Principal’s Message

GRESFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL Phone 4938 9304 Mobile: 0447 389304 www.gresford-p.school.nsw.edu.au

Term 4 Newsletter ~ 30th October, 2014

Term 4 is well underway with great learning happening both in and out of the classroom. Volunteers again feature as integral

supporters of students’ learning and it is gratifying to see the results of their input. There is Mrs. Jupp and those volunteers who

support children in the important early years of literacy attainment; parents who significantly reduce the costs of excursions and

sporting participation by providing private transport; parents who assist in beautifying our school grounds and encourage

environmental awareness; our tireless scripture teachers who turn up every week with their special messages of kindness; our

amazing scientist, Dr. Lesley Wright and her husband; Julie Hartigan who has shared her

expertise with our budding Year 6 reporters; our canteen and Breakfast Club volunteers;

and of course the hard working members of our P&C. Our school could never provide the

extra support it does for our children without the generosity of such volunteers.

Sport has featured this fortnight with Years 4 to 6 enjoying and showing great

development already, in their gymnastic and tennis skills. Our cricketers had a close game

last week against Maitland Public losing by 4 runs only. Charlie top scored for the team and

our girls, Latia and Michaela played well. Yesterday’s game was against a much stronger

side but students returned to school still pleased with the game and eager for the next

match. Well done all!

The infants students had an enjoyable excursion to the theatre in Newcastle to see Pete

the Sheep last week. Staff too enjoyed the performance and our thanks go to the P&C for

their generous subsidy of this creative arts event. Our next creative arts event is on 12th

November with a visit from the Musica Viva Program performers, ‘The Song Company’.

Notes have gone home for this worthwhile musical event. Families are admitted

free of charge to the concert. Our Year 6 students were taken on an excursion last

week to the printery at Beresfield to see where many of our newspapers are

produced. This excursion was organised by Julie Hartigan as part of the Cub

Reporters Program. We eagerly await the launch of our 2014 Year Book, which

culminates the writing program the students have been engaged in.

We were very fortunate to have a visit from the Robogals from Newcastle

University this week. Four expert presenters worked with our girls from Year 2 to

Year 6 on robotics and were joined by Dr. Wright in encouraging girls to enter

science based professions. Our boys were similarly encouraged by Mr. Wright,

whose scientific field is geology, through his presentation on the features of gold.

This is a unit of work currently being studied by Years 4-6. The boys had some real

“hands-on” learning with the gold panning activity at the conclusion and some

struck it lucky! Visiting our junior classes also yesterday was a presenter from the

Responsible Pet Owners Program who shared with the children some important

safety points on playing with pets.

Our native stingless bees have now taken up residence at school as part of our

Environmental Education Program. Our visiting entomologist surveyed the school

grounds for a suitable location and they are now living happily between the

residence and the Kinder classroom. Our thanks go to Mr. McAlister who expertly

constructed a sturdy home for them and kindly installed the hive for us. This will

form part of our science studies on plant and animal interdependence as well life

cycles and sustainable futures. The funding for this project has come through the successful application for a grant from the Hunter

Water Sustainability Project. You will see other results from this grant with welcome additions to our school vegetable garden and

general garden beautifying improvements. Our thanks go to Christine Vigar for lending her time and expertise to this project.

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Principal’s Message continued from page 1

Big news this week was our star public speaker, Latia Hipwell’s win at the Dungog Rotary Small Schools Public Speaking

Competition. Latia competed against other small schools in the area to win $200 for the school with her presentation, “A

Dairy Farmer’s Daughter.” Latia never fails to bring credit to our school with whatever pursuit she follows. She is to be

congratulated! Also representing our school in the academic field, are Hayden Gardiner and Alysha Cowley who were

selected in the Dungog Community of Schools Gifted and Talented Virtual Classroom Project. They have been selected as

talented creative writers and will work both online and in face to face classroom situations over a period of 4 weeks with an

expert tutor. This is a venture organised by our Community of Schools to offer opportunities for our more talented students

to be extended and enriched. It has been organised by principals to address the relative isolation of the rural communities in

which we live and it is intended the program will be expanded next year to cover a range of learning areas.

Our School Evaluation Team met this week to plan a way forward for data collection on our achievements this year and our

strategic planning for the next 3 years. This is a vital step in planning the educational future for our children and it is hoped

that data drawn from students, families and staff will overlay departmental goals to give us a strategic plan which reflects the

vision of the whole school community. Your opinions and ideas will be sought through a survey to be released in Week 6. It is

planned to email the survey to all families with internet addresses and to provide hard copies where necessary. Following the

survey return, we plan to hold a one and a half hour Focus Group meeting in Week 8, where further planning through

focused discussion will take place. It is hoped that this process of community consultation will provide the opportunities for

all stakeholders to have input into this vital planning. You will be notified of the release of the survey and the date for the

Focus Group meeting in the near future.

Our first Kindergarten Orientation is next Wednesday and we look forward to welcoming our new little people. These

Wednesday visits run for the next 3 weeks and are aimed at making the ‘big step to big school’ an easy one.

A reminder to all, that our Breakfast Club continues to run each morning to support those children who have not had

breakfast at home. It is generously supported by Gresford Foodworks and the St. Vincents De Paul Society and also provides

a fresh fruit platter each morning for any child who may be hungry. We are indebted to the volunteers who come each

morning to provide this service.

Professional learning for staff this fortnight has been in the areas of behaviour management, early literacy, school planning

and anti racism.

Kind regards,

Pauline

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”

Vincent Van Gough

October

Fri 31 - Halloween at the Canteen

November

Wed 5 - Kindy Orientation 9.30 –11.00am

Wed 12 - Kindy Orientation 9.30-11.00am

Musica Viva

Wed 19 - Kindy Orientation 9.30 –11.100am

Fri 21 - P & C meeting

Fri 28 - Christmas Hampers due back

December

Mon 1 - Captain Speeches

Tue 2 - Captain Speeches

Wed 3 - Year 6 High School Orientation

Wed 10 - Year 6 Farewell

Tue 16 - Presentation Night

Wed 17 - Bush picnic for the whole school

- Students last day

Dates for your Diary

Year 6 visit to the printery at Beresfield.

MERIT AWARDS

K/1 1/2/3 4/5/6

Ebony Simpson Tess Hartigan Riley Atkins

Joey Galvin Bailey Conn Michaela Lawrence

Spelling awards

Chase Hoffman

Madeleine Wrigley

Zhane Duncan

Ryan Skolyszewski

Amber Smith

Hayden Gardiner

Values awards

William Craig, Harrison Sellens, Ryan Skolyszewski, Sophie Davis, Madeleine Wrigley,

Shakiah Towers Brown

Good listener award

Toby Mead, Brodie Huckstadt, Monica Lawrence & Jack Hodges

Awards

Library

award

Taylah Joliffe

Daniel Abra

Sports award

Juvenile - Joey Galvin & Taylah Joliffe

Junior - William Mitchell

Daniel & William Craig

Senior - Leila O’Connor

Kayden Atkins

Garden Grub Club News

Every Wednesday the Garden Grub Club will be working in the vege patch from 11.10 to 11.35am

with the help of Christine Vigar.

They will be selling their produce when it becomes available.

At the moment they are selling Tomato plants for $2.50 each.

If you would like to purchase one please contact the office.

Eggs for sale from the School’s Environment Club

If you would like to purchase some eggs, the Gresford Public School’s Environment Club

has them for sale for a bargain price of $3.00 a dozen. These eggs are from the school’s

very own chooks which the children help hatch. Please contact the office to arrange

delivery.

Samaritan’s Group Christmas

School Food Appeal

Please donate to this very special cause. The Samaritan’s give out

food hampers to the families who would otherwise go without at

Christmas. Donations of tinned ham, custard, puddings etc

would be greatly appreciated. If you can donate could you please

do so before the 27th November. Thank you

Parents Please Note Due to the Financial Rollover process on

1st December could all money owed please be paid

by Wednesday 26th November. No payments or

refunds will be made from this date until the

completion of this procedure.

Thank you for your understanding of this matter.

Regards,

Mrs Jasper

Cricket Report by Charlie & Kayden

First Game: Gresford went very well playing against Maitland Public

School. Charlie bowled five wickets and Kayden bowled one wicket. Riley

made ten runs, Jake made twelve runs and Will received a nasty blow to

his elbow. The score was Maitland 79 runs and Gresford 66 runs.

Second Game: Gresford went up against a very strong St John’s side. Latia,

Michaela and Amy Creak bowled brilliantly as did the boys. Charlie made

twenty one runs and Riley made twelve runs. We lost but had a very

enjoyable day.