Email

hastings-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website

www.hastings-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER 13th March, 2020

85 Yarranabee Road,

PORT MACQUARIE, 2444

Phone 6582 2566

WHAT’S ON at HASTINGS … WEEK 8 : TERM 1 https://hastings-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/events.html

Monday, 16th BILLY TEA BUSH BAND

We can’t vouch highly enough for the fun our families had five years ago when the Billy Tea Bush Band first visited our school.

The kids were a little hesitant at first but once the music started, their toes were tapping and their smiles and laughter said it all.

On Friday night, 27th March, the Billy Tea Bush Band return and

WE INVITE ALL FAMILIES to come along and have a

FAMILY DATE NIGHT!

We promise, it will be a night you will enjoy.

If you don’t come, it will be a night you wished

you hadn’t missed!

Tickets are available through www.flexischools.com.au

or cash/eftpos at the office.

Uniform Shop open 8:30 to 9:30am

Student Banking

PSSA District Football (Soccer) Trials

Tuesday, 17th

PSSA North Coast Tennis Trials - Grafton

Wednesday, 18th

PAYMENT DUE for Year 6 Canberra Deposit

HVCS Concert Band Workshop

PSSA North Coast Basketball - Grafton

Uniform Shop open 2:30 to 3pm

P&C Meeting - Staffroom 7pm

Thursday, 19th

HVCS Concert Band Workshop

PSSA LNC Soccer

PSSA Cricket v Tacking Point (Rescheduled)

Friday, 20th

PSSA LNC AFL Trials

PSSA Tennis v Kendall Public School

Uniform Shop open 2:30 to 3pm

PRINCIPAL MATTERS

Updating Information

Please make sure that all of your personal details are current with the school. There have been a number

of incidents so far this year where we have had to contact parents and we have not been able to because

the contact numbers were no longer in use. If you have had recent changes, please contact the office to

update.

Health Updates

We are receiving constant updates from the Department of Education who are working very closely with

the Department of Health to ensure that all protocols are in place. Teachers are revising good health and

hygiene habits with students regularly. There are very informative links for parents on the Department of

Education site. Advice for parents/carers to support their children is on Page 4.

Technology

This year we are investing funds into the upgrading of

technology in the school. The first stage of this plan

is upgrading the set up in the classrooms in the

Sherwood block. All classrooms have new Comm

Boxes being installed to replace the aging Interactive

whiteboards. They should all be up and running by

the end of next week.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES LEVIES

FAMILIES INVOICED $33,000

PAYMENT RECEIVED $04,550

OUTSTANDING $28,450

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOL

Learning I Growing I Caring

Toilets

Recently there has been work done to the student toilets. Unfortunately, we have some students who are

vandalising these spaces and breaking locks. This is obviously very disappointing and disadvantages

many students. We have had to initiate some measures to monitor use and attempt to find the students

responsible. We are working very hard to maintain a positive and well-maintained school environment for

our students. We would greatly appreciate your support in promoting responsible use of facilities with your

children.

Late Arrivals and Early Departures.

There is an increasing number of students arriving late to school. This impacts greatly on student learning

and a smooth start to the day. We want to see all students here on time and ready for a great day of

learning. Please also remember that if your child is late, you need to bring them to the office to be signed

in. Likewise, if you are taking your child from school early, you must go to the office first to sign your child

out before going to the classroom. The slip that you receive from the office is to be given to the class

teacher.

Scripture / Ethics / Bahai

The office has received numerous requests for children to change their religious education from one

preference to another. While we endeavour to keep everyone happy and accommodate all change requests,

the process is time consuming and confusing for both students, class teachers and volunteer teachers with

rolls continually changing each week. Due to the logistical difficulty of making these continual amendments,

we will now collect all change requests throughout the term and process these changes for the beginning

of the following term.

Evacuation Drill

Another successful evacuation drill was held yesterday. All students, staff and visitors were safely

accounted for on the netball court within 5 minutes of the first alarm sounding. It’s very reassuring how

calm our children are.

Jodie Paterson

Principal

SCHOOL PHOTOS

School photos will be taken on Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd April. Order envelopes have gone home and parents

are asked to return their order/s as soon as possible to avoid losing the envelope. All order forms are

individually barcoded with your child’s details to make it quicker and easier on photo day. Sibling order

envelopes can be picked up at the office. All orders must be back by Tuesday 31st March. Please do not

leave it until photo day to return your order.

HELP US WIN A STEPHANIE ALEXANDER KITCHEN GARDEN

If you like art, perhaps you could spend some time on a colouring competition this weekend. Coles are

currently running a colouring in competition. Winners will receive a kitchen garden built in their school & a

1-year Kitchen Garden Classroom membership – valued at approximately $10,000! The garden prize will

include the installation and planting of wicking beds with various herbs, fruits and vegetable seeds or

plants. Link here, closes 5 April 2020 https://stikeez.coles.com.au/docs/colouring-sheets.pdf

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS and COME & TRY DAYS for STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Department of Education is offering Primary and High school students with a disability, an opportunity to attend

Swimming and/or Athletics development programs.

Multi Class Swimming

A training and information day will be held on Saturday, 21st March at South Grafton Indoor Pool – 10am to 2:30pm.

Pool entry, presenters, coaching and lunch for the swimmers will be provided. Any additional expenses are the

responsibility of the swimmers and their families. Phone or email Lyn Connell, Club Support Officer, North Coast

NSW on 0410 014 356 or lyn.connell@nsw.swimming.org.au

Athletics for Intellectual Disabilities / Physical & Sensory Disabilities

Tuesday, 5th May (Intellectual Disabilities) and Tuesday, 19th May (Physical & Sensory Disabilities) at Campbelltown

Athletics Centre, Leumeah. $5.00 per student to be paid on arrival. Long Jump, Shot Put, Discus and Javelin in

rotation. Further information available at the office. Entries close 1st May, 2020.

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOL

Learning I Growing I Caring

K-2 ASSEMBLY AWARDS 2nd – 6th March, 2020

KM Indiana Huens Scarlett Donney Ryder Burt

KS Theodore Wood Piper Menzies Aria Kightley

KV Toby Anderson Adalyn Roods Amelia Holmes-Howe

K/1F Lyla Flowers Edith McLachlan Stella Hocking Joshua Thomson

1C Henley Fraser Willow Clark Ella Smythe

1D Isabel Bohannon Charlotte Fraser Anahera Harrison

1H Nelly Mann Tilda Crossingham Zoe Fletcher

2HP Charlie Curry Zac Hollis Boadie Hoffman

Nixon Huens Belle Siviour Josie Weatherby

2K Kayleigh Lawrence Emma Townsend Thomas Lyttle

CANTEEN CREATIONS

MONDAY 16th Belinda Moore 12:30 to 1:30pm

WEDNESDAY’S SPECIAL

Crispy Bacon Sushi

$1.00 Pre-order on flexischools or

purchase over the counter at

Recess on Wednesday

TUESDAY 17th Chrissy Oldfield 12:30 to 1:30pm

WEDNESDAY 18th Kerri Caslick 11 to 1:30pm

THURSDAY 19th Nicola Horner 12:15 to 1:30pm

FRIDAY 20th Bec Burton

12:15 to 1:30pm Sally Townsend

ORDER Lunches can be ordered (or cancelled) before 9am at www.flexischools.com.au

Canteen Volunteers Morning Tea Tina extends an invitation to our 2019 canteen volunteers

to join her for a (belated) Thank You Morning Tea

on Tuesday 7th April , 10:15 to 11:00am. Please RSVP by 30th March if you can attend.

PSSA SPORT North Coast Cricket … Congratulations to Abe Whitfield who joined his Lower North Coast PSSA Cricket

mates at the North Coast Trials in Coffs Harbour earlier in the week.

North Coast Tennis … Good luck to Benjamin Grummitt and Bella Shuhyta who have been selected to

trial for the North Coast Tennis team to be held in Grafton next Tuesday.

North Coast Basketball … Good luck to Abbie Brown, Frida Aaso, Meredith Davies, Georgia White,

Cameron Carson, Alex Maclean, Bana Lavine, Tallin Morris and Logan Page who are vying for a place in the

North Coast Girls & Boys Basketball teams in Grafton on Wednesday.

Lower North Coast Soccer … Hastings/Camden Haven District trials will be held for Lower North Coast

selection on Monday. Good luck to Alyssa Hocking, Frida Aaso, Addison Lunn, Harper Bailey, Hunter

Wade, Cooper Dekker, Tobie Quinn, Ajay Sen Gupta and Charlie Dargan.

Good luck also to our school’s Cricket and Tennis teams who are playing Tacking Point and Kendall Public

School respectively next week!

HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOL

Learning I Growing I Caring

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Drawn to Art … Jane is returning for her After School Art workshops to be held at school on Wednesday afternoons, 3:10 to 4:45pm commencing 29th April. If your child is interested in participating please complete the enrolment form that was sent home during the week and return to the office as soon as possible. Spaces are limited so get in quickly to avoid disappointment.

Soul Surfing - Soul Sisters & Soul Brothers …

A women’s retreat full of beautiful workshops and activities to fill your soulful cup. Surfing, yoga, relaxation and loads of workshops over the massive 2 days. You can select 1 or both days. Soul Sisters will be held in Port Macquarie on the 28th and 29th March. And for the first time, the men are not missing out with the introduction of Soul Brothers. April 5th will be a 1 day workshop for the men to surf and find reconnection through workshops and discussions.

More details can be found at: soulsurfing.com.au/soul-sisters and soul surfing.com.au/soul-brothers OR head to Soul Surfing Port Macquarie Facebook page and look in the events!

CORONAVIRUS (COVID -19) INFORMATION for PARENTS & CARERS to SUPPORT CHILDREN and YOUNG PEOPLE

How you can support your child It is perfectly normal for children to have questions about events that are covered in the media, such as the information currently being distributed about COVID-19. Children look to the significant adults in their lives for guidance on how to manage their reactions and you can help your child by remaining calm and reassuring them. There is a common misunderstanding that talking with your child about a topic such as COVID-19 may increase their anxiety. This is not the case. It is important to listen to your child and answer their questions as honestly as possible and correct any misunderstandings. This will help them feel informed and understand what is happening. Keeping up to date with the facts from reliable sources will help keep conversations calm, considered, and constructive. Provide information in words that are appropriate to the age of your child. Children can be distressed by hearing repeated stories so monitor how much your child is being exposed to television and social media and encourage them to talk to you about what they are seeing and hearing. Some practical advice Some practical advice for your child includes reminding them to cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze (coughing into their elbow is a useful strategy), keep their hands clean by washing them regularly with soap and water, and avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth before washing their hands. These are easy habits for children to adopt, and should help them feel as though they're able to exert some control over their circumstances. If your child must stay at home, it is important for your child to maintain a healthy lifestyle including proper diet, sleep, and social contact at home and by email and phone with family and friends Communication is important read the department’s response to COVID-19 for current information read any information sent home by the school contact the school if your child becomes unwell. Where to get help Contact the school if you are concerned about your child’s wellbeing to discuss the most appropriate support. Support is also available through a number of agencies and community organisations. Parents and carers can: call the National Coronavirus Health Information line (1800 020 080) review the NSW Health COVID-19 website for the latest information and advice obtain help and information from the local General Practitioner or Community Health Centre If you would like additional support, the following services are available:

The school counselling service Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au

Headspace 1800 650 890 www.eheadspace.org.au Parent Helpline 1300 1300 52

Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 Lifeline 131 114