Kotara South Public School Newsletter A Great Place to Be! www.kotarasth-p.school.nsw.edu.au [email protected](02) 4957 5319 150 Rae Crescent Kotara South 2289 7 August 2019 | Week 3 | Term 3 From the Principal Welcome to Week 3, It’s Education Week! This state-wide annual event celebrates NSW public education and showcases the achievements of students, public schools and the value of public education in our society. The theme of this year’s Education Week is, Every Student, Every Voice, I couldn’t be prouder to know and celebrate the fact that our students are very well-known across all staff in our school and have as strong voice of advocacy in their learning. This year KSPS will be showcasing the talents of our students and staff through the performance of Music, Art, Dance and Drama- MADD. These performances will allow parents to view their children from 2 stages with repeated performances over a 2 hour period on Wednesday and Thursday. There will also be a static art display in the library. We are so excited to be presenting this to our community in such an innovative and fluid style. Please see our website later in the week for photos from MADD. On Friday, we will hold our annual Education Week Assembly to celebrate students and their achievements across three coveted awards per class: Future Focus, Consistent Approach and Consistent Learner awards. We look forward to seeing families in school across the week. Exciting! Our KSPS Kids playgroup is up and running and has now been through a fortnightly rotation of odd and even weeks. Playgroup is specifically for the students who are enrolled for Kindergarten (and their siblings) in 2020. It provides an opportunity for new students and families to become familiar with school, routines and staff. It also allows the opportunity for the school to get to know and understand the needs of your child. Please encourage any family you know who has an appropriately aged Kinder child for 2020, to enrol now and attend KSPS Kids Playgroup each fortnight Friday from 9-11am. Next Tuesday 13 August, students from KSPS will represent our school and the Newcastle City Zone PSSA at the Zone Athletics carnival at Glendale Athletics Centre. Parents, please make sure you have entered your child online using the link provided on the permission note. We wish students from year 2 to year 6 the best of luck. We know you’ll all jump, run, throw your best! Go KSPS. In term 4, KSPS hosts the stage 2 and 3 camps. The purpose of these camps is to make links with curriculum, but it is also an opportunity to offer students learning outside the classroom and school environment. Camps build resilience, friendship skills and collaboration skills whilst making memories for life. This year stage 2 will be spending 2 nights at Mowbray Farm Picton and stage 3 children will be travelling to Bathurst, Jenolan Caves and Katoomba for 3 nights. If you are using the payment plan option, please be up to date with your child’s camp
It’s Education Week! This state-wide annual event celebrates NSW public education and showcases the achievements of students, public schools and the value of public education in our society. The theme of this year’s Education Week is, Every Student, Every Voice, I couldn’t be prouder to know and celebrate the fact that our students are very well-known across all staff in our school and have as strong voice of advocacy in their learning. This year KSPS will be showcasing the talents of our students and staff through the performance of Music, Art, Dance and Drama- MADD. These performances will allow parents to view their children from 2 stages with repeated performances over a 2 hour period on Wednesday and Thursday. There will also be a static art display in the library. We are so excited to be presenting this to our community in such an innovative and fluid style. Please see our website later in the week for photos from MADD. On Friday, we will hold our annual Education Week Assembly to celebrate students and their achievements across three coveted awards per class: Future Focus, Consistent Approach and Consistent Learner awards. We look forward to seeing families in school across the week. Exciting!
Our KSPS Kids playgroup is up and running and has now been through a fortnightly rotation of odd and even weeks. Playgroup is specifically for the students who are enrolled for Kindergarten (and their siblings) in 2020. It provides an opportunity for new students and families to become familiar with school, routines and staff. It also allows the opportunity for the school to get to know and understand the needs of your child. Please encourage any family you know who has an appropriately aged Kinder child for 2020, to enrol now and attend KSPS Kids Playgroup each fortnight Friday from 9-11am. Next Tuesday 13 August, students from KSPS will represent our school and the Newcastle City Zone PSSA at the Zone Athletics carnival at Glendale Athletics Centre. Parents, please make sure you have entered your child online using the link provided on the permission note. We wish students from year 2 to year 6 the best of luck. We know you’ll all jump, run, throw your best! Go KSPS. In term 4, KSPS hosts the stage 2 and 3 camps. The purpose of these camps is to make links with curriculum, but it is also an opportunity to offer students learning outside the classroom and school environment. Camps build resilience, friendship skills and collaboration skills whilst making memories for life. This year stage 2 will be spending 2 nights at Mowbray Farm Picton and stage 3 children will be travelling to Bathurst, Jenolan Caves and Katoomba for 3 nights. If you are using the payment plan option, please be up to date with your child’s camp
payments as we need to close off full payment well before we go to camp. See your child’s class teacher if you have any questions regarding camp. A reminder that the Snaketails performance is next week. Further information later in the newsletter. Autonomy and responsibility play an important role in building children’s resilience. You can encourage your children to take on responsibilities and develop a sense of autonomy to build their resilience. As parents, it’s natural for us to want to protect our children from negative experiences, but it’s important not to shield them completely from life’s challenges. Working through difficulties and problems – with adult support as required – will give your child a chance to learn about themselves, develop resilience, and grow as a person. Some examples of how you might do this is: build your child’s independence by allowing them to complete age appropriate tasks themselves. Talk to your child about problem solving; sometimes planning a response or how to get through a problem is half the battle. Allow your child to make decisions for themselves that are age and situation appropriate.
Last week I participated in a state-first Principal Swap with Mr Snedden from Kotara High School. This was an awarding opportunity for both us to truly know and understand the requirements for and of students moving to and from both settings. As a Kotara Community of Schools (KCoS) we participate across schools regularly, but being onsite for week, allows for detailed understanding of staff, students and site specifics that both of us need to make those connections. During the week I visited most subject faculties, participated in teaching classes- advanced senior English Henry V, worked through the 2020 timetabling juga naught and spent time with many students. I held a feedback meeting with the year 7 students from KSPS, MHPS, NLSPS, BPS and APS primary feeder schools. I know Mr Snedden spent his time in most of our classes, engaging with students and learning about the primary curriculum. Mr Snedden and myself have reflected on our time and are very proud of both of our schools and how we cater for all students in a caring, professional and supportive manner.
In an open letter to the staff from Mr Snedden said:
‘I had an amazing time. I was so impressed with how open everyone was to my probing questions and supporting my learning. I sincerely enjoyed coming in to so many of your classrooms, and my only regret was that I didn’t get into everyone’s room. Seeing your students learn firsthand and sharing this experience in such a hands-on and authentic way was so enlightening for me. I was blown away by how engaged your students were and how passionate all of you are about your student’s welfare and learning’.
Photo: Mr Snedden Principal Kotara High, Mrs Maxworthy Principal Kotara South PS and Mr Harris, Director Educational Leadership Glenrock Network. Please see the link below for a pictorial view of my week at KHS and a copy of the interview with ABC Newcastle on Monday morning, scroll to the approximate 2 hour mark to hear the interview. Mr Snedden and myself will be sharing information with our KCOS Principal group and Glenrock Principal network in the coming weeks and term. Photo slideshow of Mrs Max's week at Kotara High School ABC Radio Interview link
A reminder that I will be taking long service leave from Monday 19 August to Friday 6 Sept as I travel overseas to London, Paris and throughout Italy. Mrs Ward will be relieving Principal in my absence and I know and trust that KSPS will be in safe hands during this time. I am so proud of our school and can’t say it enough times… #KSPSagreatplacetobe. Mrs Maxworthy
PRINCIPAL
PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE The PRC finishes on Friday 30th August. Well done to the 25 dedicated readers who have already completed the Challenge. I am able to help with recording book read, if there is a problem please see me before Wednesday 28th August.
Sue Harvey – TEACHER LIBRARIAN
PUBLIC SPEAKING ZONE FINALISTS Just a reminder that our eight finalists who are representing our school in the zone level of the Hunter Inter-Schools Public Speaking Competition will be presenting their speeches at our Education Week Assembly this Friday August 9.
ES1: Hayley Jago- Unicorns and Braden Clarke- The Periodic Table of Elements
S1: Maya O’Brien- Balloon Family and Holly Brock- If it Snowed at School
S2: Rose King- Performing and Wesley Martin- Time Travel
S3: Lilly Dunn- Child Rights and Nate Ward- Being Literal
The Hunter Inter-Schools Public Speaking Competition will be held next week. We wish you all the best of luck!
Miss Shannon O’Reilly– PUBLIC SPEAKING COORDINATOR
SWIM SCHOOL 2019 The school swimming scheme will commence in Term 4 as part of this year’s sporting program. All Year 2 students will be involved in the program with limited places for eligible students in Year 3 to 6.
The swimming school will take place at Charlestown Pool under the instruction of qualified teachers and will run daily for two weeks starting Monday Week 1 Term 4 14th October – 25th October 2019.
A note regarding Swim School for 2019 has been sent home today with Year 2 students containing all necessary information.
Mr Eldridge - SCHOOL SWIMMING SCHEME CO-ORDINATOR
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PREMIER’S DEBATING CHALLENGE On Tuesday 30th July our two KSPS debating teams travelled to New Lambton South Public School to compete in Round 3 of the Premier’s Debating Challenge. Congratulations to Jay, Elodie, Luke J and Phoebe of the Kotara South Opals who came away with a win after presenting some fabulous arguments on the negative side of the topic “All students in Year 5 and above should have a paid job one afternoon a week”. What a hard topic to debate especially when you only have one hour to prepare! Great work Opals. Jeremiah, Lucinda, Lilly and Cooper from the KSPS Diamonds had an extremely close debate and were unlucky to not come away with a win after speaking with confidence and determination about the topic “All children should be paid to do chores around the house”. The Diamonds had some fantastic rebuttals and the adjudicator was very impressed. This was a fabulous learning experience for our students and Mrs McClymont was so proud of the way they conducted themselves.
Sam McClymont – DEBATING COORDINATOR
COUNSELLOR CORNER
We all experience difficulties from time to time, and kids are no different. But some children seem to encounter problems or feel the effects more so than others. Families are often in the best position to spot issues with a child’s emotions, thinking or behaviour. If a child close to you is having problems that stick around for more than a few weeks and interfere with school, home, friendships or daily life, it’s time to get some professional advice.
The first step is taking time to observe what’s going on.
Signs of concern • Frequent, unexplained temper tantrums • Unusual fears • Difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep • Sadness and feelings of hopelessness that don’t go away • Avoiding friends or family and wanting to be alone most of the time • Refusing to go to preschool or school on a regular basis • Inability to get along with other children • Hyperactive behaviour or constant movement beyond regular playing • Noticeable disinterest or decline in school performance • Frequent aggressive reactions (more than is reasonably expected in the situation) • Difficulties with concentration, attention and organisation • Any other changes from their usual way of acting over a short period of time
Kids experience a wide range of emotions and behaviours as part of growing up, so any of these signs in isolation is not necessarily cause for concern. This list should be used as a guide only, but the more signs your child is showing and the more distressed they seem, the more important it is to seek some advice from a professional.
[Source: Beyond Blue]
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have concerns about your child. I am at KSPS on Thursdays and Fridays.
Belinda Robinson – SCHOOL COUNSELLOR
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GEOGRAPHY AND SCIENCE IN SEMESTER 2 Early Stage 1 Topic- People Live in Places. The students will explore the places they live in and belong to.
Stage 1 Topic- People and Places. The students will explore places within Australia and Australia’s location in the world.
Stage 2 Topic- The Earth’s Environment. The students will explore the climate, natural vegetation and native animals of places in Australia.
Stage 3 Topic- Factors That Shape Places. The students will investigate how people change the natural environment in Australia and other places around the world.
Early Stage 1 Topic - Earth and Space. The students will focus on daily and seasonal weather.
Stage 1 Topic - Earth and Space. The students will focus on the weather and how it affects us.
Stage 2 Topic - Earth and Space. The focus is on how the Earth changes overtime and how night and day occur.
Stage 3 Topic - Earth and Space. The focus for students will be learning about the solar system and the similarities and differences between the planets.
Sue Harvey, Lauren Finlayson and Jenny Squire– RFF TEAM
BOOK PARADE During Book Week (Week 5) KSPS students are able to dress up in costume for our annual Book Parade. We celebrate our character costume by bringing the book/photocopy of cover, on the day of the parade. The parade will take place on Friday August 24 from 10.15am in the Kindergarten area. Parents and community are invited to attend.
There will be a Book Fair to purchase books, in the Kindy hall, before and after the Book Parade. The Book Fair will also operate before school during the week.
Violet Cox-EARLY STAGE 1/STAGE 1 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
EDUCATION WEEK ASSEMBLY Our K-6 Education Week Assembly will be held in the school hall this Friday August 9 from 9.00 – 9.45 am. Class teachers have notified parents of the students who will be receiving an award at the assembly. Our Public Speaking Zone Finalists will also be presenting their speech at this assembly. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Violet Cox – EARLY STAGE 1/ STAGE 1 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
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SNAKE TAILS INCURSION On Tuesday August 20, Snake Tails will be visiting our school. Snake Tails is a customised presentation for Early Stage 1 through to Stage 3 students and complements both the “Natural Environment" and the "Living World" in the Science curriculum. Topics covered include:
• how reptiles move • basic needs of reptiles • how the environment affects reptiles, their development, growth and survival • life cycles • food chains • structural features of reptiles • adaptation to their environment
During the presentation students will have the opportunity to interact with harmless pythons, lizards and turtles. Students will also view several deadly snakes found in NSW. The snakes will remain in tamper-proof boxes for visual recognition only.
The cost of this educational experience is $8.00 per student. Please see Parent Portal for information regarding payment for this event. Violet Cox – EARLY STAGE 1 / STAGE 1 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION PARENT INFORMATION SESSION Our Kindergarten Orientation Parent Information session will be held on Wednesday next week, August 14 from 9.30am-11am in the KSPS school hall. This session is for Parents/Carers who have children commencing Kindergarten in 2020. If you have completed enrolment forms or other relevant information to hand in, these can be taken to the school office before the session. We look forward to seeing you there!
Miss Brooke Partridge – KINDERGARTEN CO-ORDINATOR
K-2 MATHEMATICS DATA On Wednesday 21 August (Week 5) K-2 students will be participating in a Mathematics data activity at Kotara Park. Students will be recording modes of transport travelling along Park Avenue and then returning to school to create data displays as a part of the Statistics and Probability Strand of the Mathematics curriculum.
Students and teachers will walk safely to and from Kotara Park leaving at 9:15am and returning before lunch.
Students should bring their fruit break and water bottle and are to wear their school uniform and hat.
If the weather is inclement this activity will be postponed until Term 4.
No permission note is needed for this activity due to a signed permission note at the beginning of the year stating students may walk in the local area.
If you have any questions or there are any special needs of your child, please speak to your child’s teacher. K-2 TEACHERS
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Keep track of school events by signing up for notifications on the Sentral for parents app. ‘What’s On’ reminders are posted each Sunday evening. Or, please check the Events page of the KSPS
Website for all upcoming dates and details.
Assembly Awards
WEEK 1 & 2 K’OR Elise Borrman
Danielle Creamer Jackson Horscroft-Smith Harper Hudson Alexander Postol Keira Wallace
1/2G Alani Restall Jacob Gundry Blake Mitchison Finn O’Brien Essence Boeree Sophia Horscroft-
Smith
3/4M Seanna Keats Thomas Forrester Joseph Kyle-Whitson Oscar Toole Alexander Maytom Emma Jennison
P&C Association P&C MEETING NEXT WEEK Please come along to our next P&C meeting on Wednesday 14 August at 7pm in the school library. Among other things, we will be discussing changes to our canteen menu. Join us to hear what is happening around the school and to have your say.
CANTEEN NEWS All NSW public school canteens are required to meet the Department of Education's Healthy School Canteen Guidelines by the end of 2019. To ensure our canteen menu meets the new guidelines, we need to make a few changes.
At this time, the current menu remains in use, with the exception of Moosies ice blocks, which will no longer be sold. There may be some fluctuations in other item availability as we work through this process, and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
You will have also noticed the lack of daily or weekly specials - this is because the new Guidelines have certain requirements for specials or meal deals, and we are still working through how we can best meet the needs of our school community while complying with the Guidelines.
Mrs Best puts her heart and soul into our wonderful canteen and this is not going to change. Please show your support to Mrs Best as we work our way through these mandatory changes together.
If you have any feedback on the canteen menu, please email the P&C directly or come along to our next P&C meeting. We look forward to sharing the final menu with you towards the end of 2019.
For more information on the guidelines, please visit the website: https://healthyschoolcanteens.nsw.gov.au/
CANTEEN HELPERS NEEDED Mrs Best needs volunteers to help operate our wonderful canteen. We are only able to operate five days a week thanks to the assistance of members of our school community. Some people are able to help regularly and we are so thankful for their time. But your help is so appreciated even if you can only come one day a year. Typically, we need one volunteer for Monday-Tuesday, two on Wednesday-Thursday and 3 on Friday (our busiest day!).
Please use our online roster to put your name down if you can help: https://signup.zone/YWPTdxj2Kqha4s8Jz
TEA TOWELS If you missed out on a KSPS tea towel and would like to purchase one, we are selling our remaining stock through the uniform shop. The cost remains the same - $15 for the first tea towel and $10 for additional tea towels purchased in the same transaction.
Keep track of school events by signing up for notifications on the Sentral for parents app. ‘What’s On’ reminders are posted each Sunday evening. Or, please check the Events page of the KSPS Website for all upcoming dates and details
