From the Principal A very big welcome to the 2020 school year, I have no doubt that this will pass
us by quicker than last year especially with our plans for 2020. We start our
year with 19 students across Kindergarten to year 6; we continue to grow each
and every term! A special welcome to our new families and our new students
for 2020. We know that you and your families will love it here at Carcoar
Public. We pride ourselves on being the best small school around and
ensuring that we promote positive learning, strong family connections and
commitment to the community where we grow, and thrive.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome back our fabulous team. My team of staff constantly go above and
beyond to ensure the best for your children, school and community.
Mr Mark O’Leary – Classroom Teacher (Tuesday – Thursday)
Miss Kasey LePoidevin – School Administration Manager (Monday – Friday)
Mrs Dannielle Klarner – Student Learning Support Officer (Monday & Thursdays and
every second Wednesday)
Mrs Sue Scifleet – Student Learning Support Officer (Tuesday and every second Wednesday)
Mr Gavan Wicks – General Assistant (Tuesday)
Mrs Denise Smith (Cleaner)
Previously in this newsletter I mentioned our student enrolments for 2020. I would like to stress the
importance of our student enrolment numbers. We are very close to one of our magic number of 21
enrolments (just 2 more students) to provide some additional small school supplementation that can be
used across to school. If you know of any families within the area that are considering possible enrolment
could you please have them contact the school.
Additionally we welcome school tours and interviews for all prospective families from
the local and surrounding villages. As the revised enrolment policy doesn’t directly affect our school we are
able to accept local and non-local enrolments following a meeting with myself.
We hope that you like our new school signage to give the school a refresh. Over the next 12 months we
will continue to install additional signage with new school sign to be installed next – one as you drive
Carcoar Public School Newsletter Out of the Past | Into the Future
13 Icely Street, Carcoar 2791 | 02 6367 3032 |[email protected]
Term 1 | Week 2 | Friday 7th February 2020
down Icely street and another one on the cross intersection. I welcome any feedback or suggestions for
the new signage throughout 2020. As you can also see we have refreshed our school letterheads and
newsletter, we are working towards making our school’s communication clear as well as ensuring that we
stand out.
Throughout 2020 it is also our goal to refresh the learning spaces with new 21st century flexible furniture to
accommodate our needs. But do this we will require some additional funds, hopefully from fundraisers –
more to follow shortly.
We are currently in the process of refreshing our school’s community, displainary and positive behaviour
policies. Once these policies have been refreshed we will share the new policies through
our communication pathways.
The staff and I look forward to working with our students, parents and our community to make 2020
another great year at Carcoar Public School.
Mr Nicholas Bullock
Principal
Attendance
Our target is to have every child attending at a rate greater than 95%. We expect children at school each
day unless they are unwell. Holidays are no longer exempt from this data and should be taken during
scheduled school holiday time wherever possible. Please assist us by doing the following:
1 - Always contact us immediately if your child is absent from school
2 - Encourage and reward school attendance
3 - Come to the office with your child if you are running late or leaving early from school.
4 - Students should present to the office FIRST so we can record this using our online attendance system.
Contact Details & Email Address
Please contact Kasey if any of your home contact numbers, mobile numbers, emergency contact details or
work details have changed. We must keep up-to-date information in case we need to contact you. Please
also provide email address so a full colour copy of newsletter can be sent to you. Attached is a form for you
to fill out if you need to.
No Hat Play in the Shade
With the hot weather it is important for us to abide by the ‘No Hat Play in the
Shade Rule’. Hats should be worn outside at all times. If your child does not have a
hat they will be asked to play under the COLA. Please assist us by ensuring your
child has their hat each day (These are available from the uniform shop) and it is
clearly labelled with their name. Caps are not to be worn. Applying sunscreen in
the morning before school is also a great idea and is readily available at school for
reapplication throughout the day.
School Uniform
A reminder that students are expected to wear the correct uniform each day. Uniform makes our students
feel smart, strong and proud. Raban shoes and tights are not part of our uniform policy and should not be
worn. All uniform is available at school with a price list attached.
Best Start
Kindergarten will commence their best start assessments in week 3. Mr Bullock
will be taking each student individually to complete work in literacy and
numeracy. Parents will then receive a parent report early in term one. The report
will have suggestions of strategies and ideas to do at home to improve skills in
reading, writing and number.
Parent Meetings
This term, Mr O’Leary and Mr Bullock will be asking all parents to arrange a time to meet with them
individually to speak to you your children. The purpose of this meeting is to share your child’s strengths
and weaknesses and provide some learning goals to work on. Prior to the meeting all parents will receive a
blank template which some questions to answer prior to the meeting. Students who require an Individual
Learning Plan or Personalised Learning Plan will also have a follow up meeting to develop 2020 plans.
Volunteer Agreements
All parents or relatives who volunteer to assist are asked to read and sign a Statutory Declaration that
complies with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012. Parents and grandparents are not
required to obtain the Working with Children Check number. Volunteers not related to a child at the school
must have the Working with Children Check number before volunteering at the school.
School Supplies
Thank you to all the parents who have supplied stationary, tissues and
soap. If you have not yet supplied these items could you please do so.
A list of requirements is attached.
Changes to Term 4 Staff Development Days
Carcoar Public School will have a variation to the staff development days that are normally held in the last
week of December. These Staff Development Days will now be held on the following dates, Thursday week
seven each term from 3.30-6.30. During these sessions staff will be participating in modules to support the
implementation of the curriculum and mandatory training. Please be aware that these Professional
learning sessions do not affect when students are at school as they are held outside of school hours. It is
important to note however staff will conclude the 2020 year the same day as students, Wednesday 16th
December.
Major Excursions for 2020
Please be aware that major excursions for our primary aged children occur each year. We like to give
parents plenty of warning before significant costs are presented. A $50 deposit for each child will be
requested in Term 1. We encourage parents to make payment plans or making regular payments each
week or fortnight.
Stage 1 – TBA
Stage 2 - Sydney Experience
Stage 3 - Kincumber Great Aussie Bush Camps
Homework Homework will commence in Week 5 of Term 1. All students will be required to complete nightly reading.
Mr Bullock is currently investigating homework online and will provide more details and information soon.
New South Wales Core Rules
The department of education has core rules that all students are expected to follow:
Students are expected to:
Attend school every day, unless they are legally excused, and be in class on time and
prepared to learn. Maintain a neat appearance, including adhering to the requirements of the
school’s uniform and dress code policy.
Behave safely, considerately and responsibly, including when travelling to and from school.
Show respect at all times for teachers, other staff and helpers, including following class rules,
speaking courteously and cooperating with instructions and learning activities.
Treat one another with dignity and respect
Care for property belonging to themselves, the school and others.
P&C Meetings
Our AGM will be held on Thursday 20th February at 2:30PM in the
School Library. We welcome all new and existing families to our
meetings. Following the AGM we will hold a short meeting to
discuss our plans and arrangements for 2020.
School Communication
As you are aware we are making some changes in the way we communicate. To further support this
communication update we will be colour coding information that we send home to you. We hope this
makes it a little easier to keep track of all school communication.
Blue Paper Excursions & Camps
Yellow Paper Lunch Orders
Pink Paper Urgent Information
White Paper Newsletters, receipts & general information.
To keep you better informed newsletters will be sent on a fortnightly basis in weeks 2, 4, 6,8,10.
Attached to the newsletter will be any permission notes, or important information for the following
fortnight. The newsletter will then be uploaded to the school website and School Stream app.
School Stream will be used to send out any urgent
information and updates just as school closures, reminders
for permission notes, school events and student absences.
Facebook will be used to share school celebrations, share success and
promote positive new stories about Carcoar Public School. Facebook will
also be used to post anything urgent and published newsletters.
If you would also like to receive your newsletter via email please see Kasey. If you have any concerns or
feedback regarding school communication please share your thoughts so that we can continue to improve
our ways in which we communicate.
Facebook Page Guidelines The intent of our page is to provide a hub for responsible community engagement that celebrates the daily
life of our school. We proactively support participation in social media to develop and grow digital
citizenship throughout our community. Carcoar Public School values the responsible use of social media
articulated in a range of policies and guidelines that govern the expectations of online behaviour. For
privacy and protection, we do not permit ‘facial tagging’ of our students and will only name students
where appropriate. We reserve the right to remove any content that we believe is in breach of these
policies, guidelines and the values of our school. Carcoar Public School will remove content if:
It contains content written by a student enrolled at Carcoar Public School or under 13 years
It is offensive, abusive, obscene, profane, hateful or racial content, links or images
It contains comments that threaten or defame any person or organisation
The direct full name or descriptive reference to a student in the comments section
It contains endorsements by other organisations or endorsements of other organisations
It is a multiple or repetitive post by a single user
It is a repetitive post copied and pasted or duplicated by single or multiple users
It contains anything else that the school deems inappropriate and does not align with our values,
standards, policies and guidelines of the Department of Education.
Random Act of Kindness
On our students first day back for
2020, we had an unexpected visit
from Rotary Orange - Daybreak
Group.
We welcomed John and Graeme
who presented each student with
a school bag filled with a lunch
box, school books and pencils.
This gift was an initiative of
Rotary Daybreak Orange. What
an amazing donation of goodwill
and support to our local schools.
Library
Library day for 2020 will be on Fridays. Please ensure your child brings their library bags in
to borrow, re-borrow or exchange books every Friday. Our Library is full of wonderful
books that we would like our students to take home to share and enjoy with their families.
Stage 1 students will borrow 1 book, Stage 2, 2 books and Stage 3 will take home 3 books.
Swimming Carnival
We started off 2020 with our fellow Heritage
Schools at our annual Swimming Carnival. This year
being held in Cowra, the students competed in an
outdoor pool in 41 degree heat! It was a wonderful
day and our students, as always, did us proud
competing and participating in events.
Thank you to the parents that provided transport
to and from Cowra, and for coming along to
support our school.
Congratulations to our students who will be
competing at the PSSA District level, and our relay
Team for again, making it straight through to
Western Region Carnival in Dubbo.