Cross Country Carnival

We all enjoyed a most successful Cross Country Carnival under sunny skies last week at Forsyth Park.  Thanks to Mr Kessler, Mr Thomson, teachers and parents for their organisation and assistance with the carnival events.  Congratulations to all the children who participated so enthusiastically in the races and to the placegetters.  Great work everyone.  The winning house was Boyd with 234 points.  The results can be seen here.

The Zone Cross Country Carnival will be held at Artarmon on Wednesday 23^rd May.  Our top 5 placegetters will go on to Zone.  Good luck to our runners!

Band Camp

Congratulations to everyone involved in last weekend’s Band Camp.  It was a most successful two days with the children making wonderful progress and having a great time.  The staff at Elanora complimented the children on their excellent manners and said they were one of the best groups to stay at the camp.  I am very proud of our musicians!  Our thanks to Sharon Bishop and Simone Bird [Overall Band Coordinators], the individual Band Coordinators, Mr Hampton and Mr Brown, our teachers and all the generous parents who gave up their time to assist with the camp.  Special thanks to Ronnie Tai for his work all weekend and to Vivian Tai who had the unenviable job of traffic warden.  Next year we will put two big burley Dads on this duty!!

NAPLAN – Year 3 and Year 5

The children in Years 3 and 5 will sit the NAPLAN [National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy] next week.

Tuesday 15^th – Language Conventions and Writing

Wednesday 16^th – Reading

Thursday 17^th – Numeracy

It is important that all children are at school on these days.  From these tests, schools are provided with individual student and school data which is very useful in evaluating our programs and determining future directions. Children who are ill/absent for any of the tests are able to complete the tests on Friday 18^th.

These tests are externally marked.

Parents will be sent written reports on their childrens’ achievements  in October.

P & C Mothers Day Stall

Children who have brought in a gift for the Mothers Day Stall will be able to visit the stall tomorrow morning to purchase a gift for their Mums – $5:00. Many thanks to the Year 1 parents and SRC children.

Impetigo

Parents have reported several cases of impetigo [often called school sores] in the younger grades.  These occur usually on face, hands, legs and scalp and present as small red, blistery spots or sores.  They should be treated and covered with a watertight dressing.  Children are able to attend school if treated sores are covered.

Please see our website link to NSW Health which has information on infectious diseases in children.

Woolworths Stickers Earn and Learn

Please collect “stickers” [not dockets this year] if you shop at Woolies.  Last year we were able to obtain some great games and sports equipment for the school with this promotion. Many thanks to Sharmila Soorian who again is coordinating this program.

Mothers Day

I would like to wish all our wonderful Mums a Very Happy Mothers Day.  I hope you all have a lovely relaxing, restful day!

Diary Dates

May

15^th – Peter Coombes’ Concert – Kinder and Year 1

15^th, 16^th, 17^th – Years 3 and 5 NAPLAN Testing

23^rd – 25^th – Year 5 Milson Island Camp

28^th – Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival at Rotary Athletics Field, Mowbray Road West, Lane Cove North.

30^th – Ba’hai Excursion

Principals Awards

• Isaac Irvine 5B and Stella Edmonston 4K for demonstrating perseverance and school spirit at the Crosss Country Carnival.
• Jack Ford 4HR for his outstanding support of all runners at the Cross Country Carnival.

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• Tina Bosnjak 6B and Lara Huby-Stewart 5T have been selected to attend the Expanding Horizons Visual Arts 2-day Camp at the end of term.  This will be a wonderful opportunity for these two talented artists.
• Mei Yamada 1B was awarded High Commended certificates last week at a local eisteddfod in both the Hip Hop Funk and Contemporary Sections.  Mei competed in the Under 10 years and is only 7!  Great work Mei.
• Congratulations to our Senior Girls and Boys Dance Groups who auditioned successfully on Monday for the Sydney North Dance Festival which will be held at the end of this term at Glen Street theatre.  We look forward to seeing them perform for us here at school soon.  Well done teachers, boys and girls.

Parent Voluntary Contribution Form
In case you never received the yellow voluntary contribution form that went home last Thursday a soft copy is available on the P and C page of the school website for you to print and return when you make the contribution. Thank you very much for all your continuing support.

Jennifer Neil-Smith, P&C Treasurer

Australian Childhood Vision Impairment Register

The Australian Childhood Vision Impairment Register is sponsored by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, in partnership with families, teachers, health professionals and low vision agencies. The Register is the first of its kind in Australia, and collects data on Australian children with vision impairment. This data is used to improve services for children and by researchers who work in the area of eye disease and disorders of vision.

Families are invited to register their children. The age range is 0-18 years, with any eye condition diagnosed by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) that causes vision impairment in both eyes. Families can access register at: www.vifamilynetwork.org.au. The criteria for being included on the Register are available on this website, and if families are unsure, they can email (jill.watson@ridbc.org.au) or call the Register staff on 02 9872 0303.

Owen Taylor, Deputy Principal

Walk Safely to School Day – FRIDAY 18^TH MAY

It’s that time of year again when Neutral Bay helps the environment and our health by walking safely to school.

Walk Safely to School Day asks that we all consider our transport habits and try to incorporate more walking as part of a healthy, active way to get around. Regular exercise like walking not only helps them (and you!) beat chronic problems like obesity, heart disease and diabetes. It also gives you a great opportunity to teach your child safe ways to behave around roads and traffic.

For more information, visit www.walk.com.au On this site you can map your best walking route to school as well as learn more about National Walk Safely to School Day.

So, leave your car at home on Friday and get your walking shoes on!

Kristin Barnard, Assistant Principal, Stage 1

Chess Report

Neutral Bay played in the first round of this year’s NSW Junior Chess League Primary Schools Competition last week with great success. We welcome back our regular players and are delighted to see new students involved as well.

Team C had a bye this week but we had a win from Team A and Team F. A decision has not yet been made for Team D, as their match was just too close to call. Congratulations boys! 

Team A: Alex Keane, Max Mikkelsen, Kieran Connor, Ryan Seeto

Team B: Adrian Freiburg, Dylan Odenthal, Harry Peters, Aidan Odenthal

Team C: Ethan Low, Benjamin Crimp, Kousha Aslani, Ryan Shi 

Team D: Felix Theau, Louis Agnese, Alex MacGill, Raffi Mamott

Team E: Jonny Woodcock, Alex Au, William Guagliardo, Thomas Siede, Tim Doubinski

Team F: Loukas Traintis, Andy Danis, Alex Manousaridis, James Wang

Lauren Irvine, Chess Coordinator

Results:

Team A beat Neutral Bay Team B – 3 games to 1

Team E lost to St. Michaels B - 1 game to 3  

Team F beat Northbridge B – 3 games to 1

Team D drew with Beauty Point – 1 1/2 games all

Chess Report by Jonathan Woodcock, Captain of Neutral Bay E

On Friday afternoon the Neutral Bay E Team was competing against the St Michaels Lane Cove B team. The team was Alex Au, Jonathan Woodcock, William Guagliardo and Tim Doubinski.

Alex tried his hardest but unfortunately he just lost against the top player from St Michaels. Luckily Jonathan had a win against the second-best player. This is the first year William is competing for Neutral Bay in the chess contest but he lost narrowly. Tim started off very well, and his game went for a very long time. He never lost concentration, but just lost.

That meant the team lost 3-1. Great work chess players, keep it up!

3/4M collaborated to write this poem which was inspired by Roald Dahl’s poem The Crocodile

The Scaredy Bear
No animal  is half so scary
Because Scaredy Bear really likes dairy
On rainy days he likes to eat
Seven plucked chickens he likes their meat
And  especially he enjoys (eating on hs mats)
Just four of them, two dogs, two cats
He drops the cats to make them flat
With dumbbells from the dumbbell box (named pat)

But pepper doesn’t go with pie
Or is just the chicken inside
What he discovered was not a fault
It’s tangy bitter, but flavoursome salt
It’s such a horrible frightening scare
His face is such a nightmare
This juicy chicken smells mouth-watery,  “crunch”
He threw the chicken up after lunch.

It’s time to relax, put on your charm
Sit down and rest your broken arm
Ssh! Look it’s the Scaredy Bear
Thumping loudly up the stair
Unlock the door and fetch my whip
Careful child! Don’t hurt him a bit!
No run quickly! The grinny grin!
Oh look at that brownish furry skin!
The razor claws, the bristly hair
It’s scaredy bear, the scaredish bear!

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

Canteen News

Greetings from the canteen!  Hopefully your family has been spared the viruses swarming through the school. 

Those children who have been at school this week have been enjoying the delicious pesto chicken pasta.  How lucky are they to be enjoying such beautiful, fresh food, at such an affordable price?!  If you look around at canteen menus at other schools, you will notice that providing such great, fresh food at the prices we do isn’t easy – it requires terrific regular staff, and it requires volunteers.  If we don’t get enough volunteers in the canteen (at least two per day Monday-Thursday and at least three on Friday), we are faced with cutting back on the great menu we like to provide for the school’s children, or increasing prices somehow.  Some school canteens have a surcharge on families who use the canteen but don’t volunteer, others have noticeably higher prices, and others cut back on days of service.  We don’t want to entertain these alternatives, but if the “HELP NEEDED” spaces don’t start filling up, that may be our only choice.  There is an incredible core of volunteers who come every fortnight, some every week, and it is very hard for me to ask them to come even more often.  Volunteering in the canteen is NOT HARD!  You do not need to cook!  If you can make your own child’s lunch, you can help help. Even if you can’t make your own child’s lunch, we can teach you how.. Please have a look at the “confession of a first-time canteen volunteer” on our web page if you don’t believe me.  The canteen is operational every day from 9-1.30, but if you cannot do the full time, that is fine – an hour or two can make a huge difference.  Tuesday through Thursday are especially short of volunteers, but all days need more helpers throughout the term, and year.  PLEASE contact Kristina on 0407 297 691 or at nbpscanteen@gmail.com if you can help.

Canteen Roster

Monday 13^th – Amanda Petrides, Fi Hearne

Tuesday 14^th – Susan Hay, Marica Rudan

Wednesday 15^th -  Renuka Visseshom, Liz Skinner

Thursday 16^th -  Elisa Lockwood, Jane Bush

Friday 17^th – Kate Leveaux, Jane Tham and Nicki Dickman

Uniform Shop

Hello from the uniform shop – it’s been all go since returning to school for Term 2 and we’ve been busy these past few weeks getting the children kitted out in their winter uniforms.

We are pleased to report that the Flexischools system for ordering school uniforms has been a great success, we now have at least 30% of all sales coming through Flexischools and hope this figure continues to rise.  Using Flexischools has proved to be the most efficient system for both parents making purchases and volunteers in the shop. It mean less queues on a Tuesday morning and we’ve had so much positive feedback regarding the speed at which the items are delivered – with Flexischools orders placed before 3pm being delivered the next day.

Flexischools Returns and Exchanges

It’s easy to return or exchange items when using Flexischools, without the need to come into the shop on a Tuesday morning.  Please place any items you wish to exchange or return into a bag with a short note explaining what you require.  We will then exchange any items as necessary and deliver them to your child’s classroom – or organize a refund for you by contacting Flexischools and having them reimburse your card.

Discounted Winter Tunics

You may have already noticed on the Flexischools website that we are currently selling girls winter tunics in sizes 12, 14, and 16 for $25, so order now while stocks last.

Hair Accessories

We have now started selling girls hair accessories, only available on Flexischools and at great prices, go to www.flexischools.com.au to have a look at the range.

Second Hand Items

Thank you very much to those parents who have made donations of pre-loved items so far this year. As always, good quality second-hand items remain popular and we are always on the look out for further contributions from parents to sell on in the shop. At the moment any donations of winter uniform, particularly winter tunics, would be greatly appreciated.  Many thanks.

Helen and the Uniform Shop team   nbpsuniformshop@gmail.com

Woolworths Earn & Learn 2012
Woolworths Earn & Learn is back for 2012 and it is now easier than ever to participate and to receive valuable resources for the school. Last year the school received over 100 items of school supplies. It is simple to participate. From 9 May, parents who shop at Woolworths can collect stickers from the checkout operator (1 sticker for every $10 spent). Please bring the stickers in to the school office to be counted.  If you shop at Woolworths in Rangers Road, there will be a box there marked for Neutral Bay Public School.  Woolworths Rangers Road is supporting our school!

Sharmila Soorian, Coordinator

Interschools Snow Sports Sydney Regional Championships 2012
We are currently coordinating the school teams and individuals for skiing, snowboarding and cross country skiing competitions. The championships will be held at Perisher from Wednesday 11 July to Saturday 14 July. The entry cost is $35 per event.  If you are interested in joining the school’s snow sports team or want to know more about the competition and accommodation, please contact Sharmila Soorian on 0408-281-828 or

sharmila.soorian@ihug.com.au

Registrations are now open.

Entertainment Book – P & C Fundraiser

A green order form for the 2012-2013 Entertainment Book was sent home with the children today.  The books feature discount coupons for restaurants, cafés, accommodation, attractions, etc.

The books costs $65.00 with $13.00 from every book sold coming to the school.

This year, Naty Millar is again coordinating this fundraiser.  Please contact Naty direct on

0402-842-348 if you have any questions or queries.

Community News

Kids Up Front Drama Class for Years 3-6 is being offered in the Multi-purpose room on Friday afternoons from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. You can register online www.kidsupfront.com.au. For further details call Karin on 9953 4040.

Ideas for Parenting Teens

Focuses on how to effectively communicate and set boundaries with your teenager.

A Free of Charge evening

Wednesday 23 May

7.00 – 9.00pm

Mosman Baptist Church, Melrose Street, Mosman

Ring 8882-7850 and bookings are essential.

Assists parents of teenagers to

-       Reduce the anxiety inherent in raisng teenage children

-       help understand what is normal adolescent development

-       develop skills to communicate and negotiate with teenagers.

Positive Parenting Program

Consists of 3 seminars over 3 Thursdays where parents learn how to encourage their children to learn skills which promote children’s health, development and wellbeing.  Aimed at parents of children aged 0-10years.  Lecture style presentation and it does not allow for children to attend that are over 6 months and mobile.

Childcare is not provided.

1. Power of Positive Parenting Thursday 24 May 10.30 to 12 noon
2. Raising competent, confident children Thursday 31 May 10.30am – 12 noon
3. Raising resilient children Thursday 7 June 10.30am – 12 noon.

Location: Lane Cove Library, Library Walk, 139A Longueville Road, Lane Cove.

Bookings are essential.

Call Centacare on 8425-8700 or email naremburnfamilyservice@dbb.org.au

Welcome Back!

I would like to warmly welcome everyone back to school for Term 2.  I hope all our children and families enjoyed the autumn break.  We look forward to another happy and productive term.  The Term 2 calendar has been uploaded to the website.  Parents may wish to note some important early Term 2 dates:

May

5^th + 6^th – Band Camp

9^th – P&C meeting

11^th – P & C Mothers Day stall.

15^th, 16^th, 17^th – Years 3 and 5 NAPLAN Testing

23^rd – 25^th – Year 5 Milson Island Camp

28^th – Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival at Rotary Athletics Field, Mowbray Road West, Lane Cove North.

30^th – Ba’hai Excursion

Reminder: Term 2 concludes on Thursday 28^th June.  Parents are reminded that we will be joining our local Harbourside schools – Mosman, Beauty Point, Middle Harbour, Cammeray and Mosman High School – for a combined conference on the last day of Term 2, Friday 29^th June.  This will replace our School Development Day which is scheduled for the first day of Term 3, Monday 16^th July.

The children will therefore come to school on Monday 16^th July.

Term 2 finishes Thursday 28^th June

Term 3 commences Monday 16^th July

Term 3 finishes Friday 21^st September

Term 4 commences Monday 8^th October

Term 4 finishes Wednesday 19^th December

OC Placement Test Applications

Year 4 parents who wish to apply for OC placement for Year 5 2012 should submit an application form on line.  Detailed instructions are available at:

www.schools.nsw.edu.au/ocplacement

All Year 4 children were given forms on Monday with these details.  Please contact class teachers if you did not receive a form.

Mothers Day Stall

The P & C will be holding a Mothers Day Stall again this year.  Children are asked to bring in a small gift for the stall to boxes in the classrooms with approximate value of $5:00.  Next Friday, 11^th May, the children will visit the stall and select and purchase a gift for their mother at a cost of $5:00.  This is a fundraiser for the school and a great opportunity for the children to choose a gift for their mother.  Thanks to the Year 1 parents and SRC children who will run the stall.

Band Camp

All our musicians will be attending a two=-day overnight Band Camp at Elanora Heights this weekend.  This annual camp provides the children with the opportunity to participate in workshops, and individual and combined band rehearsals.  The children all gain so much from this intensive practice and tuition.  The progress they make over the weekend is outstanding.  They also really enjoy the weekend away with their friends and fellow band members.  It is a wonderful experience for them all.  I am most grateful to Sharon Bishop, Simone Bird, the band coordinators and the parents and teachers involved in the organisation and supervision of the camp.  It is a huge undertaking!  Many thanks everyone!

P & C Meeting Wednesday 9^th May

The next P & C meeting will be held next Wednesday evening at 8:00pm in the Hall.  Parents are encouraged to come along and be involved in our school.

P & C Contribution

Today the P & C Contribution Requests were sent home on yellow paper with the children.

These contributions fund the specialist Science [Mr Mayne] and Music [Mrs Muston] programs at our school which are not provided by the Department of Education.  These are both wonderful programs which the children really enjoy.  The P & C also assists the school with funds for additional resources eg reading materials, software, musical instruments and hands on maths equipment.

Your support in paying this contribution is much appreciated.  As a public school, the P & C contribution must be described as voluntary, however, the P & C does depend on a high level of parent contribution in order to fund these programs and provide the much needed resources for our children.

My thanks in advance for your payment.

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• Tom Lockhart 6T who has been selected to compete in the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association Swimming Championships at Homebush in July-August.  To will complete in Freestyle, butterfly, Individual Medley and Relay events.  We are incredibly proud of this talented young man.  Best wishes with your training in the lead up to this championship, Tom!
• Mr Michael who came into school during his holidays to complete so many jobs around the school including the painting of the exteriors of the demountable classrooms on Yeo Street.  They look so clean and bright.  Many thanks Mr Michael – you are a star!
• The Senior Boys Cricket team who defeated Newport on Monday.  Great work boys and many thanks to Mr Kessler and the parents who assisted.  Best wishes for the next game.
• Hayden Fleming 5T made the finals of both the 800m and 1500m at the State Athletics Championships at Homebush.  He ran a Northern Suburbs club record time of 2:28:84 in the U11 Boys 800m to finish in 6^th place.  In the 1500m he again broke the Northern Suburbs club record to again finish 6^th in 5:00:62.  Well done Hayden.
• Andy Davis 3/4M is an excellent young tennis player who recently enjoyed success at the Gala Day at Naremburn’s Talus Street courts.  There was a great picture of Andy in last week’s North Shore Times.  Well done Andy!
• James Mulder has been named Mosman Cricket Club’s best performer in the junior division in the 2011-2012 season.  He was also placed 11^th out of 300 players on the club’s championship ladder which includes senior players. Congratulations James!  You are a star!

Mathletics

Congratulations to the following children who received a GOLD certificate last term.

Well done and keep up the great work!

Year 1

Naomi Peace 1B, Bing Huan Lee 1B, Fuga Higashi 1E, Shogo Sato 1G, Mairead Costello 1E, Samara Foulds 1E, Noah Pereira 1E

Year 2

Ivan Korolev 2BP, Katherine Wen 2BP, Sonia Freiburg 2I, Chloe Salvatico 2I, Jack May 2I, Wesley Lu 2I, Dylan Malthouse 2W, Seisa Melbourne 2W, Bronteney Wang 2W, Lisa Shrubb 2W, Yi Ao Xue 2N, Matthew Rylands 2N, Lila Shrubb 2W.

Year 3

Luke Herron 3W, Sonata Higashi 3H, Orion Foulds 3H, Astrid Girdis 3H, Thomas Siede 3R, Hamish Lesley 3W, Luke Garrett 3H, Lukas Robinson 3W, Mallika Aithala 3H,

Year 3/4

Alysha Airey 3/4M, Aiden Odenthal 3/4M, Nathalie Wilder 3/4M, Sorita Pho 3/4M,

Year 4

Lucinda Peace 4HR, Connor Taratoris 4HR, Miah Gough 4 HR,Mitchell Kijurina 4HR,  Rose Richardson 4S, Oliver Mulder 4S, George Dhanoa 4K, Max Bottomley 4K, Samantha Norman 4K, Theo Whittaker 4K, Natasha Liang 4K, Zoe Clifford Sellam 4

Year 5

Andrew Mai 5CW, Alex Burfoot 5C

Year 6

Kaiya Melbourne 6L, Stefan Gebhard 6J, Callum Fraser 6J, Guilherme Campelo 6L, Kyle Christensen 6L, Emma Newman 6M, Selena Lu 6M.

Ms Gassmann and Ms Walsh, Mathletics Coordinators

Netball Knockout 2012

On Friday 30th March the school knockout netball team took on Lindfield Public School at St Leonards Park in the first round of the NSW PSSA knockout competition. The team consisted of the following players.

Grace Underhill, Lucy Woodcock, Georgie Joyce, Millie Joyce, Alice Bishop,  Alice Bromiley, Alex Crowhurst, and Evie Maslen.

It was a very close match. But unfortunately we lost by 5 goals. The girls fought right until the final bell and never gave up. The team should be very proud of their efforts and pleasingly the game was played with admirable sportsmanship by both teams on the day. Congratulations girls!

Leanne Gassmann, Class Teacher

Photo Section

P & C President helps out in the canteen.

It’s Not All Cookies & Beer

In 1899

It was perhaps, your grandfathers time

When the soldiers lined up for war

Not knowing what they were in for.

Two nations joined as one

Until the battle was lost and won.

The first ship of the fleet

Set sail, destined for defeat.

A large mistake had been made,

Of where the ships were to be laid.

The enemy was ready,

But the ANZACS stayed steady.

Although half had been lost by the first day,

No one could take their pride away.

The Turkish held high ground

As there were gunshots all around.

The sand was stained with Aussie blood

As them and the Kiwis ran through the mud.

210 days and 210 nights,

As the Turkish held their heights

Our ANZACS proudly fought

As of their families they thought.

More ships joined the fight.

In front of them lay, a horrible sight,

Soldiers wounded and dead,

The sand their death bed.

Finally, the battle was done,

Though no one had won.

For war does not bring glory,

For the survivors, a story

Of their comrades who had died,

Who’s families cried

And who’s friendship

Cannot be swapped for a gambling chip.

ANZAC Day is not just an average day.

It’s a day to remember people in a special way.

It’s not all about cheer

Or cookies, or beer.

By Sophie Dews, Amelia Langley and Lucy Woodcock 6J

Grandfriends Day Stories by KL

On Grandfriends day my grandma and grandpa came and they looked at my work.

By Indya

I liked going on the stage.  My favourite was Bravo Barvissimo

By Litia

It was Grandfriends day today.  My Grandparents could not come because they are in Singapore for this year.

By Tiana

I liked singing on the stage because of got to be so high and it was so fun

By Nina

On the concern I went on the stage and I was singing Coe to the Pet Shop

By Sara

I love my Nana.  I love being on stage.

By Max

On Grandfriends Day my Grandfriends came. We had so much fun.  We love each other.

By Patrick

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

P & C Voluntary Contribution

Dear Parents,

This afternoon your eldest child should bring home a yellow notice from the P and C asking for a Voluntary Contribution to the school P and C Association.

We are all fortunate enough to have children attending a public school that has benefited from years of consistent financial support from the parent body, hence the outstanding level of resourcing for all the staff, including specialist teachers.  We hope you will uphold this tradition by making a contribution this year.

At the first P and C meeting of the year the Committee showed what we have committed to support for 2012. These items were identified in consultation with the principal and staff.

- 50% of our specialist music teacher (Mrs Muston) and  musical resources  (my children are already raving about the new xylophones)

- 50% of our specialist science teacher (Mr Mayne) and science resources

Total $100,000.

These are additional resources that our children would not have access to without the consistent financial support of the P and C.  The parent voluntary contribution is the largest single source of funding for the P and C, and last year brought in $60,000  – over half of our committed funds for this year.  The larger the response to this request, the less pressure to raise funds through other events during the year.

We understand parents have many demands on their wallets and have therefore kept the suggested level of contribution flat for the last five years at $165 / child.

If you have any questions about this request please feel free to call or email me at:

nbpspandctreasurer@gmail.com or Mob 0400 246 786

Jennifer Neil-Smith

Neutral Bay Public School P and C Treasurer

Canteen News

Greetings from the canteen!  We all enjoyed the break, and are delighted to be back filling the tummies of our hard-working students.  Next week’s special is a delicious Pesto Chicken Pasta, with the pesto made freshly in the canteen (so we can ensure that there are no traces of nuts), using as much of the basil from the school gardens as we can.  Yum!

I will be standing down as the Canteen Coordinator after the November AGM, so if you would like to understand more about the role, please contact me at nbpscanteen@gmail.com, or on 0407 297 691.  If is a terrific way to contribute to the community!

You can also contribute to the community by filling one of the spaces below!

Canteen Roster

Monday 7^th – Gwen Murdoch, Sally Lancaster

Tuesday 8^th – Fiona Willington, Teresa Tyacke

Wednesday 8^th – HELP, Rena Xu

Thursday 9^th – Kanako, Milton Sams

Friday 10^th – Gaby Fay from 10am, Michele Gardiner, Alison Macfarlane

Band Camp 2012

Fast approaching, the final touches for this year’s band camp are being organised.  We hope your children enjoy their experience at camp – especially all the Year 3s who will be joining us for the first time.  Very exciting!

Parents, please ensure your children are at Elanora (as per the band camp newsletter that you should have received via email) no later than 8am on Saturday morning with two changes of warm clothes, overnight gear, their instruments, music and music stands – all marked clearly with names.

Supervising parents, please make sure you arrive promptly for your roster duty and ensure that you have arranged for siblings to be cared for elsewhere during your rostered time.

Everyone is welcome to join us for the concerts on Sunday afternoon.  Times and locations again are as follows:

JUNIOR BAND- MAIN HALL 1.15pm -1.45pm

SENIOR BAND- WILLIAM ARNOTT LODGE 2pm-2.30pm

CONCERT BAND- MAIN HALL  2.45pm – 3.15pm

After each band performs children are able to depart with parents and our pack-up transport teams will start moving our band equipment back to school.

Any last-minute questions, please get in contact with your individual band coordinators.  We look forward to a successful camp, which, among other things, will ensure the children are well-prepared for all the band competitions to follow this term!

Sharon Mitchell & Simone Bird, Overall Band Coordinators

Free Child Restraint Seminar

North Sydney Coucil together with Mobility Engineering are holding a FREE 2-hour seminar on child restraint laws and how to choose the right restraint for your child.

Friday 4 May – tomorrow

Time: 10am to 12 noon

Where: Ros Crighton Pavilion, North Sydney Council

Bookings: 9936-8246

Kids Up Front Drama Class is being offered for the first time this year at Neutral Bay Public School Multipurpose room on Friday afternoons – Years 3 to 6 – 4:30 to 5:30 pm

You can register online www.kidsupfront.com.au for a free trial class (with no obligation) before you enrol. The program aims to develop Confidence, Creativity and Communication Skills through a variety of improvisation and drama games. For further details call Karin on 9953 4040.

Positive Parenting Program

Consists of 3 seminars over 3 Thursdays where parents learn how to encourage their children to learn skills which promote children’s health, development and wellbeing.  Aimed at parents of children aged 0-10years.  Lecture style presentation and it does not allow for children to attend that are over 6 months and mobile.

Childcare is not provided.

1. Power of Positive Parenting Thursday 24 May 10.30 to 12 noon
2. Raising competent, confident children Thursday 31 May 10.30am – 12 noon
3. Raising resilient children Thursday 7 June 10.30am – 12 noon.

Location: Lane Cove Library, Library Walk, 139A Longueville Road, Lane Cove.

Bookings are essential.

Call Centacare on 8425-8700 or email naremburnfamilyservice@dbb.org.au

Final Newsletter for Term 1

As we do not produce a newsletter in the last week of term, this is the final one for Term 1.

My thanks to all the teachers for a great first term, to all our parents for their support and assistance, to our admin staff and to our fantastic Mr Michael.

Congratulations to all our children who have worked so hard and made such great progress over the past ten weeks.

I would like to wish all our families a very relaxing and restful holiday period and look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Tuesday 24^th April.

Parents may wish to note some early Term 2 dates.  A Term 2 Calendar will be posted on the website.

May

Thursday 3^rd – Years 3-6 Cross Country Carnival – Forsyth Park

Saturday 4^th – Sunday 5^th – Band Camp

Wednesday 9^th – P&C Meeting

Tuesday 15^th, Wednesday 16^th and Thursday 17^th – NAPLAN Testing Year 3 and Year 5

Tuesday 15^th – Peter Coombes visits Kindergarten

Tuesday 22^nd – Writers’ Festival

Wednesday 23^rd to Friday 25^th – Milson Island Camp Year 5

Advance Notice

We will be joining our local Harbourside schools – Mosman, Beauty Point, Middle Harbour, Cammeray and Mosman High School – for a combined conference on the last day of Term 2, Friday 29^th June.  This will replace our School Development Day which is scheduled for the first day of Term 3, Monday 16^th July.

Term 2 commences – Tuesday 24^th April

Term 2 finishes – Thursday 28^th June

Term 3 commences – Monday 16^th July

Term 3 finishes – Friday 21^st September

Term 4 commences – Monday 8^th October

Term 4 finishes – Wednesday 19^th December

Grandfriends Morning

We are looking forward to seeing all our Grandfriends at school tomorrow to celebrate Seniors Week.  Our program will commence at 9:30 with a concert in the hall.  We have extended the time for class visits to provide opportunities for our visitors to visit more than one class if they wish.  The morning will conclude with morning tea back in the hall.

Many thanks to the current Kinder parents for their organisation of the morning tea.

Please let your Grandfriends know the name of your child’s class eg KT, 2W etc.  We will have office staff, teachers and our Captains on hand to assist our visitors to locate classrooms.

Thank you to the teachers, Miss Muston, our Captains, Band and String groups for their hard work with the concert.

Dancesports – Year 5

This year for the first time we have been invited to participate in Dancesports.  This program is very popular in Sydney Area and Southern Sydney primary schools.  We are the first Northern Sydney school to be involved.  It is a children’s Dancing With the Stars type program in which the children [only Year 5 children involved] learn upbeat dances – Jive, Cha Cha, Tango, etc.  They will have a number of opportunities to perform with a competition at Homebush in September.  They will be taught in Friday sports time by a professional dancer who was actually involved in the Dancing With the Stars TV show.  There is a limit of 30 children from each school in the program.  

We had more than 60 children apply and have had to draw names out of a hat to allocate places.  The process was explained to all children when the expressions of interest were distributed.  Many thanks to Miss Starr for her organisation.  Congratulations to our Dancesports  boys and girls.  We look forward to your first performance!

Winter Uniform – Changeover

We usually change to winter uniform after the Queen’s Birthday long weekend – Tuesday 12^th June.  However, if the weather is cool next term children are able to wear winter uniform.

Many thanks to our Uniform Shop coordinators who have ensured that we have supplies of winter uniform items and who have been so busy in the Uniform Shop all term.

Combined Scripture Services

Our combined Easter Scripture Services will take place in usual scripture times next Wednesday 4^th April in the Hall.  Jewish and Ethics classes will be held as usual.  Children who do not usually attend scripture classes are invited to the services, as are parents.

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• ·         Vic Barbeler [Charles 6B and Sebastian 1DK] who is working with the Year 1 children and the teachers making wonderful papier-mâché piñatas.  Ms Barbeler is a professional visual artist.  We are grateful to her for sharing her time and expertise with us.  The children are enjoying every minute!  Many thanks!
• ·         Miss Walsh 2W is not only a wonderful class teacher but she has been asked by the swimming teachers at Lane Cove Aquatic Centre to teach one of our Year 2 swimming groups.  Beyond the call of duty!  Thank you Miss Walsh for being prepared to get into the water and teach swimming!  You are a star!
• ·         Harrison Wild 3H who has had a super season at Northern Suburbs Little Athletics earning places in the Zone and Regional competitions for 70m, 100m, 200m and the State Relay.  He won a medal in the Club Multi Event.  Great work Harrison!
• ·         The Kindergarten Coordinators who have organised tomorrow’s Grandfriends Morning Tea.  Many thanks Ladies, and thanks also to all parents who are supplying the food.  This is always a very special event.

ICAS Competitions – Last chance for Y3-6 children!

The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) competitions notes need to be returned to me by TOMORROW – Friday 30^th March. A copy of the note can be downloaded from the notes page on our school website: http://www.neutralbay-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/notes/

Owen Taylor, Deputy Principal

Young Leaders’ Day

There was a buzz when I jumped out of bed this morning. “Young Leaders Day” today and I was sure to get up early to go to the Entertainment Centre. I was going with my good friend Josiah Zanardo, my classmate Alice Bishop and other classmate Evie Maslen. When I got there, there were 6500 kids wanting to take part in “Young Leaders Day”. There were many speakers including Ahn Do, Tom Harley (an AFL sports star) and the surfing scientist! One of the stand-outs was comedian Ahn Do, who told us humorously about his story about being a refugee and how he got to Australia. I felt somewhat inspired by him and the way he told us to look at the positives and to dream big. He told us a short story of his amazing life and apart from his voice you could hear a pin drop in the audience, as he told us his captivating story. At the end he answered the intelligent questions asked by the audience with humor and straight answers. The applause from the audience continued long after he was gone and I feel privileged to have listened to Ahn Do’s story.

Angus Carre 6M

The Surfing Scientist: Ruben Meerman

On 26th March 2012, Alice, Angus, Josiah and myself went to Young Leaders Day. There were many speakers which included Ruben Meerman. Ruben Meerman has been going to schools since 1995. He has been on many TV shows such as rollercoaster. He was a very understanding and a positive man. He enjoys taking up his time to teach and show science to schools around Australia. He explained to the students about the hole in the ozone layer. He told us that scientists all work together to stop the major crisis of the hole in the ozone layer. Ruben Meerman was a very interesting speaker to listen to and I think that he has been a great leader in his tv shows to lots of kids around the world.

Evie Maslen 6M

Ronnie Khan: Founder of OzHarvest

Ronnie Kahn, who is the founder of Oz Harvest, spoke to all the students about her charity and how she helps people around Australia that are less fortunate than us. Ronnie had the idea to collect food from restaurants, school canteens and cooking shows that were going to throw this untouched food in the bin.  Ronnie delivers this food to charities that will cook and hand out the food to the homeless and families that can’t afford food like us. Ronnie Kahn was an inspiring person to listen to.

Alice Bishop 6M

Tom Harley: Ex-AFL Player

On Monday 25th march 2012, I went to the National Young Leaders Day, along with some other students, Angus, Alice and Evie. The main idea was to inspire and build young leaders. Some people that spoke there was Mike Martin, Tom Harley, Ronni Khan, Anh Do and Ruben Meerman. The one who inspired me the most though was Tom Harley, a former AFL player for Geelong and the current general manager for Sydney AFL. One of the main messages I got from him is just be yourself and learn from your mistakes as well as others mistakes. Also he said to block out what he calls the little man inside, who tells you, you can’t do it or you’re a failure. Also he said to always have a good attitude and follow what you’re passionate about.

Josiah Zanardo, 6M

Bunnings Excursion

On Tuesday, 3/4M went to Bunnings.  We arrived on a bus.  First, we went into the car park and our guides told us about the all the rainwater they had saved.  They had saved 100,000 litres!! Next, they showed us the newest light bulbs.  They were a lot better for the environment!  Then they gave us finger buns and fruit juice.  They were very yummy!!  When it was time to go, we said good bye and got back on the bus.  It was so much fun!!

Emily and Jemima 3/4M

Year 4 Dance Workshop at Sydney Dance Company

We got to the Sydney Dance Company by car and we drove over the bridge and arrived nice and early before it started at 9.30.  Our parents had to sign us in as there were lots of children from all over New South Wales coming for the day.  Then the parents left and we went into the first studio and we all did a warm up together.

There were about 60 girls and boys and after the warm up we were divided into 3 groups and we all went into different studios. There were about five boys altogether and the one in our class could do back flips! Our first session was Hip Hop and then Contemporary and then Jazz but it was more like an acting jazz class.

Hip Hop – our teacher was Adam and he played very funky music and there were lots of Michael Jackson songs!  We didn’t have hip hop shoes, we just wore our jazz shoes for all the classes. The session lasted for about half an hour then we had a 20 minute break.

Contemporary – we had a girl teacher and she taught us a routine; we had to kick our legs very high up in the air while we were lying on the floor! The music was quite slow and we did a routine to ‘I just wanna be OK OK’!

After the Contemporary lesson we had our lunch and we made friends with a girl who was on her own from another school and we all had lunch together outside near the water because the Dance Company is on the side of Sydney Harbour.

Jazz – our teacher was called Melinda and she played ‘Nemo’ music for the ‘Going to the Beach’ drama at the end but mostly she taught us moves to go with the music.  The music was pretty fast!  We were divided into smaller groups and went off into the corners of the studio to practice some acting.

At the end of the day we got a certificate and we were picked up again by our parents at 2pm who had to sign us out.  We drove back over the bridge and got a Slushie before it was time to pick up our sisters. It was a fantastic day and our legs were hurting afterwards because we’d done so much dancing!

Evie Watts & Brittney Lu

A poem based on a national park

Noosa is in Queensland

On the Sunshine Coast

Onsite camping, people in tents.

Spectacular views from cliffs.

A beautiful national park.

Noosa has more visitors than any other national park in Australia.

A waterfall gushes strongly.

Twigs and sticks crunch under my feet.

Incredible webs spun by spiders.

Outdoors I breathe the fresh air.

Nocturnal noises disturb the night.

Awesome gum trees towering over me.

Leaves blowing in the wind.

Pristine beaches with crashing waves

Amazing bushwalks.

Reserves to protect the landscape.

Koalas in tall trees, so cute.

Georgia 3R

Grandfriend Description

My grandfriend is my grandma.  She lives across the road from the supermarket.  Her boyfriend is Max.  My grandma has brown shoulder length hair.  Her eyes are sea coloured blue.  Her skin is dark and soft.  She has a skinny short nose and light pink lips. My Grandfriends favourite colour is green.  She loves vanilla almonds and wine.  She is very brainy and wise in her mind.  She also loves wearing big beads around her neck.  She has special glasses that she very rarely wears.

I love my grandma because of her personality and kindness. She always lets us cook whatever I like.  I honestly think she will always let me stay over at her lovely house.

My grandma is the best because she is kind and nice.  She is the best.  Everything about her I love.  The End.

Lucie 2N

My grand dad is 80 something years old.  He is very fun to play with.  He also makes funny jokes.  My grand dad has a polka dot bed it is very weird. He has round glasses and fuzzy grey hair. I like to play with his hair.  My grand dad always wears a blue shirt.  He calls it his lucky shirt.  I don’t like it when he says that over again.  It gets annoying.  I love my grand dad because he is very funny.  Because I love him.  And he loves me.  My grand dad is special to me because we love each other because I am his grand daughter.

Anika 2N

Lala

Lala is very special to me.  Lala’s eyes are blue.  When she goes to the movies she wears glasses.  Lala is mum’s mum. Her hair is yellow.  My granny is the most special girl in my family.  Lala is nice and my granny gives me lollies.  She takes me to the movies and she takes me to the beach.  Lala takes me to Clown Town and I love her very much.

Tom 1B

My Grandma

My grandma is 88.  A grandma is mum’s mum.  My grandma has short curly grey hair.  She has rectangular glasses that are pink.  Beside her glasses are her ears and in her ears are pearl earrings.  Under her glasses is a middle sized nose. She has a dry mouth under her nose that is red.  Her lips are as pink as a pig.  Her skin in wrinkly.  Her necklace is as silver as a star.  Under that she has a top with flowers.   I love my grandma so so so much because she always gives me ice-cream and because she makes the best pancakes!

Rosie 1B

 Photos:

KC had fun with their 5B Buddies playing Hopscotch games from around the world on Harmony Day

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

Canteen News

Greetings from the canteen!  As in most of your homes, I’m sure, it has been a busy term in the canteen.  Several new specials have been huge hits with the children, and will be back in the future.  The menu for next term will be available on the web next week, and will be uploaded to www.flexischools.com.au before the end of the term. 

The canteen WILL BE OPEN for service on the first day of the term, Tuesday 24 April.

Next week’s special is the hugely popular Hip Hot Doggie.  The children can choose to have

• ·         tomato sauce,
• ·         cheese,
• ·         both, or
• ·         neither  

when they pick the Dogs at the canteen window. 

Please note that the canteen is CLOSED on the last day of this term, so please do pack lunch and recess for your children on Thursday 5th. 

If you are able to help on Monday or Wednesday of next week, please contact Kristina on 0407 297 691 or at nbpscanteen@gmail.com

Canteen Roster

Monday Marion Gies, HELP NEEDED

Tuesday  Jane Bush, Rigel Hammond

Wednesday Jenny Dunn, HELP NEEDED

Thursday   The canteen is closed on Thursday.

Band News 

As Term 1 comes to a close we’d like to thank all band families for their support and encouragement of their children this term.  Band children have had to work hard this term, especially if they’ve come into a new band. 

Parents, please continue to encourage your children to practise their instruments over the holiday period as all the band competitions come around very fast in Term 2!

A reminder! If you haven’t yet returned your band camp forms, please do so ASAP.

Sharon Mitchell & Simone Bird, Overall Band Coordinators 

Uniform Shop

Thank you again to all of the parents who are making use of the
flexischools system to purchase uniform items.
It’s really making things easy for the volunteers and saving a lot of
time, hopefully you’re all finding that it’s an easy and efficient way to
get everything you need too! Why not get organised for next term and order
now for delivery by Friday or early next week.
Can I take this opportunity to thank all of the uniform shop volunteers
this term – it’s been a very successful year so far!
Also huge thanks goes to our uniform shop monitors, well done for a very
speedy delivery service! 

Thanks, Helen and the Uniform Shop Team

Rugby League Holiday Clinic

Kids 2 Kangaroos – Holiday Clinic at North Sydney Oval, North Sydney.

Date: Thursday 12^th April 2012

Time: 10am – 2pm

Cost: $40.00

Who: Boys and Girls, ages 5-12 years.

Each child will receive lunch [Subway and drink] instruction from qualified ARLD coaches, boot bag and mod football, kicking tee, water bottle, and a poster.

To register go to

www.arldevelopment.com.au/sydney

Click on 2012 April North Sydney Holiday Clinic and follow the prompts.

Jess Palmer on 9245-3069 has more information.

Holiday Sports Camps

Alex, from after school care, will again be running holiday sports camps at the Marie Bashir Sports Complex in Mosman. There is a three-day camp from 10-12 April and a four-day camp from 16-19 April. The camps run from 8am – 5pm and cost $60/day. You can find more information at www.musclesprouts.com.au or by calling Alex on 0422 617 726.

Ill Children – Notifying School

Parents are advised that it is not necessary to phone the school office if children are ill and absent from school for a short period.  We require a written explanation of absence from parents for any absence.  Prolonged, serious illnesses or notifiable diseases do need to be reported to the school, and a note sent on the child’s return to school to the class teacher.

E-mails cannot be accepted as explanation of absence.

The Home School Liaison Officer [HSLO] visits the school each term to examine our class rolls and does follow up on any unexplained absences.

Please do not send sick children to school.  This is unfair for your child, his/her classmates and the teacher.  Viruses spread very quickly in schools!

Grandfriends Day

We will have a final rehearsal for our Grandfriends Concert next Thursday at 9.30am in the Hall.  K-2 parents are most welcome to join us for this rehearsal.  We are looking forward to seeing all our Grandfriends next Friday.  The concert will commence at 9.30am in the Hall.  The morning will conclude at 11.30am.  Many thanks to the Kindergarten Class Coordinators for all their work in organising the Morning Tea.

Parent Letterboxes

New locked letterboxes have been placed outside the school office for parent mail for the P&C and for the Uniform Shop.  Please use these for communications.  The P&C Treasurer and Uniform Shop coordinators will empty the mail boxes regularly.

Many thanks.

Uniforms

I would like to remind parents to ensure that children come to school in full school uniform every day.  The parent community at this school has endorsed our uniform policy and we are very proud of our children, who look so smart.  We regularly receive compliments about our children’s appearance when they are on excursions, travelling on public transport and “out and about”.

We are noticing a number of children wearing white runners, caps and leggings/dance pants which are not part of our uniform.  White or coloured runners should only be worn on sports days.

Many thanks for your cooperation with this.

Wearing school uniforms does promote school spirit and a culture of “belonging”.

Orchestra Excursion

Our School Orchestra/String Group attended Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons [Primary Proms Series] Concert at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday.  Our thanks to Sharmila Soorian for her organisation.  This year our Orchestra has expanded.  The members are: Grace Underhill, Sophie Zhang, Marlena Stanhope, Gemma Chua-Tran, Jennifer Wang, Elizabeth Wong, Alexandra Wong, Billie Clow, Anna de Lange, Isabella de Lange, Gus Miller, Claire Stephens, Oscar Moore, Rani Thomas, Elias Lapitan, Katie Wightwick, Taj Astill, Arkey Astill, Alanna Manfredini, Rainbow Yang, Dylan Malthouse and Elodie Roumanoff.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Teachers have sent home Requests for Interview forms with the children this week.  Interviews will be held in the last week of term.  Please return these forms with preferred timeslots ASAP to class teachers.  Parents will be notified of interview times next week.

Note These interview times are approximately 10 minutes.  Parents who wish to make a longer appointment should do so at another time.

Parents who have already seen teachers this term do not need to return the form.

All parents can be assured that teachers will always request an interview with parents if they have concerns about a child’s learning, behaviour or social development.

Combined Easter Scripture Service

A combined Easter Scripture Service will be held on Wednesday 4^th April in the Hall in the regular Scripture Class times.  Children who do not usually attend scripture are able to attend and parents are most welcome.

School Council

Our first School Council meeting for 2012 will take place tomorrow morning at 8:00am.  The council comprises staff, parent and community representatives.  Parents who wish to bring matters before council should contact the parent representatives or Chairman, Mr Martijn Wilder.  Please see the school website for details.

Special Swimming Scheme

Next week our Year 2 children will participate in the Special Swimming Scheme conducted by the Department of Education and Communities.  This is an intensive learn to swim program which aims to develop water confidence and basic safety and survival skills.  Our children will attend lessons at Lane Cove Aquatic Centre.  There is no charge for these lessons – parents pay for pool entry and bus fares only. My thanks to Miss Walsh and the Year 2 teachers for their organisation of this most worthwhile scheme.

Class Lists – Parent Contact Details

Class lists with parent contact details have been sent home as they are completed.  Many thanks to Gail Minns who has coordinated this – a big job!  Three classes do not have class coordinators! 2I and 5K and 6B.

If you are a parent in any of these classes, I would encourage you to volunteer as a class coordinator.  It is not an arduous task!  We can’t have orphaned classes!

Diary Dates

March

Monday 26^th – Friday 30^th – Special Swimming Scheme Year 2

Thursday 29^th – Rehearsal for Grandfriends Concert at 9:30am

Friday 30^th – Grandfriends Concert at 9:30am

April

Wednesday 4^th – Combined Scripture Service

Thursday 5^th – Last day of Term 1

Tuesday 24^th – School resumes

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• ·         Edwin Chung 6B whose Operation Art painting was selected to be exhibited as part of the World’s  Biggest Classroom initiative. Edwin’s piece was titled The Colourful Lady.  He wrote “I thought about my mum and used her for inspiration”.  His painting of his mum has been printed on T-shirts to commemorate this exhibition.  Great work Edwin!
• ·         Angus Carre 6M, Tom Lockhart 6T and Oscar Bird 6M have been selected as members of the Sydney North PSSA Boys Cricket team.  They will play in the NSW State Competition. Congratulations and best wishes boys!
• ·         Gail Minns [P&C Fundraising Coordinator] Dana Casimati [Year 3 Coordinator] and Jane Wilder [Year 4 Coordinator] for all their work in organising last Friday’s picnic.  It was a great night – the children all certainly had great fun at school with their friends.
• ·         Eliza Wright who was selected for the  PSSA North Shore Warringah soccer team last night and will be playing in the Sydney North gala day on April 3.  Congratulations Eliza.

ICAS Competitions

The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) competitions notes need to be returned to me by next Friday 30^th March. Each test costs $7 and there is no opportunity for late entries. A copy of the note can be downloaded from the notes page on our school website:

http://www.neutralbay-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/notes/

Owen Taylor, Deputy Principal

Year 2 Swimming 

The Department of Education Swimming Scheme is due to commence this Monday 26th March. The scheme is conducted over five days at Lane Cove Aquatic Centre. A reminder note has been sent home to all the swimmers outlining what they need to bring for next week.  

Year 2 Class Teachers

Leadership Camp 2012

On the first day, we did some initiative courses. They involved a lot of teamwork, communication and cooperation. To finish these courses, the teams needed to think outside of the box and think how to give every person an important job to do to help complete the courses. I thought these courses were very enjoyable as they were challenging, involved everyone and had many obstacles that we, as a team, needed to find a way out of. During the course of the activities, we all made many friends.

Kye

Kye, Eliza, Lucy and myself had the privilege of going to the Middle Harbour and Peninsula Leadership camp at Collaroy on Monday and Tuesday. There, we learnt about speech writing, leadership styles, problem solving and the values of cooperation. We also did exercises concerning biodiversity and health and safety.

Personally, I enjoyed the public speaking and speech writing aspects of the camp the most and I believe I created much mirth with one of my impromptu speeches…
Another enjoyable activity was the Talent Contest where Kye, Sam (from Cammeray Public School SRC) and I had a blast performing a theatre sports piece.
It was a fantastic camp where we all got to meet many new and interesting people.

Alex

On the 19^th March 2012, the four school captains, Kye Milne, Alex Frisina, Lucy Woodcock and Eliza Wright went to a regional leadership camp. The camp focused on remembering information, teamwork, public speaking and listening as well as talking.

When we arrived we were all shocked to find that we hadn’t been placed in the same groups or cabins!

The reason for this soon became apparent when they told us that if we were sitting next to someone we knew, we were to move immediately. As leaders we were expected to meet new people. We all reluctantly moved and then we played some awkward “icebreaker” games. In one of the games Lucy was an example and the lady showed what personal space is by getting into the area around her. She started touching Lucy’s face and saying that they should be best friends. After this scary experience Lucy was disturbed but the lady’s actions were redeemed by a prize lolly.

Next we split into our groups and some groups did speech while others did the challenge and initiative courses. Our groups did the challenge and initiative. For the courses we had to work as teams to solve problems. We had to split into groups of two and one person had to wear a blind fold. Then we had to make our way through a huge maze with partners guiding us only using the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 (which we had previously arranged into a code). We also had to do both mental and physical challenges including rope swings and an activity where we had to get the whole team over a wall. Eliza stepped on a boy’s face.

At lunch we all came together again and everyone brought a new friend.

Eliza

On the second day of the leadership camp, we focused on what type of leader we wanted to be and what we wanted to be remembered by. In this session we got split into groups and we had to nominate a team leader from each group. Once the team leaders were chosen, they got taken outside and talked to while the rest of us waited for them.

When the team leaders returned to their group, they told us that we were to make a model of anything we wanted. At the start everyone was a bit confused but the purpose became clear once we had finished our models.

Once we had finished the leaders came out the front and told us what this activity was about. Each leader had been put into one of three different types of leaders, slack, bossy and fair. They had to act like the type of leader they were chosen to be. Our teacher asked our opinions on how you liked your leader.

After this we all had to decide what type of leader we wanted to be and to make sure we tried our hardest to be that leader.

Lucy

Year 3 and 3/4M’s Excursion to the Observatory and The Rocks

On Tuesday 13 March, 3/4M and Year 4 went on an excursion to the Sydney Observatory and The Rocks Walking Tour to look at Sydney’s history and learn more about Space.

On The Rocks Walking Tour we saw many historical places such as the Garrison church [the first one in Sydney], Cadman’s Cottage, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.  The Garrison church was stunning. Even though it was there for a long time, it was still in good shape.  I have to admit that Cadman’s Cottage did smell a bit bad but was pretty interesting.  The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge was just as it always was but we stopped a few times to do some sketches.  For recess we sat on the Observatory Hill.  It was so delightful as the warm breeze blew past my face.

I was so excited to enter the Observatory.  I am so happy that I was in Miss Ryder’s group.  We got a guide called Allan.  I absolutely loved watching the time ball drop and looking in the telescope. I saw the sun and Venus.  Did you know that there are black spots on the sun?  Well, I didn’t.  It’s one of the things I learned.  The black spots on the sun are called magnetic storms.  It was so fun in the movie theatre and the planetarium.  I learned how to find some constellations, how they can save your life, a bit more constellations and the legends to them all.

I absolutely adored our excursion!  It was so fun!  I definitely recommend going there again.

By Lia

On Tuesday 13 March, 3/4M and Year 4 went to the Sydney Observatory for an excursion and even went for a tour.

First of all Year 4 and 3/4M went on a tour where we sketched some things like Cadman’s Cottage and the Harbour Bridge.  Also we went to Cadman’s Cottage to have a tour where we saw lots of old things like drains.  We also got to go to the Observatory.  We got to look through a telescope to see the sun and Venus.  Then we got to see a space movie in 3D.

I thought that the telescope was fabulously interesting how red the sun was and the tour was great.  How amazing Cadman’s Cottage is. The 3D movie was wicked in 3D.

I think that you would love how amazing and interesting the excursion was.  You should definitely go there.

By Declan

Yesterday 3/4M plus all the Year 4 classes went to the Sydney Observatory and The Rocks on an excursion.

The Rocks had some very old places like Cadman’s Cottage and the Garrison church that were built in the 1800s.  Cadman’s Cottage was originally built for I think the Sydney Navy General or someone important.  The Sydney Observatory was absolutely brilliant.  Our group went to the telescope first and we saw the sun and Venus.  The sun had teeny tiny sun spots and solar flares coming out of it.  Venus was so tiny that it only took up about 20% of the telescope.  After the telescope we went to a 3D cinema and we saw how UFOs could be fake.

I loved watching the movie with 3D effects.  The 3D effects where probably the best I have ever seen!  The Rocks were absolutely amazing with all the historical monuments and buildings!

I would recommend the Sydney Observatory to everyone including 2-year-olds to 201-year-olds.  I absolutely adored the Sydney buildings.

By Oliver

Bilbies Should Replace the Bunny!

I declare that bilbies should replace the bunny.  Don’t you think so too? Firstly, bilbies have longer ears, tails and snouts so you get more chocolate! Secondly, bilbies are native animals.  And rabbits are feral animals.  We should support our native animals.  Finally, there are over 200 million rabbits in Australia. They eat food that bilbies need to eat to survive. In conclusion, we need to save the bilby.  Replace the Easter bunny now!

Hunter 3H

The Great Barrier Reef

Whoosh, whoosh

White tipped waves

Washing and

Whirling along.

Divers diving

Down deeply

Into the deep deep

Reef.

Crisp, colourful coral

Climbing everywhere.

Fleeting fish

Fighting for

Food.

Snap, spap

Goes the

Shark’s jaws

As he eats the

Frightened fish.

Clickety, clack

Go the crabs

Claws all over

The rocks.

Dolphins diving and

Darting through the

Deep blue crystal

Clear water.

Wearing shales watching

And resting after travelling around the world.

Shh, shh the sun has set.

All animals are asleep and the

Tourists have gone home and

Left the reef all alone. Shhhhhh.

Ushnami 3H

i-Pads and Buddies

Last week buddy classes 1G and 6M let their imaginations run wild!  Using the Year 6 i-Pads, the children collaborated on a fairy tale. Before creating their stories the children planned out their setting, characters and main events with pencils and paper. Then they used a story creation app to build their fairy tale with pictures and sound.  The Year 6 students really enjoyed demonstrating some educational uses of their new i-Pads, and were amazed at how quickly the younger buddies picked up on learning with them.

Photo Section

Family Picnic

Cricket Knockout Team

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

Canteen News

Greetings from the canteen!  Some of the children have been enjoying the delicious pesto pasta salad, made with the beautiful basil grown in the Ben Boyd Rd garden beds.  Many thanks to Mr. Michael and our junior gardeners who helped plant and look after the basil – it has been wonderful to keep the production so local!  We hope to do more in the future to incorporate the herbs and veggies grown around the school.

I would like to thank all of the new volunteers, as well of all of the steady ranks who answer my requests to help out.  We have had the most amazing group of people in the canteen in recent weeks – one of the best things about the canteen is getting to know the fascinating people you may see around drop off or pick up, but never get to speak to.  And each person who steps forward to help for a day or even an hour or two is contributing to the very special community which is Neutral Bay Public School, and helping to keep our canteen achieve the mission of providing fresh, affordable food.  Many thanks!

Next week’s special is Freaky Fried Rice, and  the roster is below.  Please call Kristina on 0407 297 691 or email at nbpscanteen@gmail.com if you can help on  Thursday or Friday.

Canteen Roster

Monday Makiko Tokashiki, Leslie Wait, Ping Xu

Tuesday Sally Donnelly, Rigel Hammond

Wednesday Renuka, Liz Skinner

Thursday Melinda Kelly, HELP NEEDED

Friday Kate Leveaux, Jane Tham, HELP NEEDED FOR 2 HOURS

Band News 

Our next big event is band camp to be held at Elanora on May 5 & 6.  A white A4 envelope containing all paperwork for camp was sent home with band children last week.  Please ensure the paperwork is completed and returned inside the envelope to the school office or to the band folders in the hall by the end of the week to ensure your child doesn’t miss out, very importantly, on choosing to share a room with his/her friends!  

Sharon Mitchell & Simone Bird, Overall Band Coordinators 

Uniform Shop

Second Hand Sale

Many thanks to everyone who came along to the second hand sale at the uniform shop last Tuesday.  We had lots of positive feedback about the sale from many parents who came along – hopefully all of you who did manage to pop along were able to find what you were looking for at a bargain!

Thank you to all of the families who have donated their pre loved items this term – it’s great to 

be able to sell on such good quality items to other families at the school.

A huge thanks also needs to go to our volunteers – Irene Bottomley, Erica Kidston, Marion Braslin, 

Eilidh Kennedy and Maria Giminez, who gave up their time to organise the stock before and after

the sale and were there with a smile on Tuesday morning to help parents find what they were looking for.

Flexischools

Ordering through Flexischools is proving to be a success and hopefully all of you who have made use of the system so far have found it to be an extremely easy and efficient way of purchasing uniform items.

If you still haven’t tried it yet, go to www.flexishchools.com.au and see how easy it is!

Any orders made through Flexischools are usually delivered the following day.  If for some reason you do not receive your order, promptly please let us know as soon as possible and we will follow it up.  You can contact the uniform shop by email at nbpsuniformshop@gmail.com

It’s easy to return or exchange any items bought through Flexischools – simply leave the items at the office with a note and we will organise it for you. 

Time to start thinking about keeping warm?

Just to let you know that we have plenty of fleece jumpers, vests and sweatshirts in stock – why not put your order into Flexischools now and avoid the winter rush!

The raincoats have been very popular so far this term and we’ve still got lots of stock – so order now ready for those wet mornings too! 

Thanks, Helen and the Uniform Shop Team

School Picnic

There was a great turnout for the picnic. Thanks to all those who attended for making it such a nice event.  Special thanks to the Year 2 and Year 4 Class Reps and Coordinators for their time organising the event.

We apologise for not having enough sausages – we will be able to plan better next time!

There were a few things left behind - they can be found in the school’s Lost Property

P&C

From the Principal                                               

Family Picnic – Tomorrow – 5.30 – 8.00pm

Reminder

• ·         Friday 16^th March 5:30 – 8:00pm
• ·         Sausage Sizzle $3.00 or
• ·         BYO Everything!

Looking forward to seeing all our families at tomorrow evening’s picnic.  Many thanks to Gail Minns [P & C Fundraising and Social Coordinator], Year 4 parents who are on BBQ duty and Year 2 parents who are supervising the Disco.

Parent Drinks

Many thanks to Gail Minns, Mona Martyn-Smith and all the Year 5 team who organised last Friday’s drinks.  It was a most enjoyable and successful school function.

2011 Annual School Report

The 2011 Annual Report has been posted on the school website.  I hope parents will take a few minutes to read the report.  My thanks to Mr Taylor for his work in putting this report together.  Hard copies are available at the office.

Asthma Management Plans and Anaphylaxis Action Plans

Please ensure that you have provided the office with current [2012] Asthma Management and Anaphylaxis Action Plans.  Our trained office staff need updated information re dosages etc to administer medication to your children.

Puffers should be kept in the school office and not in children’s bags.  Children should use puffers under adult supervision.  Many thanks for your assistance with this.

Area Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to all our swimmers who represented the Northern Sydney Zone at the Area Carnival at Homebush on Monday.  We are very proud of all our swimmers.

Our star swimmer was Tom Lockhart:

1^st – 200 Individual Medley, 2^nd – 100m Freestyle, 2^nd – 50m Backstroke, 2^nd – 50m Butterfly and

4^th – 50m Freestyle.

Tom will now go on to the State Swimming Championships!  Great work and best of luck, Tom!

Children Arriving at School Before 8.45am

I need to remind parents that teacher supervision does not commence until 8:45 each morning.  A number of children are arriving well before this time.  Leaving children in the playground unsupervised is unacceptable and dangerous.  Children who are left at school by parents before 8:45am will be taken by school staff to Before School Care and parents will be billed.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me if parents have any issues or concerns.

Grandfriends Day

Bright yellow invitations to Grandfriends Day were sent home via pupil post earlier this week.  You may wish to pass this on to special visitors, or let them know the details.

Date: Friday 30^th March

Time: 9:30 – 11.00am

Kindergarten parents cater for the morning tea for this function.

Please note: We realise that many children do not have grandparents living locally.  Children are able to “share” visitors for the class visits and teachers will facilitate this.  We will invite the residents of local retirement homes.  Because of hot tea and coffee, the children do not have morning tea with the visitors in the hall.

This function is for Grandfriends only.  Parents have many other opportunities to visit us.  A rehearsal for parents will be held on Thursday 29^th March at 9:30am.

Diary Dates

March

Friday 16^th – School Family Picnic

Monday 19^th – Selective Schools Parent Information Session 8.30am M P Room

Monday 26^th – Friday 30^th – Special Swimming Scheme Year 2

Thursday 29^th – Rehearsal for Grandfriends Concert at 9:30am

Friday 30^th – Grandfriends Concert at 9:30am

April

Wednesday 4^th – Combined Scripture Service

Thursday 5^th – Last day of Term 1

Tuesday 24^th – School resumes

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• ·         All our swimmers who represented the school and Northern Sydney at Monday’s Area Swimming Carnival!  Great swimming everyone!
• ·         Brittany Lu 4S and Evie Watts 4HR have been selected to participate in a special Arts Unit Year 4 Dance Camp to be held at the Sydney Dance Company Studios at Walsh Bay on Friday 23^rd March.  This is a great opportunity for these young dancers!  Congratulations girls!
• ·         Best wishes to the members of the Northern Sydney Regional Primary Band from our school – Juliette Davies 6J, Anika Thakur 6T, Ella Ryan 6T and Kye Milne 6T – who will be performing at Pittwater High School on Sunday 1^st April.  This is their first performance for 2012.  Good Luck!

ICAS Competitions

We sent out notes for the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) competitions earlier this week (formerly known as the UNSW competitions) to interested children. Each year we offer children in Years 3-6 the opportunity to sit for these externally-set competitions. We offer three papers: Science, Maths and English. The tests are held in June, July and August but we need to have our numbers finalised by the end of this term. Each test costs $7 and there is no opportunity for late entries. All notes and money need to be returned to me, not the class teacher.

Entry is optional and regular lessons will continue as usual for those children who choose not to participate. Further information is available from: www.eaa.unsw.edu.au

Leadership Camp

This Monday and Tuesday, our four school captains Alex, Eliza, Kye and Lucy will be attending the Middle Harbour and Peninsula Network Primary Schools Leadership Camp at Collaroy. The children will participate in a range of activities including: speech writing, problem solving, team building, challenge courses and leadership styles. I’m sure the camp will be a stimulating and rewarding experience and I look forward to hearing all about it when the kids return.

Owen Taylor, Deputy Principal

Sporting Equipment – Coles Vouchers

Fantastic news! Remember all those Coles vouchers you collected in their thousands last year?

Well, all the sports equipment we were able to order from collecting the vouchers has finally arrived and is ready to use.

Much of it will be used at recess and lunch in the playground and on the grass area and the remainder will be added to our well used sports shed for sport and fitness lessons.

So a very big thank you to all the people who spent time collecting vouchers and seeing they got to school. Thank you to all the parents who spent so much time counting and collating those piles of vouchers for a number of days and weeks. Finally thank you to our P and C officers who coordinated this whole process.

It is good to know all your efforts have been worthwhile. The equipment is gratefully received and rest assured it will be put to good use and much pleasure and learning will be gained by the children.

Rob Kessler, Class Teacher

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2012 is now up and running. All students in K-6 wishing to participate in the challenge will need to register via the website https://products.schools.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html.

Booklists and student reading records are available online. 

More information regarding the Premier’s Reading Challenge can be found at the above address.

Janine Mazey, Teacher/Librarian

 Photo Section

KS have been working really hard in Literacy Groups. Look at how much fun we’re having!

Kindyland Descriptions

On Wednesday morning after Scripture 2 I  went to the Kindyland.  Before we went down to the Kindyland we had to fold a piece of paper 4 times than open it out and in one square draw an eye for seeing, hand for feeling, draw an ear for hearing, everyone had to do a line in the middle of a square for movement and smell.  I heard trees and leaves blowing in the wind.  Birds cheeping.  Cars driving past.  Birds having a chat. I saw colourful equipment.  Children playing loudly.  Different types of cars going past.  Bumpy tree bark and grassy grass.  I smelt  fresh leaves.  Muddy sand. I slid on the slide.  I wish I was still in Kindergarten.

by Grace 2 I

On Wednesday morning 2 I went down to Kindyland to describe what we see, feel, hear, smell and see move.  Kindyland is a place where people about the age of 4-5 first start school.

In Kindyland I felt the wind blowing softly.  I smelt a really smelly toilet and all the fresh air. At Kindyland I heard the big tree swaying. I also felt the rough green grass.

I found so many describing words I didn’t get to play.

by Harry 2 I

On Wednesday 2 I went to Kindyland as part of their description writing.  Kindyland is a place where Kindergarten children go to school at Neutral Bay Public School.  I saw dark green grass, dangerous climbing rocks, long monkey bars and purple and blue circles.  I felt smooth sand, round grass, wooden logs, scratchy metal and spiky sticks.  I heard whistling wind, engines roaring, birds tweeting and children.  I wish I stayed there.

by Wesley 2 I

On Wednesday Miss Irvine and her gang set off to go to Kindyland.  Kindyland is a place for Kindys to go to at Neutral Bay Public School.  At Kindergarten I heard wobbly webbly metal banging and I smelt lovely perfumed white flowers.  The fresh air was really clear and I thought it felt nice.  Gold precious sand was really a surprise and the beautiful browny-golden trees were beautiful standing out in the background.

by Chloe 2 I

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

Canteen News

Greetings from the canteen!  We are really enjoying the beautiful new aprons and oven gloves which one of our new volunteers, Sarah O’Callaghan, provided for us.  The fabrics are so lovely – we’re feeling very special indeed!  These lovely items can be found at www.mozi.com.au , and I know that the canteen team will be stocking up on them as gifts (if we can manage to give them away).

Several days of sun have meant moosies and juicies cooling down lots of children with red faces.  The children have really been enjoying the hamburgers this week, especially since we haven’t served them for a while.  Next week’s special is a pesto pasta salad, made with delicious, freshly made pesto so you know there isn’t even a trace of nuts. 

You will notice that next week’s roster has several opportunities to come in for a day, or even a few hours.  No cooking experience is necessary, and your children will love to see you over the counter!  Please contact Kristina on 0407 297 691 or at npbscanteen@gmail.com if you can help out.

Canteen Roster

Monday – Anna Keato, Sally Dowling

Tuesday – HELP NEEDED, HELP NEEDED

Wednesday – Fiona Willington, HELP NEEDED

Thursday – Kanako Malthouse, HELP NEEDED

Friday – Jane Tham, Marion Braslin, Linda Mather 2 hours.

P&C School Family Picnic – Friday 16 March16, 5:30-8.00pm

Perfect opportunity for school community to connect!

School premises (if rainy weather under the Cola)

Sausage sizzle stand at the school and lots of takeaway places in the neighbourhood

Disco music for the children to dance to

Look forward to seeing most of you there,

P&C

North Sydney Brothers Rugby League

North Sydney Brothers RL Club is looking for extra players in the Under 6s, 7s, 8s & 9s age groups. It costs $80.00 to register which includes socks, shorts, jersey, 2012 NRL Season Pass & player insurance and games are played on a Saturday. If you would like to join a great family-orientated club & have lots of fun, please register by calling

Annette Hema on: 0404 610 048 or email: nsbros@hotmail.com or visit their website: www.nsbrothers.com.au

Needed: Volunteer Ethics Teachers at Neutral Bay Public School

Ethics Teachers typically have a relevant degree and/or teaching qualification, facilitation experience, classroom experience or previously worked with young people.

If you have an open-minded, inquiring outlook, like to listen and are interested in helping young people to think about ethics:

please email Susie Ashton-Davies  susie@davies2.com or phone 0419 462 365.

For more information about Primary Ethics www.primaryethics.com

Grandfriends Morning – Advance Notice – Friday 30^th March at 9:30am

Each year we celebrate Seniors Week by hosting a morning at school for our special visitors.  We will present a concert in the Hall, class visits and a morning tea.  Invitations will be sent home next week with the children.  These can be passed on to grandparents/senior family friends or neighbours.  This is not a function for parents who have many other opportunities to visit the school.  If your child does not have a special visitor who is able to come to school, we will organise “to share” with another child in the same class.  Please note that we will be inviting parents to the concert rehearsal to be held the previous day – Thursday 29^th March at 9:30am.

All children in K-2 will perform in the concert along with Senior Band, String Group and Choirs.

Years 3-6 will perform in the Education Week Concert.

Welcome Drinks

The teachers and I are looking forward to seeing parents at tomorrow evening’s Welcome Drinks.  Our thanks in advance to Mona Martyn-Smith and the Year 5 parents for their organisation of the function.  Tickets will be available at the door.

Family Picnic – Friday 16^th March 5:30 – 8:00pm

A flyer advertising the Family Picnic will be sent home tomorrow.  This is always a lovely night – both informal and friendly.  Bring a rug, picnic chairs and your own food.  There will be a sausage sizzle. The children have a wonderful time and the parents can enjoy a relaxed social occasion.

The flyer can be downloaded here.

Opportunity Class Intake – 2013

From next year, we will fill one Year 5 Opportunity Class, not two, as we have done in the past.  The following year, 2014, we will have one Year 5 and one Year 6 Opportunity Class at Neutral Bay.  The decision to limit our Opportunity Classes to two has been made by the Department of Education and Communities due to our large student numbers and space constraints.  Two new opportunity classes will be located at Balgowlah Heights Public School – one to commence in 2013 and one in 2014. Only 4 of the 74 schools with opportunity classes have 4 classes – the others all have 2 classes.

With more than half our intake of OC children living on the other side of the Spit Bridge – Manly, Seaforth, Harbord, Allambie Heights etc. – Balgowlah Heights is a logical choice.  It is a highly regarded school with excellent extra-curricular programs eg band, dance etc.  Many of our children who come from these suburbs travel for long periods each day, often travelling in the dark in winter to participate in sport, and rehearsals for dance, band, choir etc.  I know many parents will be very pleased to be able to have a closer OC option.  Our NBPS students will have the same access to an Opportunity Class placement at our school – indeed their chances may be increased.  On average, 8-10 of our NBPS children are placed in opportunity classes each year.  They sit a test in July in Year 4.  This year 16 children were successful with more than the usual number of children from the Reserve List.

Many parents will feel that our own mainstream Year 5 and Year 6 children will be advantaged with this change as there will be less competition for places in PSSA sport, dance groups, choirs, bands etc.  Very often “home grown” NBPS children are not able to join these special groups because of numbers.

I believe that this is a good decision for our school.  We can’t have our own local children compromised with space issues while continuing to enrol 50-plus “out of area” children each year.

Please note: There is no intention to move our other two opportunity classes. 

I Want My Kids to Fail 

Miss Carnegie [5C] found this interesting article in the Rochester SAGE Gifted and Talented Journal.  I know many of us would endorse many of the author’s ideas!  For your consideration:   

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life.  And that is why I succeed. – Michael Jordan

The pupil who is never required to do what he cannot do, never does what he can do. – John Stuart Mill

I want my kids to fail.  That probably isn’t at the top of your list for your kids, but it should be.  Failure is one of the most important experiences they will ever have.  The road to success is paved with failure because failure teaches us how to succeed.

I want my kids to fail.  It is only when they fail that they have an opportunity to pick themselves back up.  It is only when they fail that they learn to work hard.  It is only when they fail that they learn what doesn’t work.  It is only when they fail that they learn that sometimes people need help.  It is only when they fail that they learn empathy for others struggling.   It is only when they fail that they learn that life is not always fair.  It is only when they fail that they understand what being human is.

I want my kids to fail, but not to the point that they can’t emotionally continue.  Right now I am there to help provide a pep talk, spend time working with them to succeed, and tell them that I believe they can succeed if they continue to try.  But I will not always be able to be there, so this motivation needs to become internalized so that they succeed even if no one else believes in them.

I want my kids to fail, but not to the point where they cannot afford to feed, shelter, and clothe themselves.  While they are under my care is a time that the consequences of failure are not threatening to their health and welfare.  This is the time to learn through failure how to succeed.

I want my kids to fail in the classroom.  This is true education!  I don’t want them to believe that success is easy, but when a child is bright enough to learn with minimal effort and is rewarded with A’s for that, they come to believe that hard work isn’t needed for success.  I want them to struggle, to not always succeed on the first try – or the twentieth, to learn that asking for help is not a sign of weakness or lack of intelligence, and to see that success is often a long process.

I want my kids to fail.  That is one reason we supplement their education at home.  Our kindergartner has learned through doing second grade math, which she can find challenging, that there is a strong correlation between the effort she puts in and how her quiz scores are.  When she has a rough quiz, she often chooses to do three or four practices so that her next quiz will be better.  This drive will take her further than her natural intelligence.

I want my kids to fail – and you should want yours to also.  If your children are struggling, help them to learn to succeed.  Don’t make success easy for them, but teach them the skills they need to succeed.  If your children are not struggling at times in school, ask why not.  Ask for curriculum that challenges them and makes them work for their grades.  Learning how to fail is one of the most important skills they will ever learn.

I want my kids to fail.  It is how they will learn to succeed.

Parent Interviews

Class teachers will be offering parent interviews to all parents in the last week of this term, ie 2^nd – 5^th April, to discuss individual academic and social development.  Interview times outside school hours will be offered.

OC and Selective Schools Parent Information Sessions – Reminder

Opportunity Class Session – Monday 12^th March 8:30am Multi Purpose Room

Selective Schools Session – Monday 19^th March 8:30am Multi Purpose Room.

Zone Swimming – 1^st in Zone!!

Congratulations to all our swimmers who competed in Tuesday’s Zone Swimming Carnival at Lane Cove Aquatic Centre.  We were placed 1^st!! The top swimmers in our Zone! A number of our swimmers will now go on to represent  the Zone at the Northern Sydney Area Carnival at Homebush on Monday.

Our best wishes go with: Tom Lockhart, Eliza Wright, Jonny Woodcock, Jessica Wait, Alice Bishop, Arquette Milin-Byrne, Renée Hurley, Hayden Fleming, Miles Gugger and Will Franklin.

Our thanks to Mr Thomson, Mrs Love and Mrs Keeling who accompanied and supported the children.

Diary Dates

March

Monday 12^th OC Parent Information Session 8.30am M P Room

Thursday 15^th – Selective High School Test – Year 6

Friday 16^th – School Family Picnic

Monday 19^th – Selective Schools Parent Information Session 8.30am M P Room

Monday 26^th – Friday 30^th – Special Swimming Scheme Year 2

Thursday 29^th – Rehearsal for Grandfriends Concert at 9:30am

Friday 30^th – Grandfriends Concert at 9:30am

April

Wednesday 4^th – Combined Scripture Service

Thursday 5^th – Last day of Term 1

Tuesday 24^th – School resumes

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• ·         Jun Sasagawa 6L who was selected in the PSSA Area Tennis team at the Sydney North Area Tennis trials last week.  He won every match and has been ranked the No 1 player.  He will represent the Area at the NSW PSSA State trials to be held in Canberra in May. Congratulations Jun and Good Luck!
• ·         Tom Lockhart 6T who received a special commendation by the organisers of the Zone Swimming Carnival on Tuesday.  Not only is Tom a fantastic swimmer, he impressed everyone with his amazing sportsmanship.  At the beginning of his events, he wished his fellow competitors good luck and congratulated them at the end of the races.  We are all very proud of Tom’s achievements in the pool and equally of his wonderful personal qualities!  Well done Tom – you are a true role model!
• ·         Miles Gugger 5T, Jonny Woodcock 4K and Angelina Pona 3W who were all nominated by our teachers for demonstrating team spirit and great sportsmanship at the Zone Swimming Carnival.  Great work!

Year 2 DEC Swimming Scheme – Week 10

The children attending the DEC Swimming Scheme at Lane Cove Pool in Week 10 will not miss out on the Grandfriends Day rehearsal or the concert. The DEC Swimming Scheme will be taking place in the afternoon. The Grandfriends Day rehearsal and concert will be taking place during the morning session.

Nadine Walsh, Class Teacher

Cricket Knockout 2012

On Wednesday March 7^th the school Cricket team took on our local rival Artarmon School at Forsyth Park in the first round of the NSWPSSA knockout competition.

Despite the unpredictable weather, which threatened to wash out the game if the forecasters were to be believed, the game went ahead. We were put into bat and made a somewhat slow start with our top batsmen being unfortunately run out after batting themselves in.  A middle order partnership between Tom Lockhart (28) and Hayden Fleming (19) formed the bulk of the Neutral Bay innings which amounted to 131 after the allotted 25 overs.

Artarmon’s run chase looked ominous at one stage, but once they lost their top batsman to a splendid outfield catch by Sam Watkins the result was never in doubt. Our boys fielded and bowled effectively and efficiently to bowl out Artarmon for 67 with 5 overs to spare. The wickets were shared out equally to complete an impressive and convincing team performance and victory.

It was an enjoyable match all round. The boys showed a great competitive edge. The team should be very proud of their efforts and pleasingly the game was played with admirable sportsmanship by both teams on the day. Congratulations team on an awesome display of cricket and we can only wish you good luck in the next round when the opposition will be Warrawee.

Rob Kessler, Class Teacher

At School – by 1H

On Tuesday I got ready to go to school.  After I got ready I went to school.  While I was at school we did reading groups. Second we had maths. In maths we learnt subtraction.  Next we had lunch.  After news we had sport.  After sport we had music.  Finally I went home and had dinner.  I had a great day.

By Jayden

On Tuesday I went to school with my mum.  While we were at school we did writing.  After lunch we went to computer.  After that we did news.  Then we did sport.  After sport we did music and that is the end of school.  After school I went to tennis with Sienna.  After that Sienna and I went back home at 7 o’clock.  I went to the pizza shop with my mum and dad then we went back home.

By Freya

Lost! – by 2N

Lost hulk last seen in Kmart.  His name is Death. He has 2 heads and 6 fangs.  He is 100 feet tall with horns of a mammoth.  We has 4 eyes, 2 big wings, a snake tongue and he eats clothes.  He hates naps and loves lego.  If found please call 1300 or 9865 220.  His colour is red.

By Jimmy

I’ve lost my bird.  My bird has a shiny silver beak and eats worms and sometimes he eats leaves.  His colour is brown with green and blue stripes.  He likes to play with a ball.  He has sharp claws on his feet.  He can fly 100 feet high.  His favourite food is bird seeds.  He can also be a messenger.  He has a ring on his feet.  My bird’s phone number is 0404-2368.

By Oscar

I’ve lost my thingitybob! I last saw him in Mars.  His body is green with blue huge arms.  He likes to eat unexpected strangers.  His teeth are the size of jaggers. His favourite food is twisted pizza with rotten cheese burgers.  He has black eyes because he punches them.  Do not disturb him while watching TV or he will poison you!  If you find him please ring Taj at 9953-7824.  Thank you if you do.

By Taj

National Parks

N ational parks are educational, full of excitement are interesting and you’d have the time of your   

         life

A nnoying bull ants running around the place

T he funny little crabs come out to say hello

I  see the colourful, beautiful parrots cuddle each other with their glistening feathers shining

O n the walk you hear the birds chirping like there’s no tomorrow.

N ear the dirt tracks plants grow wildly.

A man or woman talks to you about animals and plants

L ane Cove National park is really big that would be a good place to go if you want to go to a

         National Park.     

P lants sparkle because dew drops sit glistening on the flowers and leaves

A nother cool animal at the National Park that people learn about is pistol shrimps.  They look up  

         close

R  iver water ripples when the wind blows.

K  angaroos are what you see at a national park you are being quiet

S  ights are unreal.

By Isadora 3C

 Photo Section

KT are very proud of the bears they drew in directed drawing this week.

Students from KL having fun at school

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

Canteen News

Very wet greetings from the canteen!  As expected, lots of pasta Bolognese have been warming the children this week.  Next week’s special (Monday-Thursday) is a Healthy Hamburger, which consists of a lean beef patty, lettuce, tomato, and tomato sauce on a fresh bun.  We haven’t served this special for some time, so I expect that many of the children will be asking for this one!

Below is the roster for next week.   Please contact Kristina on 0407 297 691 or at npbscanteen@gmail.com if you can help on Thursday.

Canteen Roster

Monday – Kate Michell, Gwen Murdoch, Ping Xu

Tuesday – Jenni De Jager, Jane Bush

Wednesday – Renuka, Marion Gies, Henry Choo

Thursday – Milton, HELP NEEDED

Friday – Jane Wilder, Sarah O’Callaghan, Jessica Taylor-Ellis

Band News

We’re very happy to report that our band members all worked very hard on Sunday afternoon at band workshop – during both full band rehearsals and tutorial sessions.   Congratulations to each and every child who gave up their weekend afternoon to participate in what is an important ‘team’ event in the band program calendar.

A big thank you to all band parents for arranging for the children to be at school for the afternoon AND for volunteering for supervision etc to ensure smooth sailing for the duration of the workshop.   

Thank you also to our wonderful bandmasters; our individual band coordinators who have an extra load of ensuring these sorts of days come together without too many hitches and to the school for supporting the band program so well – and providing the hall and all the classrooms we need for the workshop.

If your child was unable to attend on Sunday PLEASE contact your individual band coordinator to ensure your child gets copies of music that was handed out on the day.

Sharon Mitchell & Simone Bird, Overall Band Coordinators

P&C School Family Picnic – Friday 16 March16, 5:30-8.00pm

Perfect opportunity for school community to connect!

School premises (if rainy weather under the Cola)

Sausage sizzle stand at the school and lots of takeaway places in the neighbourhood

Disco music for the children to dance to

Look forward to see most of you there,

P&C

Uniform Shop

Raincoats!! Just a reminder, given the current wet and rather chilly weather, that the uniform shop sells raincoats. 

There’s two styles to choose from: Navy or yellow jackets-in-a-bag or the more cosy Navy Raincoats with a fleece lining!

As mentioned last week the uniform shop will be holding a - 

Pre-loved Uniform Sale Tuesday 13th March  From 8am

We’ve got quite a lot of great quality 2nd hand stock so we’re going to hold a special 2nd hand sale for all you bargain  hunters out there!

We’ll display all of the items out on tables according to size, to make it easy to get your hands on what you are looking for. 

Items start from as little as $5 – so why not come along and take a look!

We’ll also be selling brand new, end of stock, girls bootleg pants at a discounted price. 

Cash is preferred on the day, to help keep queues to a minimum.

The sale will take place outside the uniform shop if it’s dry, or under the cola if it’s raining.

Flexischools

Thank you to all of those parents who have made purchases via the flexischools website so far this term – we hope you’re finding that it’s a quick and easy system – it’s certainly helping the volunteers!

Keep your eye out for new hair accessories – scrunchies and hairbands – coming soon and only available to purchase from Flexischools!

Helen and the Uniform Shop Team

Needed: Volunteer Ethics Teachers at Neutral Bay Public School

Ethics Teachers typically have a relevant degree and/or teaching qualification, facilitation experience, classroom experience or previously worked with young people.

If you have an open-minded, inquiring outlook, like to listen and are interested in helping young people to think about ethics:

please email Susie Ashton-Davies  susie@davies2.com or phone 0419 462 365.

For more information about Primary Ethics www.primaryethics.com

Report from the Canteen Sub-Committee

Paul Fraser  – Chair

Peter Girdis – Vice President  P&C

Kristina Lawton – Canteen Coordinator

Jennifer Neil-Smith -Treasurer P &C

Jane Wilder -  Canteen Volunteer

In December the P&C formed a Sub-committee of the P&C to undertake a review of the proposed renovation of the Canteen.

The Sub-committee was to focus on the Canteens needs to meet OH&S standards and potential upgrades required to meet the increased demands placed on the canteen with a growing school population and the continued development of the healthy menu program, as well as potential funding options for the renovation.

As a guideline the Committee was given the following Terms of Reference from the P&C.

1.       Determination of the functional requirements for the canteen to serve >800 students for the next five to ten years

2.       Consultation with relevant authorities /stakeholders including North Sydney Council, Department of Education Training

3.       Comparison of alternative solutions to meet those needs

4.       Development of appropriate funding model

5.       Drafting of technical specifications of preferred solution

6.       Reporting to the full P&C the recommendations and seek approval of the preferred specifications

7.       Calling for quotes on those specifications

8.       Assessing the quotes and negotiation of the best possible deal for the school

9.       Reporting the results to the P&C, and requesting permission to proceed.

Background

For a number of years the NBPS canteen had operated like most in the area, catering for the needs of a school population of around 450 / 500 children, serving a limited amount of ready-made comfort foods and basic sandwiches.

About four years ago, with the school population closer to 650, the P&C approved the change in Canteen operator along with the introduction of a new healthy menu. This change saw a substantial increase in the amount of fresh food the canteen needed to prepare and cook on the premises. The changes meant pressure was put on the fridge / freezer capacity along with the general cooking facilities. The only upgrade to the Canteen at the time was the purchase of a second-hand oven and some mobile stainless steel work bench / islands.

Since that change was undertaken the P&C has reviewed the running of the canteen a number of times, each time reaching the conclusion that it was delivering food and service at the high standard expected of it, and well above that found at similar schools.

The Canteen currently prepares around 150 – 200 lunches daily with the exception of Friday when this number climbs to around 300 – 350.  In addition to the lunches, it sells between 150 – 400 over the counter items during recess and lunch.

It has seen a steady growth in revenue, 20% between 2010 & 11 and continues to return a modest profit.

Note : The P&C has continued to operate the Canteen as a service rather than a revenue making venture, managing its budget accordingly.

Throughout 2010, the Canteen Coordinator informed the P&C on a number of occasions that the increased workload placed on the canteen over the past couple of years had taken its toll, and in its current state it would no longer meet the OH&S requirements for what had basically become a small commercial kitchen.

Most notable were the deteriorating laminate worktops, inadequate splashback tiling, lack of oven ventilation and dishwasher capacity.

To address these issues, the canteen staff & Co-ordinator reviewed its operation and with the advice of Helen Trappel,  a Council Safety Inspector and a parent at NBPS, compiled a list of what was needed to upgrade the canteen to acceptable standard.

Appendix 1

Standards that would meet with council approval but would not necessarily allow the Canteen to continue delivering its current menu to a growing school population.

The shortage of fridge / freezer space, commercial oven / gas cook top were some of the issues needed to be addressed to avoid a change / reduction of the menu.

To accommodate this future proofing of the canteen, a second list was compiled to address these issues as show in Appendix 2

Sub Committee Review

Approvals

Consultation with DET, the owners of the Canteen building, highlighted no issues with the proposed renovation of the canteen as long P&C adhered to the following

• Any renovation meet with OH&S applicable standards;
• No demolition  / alteration of exterior walls;
• Flooring must be appropriate for the intended use and include turn- up edges;

They also noted that DET had no funding allocated for such a renovation but the School / P&C could apply for a grant once the work was complete.

North Sydney Council have not been approached at this stage on the understanding any renovation would meet OH&S requirements and the above DET guidelines contained the renovation to interior items -  it was agreed that before initiating works, NSC would be approached to make sure any necessary approvals were obtained.

Requirements

The Sub-Committee revived the Initial items requested by the Canteen and after some consultation the final requirement were agreed upon ( Appendix 1& 2)

Contractors

Canteen had already compiled a list of 12 potential companies to carry out the work. These were obtained from a variety of sources including the Healthy Kids Association, part of the NSW Health department which provides advice to Canteens. All companies were contacted with 5 indicating they would be interested. References were then obtained and the remaining companies were invited to inspect the Canteen under normal operating conditions to assess the needs and work flows of the operation. Three companies undertook to provide costing’s.

A full list of companies approached is in Appendix 3.

The initial costings were received before the Sub-committee agreed on a final set of requirements which explained the huge variance in cost initially advised to the P&C.  As part of the review companies were asked to resubmit their costing’s based on an updated layout of the canteen along with the Needs and Wants list shown in Appendices 1&2  and with a more detailed submission to include all the work to be undertaken.

The two costings received indicated:

• Renovation of Needs : 51 – 58k
• Renovation inclusive of future proofing requirements: 71 – 94k

Funding

The P&C Treasurer indicated that the Canteen had retained earnings of approximately $30k. There was also the potential allocation of the one off transfer of retained earnings that had built up in the Uniform Shop of around $50k. Therefore P&C had the ability to fund a total of $80k without using specifically targeted fundraising earnings.

Note:

1)    The Uniform Shop’s retained earnings has been addressed to the P&C by the Treasurer in previous meetings and in the P&C accounts.

2)    The P&C is not allowed, under its constitution, to put itself into debt or to take out a loan therefore any expenditure has to be fully funded.

The Treasurer advised, that after consultation with the School Executive regarding expected P&C funding for 2012 and current budgeting, the P&C could spend up to $80k without impacting on its general finances, primarily due to the one off transfer of retained earnings.

The Sub Committee has asked the Treasurer to investigate possible measures to reduce the GST component, which are included in the costings.

Recommendations

1)

It is the view of the sub committee that the P&C approve funds for the renovation of the canteen to up to $55k to allow for the Canteen to meet OH&S standards.

This would include the use of stainless steel benches, which have a far greater work life than the laminate

2)

It is also the view of the sub committee that the P&C approve funds for the renovation to include future proofing of the canteen up to $77k to address the issues surrounding the current heating and fridge / freezer constraints and to cater for a growing school population.

This report is submitted to the P&C on the 7^th March 2012 for consideration with the view that the recommendations (1&2) are voted on for approval at the following P&C meeting to be held in April 2012.

On receipt of P&C approval, the Sub-committee will then seek firm quotes and a contract of work from the preferred Contractor.  Once reviewed and agreed by the Sub-committee, the contract will be recommended for signing by the P&C President.

Paul Fraser, Chair, Canteen Sub-Committee

Appendix 1 – Needs

Benches – new, fully sealed laminate

Splashback/tiling – fully sealed to 2.1m

Venting – commercial venting to exterior

New linoleum flooring – fully sealed with turned up edges

Labour Components

Preliminaries/site prep/labour – as required

Demolition

Electrical/plumbing – as required to complete renovation

Ceilings/Walls – Repainting

Delivery and Installation

Appendix 2 – Future Proofing Requirements

Commercial dishwasher – under branch or Pass Through

Electric Oven/Steamer – capable of heating 250 pies from frozen to serving temp

                                                In 60 mins, Capable of meeting the baking needs

Benches – stainless steel

Refrigeration:  1500 Litre capacity – current 980 litre

Gas, minimum 4 high heat burners – Capable of all burners running on full

                                                Simultaneously

Freezer – add to current capacity – currently around 980 litres, expand to 1500 plus

High pressure tap with flexible arm

Larger hand basin with knee operation

Labour Components

Preliminaries/site prep/labour – as required

Demolition

Electrical/plumbing – as required to complete renovation

Ceilings/Walls – Repainting

Delivery and Installation

From the Principal

My School – Congratulations Teachers, Boys and Girls

I am sure many parents read with interest Monday’s Sydney Morning Herald articles on the release of the My School data.  Again this year, the Herald has used this data,  based on the average Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN test results for every school in NSW, private and public, to rank schools.

Each year in May, all students in Years 3 and 5, participate in the NAPLAN testing program which includes literacy, numeracy and writing tests.  These are all externally marked.  Parents receive individual results and reports, and schools are able to use this valuable and comprehensive data to inform programs and school priorities.

The league tables printed in the Herald are understandably not popular with many educators as they provide a ranking of schools regardless of context – size, socio economic circumstances, selective enrolment, etc.  The ranking should be seen as only one aspect of the successful educational programs provided by schools in NSW.  It is unhelpful and most unfair to compare NAPLAN results for a selective school such as Sydney Grammar with a remote school such as Menindee Central.

As most parents would readily acknowledge that while literacy and numeracy are schools’ core business, programs in sport, music, problem solving, creative thinking, dance, visual arts, public speaking, history, science etc are integral to a well balanced education.  These are not assessed in the NAPLAN testing program.

As I reported last year, our 2011 NAPLAN results were excellent and it is most satisfying to see our school ranked so highly.  Of the 1800 primary [public and private] schools in NSW, we were ranked No 5 in Reading, No 8 in Numeracy and Spelling, No 7 in writing and No 9 overall.  This is an outstanding result that can’t just be attributed to our OC cohort.  The ranking is based on the average of the Years 3 and 5 results.    All our children sit the tests, we do not exempt any lower performing students.

Parents will have also noticed that the school’s income per student is also recorded.  The state average is $12,539 per primary student and ours is only $7,145 per student!  [Ascham’s income per primary student is $26,432 and Redlands is $26,675.]  We are certainly doing great things on a small budget!

My congratulations to all the wonderful teachers at NBPS!  They can be justifiably proud of these outstanding results which are the direct result of excellent teaching practices and first rate learning programs. My thanks also to our wonderful office and print room staff who support us so well.  Thank you to all our parents who assist us in so many ways and who raise money to fund programs and purchase resources.  Congratulations to all our boys and girls.

Child Protection Declaration Forms

We are required to have all parents and community volunteers who assist us at school, complete the Child Protection Declaration forms.  This is mandated by the Child Protection Act of 2000.

Reading helpers, band parents, those who assist with transporting children, accompanying children on excursions etc will need to complete these forms.  Probably most of our parents!  Class teachers have copies of the form or you can download a form and send it in to school   Many thanks for your assistance.  I realise that some parents may find this annoying, however, where the safety of our children is concerned, we cannot be too cautious.

http://www.neutralbay-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/notes/index.html

Welcome Cocktail Party – Friday 9 March

We have a large number of teachers and parents attending next Friday evening’s Welcome Cocktail Party.  If you haven’t purchased your ticket, please do so.  $25.00 per person.  Child minding is available at our Before and After School Care Centre.  Thanks to Mona Martyn-Smith and the Year 5 parents for all their work with this function.  Download flyer here.

Reminder – Clean up School Day – tomorrow

Please bring in gloves, tongs and plastic bags for tomorrow’s Clean Up School activities.

P & C Meeting – Wednesday 7 March – 8:00pm

We are looking forward to seeing all our parents at the first P & C meeting of the year.  Light refreshments will be available from 7:45pm.  Come along and be involved in your school. At this meeting I will be outlining changes to our OC structure for 2013.

Dance Groups 2012

Congratulations to the members of our Girls and Boys Dance Groups for this year.  These groups will perform at the Sydney North Dance Festival in June and at school and local community events throughout the year.  We look forward to their performances.

Girls Group

Lily-Ann Aspley-Smith, Jessica Riley, Maris Tomaszewski, Danielle Smith, Caitlin De Plooy, Chantelle Forder, Sascha Heyworth, Lillian Smith, Francesca Garcia, Victoria Gonzalves, Rainbow Yang, Sophie Zhang, Lara Huby-Stewart, Renée Hurley, Milly Joyce, Amelia Langley, Emily McTaggart, Lucy Woodcock, Sharon Xu, Erika Blendell, Maya Millar, Jaela Barney, Bailey Markman, Noa Matsuda, Sofia Kokkinis, Jessica Wait.

Boys Group

Alexander Gates, Koh Yamada, Hugo Cairns, Luca Pona, Nicolas Diaz-Knights, Karl Oosthuizen, Jack Aston, Charles Tang, Ben Tuxen, Charlie Gilmour, Ned Young, Benjamin Dempsy, Kyle Christensen, Maxwell Wait, Evan Michell, Ryan Seeto.

Swimming Carnival Trophies and Ribbons

Championship trophies and ribbons will be presented at next week’s Years 3-6 Assembly on Thursday 8 March at 2:30pm.  Parents are most welcome.

Class Parents Needed!

Thank you to the parents who have volunteered as class parents this year.  We still need class parents for the following classes: 5K, 4K and 6B. Please contact Naty Millar if you are able to assist, on 0402-842-848.

Library Monitors

Thank you to our senior students who have volunteered as Library Monitors this year.  Our Teacher Librarian, Miss Mazey, is very appreciative of the assistance these boys and girls provide to the library during their lunch time breaks and before school.

This year’s Library Monitors are: Teddy McGregor, Lara Urquhart, Layton Chu,  Richard Zhou, Thomas Meredith, Alex Crowhurst, Jessica Findlay, Maya Parkes,Noa Matsuda,Evan Michell, Sarah Halnan, Bianca McBryde,Lauren Lancaster,Grace Underhill,Oscar Brisset, Emma Newman, Max Moon,Jack Palmer,Hwayeon Chung.

The Library Monitors will be presented with their badges at next Thursday’s 2:30pm assembly. Parents are most welcome.

Opportunity Class and Selective Schools Parent Information Session

I will be holding Information Sessions for parents wishing to find out more about the Opportunity Class and Selective Schools application and assessment processes.  These will be of interest to parents who are considering these options for their children.  At these sessions I will cover

• ·         how to apply
• ·         school selection
• ·         school and test scores
• ·         appeals process and

I will answer any general questions.

OC Information Session – Monday 12^th March at 8.30am

Selective Schools Session – Monday 19^th March at 8.30am

Both meetings will be held in the Multi Purpose Room

Diary Dates

March

Friday 2^nd – Clean Up School Day

Tuesday 6^th – Zone Swimming Carnival

Wednesday 7^th – P & C Meeting 8:00pm

Monday 12^th 0- OC Parent Information Session 8.30am M P Room

Thursday 15^th – Selective High School Test – Year 6

Friday 16^th – School Family Picnic

Monday 19^th – Selective Schools Parent Information Session 8.30am M P Room

Monday 26^th – Friday 30^th – Special Swimming Scheme Year 2

Thursday 29^th – Rehearsal for Grandfriends Concert

Friday 30^th – Grandfriends Concert

April

Wednesday 4^th – Combined Scripture Service

Thursday 5^th – Last day of Term 1

Tuesday 24^th – School resumes

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• ·         Sharon Mitchell and all the Band Coordinators, who have worked so hard to ensure that Sunday’s Band Workshops will run so smoothly.  Happy music making everyone!
• ·         Joshua Riley, an ex-student, who is assisting and mentoring our Boys Dance Group every Wednesday and Thursday mornings before school.  Many thanks Josh – you are a star!

Britannica Online

Our school has recently purchased a subscription to Britannica Online. Our subscription allows at-home access for children and parents. The link is: http://k8.eb.com.au/storeschoolcard?id=neutralbaynsw.  You will be asked to enter an ID number which we cannot publish online, for obvious reasons. Your children will be issued their ID by their teachers. Thankfully, it’s a very simple code to remember – especially if they know the name of their class.

iPads

In case you missed Tuesday’s Sydney Morning Herald, here’s a link to a story that Andrew Stevenson, the SMH Education Editor, wrote after he visited our school on Monday. http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/tablets/jury-is-still-out-but-ipads-may-put-the-pen-to-the-sword-20120227-1tytf.html. We are only a couple of weeks into the trial but already the feedback from the teachers and children is overwhelmingly positive.

Owen Taylor, Deputy Principal

NSW Junior Chess League Competition

There will be a compulsory meeting held this Monday 5th March, immediately after lines, for all children participating in the upcoming chess competition commencing Friday 4th May. We will be organising teams and sharing important information about the competition. Please only attend this meeting if you have returned your entry form to the office.

Lauren Irvine, Chess Coordinator

Spellodrome

This year, students will have access to the Spellodrome, which is a sister site to the Mathletics website. We have been provided with free access to Spellodrome for this year as a thank you for our patience whilst the Mathletics and Spellodrome websites were updated. Students will use their Mathletics password to access the Spellodrome website.

Spellodrome is a valuable tool for building literacy skills and students can practise their spelling skills in a range of entertaining activities. Their achievements are rewarded with points that contribute towards earning a digital jersey and maybe even a Golden Bike Award!

In this trial period, Spellodrome awards will not be handed out at Stage assemblies.

Leanne Gassmann and Nadine Walsh, Mathletics Coordinators

Harmony Day

Blue eyes brown hair, green eyes brown skin.  There is no such thing as the typical person. An exciting part of life is that we are all unique but some people feel that if they look or their background is too different they won’t fit in – people shouldn’t have to feel this way.  Harmony Day is about embracing and respecting people’s differences, learning and making friends through these differences and remembering we are all very special in our own way.

The Department of Education Harmony Day theme for this year’s workshop was sports in recognition of the 2012 London Olympic Games which will host over 200 countries all coming together for their love of sports regardless of race, gender, religion, colour or background.  After a meet and greet at the workshop we separated into groups and circulated through three activities which included playing aboriginal games, unifying drama and studying inspirational sports stars.

The most inspiring part of the day was listening to the refugee Tamina speak about her families extremely difficult life in Afghanistan before coming to Australia.  Tamina made us realise Australia is a paradise and safe haven by comparison.

Whilst Neutral Bay Public School is lucky enough to have many different cultures and backgrounds, not all people feel comfortable and we always need to ensure everyone feels they belong and that Australia is their home.

By Jessica Wait 6T and Renee Hurley 6J

National Parks

F our wheel driving

L ow coud cover

I ndigenous peoples traditional home

N ative animals are protected

D ry and arid land

E mus strolling around the camp side

R ain makes the ground muddy

S oil is vibrant and red.

R ocks formed over millions of years

A boriginal paintings found all around

N ative plants grow in both arid and

G reat place to have a holiday

E ver evolving landscape

S eriously awesome place!

By Mitchell 3H

N ative animals fighting

A nd cassowaries too

T ree tops swaying

I find it fascinating

O h, so very fascinating

N ot just a little bit

A nd how about you?

L orikeets, crows, crabs and lots more.

P ut on your imaginary hat

A nd join the fun!

Rowing is included

K ingfish are plenty

By       India-rose 3R

Chameleon

Wake up all the animals, a fresh new face is here

And he is one that everyone should look up to and revere

He’s small and swift and usually a swampy shade of green

But put him on white paper and he’s white as new sunscreen

His favourite game is hide-n-seek; he thinks that he’s the best

He scoffs when challenged to a game, he knows he’ll pass the test

“I’m way too good for anyone who dares to challenge me,

I’ve already beaten kangaroo and skink and bird and bee”

I was thinking to myself that this would be a breeze

But then I turned around and there was nothing there but trees

I searched the forest high and low he’s nowhere to be seen

He could be nicely camouflaged black, pink, blue or green

I told him that I’d given up that he’d won fair and square

 He bounded down from a bird’s nest the colour of brown hair

I admit this animal had skills that everybody needed

I had to show another skill so I’m not superseded

As I sat down and thought and thought a little fly came by

But then just at the speed of light he was picked out of the sky

I looked in awe at this small being as he weirdly chewed

Oh my gosh it was his tongue that even I could not elude

I’d just witnessed acts of skill from a four-legged little leaf

He changed his colour just like that and his tongue’s beyond belief

So let me tell you this green leaf is genuinely great

I think his name is Chameleon and a star is this little lightweight.

            By Sam Hansen 6J

6M’s Metric Olympics

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

Canteen News

Greetings from the canteen!  It has been another busy week.  Most in the community have been very supportive of our new policy and  are using flexischools for Friday orders.  It has made service much smoother.  Most have also incorporated the new sushi price of $2.90 into their ordering – thanks for the support.

Next week’s special for Monday-Thursday is the always popular pasta Bolognese, made freshly by our terrific staff.  We know that we’ll be serving lots of it, as always!

Below is the roster for next week.  If you can help out on Tuesday or Thursday, please contact Kristina on 0407 297 691 or at nbpscanteen@gmail.com.

Canteen Roster

Monday – Drink Brezniak, Laurel Hixon, Zone Swimming

Tuesday – Marion Gies, HELP NEEDED

Wednesday – Jenny Dunn, Liz Skinner

Thursday – Kenako, HELP NEEDED

Friday – Hilit Einav, Nikki Dikmans, HELP NEEDED FOR 2 HOURS

Band News

We’re all set for the band workshop this Sunday 4 March at school from 12.00pm until 4.30pm.  Please bring your children to the school hall by 12.00pm so we can start right at 12.15 pm.  You will only be able to enter the school through the Bydown Street gates.  Parking is not available in the school grounds.

Please ensure your child brings:

• Their instrument in good condition (oiled, cleaned, spare parts, reeds etc) with case labelled
• A pencil
• Essential elements (Junior Band only)
• Any music/folders that have been issued
• A music stand – labelled

Children should wear comfortable casual clothing. No thongs please.  A reminder that band workshop is a compulsory part of the year’s band program, so unless you have already communicated to a band coordinator that your child is unable to attend for a particular reason, we look forward to seeing everyone at school for the afternoon! 

Sharon Mitchell & Simone Bird, Overall Band Coordinators

Uniform Shop

Thank you to everyone who has donated pre loved uniform items this term so far, it’s great to be able to sell on these good quality items, 

to those who appreciate being able to kit out their children at a discounted cost, to those just looking for spare items to have to hand in an emergency and of course, to those who just love a good bargain! 

So we’re having a …Pre-loved Uniform Sale – Tuesday 13th March – from 8am

We’ve actually got quite a lot of great quality 2nd hand stock so we’re going to hold a special 2nd hand sale for all of you bargain hunters out there!

We’ll display all of the items out on tables according to size to make it easy to get your hands on what you are looking for. 

Items start from as little as $5 – so why not come along and take a look! Cash is preferred on the day, to help keep queues to a minimum.

The sale will take place outside the uniform shop if it’s dry or under the COLA if it’s raining.

Thanks for your support,

Helen and the Uniform Shop Team

Cocktail Party FRIDAY 9th March 2012

Tickets Selling Fast. Do not miss out!!

The Principal and the Neutral Bay Public School P&C Committee would love to see you at the Cocktail Party on Friday 9th.

A wonderful way to meet up with friends and new parents in your school community.

Food and Alcohol provided ( $25 per head) Forms available at the office.

Neutral Bay After School Care will be open on the night. Cost $15 for first child and $5 for other siblings.

So mark in your diaries and come along.

Any queries contact Mona Martyn-Smith [Lillian Yr. 5 and Jim Yr. 2] 0414-371-061.

Year 1 Parents/Caregivers

Are you still having trouble finding your way around the bigger playground?  Can’t seem to locate the friends your child made last year?  Come along to the Neutral Bay Club, located at the end of Barry Street, tomorrow morning, Friday 2^nd March at 9.30am, and catch up over a coffee with other mums, dads and caregivers.  Any enquiries? Ring Vic [Sebastian 1DK] on 0402-068-388.

Mosman High School Open Night – Thursday 8th March, 5 – 8 pm

•Displays and student performances

•Information on Special Programs in: Drama, Art, Music & Academic Extension.

Please contact Denise Deaves 9968 1006 for further information.

From the Principal

Swimming Carnival Results

Congratulations to all the children who swam so well at last week’s carnival.  A complete list of placegetters is available by clicking here.   We will present ribbons at our next Stage 2 and 3 Assembly.

Congratulations to our champions:

Junior – Arquette Milin-Byrne and Jonny Woodcock

11 years – Alice Bishop and Hayden Fleming

Senior – Eliza Wright and Renée Hurley and Tom Lockhart

Best wishes to all our swimmers at the Zone Carnival which will be held on Tuesday 6^th March.

Welcome Cocktail Party – Reminder

Tickets are still on sale for the Welcome Cocktail Party which will be held on Friday 9^th March at 6:00pm.  This is a great way to meet parents and teachers in an informal, relaxed atmosphere. $25.00 per person includes food and beverages.

Class Contact List Forms

There are a number of yellow parent contact class list forms outstanding.  Please send in ASAP as these lists are being finalised this weekend.  Parents find these lists most useful in organising play dates, parties and to contact other parents.

Junior and Senior Choirs

Congratulations to all the boys and girls who auditioned successfully for the Junior and Senior Choirs.  The teachers were overwhelmed with interest from children who auditioned.

Senior Choir [Years 5 and 6] will perform in the Opera House in October and Junior Choir [Years 3 and 4] will perform in the Primary Proms Concert in September.  We look forward to hearing both choirs at concerts, special events and assemblies here at school throughout the year.

Senior Choir – Emma Newman, Grace Underhill, Sharon Xu, Freya Lee, Sophie Dews, Joel Callahan, Ryan Seeto, Brittanie Hsu, Micha Gatuslao, Anastasia Scoggin, Mia Mather, Ofri Einav, Ruth Mukheibir, Kye Milne, Arith Pho, Kaiya Melbourne, Maya Parkes, Tom Lockhart, Lillian Smith, Marlena Stanhope, Lili Price, Francesca Garcia, Kashi Saunders, Kimmy Liu, Ethan Low, Eliza Fitzgerald, Ella Spencer, Gemma Chua-Tran, Tess Guo, Caitlin Johnston, Amy Fulton , Caitlyn Wyton, Isabella Piggott, Sophia Kourakis, Alice Caddick, Sam Wavish – Dixon.

Junior Choir – Iona Carter, Briahna Forder, Ashley Firth, Alysha Airey, Henry Aspinall, Declan Hales, Rex Markman, Jamie Caddick, Alexandra Dent, Evie Watts, Jemima Rice, Anna Delange, Lucinda Peace, Isabelle Macfarlane, Brittney Lu, Stephany Lu, Jasmine Sharp, Noa De Jager, Ross Poole, Reuben Wilder, Adrian Freiburg, Sorita Pho, Nathalie Wilder, Max Bottomley.

Children Regularly Leaving School Early

A number of parents have requested/advised teachers that they wish to take children out of school on a regular basis before school finishes to attend lessons or therapy sessions.

We are not able to allow this.  By law children are required to attend school every day for the duration of the school day.  The Home School Liaison Officer [HSLO] inspects our rolls each term.  Partial absences [late arrival/early departure] are recorded and will be followed up by the HSLO.

It is most important that children are at school on time at the beginning of the day and remain in class until final bell time.  Children miss valuable learning time and important instructions if they arrive late or leave early.  The message to children that ballet, music, swimming lessons, tutoring or other therapies are more important than school is not one we want the children to receive.  These lessons and sessions need to be organised out of school hours.

From time to time it may be necessary to take children out early or arrive late for specialist appointments, urgent family crisis, etc. . . .  Parents are reminded that they first need to visit the school office and fill out the form provided.  This is a Departmental requirement.

Please contact me if you have any concerns or wish to discuss this. I do appreciate your support.

Scripture and Ethics Classes

Yesterday we welcomed our wonderful team of Special Religious Education and Ethics teachers for the first lesson of the school year.  We are most fortunate to have such dedicated clergy and volunteer teachers who provide instruction in these classes in a very positive and nurturing way.  They are all very supportive of the school and work cooperatively with the class teachers and the organising SRE Coordinators Mrs Dudley and Mrs Rabone.

Welcome Scripture and Ethics teachers.

Please note that all classes have been formed, teachers allocated to classes and children will not be able to change classes during the year.

P & C Meeting

The first P & C meeting for 2012 will be held on Wednesday 7^th March in the Hall commencing at 8:00pm.  Drinks and light refreshments will be available from 7:45pm.  All parents are most welcome.  All the P & C positions have been filled so new parents need not worry about being asked to take on responsibilities.

I will present a brief report and will outline some changes to our Opportunity Class structure that will be introduced next year.

Come along and be involved in your school.

Mandarin Classes – After School

Mandarin classes will commence next week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Mr Creagh’s 5B classroom.  These are NOT for native speakers.  Native speakers who are interested in classes should contact Mandarin Stars. Parents who have enrolled their children will have had confirmation from Mandarin Stars.

Parking Illegally and Driving Carelessly

I would like to remind parents of the need to drive carefully and park legally in the streets around the school – particularly at drop off and pick up times.  I have had reports and complaints regarding parents doing “U” turns in Bydown Street, parking across neighbours’ driveways, speeding, driving through the marked pedestrian crossings on Yeo Street and Bydown Street. I am very concerned that a child will be seriously injured or killed.  Please, please be careful.  These are our precious children.  Please take special care with the raised pedestrian crossings on Yeo Street and Bydown Street.  The P & C and School Council have over the past few years requested “lolly pop” people for these crossings.  Traffic volume surveys have been undertaken and the results apparently do not justify the services of “lolly pop” assistance.

I will have no hesitation whatsoever in calling the  police, recording number plates or photographing cars of drivers who are putting the lives of our children at risk.

Diary Dates

March

Friday 2^nd – Clean Up School Day

Tuesday 6^th – Zone Swimming Carnival

Wednesday 7^th – P & C Meeting 8:00pm

Thursday 15^th – Selective High School Test – Year 6

Friday 16^th – School Family Picnic

Monday 26^th – Friday 30^th – Special Swimming Scheme Year 2

Thursday 29^th – Rehearsal for Grandfriends Concert

Friday 30^th – Grandfriends Concert

April

Wednesday 4^th – Combined Scripture Service

Thursday 5^th – Last day of Term 1

Tuesday 24^th – School resumes

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• ·         Noa Matsuda 6M who won the Junior Ballet Solo event at the Showcase National Dance Championships at Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast. Noa competed against dancers from Australia, NZ and the USA.  Congratulations Noa – you are a star!
• ·         Oscar Bird 6M who has been selected for the QBE Sydney Swans Academy – a training program for elite junior athletes which runs in conjunction with the AFL Talented Play Pathway program.  Well done Oscar and good luck!
• ·         Our wonderful Office and Print Room staff who have had such a busy time over the last few weeks.  The first weeks of the school year are always hectic for these ladies with parent enquiries, money collections, ordering, huge amounts of photocopying and printing, caring for sick and injured children etc.  Our staff has worked many additional unpaid hours to ensure that the children and teachers are so well supported.  Thank you ladies!
• ·         Mrs Susie Rintoul, an ex-parent and local community member who again this year is giving up her time to spend one day each week assisting in our library.  We are most grateful to Mrs Rintoul for her generous support.  What a star!
• ·         5T boys and girls who entered the Class Creative Cupcake Competition each making delicious imaginatively decorated cupcakes.  They were all wonderful! Special recognition to Ripley for his Harry Potter themed cakes and wonderful bugs and beetles, and to Lucas for his gourmet white and dark chocolate extravaganzas.  Mrs Collett is still “licking her lips”.
•           Jessica Wait and Renee Hurley who represented our school at the Northern Sydney Region Harmony Day Workshop yesterday. We look forward to the girls’ report in next week’s newsletter.

Nut-Free

A reminder to parents that our school is a nut-free school. We have a number of children who may have an anaphylactic reaction when exposed to nuts. Thank you for your support in this matter.

iPads

This week we rolled out iPads to all 145 of our Year 6 children. The boys and girls (and teachers) are so excited! Not only are these devices motivating and engaging, but their potential to improve student learning outcomes has been well documented in many studies both here and overseas. We are the only government school in New South Wales implementing iPads on such a scale. We look forward to seeing how this innovative trial progresses and we’ll keep you posted in future newsletter updates.

Owen Taylor, Deputy Principal

Clean Up Australia Day – Reminder

Sunday 4^th March is Clean Up Australia Day. So, on Friday 2^nd March we will be having our own school-based Clean Up Australia Day. Each class will be designated an area in and around the school to clean up. On this day, the children will need to bring gloves and/or tongs and a plastic bag to help clean up our school. Clean up Australia Day reminds us to think about how our rubbish impacts our environment. Rubbish that does not go into bins is washed down drains and can end up in our oceans. We can all make a difference by choosing food products with minimal packaging, recycling where possible and making sure our rubbish all goes in the bin.

Many thanks for your support,

Mrs Cherie Willingham and Miss Alisa Newman, Clean Up Australia Day Coordinators

3W’s Visit to the Field of Mars

On Friday the excursion day I had the best time!  I also remember the leader’s name.  Her name was Julie. She was very nice and kind.  She helped us learn things and told us about where the animals live and lived.  When we were done with that, we had lunch. And then we set off to my favourite stop – getting the crabs. We saw them walk sideways with their big claws.  I caught five crabs.

By Angelina

Last Friday we went on an excursion to the Field of Mars.  The things I liked most were: when we went on the bus and the driver got lost, and when we got there we were all given cameras and I took pictures of things I had never seen before.  At the end I saw a huge lizard that no one else saw.

By Jack

First we all hopped on the bus and the bus driver got confused. So we went round in circles. Then when we got there, we all had a bit to eat and started bush walking.  Once we stopped, we had lunch down by the lake.  After that we all went crab hunting.  Max caught so many crabs his hands looked like a seafood market!  That was my favourite part. Then we went back to bushwalking.  We saw and heard a lot of interesting things.  We were walking on a bridge with no bars so we had to be extremely careful so we didn’t fall off.  As we were walking, we saw tons of crabs.

By Alex

I loved looking at the leaf curing spiders. It was cool.  They are yellow and black.  They also had brown, orange and green on them.  They were in long and fine leaves.  I also loved collecting shells at the beach.  One was a creamy sort of colour. 

By Pyppi

6M’s Metric Olympics

A few months ahead and a few thousand kilometres away from the London Summer Olympics, 6M held the Metric Olympics last Friday. The students practised their estimating, converting and measurement skills in four events:  Styro-ball Shot-Put, Paddle –Pop Javelin, Paper Plate Discus and Standing Long Jump.  Although very close, the top estimators and unit conversions were achieved by James, Oscar, Alice, Jaela, Alex, Bailey, Freya and Hwayeon.

Meghan Brand, 6M Class Teacher

Photo Section

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

Canteen News

Greetings from the canteen!  The canteen has been really busy this week, with many children enjoying the new offerings of BBQ Beef sushi and the weekly Beef Burrito special.  Next week we will be serving the Sticky Chicken, which is always popular. 

I would like to thank the new volunteers who have put up their hand to help.  It really is a fun way to spend a day: getting to know other parents in the school while helping to provide healthy, affordable food to the school community.  As you can see below, we still need more helpers, though.  Wednesdays and Thursdays are particularly tough, so if you have even a few hours on those days, it would be a huge help.  Please contact Kristina on 0407 297 691 or at nbpscanteen@gmail.com.

Canteen Roster

Monday – Jasmine Lo and Ping Xu

Tuesday – Caroline and Milton

Wednesday – HELP NEEDED PLEASE

Thursday – Renuka until 11.30  HELP NEEDED PLEASE

Friday – Kate Leveaux, Josie Evans and Sara Winchester 2 hours

Band News

We’re very pleased to confirm that the following parents have joined us as band coordinators for 2012.  Please look out for email communication from them regarding details for events and performances etc during 2012:

Concert Band Co-ordinators

Susie Ashton-Davies         

0419 462 365           

susie@davies2.com

Leanne O’Grady                   

0417 122 155           

weemala4@bigpond.cm

Karley Heyworth                 

0477 047 349        

 karleyheyworth@yahoo.com.au

Senior Band Co-ordinators

Claudia Stephens              

0417 150 665           

claudia@estoniabeckons.com

Jennifer Neil-Smith            

0400 246 786        

 jneilsmith@yahoo.com.au

Liesel Wightwick                 

0434 354 705          

liesel@wrightwick.org

Junior Band Co-ordinators

Elizabeth Gurr                     

0410 707 498           

elizabethgurr@hotmail.com

Jenny Dunn                        

0402 869 734           

dunn1963@bigpond.com

Thank you to all band parents who attended the band meeting last Friday – it’s no wonder we have such a great band program with such widespread parent involvement.  We promised to come back to you regarding instruments being stored at school.  Mrs Collett has spoken with class teachers and they in turn have advised band children in their classes of the designated place for their band instruments. The teachers will support the children in looking after their instruments.  However, instruments they are ultimately the children’s responsibility so please remind your child of this.  The few very large instruments belonging to band members may be left outside Mrs Collett’s office during the day.

Lastly, you will have seen important email communication this week from your band coordinator about the compulsory band workshop on Sunday 4^th March.  Please ensure this date is in your diary!

Sharon Mitchell & Simone Bird, Overall Band Coordinators

Cocktail Party FRIDAY 9th March 2012.

The Principal and the Neutral Bay Public School P&C Committee would love to see you at the Cocktail Party on Friday 9th.

A wonderful way to meet up with friends and new parents  in your school community.

Food and Alcohol provided ($25 per head)

Forms available at the office and the website.

Neutral Bay Afterschool Care will be open on the night. Cost $15 for first child and $5 for other siblings.

So mark in your diaries and come along.

Any queries contact Mona Martyn-Smith (Lillian Yr. 5 and Jim Yr. 2 Mum) 0414 371 061

Are you a Single Parent?

Single with Children is a non-profit social group that provides fun and exciting social activities every week specifically for single parents and their children.  It’s a great way to meet or make new friends in your area.  For your free copy of our social calendar contact us today at 1300 300 496 or check the website: www.singlewithchildren.com.au

3rd Mosman Cubs

is now looking for new members for the current year.  Scouting offers lots of fun activities and provides a great chance for kids to get outside away from the computer and TV. Cubs (up to 11 years) every Tuesday evening and scouts every Friday.  For more information go to
www.mosmanscouts.org.au or
3rdmosmanscouts@gmail.com or phone Goronwy Price on 0425 216 142

Thank you! Semester 1 Accounts

Many thanks to all the parents who have paid the Semester 1 fees [pink form sent home last week].  We do appreciate your prompt payment.  [This note is on the website.]

P and C Parent Welcome Drinks – Friday 9^th March

A blue flyer with full information  and payment details is going home today and is also available on the website.  We are looking forward to seeing all our parents on 9^th March. Our After School Care staff will be providing child minding.

Band Parent Information Meeting – Tomorrow 8:30am in the School Hall

All parents of children in Junior, Senior and Concert Bands are invited to the meeting tomorrow morning.  Mr Hampton, Band Master, and Mrs Sharon Mitchell, Overall Band Coordinator, will outline the year ahead and answer any questions.

Scripture [K-6] and Ethics [Years 5 and 6]

Scripture and Ethics classes will commence next week on Wednesday 22^nd February.  Children who do not attend these classes are supervised by class teachers.  All children will continue in last year’s classes unless parents notify class teachers in writing of any changes.

New children should have returned yellow forms to teachers – also on the website.

Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to all the children who participated in the Swimming Carnival on Monday.  Full results will be published in next week’s Newsletter.  Ribbons will be presented at the next Stage 2 and 3 Assembly. We were treated to some great swims with a number of “PBs” and all giving their best!  My thanks to Mr Thomson and all the teachers for their organisation and work with the Carnival.  Special thanks to the wonderful parents who assisted on the day.  We couldn’t run an event such as this without your help.

We had not intended to hold our Carnival at Cabarita but apparently Drummoyne Pool had been double-booked and a school in their local council area was given priority.  [Our deposit was accepted and banked early in 2011 and we were only notified of the problem two weeks ago.]

Mrs Celine Donnell, in our school office, has spent many tens of hours contacting pools all over Sydney to book our Carnival for next year.  We have secured Drummoyne again and are “wait listed” for several pools.  Understandably, pool bookings are prioritised for schools in a local council area.  Our local pool, North Sydney, will only take bookings for carnivals on Fridays and only for a maximum of three hours.  It is not possible for us to run our carnival in such a short time period.

We would like to be able to take all the children who would like to come to compete and to be spectators next year.  Each year I receive parent complaints about “the long day” for the non- swimmers and about sunburn.  We always provide large pump packs of sunscreen and constantly remind the children to re-apply it during the day.  I am aware that a number of parents keep their children at home rather than have them attend the Carnival.

Next year we will offer children the option to remain at school.

If any parents have any contacts, please speak to Celine in the school office.  We need a 50m pool with a large covered grandstand that is available for a whole day carnival 9am-2.30pm in the first three weeks of Term 1.  Our school entries for the Zone Carnival have to be in by this date.

Dogs in the Playground

A number of parents have complained about dogs in our school grounds.  Dogs are not permitted to be on school grounds at any time. Your cooperation with this is much appreciated.

Term 1 Dates

February

Friday 17^th – Band Parent Meeting 8:30am

Tuesday 21^st – Parent/Teacher Meeting Year 4HR at 7:00pm

Friday 24^th – Last day for return of Stewart House bags.

March

Friday 2^nd – Clean Up School Day

Tuesday 6^th – Zone Swimming Carnival

Wednesday 7^th – P & C Meeting

Thursday 15^th – Selective High School Test – Year 6

Friday 16^th – Family Picnic

Monday 26^th – Friday 30^th – Special Swimming Scheme Year 2

Thursday 29^th – Rehearsal for Grandfriends Concert

Friday 30^th – Grandfriends Concert

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• ·         All our great boys and girls who participated so enthusiastically in the Swimming Carnival on Monday.  Great work by House Captains.  Well done everyone!
• ·         Juliette Davies, Anika Thakur, Ella Ryan and Kye Milne who are all members of the Northern Sydney Regional Band.  It is a great honour to be selected for the Regional Band which plays throughout the year at important functions, events, concerts and at the Schools Spectacular.  Congratulations musicians!
• ·         Our wonderful Canteen Coordinators and volunteer parents who work so hard to provide the delicious, wholesome food for the children.  New parents to the school will be amazed at the high standard of healthy, usually home-cooked food on sale at our canteen.  It really is one of the best in Sydney.
• ·         Bronte Monckton 5K who found a wallet on the bus and immediately handed it in to the driver.  Well done Bronte – I am sure that the owner was most grateful for your honesty.
• ·         Mr Milton Sams [Oliver and Sebastian] who recently returned from an Antarctic trip and who brought back a beautiful, signed book from Port Lockroy 64° 49” South, 63°30” West. This book will be in our school library for all the children to enjoy.  Thank you Milton!

Clean Up Australia Day – Reminder

Sunday 4^th  March is Clean Up Australia Day. So, on Friday 2^nd March we will be having our own school-based Clean Up Australia Day. Each class will be designated an area in and around the school to clean up. On this day, the children will need to bring gloves and/or tongs and a plastic bag to help clean up our school. Clean up Australia Day reminds us to think about how our rubbish impacts our environment. Rubbish that does not go into bins is washed down drains and can end up in our oceans. We can all make a difference by choosing food products with minimal packaging, recycling where possible and making sure our rubbish all goes in the bin.

Many thanks for your support,

Mrs Cherie Willingham and Miss Alisa Newman, Clean Up Australia Day Coordinators

Primary Schools Chess Teams Competition

Students interested in playing competitive chess are invited to join a school chess team. Students will be placed into a chess team to suit their level of ability and play against students from other schools in the Lower Northern Sydney region.

The competition takes place after school on Fridays during Term 2 and Term 3. Games are played on a ‘home and away’ basis and parents are required to help supervise these games and transport students to away games.

There are three grades in the competition – Championship, Intermediate and Rookie.

To enter, please collect a form from the school office and return it to the office by Wednesday 22^nd  February.

[This form is on the website.]

Why Chess? “There are tremendous benefits for children involved in the competition – new outlook, new friends, intellectual stimulation, improved concentration, a new reason to develop self esteem.” NSW Junior Chess League

The Case for Chess as a Tool to Develop Our Children’s Minds can be found at

www.nswjcl.org.au

Lauren Irvine and Mary Magney, Chess Coordinators

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

Canteen News

Greetings from the canteen!  We have been very busy warming up the children on cool days, and cooling them down on the rare hot days.  Many of the children have tried the new special of BBQ pork with rice noodles, and have given it high marks.  Next week they will be treated to beef burritos, made freshly in the canteen for the Monday-Thursday special.  I’ve sampled the filling, and it is delicious! 

Please remember that the special is available Monday-Thursday, and that meat pies, sausage rolls, freshly made pizzas, and lasagne are available Fridays only. 

I would also like to clarify that while Friday lunch orders are only available through online ordering, you are most welcome and strongly encouraged to use flexischools every day of the week.  The less time spent counting coins is more time to make beautiful fresh food for the children.

We’ve been really happy to welcome a few new volunteers into the canteen, but with around 150 new students in the school, I’m sure there must be a few more new parents, too!  Please call Kristina on 0407 297 691 or email at nbpscanteen@gmail.com if you can fill a “help needed” space, or would like to be rostered in future weeks.  It really is good fun, and a great way to contribute to the school community, and get to know other parents.

Canteen Roster

Monday – Philippa Shelly Jones, Makiko Tokoshiki

Tuesday – Susan Hay, Caroline

Wednesday – Jenny Dunn,  HELP NEEDED

Thursday – Kanako, Elise Lockwood

Friday – Jane Tham, Jodie Frazer, Kate Mitchell 2 hours

Band News  

Thank you to the parents who have joined us as band coordinators for 2012.  We really appreciate you stepping up to help with band.  Next week we will provide you with all their names and contact details.

Apologies that Senior Band had to be cancelled last week; best wishes to Mr Browne who is ill at the moment.  We wish him a speedy recovery and we are doing our best to ensure that all Senior Band practices go ahead as per our rehearsal schedule.  Senior Band families, please watch for email alerts with updates.

In the meantime, all bands have come together well and as coordinators we are in the planning stages of the band workshop – again, stay tuned for updates.

A reminder that there is a band parent information session on Friday in the hall at 8.30am.  See you there, especially if you have any queries.

Sharon Mitchell & Simone Bird, Overall Band Coordinators

Year 2 & Year 4 Cockatoo Island Family Camp-out CANCELLED

Since the original announcement of Sat 17th March for the Camp-out, another group has taken almost all the available camping packages, leaving too few to accommodate our expected numbers (15 – 20 families).

If you would be interested in participating in a future family camp-out in early Term 2, please send an email to Jennifer Neil-Smith and she will let you know directly if an alternative date is selected.

jneilsmith@yahoo.com.au

Willoughby Girls High School Open Night

All welcome at the Open Night on Wednesday 7 March 2012 in the School Hall – 6.15 to 9.00pm.

Willoughby Girls High School Extension Class Placement Test

Year 6 students will have an opportunity to sit for a placement test for the Year 7 extension class for Year 7, 2013 for selected students.

Saturday 17 March 2012, 9.15-11.30am, in the School Hall.  Please ring Willoughby Girls High School for further information and to book a test place.  Principal Ms S Young, Phone 9958-4141.  Fax 9967 2174.

Lifeline Book Fair

Our first Lifeline Northern Beaches Book Fair for 2012 will take place on the weekend of

24-26 February

at Ted Blackwood Hall, Cnr Jacksons and Boondah Roads, Warriewood.

Opening Times

Fri     24 Feb      2pm — 9pm
Sat   25 Feb       9am — 5pm
Sun  26 Feb       9am — 2pm
We accept Visa, Mastercard and EFTPOS. 

As always, your gold coin donation at entry is very much appreciated

Our book fairs are a significant fundraising activity for Lifeline Northern Beaches enabling its community programs such as suicide bereavement, anger management and problem gambling.

Secondly, they offer book lovers and those who are beginning to fall in love with reading an excellent opportunity to purchase quality books at affordable prices.

And thirdly, all our fairs this year will celebrate the National Year of Reading 2012 which offers programs, events and competitions all focusing on literacy and the wonder of books.

To quote Paul Carter, National Ambassador for the National Year of Reading, “Without the simple pleasure of reading, life would just be a broken pencil …… pointless”

North Sydney Junior Netball Club
It is not too late to register for the 2012 Netball season. North Sydney Junior Club welcomes girls aged between 8 and 12 – no experience necessary! Please contact Beth Powell for more information on bethiepowell@gmail.com

From the Principal                        

Swimming Carnival Years 3-6

Next Monday, 13^th February, we will hold our annual swimming carnival at Cabarita Swim Centre at Concord.  This year, due to the weather and lack of adequate undercover seating, we will only take competitors.  Permission notes were due to class teachers yesterday.  It is a very long and uncomfortable day for spectators with forecast wet.  We wish all our swimmers the best of luck.  Parents are most welcome to come along.  My thanks to Mr Thomson for his organisation.  Children not attending the carnival should attend school.

Parent Information Sessions

In the next weeks we will conduct our Parent Information Sessions.  These will be held in classrooms from 7:00 to 8:00pm on the following dates.

Monday 13^th February – Kinder and Year 1

Tuesday 14^th February – Years 4 and 5 and 3/4M

Wednesday 15^th February – Years 2, 3, 6 and OC

Wednesday 22^nd February – 4HR

Parents are encouraged to attend these important sessions.

Parent Welcome Drinks

The P & C will host Parent Welcome Drinks on Friday 9^th March in the School Hall.  I would encourage all our parents to come along to meet members of staff, new parents, renew acquaintances and catch up with friends.  This is a great opportunity to meet the parents of your child’s class mates in a relaxed informal social setting.  My thanks to Gail Minns and her team for the organisation of this function.  I look forward to seeing you on Friday 9^th.

Semester 1 Fees

Pink Semester 1 [Terms 1 and 2] sheets were sent home yesterday requesting payment for class requisites and programs.  These cover the art and craft levy, Mathletics subscription, Sports Skills lessons, school magazines etc.

Prompt payment of these fees would be greatly appreciated.  Please contact me if you have any problem with payments.  These accounts are also available on the website.

Student References for Private Schools

NSW DEC teachers and principals are not permitted to provide written references for students applying to private schools.  This is well known and understood by most private schools which accept school reports as evidence of application, achievement and behaviour.  While I am not permitted to write a reference, I am most willing to discuss any child with any school to assist with transition to high school.

Stewart House Used Clothing Bags

Plastic bags were sent home with children yesterday.  Please return bags to the rear of the hall or classrooms by Friday 24^th February.  Many thanks for your support of this appeal.

Mandarin Lessons – Reminder

Parents interested in after school Mandarin lessons should contact Will Gibb on 8437-2498 by Friday 17^th February.

Band – Important Information Session – What’s On In 2012?

Parents of children in our band program – Junior, Senior and Concert Bands – are invited to a Parent Information Session on Friday 17^th February which 8:30am.   Mr Hampton [Band Master] and Sharon Mitchell [Band Coordinator] will address parents, explaining What’s on in 2012.  All parents welcome.

Term 1 Dates

February

Monday 13^th – Swimming Carnival – Years 3-6

Monday 13^th – Parent/Teacher Meetings Kindergarten and Year 1 at 7:00pm

Tuesday 14^th – Parent/Teacher Meetings Years 3/4M 4 and 5 at 7:00pm

Wednesday 15^th – Parent/Teacher Meeting Years 2, 3, 6 and OC at 7:00pm

Friday 17^th – Band Parent Meeting 8:30am

Tuesday 21^st – Parent/Teacher Meeting Year 4HR at 7:00pm

March

Friday 2^nd – Clean Up School Day

Tuesday 6^th – Zone Swimming Carnival

Wednesday 7^th – P & C Meeting

Thursday 15^th – Selective High School Test – Year 6

Friday 16^th – Family Picnic

Monday 26^th – Friday 30^th – Special Swimming Scheme Year 2

Thursday 29^th – Rehearsal for Grandfriends Concert

Friday 30^th – Grandfriends Concert

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

• ·         All our Kindergarten children who are settling into all class and school routines so easily.  They are a wonderful group of boys and girls who are so keen and interested in learning.  Well done Kinders! Many thanks to the great teachers who are providing such outstanding support to them in these important early days.
• ·         Congratulations to our new Year 5 OC boys and girls who are also settling in to their new school.  We know that it is not easy to change schools in Year 5 – there are many adjustments to be made and for many, more travel involved!  We are very pleased to have you with us at NBPS and know that you will have a wonderful two years in our OC program.
• ·         The Uniform Shop team led by Helen and Irene who have worked so hard filling hundreds of uniform orders and selling so many items of uniform.  We do appreciate all your work and the hours you put in to ensure that all our children are fully “decked out” and look to smart.
• ·         Tom Lockhart 6T who won the NSW 100m and 200m Butterfly events at the NSW State Swimming Carnival in early January.  He also came  2^nd in the 200m Individual Medley winning the silver medal.  Congratulations Tom and best wishes for our school’s carnival on Monday.
• ·         Lillian and Arquette 5CW who have assisted with the distribution of uniform orders to the classrooms.  You are fantastic Uniform Monitors girls!  Many thanks.
• ·         3H for their exemplary behaviour at their first visit to Barry Street park on Tuesday.  Ms Haigh was most impressed.  Well done boys and girls.
• ·         All the boys and girls who auditioned successfully for our Senior Boys and Senior Girls Dance Groups.  Congratulations!

Swimming Caps

We will be selling swimming caps for Monday’s Carnival before school tomorrow and on Monday morning. The House Captains will have a stall set up under the COLA. The caps come in the four house colours and cost $5 each.

Primary Ethics

Primary Ethics classes are offered to Year 5 and Year 6 children whose parents wish them to opt out of non-scripture.

These classes are held on Wednesdays as an alternative to Special Religious Education.

If you are interested or would like more information about Primary Ethics go to www.primaryethics.com.au

Alternatively, you can contact Sue Ashton-Davies, Primary Ethics Co-ordinator, either on susie@davies2.com or 0419 462 365.

Email Addresses

The parent email addresses used to send out newsletter notifications are extracted from the school’s enrolment database. If you did not receive a notification this week, please update your details at the school office.

Owen Taylor, Deputy Principal

Mathletics and Spellodrome

We are currently in the process of updating Mathletics and Spellodrome for 2012. Spellodrome is a program on the Mathletics website that will assist the students with their spelling. The students will be given their account details from their class teacher as soon as possible. The same account details can be used for Mathletics and Spellodrome. Could all students please check that they are able to successfully log into their accounts when their details have been issued.

Please note that only Gold Mathletics certificates will be presented to the students throughout the year.  When students earn a Gold Mathletics certificate they will receive this certificate during their Stage Assembly. Children no longer have to add their name to the Mathletics Gold Award box found outside the office. When students earn a Spellodrome gold certificate they can add their name to the Spellodrome Gold Award chart found in their classroom.

 Nadine Walsh and Leanne Gassmann, Mathletics Coordinators

SCHOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

Canteen News

Greetings from the canteen!  The canteen is running smoothly, and most of the children are putting this year’s class on their orders already – an improvement over last year.

We will be trialing some new snacks in coming weeks – look for items like seaweed salad and edamame.  The most popular will be added to the menu.  Also, we will be adding a new type of sushi from next Monday: BBQ beef with veg.  We will also be PUTTING UP THE PRICE OF SUSHI BY $0.20 from Monday to cover increased cost.  Sushi will be $2.90 per roll, still very competitive.

Please remember that Fridays are now online orders only.  You can quickly set up an account with flexischools at www.flexischools.com.au.  Conact Kristina on 0407 297 691 or at nbpscanteen@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.  And please consider giving a day or even a few hours to the canteen.  We are able to maintain low prices on beautiful, fresh food for your children because of volunteers.  If we have to increase paid staff hour, we will have to raise prices! 

Canteen Roster

Monday – Help Needed, Gwen Murdoch, Swimming Carnival

Tuesday – Gil Schreiber and Liesel Wightwick

Wednesday – Renuka and Liz Skinner

Thursday – Milton and Ping Xu [2 hours]

Friday – Jane Wilder and Kate Mitchell and Kate Stephens 2 hours.

Band News 2012  

A big welcome to the 2012 Neutral Bay Public School band juggernaut!  We’re delighted to confirm that at today’s count we have a total of 182 children from Years 3-6 enrolled in the program across the junior, senior and concert band. 

Thank you to all band parents for bearing with us while we’ve been auditioning the children and ironing out logistics for each band over the past ten days. 

What an exciting year is planned for band members.  Please refer each week to the school newsletter to keep abreast of developments and be sure to take note of emails from your individual band coordinators regarding updates.

Rehearsal times for all bands have been finalised as follows:

Final Band Rehearsal Times

Junior Band – Mondays at 7.45am and Wednesdays at 11.20am (lunchtime)

Senior Band – Tuesdays at 7.45am and Thursdays at 12.50pm (lunchtime)

Concert Band – Fridays at 7.45am and Tuesdays at 12.50pm (lunchtime)

We also wanted to take this early opportunity to let you know some key upcoming dates for all the bands – please mark them in your diaries as follows:  

Save the Date  

Friday 17 February at 8.30am

Band parent meeting for ALL parents – what to expect in 2012.

Location: School hall 

Sunday 4 March from 1.00pm-4.00pm

Compulsory band workshop for ALL band members.

Location: At school (various locations)

Saturday May 5 and Sunday May 6 (overnight)

Compulsory band camp for ALL band members.

We’ll let you know of other key dates as they are confirmed.

Simone Bird and Sharon Mitchell, Overall Band Coordinators

Uniform Shop

Welcome back from all of us here at the Uniform Shop! As usual at the beginning of the new school year, it’s been pretty busy at the shop and all of our wonderful volunteers have been putting in extra hours to make sure we get orders out to families as quickly as possible! 

Save time – shop online!

www.flexischools.com.au

We’re so pleased that the online ordering system is up and running and we really urge you all to make full use of it.  Using Flexischools is easy! If you haven’t tried it, just head to the website, enter our school name and register your child.  Then it’s a few simple steps to place your order and pay and we’ll do the rest – with orders placed before 3pm being delivered the next day.  Using Flexischools helps our volunteers too, as it speeds up the process of getting items out of the shop and delivered to classrooms. 

Uniform Shop Monitors

Thank you and welcome to those children who have been given the responsibility of Uniform Monitors, welcome to the team …….

You’ve all done a marvellous job so far this week, making sure that all of our deliveries are made, thank you so much from all of the uniform shop volunteers.

Learn Music on Keyboard at Neutral Bay Public School – Enrolment for Term 1

To enrol please call 9411 3122

45-min lesson weekly, small group

Music theory + Instrument playing

Instrument not required initially.

www.learnmusicatschool.com.au

Orchestra/String Group

Our String Group is looking for more musicians to join in 2012. We meet on Wednesdays during term from 7:45 am at the Multipurpose room. Copies of the enrolment form are available at the school office.  If your child would like to play the violin, viola or cello in the group, please contact Rachel Miller on 0429 772 066 or millersmusicstudio@live.com 

Like Alpine Skiing, XC Sking or Snowboarding?

Be part of the 2012 NBPS Snow Sports Team!

The Interschools Snow Sports Competition is on again this year.  Last year over 3500 Primary School children from across Australia competed in the competition series and more are expected this year.  It’s a great opportunity for kids to have heaps of fun! 

NBPS has entered a team into the Interschools for the past 7 years and we are looking for skiers and boarders from Kindy to Year 6 interested in joining the NBPS Snow Sports Team. 

Our Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Team will compete at Perisher from 11 to 14 July 2012. 

If you would like your child to be part of this fun event please contact: 

Tel:   0408 281828  Email:  sharmila.soorian@ihug.com.au

Sharmila Soorian (Taj Astill, 2N) NBPS Interschools Snow Sports Coordinator

Year 2 + Year 4 Cockatoo Island Camp Out : Sat 17th March

Please note that the date for the Camp Out is Saturday 17^th March, and not Saturday 27^th March as mentioned in last week’s newsletter.

Norths Pirates Junior Rugby Union Club

The Pirates are your local junior rugby union club located at Tunks Park, Cammeray.

Our players can look forward to being introduced to the skills and tactical concepts of Rugby in a safe and fun environment that lets them develop their sporting skills and confidence with an emphasis on fair play, safety, teamwork and sportsmanship.

• Walla Rugby –  Under 6 and 7

A simple, non-tackling introduction to the game which allows children to use the ball, by combining the skills of passing, catching and running. It is played on a smaller field seven players per side.

• ·         Mini and Midy Rugby – Under 8 to Under 17

Continues the theme of free-flowing, running and passing Rugby. Most importantly, it introduces the young player to the contact elements of the game such as tackle, ruck and maul.

Information and Registration days will be held at Tunks Park from 10am to 12pm, 5^th and  12th  February. www.northspirates.rugbynet.com.au

Contact : Bill Rees 0416 16 1477       E: northspirates@tpg.com.au

Sydney University Junior Hockey

is registering players now!  We are based on the north shore and participate in the Northern Area winter competition. 

The Club currently has vacancies in the U/9, U/11 and U/13 age groups.  We train on Monday each week and our games are on Saturday mornings and Friday nights.  Our coaches are great – they are mostly 1st grade players who are Hockey Scholarship holders from Sydney University.



If you are interested in playing field hockey, we would love you to join our Club.  Beginners are very welcome in every age group.



Registration Day is 2pm to 4pm, Sunday 17 February at the Clubhouse, Primrose Park, Young Street, Neutral Bay or email:   juniorhockey@suhc.asn.au