Week Six, Term Three, Tuesday, 27th August 2019 - Edition Three Hundred and Five

Apologies

I have been thinking a lot recently about apologies. They are essential for

repairing broken relationships. The reality is that all of us will do things that damage relationships, for reasons ranging from thoughtlessness to malice. All of us will hurt other people in one way or another, through the things that we do, or the things that we fail to do. On the assumption that we do not want to live with these damaged relationships, and on the assumption that we regret our contribution to the damage, an apology is essential in the work of repair. An apology is necessarily verbal. It is expressed in words. Actions are, by themselves, ambiguous and may be understood in ways that are not intended. The words provide an interpretation of the actions, explaining what is going on. Take, for example, an incident of name-calling between two students. The fact that the instigator stops calling names could be understood as a recognition of the wrongness of his actions. However, it could also be understood as they biding their time before starting again. It could be understood as a simple desire not to get in trouble again. It could also be understood as they simply moving on to other things. None of these alternatives help to repair the relationship. An apology, on the other hand, can provide an interpretive framework, but only if it is done well. I imagine that we all understand the uselessness of the grudgingly muttered ‘Sorry’ that can be coerced from the unwilling apology-maker. The word is an apology, but the tone is anything but!

Learning to apologise does not appear in the formal school curriculum (to my knowledge), but it is an invaluable lesson for all of us.

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

Notes home this week _____________________ Our Elite SASS Team This week is SASS (School Administrative and Support Staff) recognition week. Our SASS team is Claire, Lisa, Jenelle, Brett, Sue and Melissa. By supporting our teaching staff with the administrative operation of the school, support for individual students, school maintenance and asset management, customer liaison, library management and cleaning, our SASS are the unsung heroes and heroines of the school. This week we will all say thank you and formally recognise everything they do to support teachers to improve the learning outcomes for all our students. We are extremely lucky to have such a committed, hardworking SASS team. Thought for the week

Hilltop News

Father’s Day Stall Our Father’s Day stall will be happening this Friday morning on the veranda of the old building. All students will have the opportunity to come with their class to purchase an item for Dad. Thank you to all the families who were able to donate things for the stall. Items are for sale from $1 -$5 New Hoodies They have arrived and will continue to arrive this week. They will be handed out and they look amazing. As we now have a school jumper, we are requesting that all students not wear the multi-colour / branded jumper and jackets we have seen during the winter months. An additional opportunity to order a hoodie will be provided in a few weeks. Meningococcal Awareness As we head into late winter and spring, NSW Health are urging everyone to be alert to the symptoms of meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacterial infection that can lead to serious illness if not recognised and treated in time. While anyone can contract meningococcal disease, infection rates are higher in children aged 0 - 4 years and young people aged 15 - 24 years. The symptoms of meningococcal disease include: sudden onset of fever, headache, neck stiffness, joint pain, dislike of bright lights, nausea, vomiting, irritability, rash of red-purple spots or bruises that doesn't disappear when pressure is applied (A rash does not always appear or it may occur late in the disease). For more information about meningococcal disease and vaccinations, visit: www.health.nsw.gov.au/infectious/meningococcal Wear It Purple Day - Friday 30th August This year will be supporting the Wear it Purple day. Students are encouraged to wear purple or rainbows colours on Friday 30th of August in support of inclusiveness and students who may feel different to other students. A gold coin donation can be paid to the office in the morning. More information for parents can be found at www.wearitpurple.org Building Update

Work continues on our new build. The structural steel is in place and our new rooms walls will start very soon. The builders will be pouring the lift shaft and new storerooms (one the western side near the play equipment) this week. The roof will start this week and the supports holding the slab up will begin to be taken away. 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. Dates are being finalised but will be in the first three weeks next term. More information will follow. We will endeavour to continue to send app notices out to parents with important daily notices of changes to drop off / pick up. Parent Session – Calm Mind Project

TONIGHT Please save the date – Tuesday 27th of August - for a parent session to explain and demonstrate what the calm mind project is and how it will help your child in the classroom and their home lives. Information will be sent via the Skoolbag app with a link to book your seat. All welcome.

Save the date – 27th August 6.30pm in the library.

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 299611 or use you can sign up at the following sign up link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044cabac23a1fc1-term1

Sport @ NEPS Sticky Beak Tours – Spaces filling up As we gear up for our 2020 kinder class, we are planning on holding 5 weeks of sticky beak tours. These tours enable parents to come in to get a feel for what we do at NEPS. They are targeting our new kinder families. Our tours usually run for about 40 minutes and will start at 9.30 on Wednesdays - 28th of August and the 4th and 11th of September. Please contact the office to make your booking. School Maintenance Program The NSW Government has committed the largest investment in planned maintenance at public schools in the history of NSW. A record $1.3 billion is being spent on an ambitious delivery program, focused on employing local businesses and contractors across the state. To assist in addressing regional school maintenance issues and at the same time provide

work for local trade’s persons and suppliers across the Hunter / Central Coast regions, over $100 million is being invested to upgrade and maintain our school infrastructure. Given this record spend by School Infrastructure NSW, you are invited to an Asset Management Unit industry breakfast briefing. This will provide information to existing and new contractors on how you can get involved. To find out more by attending our Industry breakfast register at http://bit.ly/2Pg68XU or contact your Asset Management Unit on 4088 3500.

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 Four

12.08.2019

Zone Public Speaking

Finals

Zone Athletics - Glendale

Sticky Beak Tours – 9.30

Zone Cricket Trials

Touch Gala Day

Week Five

19.08.2019 Book Week

Book Week

Illustrator Visit

Book Week

Sticky Beak Tours – 9.30

Book Week Book Week

Week Six

26.08.2019

Calm Mind Project Day

Kinder

Excursion

Skipping Demonstration

Sticky Beak Tours – 9.30

Week Seven

02.09.2019 Sticky Beak

Tours – 9.30 Water Safety Talks (TBC) Newy Park Run

Week Eight

09.09.2019

P&C Meeting 5.30

School Council 7.00

Sticky Beak Tours – 9.30

Water Safety Talks (TBC)

Week Nine

16.09.2019 Healthy Harold Healthy Harold

Week Ten

23.09.2019

St2 Camp Morisset

St3 Camp Morisset

St2 Camp Morisset

St3 Camp Morisset

St3 Camp Morisset