Gosford Public School 21 February 2018 - Page 1

Gosford Public School Bulletin Faunce Street, West Gosford, NSW 2250 Tel. 4349 3600 Fax. 4349 3699

Term 1 – Week 4

Email gosford-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Wednesday 21 February 2018

OM THE DEPUTY PRINCI PAL

Important Dates - Communication Week: begin Mon 26 Feb - P and C Meeting Wednesday 28 February - School Photos: Fri 2 Mar - P and C Meeting and AGM Wednesday 28 March Communication Week – Week 5 Next week, your child’s teacher may make contact with you in regard to your child’s academic, social and/or emotional development. Discussion for this first formal ‘Communication Week’ will focus largely around how your child has settled into their new class and their transition into a new grade. Teachers have been asked to ‘explore’ new and more flexible methods of communication rather than defaulting to the traditional face-to-face interview. Suggestions include: - phone call, - email, - ‘Messenger, WhatsApp, FaceTime’ – video links, and - written correspondence We recognise that many of our parents work long hours, run businesses, commute or are involved in shift work. Consequently, the traditional face-to-face interview is not always practical nor necessary. This initiative addresses these logistical issues and allows both the teacher and the parent/carer the flexibility to arrange ‘communication’ in a more convenient and practical manner. I look forward to your feedback on this initiative over coming weeks. P&C Annual General Meeting (AGM) Many of you would have noted that our P&C will be conducting its annual AGM on Wednesday 28th March at 7.30pm (as advised in our last newsletter). We welcome all parents & carers to this important school organisation and encourage your active membership. I’ve included (in this newsletter) a very informative ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ sheet which may address any questions you have in regard to becoming a member of our P&C. It is important to note that if you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else for a role on the P&C executive or, if you wish to vote at the AGM (or at any other time) you need to be a ‘financial’ member. To be considered a ‘financial’ member (for voting purposes) you will need to attend the next P&C General meeting – next Wednesday 28th February at

DIARY DATES

2018

Week 5 P and C Meeting Wed 28 Feb @ 7:30pm Chapman Room

School photo day Fri 2/3

Week 7 Selective HS Test 2019 Thu 15/3 Week 8 Harmony Day Wed 21/3 Week 9 P and C Meeting & AGM Wednesday 28 March Easter holiday break – Good Friday 30 March Easter Monday 2 April Week 10 Communication Week Week 11 Yr 6 Canberra excursion Tue 10/4, Wed 11/4 Thu 12/4

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

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7.30pm. At that meeting, you will need to pay your membership fee to be considered eligible to participate in the voting/nomination process at the AGM or at future General meetings. If you need further assistance in this regard or would like to know more about the P&C why don’t you join me at this Friday’s ‘Coffee & Chat’ – 9.30am at the ‘Skillion’. Swimming Carnival Last night we conducted our annual ‘twilight’ Swimming Carnival held at Gosford Public Pool. I would like to congratulate our participating students on their sensible behaviour, their fair sense of competition and their individual results! I would also like to acknowledge Mrs Griffiths & Mrs Latta for their hard work in preparing for this significant sporting event! My thanks go also to the many staff and parents who gave their ‘after-hours’ time so willingly so that our students could enjoy this afternoon of friendly competition.

Brad Lewis

Every Day Counts!

School Attendance Regular attendance at school is essential for students to achieve quality life outcomes. Schools, in partnership with parents, are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students. Parents of children from Kindergarten to Year 12 must ensure their children attend school every day. On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include: ●being sick or having an infectious disease ●having an unavoidable medical appointment ●being required to attend a recognised religious holiday ●exceptional or urgent family circumstances e.g. attending a funeral Parents must provide an explanation (via a written note or through Skoolbag App) for absences to the school within 7 days from the first day of any period of absence. Where an explanation has not been received within the 7-day timeframe, the school will record the absence as unjustified on the student’s record.

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

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Every Day Counts!

Technology for Learning Initiative – Replacing BYOD As part of our strong and ongoing commitment to Future Focused teaching and learning practices, Gosford Public School will be implementing a Technology for Learning initiative commencing Term 1, 2018. This initiative will replace the existing BYOD program, be school-wide with all students K-6 having the opportunity to participate. Depending on the individual learning requirements of each class, students will have the opportunity (not compulsory) to participate by bringing a personal technology device (that meets school specifications) into school to ‘value add’ to their learning, unit of work, or time specific teaching and learning experiences. Some classes may be completing work that lends itself to the use of a personal technology device for an extended time period, others may only require the use of personal devices during a particular unit of work or short project. The distinct difference between the T4L initiative and a traditional BYOD program is that the T4L initiative will be used on a ‘point of need’ basis and will be fully inclusive K-6. There will be a range of documentation coming home with students (also posted on the school website) over the coming days in relation to the T4L initiative. This will include:

GPS Technology for Learning Parent Information note

2018 T4L Device Specifications document

2018 T4L Student User Agreement If you have any questions about this new initiative after receiving the relevant documentation, please contact Mr Allen (Deputy Principal) via the school office.

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Hello! I hope you and your children are settling well into your school routine for this year.

I would like to extend an invitation to all parents and carers to a ‘Coffee Talk with the Principal’

this coming Friday 23rd February. We will be meeting at 9:30-10:15am at the skillion area. Mr

Lewis, Mr Allen (Deputy Principal), Ms Smith (Assistant Principal) and myself will all be present

at this informal gathering. There will be some nibbles and hot drinks available, including a coffee

van. As this is the first time we have done this, the coffees are on us!

If you are available, we would love to see you there. This is an opportunity for you to say hello,

get to know us and discuss any topics of interest to you with regards to our school. We would

love to meet as many of you as possible. New faces are welcome!

In addition to this event, I mentioned in the last newsletter that I had plans to organise and

facilitate some parent seminars. The idea was present topics of particular interest to you. One of

the main challenges in doing this is finding suitable times. I am always aware that the demands

on your time are many and varied. One of the keys things that came out of last year’s surveys

was that some parents expressed that it was a challenge having events during school hours

because they couldn’t get to them due to work, and others said that after hours events were too

much to get to. In other words – we all have very different needs to one another.

With this in mind, and after some discussions with several people, I have decided that instead of

organising seminars that you need find the time to physically attend, I will be looking into how I

can make this information accessible to you online. At this stage I am still researching what

shape that will take to be most effective and useful to you. One idea is that I might start a CLO

blog with links, articles or videos on topics you want to hear about. I will keep you posted on my

progress. I welcome any feedback and ideas you have about this.

Lastly, if you are interested in volunteering at the school in any capacity, did you know that it is

now mandatory to have a “Working With Children Check”? As a volunteer it is free of charge for

you to obtain one. You will be also surprised to discover it is quite an easy process to apply

online! Here is the website: https://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-

organisations/working-with-children-check

All the information about what the check is and how to apply for it is on that website. If you need

any help understanding the content or taking you through the application steps, please do not

FROM THE COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER

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hesitate to contact me and I would be happy to set up a time with you to walk you through the

process.

Have a great fortnight, and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Friday

morning.

Fiona Snare

CLO

gosfordps.clo@gmail.com

ROM THE UNIFORM SHO

This year, students in Stage 2 and Stage 3 classes will be given the opportunity to cook in the Little Sprouts kitchen with their classroom teacher and Mrs Barnfield.

What is the Little Sprouts Kitchen Garden Program?

Students can participate in the growing and harvesting of seasonal produce in our school gardens with Mrs Wade. Fruits and vegetables are then used by students in the kitchen to prepare nutritious, delicious food. Students are given all the skills, experiences and role modelling they need to learn to love fresh food and make healthier choices about what to cook and eat, for life. This program can be incorporated into many areas of the curriculum and it provides a hands-on understanding of literacy, numeracy, science and much more.

Cooking will be on Tuesdays in the Chapman Room. Term 1 classes (Weeks 6-10) will be 4N and 4B. Students require an apron, enclosed shoes and hair tied securely. Volunteers are required from each class to support this program. Student permission note and volunteer note have been sent home to students in 4N and 4B.

Gardening Club with Mrs Wade meets on Thursdays at 11:05am-11:45am. Students are involved in growing seeds, planting, harvesting, watering, weeding, worm farming, composting and caring for the chickens. Volunteers are needed to assist in the garden please.

All volunteers are required to complete a Working With Children Check. Please see the office if you are interested. Thank you to the P &C and our community members for their generous support of this program.

Victoria Barnfield

LITTLE SPROUTS KITCHEN GARDEN PROGRAM

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Welcome to Gosford Public School to all our new students and families and welcome back to all our returning students and families.

Gosford Public School P and C meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month during term time at 7:30pm in the Chapman Room. All are welcome.

During 2017 P & C provided funding for the kitchen garden project, provided funds for the chaplaincy at GPS, Year six farewell, classroom needs for the teachers, new sporting uniforms, mother’s and father’s day breakfast, approved funding for shade over seating near the oval, the walkway from the rear entrance of the school as well as band equipment.

Membership is just $1.00 for the year so please come along, cast your vote and meet other parents.

P and C is always looking for volunteers in our canteen and uniform shop if you have some spare time, just come into the canteen and see Joy.

To place items on the agenda for discussion at the P and C meetings, email to The Secretary at gosfordpspandc@gmail.com

Next meeting is 28th February 2018 at 7:30pm in the Chapman Room

GPS P and C AGM is 28th March 2018; to be eligible to vote you must be a current financial member.

All welcome, a light supper is provided

Who is eligible to be a member of our P&C Association? • All parents and guardians of students enrolled at the school. • All citizens within the school community. • The Principal of the school, or the Principal’s nominee, shall be a member, ex officio, of the P&C Association and its sub-committees. • School staff may become members of the P&C Association. • Employees of the P&C Association can be a member; however, they will need to understand the Conflict of Interests and be aware of potential conflicts when attending and participating in a meeting. How do people become members of our P&C Association? By paying the prescribed annual subscription (membership fee) to the Treasurer or nominee and their name recorded in the register of members. The register of members is updated at the close of a General Meeting and the close of the Annual General Meeting. If I attend a P&C Association meeting regularly and don’t pay am I a member? No. You will only be considered an observer and will not be able to participate in the procedures of the meeting. Only a financial member can participate in the democratic decision making processes of a P&C Association. It is the discretion of the chairperson to allow you to participate during the meeting. I am a new member and have paid my annual subscription (membership fee) for the first time at this meeting, can I vote? No. A new member who pays their annual subscription (membership fee) for the first time at a P&C Association General or Annual General Meeting will not be eligible to vote at that meeting due to the register of members only being updated after each general meeting of the P&C

FROM THE P and C

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Association. Once the register of members is updated they are considered a P&C Association member for voting purposes at the next P&C Association meeting. Must I be a financial member to be nominated for a position with the P&C? Yes. A person must be a financial member and their name is to appear on the register of members to be nominated and accept the nomination for any position for Officer Bearer or member of the Executive Committee of a P&C Association. What if I pay my annual subscription (membership fee) between meetings? Annual subscription (membership fee) paid to the Treasurer between meetings, will only be recognised as financial at the close of the next P&C Association General Meeting when the register of members is updated, and the person will be able to vote at all P&C Association meetings thereafter. Who updates the register of members? The Secretary or Secretary’s nominee records the names on the register of members after each general meeting of people who have paid their membership fee since the last general meeting. (source: www.pandc.org.au FAQs Quick member info)

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Uniform shop is open Thursdays 2:45pm till 3:30pm in the Chapman Room. Payment is accepted by CASH or CHEQUE only.

Uniform shop is well stocked with all sizes of uniform items ready to purchase.

Hats are available from the school office all year round for $15.00

Library bags are available from the library all year round for $13.00

There are several methods to order your students uniform for your convenience:

Directly purchased from the Uniform Shop; opening time and location as above

Orders can be placed online at Munch Monitors website www.munchmonitor.com

Orders and payment may also be placed in the uniform shop box located in the school office. Orders will then be delivered to the student by the end of the week, please ensure sizes and number of items required are clearly indicated on the order form.

Uniform Shop volunteer coordinators

Roster: Thu 22 Zoya Tetianna Fri 23 Margaret Mon 26 Dan Tue 27 Katrina Wed 28 Colin Thu 1 (Mar) Zoya Tetianna Fri 2 Larissa Mon 3 Dan Tue 4 Katrina Wed 5 Colin

The Canteen is is desperate need of volunteers. If you can help the canteen with just 3 hours per month. Please contact the canteen coordinators.

FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP

FROM THE CANTEEN

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