newsletter - westlawn-p.schools.nsw.gov.au
TRANSCRIPT
Westlawn Public School
Newsletter Term 3 Week 7
3 September 2019
Strive to Achieve
North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 [email protected]
What a busy couple of weeks since our last
newsletter! We had a fantastic Book Week with
our very first WPS Book Character Parade. The
enthusiasm for this special event was evident in
both the amazing costumes paraded and the broad
smiles on the faces of children and family
members. Great to see so many children and staff
members dressed up and celebrating Book Week.
Thank you to all the parents who spent many
hours sorting out costumes and who also bought
items from the Book Fair. Thank you to Mrs
Palmer for coordinating this exciting week.
This Wednesday we will welcome students and
their teachers from Westlawn Preschool. It is
wonderful that we are able to offer our school as
an excursion venue for our local preschools. It is a
real win-win situation as, not only do our
preschools have a chance to include an extra
outing in their annual schedule, but the children
are able to squeeze in another fun day at ‘big
school’. Our Kinder teachers, the Year 5 Buddies
and our current Kindergarten children absolutely
love having the pre-schoolers visit. A big thank
you to Mrs Barnier for organising this new
program. We are busy, at the moment, taking
Kindergarten enrolments for 2020. If you or
others you know have children ready to begin
school next year and you would like to learn more
about Westlawn Public, please call the office to
book a school tour.
The Fathers’ Day BBQ saw 500 sausages on the
grill (thank you Mr Hughes) and many dads and
grandads sharing stories and a sausage sandwich
or two with their children. Thank you to all our
dads for sharing this special time at school. We
hope you had a wonderful day last Sunday and
that you received something special – perhaps a
gift bought at our Fathers’ Day stall (thank you
P&C people for organising this).
Still on the food theme, the Taste of Asia event
coordinated by Mrs Gough to celebrate the Year 6
unit of work Asian Countries, was held last
Wednesday. I was privileged to not only watch the
excellent PowerPoint presentations created by
year 6 students, but to taste delicious foods from
Japan, China and India. Much work went into this
event – from students, teachers and parents – and
it was an impressive example of team work. Thank
you Mrs Gough for getting this ball rolling. We all
loved it!
During Book Week, eight of our Aboriginal
students attended the Bundjalung Language and
Culture Camp at Lake Ainsworth. Mrs Adams and
Mrs Trevillian reported that students were a
pleasure to be with and that the cultural activities
were brilliant.
Congratulations to our North Coast Champion
Boys and Girls Hockey Teams, who were
successful in their games against Gloucester
yesterday, the Girls winning 8 nil and the Boys, 4
nil. Well done! We are very proud of our players’
Principal’s Message
Strive to Achieve
North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 [email protected]
skills, determination and positive attitudes. Both
teams will now go on to compete in Sydney for the
state title. A big thank you to Mrs Hadley and Mr
Alford who have coached and managed the teams
and to all the parents who have supported in
many ways. An amazing team effort!
Kind Regards,
Sandra
PARENTING INFORMATION FROM MICHAEL
GROSE
Ever opened up your mouth and heard your
own parents speak?
I’d frequently speak to my kids when they’d been
less than perfect and I could hear my father
speaking. I’d use the same words, same tone of
voice and same body language as my father. The
similarity was a little spooky.
This happens because the ghosts from the past are
very strong impacting not just our communication
but our parenting as well. Kids copy their parents.
Temperament, gender, genetic and birth order
factors all play a part in shaping kids. They signify
the differences between children’s behaviour,
attitudes and interests.
It’s in children’s similarities that the impact of
parenting is seen.
Are all your kids tolerant, generous, kind and
forgiving, perhaps some less than others? If so,
there’s a good chance that you possess those
qualities or, at least, one parent displays those
qualities.
Children learn what they live
When kids live with gratitude, encouragement and
affection on a daily basis they are more likely to
adopt those behaviours themselves. In fact, those
types of behaviours become part of their values
system.
They may shy away from these behaviours in
adolescence yet most kids will return to their core
values in their twenties and beyond. Most kids
find their identity only after they’ve rejected it.
Similarly, when kids live with criticism, mean-
spiritedness and intolerance they are more likely
to display those attitudes. Teachers and schools
can impact children’s attitudes and behaviours but
it can be hard to override the values that kids
develop at home. Kids are more likely to reflect
their parents’ attitudes and behaviours than those
of their teachers.
Do you like what you see?
Take a good look at your kids’ attitudes,
behaviours and values, particularly how they treat
others. If you like what you see then give yourself
a pat on the back because you’ve done a good job
through both overt teaching and modelling of
raising a person in your likeness.
If you’re not happy with what you see – I’m not
referring to the out-of-character, poor behaviour
that kids at times display due to fatigue, a stage or
some other unknown reason (kids will be kids) –
but if you cringe when you see some of the
attitudes and behaviours that your kids routinely
show then some self-reflection may be the order
of the day.
That’s nothing necessarily to be ashamed of. Kids
get front row seats to the very best and very worst
of their parents’ behaviours. We just need to make
sure that our best is amplified and our worst is
minimised or, at least, not witnessed by our kids.
It helps to sit down with your partner or a trusted
friend and review the type of person that’s on
display for your kids every now and then. It will
be a worthwhile exercise both personally and as a
parent. As your kids are a reflection of you, start
the reflection process by looking at the
behaviours, attitudes and states of mind they have
in common. If you’re happy with what you see
then you’re okay. If not, then maybe it’s time for
some changes.
Strive to Achieve
North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 [email protected]
Girls PSSA Hockey Report
On Monday the WPS girl’s hockey team travelled down to Port
Macquarie to play Gloucester Public School. We started very strong
in attack with Lila scoring two quick goals not long after that Eliza
and Alice scored 1 each in the first half. Mrs Hadley gave us a good
pep talk at half time and we went out even stronger. We started the
second half even better than the first half with Alice scoring another
one, Shani, Gracie and Poppy all scoring their first goal of the match.
We ended up winning 8-0 and now we are off to the State Titles in
Sydney on the 17 September. Thank you to all the parents who
helped on the day and thank you Mrs Hadley and Mr Alford for
coaching us.
By Shanae Crispin
Boys PSSA Hockey Report
On Monday the WPS Boys hockey team went to Port Macquarie to
play against Gloucester Public School. At the start of the game we
defended well but at half time it was 0-0 in the second half we
managed to score early and at the end of the match it was 4-0. Ramie
scored 2, Riley scored 1 and Zane scored 1. Next, the boy’s team will
go to Sydney on the 17 September to play in the State Finals. I would
like to thank Mr Alford and Mrs Hadley for coaching us and managing
us and all the parents for their support.
By Hayden Biele
What a fabulous Book Fair we enjoyed last week at school! Thank you to everyone who supported the book fair
and to my wonderful team of helpers that assisted over the week. Our visit from Geronimo Stilton was a popular
attraction at break times for students to visit while browsing the books.
The NSW Premiers Reading Challenge has finished for students to enter their books in for this year. If there is any
student who has had trouble with this, please come and see Mrs Palmer this week as final cut off is Friday.
Wednesday 4th September is Indigenous Literacy Day. This is a national celebration of Indigenous culture, stories,
language and literacy. The library has a wonderful collection of Indigenous stories. We will have our yarning circle
mat available for students to come along and share a story in the library on Wednesday while also sharing Nina
Lawrence and Bronwyn Bancroft’s new story; ‘Clever Crow.’
Happy Reading!
Mrs Palmer
Library News
Sporting News
Strive to Achieve
North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 [email protected]
Clarence Valley Conservatorium
The Clarence Valley Conservatorium has forwarded us this information about music
scholarships for more experienced students in the field of music. It is not a
prerequisite that you are learning music at school but rather a student learning
music.
Below is a little information that will explain further.
Scholarships
The Gift of Music Student Scholarship Program is an initiative created by Rural Aid’s Gift of Music. It is aimed at disadvantaged children in rural and remote Australia in areas affected by drought or natural disaster to assist them in their quest to make music. It aims to provide funding and support to enable children to further their musical education despite their current financial and/or geographical limitations.
Scholarships are available to eligible Australian children in regional areas who display an advanced skill or talent in music.
Scholarship amounts will be decided on a case by case basis individually determined for each student depending on their needs, as decided by the Selection Committee.
To view our full scholarship guidelines and further information, please go to the following site
https://www.giftofmusic.org.au/scholarships/
Students of the
Week
Isabella - 6P
Ethan - 4/5O
Strive to Achieve
North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 [email protected]
South Grafton High School invites the students in Years 4 and 5 from Westlawn PS to apply for entry into the
2020 Clarence Science Initiative.
There is a flyer attached to the newsletter which invites interested parents and students along to an information evening. This
evening will be held at South Grafton High School (SGHS) Library from 5.30pm to 6.00pm on Thursday September 5, 2019.
To reduce the impact on your school community, students will complete the tests online at your school (see date and time
below). There will be a second opportunity early next term for those unable to sit the first day.
Please note the following:
Application and self-nomination forms need to be completed online at home
by Friday 13th September using the following links:
Student self-nomination form here (hold CTRL and left click to open)
Application form here
Important dates are:
5/9/2018 Information evening held at SGHS Library from 5.30pm to 6.00pm.
13/9/2018 Applications for CSI 2019 close at 3.00pm.
27/9/2018 Entry testing day at your school, instructions to follow.
27/9/2018 Teacher nomination forms required back at SGHS (week 10).
28/10/2018 Students advised this week of outcome of application
Strive to Achieve
North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 [email protected]
DIARY DATES
Week 6
Wednesday 4 Sept Westlawn Pre School visit
International Competitions Closing date
Week 7
Monday 9 Sept Fire Brigade Visit Year 1
Tuesday 10 Sept Nuture One Pre School visit
Wednesday 11 Sept Canteen & P&C Meeting 6pm
Friday 13 Sept North Coast Athletics Lismore
Grafton High Year 6 Half day Taster Day
Bundjalung Language and Culture Camp
Book Character Parade
Strive to Achieve
North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 [email protected]
Westlawn Public School P&C Newsletter
Term 3 Week 7
School Fair
Our school fair is fast approaching
Preparations are well underway.
This Wednesday from 6:00pm there will be a Fair specific P&C
Meeting. All welcome to attend.
If there is anyone who may be able to volunteer on a stall on the day
please let the office know.
We are also looking for anyone who may be able to come in early on fair
day to help with set up. We also need some people who may be able to
cook on the barbeque during the day. If anyone is able to help out please
let the office know.
The fair will be held on the 20th September from 11:00 till 2:00pm
Fathers Day Stall
This year’s Father’s Day stall was held last Thursday 29th August and
Friday 30th August.
There was a wonderful range of gifts available. Thank you to
everyone who made items to sell on the stall. Thanks to Jazz, Shona,
Dianne, Gayle and Caryn for working on the stall.
Special thanks to the fantastic group of year six students who also helped out on both days.
Canteen Roster
Wednesday 4 September Chrystal Norris, Debra Watts, Rhi Cochrane
Thursday 5 September Debra Watts, Campbell Kenneally
Friday 6 September Shelly Thompson, Anita McLennan, Belinda Bowling, Kristie
Ward
Monday 9 September Dianne Johnson, Michelle Howard
Tuesday 10 September Debra Watts, Liz Hamlin