GORDON WEST BULLETIN V O L U M E 5 2 0 1 9 A P R I L 4 2 0 1 9

Principal’s Report Ryde Road Pymble 2073 Telephone: 9498 4644 Fax: 9498 4436 Email: gordonwest-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.gordonwest-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Thurs 4 April

Yr2 Schoolhouse Museum

Friday 5 April

Yr1 Schoolhouse Museum

Wednesday 10 April

Ecumenical Service

Friday 12 April

Easter Hat Parade

Last Day Term 1

Monday 29 April

Staff Development Day

Tuesday 30 April

Students resume

Term 2

Wednesday 1 May

ANZAC Day assembly

Monday 6 May

P&C Meeting

Dates to Remember

The Vision Valley band Camp for Concert Band 1 and Concert Band 2 was an overwhelming success. Band members spent over six hours practising a variety of compositions which they will perform at a number of school events in the not too distant future. In addition to the musical component of the weekend children were given the opportunity to participate in a range of outdoor activities. All students really enjoyed themselves and some of the activities included: archery, rock climbing, water sliding and canoeing. After dinner on Saturday evening we were treated to a movie where we watched the “oldie but goodie” Shrek. A great movie! Overall it was a wonderful weekend. Congratulations to Ms Harvey and her team for providing such outstanding tuition. Our children are so fortunate to be provided with such wonderful opportunities. A big thank you to Mr Sparke, Mrs Sheldon and Mrs Dickens for giving up their family time to supervise the children of Gordon West on this weekend adventure. My wife Julia and I really enjoyed the experience where you quite often observe a different side to the children from the everyday school environment. For example the archery group that I supervised displayed all of the characteristics that we are trying to instil in our children at Gordon West. The group was lovely, listening attentively to the instructor then helping each other to achieve the best results and more importantly enjoying each other’s company irrespective of age.

Council Rangers have commenced booking people who choose to park illegally in the vicinity of the school. Although we realise that these fines are large the health and safety of Gordon West children is paramount. Please remember that the Teacher’s car park isn’t to be used as a drop off or pick up location. Council Rangers will continue to monitor the streets adjacent to the school and it is only a matter of time before people who break the law will be booked. After much deliberation the Synthetic Grass Committee has finally chosen a particular brand of synthetic grass and the Asset Management Unit has chosen a contractor to install the product. You would be amazed how difficult a seemingly easy task can become with so many options and variables involved.

Initially the grass that we favoured had a rubber infill which is now not recommended in Government Schools for the obvious environmental reasons. Given the large number of grass types on the market we had great difficulty deciding on a “fit for purpose” product. However the committee unanimously agreed on a Tiger Turf product Endurance NRG which is a relatively new Tiger Turf product that is specifically designed for situations such as ours and with a sand infill. Thank you and congratulations to the Synthetic Grass Committee for the enormous amount of work involved in the selection process. Parents and/or grandparents are not to discipline children other than their own in the playground or on the school bus. If you have an issue with a child other than your own you must report the issue to a teacher. Under no circumstance are you to take the law into your own hands and discipline the child of another parent. Scooters and/or bikes are not to be ridden in the playground irrespective of whether the parent is present or not. The riding of bikes and/or scooters is prohibited while the school and OSHC are in operation. We have had accidents in the past that have led to threats of litigation where children have been illegally riding their bikes and scooters in the playground and have had an accident.

The school is looking magnificent and has justified our decision to hire two landscapers for two days per week during Term 1 to help Sam maintain and improve the school gardens. During the next vacation we plan to aerate and fertilise the grounds, prepare certain buildings for proposed murals, wash all buildings and ensure that all student tables and chairs have been given a thorough cleaning. The Furniture Committee is coordinating all class furniture to make our rooms a very pleasant environment. During the Easter vacation the remaining tiled Kindergarten and Computer room roof will be changed to Colourbond metal roofing. The area immediately in front of the verandahed building will also be asphalted during the vacation as the first stage of a large asphalting program. We apologise for the OSCH Vacation Care users for any inconvenience. However we are always trying to make our school environment a lovely place to be.

J Huckerby Principal

BAND DATES

Friday 12 April: Easter Hat Parade performance by CB1 between recess and lunch. (CB2 lunchtime rehearsal cancelled)

Wednesday 1 May: Anzac Day Service. Performance by CB2 after lunch.

Tuesday 11 June: NSW Police Band visit. A workshop will be held for CB1 and the Police Band will perform a concert for all bands.

Tuesday 25 June: Sydney Eisteddfod—CB1 only

Wed 26 or Thurs 27 June: Winter Community Concert at Forest High School - CB2 performance. This is an evening event. Date To be confirmed.

Olivia Thomas—GWPS Band Coordinator

Scenes from the Election Day cake stall and barbeque.

STUDENT NEWS

Year 5 is organising an Easter Raffle to raise money for the Year 6 Farewell. Year 5 students will be selling raffle tickets. Tickets will be on sale before school and recess. Prizes will be drawn on Friday 12 April during the Easter Parade. Parents are requested to monitor the amount of money children bring to school to spend on tickets.

On the day of the parade we will also be selling raffle tickets for a fresh produce basket. Thank you for your support.

On Friday 22 March, Joseph W and Daniel H represented Gordon West in the Zone Soccer Championship match.

The match was held at North Turramurra Recreational Area and the boys played on the Ku-ring-gai team against Hornsby. Joseph played exceptionally well in defence, saving a goal and repeatedly clearing the ball to the forwards.

Daniel played on the attack, having a breakaway run down the wing and scoring a goal.

Great work boys on your tremendous achievement at Zone, Well done!

Congratulations Daniel for being selected to play in the Area competition match.

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE

KD Navya A, Oscar D, Benjamin C KP Daniel N, Claire Y, Matthew X KT Emerson O-A, Zoe N, Marco T KX Joash C, Charlie D R, Qianxun M 1E Anna X, Gerri C, Mia P 1F Andres Y, Amelia B, Eli J 1G Sara D, Vienna R, Edward L 1T Chloe D, Lachlan B, Jonathan K 2E Ivan C, Kelvin L, Amy B 2G Mae Lynn G, Nicholas W, Esther F 2H Grace L, Chester W, Georgia B 2T Matilda S, Matthew L, Ethan H 3A Isabella M, Oscar D-G, Ann Y 3G Gustav B, Emily A, Logan L 3H Isabella C, Poppy B, Gus B 4H Will P, Conor H, Tiffany W 4W Naveen A, Angie H, Matiu 4/5C Charlotte D, Tim S, Eason P 5D Jai A, Paige C, Cailin N 5T Fuyu H, Amelia H, Archie G 5/6W Rohan N, Felicity B-Y, Tom R 6S Elena R, Ivy M, Noah M 6Y Rohan H, Jack B, Jennifer Z

3/4/19

Lucinda H 3G Jackson H 3G Taminah R 3H Alicia B 5/6W

Jack P 4/5C Daniel R 5/6W

Nina S 4/5C Jaren S 4/5C

Felicity B 5/6W James B 4/5C

Charles H 4/5C

Congratulations to the following students who have completed the challenge:

Miles T KX Raik K 1T Joan H 2H

Sophia Z 2G Sally A 3H

Yolenda D 3G Daniel G 3G Marcus T 3H Karina S 2H

Teo H 5T

HOLIDAY TENNIS PROGRAMS

Two tennis clinics will be conducted at Gordon West Public School in the school holidays: Clinic 1: April 15th-18th (Mon-Thur) 9:30-12pm $110 9:30-2:30pm $190

Clinic 2: April 23rd-24th (Tues-Wed) 9:30-12pm $55 9:30-2:30pm $95 Enquiries and bookings to Scott 0414 554 612

Congratulations to our 2019 Band Captains:

Training Band:

Nicolas L and Elizabeth C

Concert Band 2:

Liam B and Jasmine C

Concert Band 1: Aarya V and Siyeon S