in this issue a very busy last few weeks!

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR OUR CHILDREN 1

Narrabri West

Public School

Newsletter

Tuesday 05 April, 2016 | Week 11 Term 1 IN THIS ISSUE

Our annual Easter Family Fun Day had a very large crowd attend the school for this special day. Our visitors joined us for the Easter Tabloids and then a picnic lunch. The morning featured lots of Easter themed sporting activities and was a chance for the whole school to get together and have some fun. This was an enjoyable experience and we are sure all of our visitors had as much fun as the students did. Thank you to everybody for coming.

The canteen meal deal was extremely well supported, with over 200 orders, which kept Mrs Ireland and her team of helpers very busy.

There was another special event on the same day when a very excited Easter Bunny hopped in and this was a very popular visit! Charlee Croaker and Zara Bennett were lucky enough to escort the Easter Bunny around the school to meet all of the students and teachers and help deliver a huge basket of eggs. Easter Bunny then hopped away to continue with his Easter duties.

Don’t forget our Bronze Assembly for Term One will be held in the hall this Friday at 12:30pm. At this assembly

we will be presenting Bronze Certificates to students whose behaviour has been terrific all term.

This means the holidays are nearly here so this will be the last newsletter for Term One. The school however is still very busy.

Teachers are conducting Learner Led Conferences with students and parents. It is heartening to see so many parents taking the opportunity to meet and discuss their child’s academic and social progress. These are an invaluable opportunity to learn how your child is progressing, as well as to play your part in identifying and planning targets for your child’s learning and growth for the remainder of the year. The children have been looking forward to showing and explaining to you all of the clever and exciting things they have been doing.

If you have not yet organised a meeting time, please contact your class teacher. We would like to see every parent attending. Importantly, your presence at these conferences demonstrates to your children that you value their education.

Easter Bunny visits Every year the Easter Bunny visits Narrabri West…and every year he makes himself right at home and does a wonderful impersonation of being a Principal, or so he thinks!

April

6-7 NSW PSSA Swimming; Stage 3 Sports Morning (Thurs 7th)

8 Last day of Term 1; Bronze Assembly 12:30pm

11-22 Autumn holidays

25 ANZAC Day

26 School Development Day

27 Term 2 commences

29 K-6 Assembly 1:00pm; 5 Cent Friday; Cross Country practise

May

2 Leadership Course – Tamworth – School Captains & Prefects; Fete Meeting 6:00pm; P&C 6:30pm

Main Photo: Our SRC, Captains and Prefects have planted citrus trees into our vegetable garden beds, turning it into our Citrus Grove. How good will this look and taste in a few years!

A very busy last few weeks!

NARRABRI WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL | Week 11 Term 1 2

Feature Article

Peer feedback & Self-assessment

This is another in our series of articles explaining how we teach at Narrabri West.

Narrabri West students are learning to provide feedback to each other – a very powerful learning tool.

Teachers are using peer feedback to elicit information about student learning. Peer feedback is students providing feedback to each other on how well the work they are undertaking meets the learning goal and success criteria. Research suggests that peer feedback is most effective when students feel comfortable with each other and supported by their peers, respect each other's opinions and feel able to take risks and make mistakes.

Giving feedback allows students to examine work in progress as a critical reader, practice problem-solving skills and learn by explaining what makes work good, or not so good. Students giving feedback to their peers allows them to improve their work even more than they can through just receiving feedback.

Teachers deliberately conduct activities that serve to develop an atmosphere of cooperation, support and trust and explicitly teach students how to give feedback and how to receive feedback.

They model this process in a very explicit way, articulating for students what they are doing and drawing attention to the language they are using. The physical configuration of our classrooms lends itself to students working together in pairs and groups, which in turn facilitates exchange of

information and peer feedback. Clusters of tables or desks make more sense than lines or semicircles, with enough flexibility for desks or tables to be quickly rearranged to allow for whole-class activities, as well as group or paired activities.

Sentence starters such as the following are modelled to guide students providing peer feedback:

• I like the way you… • You did an excellent job of… • I thought it was very effective

when you… • My favourite part was… • I was surprised that… • I didn’t understand… • I was puzzled that… • I think it would be clearer if…

Our weekly Friday Journals are also a way for students to provide parents with feedback and for parents to provide their children with feedback

Students are also self-assessing their work and providing feedback to their teachers, as well as self-assessing each other’s work, providing feedback to their peers.

Student self-assessment is commonly regarded as vital to success at school and is in fact an essential component of our formative assessment processes.

The implementation of student self-assessment in the classroom does not ignore the role of the teacher. The very important role of the teacher involves:

• Sharing with students the success criteria for each assessment activity;

• Ensuring that students understand the success criteria

• Explicitly teaching students how to apply those criteria to their own work;

• Providing students with feedback to help them improve; and

• Helping students to set learning targets to achieve that improvement.

Students who use self-assessment:

• Recognise that learning is associated with a very positive kind of difficulty, which increases

motivation rather than destroying it;

• Experience an increase in self-esteem; and

• Experience an improvement in their learning because they come to know how they learn rather than just what they learn.

Teachers who encourage students to self-assess:

• See the responsibility for learning shifting from them to their students;

• Recognise an increase in student motivation and enthusiasm for learning; and

• Are able to use feedback from their students about how they can shape lessons to individual and group needs.

CLASSROOM UPDATE - Library & Elevated Building Thank you everyone for your patience and cooperation with the changes we have had to make in these two buildings over the last few weeks. We have returned to the elevated building today, so 3T and 4K are back in their rooms, whilst KL and 5/6S can also return to their classrooms.

There is still some minor work to be done in the Library and this should be completed over the holidays, so all should be back to normal when we return for Term 2.

ANZAC Day March 2016 ANZAC Day is at the very end of the upcoming holidays - Monday 25th April. Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 who would like to march with the school can attend and we are hoping for a great turn out. Please wear full formal (blue) uniform if you are marching. Don’t forget your wide brimmed hat AND A WATER BOTTLE, as students have been very hot and thirsty in recent years. Mums and Dads could even have one with them to give to you after the march.


Children should assemble in Barwan St (opposite Narrabri P.S) at 10.10am and be ready to move off at 10.30am. The service will commence at the RSL Club at 11.00am.

We would like all of our School Captains and Prefects, Student Councillors and as many students as possible to attend and demonstrate our schools support for our country’s servicemen and women. Our school captains Audrey and Riley will lay a wreath on our behalf.

ANZ Citizenship Award - well done Ebonie! Our latest winner of this award generously sponsored by the ANZ Bank is Ebonie Bruce. Ebonie is a great school citizen and a wonderful friend to other students. Well done Ebonie! You will get your ANZ prize pack at this Fridays Bronze Certificate assembly.

McDonalds Champion Class This term’s McDonalds’ Champion Class is KL. Well done to the students in KL and thank you to Narrabri McDonalds for supporting our school. Congratulations to all of the wonderful students in this class. This award is judged by our Student Councillors and McDonalds supply a free ‘happy meal’ to each member of the winning class.

Staffing Term 2 Update We will have a couple of staffing changes next term.

Mrs Kapcejevs is commencing her maternity leave and we wish Lenore and Tom all the very best at this exciting time in their lives.

Mrs Kap will be replaced by Mrs Ward, who of course has been teaching Pre School this term, whilst Mrs Stewart is on Long Service Leave. Mrs Ward has been working closely with Mrs Kap to ensure a smooth transition and has attended the KL Learner Led Conferences with Mrs Kap to assist with this and to meet students and parents.

Mrs Stewart is continuing her Long Service Leave in Term 2 and Miss Georgia Mulock will be teaching in the Pre School. Miss Mulock has only

recently moved to the Narrabri area and she is spending this week with Mrs Ward and Mrs Lawty in the preschool getting to know everyone. She is looking forward to being a part of our school and we know she will enjoy teaching in our wonderful preschool.

WANTED - a holiday home for Westy Bear!

If you would like to have Westy Bear stay with you for the holidays, please write a letter to Mrs Keys before Friday 8th April and tell Westy what

you will be doing, so that he can decide who he would like to visit.

Another term is nearly over! The holidays are nearly here so this is the last newsletter for Term 1. Thank you for the support you have given to Narrabri West this term. It has been busy, exciting and productive.

I would like to acknowledge all the staff here at Narrabri West. They are dedicated, caring and work hard to ensure your children are well catered for.

It is exciting to see the many examples of inspiring teaching and learning that they have planned at Narrabri West. There is no doubt that the way we have our school set up this year is having a positive impact on student learning and the feedback from teachers is that it is really making a difference to the learning and academic growth of our students. Well done everybody.

Thank you also to all of those parents who have worked hard to support students and staff. We look forward to this continuing right throughout the year.

Please note the following dates:

• Monday 11th April to Friday 22nd April - holidays.

• Monday 25th April - ANZAC Day • Tuesday 26th April - school

development day - students DO NOT attend.

• Wednesday 27th April - students return to school.

Please Note: Tuesday 26th April is a designated school development day for Term 2. The purpose of this day is to improve the learning outcomes of students by:

• Providing targeted professional learning activities aligned to school improvement targets and Department of Education priorities; and

• Enabling whole school planning and enhancing teacher quality, school leadership and management practices.

On this day we will be continuing with our ongoing professional learning based on our growth as educators and will also undertake some further planning for Term Two.

Have a wonderful break with your children.

Best wishes Stephen Maher Principal

Easter Fun Day Highlights


… is from 5/6C. Make sure you have a read of their amazing stories when you are in the office.

Supervision at School Playground supervision commences at 9:00am. Teachers at school before 9.00am are here for lesson preparation and meetings etc. and as part of their work agreement, do not start duty until 9:00am in the mornings. They are not able to provide supervision prior to that.

Parents are reminded you remain legally responsible for your children prior to 9.00am when supervision begins. Please try to avoid having your children arrive at school before 9:00am.

Our first fete meeting for the year will be held at 6.00pm on Monday 2nd May in the staffroom. The fete is our

biggest fundraiser of the year, so it is very important for our school. Usually we have only a small number of helpers on the fete committee so anybody who could come to this meeting and assist in organising the fete would be most welcome. If we have lots of helpers we will all only have to do a little bit each.

Last year’s fete was fantastic – let’s see if 2016 can be even better! If you would like to become involved or have some great ideas, please come along.

Thank you to everyone who came to the P&C AGM last night and especially those parents who committed themselves to accepting committee positions. The 2016 P&C executive is as follows:

President Jenny Kirk Vice President Amanda Nott Secretary Sarah Bennett Treasurer Natasha Nott

5/6C, 5/6S and 5/6P Learning during Term 1 English Writing - We have been focussing on increasing the complexity of sentences and ideas in persuasive, descriptive and story writing activities. Specific feedback has been a vital aspect of all writing sessions and this has resulted in an excellent improvement in the quality of written responses from all students.

Reading Groups – Students have had the opportunity to practise many different reading and comprehension skills during reading groups. Students are given the opportunity to read and show understanding of their text every day. Reading skills that have been focused on include: Main idea, Figurative Language, Fact and Opinion and Cause and Effect.

Science – We have been learning about important scientists that have shaped the understanding that we have of SPACE including Gallileo, Copernicus and Einstein. Albert Einstein even visited all Stage 3 classes in the later part of the term to explain how time can be ‘bent.’

History – students have also enjoyed learning how Australia has changed throughout the 20th century. The importance of Gough Whitlam, women’s rights and how ‘old schools’ used to run have been areas of study from the curriculum this term.

The children have had a wonderful few weeks at preschool! Our focus has been on gardens and nature (particularly fuelled by the findings of frogs, caterpillars, chrysalises and grasshoppers.) We have been reading stories that teach us about gardening and how seeds grow, as well as what is important in the planting process. Outside, the children have been overturning our flower and vegetable patches in preparation for their planting at the start of next term. Some suggestions that the children have had to grow in our gardens have been yellow, purple and rainbow flowers (not sure about the rainbow part, but we’ll do our best) and to plant carrots, broccoli, tomatoes and beans. A letter will be sent out next term informing you all about our gardening days in case any

Five Cent Friday Update

So far we have collected

$71.85

(or 1,437 five cent pieces)


experienced parents would like to lend a green thumb!

Thanks to those of you who attended our Easter Hat Parades in Week 9. The children loved having you at school to watch them perform and display their Easter Bonnets. They were certainly the cutest group of bunnies I have ever seen!

Thank you also to those who helped out with our school photo days. Having the extra pairs of hands and eyes made for easy-going mornings with smooth transitions between children. Your children’s photos will be ready within the first few weeks of Term 2. If you would like to order more of your child’s photo, the originals will be stored at Studio Works and Photography in town. Just go in and see Marsella and she will be able to help you out.

I have had the most beautiful term with all of your children and am gutted to have to leave them at such a wonderful time in their learning journeys. In just a few short weeks, they have taught me more about myself as a teacher than I could have ever asked for and am so grateful to have been their educator. They have such clever little minds and beautiful little hearts. You should be very proud of the jobs you have done to raise such eager learners! I look forward to checking in throughout the school year and seeing all the progress they have made.

We wish you all a happy, healthy and safe school holiday and look forward to hearing about all the fun things that the children did over the two week break.

Jacki Ward and Trish Lawty

Award Winners

KC

Cody Harris, Jake George & Isla Holman

KG

Lachie Nott, Lennon Simmonds &

Jarrod Lawler

KL

Hadleigh Astill, Emily Beale & Allira Solomon

1K

Michelle Gordon, Cindy Jones & Hayleigh Cahill

1S

Sophie Brown, Cruz Ryan & Ava O’Connell

1/2B

Lucas Duff, Riley Firth & Ehren McFarland

2D

Blake Carter, Konnor Stanford & Molly Phillips

2/3C

Lillie-Mae Carter, Logan Shields & Chelsea Dean

3T

Lily Campbell, Tayla Nott & Matthew Todd

3/4F

Mitch Dafter, Natasha O’Neill & Timmy Stoltenberg

4K

Brock Gordon, Jackie Collett & Rosie Ross

5/6C

Rileigh Kelly, Ryan Thomas & Hannah Strickland

5/6P

Braxten Fish, Jim Dent & Jordan Kay

5/6S

Addison Russell, Owen Balmforth & Chelsea Wallace

CITIZENSHIP AWARDS & STARS OF THE WEEK

ZAIDEN KELLY – KG

KENNEDY WATT – 1/2B

GEORGE BENNETT – 4K

PIPPA SMITH – 5/6S

K-2 SUPER WESTY AVA SMITH – 1K

3-6 SUPER WESTY GRACE WESTMAN – 3/4F

AGM The Canteen has held their Annual General Meeting. Thank you to those

parents who attended and especially those who accepted executive positions, ensuring that our Canteen functions in a viable and effective manner. Elections were held at the AGM and the following office bearers were elected.

President: Gary Wilson Vice-President:

Melissa Richardson

Secretary: Jenny Kirk Treasurer: Alison Steele Uniform Room:

Jodie Hill, Melissa Richardson

Roster Clerk: Jodie Hill

Roster Week 11

Wed 6th K Mason, A Kneale

Thu 7th M Griffiths

Fri 8th M Cameron, E Lennox, J Hill

Week 1 Term 2

Mon ANZAC DAY HOLIDAY

Tue SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAY

Wed 27th C Hennessy

Thu 28th G Westman

Fri 29th S Burley, M Simpson

Week 2

Mon 2nd May J Anderson

Tue 3rd K Smith

Wed 4th F Kerr, J Howe

Thu 5th S Browning

Fri 6th J Hill, H Hill

Community News SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES Looking for something to do in the school holidays? Why not create your own Board Game? Try different themes: Robots, Pirates, Fairies, Monsters, Unicorns or Mix and Match. Narrabri Library 11.00am 12th April (ph: 67923336) Wee Waa Library 11.00am 13th April (ph: 67953064 Boggabri Library 11.00am 19th April (ph: 67434281) Sessions are FREE - Bookings are ESSENTIAL. Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult.


INTERESTED IN FILM MAKING AND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO IN THE HOLIDAYS Free Film Making Workshop - Narrabri Library 13 & 14th April 2016 9.30am - 12 noon Learn about film making from the planning and production stages. Places limited - For enquiries or to book a spot call 026792336.

HOLIDAY TENNIS CLINIC IN NARRABRI When — 1st week of the upcoming holidays

Monday 11th April to Thursday 14th April.

Cost 9am to 12 noon - $80 for 4 days or $25 per day 9am to 3pm - $120 for 4 days or $35 per day

Program includes Learning through play coaching program Timed rotations using multiple coaches Instruction on all tennis strokes Round Robin Singles &/or Doubles Tournament

Extra Information Suits everyone! (Ages 4 to 16 years) Free racquet hire. Party and Presentation final morning from around 1130am. All welcome!

For further information contact Shane Murphy 0405151935, Facebook Narrabri Tennis or drop over to the Dangar Park Tennis Centre.

CONTACT DETAILS

NARRABRI WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL 6 COOMA RD P.O BOX 3121 NARRABRI NSW 2390 Phone: 02 67922377 Fax: 02 67924395 Email: [email protected] Phone App: www.skoolbag.com.au/narrabriwp Web: www.narrabriw-p.schools.nsw.edu.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/NarrabriWestPS

Narrabri West Citrus Grove Established April 1st 2016

April

6-7 NSW PSSA Swimming

8 Last day of Term 1; Bronze Assembly 12:30pm

11-22 Autumn holidays

25 ANZAC Day


27 Term 2 commences

29 K-6 Assembly 1:00pm; 5 Cent Friday; Cross Country practise

May

2 Leadership Course – Tamworth – School Captains & Prefects; Fete Meeting 6:00pm; P&C 6:30pm

6 CPR Training Years 5 & 6 9:30am; Cross Country 10:30am; K-6 Assembly 1:00pm; 5 Cent Friday

10-12 NAPLAN (Years 3 & 5)

13 K-6 Assembly 1:00pm; 5 Cent Friday



June

3 K-6 Assembly 1:00pm; 5 Cent Friday; Narrabri PSSA Cross Country – Fairfax

6 Fete Meeting 6:00pm; P&C Meeting 6:30pm

8 Science Challenge


17 North West PSSA Cross Country; K-6 Assembly 1:00pm; 5 Cent Friday


27 Semester One Reports

July

1 Silver Badge Assembly 12:30pm; Sausage Sizzle 11:30am; Last day of Term 2; 5 Cent Friday

4-15 Winter holidays


19 Term 3 commences

22 NSW PSSA Cross Country; K-6 Assembly 1:00pm

28 Athletics Carnival (Field Events)

29 Athletics Carnival (Track Events)

August

1 Education & NAIDOC Week; Fete Meeting 6:00pm; P&C Meeting 6:30pm

2 100 Days of School and Education Week Assembly

5 PSSA Athletics – Wee Waa; K-6 Assembly 1:00pm

12 K-6 Assembly 1:00pm; Jeans for Genes Day

15 VP/Long Tan Day – Narrabri RSL 11:00am

19 K-6 Assembly 1:00pm

24 ‘Ready, Set, Kinder!’ – 2:10pm

26 K-6 Assembly 1:00pm

31 ‘Ready, Set, Kinder!’ – 2:10pm 28 K-6 Assembly 1:00pm;

in this issue a very busy last few weeks!

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