Dear Parents and Carers,

Although we are now in week 2, I warmly welcome you back for an eventful Term 4. This term we look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for each one of our students. This term is a very important one in terms of evaluating. The application and achievements of each student will be assessed in preparation for the Semester 2 progress report.

Last Friday the school forwarded to families this term’s ‘Stage Newsletter’. The newsletter included a summary of teaching and learning for this term, class timetables and relevant dates. Parents and carers are asked to read this important information and refer to it as a guide to what is happening for your child at the school in term 4.

The Kindergarten transition program proves to be very successful and all incoming Kindy students have visited the school for their first session and participated in various activities. Mrs Evans and the kindergarten teachers have done an amazing job of coordinating the program with the assistance of Ms Appave and support staff.

Since the last newsletter, supported by Mrs O’Connor four of our students represented the school in The Hills Public Speaking Competition. Well done to Shriya I (Yr3), Ananya V (Yr4), Austin P (Yr5) and Anna T (Yr6) for courageously and admirably delivering speeches. Special mention to Anna T for winning the Year 6 category.

This week thirty-six students from Years 1-6 are actively participating in Operation Art Workshops. Our students spent a whole day making, creating and learning new visual arts skills. Delivered by specialist visual arts teachers, the full-day workshops are designed to extend our students’ skills and artmaking experiences beyond the classroom. 

Many of our students are active participants and high achievers in a variety of activities beyond what our school offers. The school executive and staff welcome all achievements attained by our students. Parents and students are encouraged to make the school aware of when any of our students accomplish something special. Congratulatory recognition may be via a teacher sticker or a mention in an assembly. 

Congratulations to Ms Kate Hayley for commencing duties this term as a permanent assistant principal at the school. Prior to term 4, Ms Hayley had been acting as an assistant principal since the commencement of the year. She was successful through a merit selection process to gain the position fulltime.

Throughout the year, our teachers kindly offer to support pre-service teachers to gain vital practical experience to complement the theory component of their tertiary studies. This term, Ms Hannah Knox and Ms Amy Hutchinson are currently student teachers with class 5/6H.

The school's supervision roster starts from 8.20am. Teaching staff is not available to ensure the safety of children in the playground prior to that time. 

We well understand that many parents have commitments at work, which require them to leave before 8.20am. However, there is available within the school a well-respected Before and After School Care service which operates from 7.00am every school morning. Alternatively, you may be able to arrange with friends or neighbours for the supervision of your children. Some families in the school with working parents take turns to take each other's children to school. As well, many employers will be sympathetic to parents with responsibilities for caring for children and will allow some flexibility in parents' working hours. 

Whatever arrangements you make, please understand that you remain legally responsible for your child prior to 8.20am when supervision begins. I would therefore ask that you ensure that your child is not left unsupervised at the school before 8.20am.

Students are welcome to have a water bottle at school. Last week we experienced hot days and correct hydration should enable greater learning. Please ensure only water is brought to school. The bottle should have a lid as well as having a label with your child’s name. Depending on the class arrangement considered by the teacher, water bottles may be kept in the classroom or in a student’s nearby school bag.

Please keep in your mind the 76,839 students attempting the Higher School Certificate (HSC) examination this week and in the coming weeks. We especially should be thinking about our school’s 2017 Year 6 students and Kindergarten 2011. We wish each HSC candidate all the very best to attain the result they deserve, to realise their future aspirations. 

Greg McLaren
PRINCIPAL

You may have noticed that our last couple of School Newsletters have been re-formatted so it is easier for our families to read it on a Laptop/Desktop, Mobile Phone or Tablet. Our re-formatted newsletter also has the option to convert the text into other languages and/or increase or decrease the size of the text. You can do this by clicking on the icons on the top right hand corner of our newsletter.
 You should also note that whenever you see a photo in our newsletter, you can click on the photo to enlarge it and use the arrows or scroll bar to view multiple photos. 

We hope you enjoy reading our new and improved School Newsletter.

Fiona Frank
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER 

Next Tuesday, 24 October the Special Interest and Group photos will be taken. Please ensure children are provided with the necessary uniform/costume for the day. Specific details including the timetable for the day will be sent via the school app this week. Dance groups, PSSA Sport teams, representative sporting groups (eg School Cross Country team who represented at Zone) and Knockout Teams will be photographed on this day. 

Students who do not have the correct uniform/costume may not be able to be included in the photo. Students in sporting teams need to have correct school/regional/state sports uniform at school for their photo. Students in Dance groups may wear their costumes to school as their photos will be taken at the start of the day. They will need to bring their uniform/sports uniform to change into after the photo.  Students may wear to school and remain in whichever uniform is most convenient. 

On Monday 30 October we will be having the whole school photo, Leadership team photo ( retake to include all 10 leaders), Debating Teams photo,  Year 6 photo and Year 6 Fun photos taken. School uniform should be worn by all students on this day with Year 6 bringing their Year 6 shirt to wear for their fun photo. 

Photographs will be on a pay as you order basis and you will be notified later in the term when the photos will be available for viewing. Please note that the Year 6 photo will be included for year 6 students on their Graduation Pack.

Our school’s Annual Presentation Assembly will be held at Cherrybrook Technology High School on Wednesday 6 December. 

As this is a whole school assembly seating will be limited at Cherrybrook Technology High School and tickets will be required. 

The assembly will commence at 11.00am and will conclude by approximately 1.00pm. Permission notes and further details of the assembly will be sent via email.

For parents new to the school this assembly is an opportunity to showcase some of our Creative Arts groups and celebrate student achievement for the year. The Kindergarten and Year 6 students will perform on stage, as will vocal groups. Miss Stacey’s Before School groups will perform a combined routine and the Performance Band will play pre show entertainment and open the assembly with the anthem and two pieces. 

Online applications are now available for Year 5 students wishing to to sit the placement test on Thursday 9 May 2024 for a selective school placement in 2024. 

Please see the school app for detailed information about selective schools and the application process. 

All applications must be made on line at Selective High Schools and Opportunity Classes Year 7 website and will close on 20 November 2023.

A reminder to all Year 6 families that it is important to confirm your Year 7 placement with your selected High School if you have not yet done so. If you are not accepting your local high school placement in preference to a private or selective high school it is helpful if you could let them know. All government High Schools will be having an open day for their Year 7 2023 students on Tuesday 28 November. If you have made changes to your intended High School please advise our school office. 

Further to this please inform the office if you do not wish the information regarding your child’s 2024 High School to be shared with the Year 6 Dinner Committee for display at the end of the year. 

Ben F., Tom N. and Cameron K. enjoyed representing Sydney West at the State Softball Carnival at the end of last term. Congratulations boys on representing at this level.
Congratulations also to our representatives at the SW Athletics Championship on Thursday. All students performed extremely well with many reaching finals in their events. Notable achievements by Madi H., 5^th in Long Jump, 4^th in 800m, Savannah F. placing 7^th in the 200m, Anna T. 5^th in Shot Put, Caelan D 5^th in Discus and 7^th in Shot Put and Evan D. 3^rd in 800m  and 2^nd in 1500m. This qualifies Evan as a SW representative at the NSWPSSA Athletics Championships next Wednesday. Congratulations Evan and good luck!

Congratulations to the Boy’s Softball Knockout team who defeated Camden South PS on Wednesday in the Area final. The boys will now travel to Orange to play Calare PS in the State Quarter Finals.  Well done boys.

It was wonderful to have so many of our budding artists taking advantage of the arts unit visual arts workshops for students this week. Over three days we had 36 students heading to The Armory Gallery at Sydney Olympic Park. We would love to see some of their creations on their return to school. We hope they have a fabulous time. 

Tragically during the holidays two of our newer students lost their father. The family is currently struggling with this loss and as a community we extend our heartfelt condolences. 

Samuel Gilbert P&C and families were quick to offer support and the generosity shown by families of students in the classes of these children was overwhelming. The family has asked that we convey their “sincere gratitude and thanks for the kindness, love and sympathy extended to them”. They expressed their appreciation for being part of such a wonderful community and I can only concur. Thank you to the parents who coordinated the support. 

At the end of last term and early this term Miss Stacey conducted her Before School Dance auditions for all students. The lists are now being finalised and we will advise students of the outcome next week. Please prepare your child for this as with so many children auditioning and being very competent in dance there is always disappointment, as well as elation for the minority. It is important for children to understand that more miss out than get in, however there have been students who after several years of auditioning and missing out, finally achieve a place in a group. 

I would like to thank Miss Stacey for ensuring the auditions were completed despite the imminent birth of her first baby and certainly wish her well at this exciting time. I would like to welcome Miss Taryn to Samuel Gilbert as she takes on the Before School groups and prepares the combined Presentation Assembly item. 

Finally I would like to ask if any families would like to donate jazz shoes and/or past dance costumes that their children no longer use we would be very appreciative.  

Our Early Stage 1 Transition program for Kindergarten 2024 had a very successful first session on Tuesday, 17 October. Most of our pre-schoolers attended. They connected with current friends and made some new ones. There were very few tears and none that lasted long at all! They read ‘One is a Snail, Ten is a Crab’, talked about trips to the beach and made some fantastic paper-plate jellyfish to take home.

There are two more Transition/Orientation Program sessions to attend for all of our Kindergarten 2024 families:

Wednesday, 25 October – with a Local Bean get together after drop-off

Tuesday, 31 October – with a parent information session after drop-ff ( don’t forget to bring your phones/cameras)

As mandated in the Department of Education reporting guidelines, you receive two written reports from your child’s school each year. These reports will help you understand how your child is progressing and how your school is supporting your child’s learning. Each report will show your child’s progress in all subjects.

Reports for all English as an additional language or dialect students 
If your child is learning English as an additional language or dialect, the report will show your child’s progress in learning English language and their current phase of English language proficiency. The phases are beginning, emerging, developing or consolidating. Please see overleaf for descriptions of these phases.

Reports for students in an EAL/D program 
If your child is in an EAL/D program they will receive an additional written report from the EAL/D teacher including information about their progress in learning English language.

Reports for newly arrived EAL/D students 
If your child is in an EAL/D program and has been in an Australian school for four terms or less, your child’s written report will include information about their progress in learning English as well as their progress in the other subjects they are learning as a comment rather than a grade.

Telephone interpreter service
If you would like more information please contact the school. If you need an interpreter to assist you to contact the school, please call the Telephone Interpreter Service on 131 450 and ask for an interpreter in your language. The interpreter will call the school and will stay on the line to assist with the conversation. You will not be charged for this service.

If you would like a copy of this information translated into another language please contact the school or click on the icon on the top right hand corner of this newsletter and select your preferred language translation.

Cathie Barclay & Gilliane Appave
DEPUTY PRINCIPALS 

The curriculum is a plan for learning based on mandated and approved syllabus documents and current departmental policies and procedures. 

The curriculum has undergone a reform by the NSW Government to ensure every child at school is prepared and ready for their future. At Samuel Gilbert Public School, all teachers have been engaging in teaching and implementing the new K-2 English and Mathematics Syllabus this year and are now moving towards the effective implementation of the 3-6 English and Mathematics Syllabus ready to be mandated in Term 1 2024.

All teaching staff are consistently working hard on engaging in high quality professional learning to ensure their knowledge, skills and expertise in teaching and delivering the new curriculum is successful for all teachers and students.

This term, professional learning continues to drive teachers to equip them with the readiness and skills needed to ensure more time is given to deep, quality learning to better prepare your children with new learning opportunities while continuing to build on strong foundations in literacy and numeracy as they progress through their learning years.

Amanda Keane 
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION 

World Teachers' Day is being celebrated at SGPS on Friday, 27 October. As in past years, the P&C on behalf of the school community, take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at SGPS. On this day we acknowledge our Teaching and Executive staff but also all our Admin and Specialist and Support staff. The strength of our school community is seen in the partnership between our staff, parents and students. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr McLaren, members of the Executive team and all the SGPS staff for your hard work, dedication and commitment to our school community throughout this year. Thank you to every member of staff for all that you do and for striving each day in the best interests of our students and families.  

To celebrate World Teachers’ Day, the P&C are organising a morning tea for the staff on Friday 27 October and for coffee cards for each of the staff. We are also encouraging our families to send in a note or thank you card to show our staff how much they mean to you and your children. Any notes or cards can be delivered to the school office to be shared with the staff on World Teachers’ Day. Thank you in advance for your support. 

We wanted to take this opportunity to thank our class parents as they continue to do an amazing job of keeping our community informed and connected throughout the year. We also wanted to thank our parents for their support of our class parents. Some of our families have or are experiencing challenging circumstances and we are so thankful to our class parent network and to our community of parents and carers who support one another. Thank you in particular to our families who have in recent weeks exemplified the sense of kindness and generosity that we want to reflect at SGPS. It is a privilege to be part of such a special community here at SGPS. 

The Samuel Gilbert PS P&C have coordinated an evening of Interrelate family sessions next Tuesday, 24 October 2023. It is not too late to register to attend, there are limited tickets available. 

A reminder that this is a live online session presented by Interrelate staff. There will also be school staff attending each session. Parental supervision is required. There will be two sessions:

Session 1: 'Where Did I Come From?' 6:00pm - 7:00pm (recommended Years 3-4)

Session 2: ‘Preparing for Puberty’ 7:15pm-8:15pm (Years 5-6 and optional Years 3-4)

Families should use the following link to register for the relevant workshop/s: https://events.humanitix.com/samuel-gilbert-ps-tricky-talks-24-10-2023 . There is a drop-down menu that enables parents to select which session they wish to attend. Both sessions will be an hour long. Whether you choose to attend only one session or both, the cost is $41.50 per family including GST.

If you and your child are unable to attend the live session but would like to access a generic recording of the program, you will still need to register to attend the workshop. Once registered, please email schoolservices@interrelate.org.au with your booking details and you will be sent the link to a recording.

Mother and Daughter camp is being held this Term. A big thank you to Tym Richardson and Abbey Huang who have been busy behind the scenes to make this event possible. Camp details are as follows:- Weekend: Saturday, 18 November 2023 (10am) - Sunday, 19 November 2023 (2pm)

Address: Camp Yarramundi, Springwood Rd, Yarramundi

Just a reminder that if you have paid but not yet sent your forms in, can you please return your forms to the school office as soon as possible? Thank you for your assistance.

Just a reminder that the SGPS P&C General Meeting and AGM will be held on Tuesday, 14 November at 7:30pm in the Library. All parents and carers are invited to attend. If you can make one meeting this year, this is it! Our SGPS P&C continues because of the legacy of volunteers who have invested time and effort to positively contribute to our school for the benefit of all students. Would you consider how you can continue that legacy in 2023/2024? 

We need you!  Our P&C is responsible for the Uniform Shop, Canteen and Band Program, Mother’s/Father’s Day stalls and events. The funds raised go directly back to our students. In 2022, the P&C contributed $45,000.00 towards technology infrastructure and resources. In 2023 we are hoping to provide a similar amount. Our School will look very different if we can’t supplement the school’s allocated resources or offer services for the benefit of our school community. If you have any questions or would like more about how you can help, please do not hesitate to send an email to our P&C President, Tym at president@sgpspc.org.au. 

General Meeting: The General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 14 November at 7:30pm in the Library. 

AGM: Immediately following the General Meeting, the AGM will commence where all P&C Executive roles will be declared vacant and nominations are invited for 2023/2024. Have you?

• Nominated a 2023 SGPS P&C Life Member? We are now calling for Nominations for P&C Life Membership for those who have made a significant contribution to the school community and whose youngest child is leaving or has left SGPS this year (Forms are due by Friday 3 November);
• Completed a P&C Membership Form for 2024? (You must complete the form by Friday 10 November and return it with the membership fee of $1 for voting rights in 2024)
• Nominated for a SGPS P&C Executive role for 2024? (Form is due by Friday 10 November).

All relevant forms will be posted on the School App. If you have any questions or would like more information about any of the above, please email Tym Richardson (SGPS P&C President) on president@sgpspc.org.au or Lauren Wright (SGPS P&C Secretary) at secretary@sgpspc.org.au. 

• Interrelate (Years 3 – 6) Online on Tuesday, 24 October 2023
    Where Did I Come From: 6pm & Preparing for Puberty: 7:15pm
• November P&C General & AGM: Tuesday, 14 November 2023
• Mother/Daughter Camp – 18-19 November 2023
• SGPS Christmas Carols – Friday, 8 December 2023

More information: For more information on events and news please check out the following: 

• Website: https://www.sgpspc.org.au  
• Facebook page: https://ww.facebook.com/SGPSPC  
• School website: https://www.samuelgilbertnsw.edu.au  
• School app: You can find the link to the school app on our front page of the https://www.sgpspc.org.au  website 

Elizabeth Tye
SGPS P&C Vice President
etye@sgpspc.org.au

DO YOU WANT TO JOIN THE BAND IN 2024?

All interested students in years 2 to 5 are invited to join the 2024 Band Program. Students will commence in the Training Band which is an introduction to performance and playing within a band. No musical experience is necessary.

 Students will have heard the Samuel Gilbert Performance Band play at school in weeks 1 and 2 of this Term with a demonstration from each of the following instruments available to play in 2024;

ALTO SAXOPHONE, TENOR SAXOPHONE, FLUTE, CLARINET, FRENCH HORN, TRUMPET, TROMBONE, EUPHONIUM, TUBA, BASS GUITAR, and PERCUSSION.

There will be an Information Evening for parents and children to attend on Thursday, 26 October at 5:30pm in the New School Hall. This session will help families make an informed decision about becoming part of the band program and choosing an instrument that your child will enjoy and is a good fit for your family. You will have the opportunity to hear the different instruments and find out the key information about being in the Band Program.

 To Express your Interest in joining the Training Band in 2024, please complete the form at the link below by Monday, 30 October 2023:

Expression of Interest: SGPS Training Band 2024 - Google Forms 

This will enable your child to attend the suitability assessment on Friday, 3 November 2023 before school. Please keep this date free. We will notify you by email once the Expression of Interest has closed with further details. 

• Sunday, 22 October – Invitational Concert at Harvey Lowe Pavilion (all Bands)

•       Please see the email sent out with all information. Confirming that the Band shirt should be worn with Navy Pants, Shorts or Skirt (winter skirt).

• Thursday, 26 October – Band In formation Evening for families wanting to join the Band in 2024
• Monday, 20 November – Friday, 24 November – Open Band Rehearsals for Families
• Friday, 1 December – Band Celebration Breakfast – 7:30am in the Old Hall
• Wednesday, 6 December – Presentation Day Performance – Performance Band ONLY
• Friday, 8 December – Carols Evening (Mass Band – ALL Bands)

If you have any further questions, please contact Briony at sgpsbandcoordinator@gmail.com
Briony Geekie
Band Co-ordinator Samuel Gilbert Public School Band

Welcome back to Term 4, we have a very spooky start to the term in our Library at the moment, come along and see all the skeletons, spiders, ghosts, ghouls and goblins! We have several 'scary' books on display near the main entry to the library so come and have a look at what is available for those of you interested in a scary read.
I have also been busy covering a great many novels and large format books that have been purchased or donated to the library, these books are now available for borrowing from where they are on display near the circulation desk. More books will be added to this space as they become ready to join our library collection. If any mums or dads would like to volunteer some time to take home a bag of books for covering, your help would be greatly appreciated.

As we progress into the last term of the year, I would like to share some important dates with you.

• Week 6 is the last week for borrowing.
• Week 7 ALL books need to be returned.
• Week 8 Overdue notices will be sent home (these will be printed Monday morning and distributed to classes later in the day).

If you have any concerns about lost, damaged or overdue books, please come and see me in the library before or after school to discuss what actions (if any) are needed.

The Thursday Morning Read is back on this week and will be continuing every Thursday Morning at 8:20 am in the Tiered Learning Space in the Library. All are welcome, students, siblings, parents, and grandparents, come along and listen to two fun stories before school. We will be reading some spooky books as well as some other books celebrating the many different cultural events that occur at this time of the year.

The Premiers Reading Challenge has now closed for students, I have finalised all the completed student entries and their certificates will be processed and sent to the school as soon as possible. Don’t forget to continue with your reading journey throughout the rest of the year, Premier’s Reading Challenge 2024 is just around the corner. 

Come into the Non-Fiction section of the library and explore the microscopic world of the human body and the many different microbes that inhabit out world, get up close with COVID-19, check out a brain cell, wonder at a tardigrade, marvel at Mad Cow disease, pat a paramecium or be grossed out by the human body’s organs on display. Don’t worry, they are all plush models, there is no chance of you catching anything!

Abraham Stoker (8 November 1847 – 20 April 1912) was an Irish author who wrote the 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula. Stoker visited the English coastal town of Whitby in 1890, and that visit was said to be part of the inspiration for Dracula. Count Dracula comes ashore at Whitby, and in the shape of a black dog runs up the 199 steps to the graveyard of St Mary's Church in the shadow of the Whitby Abbey ruins. Stoker began writing novels while working as manager for Irving and secretary and director of London's Lyceum Theatre, beginning with The Snake's Pass in 1890 and Dracula in 1897. While he lived in London he wrote other fiction, including the horror novels The Lady of the Shroud (1909) and The Lair of the White Worm (1911). 

Bram Stoker’s most famous novel, Dracula is written in a special style, called an epistolary novel, meaning it is written as a collection of realistic but fictional diary entries, telegrams, letters, ship's logs, and newspaper clippings, all of which added a level of realism to the story, a skill which Stoker had developed as a newspaper writer. At the time of its publication, Dracula was considered a straightforward horror novel based on imaginary creations of supernatural life, however interest in the story grew and the vampire genre became an important part of modern popular culture, sparking countless more vampire (and other supernatural creature) novels, movies, graphic novels and television series.

Yours in reading,

Adam Hands,
Librarian.

Monday 8.30am - 9.30am & Wednesday 2.30pm – 3.30pm

Only one family per time will be served in the shop.

Please book through the P&C website: //www.sgpspc.org.au/uniformshopappointment// and follow any updates from the P&C or school about COVID safe measures.

Trackpants size 6: these are still out of stock until summer delivery later in October. Please advise by email if you wish to cancel your order, or are willing to wait until they come in.

Summer stock has arrived as follows - backpacks, socks, dresses, sport shirts/shorts/skorts, boys’ shorts, and boys’ short sleeve polos. We are still waiting on girls’ short sleeve blouses, girls’ shorts smaller sizes in zipper jackets, and extra hair accessories. These will be delivered later in the month.

We have plenty of items available at very good prices. Donations always welcome. These can be left at the School Office, the Canteen or at the Uniform Shop. Please block out previous child’s name on items if at all possible.

Parents with older children at the school are encouraged to order online on Munch Monitor where possible, for delivery to older sibling’s class.
Please consider purchasing second hand stock for the emergency set of clothes for your Kinder child’s school bag.
Dates and times have been outlined in the Transition Flyer for K2024 fittings and times for parent purchases during the Kinder program Term 4. Please queue outside the shop, and I apologise for any delays.

Sheryl Naylor
SGPS P&C Uniform Shop Manager
Email: //uniformshop@sgpspc.org.au//

A new Summer Menu has just been released, please check the P&C or school website for the latest version.

We haven’t increased any prices, but have added a few items:

• Snap-Stix are now available to buy for $1. These are 99% fruit (no added sugar, no added preservatives or colours). Health Star Rating of 5. Currently we are offering Grape and Watermelon flavours.
• Sushi has returned on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Limited availability and online ordering only.
• Due to problems with the Nachos Dippers packaging we have removed this item from the menu.
• Online Only Daily Deals this term are:
  • Garlic Bread ($2)—still available every day
  • Monday:  Stone Baked Ham & Pineapple Pizza - $5
  • Tuesday:  Pork Dumplings - $3.50
  • Wednesday: Stone Baked Margherita Pizza - $5
  • Thursday: Pork Dumplings - $3.50
  • Friday: Stone Baked Meat Lovers Pizza - $5

Volunteers are always needed to service a large school like ours. Volunteers are essential to help keep costs down. Shifts are 9am to 11:15am and 11:30am to 2pm. If you have a few hours free and would like to help, please contact the canteen. We especially need volunteers on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Jenelle Lockrey & Jacqui Cumming
Canteen Supervisors

On Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st November, students in Year 6 will participate in 2 days of a mock ‘high school’ program. Students will be placed into 5 ‘high school classes’ and they will follow a timetable for the 2 days. They will need to carry their timetable and bag with them throughout the 2 days and they will get to experience a range of subjects. The goal of the program is for students to be able to take responsibility for their belongings, experience changes of teachers, rooms and subjects and follow a timetable in preparation for the transition to Year 7. Timetables for the program will be handed out in week 6 and spare timetables will be available at the school office. Please keep an eye out for additional information about the program later in the term.  

Noni Medcalf (Learning and Support Teacher)

At the end of last term, I was fortunate to accompany our grade finalists to Dural Public School to compete in The Hills District Public Speaking Competition. There were ten schools in total competing. I was incredibly proud of the four finalists who represented our school with passion and pride.
Congratulations to:
Year 3 – Shriya
Year 4 – Aanya
Year 5 – Austin
Year 6 – Anna
They all received a certificate and a medal in recognition of reaching the finals.
The last grade to present their speeches on the day, was Year 6. The competition was very tough, and I was beyond thrilled when Anna was announced the winner for Year 6. Congratulations Ana!

Mrs O’Connor
Public Speaking Coordinator

The COVID Intensive Learning Support Program (COVID ILSP) was introduced in 2021 to deliver small group tuition to support students who had their learning disrupted by COVID-19 and intermittent learning from home. Evidence and early evaluation indicated that this program improved student confidence and engagement in learning, helping them to get back on track quickly. The ILSP has continued beyond COVID’s impact, and the use of a small group environment allows us to assess and target learning to individual needs and abilities of our students.

The program has two main focus areas; Numeracy and Literacy.
The Numeracy Program is designed to boost students' foundation mathematics skills and fluency. We often go back to the building blocks learnt in Stage 1 to consolidate students' knowledge of place value, addition, subtraction and multiplication facts. Repetition is the key for many of these students, so we use a variety of games and number sense activities to keep them engaged in concepts until they reach a level of understanding that allows them to use those concepts for more complex problem solving.
Using hands-on manipulatives and making connections to prior knowledge allows students to gain a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts with a goal of longer-term retention and application. You can help at home by playing board games using dice, dominoes and cards – allow your child time to work things out for themselves – adding dice, keeping scores etc. Another great activity to engage and connect mathematics to real life is cooking. Be patient and prepared for a mess, but allowing your child to read the recipe with you and measure ingredients provides a great opportunity to practice fractions and create visual representations of measurements (millilitres, grams etc) and quantities.
A quick, easy game you can play is called Doubles and Halves. You can use 2 or 3 (harder) dice. You can play with 2 or 3 players. One person rolls the dice so that only player 1 can see it. Player 1 adds the total of the dice facing up then they must double the total and tell Player 2. Player 2 then must halve the total and suggest number combinations that could have been added to find that total (ie try and guess the 2 or 3 numbers that are faced up on the dice). Then swap roles – Player 2 adds and doubles, Player 1 halves and works out the addition combinations. Example: Player 1 rolls 2 dice and gets a 4 and a 5. They add the numbers = 9 and then doubles that total = 18. They only tell Player 2 the total and Player 2 halves it = 9 and then guesses way to make 9 e.g. 3 + 6 or 7 + 2 or 4 + 5 till they get the combination shown on the dice faces. You can give points for each time a player gets a correct answer or just play for the fun of it.

The Literacy component of ILSP centers around fundamental writing skills. The program offers valuable support in various aspects of writing, including sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation. Through targeted, small group lessons and personalised guidance, we can work closely with students to help them develop a solid foundation in these fundamental skills.
Students participate in interactive lessons that may include ‘quick writes’, explicit teaching, literacy games, and ‘board stories’.  ‘Quick writes’ involve giving students a prompt or topic and asking them to write for a short period of time, often around 5-10 minutes. The purpose of a ‘quick write’ is to encourage students to generate ideas, practice a literacy skill, or respond to a specific question or topic quickly and without overthinking.
'Board stories' offer students the opportunity to step into the role of the teacher, identifying and correcting errors within a passage of text displayed on a whiteboard. Board stories are a collaborative, fun and interactive way for students to practice editing skills, learn grammar techniques and reinforce punctuation rules. It is an activity that encourages discussion and incorporates hands-on skills and explicit teaching.

You could try ‘board stories’ at home by deliberately incorporating mistakes into a written passage and asking your child to become the teacher and correct them.

Jacqui Brown & Julie Bonnici
ILSP Teachers  

Week 3
Tuesday, 24 October
School Groups Photo Day
Wednesday, 25 October
Kindy 2024 Transition no. 2 9:15-10:30am
Thursday, 26 October
Band Information Evening at 5:30pm in new school hall   

Week 4
Monday, 30 October
Whole School Photo and Year 6 photo 
Tuesday, 31 October
Kindy 2024 Transition no. 3 9:15-10:30am
Wednesday, 1 November
Year 5 voting for prefects