Principal’s Message Hero Day Fundraiser

On Friday 19th June we held our annual fundraiser in memory of Amber Streeting for Neuroblastoma Australia. There were so many colourful outfits including lots of students dressing up as essential service workers. Students and staff looked amazing. In total we raised $575. Thank you to our wonderful community for supporting Hero Day.

On Thursday 11th June the Department of Education released updated Return to Full-Time Face-to-Face Learning Guidelines. The revised guidelines are a result of the updated health advice and relaxed restrictions. I am pleased to let you know that schools are able to recommence the majority of school-based activities from either 15th June 2020 or the start of Term 3 (20th July 2020). An overview of the guidelines is as follows:

Narara Public School Monday Mumbles

Weekly Newsletter

Newling Street, Lisarow NSW 2250

Phone: (02) 4328 3024 Fax: (02) 4329 1472

Email: narara-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website: www.narara-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Student Banking: Thursday Uniform Shop: Tuesday and Friday - 8.15am - 8.45am

Term 2, Week 9 Monday 22nd June 2020

Narara Public School

Dates to Remember 3rd July Cross Country (students only)

Notes You Should Have Stage 2 Camp note

Activities / site usage that have been able to take place since Monday 15th June 2020, include:

- School assemblies (limited to 15 minutes and no external visitors) - Choirs and performing arts at school, with safety protocols in place - Students may attend other schools for essential curriculum related reasons or placements - Incursions / external providers can provide activities that support delivery of curriculum (e.g. music tutors,

sport skills development programs, Healthy Harold etc) - Community use activities used by students such as dance classes, and student sport skills development,

outside of school hours with limited adult attendance - Day field trips to outdoor locations with no physical distancing requirements can take place

Activities / site usage that can take place from beginning of Term 3 include:

- All school sport and activities including competitions aligned with current health advice (including those activities run by external organisations)

- Inter-school student events and competitions (choirs, sport, debating, public speaking, performing arts, Selective Sports High School trials etc)

- Special Religious Education / Special Ethics Education lessons - Work experience for students - P&C meetings – with a strong preference for on-line where possible - Parent / teacher meetings – where these need to take place – strong preference for online where

possible unless involving serious matters that require face to face discussion - Community use activities involving general adult attendance (such as community markets).

The following events will be considered in Term 3. For now, these events must remain on hold:

- School camps - Excursions (other than field trips explained above) - Parent attendance at assemblies and other school events (e.g. graduation ceremonies or student speech

events) - Parent volunteers – e.g. parent reading helpers (note: canteen and uniform shop volunteers are

permitted) - Interstate excursions - School based activities that involve large gathering of adults are not permitted at this time. These include

parent/community gatherings such as parent functions, working bees, fundraisers, school BBQs, large parent information evenings, and large on-site cultural events. These large gatherings and the following activities will continue to be reviewed and assessed based on AHPPC and NSW Health advice and may be permitted at a later date.

Student Academic Reports Whilst the NSW Department of Education have extended the Semester 1 reporting period to 30th August, NPS reports will be distributed this term on Wednesday 1st July (Term 2, Week 10). Due to COVID-19 this will be a modified report and will focus on the learning that has taken place so far this year during face to face and remote learning. The A-E grading scale will not be used this semester, however, the reports will provide a summative account of student progress and achievement on learning including student’s strengths and any areas for further development. It will also include student effort for all Key Learning Areas. While this is a modified report, teachers have still spent many hours preparing your child/ren’s report and have worked hard to ensure that it is a true and accurate reflection of your child’s progress in their learning over the semester. Please take the time to discuss the report with your child and reflect on their achievements and where there may need to be a greater focus for improvements to occur. I encourage all parents to read the front cover of your child’s report as this gives an overview of effort and achievement scales that are used in this modified report. Student attendance, both partial and whole day, are included. The attendance cut-off date for this semester was 19th June. The reason for this is reports need to be printed off and signed by teachers and myself. If you have any questions in relation to your child/ren’s report, please do not hesitate to ring the school to organise a mutual agreeable time to speak to your child’s teacher.

Pacific Links Housing We were delighted to help raise spirits of Central Coast residents who may be alone or self-isolating during COVID-19. Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 created some colourful artworks and kind messages to spread joy and let people know they are not alone. Thank you Pacific Links Housing for inviting us to be part of this initiative.

Staff Update Next term Mr Weiss and Mrs Parker will return to face to face teaching. Thank you to Mr Evans who taught 5/6W and to Mrs Austin and Mrs Osborn who taught 3/4P for part of Term 2. Uniform Survey In Term 3 the school will be undertaking a uniform survey which will form part of a uniform review. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and P&C meetings having to be cancelled it meant this survey was unable to be completed this term. Thank you for your patience and understanding. NAIDOC Week National NAIDOC Week 2020 celebrations will be held from the 8-15 November. The November dates follow the decision by the National NAIDOC Committee (NNC) to postpone NAIDOC Week from the original July dates due to the impacts and uncertainty from the escalating Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across our communities and cities.

Flexibuzz Last week we were notified that FlexiBuzz will cease operations from 30th June, 2020. This week the school will be investigating a new communication platform to stay connected with our community. Further information will be provided in the coming days. Traffic Safety Due to the current climate there is an increased number of parents dropping off and picking up children on both Douglass Close and Newling Street. At drop off and pick up please be respectful of our local residents and ensure they have access to their driveways. Also, be sure to follow the road rules, particularly do not park in no stopping zones. Streets like Tom Close and Pemberton Blvd have yellow lines which indicate where you can not park. Parking in these areas presents a danger to both pedestrians and vehicles. Over the last week I have had a number of concerned residents call in regard to these issues. They want to work with our school to ensure safety to all, however, they did indicate if there is not an improvement they would call the police and council rangers to ensure road rules are adhered to. Local residents are in their right to do this. Your cooperation with this is greatly appreciated. In the morning I have observed a number of families crossing the road up from the crossing located on Newling Street. This is dangerous behaviour and I request that this stop. As parents we need to model correct behaviour for our children. Crossing a busy road away from a pedestrian crossing during peak traffic time is dangerous and irresponsible. Changes to the opportunity class placement process for 2020 Year 4 students The 2021 Year 5 opportunity class (OC) placement process was put on hold in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation.

There is now a revised and simplified timeline for the OC placement process to ensure that students and families can have certainty about their placement as soon as possible. The changes include:

A new date for online applications. Parents must apply between 9 June 2020 and 26 June 2020. Late applications cannot be accepted.

A new test date is set for Wednesday 16 September 2020.

To ensure fair and consistent assessment of students across New South Wales, students will be offered places based only on their test results this year – there will be no school assessment scores. There will also be no opportunity for appeals given the tight timeframes. For further detailed information and how to apply please visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5

Quality Workers

Students Class Work Sample Lachlan M Ella P Elijah C

5/6W Solar System

Declan M Luke E Charlie T

KG

Super Sentences

Zac A Brendan K Liam G Harper L Declan B

K1M Maths

Tiddalick the Frog

Billy A 3/4P Personal Recount

Sukhmandeep D Lara S Naomi R Will M

3/4B Spelling

Handwriting

Grant McFarland Principal

Great Aussie Bush Camp Kincumber

Term 3 Week 7

31 August 2020- 2nd September 2020

With the easing of restrictions, the chance of camp going ahead is increasing. With this, please make payments as soon as possible if your child wishes to attend. Due to COVID19 new cut off dates have been put in place;

Deposits MUST be paid by Friday 3rd of July

Final payments are due by Friday 21st August

Payments are to be made online or by EFTPOS at the office. Please sign and return the permission note. Spare notes can be collected from the office.

Thank you

Mrs Perks

Payments

Payments

Due to Covid-19 we are not taking cash so if you would please pay on-line through the Narara School website or Eftpos at the school office we would appreciate it