COORANBONG PRIMARY SCHOOL ‘COOEE’ INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY EXCELLENCE

Government Road Cooranbong NSW 2265 Ph 4977 1122 cooranbong-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Term 1 Week 2 5th February 2015

Another year of excellence ahead A big welcome back to everyone! A special welcome goes out to our new students and their families. We know you will be very happy at our calm and innovative school.

Our Kindergarten students have settled in so well already and I attribute this to the solid transition program that they have had into school, the amazing organisation and talents of Mrs Tukua, the support offered to the students from their caring ‘buddies’ and the great preparation from their families.

It is wonderful to see that even though our new Kindies are having fun, socialising and making new friends, they are also already involved in learning their curriculum outcomes. Learning is definitely an exciting adventure!

“I’m doing lots of stuff at school. I get to play outside too!” – Harry, Kindergarten

“School is good! Playing is the best part and I get to play inside too. I never do homework but I will.” Mace – Kindergarten

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“School is fun. We are cutting out a lot of pictures and learning lots of letters!” – Liam, Kindergarten. “I like to play and stick stuff on stuff. Mrs T is the best teacher in the whole world!” – Bella, Kindergarten. Our Support Class During the Christmas break, there was a hive of activity at our school as our support class was being constructed. Our new students have a fresh, refurbished room, with lots of brand new equipment to make their learning fun and engaging.

We would like to warmly welcome Mrs Kylie Eves to our school as our Special Education teacher and know you will all love the nurturing and caring way she works with her students. Mrs Eves’s expertise in Special Education has added to the many skills that our staff at Cooranbong Public School hold.

We would also like to welcome Mr Steve Hudson, who will be our permanent School Learning Support Officer for K/1E. Mr Hudson’s skills in working in Special Education at the Hunter School of Performing Arts will certainly be of great value to our school. Besides teaching, he also holds a special passion for music and has a University degree in singing. Welcome Mr O’Dell Year 4 and 5 have a new teacher this year too! A big welcome to Mr O’Dell who will be teaching, nurturing and inspiring students in 4/5O. Mr O’Dell taught in London for the majority of last year and brings the many skills and experiences learnt there to our school. He thoroughly enjoys a variety of sports and has some plans for sharing these with students, so keep an eye out in the newsletters for these! Mr O’Dell is also a keen musician and plays guitar in a band when he is not working or playing sport!

Mrs Miller will again take on a variety of roles this year. This term she will be assisting in 4/5O on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning. In a few weeks time she will again be organising and delivering the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program with our students and will also be helping in the administration office while Mrs Sewell and Mrs Burns are on leave.

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Message from your school Captains

2015 is off to a really good start and we would like to welcome all the new students and all the new Kindys. A very warm welcome to the new teachers. We are looking forward to the new year and we hope you are too! Imogen and Chloe Swimming Carnival – Tuesday 10th Feb A reminder was given in last week’s overview of the term and Miss Hardy sent home notes to families early this week about our swimming carnival next week.

What: Swimming Carnival When: Next Tuesday 10th February Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Who: Students turning 8 and older Where: Morisset Swimming Pool Cost: $7.00 (pool entry and bus fare) A bus will transport students to the pool and return them to school when it is finished. There will be a variety of activities for our students and those who are not confident in the water will still be engaged in a variety of water fun and games.

All families and friends are more than welcome to join their children at the pool for a fun-filled community day. Children love seeing their families as an integral part of their school life.

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K-2 Water Fun Day

For those students who are too young to attend the swimming carnival, we will be having a special water fun day for them at school. Ms Hamilton is organising a variety of activities and a note has gone home about this. Children are to come to school in school uniform, as the morning will be normal class routine. They will then change into their swimmers at lunchtime for water fun activities between recess and lunch. Parent Information Afternoon – 12th Feb

Our school values a close relationship with our community and thrive on transparent and clear communication. With this in mind we would like to invite you to a parent information afternoon.

When: Thursday 12th February Time: K-2 at 3:30pm 3-6 at 4:00pm At this information afternoon you will be provided with a clear overview of a variety of things that your children are involved in at school and as part of a class. Some items that will be discussed include:

Your child’s class timetable

Teaching and Learning

Homework

Our school discipline procedures (positive and negative)

Our learning support procedures

Technology outcomes for your children

Volunteer information

Kitchen/Garden Program

Although this session won’t provide the time to discuss your individual child’s needs with their teacher, this afternoon will be a perfect opportunity to ask any questions that you may have about the processes and procedures at our school. We hope to see you all there! If you are unable to make it, please feel free to talk to your child’s teacher about any of the above topics or see Mrs Avery, who would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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School Budget - Fees The positive feedback about the 2015 planned budget and parent calendar has been overwhelming. Thank you for your positivity! There are plenty of spare copies of both the budget and the 2015 calendar at the office. These are also both on the school website, which can be found at: http://www.cooranbong-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/

Another big thank you to all the families who have already paid their fees for the term. We had a query about the book fees this week. A reminder that these 2 book fee payments are a one off for the year and will provide your child with a Spelling and Reading workbook that they will take home at the end of the year.

Sports Day – Which day? A reminder that:

K-2 sports day is on a Wednesday

Year 3-6 is on a Thursday

Mrs Masson’s class, 2/3M, will join the 3-6’s on a Thursday

Our school does not have a special sports uniform however on these days it would be preferable for students to wear their joggers instead of their black school shoes.

Change to Assembly! This year we have decided to do a whole school assembly every Friday afternoon. This is a change from last year where K-2 and Years 3-6 had separate assemblies. When: Friday at 2pm

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We hope this timeframe will be easier for families to attend! Assembly will begin tomorrow with Years 5/6 hosting. The following classes will host assembly on these days this term:

6 th Feb 5/6K 13th Feb 4/5O 20th Feb 3/4M 27th Feb 2F 6 th March 1H 13th March KT 20th March K/1E 27th March 5/6K

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Canteen Days Our canteen is open on a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and supplies a variety of healthy options for our children, from salad boxes to warm toasted sandwiches. If you would like a menu for your fridge at home, we have plenty

of spare ones in the office. These can also be emailed to you if you wish!

Volunteers are always welcome to help assist us in the canteen. If you have a spare day and could help us out, please let us know. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have the canteen open every day for our students! Pancake Day – Wed 18th Feb Our P&C are starting off the year with a treat that our students love! Pancakes will be freshly made by Steve Ward and served to those students who wish to purchase them. They cost 50c each and 50c extra for jam.

P&C Meeting – Wed 18th Feb The first P&C meeting this year will be held on Wednesday 18th February. This is held in the school library and will begin at 5:30pm. It would be a wonderful opportunity to come and be involved in all aspects regarding

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school. EVERYONE IS WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

School APP Our school APP is very close to being ready for families. More information about this will be in next weeks newsletter!

News from Mrs Deer We were all very excited to hear the wonderful news about Mrs Deer. She is now a grandmother!! Her gorgeous grandson Max Bruce was born on the 25th January and is a healthy, happy, bouncing baby boy Congratulations Mrs Deer!

Art Attack 2015 A huge congratulations to our Art Attackers from 2014. Their artwork was submitted into the Morisset Show and many of our students received placements. Thalia received first place! Congratulations children and a big thank you to Mrs le Roux for all you always do for your students!

Art Attack will again be offered this year to students. When: starts on 16 February Time: 3:10pm – 5:00pm Who: Students from Years 3-6 Art Attack dates are as follows:

Mon 16th Feb Mon 23rd Feb Mon 2nd March Mon 9th March Mon 16th March Mon 23rd March

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There will be no Art Attack on Mon 30th March! Notes will be going home next week about this.

Important dates for this term 6th Feb Assembly – 2pm (5/6K hosting) 10th Feb Swimming Carnival 10th Feb Taekwondo starts 5:30pm 12th Feb Parents visit new classrooms 13th Feb Assembly – 2pm (4/5O hosting) 17th Feb Zone Swimming 18th Feb Pancake Day 18th Feb P&C Meeting (5:30pm in library) 20th Feb Assembly – 2pm (2/3M hosting) 27th Feb Clean up Australia Day 27th Feb Assembly – 2pm (2F hosting) 13th March Trivia Night (P&C fundraiser)

School Banking Account Opening Day Cooranbong School is excited to offer the Commonwealth Bank School Banking program to all students.

ON FRIDAY 20TH FEBRUARY JANE FROM STUDENT BANKING WILL BE VISITING OUR

SCHOOL TO TALK TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT STUDENT BANKING AT OUR MORNING

ASSEMBLY. The School Banking program provides children with an

opportunity to make deposits into their personal

Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account at school each

week. The program is about how often your child makes

deposits, not how much they deposit.

To encourage regular savings behaviour the program offers

an exciting Rewards Program. Every deposit earns your

child a Dollarmites token, and once they’ve collected 10

tokens they can redeem them for a reward. Our school also

recieves $5.00 for every student who starts banking and a

further 5% commission is paid on deposits made here at

school.

Parent packs have been sent home with information, please take the time to read.

School Banking day is Wednesday.

The Commonwealth Bank will be holding an account opening day on Friday 20th February from 8.30am – 9.30am. If you are interested in opening a Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account for your child please bring along your current driver’s licence or another form of photographic identification. No identification is required for your child attending school, as the school will confirm their identity. Alternatively, you can open an account at any branch, by calling 13 22 21, or online if you are an existing Commonwealth Bank customer.

Message from our P&C Firstly welcome back to our returning students and families and a big welcome to our new kindies and students who are just starting at Cooranbong. We are sure you'll have a fantastic time here at our wonderful school. To our new teachers, Mr O'Dell, Mrs Eves and Mr Hudson hello and welcome also. We hope you're all finding your place and start at our delightful school easily and happy. We all look forward to getting to know you and working with you in 2015. The P & C are excited for the new year and hope we see everyone at our monthly meetings. We have some exciting and fun events coming up in the next few weeks! Our delicious pancake day will be happening again on Wednesday 18 February so lookout for the order form and return it to our P & C box in the office with your money We want to serve up our biggest ever number of pancakes, we are aiming for 400!! We are working hard on holding a super sized fundraising event this term. A Trivia Night!! It will be on Friday 13 March at the Morisset Country Club and we look forward to seeing all our parents there supporting our beautiful school and having a great night out as well!! We hope to raise enough money to cover the remaining walkways and maybe even finish off the hall! Such big plans so we need all the help we can :) Thanks to all our P & C parents for all you do, and we hope to see everyone at our next meeting on Wednesday 18 February at 5.30 in the library :)

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Eureka Taekwondo Traditional Martial Art

For Self Defence Just Turn Up Or Phone For Info

all ages welcome. Starting at Cooranbong School

on Tuesday 10th February 2015 5.30pm to 6.30pm. 6th Dan Master

Instructor Steve Turner Ph: 0400 002951 or email:

eurekataekwondo@gmail.com Tuesdays 5.30pm to 6.30pm, 1 Free lesson

Wangi Warriors Junior

Rugby League Football Club Registration Days: 7th and 14th of February 2015 at Wangi Library Time: 9.30am to 11.30am Registration Cost: U6’s - $60 and U7’s to U17’s - $100 with a $10 Discount for subsequent family members (up to 3) All 2015 registrations and payments are online. For those that wish to register before the registration days please go to www.Wangi-Warriors.com and follow the link or contact Secretary Rebekah O’Shea on 0431 208 177 or email secretary@wangi-warriors.com

Cooranbong Valley Community Preschool

Cooranbong Valley Community Preschool currently offers educational care at a reduced rate for children who turn four by the 31/7/15. The prior to school program runs for six hours a day from Tuesday to Thursday. In an effort to accommodate those families who have three year old children and who would like their child to begin the first stage of their educational journey we are offering some limited places for younger children which can be taken as either a four or six hour day. There are reduced rates for both age groups if a Health Care Card is held by the family (this card must be sighted and copied by the preschool). Families must provide a copy of an up to date immunisation certificate and birth certificate as well as pay an enrolment fee of $85.00 before their child can commence at our educational preschool. If you would like your child to start their education with us please call the preschool (Louise Pike Director) on 49771055.

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Parent tips

2015 homework planner - Kids and families run more smoothly when there's a plan. The 2015 homework and study calendar includes key dates and school holidays. You can print it out month by month, or by the whole year. Find out more http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/homework-tips Doing well in class - Our expert panel shares tips about how parents can help their younger and older kids reach their full potential at school and motivate them for learning. Watch the video. Find our more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/development/getting-off-to-a-good-start/good-start-chapter-one Eight ways to get your kids organised - Are you ready for morning madness, late assignments, yesterday's half-eaten lunch sweating in the schoolbag? Just like adults, children cope much better if they can manage their time and their environment wisely. Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/homework-tips/eight-great-ways-to-get-your-kids-organised-for-school Smart foods to boost learning - Mother Nature is full of foods that help us think and feel better. What do you give your child to help them think more clearly, and enhance concentration and memory? Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/food/smart-foods-to-boost-learning