Katoomba North Public School Community News

Cross Country Carnival Barton Street, Katoomba 2780 Website: www.katoomban-p.schools.nsw.edu.au Office Hours: 8.30am – 3.00pm Email: katoomban.school@det.nsw.edu.au Principal: Cathy Clark Phone: 4782 2743 Fax: 4782 3871 Facebook: KatoombaNorthPS

14th May 2019, Term 2 Week 3

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May

14th-21st NAPLAN

24th Cross Country, Blackheath

27th Opera House Choir Cluster Rehearsal,

WFPS

28th Stage 2 Melrose Park, Tree Planting

Recorder Cluster Rehearsal KPS

30th Stage 1 Aquarium

June

3rd Winamlee Cup

4th Stage 2 Cockatoo Island

7th Teddy Bear’s Picnic

Basketball - Sport

11th Back-up Day for Stage 2 Excursion –

Cockatoo Island

14th Newcombe Ball Stages 2 & 3

Basketball – Sport

20th Stage 2 Public Speaking Competition

KNPS

21st Grandparents Day

24th Dance Auditions

25th UBMM Festival Choir Rehearsal KPS

26th Stage 3 Debating Workshop

27th KNPS Play Day

28th Reports Home

Basketball - Sport

Dear Parents and Carers, Thanks - To parents and community who have helped our school the past few weeks by:

- ensuring all children took home a present for their Mum for Mother’s Day at the Mother’s day stall on Friday.

- assisting in the successful running of the cross country by standing/sitting in strategic areas so our students knew where to run.

- generously supporting our Farmer for a Day mufti last week. We raised over $400. This amount will be sent in and next term the SRC want to have Farmer for a Day again.

- providing wonderful chocolate eggs and treats for the residents of Morven Gardens at Leura. - supporting the SRC at the hat parade through “Hip Hooray it’s Pie Day.” - making or buying a cake treat at the hat parade last term.

Calendar Events The next few weeks as any others are busy. Here is a run-down on what we know is happening. Years 3 and 5 will sit NAPLAN this and next week - Our students will be sitting the tests (except year 3 writing) online. Students have been familiarised with the test formats. I know both children and parents sometimes are concerned about these tests. KNPS views NAPLAN as any other test - a snapshot of how your child goes on the day. Your child’s teacher is very clear on how your child is progressing academically. These standardised tests are used by schools to see where future academic focus may need to be. Our cross country team travel to Blackheath next Friday the 24th - A note will go home in the next few days. Week 5 is super busy. We have the Opera House choir travelling to Wentworth Falls PS on the 27th May for the cluster rehearsal. Our recorder group travel to Katoomba Public School on Tuesday the 28th for their cluster rehearsal. Stage 2 go to Melrose Park for their tree planting day on the 28th too. Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) travel to the Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Zoo on Thursday the 30th May. They will have such a great day. And then in week 6 Stage 2 are travelling to Cockatoo Island for their term excursion. This is the 4th June. We have the SRC’s Teddy Bear’s Picnic planned for the 7th June. Watch out for details on that fun day. Extra News The Occupational Therapist students from Western Sydney have commenced their programs with selected students K-6. They are with us for the next four weeks. Students are having a wonderful time as well as improving their gross or fine motor skills. Our American teacher Ms Abi Struzenberg has left Australia. She was with us for 8 weeks. Abi has a teaching job in her district back home. She said she has learnt so much from the staff at KNPS and is keen to get ready for her new school. Mr Silvers is currently on six weeks long service Leave. Replacing him is Ms Alexandra Carter. And we welcome back Mrs Bemmer who is on Year 2 Monday and Tuesday. I couldn’t let Ms Goodwin leave so she is on Year 2 Wednesday – Friday.

Principal’s Log - Sunday 12th May – 22.30 hours

It’s that time of year and teachers are writing half yearly reports. Closer to the end of the term we will have parent/teacher meetings so you can find out how your child is progressing. Please remember you can come and make a time to see your class teacher if you have any concerns or want to check on your child’s progress. Last term teachers formed “Professional Learning Communities.” These “communities” examined aspects of the school. One community has instigated play and toys at lunchtime for students. Another group is planning a fun day at school. Another group has organised buddy reading. Year 5 students read with Year 3 and Year 4 students read with Year 2. Whilst it’s early days for all changes the play and toys at lunchtime is a big hit and the buddy reading is consolidating reading skills for younger students as well as creating a natural peer support program throughout the school. Remember we are a phone call or chat away if you have concerns or queries about any aspect of your child’s education. Cathy Clark Principal of The Best School in the Blue Mountains.

Katoomba North Public School is Going Green We need to do something serious about the cost of the garbage service each year our school pays as well as the amount of plastic rubbish we throw away.

So beginning week 5 we are limiting the bins in the playground. We will continue to recycle paper and cardboard and any spoilt food will go to the worm farm. Children will be expected to take any rubbish that is plastic back home.

I know the difficulties of providing food that will remain fresh and/or environmentally wrapped snacks in lunchboxes however I’m sure you agree that school money can be better spent on resources instead of rubbish costs.

Thank you to Mountains High Pies at Wentworth Falls for their generous donation of the pies and sausage rolls for our Easter Hat Parade lunch.

Operation Art Congratulations to James, Kai and Melody who have entered their artworks into this year Operation Art Exhibition. These artworks will be on display at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday 14th September, 2019. Operation Art is an initiative of The Children's Hospital at Westmead in association with the NSW Department of Education. We are very proud of these students and what they have achieved artistically. Ms Abela

Leura Harvest Festival

Second Prize Winner! Thank you to Birches of Leura (nursery) who awarded Katoomba North Public School second prize for this year’s scarecrow competition they held during the Leura Harvest Festival. Katoomba North Public School entered a flock of sheep that we were made from recycled curtains and fabric.

Easter Hat Parade

On the 12th of April Katoomba North had their annual Easter Hat Parade. The school

prepared all the chairs and decoration for the special day. Everyone had different

types of hats. Some were short, some tall and most were extremely colourful. It

was nice to see all the different types of hats from students. My friends and I

coloured in some Easter eggs to put up on the day.

At the parade our school choir sang some beautiful songs and the infants sang Little

Peter Rabbit. Every single class got to go around the COLA and show off their hat.

Year six got to go around twice since it was their last Easter hat parade.

On the day there was also a floral competition and a vegetable competition that

students could compete in. After the Easter hat parade the music was playing so everyone could dance. We

were also lucky enough to order pies or sausage rolls from Mountain High Pies. They were yummy. Thank you

to the SRC and Mrs Fowler for organising this.

There was also a cake stall so parents and students could get some treats. All in all our Easter hat parade was

amazing. The cake stall raised $490.20

By Miahnie & Hayley 5/6

Farmer Mufti Day

On Wednesday, the 8th of May Katoomba North had a farmer mufti day. Students from

Katoomba North dressed up as a farmer. We had a gold coin donation to raise money for

farmers in drought. Lots of other schools in NSW raised money for the farmers too. We held

a raffle for everyone who participated and helped raise money. Katoomba North raised

$426.

By Roemii & Tara 5 /6

Stage 2 Bush Care Excursion

On the 10th of April, Years 3 and 4 walked to Bureau Park to study the bush. First we

marked the roll and got our visual arts diary out of our tote trays. When we arrived,

we met our Council instructors. We took photos, collected items and picked up

rubbish. We learned that the smallest pieces of rubbish can be the most dangerous.

We also learned how to hug a tree. We went back to school at 2:30pm. This day was

exciting and we learned a lot about the bush.

By Lily Hale 4 Tigers

Focus on Reading at KNPS……

Year 5 Reading Buddies has been running for a while now and is proving to be very successful. These senior children spend time with Year 3 every Thursday morning sharing popular picture books with each other.

Due to the success of this program we now have a group of Year 4 children who start their day by reading with children from Year 2. The Year 4 children have been trained by Mrs Murrell and assist the Year 2 children with their reading 3 times per week. The children are really enjoying working together and look forward to this time each day.

We will continue to train more children up as leaders as we extend this valuable program across the school.

Next week some classes will participate in the National Simultaneous Storytime

2019.

Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. By participating in this event, we are aiming to promote the value of reading and literacy! This year the text that will be read at 11am on Wednesday 22nd May is Alpacas with Maracas by Matt Cosgrove.

We are busy, busy, busy in music this term. Coming up in week 4, our Opera House choir and Opera House recorder ensemble will have their first combined school rehearsal. We know that our students will represent our school really well with their beautiful singing and perfect manners. All classes are also working hard on their NAIDOC performances for week 10. Band, dance and the broadway ensemble are humming along nicely (pardon the pun). Keep on making magical music.

BREAKFAST PROGRAM

Volunteers run this wonderful program Monday to Friday between 8.40 – 9.00 a.m. with the appreciated ongoing support from Bendigo Bank Katoomba, Rotary Club of Katoomba, Earth Recovery, Blue Mountains Food Co-op, parents and students. Donations of jam, vegemite, honey, marmalade, long-life milk, fruit and milo are always welcome. Contact Caroline (mobile: 0426 399 355) if you are interested in helping to run our breakfast program or drop off donations to the school office or the community room.

SCHOOL CANTEEN The canteen will not be operating this term.

SCHOOL UNIFORM NEWS Please see Caroline Monday-Thursday down in the hall at uniform shop 3.00pm – 3.15pm and Fridays 2.45- 3.15pm. Caroline can also be contacted on 0426 399 335 for more information.

PLAY AND CHAT PLAYGROUP

Is on for 0-5 year olds and their parents/carers, Monday and Tuesday mornings, 9.15 – 12.15 during the school term. Sandpit, cooking, music, outdoor play, painting and more. All welcome!

Music News

P & C News

Community News

TERM 2 CALENDAR

2019 Term 2

1

April 29 30

ANZAC Service

May 1

22 3

2

6 7 8

Assembly

9 10

Cross Country

3

13

14

NAPLAN 15

NAPLAN

16

NAPLAN 17

NAPLAN

4

20

NAPLAN

21

NAPLAN

22

Assembly

23 24

Cross Country Blackheath

5

27

Opera House Choir Cluster Rehearsal

WFPS

28

Stage 2 Tree Planting Melrose Park Recorder Cluster Rehearsal KPS

29

30

Stage 1 Aquarium Excursion

31

6

June 3

Winmalee Cup

4

Stage 2 Cockatoo Island

5

Assembly

6 7

Teddy Bears Picnic

7

10 Queen’s Birthday

Public Holiday

11 12

13 14

Newcombe Ball Stages 2 & 3

8

17 18 19

Assembly

20

Stage 2 Public Speaking

Competition KNPS

21

Grandparents Day

9

24

Dance Auditions

25

Narragunnawali Rehearsal

26

Stage 3 Debating Workshop

27

KNPS Play Day

28

Reports Home

NAIDOC WEEK

10

July 1 2 3

NAIDOC Assembly 11.15am-1.15pm

4

Talent Quest

5

Talent Quest

SCHOOL BANKING

School Banking this term will be Fridays.

SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION

The school contribution is a small yearly contribution that is used towards the

cost of classroom resources, arts and crafts, materials, books and sporting

equipment. If you can pay your contribution, could you please do so through the

school office?

Fees are as follows:

$42.00 per year for 1 child

$75.00 per year for 2 children or

$90.00 per year for 3 children or more.

SCHOOL STREAM School stream is an app that delivers school information, instantly and

directly to parents and students on their mobile device.

Please find instructions on how to download the school stream app.

iPhone / iPad iOS

1. From your mobile device go to the App Store search for School Stream 2. Tap the FREE/GET button to the right of the School Stream listing

3. Tap the INSTALL button

4. Enter your Apple ID and password & tap OK

5. Wait for the install icon to change to OPEN

6. Tap the OPEN button

7. You will be prompted to accept push notifications, you will need to select OK

8. Start typing your school into the search then SELECT your school

Android / Tablet

1. From your mobile device go to the Play Store search for School Stream 2. Tap the School Stream listing

3. Tap the INSTALL button

4. Tap the ACCEPT button

5. Wait for the app to install then tap the OPEN button

6. Start typing your school into the search then SELECT your school

7. Tap the DONE button in the top left

Windows Phone/Other Devices

Contact your school for your web link, and follow these instructions: To

pin a website on your Windows Phone:

• Open the website you want to pin

• Tap More icon, then tap Pin to Start

You will be able to access all of your school's information, however you won't be able to receive notifications.

Choose which notifications you receive:

1. Open the School Stream app on your mobile device

2. From the slide-in menu, go to Settings

3. Under Edit/Alerts select My Schools and select your School to open the Notifications page

4. Toggle notifications on or off individually (e.g. Alerts, Events, Newsletters, etc.)

5. When you have finished, use the Back button to return to the Settings page,

then select Done to return to your School

6. Return at any time to change the notifications you receive.