Spring Fair Shout Out

Wow! Wasn’t our Spring Fair amazing! We raised a whopping $6,500! This would not have been possible without the hard work of our P&C, volunteers, teachers and sponsors. Thank you to everyone who made the day so enjoyable and successful for our students and the wider school community. Special thanks to our P&C President, and all the parents and carers who did so much hard work behind the scenes in the weeks and months leading up to this event.

Canberra Feedback

Shortly after our Stage 3 students returned from Canberra, I received a lovely email from a member of the public that I would like to share with you.

Dear Mrs. Burton, I am one of the voluntary guides who took some of your Year 6 students through the National Gallery of Australia while they were visiting Canberra last week. I am writing to say how impressed I was by the group of Pelaw Main students it was my privilege to meet. They were very engaged on the tour and had some perceptive responses to the works of art which I showed them. They were interested in everything and were polite and respectful in the gallery. After a few days on tour with a jam packed schedule, students are often very tired but it certainly didn’t stop the children I met making the most of this learning opportunity. It was also lovely to see them all wearing their school uniform with pride. Their behaviour was a great advertisement for the school which must have a very caring and inclusive culture. Congratulations.

This lady did not have to send this email, so it was wonderful that she took the time to do so. Well done to all of the students who represented our school so positively and proudly!

19 Oct 2018

D A T E S F O R T H E D I A R Y

Monday 22nd October Stanford Merthyr Transition 9.30am Tuesday 23rd October Science & Engineering Day Friday 26th October Tadpoles Program Assembly Wed 31st Oct—Fri 2nd Nov Great Aussie Bush Camp Friday 2nd November Tadpoles Program Parent Workshop with Mrs Warren-Davey 2.30-3pm in the library. Thursday 8th November League Tag Gala Day Friday 9th November Tadpoles Program Remembrance Day & K Red Assembly Tuesday 13th November Beach Safety Day Friday 16th November Tadpoles Program Reg Kelly Cricket Friday 14th December Presentation Day

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Partners in Learning

Mon 29 Oct 2/3 Green Mon 5 Nov 1/2 Yellow Mon 12 Nov 1 Orange

Mon 19 Nov K Red 9.30 am in the

classroom

You Can Do It Investing in

Parents Sessions Mon 26th Nov, Mon 3rd

Dec, Mon 10th Dec. 9.30 am –10.30am More Information

to Follow

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Exemplary Student Lunch

On the last day of Term 3, one lucky person from each class was treated to a pizza party for lunch with me. It is always so nice to see how excited students are when they are selected to participate in this reward for their positive behaviour. Congratulations to the following lucky students: K Red – Talayah C 1 Orange – Harper P 1/2 Yellow – Lara E 2/3 Green – Charli J 3/4 Blue – Kye B 4 Indigo – Jade L 4/5 Violet –Jake H 5/6 Pink – Kaylee B 5/6 White – Talon C

SMS Absences

The introduction of SMS Absence alerts has proven to be highly successful. Last term, we only has 56 unexplained absences. In Term 2, before we rolled out the SMS alerts, we had 296. Many thanks to our wonderful office staff, especially Marnie Benic who was instrumental in setting this up for us. Please remember that explaining absences is extremely important, as student attendance is a legal requirement.

Project NEST

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Mrs Brathwaite and myself attended Project NEST in Newcastle. This conference was run by Kurri Kurri High School and was centred around innovative change pedagogy. It is hoped that our attendance at this conference will assist us in understanding the work Kurri Kurri High School are doing and ensuring we enable our students a smooth transition in the future.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Miss King, who during the holidays got married! Very exciting and happy news and we wish them both a lifetime of happiness. Stayed tuned for the next instalment, due at the end of the year!

New Smartboard

During the holidays, a brand new Smartboard was installed in 5/6 Pink. This was the result of the fabulous work and support of our P&C through the Spring Fair and our hard working canteen volunteers. This Smartboard replaced the oldest one in the school, so we are gradually replacing this technology in our permanent classrooms.

Mixed League Tag Gala Day

On Thursday 8th November, selected students in years 4, 5 and 6 will compete in a non-competitive League Tag Gala day at ‘The Basin’, Mount View. Student will be transported by private vehicles and will need to be at school no later than 8.30am to ensure we are at the grounds for the first game at 9.30am. Students are to wear Full sports uniform and will be supplied with a jersey on the day. The gala day is expected to be finished at approx. 2pm where students will return to school. Please see Mrs Lantry if you have any questions.

Great Aussie Bush Camp

The GABC is only a few sleeps away! It will be held in Week 3 from the 31st October - 2nd November. Please make sure your medial notes are back to Mrs Knight ASAP. Mrs Knight also sent home a list of camping gear required by students to take and a list of souvenirs. Souvenir money can be handed in to Mrs Knight on the morning of camp in a clearly labelled envelope with the correct money. The bus to camp will arrive between 9.30-10.00 on the morning of camp and so we ask that students arrive at school at the normal time and assemble under the cola next to the sensory garden with their belongings. Don't forget to get your children to help pack their bags as they will need to repack it at the end of camp. Time to get packing!!

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P&C News

We did it!! We have raised $10,000 towards the purchase of technology for our children. Thanks to a massive $6,500 fund raising effort from the Spring Fair, together with funds raised from our canteen, various school raffles, Bowling Club raffles and the many other fundraisers, the P & C has purchased a new Smart Board for our children. Not only that, but we have been able to achieve even more! The funds raised from our entertainment book project have allowed the P & C to pay for the repair of the historic pillars at the school entrance gate. Well done to everyone in the Pelaw Main School community who attended the Spring Fair, who bought tickets, supported canteen, volunteered their time – but most importantly a HUGE thank you to those dedicated few who spent countless hours organising a fabulous, fun, entertaining and fundraising Spring Fair. Your time and dedication to help the children of our School is both invaluable and very much appreciated. So, we move on to our next events! Keep an eye out for our next fundraising goal, but in Term 4 you can look

forward to a Lolly Stall and Special Canteen days. Members and comments are always welcome, so get in touch at:

@Pelaw Main P & C. +Spring Fair 2018

Reg Kelly Cricket Round 4

On Friday 16th November, the school’s cricket team will compete against Tenambit Public School in Round 4 of the Reg Kelly Cricket competition. Students will need to be at school in their full sports uniform as normal for the morning session. Students will have an early lunch and leave to walk to the Kurri Senior Cricket Oval at 10.30am for an 11am match. Parents are welcome to walk with us and support the team on the day. Students will return to school upon completion of the match. Please see Mrs Lantry if you have any questions.

Parent Workshop Mrs Warren-Davey will be hosting a parent workshop for kindergarten parents on decodable readers and go reading, in the library on Friday 2nd Nov. from 2.30-3pm. Parents from years 1 and 2 are welcome to join.

Merilyn Burton - Principal

Canberra Recounts by 5/6 Students Wednesday Beep beep beep as I wake up to my alarm beeping with rage it's 5am and freezing cold outside and all I wanted to do was go back to sleep. Waking up in the morning really isn't my thing. As I arrived at school I start to get a sick feeling in my stomach but as soon as I waved goodbye to mum and the bus left the school zone I felt so much better. We went to the war memorial as soon as we got to Canberra. It wasn't that fun but it was interesting. We got to go to mint factory after the memorial. It was really cool because we got to make our own coins. That night we went to the dinosaur museum. It was fun but wasn't the best thing. Thursday Thursday morning we went to the Old Parliament House and we got to have our own vote which was cool. I was a counter. Then we went to the high court it was interesting, we had pizza. After pizza we went to the art museum and my little group looked at aboriginal art it was really unique. Then we went to the New Parliament House . It was fun we got to see the Prime Minister in parliament then we went back in our rooms to get ready to go to Questacon. Questacon was the best! We got in an earthquake and played games - it was so much fun. Friday Friday morning the teachers woke the group of girls in my room which was me, Sarah, Hannah, Eliza, Annabelle and Shelby by singing! It was so fun well we ended up leaving straight after breakfast and for lunch we stopped at Maccas - we also went to the AIS Australian Institution of sport. CANBERRA WAS THE BEST! by Lilly R

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Dinosaur Museum As we arrived at the Dinosaur Museum in the cold I couldn’t wait to get inside, but they had to go over the rules like No Touching unless it is on the blue box and bunch of other rules but I don’t want to bore you with them. We had to get split into 2 separate groups, Group A and Group B. I was in Group A Mrs Brathwaite’s group. So as we walked in I saw a large pile of amethyst, but there was no time to waste. I walked through the door, the first thing I saw was the ginormous gift shop, but that was at the end we get gifts. We raced up stairs Group A went right and Group B went left. So then we looked at some ancient dinosaur skeletons. We looked at water Dinosaurs and we saw a Giant Sloth that was definitely my favourite animal there. After looking at dinosaurs we went to the gift shop! I looked and looked I finally found something. Me, Tahlea and Kaylee got gem necklaces. I also got an egg thing that you put in water and you hatch a Dinosaur. The last thing I got was a circle of Snow Flake Obsidian on a keychain for my mum! As you can tell the Dinosaur Museum was my favourite place but I also enjoyed Parliament House. Parliament House When we got to Parliament House, we had to wait for like 20 minutes until we could get inside. Once we got inside my eyes kept looking at all the clocks hanging from the ceiling. I learnt that they are there because when the politicians are voting on something they have to look at the clocks and see if there is a red light—if there is the bell rings for 4 minutes and the politicians have to race to the House of Representatives to have their say in the vote. We got to do a role play and I was the Clerk pronounced Cl-ark. Basically my last name but then we saw an argument in action they were yelling, arguing, fighting and debating but only Group A got to see the Prime Minister lucky me. That was it. Canberra was SO fun! If you get the chance to go make sure you do it was the best experience ever. By Ella Clark

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Canberra The chills and thrills in the shivering cold, Iwas so tired waking up at 5:00 isn't really my thing. Arriving at school was nerve wracking but that was nothing compared to when the bus showed up. My friends were the only ones I could look at and not feel like i was frozen with fear, they would comfort me and that made me strong. As I hopped on the bus i waved goodbye a wonderful journey awaited me. The nerves overshadowed me and I was crippled with fear. The ride to Canberra was energy draining I was already tired by the time we got to the War Memorial. Speaking of the War Memorial, it was phenomenal. Every structure was so life like and we were taught about the situations of soldiers and what life was like in the war. Sadly I cannot get into all the details with the other places we went but on the first day we still had enough time to go the War Memorial, like I mentioned the Royal Australian Mint and the Dinosaur Museum at NIGHT! This was all so much fun and I am so thankful for the teachers and my friends, who helped a lot. Canberra is a time I will never forget. Sadly there were some injuries. Pro tip - never eat someone else's m/m’s. I tasted my own medicine that day and it was bitter (but sort of sweet at the same time because I got to eat m/m’s). Canberra was so much fun and I highly recommend it to any of the students who are rocking back and forth whether to go or not. This was my problem but I am telling you this because if I was to not go I would regret it big time. By the way, when you’re at Questacon you MUST go on the giant slide. It is imperative - you can't miss a once in a lifetime opportunity. by Tayah Haggarty

Canberra The city that covers the majority of the A.C.T also known as the Australian Capital Territory. 56 Pelaw Main Public school students in years 5 and 6 were all on a 75 seater bus, set out on an amazing trip. 5 uncomfortable hours passed and we were standing out the front of the Canberra War Memorial. After the war memorial we went to the mint. At the mint we saw a robot move barrels of coins and tip them into a sorter. After the mint we went to Gold Creek resort where we would be staying - from there it was only a short walk to the dinosaur museum at night! The next day we went to the Electoral Education center. And that was quite interesting. After that we drove past all of the embassies and there were some cool ones! After that we went to the high court and then onto Parliament House - my group even saw the Prime Minister! That night we went to Questacon and that was really fun! The next day, our last, we went to the A.I.S also known as the Australian Institute of Sport. There we saw athletes training. The last stop was Mcdonalds and who wouldn't enjoy themselves there! By Kobi Dryden

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Canberra Slam! Clunk! The sounds of doors being slammed and suitcases being dropped on the unforgivingly cold concrete echoed throughout the school. By the time the bus arrived, everyone had a headache. As we finally boarded the colossal source of transportation, the teachers gave a final warning to the ones who got car-sick to move to the front. A few minutes later, we waved goodbye to our friends and family and got comfy. It was going to be a very long ride to Canberra. As 6:30 struck, the engines rumbled. We braced, gravity launching us back. As people lifted their devices out, I found that I was one of the very few without my tech shoved in my face. I slowly got mine out, calculating the distance in my head. We were 5-6 hours away, or so. We may as well entertain ourselves. After an impossibly long amount of time, we walked out, puzzled. Everyone was amazed they had reached the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra. We were assigned our rooms, some of which people regretted suggesting to be in. The Motel was a big 2-storey semi-circle surrounding everyone who stepped into the premises. Before we arrived we visited the War Memorial, and the Mint. A few hours after we did arrive, we visited what was instantly my favourite, the Dinosaur Museum. This gloriously fact-filled heaven, or hell to some, is the

renowned home to the prehistoric predators, and prey, that walked this world before we came into existence! Located 5-10 minutes from our Hotel, walk speed, it was perfectly convenient. After we came back to our rooms, we went to sleep. After few hours of sleeping, we woke up early. The rest of the day we went to Old Parliament House to learn voting, as well as Parliament House itself. The best thing was, they were sitting! Reasons, good and bad, flew across one end of the room to another. We also went to the High Court and the Art Gallery and had pizza! At night time, we went to the place that almost met the Dino Museums match. The nerdy science-whiz utopia, Questacon. Here, we were in a simulated earthquake, saw lightning made by metal poles, dropped vertically down a slide, and much, much more. Hours later we left to sleep, only to wake up early the next morning and pack. We got on the bus, and went straight to the Australian Institution of Sport. It was my second favourite, just under Questacon and the Dinosaur Museum. Shortly after, we left straight for home. Although my Dad and I were dropped at Subway to get picked up and go to Victoria, the others went to McDonalds then back to school. That pretty much sums it up. It was great, and I strongly recommend it for those eager to see the Capital of Australia, Canberra. By Jordan Holt