Wattawa Heights Public School Leaders in learning, innovation and

opportunity Bulletin

The Avenue, Bankstown NSW 2200 Tel: 9790-3948 Fax: 9790-0985

Email: wattawahts-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.wattawahts-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Term 2 Week 4 7th August, 2013

DATES TO REMEMBER

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents

Our teachers have been working very hard over the last two weeks. Here are some of the things that have been happening at Wattawa:

• WORKING WITH A LITERACY CONSULTANT- All teachers including support staff, had an opportunity to work with a Literacy Consultant to plan a series of lessons across their stages. Our teachers are constantly planning engaging lessons which incorporate current teaching methodologies.

• BEST START SOFTWARE UPGRADE- Teachers in K-2 updated their knowledge of the Best Start Software, which we have been using to track student progress along the Literacy and Numeracy Continuums. Learning plans for the students were then developed for implementation in the classrooms.

• E.A.S (EARLY ARITHMETICAL STRATEGIES) TRAINING- Mrs Whitehorn and Mrs Mouzayek were trained in a very worthwhile program that we have already implemented in both Kindergarten classes and 2TS. This numeracy program is engaging our students in very practical activities which build on their understanding of

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5TH August 6th August 7th August 8th August 9th August No Assembly

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12th August 13th August 14th August 3.15-4.30 Parent Workshop 2

15th August Mufti Day Yr 6 lunchtime disco

16th August 1 CS Assembly

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19th August Book Week

20th August 21st August Book Week Parade

22nd August 23rd August K L/E Assembly Peer support Training

We are safe, respectful learners.

numbers. Thank you to Miss Carman for delivering this training and working very hard in setting up this program across all K-2 classrooms.

• T.O.W.N (TAKING OFF WITH NUMERACY) –Mr Muller, Mr Vaughan, Mrs Leventis, Mr Hunt, Mr Robberds and Miss Carman, began their training in this program. This follows on from E.A.S and continues on building students’ understanding of numbers in Years 3-6. They will also be working with a Numeracy Consultant in the coming weeks.

• ANAPHYLAXIS TRAINING – All staff completed anaphylaxis training with a registered nurse. Through this course teachers were shown how to use an epipen and an anapen. Staff were also alerted to the signs and symptoms of severe allergic reactions in children.

• DISABILITY STANDARDS FOR EDUCATION- All staff completed the online training as an introduction to using the PLASST as outlined below. This course reviewed the current standards for education and the adjustments that need to be made in the classroom for students with a disability.

As you can see our teachers are to be commended on their extreme dedication to ongoing professional learning. You can be assured that your children get the best possible experiences in their classrooms.

PERSONALISED LEARNING AND SUPPORT TOOL (PLASST) 2013 TRIAL

During the next few weeks our school, along with other public schools in the area, will be participating in the trial of a new tool (PLASST) being developed by the Department of Education and Communities for teachers to identify the learning and support needs of their students.

This trial is focussed on the development of a sound and reliable online tool that, when finalised, can be used by teachers in collaboration with parents and carers to identify the strengths and educational needs of students with additional learning and support needs. This information will assist schools in planning and personalising learning and support for individual students who require adjustments in their day to day learning.

The trial will involve teachers completing an online questionnaire about the educational needs of some of their students. Students themselves will not be required to complete any additional work or be formally assessed as part of the trial. This trial will not impact on students’ education provisions.

If you have any questions about the PLASST trial, would like to discuss your child’s involvement or would prefer that your child does not participate, please telephone the school on 97903948.

JASON CLARE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Congratulations to Natalie Laws who received the Jason Clare Community Service Award last week. On the same night she also represented our school in the combined choir for the 2014 School Spectacular. Natalie is a true ambassador for our school and we are very proud of her achievements.

We are safe, respectful learners.

EDUCATION WEEK OPEN DAY

Thank you to all the parents, grandparents and friends who took the time to attend our Education Week Assembly and Open Day. It is always encouraging to see parents during days such as this, as we celebrate our success with you and your children. Thank you to all our fabulous teachers, our wonderful students and especially to Miss Carman for organising the event.

EID MUBARAK

To all our families who are celebrating the end of Ramadan- Eid El Fitr, we wish you Eid Mubarak.

Mrs Comninos

Relieving Principal

TEACHERS’ MESSAGES

Parent Workshop 2 The Parent Workshop that was scheduled for today Wednesday 7th has been postponed to next Wednesday 14th at 3.15-4.30. This will be a time for teachers to share with you some practical activities to enhance your child’s language and literacy using their interests. Topics include sport, media, technology, family, superheroes and cooking. All families and friends are encouraged to attend. Free Childcare will be available in the small hall. Some of the students may be involved in the practical activities as well.

2012 Year 6 Gift Recently the school purchased a new digital recorder with the money that was raised by Year 6 of 2012. This camera has already been put to use across all classrooms creating fabulous movies as part of their technology learning. A big thank you to our past Year 6 students!

We are safe, respectful learners.

CLASS NEWS KINDERGARTEN TO YEAR 3 EXCURSION – SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE “THEO AND THE LION”

Each year the Sydney Opera House Trust runs a House Ed program offering subsidies to NSW public schools to attend live performances. We have been successful in obtaining a subsidy for students in Kindergarten and Years 1, 2 and 3 to attend the live performance of “Theo and the Lion”. This play is based on the Pamela Allen book “A Lion in the Night”. Students in all classes will be undertaking an in depth study of this book and the author.

As part of the subsidy, the Sydney Opera House Trust provide the funds for our transport to and from the Sydney Opera House. The cost of the excursion is for the ticket to the live performance. This is a great opportunity for students to see a live performance in such a wonderful venue, the Sydney Opera House.

Due to the capacity of the venue we are limited to the number of children that we can take, so once all the tickets have been sold we are unable to offer anymore. Permission notes were sent out last week and we have already filled many of the places. To ensure that your child does not miss out please return the permission slip as soon as possible.

Mr Toland

STAGE ONE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM EXCURSION

Last term Stage One attended The Powerhouse Museum to learn about transport. Everyone had a great time!

We are safe, respectful learners.

LIBRARY NEWS LIBRARY NEWS

Book week celebrations are currently being planned. The theme for this year is “Read across the Universe.” It is a time where we share our favourite books and encourage reading. There will be a separate letter sent home with including the details of all activities.

Please start thinking about helping your child create a character costume for the Book week Parade which will be held on Wednesday August 21st under the school COLA at 11:45am.

The P&C will be sending an order form home for hot dogs.

Parents are welcome to attend the parade and stay for lunch with their children.

The Premiers Reading Challenge is nearing completion. Congratulations to all of the K- 2 classes. They completed their challenge at school during the first semester. Students in years 3-6 need to check their reading record with me by week 6, if they believe they have also completed their challenge. The 3-6 challenge should have completed it at home.

SPORTS NEWS PSSA SOCCER

Last week the boys played their last game of soccer for the year. It has been a rewarding season with many of the boys developing confidence as players. Win, lose or draw, the boys always gave their best and it was a pleasure to take them to the soccer fields every Friday afternoon for a great game.

SWIMMING SCHEME

There are still 33 places available for the School Swimming Scheme Program which will take place during week 9 and 10 of this term. A spot can be secured with a $10 deposit and paid off throughout the term. This is great value as the students will receive ten lessons which will enable them to swim with greater confidence and safety this summer.

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

After many recess and lunch times we have finally finished the field events and we can announce the winners of this year’s Athletics Carnival. Thank you to all of the students for their patience and for their wonderful efforts. We had 6 records broken at this year’s Athletics Carnival. Alyssa Ingram broke the 5years girls 50m record; Noah Ingram broke the 6yrs boys 50m record; Tareq Ismail broke the 8yrs boys 100m record; Elana Topalidis broke the 8yrs girls 100m record and Carina Topalidis broke both the 6yrs girls 50m record and the K-2 girls 400m record. Congratulations to all students. The district team will be announced shortly.

Mr Toland

We are safe, respectful learners.

We are safe, respectful learners.

P & C NEWS P & C NEWS

CHOCOLATE DRIVE

A friendly reminder that all money is now due. Again, I would like to thank everyone for their fantastic efforts.

BOOK WEEK

Book week is coming up and we will be having a hotdog lunch day after the parade. Please see the additional note for the order form and details.

FATHERS DAY RAFFLE

We will be holding our Father’s Day Raffle, a separate note will be sent home next Wednesday 14th August with all the details and ticket booklets for students to purchase. Each booklet will contain 10 tickets at a cost of $3.00 or 40 cents a ticket. Additional booklets will be available from the office. The raffle will be drawn during the assembly on the 30th August, so all tickets and money will need to be returned by Thursday 29th August.

SCHOOL BUS ZONE

Please note Bankstown Council have changed the times on the school bus zone parking. The new times are 8am - 4pm.

Sheree Ingram

P & C President

STUDENT AWARDS SCHOOL AWARDS

PLATINUM AWARDS

GOLD AWARDS

SILVER AWARDS

Saja El Adib Michaela Degnan

Ali Roumie Sara Abdallah

Nancy Abouelhamd Lynda Ismail

Mohammed El Adib Lily-Jean McNair

Ba Cao Nick Ha

Nada Kanj Jehad Aouf

BRONZE AWARDS

Amber Halloum Aysha Hamouda

Ahmad Abo Ghazleh Bilal Bouobeid

Mohammed Qais Noah Akdemir Bassam Kazzi

Khaled Abdul Rahman Zain Abou Hamed

Lenon Suos Nancy Najjar

Benny Ho Junior Tuilaepa Omar Abdullah Adam Elayoubi Alyssa Asaad

Mariam Lemba Ahmed Dandan Ali Al Moosawy

We are safe, respectful learners.

Ibrahim El-Kobaili Zayn Yaghi

Ahmed Dandan Kelvin Gian

CLASS AWARDS

KINDERGARTEN INDIAN OCEAN

Kaycee Goff Chloe Walsh

Abbas Abdallah Jamal EL-Ali

KINDERGARTEN LAKE EYRE

Rayane Alameddine Joseph Maomai Mohammed Qais

Aws Tukmaji 1 CORAL SEA

Reanna Robinson

Adam Abouelhamd Hassan Ahmed

Lithanial Leuluaialii Saadedin Rifaie

1TIMOR SEA

Yasmin hakim Zainab Hamed

Zain Abou Hamed Adam Safi

2 TORRES STRAIT

Layla Assoum Mahnya Belhajamar

Barbara Samaan Mohammed Dib

Noah Safi

2/3 NEPEAN RIVER

Zach Ingram Khaled Moussa

3/4 PACIFIC OCEAN

Cindy Dao Serene Lababidi Hashem Alkhair

Dib Kerdy

3/4 TASMAN SEA

Nicholas Costandi Clare Abaja

Ayman Chemeisse Ali Roumie

4/5 BASS STRAIT

Dana Abdulrahman Ba Cao

Jad Elhashem Jason Jaber

5/6 ARAFURA SEA

Jasmine Elabed Joy Simbo

Youssef Esh Jordan Americanas

5/6 SOUTHERN OCEAN

Amenah Hajar Natalie Laws Inas Naaman

Arthur Americanas

We are safe, respectful learners.

OFFICE NEWS

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION

We are current taking enrolments for 2014. If your child is turning 5 by the 31st July 2014 they are eligible to start school next year. Our Kindergarten Orientation program for 2014 will be held on the 24th, 31st October and 7th November. Please make sure that you have completed your enrolment form to ensure your position for 2014. NOTES AND PAYMENTS Permission notes are always sent out well in advance of any event. Please make sure that your child returns any requested notes and/or money by the stated due date. We will no longer be accepting any notes or money past the due date. It makes it extremely difficult for teachers and the office staff when people are paying on the same morning as the event. SCHOOL BANKING Our school banking day has been changed from Tuesday to Wednesday starting from 14th August 2013. SCHOOL UNIFORM Please remember that sports uniforms are only to be worn on Fridays. Monday to Thursday, full school uniform (white Polo shirt) must be worn. Some children are coming to school with non school hats. The children will not be allowed to wear them or play in the playground without our appropriate hats. Please label all your child’s clothing which includes jumpers, jackets, hats and lunchboxes.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION FAMILIES TOGETHER – Free Seminars Invites mothers, fathers and grandparents to help my child is anxious is presented by Megan Taylor. This program aims to inform parents about the nature of anxiety and to equip parents with practical strategies to work with their children in reducing anxious thoughts and behaviour. Date: Tuesday 20th August 2013 Time: 6.30pm – 9.00pm Place: Waratah Room (Level 1) Cabra Vale Diggers Bartley St, Canley Vale. CONDELL PARK HIGH SCHOOL Positive Approaches to Parenting Teenagers, Mission Australia’s Youth and Family service at Bankstown will offer a workshop for parents on 21st August 2013- 9.30am – 11.30am. This workshop will demonstrate ways for parents to help their children to

• cope with stress • Set goals for success

For further information please call the community Information Officer at the school on 9709 4522.

We are safe, respectful learners.

ST HILLS BOYS HIGH SCHOOL

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS 2014

At East Hills Boys High School we firmly believe that learning should be the number one priority of all students. The school offers a number of academic scholarships for students who display outstanding attributes in academic achievement, leadership and school and community involvement.

Applications for Academic Scholarships for Year 7 students in 2014 are now open.

Further information and application packages are available from the school website;

http://www.easthillsb-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

APPLICATIONS CLOSE FRIDAY 20 September 2013.

We are safe, respectful learners.