Our full calendar can be found at https://wamberal-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/

Dear Parents and Carers,

School Office Today our school office relocated into temporary accommodation. The temporary office is very close to the former location (opposite the library) and well signposted. Our administration staff will work from this location until near the end of Term 1, 2019 when the new administration area is scheduled for completion. Over the next week, a construction safety fence will be placed around our former administration building but will not impact upon school operations.

Presentation Days This week we hosted four highly successful Presentation Day assemblies. Thank you to Mrs Lewis and Mrs Rees for the organisation of these events. It is a great way to pause, reflect and acknowledge the efforts and achievements of our students. Thank you to our families for the constant support of Wamberal Public School throughout the year. We greatly appreciate your many contributions that directly benefit our students. We farewell and wish all our Year 6 students and families the very best for their future in high school and beyond and hope they will cherish fond memories of their education at WPS and the many friendships they have made.

Staffing Update Two members of our temporary staffing team will be working at other locations in 2019. Mrs Robins will be working at Copacabana PS and Mrs Smith at Tumbi Umbi Campus. We thank them both for their contributions and wish them the very best.

School Security Thank you for helping keeping our great school safe. You are encouraged to report any suspicious behaviour on school grounds during the holidays to School Security on 1300 880 021 or local police.

Important Dates for 2019 School resumes for Years 1-6 on Wednesday 30th January, 2019. On this day, students will meet and continue to work in their 2018 class groupings. Our Kinder students have their individual Best Start appointments commencing from 30th January, 2019.

We wish all our families a safe and happy Christmas vacation and look forward to working with you again in 2019.

P. Miller Principal

What’s On Thursday, Dec 13th PBL Rewards Day Tuesday, Dec 18th Year 6 Farewell Wednesday, Dec 19th Last Day Students, Year 6 Parade of Honour 3:00pm Thursday, Dec 20/21st Staff Development Days Wednesday, Jan 30th 2019 Students Return to School - Years 1-6, Best Start Interviews Commence Monday, Feb 4th, 2019 First Day – Kindergarten

Term 4 Week 9 12th December, 2018

Wamberal Public School Lea Avenue Wamberal NSW 2260 P (02) 43841111 F (02) 43852478 W www.wamberal-p.schools.nsw.gov.au E wamberal-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Positive Behaviour for Learning

This week, we are focusing on being safe, respectful learners in eating areas. Teachers will be rewarding students with SRLs for demonstrating the school’s expectations of safe, respectful learner behaviour.

Positive Behaviour for Learning Expected Behaviours

Everyone Everywhere Every time

SAFE RESPECTFUL LEARNER

EATING AREAS • Sit • Eat

• Take only 5-10 minutes

• Use quiet talk

• Put rubbish in the bin

Anti-bullying Information for Parents - What can parents do if their child is being bullied?

• Do not directly approach any other student or their family. • Contact the school and make an appointment to discuss the issue. • Seek a copy of the school’s Anti-Bullying Plan (available on our school website). • Work with the school to solve the problem by establishing a plan for dealing with the current situation and future bullying

incidents.

Our students are taught the following strategies for managing bullying and cyberbullying:

Parents and students can visit the NSW Department of Education’s anti-bullying website for more information and resources.

Cybersafety

Children and teenagers are online and using social media with increasing frequency. While many enjoy their online experiences, there are risks involved. Parents, schools and the broader community need to work together to help keep children’s online experiences safe.

The Commonwealth Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner has developed a resource for parents – iPARENT – which helps parents deal with the connected devices in their children’s lives.

iPARENT can be found at https://esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent. This service provides facts and statistics about Australian children online, managing technology in the home and strategies that can be used by parents to keep children safe online.

A parent’s guide to online safety can be downloaded from this site. A range of other useful information is also available from the website. For example parents can access information about cyberbullying including:

• how to talk to their child about cyberbullying; • what to do if their child is being cyber bullied or is engaging in cyberbullying behaviour themselves; and • sources of professional support and help.

The website also provides information about how parents and children can report unwanted online contact and/or inappropriate, offensive or illegal content online.

Finally, if someone you know is adversely affected by an online experience, free and confidential advice, assistance and support is available from:

• the Kids Helpline (ages 5 to 25) on 1800 55 1800; and/or • eheadspace (ages 12 to 25) on 1800 650 890; and/or • Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Of course, if you need urgent assistance ring 000.

Road Safety: Important Information for Parents and Carers These Holidays

As the school holidays approach, it is important to remember when walking near roads, on footpaths, near driveways and in car parks always:

• hold your child’s hand. Until they are at least 8 years old children need to hold an adult's hand. Until they at least 10, children should be closely supervised by an adult and hold hands when crossing the road.

• talk to your child about road safety. Talk about how to be safe when near roads. Be a good role model. • point out road safety dangers and differences in new environments.

This is especially important when on holidays in different surroundings. Roads, footpaths and pedestrian facilities may look different in holiday areas.

The best way to keep your child safe on or near the road is to hold their hand.

Talk with your child daily about road safety. Remind other adults and carers about this too.

You can find out more at Transport for NSW http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/children/pedestriansafety.html

Have a great week. Jane Rees and Lisa Lewis Deputy Principals

HELLO FROM THE LIBRARY IN TERM 4, WEEK 9 Premier’s Reading Challenge 2018 Congratulations once again to our students who completed the 2018 Premier’s Reading Challenge! Our Gold and Platinum level awards have just arrived and I would like to extend a special commendation to Jackson of 6 Red for his outstanding effort in meeting the Challenge for 7 consecutive years. Jackson received his award at the Stage 3 assembly on Tuesday.

This year, 160 students have achieved a Gold Award for participating for four years. Altogether, 753 students will receive an award this year. These awards will be handed out by class teachers.

Preventing the “Summer Reading Slide” – Central Coast Libraries

Local libraries keep families reading over summer …

Has your family joined the local Central Coast Library yet?

Membership is free and the loan allowance is generous (up to 20 items including books, DVDs and CDs.)

A variety of e-resources is also available, including online access to e-magazines, e-books and data bases such as Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Local branches also conduct holiday activities.

Library borrowing Please return all library books without delay. Please return any borrowed library bags.

Scholastic Book Club The final Scholastic Book Club Issue 8 orders will be delivered this week. Please contact the school office or the library if special delivery instructions apply.

Thank you to all who support our library!

Thank you to all the wonderful people who have supported our library this year. I am grateful to all of my 2018 library monitors and the many other students who have helped out regularly or occasionally in many ways. In particular, I applaud the service provided by my current Library Monitors Marsena (5/6 Blue) and Josh (6 Red) who have demonstrated dedication and persistence in the face of mountains of books crying out for attention. Thank you to the Wamberal staff who promote reading in their classrooms and engage passionately with special library events, as well as the SLSOs who help out at every opportunity. Thank you to Mrs Gaughan who helped to record the seemingly endless Premier’s Reading Challenge data.

I would also like to thank the parents who have covered books and sharpened pencils, as well as those who ensure that their children maintain regular borrowing and reading habits and act as reading role models for your children. Reading for pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child’s future success (OECD, 2002).

Lastly, I extend a special thank you to my dedicated library team-mate, Mrs Gale, who has worked tirelessly throughout this very busy year to get books ready for students and staff, and particularly, for the massive Grandparents’ Day Adopt-a-Book drive.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season, Happy summer reading, Mrs Knight Teacher Librarian

WAMBERAL PUBLIC SCHOOL HEALTHY SCHOOL CANTEEN

We advise that on Monday 17th December and Tuesday 18th December the canteen will be open at lunch and recess but please be aware that some hot food items will be unavailable on these days.

On Wednesday 19th December the canteen will open at lunch time only and will be selling any remaining ice blocks and drinks in stock. We will not be accepting any lunch orders on this day due to cleaning and stocktake.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the canteen during 2018.

We wish you all a merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.

Debbie, Tricia and Julie

SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT

Congratulations to Jarvis McA who recently received a medal for placing in the team event at the state cross country carnival earlier this year. Well done, Jarvis!

ACTIVE KIDS REBATE