In this week’s newsletter…….

* Jacaranda Activities

* Family Portraits

* Principal’s Message

Upcoming events

Tuesday 10th November: P & C Meeting 7pm in

library. All welcome!

Monday 16th November: Swim school commences and continues

daily for 2 weeks.

Tuesday 17th November: GHS Orientation day for Year 6

Wednesday 25th November: Kinder Excursion

Term Calendar - Click Here School Website - Click Here

Grafton Public School A Tradition of Excellence

Term 4 Week 6: Monday 9th November 2015

Locked Bag 9024 Grafton 2460 PHONE: Primary - 6642 1000 Infants - 6642 2286

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

Over the weekend we held a BBQ stall at Friday's Venetian Carnival and Saturday evening’s floats to raise money for

our Performing Arts program. This follows a working bee to supply the chairs for last weekend’s Queen Crowning

Ceremony. We had many people volunteer (parents and staff) along with some staff who don't have a child directly

involved in band, choir or dance, so big THANKS to you all for contributing. It couldn't have happened without you!

We raised over $1300 towards gear, repairs, music, or maybe even next year's trip! A mammoth effort so mammoth

thanks to all!

Congratulations to our choir members who performed at the Venetian Carnival. We have had many positive comments

from community members and you sounded awesome! Congrats and well done also to the many other GPS students who

performed with other groups such as dance, physie and instrumental. We were very proud of you all.

Jacaranda Activities

Special thanks to our Jacaranda Queen

and her party for visiting last Tuesday

to present awards and also spend some

time in our Support Unit. The students

loved to have you here!

The photos are being taken this Friday afternoon 13th November (from 3.30pm till 6.30pm) and Saturday 14th

November. You will receive a giant 10”x13” framed portrait for your donation of $15– . On the viewing day later in

the month, if you choose, you will have the chance to purchase additional portraits at exceptionally good prices. The

$15 sitting fee (plus bonuses) goes back to our school.

There are still some timeslots left on Friday and Saturday afternoons. If you would like to book a time, please place

your completed voucher plus $15.00 in an envelope marked “Family Portraits refer Miss Karen”, including your name,

contact number, requested time, and return this to the front office.

One lucky family photographed will win their complete portrait package valued at over $200 for FREE by simply being a part of this fundraiser.

P & C Family Portrait Fundraiser

* It is that time of year again when those school uniforms may be stretching tight due to a growth spurt but “we’ve

only got a few weeks to go so we will make it last”. We’ve all been there!! Please keep the school in mind when you do

finally buy some new uniforms. We have a high demand for second hand uniforms, so please send them in. If any of our

Year 6 students don’t have siblings to give them to, we would appreciate receiving their uniforms to add to our supply.

Brief But Important

Attention: Regular Market

Stallholders, Talented

Parents and Crafty

Citizens!!

If you are interested in having a stall at our P&C

Family Fun Night, Friday 4th December, please

contact Karen Crispin at GPS. Market stalls will be

open from 4-8pm and cost $15 for a site (payment

required at time of booking). Sites are all

unpowered and you will need to provide all your

own tables, shade etc. Stallholders do not require

their own public liability insurance as you will be

covered under the P&C’s insurance.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Our Jacaranda Festival has now passed on for this year. It is an event that attracts many to

Grafton to view the exceptional display of the flowering Jacaranda trees, many in street scapes

that give artists a vision to paint, similar to Monet’s Garden. It also reminds us of Grafton’s history

and the relevance of passing onto our youth the need for remembering and honouring tradition. The

original traditions of farming, milling and mining through to that of commerce as well as the

transfer of Grafton’s place within the growth of our state and the nation. There are many quiet

heroes who have contributed to this beautiful legacy with our youth being charged to keep this

flame alight and remembered.

To our students who marched at the March of Youth last weekend, ‘Well Done’! To those who sang

in the combined choir, performed on stage or took their place upon a float … great work and

congratulations. Jacaranda is more than a title, it is a celebration which we all have a part to play

within. To all the parents who assisted their children attend various venues and activities, our

sincere thank you for supporting this event. Also, our sincere thanks I extend to all parents and

community members who assisted at our fundraising BBQ over the weekend.

This Tuesday, those students who have been nominated for the position of school prefect, vice

captain or captain and who have passed the standards test, will be presenting their speeches to the

Year 3 to Year 5 students. The girls will do this at 9.30am and the boys straight after recess at

11.15am. I know there will be some nerves yet this is all part of building the character and

resilience of those aspiring to take up one of these coveted positions. I wish them all well.

We are now less than 50 days to Christmas. This brings joy for all as well as mixed emotions for

those who become overawed by this season’s expectations, generally articulated in the media

through visual displays as well as the written and verbal advertising. Our school is no exception to

utilising this season for a gathering, for we too are holding our bi-annual fair on Friday 4th

December. We will have stalls, raffles, jumping castles as well as water slides, plant, toy and cake

stalls and the chocolate wheel with chooks and hams on offer. And yet there is more…. a food court

with BBQs as well as other cuisine to tempt the palate. I hope you have this date booked on your

social calendar as it will be a beauty.

Swimming school will commence in Week 7, next Monday, for all Year 2 students and those in Years

3 to 6 who have been selected to improve their water skills and confidence. Swimming is an

essential skill that children must have here in Grafton, and we are pleased to be able to offer this

intensive program to our students.

I wish all a calm and dignified week.

Will Randall

Principal.

From the Principal

Bike Bus

Grafton City Cycles wish to show their support for the GPS Bike Bus and all of those who ride their bike to

school by offering a weekly prize to one lucky bike rider. One student who rides their bike to school during

the week will be randomly drawn to receive a prize donated by Grafton City Cycles. We appreciate their

support!

This week…. Last week's random winner for riding to school was Hannah Watkins. Hannah receives a $20

voucher from Grafton City Cycles.

A reminder to all Year 2 students and other selected Primary students that

swim school starts NEXT MONDAY and will continue every day for 2 weeks.

This is a compulsory activity for Year 2 students. Parents please ensure that

your child has all they need packed in their bags each day ie. swimmers, towel,

thongs (for walking to the pool), goggles etc.

Each week we will try to acknowledge the children who received awards at their grade assemblies in the previous

week. Congratulations to the following students who received awards last week:

Kinder: Aiden McBeath, Riley Jewell, Matthew Hoade, Chad Pateman, Elisabeth Kennedy, Chloe Donohoe, Khoby

Tonkin, Travis Smidt, Deacon Konemann, William Rhodes, Charlie Hamilton, Eliana Jackson, Oliver Hamilton, Addison

Menzies, Raymond Randall, Keira Cooper, Kaiva Gillies, Lilly Fahey, Lillie Gifford, Elijah Waite

Year 1: Mersaydie Morgan, Daisy Ada, Tylissah Third, Yuna Stavely-Alexander, Grace McIntyre, Willow Kirby, Kai

Abrahams, Holly Swadling, Isabelle Russell, Ruby Martin, Isaac Collins

Year 2: Tayla Willis, Oliver Shortt, Anique Davis, Alexandra Harrigan, Cara Cookson, Tabitha Franicevich, Dominic

Blanch, Lauren Walters

Year 3: Mia Fahey, Hannah Watkins

Year 4: Tayla Morrissey, Darcy Deefholts, Isabella Mitchell, Amy Carter

Year 5: Alysia Mclennan, William Simmons, Liam Gorham, Madison Jackson. Noah Fahey, Jesse McGarvie, Jack

Brown, Isabelle Brennan, Keilan Thomson, Levi Smith, Bradley Hollett, Lili Kreis, Tyleah Larcombe, Nickolas Connell,

Hope Endean

Year 6: Hollie Redman, Keanii Hunt, James Deefholts, Britney Cole, Bronte O’Loughlin, Emily Hartz, Janaya Cable,

Dawn Wilson, Kaylah Thurtel, Jackson Ellis

Support Unit: Chloe Blenkinsop

Assembly Award Winners

Canteen Infants Roster

10/11/15 Marcus and Yuki

11/11/15 Sharon

12/11/15 Suze English

13/11/15 Help Needed

16/11/15 Help Needed

Primary Roster

10/11/15 Cheryl and David Maunder

11/11/15 Help Needed

12/11/15 Help Needed

13/11/15 Rhonda Adamson

16/11/15 Kate Kratz

Community Notices

Professional mountain biker, and Yamba local, Morgan Pilley is passionate about the Clarence Valley community and

is keen to give back however he can.

On Saturday 14th November, Morgan will ride for a staggering 24hrs to raise awareness and much need funds to

support local youth mental health initiatives. All funds raised will go directly back into our community to provide

vital information and support, including the delivery of Youth Mental Health First Aid courses.

Riders of all ages and abilities are encouraged to get into it! There will be a $10 entry fee to cover a participation

license. Registrations will be taken at the venue from 10.00am on 14th November, and throughout the challenge.

For more info please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/events/951248181614320/