John T Bell Drive Maryland NSW 2287

T 4955 9430 F 4955 8945 E maryland-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Web: https://maryland-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Our P & C Association meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7.00pm

All parents and community members are welcome to attend Our School Council meets the 3rd Tuesday at 6.00pm

Respect Responsibility Excellence Safety

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Newsletter Maryland Public School

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Skills for Life

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Variation to Term 3 Staff Development Day Our Callaghan Education Pathways (CEP) network of schools has been fortunate to secure the services of Dylan Wiliam (British educationalist and Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment) for a whole day of professional learning in Term 3. In order to ensure all teachers have the chance to participate in this fabulous opportunity, we will be swapping our Term 3 Staff Development Day (student free day) date for Monday 19 August as this is when he is available to present to us. There will be 18 schools across the CEP and also a number of schools in the Kurri Kurri network joining us on this day.

What does this mean for our students and families?

Students will attend school on the first Monday (22 July) following the Term 2 holidays (which is the scheduled Staff Development Day) but will not attend school on Monday, 19 August in lieu of the variation.

We trust that timely forewarning will enable our families to make alternative plans for the 19th August.

John Fleming Yesterday John Fleming visited our school again to work with our staff and students. Our School Learning Support Officers (SLSOs) had a professional learning session about intervention strategies to support students who may need additional help in achieving literacy and numeracy outcomes. Mr Fleming was able to provide feedback about current practices and provide some ideas about how we can improve to ensure our students receive the very best support possible. Thanks to our team of SLSOs for being brave enough to demonstrate what they do in order to be even better!

Mr Fleming also watched some of our teachers deliver "Warm Ups" and explicit lessons to once again provide feedback and future directions so that we have the very best teaching team available!

Congratulations to all our wonderful MPS staff for embracing evidence based best practices, so that our students have the best opportunities to succeed. Mr Fleming says we are doing an exceptional job of explicit teaching!

Thanks to Mrs Khay for her coordination and leadership with this initiative.

Appointments with Teachers We welcome and encourage open communication with our community. Our teachers are always willing and available to meet with you (either face to face or over the

phone) when the need arises. We respectfully request that when you need to speak to your child's teacher, you make an appointment to do so.

While our teachers are sometimes available for a quick informal chat (usually after school and depending on meetings / appointments), if there is something that requires deeper conversation, please contact the school office to make an appointment at a mutually convenient time.

Once the bell goes in the morning for class, teachers are not available to meet with you (even for a short while) as their duty of care is with the class and their teaching program. Likewise, prior to the bell in the morning, teachers are preparing for the day's lessons and are often involved in meetings.

Please be aware that our teachers are on duty for much of the school day and they only have a very short break when they are not teaching or on playground duty. Sometimes, they will not be able to return your call on the same day however, they will endeavour to get back to you as soon as they can.

If there is an urgent conversation required, please let the office staff know and one of our executive staff members will return your call.

As always, for classroom queries, it is best to make contact with the class teacher in the first instance. We appreciate your consideration and will continue to work with you and your children to ensure the very best outcomes for all.

Mrs Van Egmond

https://www.facebook.com/MarylandPublic

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Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Calendar

Term 1 – Week 9

Wednesday, 27 March 2019 Leaderslink at CCWC

9am Cut-off for Grey and Gold Cards to be handed into the office for next week’s Whole School Assembly

Book Club Loop closes for Online Orders

Friday, 29 March 2019 Deposit for Stage 3 Canberra Excursion Due

2pm Primary Assembly

Term 1 – Week 10

Wednesday 3 April 2019 2pm Whole School Assembly

Friday 5 April 2019 Cross Country

Important Dates for Your Diary

Monday, 8 April 2019 9.15am ANZAC Assembly

Tuesday, 9 April 2019 Grandfriends’ Day / Easter Hat Parade / Book Fair

Thursday, 11 April 2019 Gymnastics Program payment and notes due

Friday, 12 April 2019 2pm Infants Assembly 1/2SG Hosting Assembly

Last Day of Term 1

Monday, 29 April 2019 Staff Development Day (Pupil Free)

Tuesday, 30 April 2019 Students resume for Term 2

Thursday, 2 May 2019 All Schools Newcastle Knights Competition – Opens

Tuesday, 4 June 2019 All Schools Newcastle Knights Competition – Under 10’s

Friday, 5 July 2019 Last Day of Term 2

Monday, 22 July 2019 Staff & Students resume for Term 3

Monday, 19 August 2019 Staff Development Day (Pupil Free)

Positive Behaviour for Learning Focus this week is RESPECT - Being Considerate

OFFICE NEWS Mozzie Alert Due to the rain and hot days there has been a large number of children being bitten by mosquitoes.

Please spray your child every morning before attending school. Students may bring their own roll-on mosquito repellent. NO SPRAY repellents are permitted.

Whole School Assembly The cut-off date for grey and gold cards to be handed in to the school office for the next whole school assembly is 9am Wednesday, 27 March 2019 (Week 9).

Reminder Visitors to School Grounds All visitors to the school grounds between 9am and 3pm are reminded that they must sign in and out at the school office.

NAPLAN Online In Term 2 NAPLAN testing will take place at our school. This will be over a two week window of time in early May and all tests except Year 3 writing will be completed on computer or iPad. The students will be using school devices not their BYO Devices. All students require headphones for use at school. This is especially important for NAPLAN tests. A simple pair of headphones at discount stores should only cost around $6 - $10 dollars. If your child does not already have theirs, it would be appreciated if a pair can be sent in as soon as possible.

There will be a practice test held prior to the actual testing window and they will require headphones for this too.

Ms Blanch (Stage 2 & Stage 3 Leader / Technology Coordinator)

EARLY STAGE 1 & STAGE 1 NEWS Grandfriends' Day On this day Tuesday 9 April, Grandfriends' are invited to attend our school to take part in a morning of fun and activity. Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 students will be decorating an Easter hat at school, helped by their 'Grandfriends' and then wearing it in our parade for all to see. Students will be given a template of a hat, so you do not need to provide one. What you do need to provide are DECORATIONS to go on the hat (NO chocolate items please - especially if it’s a hot day!). Students may bring these in before the day. It is also helpful to have your own stapler / sticky tape. Craft glue is not a good idea as there is not enough time for it to dry properly before the parade.

Mrs Mackay (Early Stage 1 & Stage 1 Leader)

GRANDFRIENDS DAY This is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 9 April 2019. The day will involve a formal assembly in the Area B COLA, visits to classrooms, Book Fair in the library (donations to the Library), morning tea / coffee and a biscuit for Grandfriends, dance performances, Easter hat parade, raffle draw and opportunity to view ANZAC memorabilia in the hall. An outline of the day is included in the invitation attached to the newsletter.

Hope to see you all there!

Deb Groth on behalf of the Organisational Committee

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Tuesday, 26 March 2019

DANCE NEWS Hunter Dance Festival Audition The senior lunchtime dancers will be filming their routine for the Hunter Dance Festival on next Friday, 5 April 2019 (Cross country day). All members are requested to wear their hair up in a high ponytail and to bring a black leotard, ¾ tights, black socks and black shoes with them on the day. Recording will take place in the hall just before lunch. Your cooperation and support in this regard would be greatly appreciated.

Grandfriends Day Junior and Senior lunchtime dancers will perform at the Easter Eggstravaganza parade on Grandfriends Day from 11.40am. All dancers are requested to wear their leotards, tights, (black t-shirt and black shorts for boys), black socks and shoes on that day. All female students are also requested to have their hair up neatly presented in a high ponytail. Your support and assistance in this regard would be greatly appreciated.

Mrs Groth (Dance Coordinating Teacher)

SPORT NEWS PSSA Hunter Trials Good luck to the students who are trialing for the Hunter Rugby League, Football and Netball this week.

Knights Knockout The Junior Knights Knockout Gala competition has been postponed until June. Thanks to Mr Blyth for coaching the team.

PSSA AFL

Cross Country The school Cross Country will be held on Friday, 5 April. Volunteers please see Mrs Wingrove.

PSSA Knockout Teams Netball The girls played their first round against Shortland last Friday and won 18-0.

Girls' Touch Football The girls played their first round against Shortland last Friday and won 16 -1

Boys' Touch Football The boys have a bye for their first round.

Football The team will play Cardiff on Wednesday, 3 April.

Basketball The teams will play in a gala at the end of Term 2.

Mrs Wingrove (Sports Coordinator)

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Tuesday, 26 March 2019

P&C NEWS The Annual General Meeting for the P&C Committee was held last week and the new committee members for 2019 are as follows;

President : Danielle Muller

Vice President : Vacant (Nominations very welcome)

Secretary: Toni Spooner

Treasurer: Maryanne McMurray

Assistant Treasurer: Sharna Hicks

Fundraising Committee Members:

Maryanne McMurray, Sharna Hicks, Deb Groth,

Rachel Woodward and Aja Peate.

The new P&C Committee pledged $3000 at the meeting to go towards the upgrading of the outdoor sound system in Area B for special events such as Grandfriends Day. The upgrade will hopefully be installed and functional on that day (fingers crossed).

We look forward to working together with the staff and community to make Maryland Public School the best that it can be.

CANTEEN NEWS

Canteen Roster Term

Day Date Name

Week 9 Wednesday

27 March Lesley, Robyn, Kass

Thursday 28 March Susan B, Amy

Friday 29 March Jamie, Sharna, Alicia 2 Volunteer Needed

Week 10 Monday

1 April Carmen, Cath

Tuesday 2 April Carmen, Amy

Wednesday 3 April Lesley, Robyn

Thursday 4 April Kristie, Lyndell

Friday 5 April Jamie, Amandas, Esme, Kass

Week 11 Monday

8 April Carmen, Alisha O

Tuesday 9 April Carmen, Shree

Wednesday 10 April Lesley, Robyn, Kass

Thursday 11 April Janelle, Lesley, Cher

Friday 12 April Jamie, Sharna 2 Volunteers Needed

FUNDRAISING NEWS Easter Eggstravaganza Tickets have been sent home for the Easter Eggstravaganza Raffle that will be drawn at Grandfriends Day Tuesday, 9 April 2019. Donations of chocolate eggs, bunny ears, soft toys, head bands and Easter merchandise would be greatly appreciated. These items can be left at the front office for the P&C. Tickets are $1 each and if you require additional booklets, these are available from the front office. Kindly return money and ticket butts from sales to the school office as soon as possible. Also, if you are unable to sell the tickets these can be returned to the school and used on Grandfriends Day, please do not simply recycle them as they were specifically printed for the event.

Deb Groth on behalf of the P&C Committee

PRELOVED UNIFORM SHOP NEWS Opening Hours

Tuesday Mornings 8.30am until 9.00am

Thursday Afternoons 2.15pm until 2.45pm

Carmen & Alisa 😊☺

NEW UNIFORM SHOP NEWS Opening Hours

Tuesday 8.30am - 9.30am

Thursday 2.30pm - 3.30pm

Visit the website by clicking on the link below to order uniforms online.

http://www.countryfeelinguniforms.com.au/

COMMUNITY NEWS

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Tuesday, 26 March 2019

HARMONY DAY

Dear ............................................................

You are cordially invited to join us in our Easter

Eggstravaganza and Hat Parade.

When: Tuesday 9th April 2019

Where: Maryland Public School

Time: Seated by 9.10

Assembly outdoors for Grandfriends.

Classroom Visits including hat decorating, sneak peek

into routines and insight to what we do at school.

Grab a cuppa then from 11.30 dance performances,

hat parade for K-2. View ANZAC display of

memorabilia in the School Hall

(compliments of Mr Jeffriess)

Special guest appearance!

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!