Term 1 Dates 2020

The Rocks Report NEWSLETTER OF NORTH ROCKS PUBLIC SCHOOL

Ph: 9871 1772 | Fax: 9872 1448 | 359 North Rocks Road, North Rocks NSW 2151

e northrocks-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au | w http://www.northrocks-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/

2020~ Term 1- Week 2 At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

Term 1 Dates 2020

FROM THE PRINCIPAL: Welcome back to the North Rocks school community and it’s a pleasure to welcome any new students and community mem-bers joining us for the 2020 school year. Sadly, the school holidays proved a traumatic time for many families affected by the bushfires and we are so grateful all students and their families are safe. Though some holidays may have been postponed or cancelled, the fact everyone returned safely is a blessing. For those who did get away, I hope children had a chance to relax and enjoy the time away from school and are now ready for another exceptional year of learning. The containment of the Novel Coronavirus has proven an unexpected challenge for all schools across the country and I sin-cerely thank families who have recently visited China for their understanding and support with implementing the guidelines of the Department of Education and the Ministry of Health. I will write more about this later in this newsletter. North Rocks Public School continues to flourish as more families experience and appreciate the quality education delivered by our talented and dedicated teachers and support staff. Our classes are full of excited and enthusiastic children who are relishing the challenges being provided by the school and I wish them every success in 2020.

We hope throughout this year, all families will have the opportunity to join in planned school’s activities. The Term Calendar above, includes the meeting times for P&C Association which extensively supports the school financially, and provides im-portant parent viewpoints on school issues. Our meetings are friendly and provide a good way for new parents to join the school community.

WELCOME NEW STAFF In 2020 we welcome Miss Li who now joins the permanent teaching staff after being appointed to the school during Term 4 and we welcome back from leave Mrs Petre, Mrs Jefferys and Miss Raymond. We also welcome a number of new staff in-cluding Miss McCorquodale, Miss Lee, Mrs Garton, Miss Moxon, Mrs Jayaweera, Mrs Bohan and Mr Corfield who will be teaching within our support unit. Mrs Buckland has also joined the staff in the role of Assistant Principal (relieving) managing

Stage 3 alongside Mrs Petre. A full list of staff and roles can be found below in this newsletter.

Wednesday - Friday

5–7 Feb Student leaders camp—Vision Valley

Wednesday 12 Feb Meet the Teacher night: Year 3 &4 – 5:30pm

Year 5 & 6 – 6:15pm

Thursday 13 Feb Meet the Teacher night: Kindergarten – 5:30pm

Year 1 & 2 – 6:15pm

Tuesday 18 Feb Scripture Begins

P&C Meeting 7:30pm staffroom

Friday 21 Feb PSSA Round 1—Summer sport begins

Monday 24 Feb School Photos

Tuesday 25 Feb School swimming carnival—Waves

Friday 28 Feb Welcome BBQ for new families

Tuesday -Thursday

3 – 5 March

Support Unit – Review meetings

Thursday 5 March CHPSSA Swimming Carnival

Thursday 12 March Selective HS Testing Day

Tuesday 17 March P&C Annual General Meeting and

General Meeting from 7:30pm staffroom

Friday 27 March School Disco – Term 1

Thursday-Friday

30 March - 3 April

Book Fair

Tuesday 7 April Parent - Teacher Interview Evening

Thursday 9 April Last Day of Term 1

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE As mentioned earlier, I express my sincere gratitude to those families who have kept their children home to prevent any potential for spreading coronavirus within the school. I acknowledge keeping children home and engaged for an extra fourteen days after their peers have returned to school can be very challenging, especially when parents need to juggle work and career commitments. I am pleased to report that all NRPS families affected by the Department of Education ’s recommendations have complied with the self-isolation requirements and many of these children are now starting to return to school. For those who remain at home, classwork has been prepared by teachers and was emailed home ear-lier this week. I want to reassure families that the Department of Education has ruled this absence as “Flexible” ab-sence and as such children whom have had to remain home due to recent travel in China will not have this period of absence added to attendance records or school reports. Finally, I remind parents that any sign of fever, respiratory ill-ness or flu-like symptoms should be referred to a doctor immediately and I look forward to the time when all students are free to return to school and resume their daily routines. MEET THE TEACHER EVENINGS On the evenings of Wednesday 12

th February (Yr 3-6) and Wednesday 13

th February (K-2) teachers will hold infor-

mation sessions to provide parents with an opportunity to learn about class programs and procedures for 2020. The times for these sessions are listed below: Wednesday 12

th February – 5:30pm Year 3 & 4 and 6:15pm Year 5 & 6

Thursday 13th February – 5:30 Kindergarten & Support Classes and 6:15pm Year 1 & 2

I remind parents that meet the teacher evening is not a time for individual parent interviews. Parents are welcome to seek separate parent-teacher interviews with the class teacher as required. These appointments can be made at a mu-tually convenient time by contacting the school office.

NEW OOSH PROVIDER - WESLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES It is a pleasure to welcome our new Out of School Hours (OOSH) provider Wesley Community Services to North Rocks PS. Representatives from Wesley were very busy during the school holidays preparing to welcome children on day one and when the doors opened, they were set and ready to go. I am informed that all places in the new OOSH are taken and a short waiting list has been established. With this in mind, the school is working with Wesley to see what arrange-ments can be made to increase capacity and open up places for more children. The outcome of this process will be communicated once all options have been considered. TEA AND TISSUES MORNING TEA On Tuesday, our 2020 Kindergarten started school and their parents joined together to enjoy the annual Tea & Tissues morning tea, provided by Year 1 parents and members of the P&C Association. Everyone seemed to be in great spirits for our youngest students commencing their primary education and very few tears were shed. My sincere thanks to Mrs Felicity Bolwell, Mrs Mel Smith, Mrs Anne Marie Kerry, Mrs Pauline Jarvin and Mrs Jess Montelvere for their organisa-tion of the morning tea and for their support in welcoming new families to the school. MIDFORD ONLINE UNIFORM SHOP The new online Midford Uniform Shop for North Rocks PS is now fully operational. Early information indicates the online shop is easy to navigate and orders are being delivered to home or school regularly and reliably. If you are yet to access the online uniform shop please connect to www.midford.com and select the North Rocks Pubic School tab. If you are a new user of the site, registration will be required using the passphrase: NORTH2151. Order and price forms are available online or by visiting the school’s front office. Please be aware the former uniform shop no longer operates from the school. However, Midford staff will offer sizing and fitting opportunities on Thursday13th February from 8:00-11:00am. Outside of these hours, our office staff can as-sist with sizing and fitting. SCHOOL PHOTOS Our annual school photos will be taken on Monday 24th February. It is important that each child is dressed in the cor-rect school uniform including blue headbands and hair pieces as well as clean black shoes. If you wish your children to have a combined sibling photo please ask your eldest child to collect a sibling photo envelope from the school office. Payment methods are clearly marked on the reverse of the envelope. Please ensure all payments are made to The School Photographer and not to the school. Photo envelopes will be distributed this week.

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

NEW BUILDING – INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE We have returned to school to witness the remarkable progress that has occurred with our new building. With the scaffolding removed the façade looks amazing and the internal progress is just as impressive. Intrec have advised the school that they are well ahead of the original work-schedule and as such, have confirmed a handover of the new facility by the end of Term 1, rather than Term 3. A plan for moving into the new building has also been developed with various classes from Year 1 to Year 6 moving later this term. This transition will be followed by a rapid decommissioning and removal of the demountable classrooms, so a new, fenced-off de-construction area will be established parallel to J-Block to facilitate this work. As a school, we realise and appreciate the significance of the opportunity this new facility offers in term of teaching and learning and we can’t wait to begin using this resource in advancing progress and success for every student.

AFTER SCHOOL USE OF SCHOOL PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT The fixed playground equipment is a wonderful resource for helping students develop their gross motor skills whilst having a lot of fun at school. I would like to remind parents that once students are released from class in the afternoon, they are to go straight home, to OOSH or to their bus lines. They are not to go and play on the playground equipment. If parents are with their children in the afternoon and they allow their chil-dren to use the fixed equipment after school, the responsibility for supervision rest with the parents. In the interests of safety, please supervise your children whenever they are using the equipment outside of regular school hours. Mr Rob Ieroianni Principal NORTH ROCKS SCHOOL STAFF 2020 SUPPORT UNIT K/6M Mrs Martin Assistant Principal (relieving) SLSO—Mrs Hagivasilis K/6G Mr Griffiths SLSO—Mrs Swadling K/6C Mr Corfield SLSO—Mrs Pozorski EARLY STAGE 1 KD Mrs Dooley Assistant Principal Mrs Green (Mon) KK Mrs Kent Mrs McCorquodale (Thu – Fri) KS Miss Li KM Miss Miglanai KR Miss Reid KL Miss Raymond STAGE 1 1K Mrs Kent 1B Mrs Bagley Assistant Principal (relieving) Miss White (Thurs & Fri) Assistant Principal (relieving) 1S Miss Di Gennie 1Y Ms Young 1G Mr Goard 1/2E Ms Esquivel 2P Mrs Pollitt Assistant Principal Mrs Green (Thur-Fri)

2O Mrs Olliffe

2N Ms Neville Ms Stevenson (Thurs)

2D Miss Deane

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

STAGE 2 3V Mrs Vanderlight 3M Mrs Maharaj 3s Mrs Mahto Singh 3L Miss Lee 3/4AA Mrs Abbott-Atchison Assistant Principal 4G Mrs Garton Miss Moxon (Mon) 4H Ms Hayman 4M Miss J. Mah 4L Miss Aisbett STAGE 3 5M Mrs Petre (Mon-Tue) Assistant Principal Mrs Mitchell (Wed-Fri) 5J Mrs Jayaweera 5W Mrs Welsby 5G Miss Gillmer Mrs Barnett (Thur-Fri) 5/6S Mrs Buckland 6D Mr Diaz 6B Mrs Barker 6L Mr Love 6W Mrs Whyte RFF Mrs Moncrieff Miss Mah ESL Mrs Richmond Mrs Dalton Mrs Calvert (Wed-Thur) Library Mrs Bezkorovainy Mrs Bodlay (Mon, Tue, Thur) Learning Support: Mrs Flannery (Mon-Thur) Literacy/Numeracy Support: Mrs Kent (Thur-Fri) Mrs Jefferys (Wed) Quality Teaching Support (QTSS): Mrs Bohan Mrs A. Green Mrs M. Green School Counsellor: Mrs Pritchard (returning 2 days per week from 5

th March 2020)

Senior Administration Manager: Mrs Silver Admin Officers: Mrs Shaw `Mrs Rogers Mrs McDonnell School Learning Support Officers (SLSO): Mrs Gillard Mrs Laurie Mrs Kim

Mrs Baker Mrs Ramlawie Mrs Anderson General Assistant: Mr Roach Deputy Principal: Mrs Shipley Mrs Cassidy Principal: Mr Ieroianni

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

CASTLE HILL - PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORT ASSOCIATION (PSSA) – CODE OF CONDUCT

For many years North Rocks P.S has enjoyed its involvement in interschool competitions and carnivals offered by the Castle Hill PSSA and our students are always very excited about their involvement each Friday. Though we have had no issues with families from North Rocks, unfortunately, at times the behaviour of a few parents and spectators at PSSA competitions has been inappropriate and quite embarrassing for students and their school. As such the CHPSSA have asked all schools to re-publish their Code of Conduct for parents and specta-tors. I encourage all parents with children involved PSSA to revisit the Code of Conduct as a reminder of the as-sociation’s expectations.

PSSA CODE OF CONDUCT As you would be aware, all students who are fortunate enough to participate in PSSA weekly competitions are required to sign a Code of Conduct at North Rocks Public School before their position in the team is secured. In all cases, the Code of Conduct extends to parents and spectators who come and watch weekly PSSA games and CHPSSA trials. The Castle Hill PSSA (CHPSSA) Executive have requested that we communicate the following to all parents and spectators who attend CHPSSA fixtures immediately. North Rocks Public School would like to ask that this infor-mation be passed on to grandparents, or any other family members, who also regularly attend games to encour-age and support your child. CHPSSA would like to remind all parents and spectators that when attending any CHPSSA game or trial they are bound by the ‘CHPSSA Codes of Behaviour’. PSSA competitions are about students’ having fun, participat-ing in sport and representing their school with pride. Below you will find the CHPSSA Parent and Spectator Code that form part of the full ‘Codes of Behaviour’ docu-ment. Please read it carefully and ensure that you understand and agree to it before attending any CHPSSA fix-tures. If any actions are found to breach the Code of Behaviour, CHPSSA Executive and Sports Convenors re-serve the right to impose bans and/or further sanctions against competing schools. PARENT'S' CODE 1. Do not force an unwilling child to participate in particular sports. 2. Remember your children are involved in organised school sports for their enjoyment and fulfilment, not yours. 3. Encourage your child always to play by the rules. 4. Teach your child that honest effort is as important as winning so that the result of each game is accepted with-out undue disappointment. 5. Encourage your child to work towards skill improvement and good sportsmanship. Never ridicule your child for making a mistake or losing a competition. 6. Remember that children learn best by example. Applaud good play by your team and by members of the op-posing team. 7. Do not publicly question the officials' judgement and never their honesty. 8. Appreciate the contribution and commitment of teacher- coaches. They give of their time and resources to provide sporting activities for your child. 9. Have realistic expectations for your child and his / her team - do not expect more than they can give. SPECTATORS' CODE 1. Remember that students play organised sport for their own enjoyment. They are not there to entertain you, and they are NOT miniature professional athletes. 2. Respect the officials' decisions. 3. Be on your best behaviour. Do not indulge in physical or verbal abuse of players, coaches, officials or other spectators. 4. Applaud good play by your own team and the opposing team. 5. Show respect for your opponents. Without them there would be no game. 6. Never ridicule a player for making a mistake or losing a competition. 7. Do not encourage or condone the use of violence in any form. 8. Encourage players always to play according to the rules.

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

School Banking

2020 School Banking is on Mondays during the school term. Please get your children to bring the bank book and the deposit to the classroom. Please also fill out the deposit slip and put the money in one of the pockets of the bank book cover.

Term 1 dates – 10/02/2020 - 06/04/2020

Term 2 dates - 27/04/2020—29/06/2020

Term 3 & 4 dates – TBA

You can open account for your child at your local CBA branch or on the Commonwealth Bank website:

https://www.commbank.com.au/personal/kids/school-banking.html

Have a great school banking year!!

School banking team

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

CANTEEN NEWS

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

P&C Report Term 1 Week 2, 2020 Welcome back, it’s going to be a very exciting year. The P&C hope that everyone has had a restful break and feels recharged and ready for a fantastic 2020. Welcome to all the new parents and children to the school. North Rocks Public School is a wonder-ful school within a wonderful community. We support each other in many different ways and that is what makes all our initiatives successful. We ask that this be the year that you consider volunteer-ing. Events and opportunities to lend a hand this year include: Harmony Day, Mother’s Day Stall, Father’s Day Stall, Trivia & Games Night, Golf Day, the FETE, canteen helpers, class coordinators and much more! Did you know that volunteering can make you happy, give you a sense of purpose, increase self confidence and lead to new friendships? For those who are new, come along to the Welcome BBQ on Friday 28th February at 5pm in the K-2 Playground. You may have noticed the new building coming along nicely and it is running ahead of schedule. Other initiatives are in the early planning stages including an upgrade to the K-2 play-ground and upgrading some of the toilet facilities. Stay tuned for more details! It’s FETE year and the P&C are really looking forward to welcoming many new faces (and old!) to help out in so many different ways. There will be much more information on the FETE in the coming weeks and months but for now mark it in your diary: Saturday 29th August!! Make sure you join the Facebook group for your year group and “like” our P&C Facebook page. We have a new email address!! If you have any questions or want to know how you can be involved in the P&C then you can email nrpspandc@gmail.com or come along to our next meeting which will be on Tuesday 18th February in the staffroom. Here are the links to the year groups: Kindy https://www.facebook.com/groups/NRPS.Kindy.2020/ Year 1 https://www.facebook.com/groups/NRPS.Year1.2020/ Year 2 https://www.facebook.com/groups/NRPS.Year2.2020/ Year 3 https://www.facebook.com/groups/NRPS.Year3.2020/ Year 4 https://www.facebook.com/groups/NRPS.Year4.2020/ Year 5 https://www.facebook.com/groups/NRPS.Year5.2020/ Year 6 https://www.facebook.com/groups/NRPS.Year6.2020/ See you at our next meeting. Watch this space for ways you can be involved this year! John Bolwell P&C President

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY

The Rocks Report At NRPS we value RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, HONESTY