Important Information …. MPS Website: www.moree-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/

• Assemblies – Friday 13th March 10.30am hosted by 2M-7 and 11.30am hosted by 3P-21 • Pancake morning – Wednesday, 11th March between 8.30am and 9.00am – thanks to Jason, Steele & team

KINDER LEAD THE WAY …

Well done Kindergarten at your very first formal assembly last week. You did a fantastic job of listening and following teacher instructions and KM-9 performed a very humorous dance! There were plenty of awards to showcase the effort in class and for being Cool at School. Thank you to all visitors for supporting our school. Attending school every day is vital for your child. Our school day starts at 9:00am. If students arrive after this time, they are to attend the office with a parent to be marked as having a partial absence. When students are late, we must record a justified reason for this partial absence as stated under the NSW Education Act 1990. Please note that if the reason for the absence does not comply with the School Attendance Policy, it will be recorded as ‘unjustified’. Parent Concerns – Contacting the School: From time to time, you may have concerns about your child’s learning and wellbeing at school. It is important that you follow the correct process when addressing these concerns, in order for it to be resolved in a constructive and timely manner. If you are concerned about an issue that has arisen in the classroom or playground, please follow these steps:

1. First phone the school and make an appointment to see your child’s teacher.

2. If you are still not satisfied with the response, speak to the relevant Assistant Principal about your concerns.

3. If the situation has not been resolved to your satisfaction, contact the school and make an appointment to see the Deputy Principal or Principal.

Online Parent Communication - Skoolbag App: Thank you to the parents who have downloaded our Skoolbag app. This strengthens communication between home and school. Skoolbag allows us to update you on school events by sending reminder alerts straight to your phone. The newsletter and all permission notes can also be accessed via Skoolbag. To download, simply go to the App Store or Play Store, type in the school name and install. Click on Push Notifications to receive updates immediately. Mrs Sharyn Cox Principal

2. TELL THEM FROM SURVEY I am delighted that this term, our school, like many other public schools in the state, will participate in a Department of Education initiative: Tell Them From Me student feedback survey. The survey measures factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices. More information about the survey is available at http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au The survey is a great opportunity for our students to provide us with valuable and quick feedback on what they think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. More than 6,300 schools in Australia and around the world have used Tell Them From Me to survey 5.4 million students. Capturing the voices of our students will help improve how we do things at our school. I want to assure you that the survey is confidential. The survey is conducted online and will typically take less than 30 minutes to complete. It will be administered during school hours between 9 March and 8 May. Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary. A consent form and FAQs for parents/carers about the survey is being sent home with students. If you do not want your child or children to participate, please return the form to school by Friday 20 March 2020. Copies of the form and FAQs are available from: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents. The consent form and FAQs are available in 23 languages. 3. P&C ASSOCIATION • MEETING: The P&C AGM will be held on Monday, 16th March commencing at 6.00pm in the school library. Everyone is most welcome. • UNIFORM SHOP: The uniform shop is kindly opened by volunteer co-ordinators, Mrs Debbie Hardman and Ms Erin Livet each Wednesday and Friday morning between 8.30 and 9.30am. Quality uniform donations to P&C Uniform shop are always most welcome.

Tuesday, 10th March 2020

4. OUR SCHOOL DAY … Procedures at school are implemented to ensure optimum learning time within a safe and orderly environment. The following information is provided, particularly to assist our new families but also as a reminder for others. When and where are we at MPS throughout the day? 8:30am Playground Supervision 9:00am Morning Session 11:00am Recess 11:20am Middle Session 12.50pm Lunch 1:35pm Afternoon Session 2:50pm Class dismissal Parents are reminded supervision is not available prior to 8:30am, therefore students should not arrive at school before that time. 5. ROAD SAFETY Road Safety is everyone’s concern and responsibility. The periods between 8:30am and 9:00am and between 2:40pm and 3:20pm are extremely busy times at the front of the school as parent and buses drop off and pick up children. Parents are reminded to abide by the parking signs at the front of the school. Cars dropping off children in the bus zone are in breach of the law. Please be very careful when crossing the road and model road safety by using the designated crossings. Pedestrians must not use the taxi entrance gates nor cross the road between buses. 6. SPORT ROUND UP Various trials for both the PSSA (zone, regional, state) representative teams and also the MPS teams that have been entered in the state knockout competitions are currently being held at school. While there are many teachers who have volunteered to coach the school teams, Mrs Black is our PSSA co-ordinator for this year. Events are frequently announced at the daily assemblies (as reminders for children to attend) and date of events are added to the calendar as they become available. Please check regularly and if further clarification is required, contact the school office. Your call will be returned at the first available opportunity by the appropriate coach. A letter was attached to our previous newsletter detailing the commitment required for these events. Cricket: The MPS team will be playing Gravesend PS on Thursday (weather permitting). Best wishes to all players and coach, Mr Cooper. 7. LIBRARY

Mrs Beattie - Librarian

8. HEALTH AWARENESS Preventative measures greatly assist in minimising the spread of numerous childhood health concerns that may arise from time to time. Children are encouraged to wash their hands frequently at school and soap is provided in each of the bathrooms. Head lice is a common issue in all schools. Please be vigilant with regular checking, treat if required and notify the school office. Further advice with all of these matters can be obtained through your family doctor, pharmacist and/or the fact sheets on the NSW Ministry for Health website. These small measures will greatly assist in keeping all children and staff happy and healthy.

9. COMING EVENTS Please check the current calendar on a regular basis (also published on the MPS website, Skoolbag App, and electronic board) as additional events are frequently added and/or unforeseen changes made. Week Day Date Event 6 Mon 9 Tues 10

Wed 11 Pancake morning – served by Salvation Army Thurs Cricket MPS v Gravesend at Ron Harborne

Oval; Kinder Parent afternoon – 5.30pm Fri 13 Assemblies: 10.30 2M-7; 11.30 3P-21 7 Mon 16 6.00pm P&C AGM - library Tues 17 Rugby Union Gala Day (Yrs 5/6) at Weebolla Wed 18

Thurs 19 Gala school trials: 11.20 rugby league open & Under 11s; 1.00pm rugby union

Fri 20 Anti-Bullying Day; Assemblies: 10.30 KS-10; 11.30 5B-17

Sat 21 Harmony Day 8 Mon 23 April Final of B & G soccer trials Tues 24 Wed 25 Thurs 26 Fri 27 Assemblies: 10.30 2P-6; 11.30 3/4R-24;

B&G regional hockey trials 9 Mon 30 Tues 31 Nthn B cricket trials; NW Primary School 7s RU Wed 1 April Thurs 2 Fri 3 Assemblies: 10.30 KR-9; 11.30 6K-15 10 Mon 6 PSSA swimming Tues 7 Wed 8 Thurs 9 K-2 Easter hat & dancing display;

Assembly 11.30 4J-30 Fri 10 Good Friday VACATION

24 Moree Show 25 ANZAC Day MPS at Community Service

Term 2 1 Mon 27 April Staff Development Day Tues 28 K-6 students resume;

10.15am MPS Anzac Commemorative Service Wed 29 Final rugby league trials Thurs 30 Final B cricket trials Fri 1 May MPS cross country (K-2 & Yrs 3-6) 2 Mon 4 Tues 5 Wed 6 P&C Mothers Day stall Thurs 7 Gala trials: 11.20 netball & B touch;

1.00 G touch; Mothers Day stall Fri 8 Cool @ School open day 3 Mon 11 Tues 12 NAPLAN Yrs 3 & 5 Wed 13 NAPLAN Yrs 3 & 5 Thurs 14 NAPLAN Yrs 3 & 5 Fri 15 Assemblies: 10.30 KM-11; 11.30 3R-22

4 Mon 18 Tues 19 Nthn rugby union trials Wed 20 Thurs 21 Fri 22 Assemblies: 10.30 1W-5; 11.30 5/6B-19;

B & G touch trials 5 Mon 25 Tues 26 Wed 27 National Simultaneous Storytime Thurs 28 Fri 29 Assemblies: 10.30 KS-10; 11.30 4BT-39;

Zone cross country - 6 Mon 1 June Final rugby union trials Tues 2 Science & Engineering Challenge;

G rugby 7s trials Wed 3 Alternate date – zone cross country Thurs 4 Fri 5 Assemblies: 10.30 1H-3; 11.30 5/6L-14;

Netball trials 7 Mon 8 Queen’s Birthday holiday Tues 9 Rugby union knockout gala day - Inverell Wed 10 Thurs 11 Fri 12 Assemblies: 10.30 KR-9; 11.30 3E-23;

Regional cross country - Mullaley 8 Mon 15 Tues 16 Wed 17 Thurs 18 Fri 19 Assemblies: 10.30 1B-8; 11.30 6G-18 9 Mon 22 All schools golf – Bateman Bay (5 days) Tues 23 PSSA open rugby league – Tamworth Wed 24 Thurs 25 Fri 26 Assemblies: 10.30 KM-11; 11.30 4T-13 10 Mon 29 Tues 30 NAIDOC Week open day Wed 1 July Thurs 2 Fri 3 K-6 Athletics carnival; Last day of Term 2 Term 3 1 Mon 20 July Staff Development Day Tues 21 K-6 students resume Wed 22 Thurs 23 PSSA cross country – Eastern Creek Fri 24 2 Mon 27 Prim golf trials Tues 28 Life Education van Wed 29 Life Education van;

Children’s Book Council Aust - Picture Book performances

Thurs 30 Life Education van Fri 31 Assemblies: 10.30 1B-4; 11.30 6K-15;

Heferen Shield zone athletics carnival 3 Mon 3 Aug Education Week – open day; Life Education van Tues 4 Wed 5 Year 4 excursion to Coffs Harbour;

Life Education van Thurs 6 Year 4 excursion to Coffs Harbour;

Life Education van Fri 7 Year 4 excursion to Coffs Harbour;

Assemblies: 10.30 KS-10; 11.30 3P-21 4 Mon 10 Tues 11 Life Education van Wed 12 Life Education van Thurs 13 Life Education van Fri 14 Assemblies: 10.30 2M-29; 11.30 5M-16 5 Mon 17 Year 6 excursion – Canberra; Life Education van Tues 18 Year 6 excursion – Canberra; Life Education van Wed 19 Year 6 excursion – Canberra; Life Education van Thurs 20 Year 6 excursion – Canberra; Fri 21 Year 6 excursion – Canberra;

Assemblies: 10.30 KR-9; 11.30 4J-30

6 Mon 24 Tues 25 PSSA rugby union – Mudgee (4 days) Wed 26 Thurs 27 Fri 28 Assemblies: 10.30 2M-7; 11.30 5B-17 7 Mon 31 Tues 1 Sept Year 5 Sydney excursion Wed 2 Year 5 Sydney excursion Thurs 3 Year 5 Sydney excursion Fri 4 Year 5 Sydney excursion;

Assemblies: 10.30 KM-11; 11.30 3/4R-24 8 Mon 7 Tues 8 Wed 9 Thurs 10 Fri 11 Regional athletics trials – Tamworth;

Assemblies: 10.30 2P-6; 11.30 5/6B-19 9 Mon 14 Tues 15 Wed 16 Thurs 17 Fri 18 Assemblies: 10.30 KS-10; 11.30 3R-22 10 Mon 21 Tues 22 Wed 23 Thurs 24 Year 3 excursion – Lake Keepit Fri 25 Year 3 excursion – Lake Keepit;

Assemblies: 10.30 1W-5; 11.30 4BT-39; Last day of Term 3

Term 4 1 Mon 12 Oct Staff and students resume Tues 13 Wed 14 Thurs 15 Fri 16 2 Mon 19 Tues 20 Wed 21 Thurs 22 Fri 23 Assemblies: 10.30 1H-3; 11.30 5/6L-14 (Captains speak) 3 Mon 26 Tues 27 Class & special group photographs Wed 28 Sporting team photograph Thurs 29

Fri 30 Assemblies: 10.30 KR-9; 11.30 3/4R-24 (Boy nominees speak)

4 Mon 2 Nov Tues 3 Wed 4 Thurs 5 Fri 6 Assemblies: 10.30 1B-8; 11.30 5/6L-19

(Girl nominees speak) 5 Mon 9 Tues 10 Wed 11 Thurs 12 Fri 13 Assemblies: 10.30 KM-11; 11.30 3E-24 6 Mon 16 Tues 17 Wed 18 Thurs 19 Fri 20 Assemblies: 10.301B-4 ; 11.30 3E-24 7 Mon 23 Tues 24 Wed 25 Thurs 26 Fri 27 Assemblies: 10.30 KS-10; 11.30 4T-13 8 Mon 30 Tues 1 Dec Wed 2 Thurs 3 K-6 Presentation Fri 4 Assemblies: 11.30 9 Mon 7 Tues 8 Wed 9 Thurs 10 Fri 11 Assemblies: 10.30 Combined kinder assembly; 11.30 10 Mon 14 Tues 15 Wed 16 Thurs 17 Fri 18

On Monday 2nd March, 25 MPS students and their parents headed to Armidale to compete in the North West Swimming Carnival. The weather was just right for a day in the pool and everyone did their best and represented Moree Public School as well as our Moree Zone with pride. Students enjoyed setting their own personal bests in a variety of events as well as competing as teams during the relays. Well done on working together and encouraging each other!

Congratulations to: Henry Johnston, Mitchell Beddoes, Jonah James, Will Johnston, Jack Rogers, Will Gillingham, Isobel Lavery, Rose Mealing, Savannah French, Abbey Muggleton, Shyanne Roberts, Angelina Gillingham, Charlie Jensen, John Monie, Mitchell Cronin, Hamish Taunton, Jeremy Blatchford, Roly McDonald, Sam Kelly, Ambrose Swan, Summer Roberts, Ella Lavery, Ella Senior, Jessica Knowles & Natahlia Davis

A special mention goes to Mitchell Beddoes who will now go on to represent the North West in Sydney on the 6th & 7th April of this term to compete in the State Swimming Championships. Mitchell will be swimming in the 12yrs 50m Freestyle, Senior Breaststroke, Senior Backstroke, Senior Butterfly and Senior Individual Medley. An amazing effort Mitchell – 4 firsts and one second!

Thank you to all parents who supported their children at this event, it is a long way and a long day – but a great

experience that I am sure the students will remember for many years.

NW Regional Swimming Carnival 2020

Ten of our school leaders and year 6 mediators travelled to Brisbane on Friday 1st March and enjoyed a day of inspiring speakers on the subject of LEADERSHIP. Students joined approximately 3 000 students mainly from around Queensland and Northern NSW to learn about the qualities needed to make a great leader. They made the most of their experience and represented Moree Public School admirably. An enormous thank you to parents who made travel and accommodation possible for this very special day. Below is a snapshot of some of the things they learnt whilst at the conference.

…has always had a passion for books and as a child carried a pen and paper in his bag at the ready for any opportunity to draw. He always wanted to be a children’s author and illustrator because it combined his two loves - writing and drawing. However, it has taken Persistence and Practise to finally achieve his dream. He is the author and illustrator of various children’s picture books including ‘Macca the Alpaca’ series and has recently had published the ‘Epic Fail Tales’ series. Matt has always been petrified of doing public speaking, but he has persevered. He said it is important to have People around you to support, be Positive and see the glass as half full, use your Power of imagination and stick to what you are good at. Matt said to find your Passion and set yourself realistic goals.

Phoebe Tydd, Harriet Beattie & Sophie Rogers

… is the General Manager of the humanitarian organisation called Cotton on Foundation. This charity raises money to build sustainable schools for children around the world but specifically Uganda, a quality education gives a child the chance to reach their potential and change the world! He has made over 60 trips himself to Uganda and is passionate about improving the lives of children. They have raised $90 million dollars so far to help children across the globe including isolated areas of the Northern Territory. Tim said he is doing his dream job, he said that being a dad to his 4 boys would be the only other job he would want. Ruby Humphries, Lachlan Muggleton & Milos Stanojevic

Young Leaders Day Brisbane 2019

Matt Cosgrove…

“I’m not going to let my fears stop me from what I want to achieve.”

Tim Diamond…

“When you realise what you have and what others don’t it puts everything into perspective.”

…was born with a physical disability because of spina bifida and the doctors said he wouldn’t live past the week, but they were wrong! He didn’t start school until grade 5 and found making friends challenging. Despite being bullied terribly as a school boy, his loving family helped him to have a positive outlook on life and overcome adversity, his sense of humour has carried him through many tough times. He said that no matter how tough life gets, be the best you can be, push forward and go out of your comfort zone. He encouraged us never to give up and believe that we can achieve what seems impossible. Lucy Kilner & Talara Munro

… started swimming when she moved to Australia from Malawi, Aftrica at the age of 9. She trained very hard with her sister Bronte from 5am-7am and 5pm-7pm after finishing a day at school. Cate has represented Australia at numerous Commonwealth and Olympic Games, winning medals that she feels was a reward for all the hardwork, effort and sacrifice. She brought swimming equipment to represent aspects of her success: GOGGLES = see straight ahead to the goals you have set, don’t run into obstacles PULL BOUY = problems and setbacks can be turned into opportunities STOPWATCH = someone to check in with what you are doing, a person who has your best interests at heart SQUAD MATES = encouragers who have a shared vision, choose your ‘team’ wisely

Chloe Elbourne & Ben DiDonna

“We have 2 eyes, 2 ears and only one mouth - that means we should listen and look

twice as much as we speak.”

John Coutis…

Cate Campbell…

“Find something you are good at, cultivate it, work hard and be humble about your achievements.”