BOLWARRA PUBLIC SCHOOL Bolwarra Road Phone: 4930 1296

Bolwarra 2320 Fax: 4930 0032

Email: bolwarra-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.bolwarra-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

BULLETIN NO. 31 WEEK 2 – TERM 4 Wednesday 16th October 2013

Dear Parents and Care-givers Welcome to the second week of yet another busy term. Today Year 3 and Year 5 students will receive their NAPLAN results. Once again our Literacy and Numeracy results are above State and regional standards. If you are concerned about your child’s results, or want some questions answered please feel free to contact the office and make an appointment with me. I can take you through the questions, show you the texts used and examine trends and patterns in your child’s responses.

Canteen: There is still a desperate plea for help from the Canteen Committee as we only have a small band of helpers for this term. If you are able to help for a few hours, or know of someone who can, please give Amanda a call on 0439939934. Nutrionist: Don’t forget that next Monday night, Ruth Fellowes, a well respected local clinical nutritionist (and a parent at our school), will be giving a free talk before the next P&C meeting on Monday 21st October at 5.30-6.30pm in the staffroom. Ruth’s talk is titled “Whats eating your child?’ and will cover food intolerances, hyperactivity and so much more. Why not pop along for

an hour for a very informative presentation that may change the way your child interacts with the world. See you there! Interrelate: In today’s newsletter we have started advertising the Interrelate sessions that will be

run at the school on Tuesday 26th November. Interrelate is a specialist organisation that is booked every two years by the School Council, and specialise in sexuality education in NSW schools. The topics of sexuality is handled with sensitivity, openness and humour. The evening program has two age specific times; Primary session 1: 6.00pm titled “Where Did I Come From?” (Years 3 and 4) and Primary session 2: 7.15pm titled “Preparing for Puberty” (Years 5 and 6). Both sessions will be in the school hall and the cost is $25 per family for one session and $30 per family for both sessions. Booking sheets will be sent home from Monday 28th October. Selective High School: If you would like your Year 5 child to apply for selective high school placement in Year 7 in 2015, the process has now started. Detailed instructions on how to apply online will be available from 15th October 2013 at www.schools.nsw.edu.au. Click on Selective High Schools then click on Online application. Online applications close on 18th November 2013. If parents do not have internet access, commercially printed application forms are available from the school on 22nd October 2013. Don’t forget that the Maitland High School information night for incoming Year 7 students for 2014 is next Wednesday evening, 23rd October at 6pm at Maitland High. Each family should have received a “red” note asking for volunteers this weekend (Sunday 9-1pm) to help spread the large amount of soft fall mulch under both of the new playground areas. All you will need to bring is a shovel and wheelbarrow, and lots of muscles! Lunch will be provided.

mailto:bolwarra-p.school@det.nsw.edu.auhttp://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/

Just a reminder to parents whose children are selected for Regional representative sports, the Student Council purchases a jacket and presents it to the student on behalf of the student body. Parents simply need to order the jacket, on the sheet received from the Sports Unit, return it to the office and we will attach a cheque to the Hunter Schools Sports Association (HSSPA). Don’t forget the 80’s Disco is this Friday (18th October). The Infants session (K-2) is from 5.00-6.00pm and the Primary session is from 6.15-7.15pm. The cost is $2 with drinks and refreshments available from the Canteen. Staff will supervise the students. Choosing the right shoes: School shoes may all look the same but the cost can vary from about

$30 to $120 and beyond. Does a more expensive shoe mean a better shoe? Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/health/choosing-the-right-school-shoes NSW public school terms and holidays: Here’s a snapshot of NSW public school terms and

holidays for 2013 - 2015. Find out more: http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/events/vacations.html Jargon explained: If your child's teacher mentions G&T in the COLA, she's actually talking about

gifted and talented classes being held in the covered outdoor learning area. More school jargon explained: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/homework-tips/school-jargon-busters Home safety: About 50 children fall out of windows or balconies in Australia each year. Spring is a good time to install a window lock to limit how far it opens. It's this easy: http://bit.ly/1dRpQw5 Where’s the octopus: Wow - it's videos like this that show kids how cool studying science can be.

Watch it with them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCzZHcwKxI&feature=youtu.be Have a safe week. Sue Swetnam Principal

IMPORTANT DATES

18th Oct Bandana Day - gold coin donation

18th Oct 80’s Disco - 5pm - 6pm for K-2 and 6.15pm - 7.15pm for Years 3-6

21st Oct Free Nutrition talk - 5.30pm in the staffroom

21st Oct P&C Meeting - 6.30pm in the staffroom

23rd Oct Maitland High School Welcome to Parents Meeting - 6pm - 7.15pm

28th Oct Maitland High School visit students - 9.30am - 10.30am

29th Oct Kinder Orientation - 9.30am - 11am

12th Nov Kinder Orientation - 9.30am - 11am

12th Nov Maitland Grossmann High School Reading, Writing and Maths Testing -

9.15am - 12.30pm

12th Nov Maitland Gossmann High School Parents Meeting - 6.30pm

26th Nov Kinder Orientation - 9.30am - 11.30am

26th Nov Interrelate Program - 6pm - Years 3 and 4, 7.15pm Years 5 and 6

4th Dec Students visit Maitland High School 10am - 2pm

6th Dec Maitland Grossmann High School Gala Day - 9.30am - 2.30pm

http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/health/choosing-the-right-school-shoeshttp://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/events/vacations.htmlhttp://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/homework-tips/school-jargon-bustershttp://bit.ly/1dRpQw5http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCzZHcwKxI&feature=youtu.be

WEBSITES

School Website www.bolwarra-p.schools.nsw.edu.au P&C Website www.bolwarrapandc.wordpress.com Online Lunch Orders www.flexischools.com.au

YEAR K – 6 NEWS

National Bandana Day

National Bandana Day is on Friday 18th October 2013 supporting young people with cancer. Gold coin donation. No bandanas for sale. Children to wear their own bandana or appropriate, bright coloured scarf on the day with their uniform. Theme is "Attitude Is Everything". Stage 1 Sport Stage 1 - Year 1 and 2 are changing from Monday to Tuesday for sport/PE, so could parents please send children in normal school uniform on Mondays and sports uniform on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thanks from the Stage 1 teachers. Birthday Book Club

When it is your child’s birthday, they have the opportunity to donate a book of their choice (already purchased by the library) for the small cost of $6.00. The books will be presented to the children on assembly. Each book will have a special message inside saying who has donated the book. The birthday child will be the first to borrow the book. The following children have recently joined the Bolwarra Birthday Book Club: Jessica, Kaylee, Myra, Arden, Ivy, Bridget, Emily, Lillian, Flynn, Myah, Caitlin, Sharzly, Ryan, Ruby and Harry.

Bolwarra Public School’s newest enrolment (only for one day!)

http://www.bolwarra-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/http://www.bolwarrapandc.wordpress.com/http://www.flexischools.com.au/

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB

Book club order forms and payment are due back at school by Wednesday 23rd October 2013. PAYMENT METHODS: Please DO NOT SEND CASH

Cheque/Money Orders: payable to ‘Scholastic Australia’ – NOT to the school

Credit Card: pay by PHONE or ON LINE (details on order form). Receipt number MUST be

written onto order form to enable order to be processed. Please separate ‘order form’ and ‘credit card receipt details’ and place both sections into envelope

Please write child’s name and class at the top of the order form

On an envelope, write child’s name, class and ‘Scholastic Book Order’

Inside envelope place order form and cheque/money order/credit card receipt

No cash orders will be accepted Please note that all orders placed will earn points for the school to purchase valuable resources for students.

Melinda Cooke & Kerry Hendrie Book Club Co-ordinators

CLASSROOM CAPERS KE KE have had a fabulous start to the term. In maths we are learning about

3D shapes and also practising our numbers. We had fun on photo day on Monday and put on our best smiles! Keep practising all of the sounds and sight words!!

KT KT are back into the swing of things after the holidays. Reading groups have begun again

and children are enjoying working with a variety of texts and doing a range of activities. We have started our HSIE unit ‘Places we know’ and are looking at our own school. ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’ is our big book where we have been focussing on adjectives and contractions. Keep up the great work KT!

KW KW has had a busy start to Term 4. We have been reading the story ‘We're going on a Bear

Hunt’ as part of our new HSIE unit ‘Places we know’. We are busily writing our own Bear Hunt stories which we would love to share with you when we are finished. In maths we are looking at 3D shapes. I have been SO impressed at how well everyone knows their 2D and 3D shapes and can identify them in their environment. We are also working on numbers with a focus on tens. Just a reminder that library borrowing has started back for the term and our library day is Wednesday.

1B I am so happy to see all the children have returned to school settled and ready to take on

the challenges and busyness of Term 4. We are straight back into literacy groups each morning so please feel free to come in and help out if you would like to. Anytime you can offer is greatly accepted and appreciated. As part of our HSIE unit on Celebrations we are learning all about Australia Day and why and how we celebrate it. The students in 1B have been very interested in learning about the convicts coming to Australia with the First Fleet. We have looked at images of the First Fleet and had quite lengthy discussions about the conditions aboard - no swimming pools or restaurants on those "cruise" ships! We have swapped choir and sport around so sport/PE will now be on Tuesday and Thursday so if the children could please wear their sports uniform on those days please. Today we went out for a boys v girls game of T-ball/baseball and we had lots of fun! We will use Tuesday sport time to play team games giving all the children the opportunity to consolidate the fundamental movement skills they have learnt in Terms 1, 2 and 3. Please remind the children to bring their hats each day and also a big bottle of water.

1P Welcome back. A busy term ahead with assessments beginning in

preparation for report writing. We have begun the term with many children unwell. Hopefully we will be germ free soon.

1-2M We have been looking at persuasive texts in 1-2M and discussing the

type of language to use when trying to convince someone of an argument. We have written two letters in which we have practised using WOW words to influence our readers.

2B 2B have had a busy week! In maths we are looking at using drawings and number

sentences to work out problems. In writing we are busy thinking about strong emotive words we can use to convince people of our point of view! Assessments will be starting soon. Hopefully that terrible bug that has been plaguing our class will soon be gone!

2HP 2HP have had a fantastic start to Term 4! We have started working on our new HSIE unit

‘Celebrations’. In writing we are looking at persuasive writing and we have been writing some convincing arguments. In maths we are learning about 3D objects. Keep up the great work!

2-3C 2-3C have had an awesome start to the term. We had a preferential vote for Student Council and Zoe and Lily are our new representatives for this term. Congratulations girls! We have started our new HSIE unit and we are busy looking at the differences between cultures around the world. Keep up the good work 2-3C.

3B Welcome back to Term 4! We have had a very productive start to our term. We have begun

to think about what it is like to be a child living in the Bolwarra area. We have been making lists of the pros and cons of being a child and we are beginning to compare and analyse the differences and similarities of children in other parts of Australian and around the world. In maths we have been looking at multiples in patterns. Have you ever tried adding the number 37 repeatedly? Start at 37 and keep adding 37 till you get to 999 - you will see some very interesting patterns take shape. Sport will now be on a Friday morning for this term. Some students in 3B need their lead pencils and glue sticks replenished. Thank you parents for your continued support.

3-4R This week in 3-4R we have been very busy! Students have elected School

Councillors. We have started a unit of work on children and have discovered patterns in maths. I have had a wonderful time getting to know each student. Miss Lidgard

4T Welcome back 4T. Sport will be on Friday mornings this term due to the

warmer weather, and our short 20min PE lesson will be on Tuesdays. Reading groups have commenced this week. The focus will be on further developing our skills in inferential comprehension, developing quality paragraphs that include descriptions and elaborations that will improve our writing, building upon language conventions and being exposed to a variety of texts to expand our knowledge base and vocabulary. We have explored exposition writing this week, paying particular attention to ethical, logical and emotional arguments. Good luck to Caleb, Clancy and Aidan who are a part of our Junior boys relay team who are competing at the NSW PSSA State Championships at Homebush tomorrow. Thank you to parents who have made themselves available throughout the year for reading groups. If you are free on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday between 9.15am - 10:00am, you are welcome to come and join us. Fridays we are on between 10:00am -10:30am.

4-5WP Welcome back to a busy and productive Term 4. We have started a literacy unit based on

the children's book 'The Island' by John Heffernan. Over the coming weeks, our spelling lists will focus on the language and themes presented in the text. We will also be completing a range of writing and text analysis activities as well as working on our expression and fluency whilst reading passages from 'The Island'. We have enjoyed exploring the visual aspects of the book, discussing our thoughts on the illustrator's use of colour and hidden images. This week in maths, we have been revising the addition and subtraction of large numbers using trading. We have also started a 'Tables Time Challenge' to improve our speed and accuracy when recalling multiplication facts. Mrs McLlaren will be focusing on graphing and 2D and 3D shapes when she takes 4-5WP each Friday. We have already learnt about the circumference, radius and diameter of circles.

5A It will be another busy week in 5A. The highlight for many of the children

was the choir performance at the Opera House yesterday. On Friday some of our students will be part of the school cricket team which plays Largs Public School at Seaham. NAPLAN results will go home this week.

5-6D Welcome back for Term 4. It is certainly going to be a very busy term, including Year 5

camp and the Year 6 farewell. This term in HSIE we are studying the culture and heritage of Bali. In maths we have been learning about time zones across Australia and around the world. During our literacy sessions we have been looking closely at the structure of

information reports and learning how to summarise information into key points and main ideas.

6L Everyone had a great holiday and they have returned to school full of enthusiasm for their

final term in Year 6. Well done to the choir students who sang at The Opera House yesterday - what a memorable experience. We continue work on our class novel 'Because of Winn Dixie' and everyone is looking forward to watching the movie so that we can compare the screenplay to the text. More work on operations involving fractions in mathematics as well as investigating negative numbers. Thank you to everyone for the prompt return of chocolate and Year 6 shirt notes.

Library

We are about half way through our library stocktake, so please check at home for any books that need to be returned. Borrowing for the year will finish in week 6. All classes will be creating poems this term and some children have already completed fantastic pieces on trees.

Technology

Mrs Baxter has begun to take some K-2 students to the computer lab for special lessons. The kinder students have been learning about powerpoint presentations and Years 1-2 have been looking at designing and programming a video game using the free software Kodu. You can download this at home just by googling Kodu download. It is a Microsoft product. The students are absolutely loving the opportunity.

Sport Athletics: This Wednesday and Thursday is the NSW PSSA State Athletics Championships

at Homebush. Good luck to the following athletes: Jorja 11yrs 200m, Caleb, Clancy, Ziek and Aidan Junior boys relay. Swimming: Each year the Department of Education and Communities in conjunction with Maitland High School conduct the Water Safety and Learn to Swim Program at East Maitland pool. This program is valuable to students of all swimming abilities and will be held in weeks 6 and 7 this term. A note of interest will be distributed to students this week. We are limited to numbers, so please return the note of interest ASAP to your classroom teacher. Unfortunately Year 5 will not be a part of the program this year as they will be in Pt. Wollie for their camp.

Environment How nice it would be to see some rain. Hot dog and ice block day coming up! Our friendly lizards are out and about so please take care. Choir

Yesterday we sat at The Botanical Gardens, looking back towards the Opera House where we were performing. Rehearsals were all afternoon before the big performance at night. We had a fabulous time with terrific choir members. This afternoon auditions for next year's Primary Proms will begin.

P&C NEWS The next P&C meeting will be Monday 21st October starting at 6.30pm following the nutrition talk in the staffroom.

CANTEEN NEWS

Next Wednesday we will have chicken schnitzel prepared and cooked by Mrs Redgrove available to order with a salad tub for $5. We also have Amber canteen approved vanilla or choc caramel biscuits for 60c per pack (while stocks last). We are still trying to fill our Term 4 roster so if you can help, or if you can convince a relative or friend to help we would really appreciate it.

CANTEEN ROSTER TERM 4 With our second week of school coming to an end we are desperately seeking volunteers to keep our canteen open every day. If you would like to rope a friend into coming in with you for a catch up while you help out our canteen that would be even better. Mums, Dads, Aunts, Uncles or Grandparents…….everyone is welcome! If you have any spare time at all and would like volunteer please call me on 0439939934. We have a few Dads and Grandpas this term coming in which is great to see! Thanks Amanda

DATE SHIFTS 8.45-2.30

8.45-11.00

11.00-2.30

12.00-2.30

PIKELETS

ANZAC BISCUITS

WEEK 2 THURS 17/10

JAMES RODRICK WAYNE KEARNEY

MELISSA BOUCHER

FRI 18/10

ALISON RADFORD ANNETTE PEEL CARRIE ROWSTON JO BRADFORD

WEEK 3 MON 21/10

VACANCY VACANCY

LANA HILL

TUES 22/10

COLETTE GUTSCH-BERRY MATT BERRY

AMANDA RODRICK

WED 23/10

GREATA POLLARD KRISTI AYERST ELSABE VAN DER MERWE COLETTE GUTSCH-BERRY MATT BERRY

THURS 24/10

VACANCY VACANCY

FRI 25/10

EVELYN ROBINSON JOY WILKINSON’ LYN McDONALD

MICHELLE PARTLAND

BROOKE HOLZ

WEEK 4 MON 28/10

VACANCY BRIAN SWETNAM

JANIEN FULLER KIRSTY McDONELL

TUES 29/10

MARILYN KIDD AMANDA RODRICK

WED 30/10

VACANCY VACANCY

JENNIFER GEORGE

VACANCY

THURS 31/10

RENEE DANIEL

FRI 1/11

VACANCY VACANCY VACANCY

VACANCY KAHNEE THOMAS

WEEK 5 MON 4/11

ICE CREAM DAY!

VACANCY JENNY FREEMAN

TUES 5/11

MEGAN RIDGERS

ANNETTE PEEL ANNETTE PEEL

WED 6/11

KRISTI AYERST ELSABE VAN DER MERWE

MELISSA BOUCHER

JENNIFER ARTHUR

THURS 7/11

VACANCY LANA HILL

FRI 8/11

MEL CAMPBELL VANESSA DELFORCE JODIE McLEAN

VACANCY JUDI BUCKNOR AMANDA RODRICK

WEEK 6 MON 11/11

BRIAN SWETNAM VACANCY

LANA HILL JENNY FREEMAN

TUES 12/11

JODY DASZKEWICZ

WED 13/11

VACANCY VACANCY

JENNIFER GEORGE

VACANCY

THURS 14/11

VACANCY

FRI 15/11

ALISON RADFORD AMY CARVER VACANCY VACANCY

WEEK 7 MON 18/11

VACANCY JAYNE HAWKINS

JAYNE HAWKINS

TUES 19/11

MARILYN KIDD AMANDA RODRICK

WED 20/11

KRISTI AYERST ELSABE VAN DER MERWE VACANCY

ANNETTE PEEL ANNETTE PEEL

THURS 21/11

LANA HILL

FRI 22/11

EVELYN ROBINSON JOY WILKINSON LYN McDONALD

VACANCY BROOKE HOLZ

WEEK 8 MON 25/11

BRIAN SWETNAM VACANCY

LANA HILL

TUES 26/11

JODY DASZKEWICZ

AMANDA RODRICK

WED 27/11

VACANCY VACANCY

JENNIFER GEORGE

VACANCY

THURS 28/11

VACANCY

FRI 29/11

JO BRADFORD VACANCY VACANCY

VACANCY KAHNEE THOMAS

WEEK 9 MON 2/12

VACANCY LANA HILL

TUES 3/12

JODY DASZKEWICZ

ANNETTE PEEL ANNETTE PEEL

WED 4/12

KRISTI AYERST ELSABE VAN DER MERWE GREATA POLLARD

JENNIFER ARTHUR

THURS 5/12

VACANCY AMANDA RODRICK

FRI 6/12

VACANCY VACANCY VACANCY

VACANCY JUDI BUCKNOR

WEEK 10 MON 9/12

PIZZA DAY BRIAN SWETNAM VACANCY

JAYNE HAWKINS

JAYNE HAWKINS

TUES 10/12

MEGAN RIDGERS

WED 11/12

VACANCY VACANCY

JENNIFER GEORGE

VACANCY

THURS 12/12

RENEE DANIEL AMY CARVER

FRI 13/12

VACANCY VACANCY VACANCY VACANCY

WEEK 11 MON 16/12

CLOSED

TUES 17/12

CLOSED

WED 18/12

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

COMMUNITY NOTICES

NEWSLETTER INCENTIVE WINNER

Winner of last term’s Newsletter Incentive was James of class KT CONGRATULATIONS

Please come to the front office to collect your 50 cents.

We urge parents to encourage their child to place their slip in the Newsletter Incentive Box in the school foyer.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWSLETTER INCENTIVE

Child’s name ________________________________ Class __________

I have read the emailed newsletter

I have read the newsletter on the school website

I have read the newsletter which was sent home from school

Signature of Parent/Caregiver _______________________________ Date _____________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABSENTEE NOTICE

My child ..............................................of class ............. was absent on (date) .................................. For the following reason ..................................................................................................................... Parent signature: …………………………………………………………………………………………... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABSENTEE NOTICE

My child ..............................................of class ............. was absent on (date) .................................. For the following reason ..................................................................................................................... Parent signature: …………………………………………………………………………………………... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------