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GLENDENNING PUBLIC SCHOOL 135 ARMITAGE DRIVE, GLENDENNING NSW 2761 NEWSLETTER October 28, 2010 Phone 02 9832 8555 Fax 02 9832 8724 Email glendennin- p.school @det.nsw.edu.au Website www.glendennin-p. schools.nsw.edu.au Before & After School Care 0414 811 196 P & C Association meets 3rd Monday of each month at 7.30pm. All parents are invited to attend. Office Hours: Mon - Fri 8.30am to 3.15pm Dear Parents/Caregivers, Facebook – Yes, Again! Facebook, is now a fact of life. I have written about it previously, as a result of students expressing opinions or putting information on it that they did not wish to share with others. None of our students at GPS should be on it, as a result of the fact that they are not of the minimum age. However, I understand some parents allow children to do this and that is a matter for the home and family. My goal is to try to raise awareness of the ‘potential’ use of any information posted to a facebook site. As with all things, there are some warnings that sometimes people do not heed, to their detriment. This week, I became aware of the fact that where police have visited schools they have spoken to stage 3 students about potential employees checking facebook. sites. Another principal has reported that at a recent cyber bullying workshop (with the police department) they said that more and more employers were getting into prospective employees facebook information and checking out the type of person they were, before they went for interview. The principal added, that apart from telling Year 6 students they shouldn't be on it, as legally they are 'supposed' to be 13 before they join, he was also telling them if they do use facebook, they should ‘not put anything on it you wouldn't want your mother to know about, as it could be their downfall!’ Whilst we can talk with students, and provide them with the latest technology, there is no guarantee that we can place the knowledge and wisdom of sensible adults ‘in their hands’. It is sad when we have to counsel students who have deliberately made a wrong decision, but it is even more regrettable if a child/teenager places something on a public site that can adversely affect them in future times. The internet and social network sites have great potential for sharing information – if used incorrectly, they also have great potential for causing embarrassment and heartache if mistakes are made. At GPS, teachers do talk to students about cyber bullying and things like facebook. I encourage all parents to talk with their children about these things as well and to consider ‘monitoring’ their child’s internet sites. . 2012, 2013 and 2014 Classes - Accompanying this newsletter is a sheet asking parents/caregivers to let us know if they intend to enrol students at GPS in future years. I understand this is a very forward-looking request, but we need to gain some insight into the school’s possible future enrolments. The information will help us plan our playgroup development for following years as well. We ask that, where applicable, you return this form to school as soon as possible. (children born between 2006 and 2007 will be eligible to begin school in 2012). Fizzy Drinks and School Thank you to all students and families for your response to this item in last week’s newsletter – students have done a superb job of ensuring they are consuming the correct drinks at school! Presentation Day is on Monday, Dec 13. All parents/caregivers of students who will be receiving an award of any kind on the day will be sent a special letter, informing them of this, in early December. If you receive one of these letters (they will be posted to you), please do not tell your son/daughter so that the award will be a ‘surprise’ on the day. School Evaluation – Management – A copy of a parent survey for your views of school management practices has been included in this newsletter. If you would like to give us your impressions on the questions asked in the survey, please complete it and return to school by next Friday, Nov. 5. The Kindergarten Transition Process is continuing!. Last Monday (Oct 18), 25 students and parents attended the visit. Whilst students participated in literacy activities in the classroom, the parents attended a workshop on the importance of oral language. On Tuesday (Oct 26), students participated in numeracy activities, whilst parents attended a workshop on helping with reading. The visits will continue next Wednesday with students participating in activities in the library. The parent workshop will focus on helping children with numeracy activities. Mrs Lumley will run this particular workshop. K-6 Care Week is happening over a number of weeks this year. Just a reminder that Bike and Scooter Ed days are on Nov. 17 (K-2) and 18 (Yrs 3-6). Miss McLeod is coordinating this year’s activities and will provide a full outline of all that will be happening in next week’s newsletter. Yours faithfully, D Meaney Principal
