 Parent Helper morning Tea 11am-11.45am BCoS (Belmont Community of Schools) Choral Auditions – Years 3-6 11:30am-3pm

Reminder of Money Due: Lake Cinema Boolaroo and Speers Point Park K-2 $11.00 due Thursday December 12 Year 6 Farewell $30.00 due Thursday December 12 Book Packs 2020 – Kindergarten $65 Years 1 & 2 $55.00 - Years 3,4,5 & 6 $95.00 Kindergarten Please do not pay until Student starts in 2020

News from the Office

Office Hours 8.30am to 3.15pm

Please make sure you have the correct money when paying for activities or excursions. We now have parent online payments through the School’s Website as well as eftpos at the office.

You can now pre-pay fees and excursions in advance through our new system. Please use our School App to notify the school of any absences for your child or any change of details.

This week’s virtue is MODESTY: Modesty is having self-respect. When you value yourself with quiet pride, you accept praise with humility and gratitude. Modesty is being comfortable with yourself and setting healthy boundaries about your body and your privacy.

LIBRARY NEWS

Premier’s Reading Challenge Congratulations to the following students who have received their Premier’s Reading Challenge certificates after completing the challenge earlier in the year. It is so pleasing to see, in a world dominated by devices, that there are still children and adults who see the value and enjoyment of an old fashioned book. Kindergarten – Flynn Allen, Phoenix Annett, Jett Ayshford, Jessie Baillie, Charlotte Blanch, Grace Budden, Ava Cullen, Chloe Elliott, Benji Findlay, Cooper Galliot, Crystal Galliot, Rylan Hesketh, Adelyn Kelly, Mason Krysko, Jasmine McBrinn, James McElwaine, Arabella McSweeny, Aiden Pietrobuono, Nolan Richards, Toby Schrader, Emily Smith, Mila Strange, Elysia Terbeeke, Indi Vaughan, Georgie Withyman, Evalee Wood and Abigail Wydro-Holland. Year 1 – Anis Atai, Alicia Berryman, Duncan Blake, Ella Blaatchford, Isabelle Donohue, Max Ferris, Macie Forbes, Aila Hunter, Brianna James, Emma Linsley, Kiara Maher, Brooklyn Mannix, Josie Mullins, Lucy Pearce, Layla Pitman, Sophie Robinson, Chase Sams, William Street, Orlando Suffell, Kye Swinkels, Flynn Truong, Jaxon Truong, Kyan Van Der Velde, Aleyah Verschelden, Lachlan Wells and Noah Wheeldon. Year 2 – Evie Beattye, Jemma Blackburn, Harrison Budden, Lily Burtenshaw, Brodie Clark, Quin Fox, Catelin Garland, Maddison Harris, Bethanie Lloyd, Chanae McNamee, Billy McSweeny, Alana Moore, Olivia Purcell, Indi Terbeeke, Mya Terbeeke, Tyla Vaughan, Georgia Wenke, Gabrielle Wigginton and Jasper Holland. Year 3 – Mitchell Battye, Lara Crawford, Alina Gal, Liam Griffiths, Liam Krysko, Jorja Robinson, Isabella Timmins and Tyler Wells. Year 4 – Bayan Atai, Jaya Ayshford, Samantha Jennings, Phoebe King, Max Lonergan, Eden McNamee, Mikayla Suffell, Kalarna Swinkels and Lachlan Wenke. Year 5 – Robbie Freeman, Mila Gal, Scarlett Halpin and Hollie Purcell. Year 6 – Jackson Wells Platinum Awards - The recipients of this award have completed 4 Premiers Reading Challenge awards during their time at school – Mitchell Battye, Alina Gal, Jorja Robinson, Isabella Timmins and Tyler Wells Gold Award - The recipients of this award have completed 7 Premiers Reading Challenge awards during their time at school – Bella Ciarrocchi, Caitlyn Holland, Matthew Kerr and Gemma McNamee Library Borrowing Official borrowing from the library will finish this week. However, if your child is borrowing books for home reading, they are welcome to continue doing this for the remainder of the year. BAND NEWS Term 4 Band News Term 4 has been a busy time for our school bands, beginning in Week 2 with Bandfest, a school band competition held each year at the LMPAC at Warners Bay. Both bands performed well; the Majors received a commended certificate and the Mini Minors received a highly commended. Well done to all. Following Bandfest, the bands combined to perform at the St Luke’s Carnival. It was a hot and windy day, and for some, their first outdoor performance. Audiences were delighted by our music selection and organisers of the event appreciative of our participation. Thank you to those who were able to represent our school in the community. Next, the combined band put on a concert to “drum-up” interest for our 2020 Mini Minors. Yr 2 & 3 were a responsive audience, enjoying the music presented. This was the precursor to our band auditions for next year. Auditions are almost complete. Students who tried out will receive their offers from next week. At the commencement of 2020, students will accept their place in the band. No payment is required for next year until Term 1. We are looking forward to starting the new group on their musical journey. We have unfortunately had to turn down an invitation to perform on Sunday at The Salvation Army Christmas Celebration due to insufficient availability in some sections of the band. We will NOT be playing this weekend. Still coming up in Term 4, our band will perform at Carols on the Green next Tuesday evening. We have been practising our festive music ready to dazzle and delight. The bands will also play prior to the Presentation Day ceremonies outside the library. We invite you to stop by on your way in to the hall and enjoy some of our favourite music from the year. Lastly, on Monday 16th December the bands will be having a Party Day. This will begin with a concert in the hall, and include an off-site excursion to laser tag at Warners Bay. The excursion is free to band students whose fees for the year are paid in full. We thank you all for your commitment and support of our band program in 2019, and look forward to a great year in 2020.

OTHER SCHOOL NEWS Belmont High School - Year 7 2020 Year 6 parents/carers please return signed consent forms to Belmont High School Office no later than Friday December 13. Landcare 2019 Landcare is over for another year! The team has worked hard maintaining the vegetable garden, planting new crops, propagating plants, picking and juicing fruit, holding plant stalls and taking care of the school grounds. It was fabulous to see students from all over the school working together to achieve a common goal.

Thank you to all the dedicated and hardworking students who turn up each week. A huge thank you to Marion Van Zeeland who volunteers and has done so for the past few years. She is an integral member of the team and the group would not run without her support.

Landcare will be back in 2020 and we look forward to seeing old, and meeting new, members. The Landcare team.

ICAS Awards Lillian Zhao-Wilson attended a special award presentation at the UNSW last Wednesday where she received a medal for attaining the top score in the ICAS Spelling Test for Year 3. The ceremony included around 170 students from NSW and the ACT who had scored the highest possible mark in each of the various ICAS examinations. Each recipient was presented with a medallion, engraved with their name and the subject area in which they excelled. Students from Floraville are offered the opportunity to participate in the ICAS test each year. Each student who participates receives a certificate along with a record of their results. Congratulations to Lillian on your outstanding achievement.

CANTEEN NEWS Coming Up 12 Dec – Presentation Day… CANTEEN CLOSED 18 Dec - Last day of Term Christmas Lunch Bag Specials Our Christmas Lunch Bags have started & will be available to order through until Wednesday 18 December inclusive. Please note: Children must bring their Christmas token to the canteen to receive their icy treat. These do not go out with their lunch!

Canteen Roster Thursday 5/12 – Melinda Kennedy, Naomi Harris, Kylie Feeney, Donna Timmins Friday 6/12 – Kristie Woodward, Amanda Steadman, Sarah Soewarno, Maree McCulloch Monday 9/12 – Kylie Wells, Renae Picton, Alison Banek Tuesday 10/12 – Rachael Searle, Melissa Eastham, Shanon McSweeny Wednesday 11/12 – Katie Budden, Vivienne Tindall, Teresa Wilson, Krystle Bambak Urbanovicz UNIFORM SHOP Uniform Shop Open Wednesdays from 2.30-3.15pm. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE UNIFORM SHOP. BANKING NEWS Next Thursday is the last week for banking this year. Children Eligible for Banking Prizes Please make sure you get the banking app so you can monitor when your child is eligible to claim a prize. There are a lot of children who can receive a prize. Usually prizes take two weeks to come in so they might not be here before the end of the year. If the following children bank this week, they are eligible to order a prize (they have 9 points) Abby Hutton, Caitlyn Patterson, Marley Douglass, Cayden Berbatovci, Siarra Bendeich, Sophie Loads, Koby Burrows, Jorja Robinson, Ella Blatchford, Sophie Nelson, Isla Maddocks, Mia McAlister, Kaiden Wells and Ivy Covell. The following children have 10 points or more, they can order a prize. Aiden Whitaker, Blake Varschelden, Isabelle Palfreyman, Lucas Oakey, Jemma Blackburn, Lucas Martin, Tayla Hancock, Flynn Truong, Jaxon Truong, Skylar Oakey, Taj Halsey, Samantha Johnson, Caitlin Rowe, Victoria Dugomanov, Lachlan Wenke, Lachlan McDonald, Bridie Mackle, Daniel Clark, Mila Gal, Chloe Elliot, Cooper Elliot, Flynn Allen, Abigail Holland, Lachlan Wells, Cooper Hennessy, Mia Dorans Knowles, Samantha Jennings, Jett Degan, Lily Faith, Ella Lacey, Caitlyn Holland, Jesse Briggs, Grace Budden, Mack Snowden, Kyan Van Der Velde, William Dugomanov, Robert Freeman, Charlotte James, Lillian Zhao Wilson, Mikayla Penglaze, Oskar Moffitt, Evie Beattye, Zanthe Francisco, Alicia Berryman, Brycen Pattison, Nyah Gallagher, Samual Kuskkopf, Liam Crawford, Callie Manderson, Abbie Whitaker, Mitchell Davies, Aleyah Verscheldon, Layla Pitman, Mia Chan, Mackenzie Paterson, Spencer Brady, Jarrah Locking, Amy Oakey, Harrison Budden, Ivey Randle, Isobelle Colless, Lara Crawford, Joshua Garland, Alana Moore, Luca Petrassi, Jett Ayshford, Angela Johnson, Kalarna Swinkels, Hayden Burns, Rocco Petrassi, Matilda Hutton, Joshua Hennessy, Aila Hunter, Aiden Pietrobuono, Izayah Davies, Caitlin Brown, Samantha Pearce, Caitlin Garland, Nikita Knezevic, Kye Swinkles, Jace Finn and Ahlia McMullen. If the following children bank this week, they are eligible to order two prizes (19 points) Andrea Battye, Eadie Wilson, Josie Mullins, Reece Broadfoot, and Benji Findlay. 20 points or more, they can order two prizes. Kaden Pinfold, Daniel Cross, Jaide Feeney, Imogen Highfield, Jaya Ashford, Amelia Wilson, Alina Gal, Max Ferris, Duncan Blake, Lewis Krishnan, Darcy Sarquis, Clancy Sarquis, Matthew Chandler, Oliver Cross, Samuel Gibbs, Thomas Pearce, Marley Krishnan, Ayden Luis, Taj Phillips, Oliver Zhao Wilson, Samuel Allen, Sydney Allen, Evie Feeney, Lily Burtenshaw and Jacinda Davies. If the following children bank this week, they are eligible to order two prizes (29 points) Will Burns. 30 points or more, they can order three prizes Macy Gavin, Brianna James, Macie Forbes and Shary Clapham.