Week Ten, Term Three, Tuesday, 24 September 2019 - Edition Three Hundred and Eight

NAPLAN As I indicated a few weeks ago, NAPLAN results have been released and parents

should have received their paper copies last week. If you have any questions about your child’s results, please contact the class teacher to discuss.

We have been doing a deeper dive into our data and we are finding some great results by individual students and across most of the areas assessed by NAPLAN.

NAPLAN is a point in time test and for some people it can become very high stakes. NAPLAN does not define what your child will grow and developing into. It is just part of their educational journey. Please remember that this wasn’t a test which many parents would have sat themselves.

With our data, we have been comparing it to the effect size advocated by Dr. John Hattie. He reasons that, for a program to be effective with students, there should be a growth of over 0.4 between two set data points. Our data is showing that between 2017 and 2019, we are getting an average effect size growth across the cohort of 0.85 for reading, 1.24 for writing, 1.20 for spelling, 0.86 for grammar and punctuation and 1.19 for numeracy.

This outstanding effect size growth are validating the programs our teachers have developed, the teaching in our classrooms and the investment our students are making in their own education.

Mick McCann michael.mccann@det.nsw.edu.au

Year 6 Cake Stall A huge effort today with $587.70 raised.

Thank you to all involved

Thought for the week

Vacation Care – January Holidays 2020 Due to the continued building work and to maintain the safest possible environment for our community, NEPS OOSH will not be in a position to offer their usual Vacation Care program over the January Summer holidays (with the exception of the pupil free day on Tuesday 28th January 2020, when NEPS OOSH will re-open).

We recognise that this is a very valuable service our families and we have organised to have 30 spots made available for our families at Merewether Height PS (located on Scenic Drive, Merewether Heights) with their after school care provider.

Hilltop News

This is a temporary measure and NEPS OOSH will be ready to accept students again from 28th January 2020.

Further information will be sent home about enrolments, cost and the program over the next few weeks. Please see Tracey to place your name on to the waitlist for one of these spots.

Building Update Work continues on our new build. The lining boards on the markers space, tiered presentation space and classrooms have begun and they should start to get sealed and painted over the next few weeks.

The air conditioner installation has started and the block work for the two large store rooms will continue this week. The canteen walls will be poured later this week. Drainage works for the basketball court area have started and we are expecting the concrete to be poured for the court during the holidays.

In preparation for the replacement of the roof on the old building we will be holding two parent meetings to explain the process to our community. Both meeting will have the same information.

Save the Date Tuesday 15 October 6-7pm Library

Monday 28 October – 5-6pm Library

We will endeavour to continue to send app notices out to parents with important daily notices of changes to drop off / pick up.

Uniforms Later this week a link to a survey will be sent home with the proposed new uniforms. This voting window will be open until the end of week one term four – 18th October. We encourage you to vote on the new school uniform designs.

Stage 2 & Stage 3 Camp This week our stage 2 and stage 3 students will be at camp. For some parents this may be the first time your child has been away from home without you. They will be safe and having a wonderful time. You don’t need to contact the teacher to check on them. The teachers will contact you if there is any problems or concerns. The EMERGENCY contact number is 0477 744 129. Stage 2 students are due back to school on Thursday afternoon at approximately 2.30pm and stage 3 are due back to school on Friday at approximately 2.30pm We will send out regular Skoolbag updates with times. Canteen Update NEPS canteen runs on a Monday and a Friday for our school. With the menu options designed to be healthy and fun for our kids. Canteen is a fun way to be involved at school for your kids and we offer the option on Fridays of doing a half the time as well! All new volunteers are trained by an experienced volunteer and it’s a great way for your kids to see you involved with school.

A big thank you to all of those people who have volunteered to help with canteen!

If you can volunteer or have any questions please contact Kelly Wyman on 0421 or sign up on following link

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044CABAC23A1FC1-term2

“Tell Them From Me” parent and carer survey Term 3, 2019 This Term, our school will be participating in the Partners in Learning parent survey, another part of the Tell Them From Me suite of surveys (student, teacher and parent surveys) on student engagement. The survey asks parents and carers questions about different factors that are known to impact on student wellbeing and engagement.

Many thanks to the 63 families that have taken the time to fill out the 2019 TTFMPS survey. This will close 27th September 2019 so if you haven’t yet completed this survey and would like to, there’s still time via this link

http://nsw.tellthemfromme.com/zcgjp

Fernleigh 15 Six teams have now signed up to participate in this year’s Fernleigh 15 relay, which takes place on Sunday 20th October. This is a record number of participants for our school! Notes will be sent home this week to those students, outlining payment details. I’m looking forward to a great event!

Healthy Harold Last week all Newcastle East students visited the Life Education Centre at Edgeworth where we met Healthy Harold and participated in lessons linked to the Personal Development and Health syllabus. Kindergarten would like to share their experience with you.

Healthy Harold went to the moon. Healthy Harold was telling us about kindness. Healthy Harold was funny. He came in a ‘poof!’ Healthy Harold was cute. Healthy Harold was kind. By Vivienne H – KM

We visited Healthy Harold. One of my favourite things was when the roof had stars. We got to pat Healthy Harold at the end. Harold’s friend was Red. By Esther W – KM

We went to Healthy Harold on a bus. Healthy Harold is a puppet. Healthy Harold is a giraffe. We sat on the ground. We sprinkled pretend magic.

By Haaken A – KM

We saw a video about Healthy Harold with Red in space. Red was scared. They met a new girl. We did go with KH. We got there with a bus. We got to stick some things on the wall like some stars. By Matilda A – KM

Healthy Harold had a best friend called Red. He was nervous when they went to space. Healthy Harold was hiding in his house and when the lady was not looking he came out. We went on a bus with KH. The first time I sat with Haaken. – By Charlie H – KM

Healthy Harold was very shy. I learnt all about the heart. I had a great time. By Tilly J – KH

I went to Healthy Harold. It was fun. I learnt how to be safe. We played games and we patted Harold on the nose. By Freya C – KH

We went to see Healthy Harold. Healthy Harold is just a puppet but I had lots of fun. By Sophia B – KH

When we went to Healthy Harold we learnt what was inside the body. By Ned H – KH

I have been to see Healthy Harold. We got to pat Harold. He was very shy. I had a fun time at Healthy Harold. I liked Healthy Harold. By Olive W – KH

Tree Planting with 5/6P On Thursday 19th September, 5/6P went to Arcadia Park to plant saplings with a handful of Bushland Services volunteers. We left school at 9:00am and walked over to the park. We had a quick safety briefing before getting some gloves, trowels and water crystals and pairing off. It was lots of fun and by the end of the morning, we had planted over 900 plants! Everyone came out a little bit muddy, but it

was worth

it.

2019 Term 3 Parent Planner

This will be updated on a regular basis. Please check the school website for term 4 dates Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Week Ten

23.09.2019

St2 Camp Morisset

St3 Camp Morisset

St2 Camp Morisset

St3 Camp Morisset

St3 Camp Morisset

2019 Term Parent Planner This will be updated on a regular basis.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Week One 14.10.2019

1st Day back for all

Roof Replacement

Parent Meeting – 6.00pm

Week Two 21.10.2019

St1 Awabakal Excursion

St3 Drama Day

Week Three 28.10.2019

Roof Replacement Parent Meeting –

5.00pm

Calm Mind Day – In class

Calm Mind Parent

Session 6.30-7.30

Kinder

Orientation Evening – 6pm

Week Four 04.11.2019

Kinder Orientation Day 1

9.00-10.30 Newy Park

Run

Week Five 11.11.2019

Kinder Orientation Day 2

9.00-10.30

Week Six 18.11.2019

Swim School - Year 2

Swim School - Year 2

Swim School - Year 2

Kinder Orientation Moring Tea 9.00-10.00

Swim School - Year 2

Swim School - Year 2

Week Seven 25.11.2019

Swim School - Year 2

Swim School - Year 2

Swim School - Year 2

Swim School - Year 2

Swim School - Year 2

Week Eight 02.12.2019 P&C - SC

Meetings Newy Park Run

Week Nine 09.12.2019 Presentation

Day Yr. 6 Farwell

Week Ten 16.12.2019 Reports home

Bell Ceremony –

2.15 Last Day for

Students

Staff Development

Day

Staff Development

Day

Christmas Break Back

Wednesday 28th Jan 2020