Email: tocumwal-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or visit our website: www.tocumwal-p.school.nsw.edu.au

Phone: (03) 58 742 128 Fax: (03) 58 742 281

Principal: Darren White

TOCUMWAL PUBLIC SCHOOL

Wednesday 13th December, 2017 Term 4, Week 10

Important Dates Thursday 14th December

Helpers Sausage Sizzle Friday 15th December

Students’ Last Day 2017 Class Parties/Water Fun Day

Santa Visit Tuesday 19th December

Staff Last Day 2017 Monday 29th January First Day 2018 - Staff Tuesday 30th January

First Day 2018 - Year 1-6 Friday 2nd February

First Day 2018 - Kinder

Principal’s Report Year 6 Farewell Graduation Dinner Last Wednesday we held the Year 6 Farewell at the Tocumwal Golf and Bowling Club. Students in Year 6, their invited parents/carers and staff sat down to a wonderfully prepared dinner provided by the Toc Golf and Bowling Club personnel. School Dance The annual school dance was held at the Tocumwal Memorial Hall with children from Kinder to Year 6 attending. Year 6 and their teachers Mrs Hatty and Ms Brain made a grand entrance on stage performing a choreographed dance for all present to enjoy Throughout the night all students performed a variety of dances under the command of the rocking DJ Willoughby. Students really brought the house down so to speak. It was wonderful to see so many parents getting up dancing with their children and getting a sweat up. The evening concluded with the playing of the traditional photo story of the Year 6 students, then the cutting of the amazing graduation cake. Students then gathered for the playing of Auld Lang Syne as the Year 6 students formed a circle in the middle surrounded by the rest of the students. A farewell tunnel involving all students then sent the Year Sixes off in style. A big thank you to the efforts of the P&C, Miss Willoughby and teachers for all of their lead up and preparation. Thank you also to Bec Smithers for the delicious and creative graduation cake and Deb White for putting together the awesome slide show presentation of the Year 6 children.

Mathletes of the Week:

Infants: Henry Farrow

Primary: Will O’Connell & Liam Sutton

Issy Bennett Tarryn Wright Lucy Watmore

Summer Parker

Presentation Night Our school’s Presentation Night was held last night at school. It was well supported and was an opportunity for the community to join together in celebrating the school’s achievements during the past year and to recognise individual students who have achieved at high levels in academic, sporting and cultural pursuits. Congratulations to all of the award winners during the evening, you are most deserving of your accolades. A full list of the award winners is listed inside the Riversider magazine. School Captains 2018

Last night we announced our new school Captains for 2018. I would like to congratulate these newly elected leaders and wish them all the very best in their role as leaders of Tocumwal Public School in 2018. Our Captains are: Hunter Hardwidge and Tahlia Pate, our Vice-Captains are Jackson Bury and Jessica Bennett. I am certain they will do a wonderful job and will be well supported by all Year 6 students who will also be leaders of the school.

Tocumwal Colour Course (TCC) Today our students enjoyed the Tocumwal Colour Course fun activity. We changed the venue from the pony club to our school due to the heat factor posing some concerns for us. We set up multiple stations for students to get squirted with some liquid colour and other sorted mediums of colour. The Rural Fire Brigade kept the children cool with their hoses spraying misty rain over the students as well as wetting down the slip n slide. It was super to see lots of parents and other family members come down and join in the fun. Thank you to Miss Willoughby for again setting up and coordinating this wonderful fundraising event for our students it was loads of fun and kept us cool on this rather warm day. Mufti Day On the last day of school, Friday 15th December, children are permitted to wear plain clothes. Please however, make sure your child has the appropriate footwear as well as a hat and suitable sun safe clothing. Primary Students Pool Afternoon On Friday, 15th December, students in classes Years 3-6 only will be having an afternoon at the Tocumwal Swimming Pool. Classes will walk down to the pool at approximately 1pm. Students will be given supervised free time at the pool. We will be leaving the pool at 2:45pm to return for buses and pickups. Students who do not have a season pass will be expected to pay the $3 entry fee. Please ensure your child has appropriate swimwear and a towel. A permission note is again attached to this week’s Newsletter to gain parental /caregiver’s permission if you haven’t had a chance to fill one out and return it yet. Could you please return the slip to the front office with payment on or before Thursday, 14th December. No students will be left at the pool. If you want your child to go home directly from the pool a note must be presented to your child’s teacher indicating your directions, permission and your signature. Infant Students Water Fun Day On Friday, 15th December, students in classes Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will be having an afternoon here at school with a water themed activity based fun session. Due to our increased numbers across the school combined with the recent infants swim scheme, the infants will not be going to the pool as in previous years. With the infants being well and truly water logged over the past two weeks we have decided that they will enjoy a fun water afternoon at school on the last day. This will allow much safer pool ratios with supervisors and students. Students will need to bring swimmers and a towel and a change of clothes. Please ensure all clothing is labelled so it can be returned if mislaid.

Class Party Day / Santa’s Visit Also occurring on Friday, 15th December, is Class Party Day. Class teachers will organise with the students in their class what they are required to bring for the class party. Also on this day the infants will be having a special visit by Santa. Santa is looking forward to talking to all the girls and boys in our infant’s classes. He might also have a little surprise for them. We sure are excited!

Email: tocumwal-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or visit our website: www.tocumwal-p.school.nsw.edu.au

Phone: (03) 58 742 128 Fax: (03) 58 742 281

Student Reports Students’ reports were given out by your child’s classroom teacher last night after Presentation evening was concluded and today Wednesday 13th December at the end of the school day. Your child’s report describes student achievement in each of the subjects taught in all NSW schools. To prepare the reports, teachers are using a five point scale to describe the achievement of each student in each subject area over the past two terms. All students in NSW are taught the same NSW Board of Studies syllabuses. Their achievements on these common syllabuses are now reported consistently on a five point Board of Studies scale. Each school is using five grades - A-E - or five word descriptions - outstanding, high, sound, basic and limited - to summarise the five point scale of achievement. These grades tell you how your child is achieving in relation to the material taught in each subject for that semester. They describe the quality of the work your child has produced. They are not a pass/fail scale and do not rank your child in their class, there is no pre-determined number of students who will achieve any of the achievement levels. If you are leaving to go on holidays prior to the last day of school and need your child’s report, please let your child’s teacher know and we will have it available to pick up earlier. Helpers Appreciation Lunch Pupils and staff of Tocumwal Public School sincerely thank all parents/ carers and community members who have made a contribution to our school in 2017. Your contributions not only include helping in classrooms but also at swimming lessons, carnivals, excursions, canteen, P&C and various fund raising activities to name a few. We therefore wish to extend an open invitation to you all to attend an appreciation sausage sizzle lunch at 1:15pm tomorrow, Thursday 14th December, under the COLA. We are looking forward to celebrating our success with you. Good Luck Miss Brain I would like to wish Miss Brittany Brain all the very best next year as she heads off to Albury to further her career in teaching. She has been a wonderful asset to our school since beginning here in Term 2 after our numbers had increased. I would like to thank her for all of the valuable contributions she has made during her time with us. Kindergarten Enrolments We are currently preparing for 2018. If you have a child to enrol or know of someone who has, please encourage them to complete and return their enrolment forms as soon as possible. Thank you. Outstanding Excursion Payments If you have not finalised your payments from your child’s recent excursion. Could you please make your payments promptly. This needs to be attended to as the school is finalising our finances for the end of the year and are carrying some family’s debt into the new school financial year which is not desirable. We appreciate your efforts in making this one of your priorities. If you are not sure call in and see our friendly office staff Have you seen Helen’s Window? On the corner of 42 Deniliquin Rd and Anzac Ave, Helen Ruigrok and Molly-Mae have set up a Christmas window display for families to come and enjoy. See if you can solve the puzzles and challenges in finding some of her hidden treasures based around nursery rhyme and Christmas themes. Classes resume in 2018 Students in Year 1- Year 6 resume school on Tuesday 30th January 2018. Kindergarten will commence on Friday 2nd February 2018. Staff only will return on Monday 29th January for a staff development and professional learning day. Merry Christmas This will be the final Newsletter for the year. I thank you all for your readership in following the special events and articles in this Newsletter on a weekly basis. On behalf of all of the staff at Tocumwal Public School, I wish you a safe and merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Darren White

Canteen News Remember our last canteen will be tomorrow THURSDAY 14th December.

Sonia Cracknell, Canteen Co-Ordinator

Bike Education Day Yesterday 3/4G had a Bike Education Day. The children brought their bikes to school and learnt about bike safety and the importance of wearing a correctly fitting helmet. The children learnt a lot and had lots of riding challenges. Big thanks to Mr White for taking the children in small groups for a bike ride around the town.

Tocumwal Public School Pool Afternoon

FOR STUDENTS IN YEARS 3-6 ONLY Friday 15th December 2017

I give permission for my child/ren to attend the Tocumwal Swimming Pool on Friday15th December 2017 from 1.00pm to 2.45pm. Please indicate below if your child can or cannot swim 25m in a recognised stroke unassisted. Name: _________________________________________ can / cannot swim 25m in a recognised stroke unassisted (Please circle) Name: _________________________________________ can / cannot swim 25m in a recognised stroke unassisted (Please circle) Name: _________________________________________ can / cannot swim 25m in a recognised stroke unassisted (Please circle) I understand the children will be walking to the pool. Special needs of my child/ren which you should be aware (eg: allergies, etc.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please tick

� I have enclosed $3.00 per child to cover the entry fee or � our season ticket no. is ______________________ Signature of parent/guardian _______________________________________ Date ______________________

FOR STUDENTS IN YEARS 3-6 ONLY

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1300 094 737 1300 WIRES

WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.) has been rescuing and caring for native animals since 1985, officially launching as an organisation in March 1986.Our mission is to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same.

WIRES has over 2500 volunteers in 27 branches involved in the rescue and care of wildlife and we have a dedicated Rescue Office that operates 365 days a year assisting the community to help native animals in distress. WIRES assist tens of thousands of animals every year, receiving over 83,000 requests for rescue assistance in the last financial year.