2020 term 4 week 9 principal: kay thurston

Developing a shared responsibility for learning

■ 2020■ Term 4 ■ Week 9 ■ Principal: Kay Thurston

■ Phone: (02) 69226400 Strive and Succeed

■ Fax: (02) 69262065 Lake Albert Public School

■ Email: [email protected] Main Street Lake Albert

■ Website: www.lakealbert-p.schools.nsw.edu.au Wagga Wagga NSW 2663

Respectful Responsible Resilient

Congratulations to our Year 6

students and we wish you all the

very best at high school.

Wishing all families

a Merry Christmas

and a safe a happy

New Year.

-

Lake Albert Public School ■ Principal: Kay Thurston Strive and Succeed

■ Phone: (02) 69226400

■ Fax: (02) 69262065 Lake Albert Public School

■ Email: [email protected] Main Street Lake Albert

■ Website: www.lakealbert-p.schools.nsw.edu.au Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

■ 2020 ■ Term 4 ■ Week 9 ■ Newsletter

Engaged successful students – Quality collaborative teaching –

Wellbeing for Teaching & Learning

Calendar Term 4 – Week 9

7- 16 December Kinder Swimming Program

10 December K-6 Presentation Day Assemblies

11 December Year 6 BDO Junee Pool

11 December Year 5 BDO Ten Pin Bowling

Term 4 – Week 10

14 December Stage 2/K6-D BDO Movies

15 December Stage 1 BDO Movies at school

16 December Students last day 2020

16 December Year 6 Farewell Assembly

18 December All staff last day 2020

Term 1 – Week 1 2021

27-28 January Staff professional learning

29 January Years 1-6 students return



8 February Riverina Central Choir

Nominations

8 February WWPSSA Boys Cricket Trials


16 February School Swimming Carnival

18 February Stage 2 Girls Soccer Gala Day

19 February Stage 2 Boys Soccer Gala Day

19 February Kinder Bus Safety Excursion

In this issue ...

Principal’s report ........................................................................... 3

What a year! ............................................................................... 3

Welcome to 2021 new teachers ......................................... 3

2021 classes & staff ................................................................. 3

Farewelling some amazing teachers ................................. 4

Curriculum changes for 2021 .............................................. 4

Indie’s fundraiser ...................................................................... 4

2021 COVID restrictions easing .......................................... 5

Presentation Day Assemblies .............................................. 5

Farewell Year 6 .......................................................................... 5

Farewell Fran .............................................................................. 5

What’s happening at LAPS ........................................................ 6

Presentation Day ...................................................................... 6

Year 6 v Teachers ...................................................................... 6

ES1 Big Day Out ..................................................................... 11

Feature Photo

Our school captains Mika and Lachlan cutting the

Year 6 Farewell cake with Mrs Thurston, what a fantastic

night!

Lake Albert Public School

Principal’s report

What a year!

This is the last newsletter for 2020 – and what a year it

has been. I have put my reflections of the year into a

report available in our Presentation Day booklet (this

will be available as a digital copy following our

Presentation day assemblies). I will reiterate my sincere

thanks to the entire LAPS community for working

together, supporting us to ensure our students received

the best year possible under such trying circumstances.

My biggest thank you goes out to my incredible staff –

they have had a mammoth year, working tirelessly under

difficult circumstances, I wish everyone a safe & happy

holiday and look forward to a wonderful, back to normal

2021!

Welcome to 2021 new teachers

As mentioned below, we have 3 new teachers joining

us in 2021. Welcome to:

Ms Sue O’Brien

Ms Rebecca Miller

Miss Rhiannon Daley

2021 classes & staff

Next year we will have 21 classes – our enrolment

numbers are slightly down and this has impacted on our

class structures and staffing. On Thursday all students

will receive a letter notifying their 2021 class and

teacher. As stated in this letter, this is to alleviate any

anxiety for our students so they are not worrying over

the holidays about their new class. It is not an

opportunity to seek to change classes for your child.

Hours of discussion and thought goes into class

planning – parents and carers need to trust the

judgement of our teachers. Any parents with

extenuating circumstances can contact me directly but

no guarantees will be made. We have some new

teachers joining us in 2021, some staff on leave and

some in other roles. Classes and teachers will be:

Kindergarten: Mrs Jane Antrim, Miss Lucy Niccol, Miss

Jessica Chapman, Ms Anamaree Williams (Assistant

Principal)

Year 1: Mrs Kathryn Crawford, Mrs Megan Hensley/ Mrs

Leah Penfold (2 days/3 days), Mrs Susan Armstrong

Year 2: Mrs Natasha Bryant, Mrs Joanne Bowen, Mrs

Kathryn Oakman

K-2 Release-from-face-to-face (Science & Technology

& Library): Mrs Margaret Tinnock (Assistant Principal

Stage 1)

Year 3: Ms Holly Dean, Mr Glenn Baker

Year 3/4: Ms Anna Markham


Year 4: Ms Jennifer Moloney, Miss Rhiannon Daley

IO unit: Mrs Melisa Downing (Stage 2 Assistant

Principal)

Year 5: Ms Sue O’Brien, Ms Rebecca Miller

Year 5/6: Mr Craig Pitchford

Year 6: Mr David McGowan, Mr John Urbanavicius

Stage 3 Assistant Principal (relieving): Mr Craig Pitchford

Years 3-6 RFF (Science & Technology & Library): Mr

Paul Oakman

Intervention & Executive release: Mrs Deanne Lucas,

Mrs Terry Williams

Farewelling some amazing teachers

As well as welcoming some new teachers in 2021, we are

also farewelling others. Unfortunately, this is always the

way when we have several temporary staff working here,

and not enough vacancies to retain them all. Mrs Jessica

Smith has been successful in attaining a permanent

position at the new Estella school. Other temporary

teachers we will hopefully see back working casually

next year – a very sincere thank you to Mrs Patricia

Bolton, Ms Michelle Nosworthy, Mr Tom Hain, Mrs

Nicole Bourne, Ms Michele McKenzie and Miss Talia

Davenport.

Curriculum changes for 2021

Commencing in 2021 we are embarking on a number of

new initiatives, particularly in regards to ensuring

consistent curriculum delivery K-6. All of our changes

are in line with latest research around what works best

for the learning outcomes of our students. We will be

utilising an on-line mathematics program ‘Stepping

Stones’ which is supported by a student workbook. This

program will be run from Kindergarten to Year 6 and

incorporating regular assessments to track student

progress throughout each term. Our teaching of

spelling is also undergoing transformation. We will be

using a program ‘Spelling Mastery’ for Years 3-6 – again

this will have a student workbook, with students

receiving daily instruction 4 days per week in ability-

based groups to cater specifically for each child’ spelling

needs. In the K-2 space, a comprehensive phonics and

vocabulary program will be implemented. We will be

asking for parents to purchase the 2 workbooks at a cost

of $45 for both – invoices will be sent early Term 1 but

just to give our families a heads up. Both of these

programs, as well as other initiatives will be outlined

more through some parent information sessions we will

be running in term 1 – stay tuned!

Indie’s fundraiser

What a great fun ‘Crazy Hair’ day we had last Friday!

Thank you to all for your amazing support of this

worthwhile fundraiser. At last count we had raised

$1884! Special mention to the Lajdes family for their

$500 donation! Our P&C will also be generously

matching the school amount raised. On Friday

afternoon I received a lovely surprise visit from Indie and

her parents. Indie was just home for the weekend, prior

to heading back to the Sydney Children’s Hospital for

her 4th of 6 radiation treatments. Indie has already

undergone 3 brain surgeries – yet still had that beautiful

smile on her face. I was thrilled to be able to finally

present her with her book award. Parents Lisa and Leigh

wanted to express their gratitude for the incredible

support our LAPS community has given. We can’t wait

to see you back Indie!

Get well soon Indie – we miss you!


2021 COVID restrictions easing

We are delighted to be hearing about further

restrictions being lifted when we return in 2021. Of

course, we will keep communicating as things change.

At this stage, parents will be allowed back on site to use

the uniform shop, to call into the office if needed, to

drop off and collect students. Whilst this dropping-off/

collecting will be eased, we would ask that parents

continue as much as possible just dropping off at the

front gate. We have certainly noticed a huge growth in

independence of our children since this change has

happened. Of course, this won’t be the case for our new

Kindergarten children – parents of these children will be

very welcome to walk their child to their new room – at

least for the first few days. Again, we believe the ‘drop

& go’ is always best to prevent on-going separation

anxieties. We will also continue walking students out to

Apex Oval in the afternoon. We have found this works

really well and prevents bottle-necks at the front gate.

We would ask for parent’s cooperation in continuing

these procedures. We are hoping our parents will be

able to resume visiting assemblies and coming in for our

special events. Let’s hope for our children’s sakes, that

we can get back to all of those other fun events and

activities we have sorely missed this year.

Presentation Day Assemblies

This Thursday we are holding our COVID-style

Presentation events. My thanks to Mr Eyles for all of his

efforts in coordinating this, and to Mrs Bruce for her

mammoth efforts in getting certificates ready (as well as

printing our copious school reports!). It will be a special

day where we not only get to recognise those students

who are receiving awards, but also to announce our

2021 student leadership team! I know we have some

very nervous Year 5 students waiting to find out. A

reminder that assembly times for parents wishing to

‘Zoom’ in are:

Kindergarten: 9:30

Stage 1: 10:30

Stage 3: 12:30

Stage 2: 2:15

Farewell Year 6

Next Wednesday will be the last day of term for all

students – but even more importantly, the last day of

primary school at Lake Albert for our Year 6 students.

The children celebrated a wonderful dinner dance on

Tuesday evening at the Boat Club – thank you to our

P&C for funding this event.

Next Wednesday afternoon, commencing at 2:50 pm we

will be holding a farewell assembly for our Year 6

children. As a special treat, parents of Year 6 children will

be allowed on site. Parents are requested to spread out

on our school oval, near the COLA at 2:50. Following our

assembly, we will create our traditional LAPS arch from

the Blue Cluster doors out to the Apex Oval gate to

farewell our wonderful group of Year 6 children.

Farewell Fran

This week was a dreadfully sad and difficult one for our

school community, with the loss of our past P&C

President, Fran Wade. Fran’s bubbly, happy personality

touched the lives and hearts of many at our school. We

offer our deepest sympathies to Jade, Declan and Sara

at this time.

Kay


What’s happening at LAPS

Presentation Day

Presentation Day

Thursday 10th December

This year our Presentation Day will be held

throughout the day. There will be four

separate presentation ceremonies, one for

each stage. Due to COVID restrictions

parents are unfortunately unable to attend.

Parents will however be provided with a

Zoom link to view the ceremony. This will be

shared closer to the day.

Kindergarten- 9.30am

Stage 1- 10.30am

Stage 3- 12.30pm

Stage 2- 2.15pm

Captain and perfects will be announced at

the Stage 3 assembly beginning at 12.30pm

Year 6 v Teachers

Results are in for the sporting challenge between Year

6 students v teachers, with the teachers winning both

the soccer and netball games. Next week will see the

students again take on the teachers in touch and T-

ball. Good luck to the Year 6 who now trail 2 games to

0. The challenge is on!!!

Reminders Payments and Permission Notes

Year 6 2021 Polo- $44 payment and order form due

11th December

Stage 3 Year 6 BDO Junee Pool- $8 payment and

permission note due Friday 11th December

Stage 3 Year 5 BDO Ten Pin Bowling- $8 payment and

permission note due Friday 11th December

Stage 2 BDO Movies- $10 payment and permission

note due Friday 11th December

Principal Award Recipients Week 7

Stage 3 Medallion Award


Stage 3 Principal Award

Stage 3 Pennant Awards

Stage 2 Medallion Awards

Stage 2 Book Awards






Early Stage 1 Principal Awards

Early Stage 1 Pennant Awards

Principal Award Recipients Week 8


Stage 3 Book Awards



Stage 2 Medallion Awards

Stage 2 Book Awards



Stage1 Book Awards

Stage 1 Pennant

Early Stage Book Awards

Early Stage Principal Awards


Early Stage 1 Pennant Awards

2020 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge

Stage 2

Stage 1

Debating Certificates

ES1 Big Day Out

A day at the theatre was enjoyed by our kindergarten

students watching ‘Magic Beach’.


Year 6 Farewell ‘Thank you’ to:

The Boat Club for donating a fabulous venue for the

Year 6 Dinner.

Vanessa Thorley for her time and decorations to

create the school theme.

Jackie Cooper for her photographic skills to

document such a fabulous occasion for our Year 6

students. A link to photos will be provided next

week.

Mrs Holly Dean

2020 term 4 week 9 principal: kay thurston

Documents