Tighes Hill Public School

33 Elizabeth Street, Tighes Hill, 2297

Phone: 4969 3720 4969 3703

Fax: 4961 2334

Email address: tigheshill-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.tigheshill-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Newsletter No. 19 11th December 2013

Our school newsletter comes out fortnightly on Wednesdays and is given to the eldest member of the family.

Dates to Remember Thurs 12th Dec Year 6 Farewell ~ 5.45pm Islington Church Fri 13th Dec Star Card Reward “Water Fun Day”

th This edition includes: Mon 16 Dec Reports go home

Principal’s Report

P&C Report

This is Christmas ~ The Grainery

Wed 18th Dec Last Day for Students ~ Year 6 Clap out

2014

Tues 27th Jan Staff Return ~ Pupil Free Day Wed 28th Jan Students in Years 1 - 6 Return

Carols in Islington Park Information 28th –30th

Best Start Testing ~ Kindergarten Mon 3rd Feb Kindergarten 2014 Begins 5th Feb Annual Swimming Carnival

Principals Newsletter Week 10 ~ December 11th, 2013

This is our last Newsletter for this term and I really find it difficult to believe how quickly this year has flown. It has been an extremely full and rewarding year with many exciting achievements for all our students, staff, community and our school. Our Annual School Report, which will be posted on our website early in the new school year, will outline all of these achievements. I would like to take this opportunity to thank every member of our school community for their support, assistance and engagement throughout this year. Your engagement however small has been extremely valuable and always welcomed. Our children achieve well, when all members of their school environment staff, parents, carers and friends work together. Thank you for helping all our children achieve so well, let’s keep this partnership growing in 2014. I also want to wish all our Year 6 students and their families and all families and students leaving great success in their new schools and communities. We will miss you!

New School Hours for 2014 ~ please note the change to our start time

School Begins: 9.00am Morning recess: 11.15am – 12.00noon Lunch: 1.15pm-1.55pm School Finishes: 3.00pm

Reports: Our yearly reports will be handed out Monday the 16th of December. All teachers have worked extremely hard to ensure that all data entered is a true representation of your child’s learning growth. I am sure that you will be very pleased with the comprehensive assessment information and the clear picture of your child’s progress and achievements that these reports contain. Please let us know if multiple copies need to be sent home. Don’t hesitate to contact teachers if you need any point clarified.

Dates to Remember Thurs 12th Dec Year 6 Farewell Fri 13th Dec Star Card Reward “Water Fun Day” Mon 16th Dec Reports go home Wed 18th Dec Last Day for Students – Year 6 clap out

2014

Tues 28th Jan Staff Return ~ Pupil Free Day Wed 29th Jan Students in Years 1 – 6 Return 29th – 31st Jan Best Start Testing – Kindergarten Mon 3rd Feb Kindergarten 2014 Begins Wed 5th Feb Annual Swimming Carnival

Major Presentation Assembly: Our Presentation Assembly held yesterday was a brilliant opportunity to showcase our wonderful children, their achievements, their talents and their amazing manners. They fulfilled all criteria beautifully! Thank you to all the parents who did attend this special event. All the children who received awards did so because they were able to demonstrate consistency in achieving personal best throughout the year. Congratulations to all children who received awards and the very talented performers. Congratulations also to the Captains of 2013 for their exceptional leadership. Thank you to the Grainery Christian network for the use of their facility and continued support with in-class programs. I also want to thank our many sponsors and P&C who help us fund the many prizes and awards given. Could all the Captains please return their jackets by tomorrow. Carols: It was fantastic to see so many families and friends attend and participate in the celebrations. I’m sure that you were very impressed by all the talented children we have at Tighes Hill PS. Thank you to Miss Beker for your organisation and also to our wonderful staff for the barbecue. It was delightful to see so many families enjoying the “Carols on the Green” on their picnic rugs. Thank you to our superb Santa and the Carrington Bush Fire Brigade for taking the time to visit our school. Year 6 Farewell: We are planning a special night for the Year 6 children tomorrow evening at the Islington Baptist church. A great deal of time and money goes into making sure that this evening is a special highlight for Year 6. Thank you to our P&C for funding the cost of the food.

Years 5 and 6 children need to be at the venue by 5.45pm wearing appropriate clothes. Collared shirts for the boys and low heels for girls. All parents are invited to attend at 7.30pm for the formal part of the evening. Year 6 will be able to wear mufti clothes for the final 4 days of term when they donate their uniform to our clothing pool. Star Card Reward Day: All the children who have achieved 80% of their stars for this term have been invited to a special “Water Fun Day” at school on Friday. The children will need to wear mufti clothes and sensible shoes. Please pack a complete change of clothes, a towel as they will get wet, and old sneakers to run in. Sunscreen and hats must be worn. School Canteen: Our fantastic band of canteen volunteers have provided a wonderful service to our children this year and I know that you recognise the extraordinary effort they have gone to, to provide such healthy food choices for our children. As a school community I would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to all canteen volunteers. We need additional parents to volunteer, to organise rosters and menus for 2014. It would be wonderful if many more helpers were available to assist. Remember that the volunteers are delivering a free service to all our children and are trying hard to give/make healthy food options for the children. Your help, even one day a month would be welcomed. Please note the canteen will not be opened next week as it will be cleaned and made ready for the long holiday break. Year 6 Uniforms/Mufti: Year 6 children will be able to wear mufti for the remainder of the year WHEN they donate their uniform to the clothing pool after Wednesday 11th of December. All uniforms can be handed in at the office. Autographs: I am more than happy for all Year 6 children to collect their friend’s autographs before the end of the year, the only proviso; autographs cannot be collected on any uniform that is being currently worn. Autograph bears, books and uniforms brought to school in a plastic bag are all better

options. This can be done in the final week of school.

School Development Days: The last two days of this term have been dedicated as development days where we will continue our readiness for the introduction the Australian Curriculum documents and complete compliance activities for 2014.

The first day back on the 28th of January is also a Staff Development Day. As a school will be working on revisiting practices and processes. Children return Wednesday 29th of January. Kindergarten children will begin on Monday 3rd of February. Kindergarten children will be individually assessed using Best Start throughout Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Appointment letters will be sent home this week.

Thank you to all my fantastic staff for another wonderful year, each and every member works so very hard each day to deliver quality classes, and after school programs that our children enjoy. I hope you have the rewarding Christmas and a very restful and relaxing holiday that you so well deserve.

Principals Personal Best Awards Week 10

Oliver Collis KD, Django Rees KR, Jaxon Legge K/1R, Jules Puxty 1L, Evie Nash 1/2E, Olivia Collins 2G, Lilli Cheetham 3/4S, Gill Marrable 4/5J, Chloe Tonkovic 5/6I, Amy Phillips 5/6A

ASSEMBLY AWARDS Week 9 & 10 KD. Issach Mann, Oli Novak, Mia Tonkovic, Riley Bawden, Spencer O’Neill, Jude Mataroa KR. Zanetta Hanwright, Seb Thomas, Dylan Verran, Jamie Loades, Harry Novak, Shaylani Ruru KR1. Ruby Luffman, Zen Sauni-Ritchie, Indiah Logan, Rebecca Thomas, Rowan Brown, Zali Wenger 1L. Jules Puxty, Georgia Cheetham, Lachlan Riters, Stephanie Morgan, Wyatt Woods, Eli Moon 1E2. Olivia Lewis, Gemma Davies, Elees McCarroll-Murray, Grayson Hall, Indra Gardner, Eli Logan 2G. Chloe Mann, Finlay Bawden, Jatali Ale, Ibsen McGilvray, Duncan Hunter, Imogen Hanwright 3S4. Sachin Hall, Neave Bailey, Ryan Yarnold, Sam Phillips, Terrell Maloney, Phoebe Ellis 4J5. Zane Cooper, Ameliah Tufi, Eva McInnes, Lucas Collins, Alysse O’Brien, Djala Parry 5A6. Samantha Young, Eva Morris, Mitchell Hunt, Jasmine Taranawiwat, Heather Wasson

Chris Falley 5I6. Dorian Wild, Ella Doughty, Shiahjay Taylor, Dylan Badier, Angus Mundy, Lovette Walker Congratulations Everyone! Fantastic Effort! Tony Selwood Principal

**The Canteen is in desperate need of volunteers for Friday 13th December. **

Canteen Roster Thurs 12th Dec

Dearne Spoljaric

Lucy Ellis

Fri 13th Dec

Lisa Fisher

Help Needed

Mon 16th Dec

CLOSED

Tues 17th Dec

CLOSED

Wed 18th Dec

CLOSED

Thurs 19th Dec

NO Students

Fri 20th Dec

NO Students

DATES FOR THE DIARY

P&C UPDATE ● December 2013

P&C Update

Caption describing

picture or graphic.

Dear Families,

We made it! Here we are at the end of another fantastic year of school.

Congratulations to all our wonderful kids who have worked hard, learned a lot and had so much fun throughout the year. Farewell to our Year 6 kids and others who are moving to different schools. Good luck! We will miss you all.

To all the amazing Tighes Hill teachers and staff who have achieved incredible things again this year – we thank you. We hope you enjoy a well earned rest over the holidays.

And finally, to the parents and families. While they go quickly these days, a year is still a long time. It’s a lot of school lunches, a lot of washed uniforms, different things to remember and events to be at. We do the very best we can because we want to, for our kids and for their school but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy and that we don’t get tired doing it. Take a break, go to the beach, spend time with the people you love and if you can, steal a little bit of time for yourself over the holidays. Give yourself a break so you can come back and do it all again in 2014!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sarah Nash President

P&C Meets on the

2nd Monday of

each month at

6pm

(during term time)

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL Wed 18 December FIRST DAY BACK Wednesday 29 January 2014 at 9AM Kindy starts 3 February 2014

December 2013

Uniform Pool

Garden Update

As another year comes to a close, the school food garden is in fine form with new plantings courtesy of Miss Robinson's and Miss Elley's students plus some high octane worm tea courtesy of Naomi & her student helpers. We have had quite a few successful veggie stalls with help from Mr Gillet's and Mr Junon's students with proceeds going back into seedlings and mulch . The project has been supported by Mayfield Home Hardware & organic seedling suppliers from Newcastle Farmers Markets. Thanks to the parent and student helpers who help water, plant and care for the garden space. A final veg stall for the year will be held this Friday 13th December.

The Uniform Pool will open for business at the Canteen before bell on Wednesdays at the beginning of Term 1. Lots of uniforms are donated at the end of the year so come along and grab a bargain.

Canteen clean-up

Can you help with a quick clean out and stocktake of the canteen on Wednesday 18 December?

Contact Naomi Isaacs on 0425 835 206 to let her know your availability.

School News School App: Thank you to all of our families who have downloaded our new school app. The feedback has been amazing and we look forward to continuing to develop new and innovative ways to best utilise it. The app gives you the ability to instantly access newsletters without going to the website, or to send in a sick note for your child without having to write a paper note! Download it to your smartphone or tablet by going to either the Apple App store or Android Google Play Market and search for our school name. Once you have found it press install or download. One of the new ways we will be using our app is to send push notifications to communicate travel time during excursions. School App Update Are you not receiving push notifications on your iphone? If you have updated your software to IOS7 then you will need to uninstall the THPS App and reinstall. Make sure when you open the App you accept ‘push notifications’! PEANUTS/Anaphylactic Reaction: Tighes Hill Public School is becoming a nut free zone from Term 4 onwards. The number of children with allergies to different food products and substances is growing. At this school we have had students with severe (life threatening) reaction to eggs and peanuts enrolled. Each Monday we have a Kindy Club student who has such an allergy to peanuts. To maximise the wellbeing and safety for all students, parents are asked not to pack peanut butter or nut sandwiches for your children and to make sure that you are vigilant in reading labels of all pre-packaged foods. Please let’s work together to provide a safe environment for all students.

Breakfast Club: We are always desperately in need of volunteers to run our

Breakfast Club. We are now asking for volunteers for 2014; if you are available one morning a week from 8.30am – 9.30am please leave your name at the office. This is an important service that we offer here at our school as it provides breakfast for children in need.

Thank you in anticipation ~ Mary Crump (Community Liaison Officer)

Do you have any uniforms to donate?

The P&C Uniform Pool is running very low on stock.

Please donate your items for other families to purchase at low prices.

All profits go towards additional resources for the school.

Uniforms are available to purchase from the canteen on,

Wednesdays from 8.50am – 9.20am

The first of the new murals is taking shape thanks to the awesome talents of local street artist Jess Coglan and all students who have contributed to the design.

We hope to start the feature school crest wall later in the week and look to complete both before the end of term. In addition we will be tarting up the canteen over the holidays ready for 2014.

THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!

Mural update

P&C UPDATE ● December 2013

CAROLS IN ISLINGTON PARK

The Community Carols in Islington Park will be held on Sunday 15th December.

Activities which commence at 4.30pm include games, face painting, balloons and a free sausage sizzle.

The Carol Concert starts at 6.30pm. It will feature Islington Public School Choir, puppets, carol singing and entertainer ‘The Pretty Amazing Jono’!

You are all welcome to attend the evening which is presented for the local community by the Islington Baptist Church.

If the weather is unsuitable, the carols and other activities will be held in the hall and church. The church is opposite to Islington Park.

Growing future

Experts!

English, Maths, Writing

Years 5-6

Expert teachers

Fun learning

Forty years of excellence at your

service

Arrendell Education Centre

49292522

arrendell@ozemail.com.au

Hunter TAFE 2014

Thinking about getting back into the

workforce, but unsure about whether your

skills are up to it?

Wondering about going to uni, but need to

brush up?

Hunter TAFE offers some courses that might

be suitable, covering topics such as computer

skills, English communication, maths and job

skills, or higher level subjects that can get you

a TES (university entrance score).

There are flyers available at the office listing

courses and contact details, feel free to pick

one up.

Thank You

Marketown Shopping Centre,

Newcastle West

Growers Best kindly supply our school

with a box of fruit each week for

‘Fruit Break’

Next time you visit Growers Best , please thank them on behalf of Tighes Hill Public

School.