Newsletter Kotara South Public School

2 February 2016

From the Principal

Week 2 · Term 1

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Firstly  I would  like to  introduce myself. My Name  is Sue Maxworthy and  I am the new Principal of Kotara South Public School.  I am very excited to be here and am looking forward to many wonderful, happy years at KSPS. On our first Assembly last Thursday, I introduced myself to the children as Mrs Max, much easier to say. I have moved  to Newcastle  from Batemans Bay over  the holidays with my husband and two high school aged daughters. I have been made feel so welcome by everyone in the school, especially the children.  

I  have met with  all  the  teachers  over  the  last week  and we  have  solid  learning  goals  in  place  for  all        children. Our focus around  literacy and numeracy will not change,  in fact,  in the coming year, teachers will  be  training  in  some  extensive  numeracy  content  to  build  conceptual  knowledge  for  children  of    number and measurement. More information to come on this. 

Something new this year is the General Permission Note. This will be BLUE in colour and each child in the family will have a General Permission Note on file. This covers such items as: general permission to walk to  and  from  the  local ovals  for  sport, Child Protection, Drug  Education, Permission  to  Publish, use of     personal repellent, etc. Can you please sign the blue General Permission note and return to school by the 5th February. The  first class to have all their notes back  in to their teacher, will receive a pizza party at lunch time courtesy of Mrs Maxworthy. This was won by 3P, congratulations. 

I am a big believer in connecting children with real‐life contextualised learning that builds their skills and knowledge for the future. We live in a face‐paced and ever‐changing world and it is our responsibility as educators to ensure we are giving all children the opportunity to participate in experiences that provide meaningful and  relevant  learning. The  focus on building  student  learning  teacher capacity,  connecting with parents and  families and building meaningful experiences will be my priority  for KSPS.  I hope you will come on this journey with us. 

The school calendar is already building and looking busy for the term. Can I please make special mention of a few events this term to mark in your diaries: 

10th Feb: P & C Meeting 

15th Feb: Meet the Teacher Afternoon‐ Open rooms and BBQ 5pm‐6.30pm 

18th Feb: Yrs 2‐6 Swimming Carnival 

1st Mar: School Photos 

13th Mar: Grounds and Gardens Volunteer Day 

Our school website is currently under a ‘ revamp’. Keep an eye on the webpage, as we plan to add more calendar  items,  notes  and  photos  through  the  gallery. Our  KSPS  Facebook  page  is  very  popular with      parents and community, as it  is a quick and  easy read for simple information.  

Every day we will STRIVE TO ACHIEVE 

Sue Maxworthy 

PRINCIPAL 

Kotarasth-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.kotarasth-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

150 Rae Crescent

Kotara South 2289

49575319

 

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Upcoming Events 2016

10 Feb: P & C Meeting 

15 Feb: Meet the Teacher Afternoon‐ Open rooms and BBQ 5pm‐6.30pm 

17 Feb: Debate Training Workshop 

18 Feb: Swimming Carnival Year 2 to Year 6 at Charlestown Public Pool 

1  Mar: School Photos 

13  Mar: Grounds and Gardens Volunteer Day 

 

HELP NEEDED

We are currently in desperate need of finding a support person to travel with one of the new students in the Hearing Support Class. The person we are looking for would be needed for a short time in the morning and in the afternoon and just needs to travel in the taxi with the student.

If you or anyone you know might be interested in this work please contact, or get them to contact, the school and we will forward their details to Special Transport who will then follow up on any expressions of interest.

Thank you so much for your support in this matter.

MRS SUE BRYANT (CLASS TEACHER)

LIBRARY NEWS

Welcome back. Please find listed your child’s library days. Would you please ensure that your child brings along a Library Bag to protect the library books they borrow.

Monday 2/3E, 1 V and K/1P Tuesday KC , KF , 2GT and 1/2G

Wednesday 4W, 4/5E, 5/6J and 5/6W Thursday HSU-B Friday 3P

MRS HARVEY - LIBRARIAN

CANTEEN NEWS

Welcome and hello from the Canteen for another extraordinary year at KSPS. Your canteen is open everyday for lunch and closed at recess. I am sending a form out to fill in for your availability. I am in much need of help, the canteen CANNOT run without your support, so please fill in your available day and send it back to the office or to me at the canteen. Attached to this newsletter is the roster. Please add your name and at this stage I am in need of two helpers for Thursday’s and Friday’s.

There are changes this year. On your child's lunch bag if they have a smiley stamp this means the child to come back to the canteen for an ice block. Important: Please put your child’s class on the bag as now lunches will go to their classrooms.

This weeks Specials

Eat Fresh Deal $1.50

1 fresh salad sandwich/wrap/roll/bowl with grated carrot, tomato, cucumber, cheese and crisp lettuce. Our wraps are mission in white and wholemeal.

Peckish chip $3.50

6 chicken chippies

1 pkt peckish rice crackers

1 juice cup

On the menu everyday is fresh baby spinach, avocado, black kalamatta pitted olives and semi sun dried to-matoes. Our chicken is fresh roast BBQ daily.

 

 

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News from the P&C Welcome to 2016 Welcome to our new school Principal Mrs Sue Maxworthy we are looking forward to working with you. Wel-come also to all our new Kindy parents and all our returning parents. We are looking forward to an exciting 2016! The P&C work in partnership with Kotara South Public School by promoting an atmosphere of community and mutual respect; and upholding the school motto ‘Strive to Achieve’. The Functions of the KSPS P&C are to:

� Enhance the educational, physical and aesthetic environments for the students � Provide financial support and resources to the school � Operate a uniform shop � Deliver healthy food options through the school canteen � Promote and support school events

We welcome parents/carers to join us. P&C Meeting The next P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 February 2016 at 7.00pm in the school library. Eve-ryone is welcome to attend. Our AGM meeting will be held on 9 March. If anyone is interested in taking on a position and have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me (Helena) at hatayor@bigpond.net.au or 0412549924. Activities The P&C undertake a variety of activities throughout the year to support the students at KSPS. Here are just a few things we do during the year:-

Run a canteen at the school discos Sell Entertainment books Run a Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stall Easter raffle Bunnings BBQs

We will advise via the Facebook page and the newsletter when these activities are approaching. We appre-ciate your support in making all these activities successful. Canteen Express Lane This year we are trialling a new system in our awesome canteen. For those students who have pre-ordered and paid for their lunch they will be able to move straight to the dedicated ‘Lunch Order’ express lane to col-lect their ice blocks. All other students making cash purchases will be served in the other 3 lanes, with the lunch orders being given priority. Signs are currently being prepared thanks to Valerie Main. Grill’d Kotara Thank you to Maria and the team at Grill’d Kotara for our inclusion in the Local Matters Charity program dur-ing December 2015. We have received a $100 cheque to go towards our much anticipated canteen up-grade. Thank you to all families and friends who supported our fundraising bids. Athletes Foot ‘Back to School’ Program Need a new pair of shoes? We have joined The Athlete's Foot 'Back to School' program, where they donate $5 back to our school for any shoe purchased from them. Just mention Kotara South Public School P&C when you make your purchase. Uniform Shop This year the uniform shop will be opened Monday and Thursday mornings 8.30am to 9.00am. Please check the Facebook page as there may be some mornings due to work commitments that the uniform shop may not be opened and an alternative date will be advised. If you are unable to attend the uniform shop when it is open, please leave your order and money at the office and it will be given to your child to take home. Also if you have any unwanted uniforms that are still in good condition please leave them at the office. We are happy to take second hand items, which help supply the school sick bay. P&C Dates to remember P&C Meeting – 10 February @ 7pm P&C AGM Meeting – 9 March @ 7pm Bunnings BBQ at Kotara - 14 May 2016 and 3 December 2016

Kotara South Public School P&C Facebook Page

 

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KSPS Gardens and Grounds Newsletter

Welcome back Families, Students and Staff, I hope everyone has had a safe and enjoyable break over the Christmas/New Year Holidays and are ready and rested to start the year. Welcome to all of the new families at the school, I hope your children have a fantastic experience at KSPS. For those of you who are new to the school the Gardens and Grounds Group aims to make the schools natural environment friendly, educational, sustainable and inclusive. Started two years ago to assist the school in maintaining and enhancing the school grounds the group has a core of parents who assist with the Primary Vegetable Gardens located next to the fixed play equipment, worm farms, native plantings, Infants Tub Gardens located around the CO-LA area as well as applying for grant funding to assist the school in maintaining such large and diverse grounds. We are part of the P&C and work closely with the school staff to reach shared outcomes. Parent input is essential and greatly appreciated as the school has many diverse environments which need assistance. We have four Volunteer Days a year, one each term, on Sundays from 9am to 11pm. Everyone is welcome and it is a great way for the parents and students to get together for some relaxed, infor-mal gardening activities. Dates for the Volunteer Days will be released after the first P&C meeting of the year so stay tuned. There are many ways you can assist even if it is just for an hour a week after drop off, before pick up or any time in-between. We have activities for parents outside of the Volunteer Days if this is more suited to your lifestyle. If you are keen to know more or wish to be involved in any way please contact me at mjplay-don@gmail.com or like the KSPS P&C Gardens and Grounds Group on Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/472847299553326/ I hope that you and your children can join us this year to make their school an even better learn-ing environment. Regards, Matt Playdon, KSPS P&C Gardens and Grounds Coordinator The KSPS P&C Gardens and Grounds Group has been successful in getting a jar in the Grill’d Local Matters Program for the month of February. Please visit the Charlestown Grill’d store buy some beautiful burgers, drop all of your tokens into the jar and help the Group win $300. It is a tough competition so all your support is appreciated.

 

 

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Community News

 

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