Narrandera Public School Informer

Excellence, Opportunity, Success

Principal: Ms Susan Ruffles

Phone: (02) 6959 2144

Fax: (02) 6959 3274

Term 1, Week 6 Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

From the Principal’s desk….. We are extremely proud of the NPS swimming team and their wonderful efforts at last week’s PSSA Leeton/Narrandera District swimming carnival. Well done boys and girls and a special congratulation to our age-champions, Josiah, Eilish and William. We know that our swimmers will represent themselves, their families and NPS to the very best of their ability at the Riverina swimming carnival this Friday. Thanks again to Paul Lucas, Maree Bonham and all their helpers for the organisation and running of this year’s district swimming carnival. A job very well done! The NPS website is becoming increasingly popular as a way for children, families and community members to keep up-to-date about things that are happening at school. The site is ever-changing thanks to the great leadership of Maree Bonham. If you haven’t already had a look, please do. The link can be found in the contact details section of this newsletter. Not only can you enjoy some stories and photos about school and class events, you can find past newsletters, our 2010 School Improvement Plan and our 2010 Annual School Report (which will be published on the website this Thursday). The ‘MySchool’ website will be up-dated by ACARA for all Australian schools on Friday, 4th March. This will provide you with a ‘snap shot’ of some things about NPS. Combining this information with the information on our school website and a personal visit to our school will provide everyone with an excellent view of our unique and successful school. I love the fact that we, as adults (staff members, parents, caregivers and community members), work so well together to nurture and celebrate children’s individuality as learners and responsible citizens. If you want to find out more about NPS please give us a call and arrange a suitable meeting time with myself or Mr Lyne. If you want to find out more about your child’s class and their learning, teachers would also enjoy meeting with you. Our positive team effort and ongoing communication are keys to children’s success at NPS! Due to increased student numbers this year at NPS we have been able to employ additional teachers. One merit selection has been finalised with the Department’s staffing and another will be completed before the holidays. Donna Hetherington will be

teaching a second Kindergarten class alongside Courtney and Jean. This will allow us to form 2 small Kindergarten classes and allow us to accept future enrolments into these classes. We have been receiving a number of enquiries from families in Narrandera and from those families considering moving into our town. I would appreciate it if you all could ‘spread-the-word’ about these Kindergarten vacancies which we now have. This will be my last newsletter entry for a few weeks as I am taking some long service leave to spend some time with my son in WA. Mr. Lyne will relieve as Principal until 25th March. Unfortunately I will miss the John O’Brien Festival and the children’s performances at this festival. Maybe someone can take some photos for me and tell me all about it when I come home! Enjoy and stay well Susan Ruffles

Calendar of Events

Date Event/s

March 7 P & C Meeting – 7pm - Library

March 8 AFL Trials

March 10 Rugby League Trials

March 14 Girls Softball – Albury

March 11 School Assembly – 2pm

March 11 - 18 Book Fair

March 19-20 John O’Brien Festival

March 24 Sinfonia Performance - Griffith

April 1 School Cross Country

April 8 Last Day Term 1

Narrandera Public School Informer Tuesday, March 1

2

kids Disco!! Coming up during the John O’Brien Festival

Upstairs at the ExServicemens Club

Saturday, 19th March

5.30 to 7.30pm, $5 a ticket Drinks and chips on sale

Closely supervised by responsible adults!

Get your tickets early at the Visitors Information Centre, or at the door.

RIVERINA RUSH MULTISPORT FESTIVAL

NARRANDERA – MARCH 12 & 13, 2011

Open Water Swim, Cycling, Road Cycling,

Running, Sprint Distance Triathlon

Contact Phil Beaumont on 0428 423 351

www.RiverinaRush.com.au

Class News – 3F It has been a very busy start to term for 3F with all of us getting to know each other and the expectations of our class. In English we have been learning about Narratives and have nearly finished reading the ‘27

th Annual African

Hippopotamus Race’ and should find out what happens in the end over the next few days. In HSIE we have been discussing communities, learning about what they are, who lives within them and how they help us. Our class focus for the next few weeks will be on Handwriting so that all our books are neat and tidy. Merit winners so far have been Jack Williamson, Eloise Amirtharajah, Mareece McDonald, Seth Hollis, Jade Manley, Charlotte McGuiness and Ned McLeod. I will be in contact with all parents in the next week to set up a time to discuss your child’s Personal Learning Plan (PLP).

Cheers – Brent Fennessy – 3F Class Teacher.

Zone Swimming Carnival The zone swimming carnival was run and won on a beautiful day at Lake Talbot Swimming Complex last Wednesday. Narrandera Public School had 32 competitors on the day, with each one of them putting great effort into their races. It was extremely pleasing to see the encouragement and sportsmanship from all students involved. At the end of the day, our fantastic group of students ran second in both the overall points and handicap points section of the carnival. Whilst all students represented the school extremely well on the day, a special congratulations goes to Josiah Romeo (Senior Boys), Eilish Simpson (Senior Girls) and Will Roffe (11yrs Boys) who were named age champions on the day. These three students will be joined by Emily Matthews, Brayden Ingram and Dave Saunders at this Friday’s Regional Swimming Carnival at Albury. We wish all of these competitors the best of luck. A big thankyou goes to all parents and helpers involved in the day, as well as Miss Bonham for the hours she put into making sure the technical side of things ran smoothly. Once again, well done to everyone who competed on the day, and good luck to those who will be competing this Friday.

Paul Lucas – Sport Co-ordinator.

This newsletter is produced with the support of the following local businesses:

Class News – 4C Last week’s merit winners were Kaylah Faulkner, Jeremiah Manly-Freeman, Tiana Rose and Lateisha Bright. Our lucky raffle winner was Abigail Pettigrew. Children are reminded that it is their responsibility to change their readers after reading their books to someone at home. We continue to revise basic number skills in Maths and our times tables this week is 6’s. In Science we have been looking at native plants and animals. HSIE is teaching us the role that National parks play in protecting these native species. Our focus in our class this week for the Positive Behaviour System (PBS) is Respect. We are learning ways to show respect to other people and how to respect property.

Kerryn Cassidy – 4C Class Teacher.

Principal: Ms Susan Ruffles Assistant Principal: Brad Lyne Joanne Stamos Phone: 02 69592144 Fax: 02 69593274 Email Address: narrandera-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au School Website:

www.narrandera-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/sws/view/home.node

Canteen: 02 69591141 Dental Clinic: 1800 450 046 Narrandera Schools as Community Centre (Bonny): 0405963585

Narrandera Public School Informer Tuesday, March 1

3

Narrandera Junior Basketball The Narrandera Junior basketball competition will commence next Wednesday and Thursday with the boys on Wednesday and the girls on Thursday nights. All players who have registered and anyone who has not yet registered are asked to turn up on the days and times specified. The Junior/Intermediate boys are on Wednesday at 5.30pm and anyone in Years 2, 3 and 4 who wish to play are asked to come along. Sub Senior boys are Years 5 and 6 and your games will commence at 6.20pm and Senior boys are from Year 7 up and your games will commence at 7.10pm. Teams will be organised on the night. We need all those who are playing to turn up or let Lee know if you won’t be there on the night. Thursday night Junior/Intermediate girls Years 2, 3 and 4 play at 5.30pm. Sub Senior girls Years 5 and 6 play at 6.20pm and Senior girls will be at 7.20pm.

Numbers are low this season and we would like to give those who have not yet registered the opportunity to still play. The Basketball Committee are looking for helpers to select teams, so if you would like to help please let Lee know on the night. We are also looking for coaches for each team. Please keep this in mind. The Aussie Hoops program is for children from Kinder and up. It’s all about kids having fun and experiencing basketball skills and will not commence until Thursday, March 10. Could I please have all referees wishing to referee this season let Lee Longford know on the number below. If you have any queries please ring Lee Longford on 0409 443 711.

When: Friday, 11th March – Friday 18th March Where: Narrandera Public School library

Times: Open at Lunchtime and after school (3:15pm-3:45pm) Remember, the more we sell the more books we will receive

for our wonderful school and its library! Thank you for your support.

Narrandera Public School Informer Tuesday, March 1

4

The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is available for all NSW students in Kindergarten–Year 9, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools.

The Challenge aims to encourage in students a love of reading for leisure and pleasure, and

to enable students to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.

The Premier's Reading Challenge is an initiative of the NSW State government with principal support from the Dymocks Literacy Foundation and OPSM and media partner, The Sun-Herald.

If you are interested in taking part in this very worthwhile challenge, please return the permission slip below.

2011 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge Consent Form I hereby consent to ___________________________ ____________ of class ___________________

___________________________ ____________ of class ___________________ ___________________________ ____________ of class ___________________

Participating in the 2009 ‘NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge 2011.” ____________________________________ signature of parent/guardian ________________ (date)

Please return permission slip by THIS Friday, 4th March

Congratulations to our District Swimming Champions: Will Roffe – 11Year Boy

Eilish Simpson – Senior Girl Josiah Romeo – Senior Boy

Narrandera Public School Informer Tuesday, March 1

5

P&C News School Fete – planned for Saturday 7th May 2011 (Mother’s Day weekend). A list of stall ideas/activities is

attached to today’s newsletter. Please have a look at it and consider what help you can offer to make this

year’s Fete a great success. Please write your name next to a stall that you would be interested in organising

or assisting with and return to school by Monday 7th March. Thankyou to those people who have

volunteered to run a stall so far. We are also seeking donations of plants, pots, potting mix (cheap Coles stuff

is fine), and clean glass jars. In the coming weeks we’ll also start seeking donations of books, CD’s, DVD’s,

white elephant and craft items and of course CAKES on the day.

P&C are holding a cake stall at John O’Brien Festival on Saturday 19th March in conjunction with Senior

Excursion fundraising. The P&C are also catering for the Craft exhibition being held in our new hall over that

same weekend (Saturday and Sunday). We are seeking volunteers to help cater for both events along with

people to help serve food at the craft exhibition. If you are able to assist, please complete the tear-off slip

below and return to the front office.

Two positions need to be filled at the next AGM as current position holders move on to the High School. They

are Canteen Treasurer and Uniform Shop Coordinator. If you are interested in either of these positions,

please speak with a P&C member or Sue Ruffles.

Next meeting: AGM 7th March at 7pm. All Welcome!

John O’Brien Festival

The P&C are catering for the Craft exhibition being held at the new school hall over the weekend of the John O’Brien Festival on Saturday 19

th and Sunday 20

th March. We are seeking volunteers to help serve food, tea/coffee and to

donate quiches, sandwiches, cakes/slices/scones. If you are available to assist us that weekend, please complete the tear-off slip below and return to the front office as soon as possible.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * John O’Brien Festival Help Name:___________________________ Contact No. _______________________

I am able to help serve food at the Craft exhibition on: Saturday _____ (please tick)

Sunday _____

(Please list times available) ________________________________________________________

I am able to donate: Quiche _____ (please tick)

Sandwiches _____

Cake/Slice/Scones _____

Our School has students who are highly allergic to

NUTS and NUT PRODUCTS We seek your co-operation in keeping our school

NUT FREE

Narrandera Public School Informer Tuesday, March 1

6

NARRANDERA PUBLIC SCHOOL FETE SATURDAY 7th MAY 2011

We are seeking assistance from as many people as possible to assist with this year’s school fete. Below is a list of stall/activity

ideas - if you are available to organise or assist on the day with any of these, please write your name next to the stall you are

interested in. If you have any other ideas, please list them at the bottom of the page.

Please return this form to the front office by Monday, 7th

March.

Many Thanks!

From Susan Ruffles and members of your P&C Association.

STALL or ACTIVITY ORGANISER /ASSISTANT (please specify) Mother’s Day Stall

Cakes Brooke Absolom/Nicole Matthews

Plants Tania Spencer/Julie Roffe

Craft

Devonshire Teas/Cappuccino stand

BBQ Steve Simpson (Assistant)

Drinks

White Elephant Sharon Farlow

Show Bags

Hoop-La Maree Bonham/Wes Hall

Jar Pesca

Books/CD’s/ DVD’s

Face Painting

Art Show

Lucky Dip

Doughnuts Soroptimists

Lion’s Train Lion’s Club

Jumping Castle

Giant Chocolate Block Raffle

Lucky Gate Prize

Jelly Bean Guessing Competition

Chocolate Wheel

Fairy Floss/Snow Cones/Ice-creams ? Janice Menzies / Kath Druitt

Lolly Bags

Popcorn

Talent Quest

Sponge Throwing

Footy Throwing

Thong Throwing

Live Community Radio

Pet Show

Coin Toss

Helium Balloons

Kid’s Activity Corner

Emergency Services Display

Pie Drive Orders

Body Shop stall Amy Buchanan

Hot Dogs

Pies/Sausage Rolls

2nd Hand Kids/Baby Items Nicole Simpson/Natasha Godden