Westlawn Public School

Newsletter Term 2 Week 10

2nd July 2019

Strive to Achieve

North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 westlawn-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

I had the pleasure last week of attending my first Westlawn Primary Disco. I must admit that I had intended

to make a brief appearance at the disco, then duck back to my office to continue reading student reports (I

had underestimated the time required to carefully read 520 of them!).

Little did I expect that the disco was going to be so entertaining that I could not drag myself away! I have

been to more discos than most over the years and I cannot remember enjoying one so much. It was great to

see so many children dancing and enjoying themselves. At a time when society has concerns over student

mental wellbeing, I think you’ll agree that if you’re having a dance you are happy indeed! Congratulations to

Mrs McGrath and her Disco Teacher Team for organising the event and many thanks to the mums who ran

the canteen.

Watching the positivity amongst the students made me think about the psychological impact of dance and its

significance on mental health. Google searches substantiated my belief that dancing is beneficial for not only

physical but mental wellbeing. Much research has been done that has shown a reduction in anxiety and

depression and an increase in social connectedness in those who dance regularly. It doesn’t matter if you

have two left feet or you dance like Beyonce – the benefits are still as good!

This week we celebrate NAIDOC – National Aboriginal and Islander Day Of Celebration - with many events.

On Monday, Mrs Gough and I will take the school leaders and our Aboriginal Dance Group to Grafton Primary

School for the Opening Assembly. On Tuesday, year 5 will visit South Grafton High School for a day of

Aboriginal Games. At WPS that day, students in Stage 2 will enjoy cultural activities whilst Year 6 students

run Aboriginal Games for our infants students. On Wednesday, WPS will host the NAIDOC Public Speaking

competition and on Friday we will have our own NAIDOC Assembly at WPS at 12.45pm in our school hall.

A very busy week ahead when you consider that we will also have our Athletics Carnival on Thursday! Many

thanks in advance to Mrs Hadley and her team of teachers for organising our carnival and to all those

parents who assist on the day. Big thank you to Belinda Bowling, our new Canteen Coordinator, who will run

the canteen at Junction Hill. Belinda is looking for volunteers to assist on the day so please contact the school

if you are able to assist.

Finally, enjoy a safe and happy holiday and we will see your children back at school on Tuesday, 23 July.

Principal’s Message

Strive to Achieve

North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 westlawn-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Kind Regards,

Sandra

FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTERS FROM TERM 3 ON

Now that the school added Skoolbag App to its communications package, our newsletters will move to

fortnightly on odd weeks from next term. Information will continue to be communicated regularly as

required via FaceBook, the school website and Skoolbag.

SKOOLBAG APP – IT’S FREE AND IT’S FOR YOU!

We are excited to add the Skoolbag App to our communication kit at WPS. You can download the free

Skoolbag App to have school alerts, newsletters, reminders and much more at your fingertips. Please go to

the following link for details on how to install the SkoolBag app and for additional information on its use:

https://www.moqproducts.com.au/skoolbag/installation-instructions/

REPORTS

It’s that time of year again when you receive your child’s school report. Teachers have been assessing

students, analysing data, collecting work samples and writing up findings. The result is a comprehensive

report covering your child’s effort and performance in all key learning areas. We hope you enjoy reading the

report with your child, celebrating successes and making plans with them to achieve goals for improvement.

On the cover page of the report, the grading is explained. To be achieving stage appropriate outcomes,

students will be in the “C” or “Sound” performance range. It is hoped that in effort, all children will be in the

A, B or C range. Congratulations to all students who have tried their very best to achieve their potential and

to teachers and parents/carers for supporting them to get there.

Primary Athletics Carnival

Fingers crossed the weather is kind to us this Thursday for our athletics carnival. Please note that if it is

too wet again, we will postpone the carnival to a date yet to be confirmed. Should the carnival be

postponed, a message will be placed on the Westlawn PS Facebook page and Skoolbag app at

approximately 7:30 am.

A bus will leave Westlawn School at 8.50 am for children who arrive at school by bus to link up with the rest

of the school at Junction Hill. The same bus will bring children back to school at approximately 2.30pm.

Please indicate on the permission note if your child/children will need bus transport to Junction Hill. If you are

picking your child up from the carnival please be at the oval before 2pm, otherwise they will catch the bus

back to school.

As with all sports days, the children are encouraged to take part in as many activities as possible. The 100m

age races and 800m event are open to all. Novelty relays/events will operate to enable more children to

participate on the day.

The discus events will begin at 8.00am. Students who have nominated for this event will need private

transport and will need to be punctual.

Family members are invited to have a day out and cheer on the children. There is no seating at Terry West

Athletics Field, so parents who are attending will need to bring their own. Children are to bring their own food

Sporting News

Strive to Achieve

North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 westlawn-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

and water or purchase from the canteen.

All children are asked to wear their sports uniform. However, if they have a T-shirt in the colour of their

house team this can be worn. Otherwise, a coloured ribbon or the like can be worn. Parents are not required

to put themselves to any expense in providing the house colours. There is a Department directive that shoes

must be worn in all events. No spikes to be worn in the 800m.

HOUSE COLOURS JUPITER - RED

MERCURY - YELLOW

NEPTUNE - BLUE

SATURN - GREEN

Please remember to ensure that your children have a hat, sunscreen and a jumper or tracksuit in case it turns

cool. Students who suffer from asthma should follow their asthma management plan on this day

Children need a note to go home with other parents.

Students who finish in the first 3 in track events and first 2 in field events will progress to the Clarence

Athletics Carnival to be held at the same venue on Friday 3 August 2019 (T3 W2).

NSWPSSA Girls Hockey Carnival Result

Congratulations to Eliza, Shani, Shanae and Isabella who were a part of the

North Coast team that finished joint winners of the state title in Newcastle last

week. They can now call themselves state champions!!!

North Coast were outstanding during the tournament, finishing on top of their

pool and then drawing the final 1 all with Mackillop.

ARCO at Westlawn PS

ARCO stands for Anti-Racism Contact Officer. This year Mrs Heidi Gough is the ARCO for Westlawn PS.

The role of the ARCO is to receive and mediate complaints of a racial nature.

Should you have any concerns please make contact through our school email address with RE: Heidi Gough- ARCO and Mrs Gough will contact you.

NAIDOC Week

Indigenous Dance

Group

Strive to Achieve

North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 westlawn-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

SRC Citizenship Award

The SRC present a weekly Citizenship Award at our primary assembly. Each week

we meet to discuss what encouraging things we have seen happening in our

playground and classrooms. The SRC look for behaviours that are helpful,

demonstrate our school rules or an act that shows a student as a positive role

model for others. We then nominate children we have seen displaying these

behaviours. Last week the SRC focussed on finding children who were being

responsible. The students who were nominated by SRC representatives are Keirra,

Eli, Makayla, Aliya and Savannah. We all voted. The award winner has been seen

and heard being respectful to teachers, being responsible helping with odd jobs

around the school and helping friends solve problems.

This week’s Citizenship Award winner is Eli.

Congratulations Eli!

Over the coming weeks, the SRC are looking for students who being responsible.

Chase – 5A Emily – 4/5O Hunter - KB

SRC Information

Students of the Week

Strive to Achieve

North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 westlawn-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

TEACHERS BRONZE SILVER GOLD DIAMOND/PRINCIPAL

Paul 1R Nayte 1R Cheyse 1R Tilly 1R Layla 1/2C Piper 1R Macey 1R Jasmine 1R Hudson 1R Callum 1R Kruze 1R Ruby 1R Cooper 1R Klancee 1R Lewis 1M Amali 1M Imogen 1M Lillyarna 1M Jack 1M Hayden 1M William 1M Allaura 1M Brooklyn 1R Naevia 1R Charlotte 1R

Boyd 3M Sydnee 3M Chelsea 3S Saxon 3M Kye 3M Ethan 4/5O Charlie 2L

Olivia 3M Seth 3M Aniston 3M Layla 3S Marcus 4J Ashton 4J Bohdi 4J Michelle 4J Lily 4J Emmy 3S Isobella 3/4T Tyrese 3/4T Savannah 3/4T Henry 3S Alex 3/4T Elke 4E Taj 4E Ben 4J Madison 3/4T Charlie 4E Barney 4E Zack 4E Zoe 2A

Ella 6H Luna 4J Amelia 4/5O Thomas 4/5O Jackson 4/5O Chad 4/5O Jason 4/5O Burnum 4/5O Aliya 4E Lachlan 6W Loghan 6H Mack 4/5O Montana 5A Kiara 5A Grace 4E

Ryder 6W Jaiden 6W Sidonia 6W Reece 6W Lillian 6W Jack 5A Ella 6P Alice 6P Isabella 6P Oneil 6P Layla 6P Jack e 6P PRINCIPAL Eliza 6P

TERM 3 AWARD RECIPIENTS

School

Spirit

Award

Recipient

Seth – 6W

Strive to Achieve

North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 westlawn-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Westlawn Public School P&C Newsletter

Term 2 Week 10

P & C Meeting

There will be a special P&C meeting held this Wednesday 3rd July at 6:00pm. Everyone is welcome to

attend, especially if you would like to be involved in the organising of this year’s Westlawn School fair.

Canteen News

The canteen needs additional volunteers, especially on Mondays and Fridays. If anyone is available

please let Belinda or Deb know.

Lamington Drive

Our annual lamington drive is coming soon. Order s for lamingtons with

money need to be returned by this Friday 5th July. The lamingtons will

be delivered on the 26th July. If you are able to help out on this day with

sorting and packing orders, please let the office know.

School Fair

Our school fair is fast approaching.

The fair will be held on the 20th September.

The P&C is looking for a Fair Coordinator. This will involve meeting with the

teacher representatives for the fair, to be involved in the planning and

organising of this year’s fair.

The P&C also needs a new secretary.

This role primarily involves attending P&C Meetings and taking minutes once a month. There is also

the need to send outgoing correspondence and check for incoming correspondence. If interested in

either of these roles please speak to any member of the P&C Executive

CANTEEN ROSTER

WEDNESDAY 3 JULY Garry Palin, Debra Watts

THURSDAY 4 JULY Debra Watts, Campbell Kenneally

FRIDAY 5 JULY Kassy Viskers, Kelly Williams, Jan Tucker

TERM 3

TUESDAY 23 JULY Debra Watts, Sue Tobin, Debbie Tobin

WEDNESDAY 24 JULY Debra Watts, Shane Masters, Christine Cowan

THURSDAY 25 JULY Sue Ulrick, Campbell Timmins, Debra Watts

FRIDAY 26 JULY Shelly Thompson, Anita McLennan, Belinda Bowling, Kristie Ward