Hunter Region Primary Mathematics Competition

The certificates from this competition were presented to the recipients on Friday at assembly, with a large number of our students receiving awards. Edmund Malone had an outstanding result, receiving a High Distinction Certificate and prize money for coming 6th across the Northern Region. Well done Edmund! A further thirty three Year 5 and 6 students achieved both Distinction (top 15%) and Merit (top 30%) Certificates. (Details inside this newsletter.) We are very proud of the continued academic achievements attained by the students of Gloucester Public School both in our own school community and across the state. Great effort! - Eve Green, Competition Coordinator.

Gloucester Public School Newsletter Opportunity - Innovation - Excellence

Find us at: 45 Hume Street, Gloucester 2422 Tel 65581303 Fax 65581655 www.gloucester-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Term 4 Week 7 Tuesday 23rd November, 2010.

Building the Education Revolution (BER) News The first phase of the BER program is nearing completion. If all goes according to plan, the handover of Block D will take place this Friday. Representatives from the Department of Education and Training Assets Management Unit in Forster will attend the handover together with the contractor’s representatives. The refurbishment of Block D has seen it transformed from 2 smallish classrooms into one spacious classroom with its own wet area, withdrawal area and storeroom. 1D will move into this classroom as soon as it is made available. The new classroom and the two Special Programs rooms seem to be proceeding fairly quickly. The next phase of the program will involve some disruption to the usual access from Hume Street. The Hume Street entry is going to be upgraded to include disability access. This will be in the form of ramps into the main office area and middle playground. During this phase, students, staff, parents and visitors to the school will not be able to enter via the usual Hume Street pathway. Entry for everyone will be via the corridor which runs between the current 2A classroom and the current 2/3W classroom. While we realise this is not ideal, it is the best available option and we ask everyone to bear with us while the work is done. Hopefully it will all be completed during the end of year holidays.

2011 Planning We are up to the stage of looking at possible class structures for 2011. It is looking like we will retain 12 classes. If you are planning to move and know that your child will not be returning to school in 2011 it would be appreciated if you could let the school know so that we can have as accurate a picture as possible. During these final weeks teachers will start looking at allocating students to classes. If you have any concerns in this area please phone and make an appointment to speak to me. Good luck Steven! The whole school extends its very best wishes to Steven Dunthorne as he travels to Sydney to represent the North Coast region in the Premiers Spelling Challenge on Wednesday. Give it your best shot Steven. We are all very proud of you!

Jenny Stockdale, Principal.

Olivia Chapman, Leah Yarnold, Mitchell Williams, Tate Gordon, Bonnie Redfern.

AWARDS ASSEMBLIES Our Bronze, Silver, Gold &

Principal’s Privilege Awards Assemblies will be held on

Friday 3rd December. K/1/2: 11.30am

3-6: 2.00pm

This Week’s Market Specials

Parsley $1.00 / bunch Spinach $1.00 / bunch Garlic $1.00 Thyme $1.00

INFANTS’ NEWS: Kindergarten For the remainder of this year we will be revising all of our sounds. Our new words this week are ‘good, ‘brother’ and ‘sister’. Assembly K/1/2 assembly is on this Friday at the new time of 2 o’clock. KA students will be presenting the item. See you there! Next Friday (3rd December) will be the Awards Assembly. K-2 Christmas Craft Tomorrow is the last day for our Christmas craft groups - Wednesday 24th November at 2.15pm – 2.55pm. Please come and join us to assist us with our festive creations. Please meet under the K-2 COLA area at 2.15pm. Debbie Howland.

Leanne Simes, Relieving Assistant Principal (Infants)

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CLASS AWARDS:

KA - Aiden Sopher Mia Plant Charlie Roy KB - Dimity Lee Blake Murray Daffa Anwar

1L - Mia Warwick Ryan Preston Allison Simon 1D - Aiden Rose Tiarn Harvey Harrison Moore 2A - Tallulah Nixon Emily Brood Tiarne Lawler 2W - Hayley Weismantel Jordan Waugh Writing Enrichment Program: In term three, several students were selected from Stage Two to take part in a writing enrichment program. This incorporated a series of five video conferences with some well -known authors set up by the Armidale Writers Centre and involving schools from all over the state. The students used the ideas discussed as stimulus for their own writing in the lessons that followed. We were asked to submit a quality piece of writing for possible publication on the Armidale Writers Group website called Youth Online. Molly Danton’s narrative, titled ‘Magic Mind’, was submitted and was deemed to be of high enough quality for publication. Congratulations Molly! It should appear on their website soon. In the meantime you can read Molly’s great story on our school’s website. This term, Stage Three students are taking part in the program and we’re looking forward to reading more entertaining pieces of writing.

- Kaye Leighton.

NASA Space Centre Virtual Excursion

On Friday 19th November Mr Howland and Mrs Clifton took Years 3-6 students on an excursion to NASA Space Centre Houston Texas. We were met by Jess who presented some amazing and fascinating facts and pictures about space exploration over the last 400 years! No we didn’t see ‘Buzz Lightyear’ but we heard about the United States quest to land men on the moon and investigate our universe as far as is possible…To Infinity and Beyond!!! Look through this newsletter for students’ reports on this fascinating excursion.

UPCOMING DATES FOR Year 5 & 6

Week 7

Wednesday 24th Nov.

Year 6 1.30pm Puberty Clues with Ms Stanton

(G.H.S. staff)

Week 8

Wednesday 1st Dec.

Years 5 & 6 Reports go home to families

Thursday 2nd Dec.

SRC reps. 12.40pm SRC fundraiser BBQ

Friday 3rd Dec.

Years 5 & 6 2.00pm – Presentation Assembly

Week 9

Tuesday 7th Dec.

Year 6 9am – 3pm GHS Orientation Day

6.30pm – Year 6 Farewell

Wednesday 8th Dec.

Years 5 & 6

6.30pm – GPS Presentation Night

Friday 10th Dec.

Years 5 & 6

10.00am Sport – SWIMMING ($2.00 pool entry)

2.00pm – Year 6 Final Assembly

SRC SAUSAGE SIZZLE 2010 The SRC is organising a sausage sizzle as its last fundraiser for 2010. This event will take place on Thursday 2nd December 2010 at Gloucester Public School. If you would like your child to participate, could you please complete the note at the end of this newsletter and return it by Monday 30th November to allow time for orders to be placed. The cost of a sausage sandwich, a drink and an ice-block will be $4.50.

Eve Green SRC Coordinator

Assessing and Reporting Student progress

In the lead up to writing reports for each student teachers gain valuable data and information regarding student learning, teaching and school programs

through conducting assessments.

At various times throughout the year assessment and testing seems to take centre stage to classroom lessons but in all reality without collecting data and conducting assessments students would not progress

forwardly in their learning.

Staff are very professional when this time comes around and it is very frustrating for them when students miss assessment tasks and in-class tests through being absent from school.

Please check with your child’s classroom teacher if the need arises to absent your child from class

during the day. By discussing this need with the teacher a solution will often be found.

Giving your child the best opportunity to have their school report reflect their true capabilities is very important as they move forward in their learning.

Alison Clifton - Assistant Principal

Year 6 Transition to High School

Gloucester High Orientation Day for Year 6 transitioning to Year 7 in 2011 will take place on

Tuesday 7th December.

Students are to travel to Gloucester High on this day the way they intend to travel in 2011.

K-2

NASA Space Excursion

“It was awesome!”

Quote Mrs Simes

To Infinity and Beyond! On Friday 19th November, 30 students from Years 3-6 were lucky enough to participate in a lesson via satellite. I was one of those lucky people to participate in this special event. Throughout this activity we did a couple of experiments to do with the subject. One of them was how we get a better view in the country of space and the stars than in the city, simply because of pollution. How many stars are in our solar system? ... 1. Did you know that what we see as stars are actually millions and billions of galaxies? 125 galaxies to be exact. Everyone had a fun and interesting time and got their mums/dads/carers questioning with some cool facts. Thanks Jess from the NASA Space Centre, Houston, Texas, USA for teaching us and Mr Howland, Mrs Green and Mrs Clifton for joining us in this experience. – Bodhi Hickman (5/6A) The NASA Experience Last Friday, 30 students from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 got the amazing chance to talk to a space expert. On that Friday at 9.00am we were escorted by Mrs Clifton to the Video Conferencing room and were sat on the floor and told to stay quiet. In a few moments we heard a Texan accent – it was Jessie our guide! She was nice with a beaming smile that went from ear to ear. We learnt that there is only one star in our galaxy. What is it? It is the sun. When it came to question time, Peter Williams asked the question, “Where do astronauts go to the toilet?” The answer was that they have a giant nappy in their space suits! After we finished the talk, Mrs Ryan from the Gloucester Advocate came and took our photo. As you can see we learnt heaps and had lots of fun. – Harrison Simes (5C)

Stocktake It is that time of year again for the library. Library lessons finish tomorrow and borrowing has finished, so I am asking that all library books be returned as soon as possible. I will be sending home reminder notes with students if they have not returned their books by next Monday. I thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Premier’s Reading Challenge: Our students who completed the challenge this year will receive their certificates at the Awards Assemblies to be held on Friday, 3rd December. Leanne Simes, Teacher Librarian.

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PRESENTATION EVENING

Just a reminder that our Presentation Evening is coming up on Wednesday 8th December and will commence at 6.30pm. A number of students from every class will be receiving awards, so it is hoped that ALL students will be there to share in this special night. Please pop this date and time onto your calendar if you haven’t already done so.

Today was the last day for our new 2011 Kindergarten students. They have had a great time getting to know new friends, playing with old friends and learning how “big school” works. I wish to thank all the parents and carers for their support and for encouraging their children to attend such an important introduction to school. A big thank you goes to all my helpers, including the Year 4 buddies – it could not have run smoothly without you!

- Leanne Simes, Relieving Assistant Principal.

Hunter Region Primary Mathematics Competition: Year 6: High Distinction – Edmund Malone. Distinction - Ryan Yates, Andy Sun, Harrison Earle-Broadley, Curtis. Merit – Jacob Hornery, Erika Hughes, Curtlee Beattie, Hayley Brood, Hayley Johns, Abbey Lawrence, Logan Penfold, Brianna Pung, Kimberley Mitchell, Lean Yarnold, Maddy Eveleigh, Olivia Westcott. Year 5: Distinction – Jack Davis, Kelsey Woollett, Jeremy Bonisch, Bodhi Hickman, Grace Moar, Elijah Snow, Isabel Harvey. Merit – Jasmin L’Green, Teliah Woolnough, Abbie Windred, James Hotson, Jacob Bird, Chloe Waugh, Shelby Gunn, Bryce Lacey, Byron Harris, Sage Denton.

INTENSIVE SWIMMING 2010 - Monday 22nd November to Friday 3rd December. The Department of Education and Training (DET) offers a Special Swimming Scheme (SSS) to students in Years 2 & 3 each year, otherwise known as an Intensive Swimming program. Students are instructed, by qualified swimming instructors, how to swim, stroke techniques and water safety and survival techniques, each day over 10 days. Students participating in this program for 2010 have been advised and are currently undertaking the program. Alison Clifton (Coordinator) CANTEEN NEWS: Hot Dog Day – Wednesday 1st December. Pack includes a hot dog on a bun with tomato sauce, 1 Popper juice plus a Christmas surprise. Cost is $4.00. Orders must be in by Monday 29th November. Milkshake Day – We’ll have milkshake day next Monday 29th November. There will be chocolate and strawberry flavours selling for $1.00 each. Kinder to Year 4 may buy theirs at recess. Years 5 & 6 may buy theirs at lunch time. (Less stress on the poor cow!!)

Friday 3rd December is Awards Assembly day and I would like to invite all canteen volunteers to come in at 1.30 to have a complimentary cuppa and cake as our way of saying thank you for all your hard work during this year. Please come along and join us!

Sharon Osborne, Canteen Manager. Canteen Roster: Monday 29/11 Linda Brown Paula Rush Wednesday 1/12 Jillie Stone Tracey Murrell Friday 3/12 Kate Shanley Rachel Blanch Kylie Waugh

Head Lice

Did you know? Anyone can catch head lice regardless of their age, sex, or how clean their hair is. How can you get rid of head lice? Daily combing using white hair conditioner with a fine-tooth comb is effective in getting rid of head lice and eggs (nits). How can you help reduce the spread of head lice?

Regularly check your children’s hair

Teach older children to check their own hair

Tie back and braid long hair

Keep a fine-tooth head lice comb in the bathroom and encourage all family members to use it when they wash their hair.

CAN YOU HELP?? “Life Options” is a Health Education business established in Australia to help villages in Thailand, India, Nepal and Cambodia. They NEED spare pens, pencils, sheets, pillowcases, washcloths, soap and material. If anyone has any of the above that they no longer need, please drop it in the collection box in the school foyer. I will forward them to the contact person in Gloucester (Deborah Brooks 65584324). Thanks – Debbie Howland.

‘Bags of Hope’ for Cambodian Children Project There is a heartbreaking lack of ownership of school bags amongst impoverished and disadvantaged Cambodian school children, making it difficult for them to carry their meagre bits and pieces to school. The lucky few have old, falling-apart bags, being held together with bits of string and hope. The others carry their supplies in plastic bags or in their arms, despite walking often great distances to school. Many NSW public school children acquire new backpacks or school bags for the new school year. This campaign is an opportunity for those children to leave their old bags (or new ones if they are that way inclined) at their schools in the last week of term, thereby making a huge difference to the lives and education of children in Cambodia. The ‘Hope’ team in Cambodia are also very excited about the prospect of the children having bags, as dysentery is a huge problem in that country. Although bottled water is available through the foundation, most children have nothing to carry it in and therefore drink the contaminated water at their schools. If you would like to contribute to this project, please leave your donation bag at our school office.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sausage Sizzle – Thursday 2nd December. I give permission for my child, ___________________________________________ of class_______ to attend the sausage sizzle. I have enclosed $_______ for the order. Signed_______________________________________ Parent/Carer. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sausage Sizzle – Thursday 2nd December. I give permission for my child, ___________________________________________ of class_______ to attend the sausage sizzle. I have enclosed $_______ for the order. Signed_______________________________________ Parent/Carer. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOT DOG DAY – Wednesday 1st December: Name: ______________________________________ Class: ___________________

$4.00 enclosed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOT DOG DAY – Wednesday 1st December: Name: ______________________________________ Class: ___________________

$4.00 enclosed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------