PRINCIPAL’S COMMENT

Monday 9th December 2013 As the year draws to a close, it is only fitting to thank the P&C Executive led by Mrs Amy Corrigan, the community of parents, volunteers, scripture teachers, mentors and community-connected groups affiliated with the school. Westport is a school that is surrounded by the partnerships and support provided by the wider community and on behalf of all the staff and students, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for the contribution and support given to us. It is also a time that some of our Year 6 parents and caregivers will be leaving our community and we thank those parents for the commitment over the years and give our best wishes for the future. On another note there is at present a flurry of activity taking place between the Kinder and Year 1 rooms. Our hard working P&C are busy laying new turf for the students. This area will become a lovely learning and social space in our school with the new turf providing a welcoming addition to our wonderful resources at our beaut school. Presentation Day Students, teachers and parents are looking forward to Presentation Day this Thursday. Presentation Day celebrates the achievements of our student across a range of endeavours throughout the year. It is a very special day, one where our students are able to feel pride in their achievements and celebrate the achievements of others.

Congratulations to our practicum teachers who completed their teaching block this week – Miss Knight, Miss Hodgins, Miss Trigg and Miss Taylor. We hope that you have had an enjoyable experience and that you have enhanced your teaching skills. Good luck in your future teaching. Dean Sneddon Principal

****** COMING EVENTS TERM 4 ****** Tues 10th Dec – Senior Choir – 12pm-2.30pm Port Panthers – Legacy Widows Christmas Lunch. Tues 10th Dec – Aboriginal Afternoon Tea – 2pm in the Mingaletta room. Wed 11th Dec – Carols Beside the Vines – 5.30pm-7.30pm. Sausage sizzle and drinks will be available for purchase by the P&C Committee at 5.30pm. Thurs 12th Dec – Presentation Day Assembly – 9.30am Fri 13th Dec – K-Yr2 Treat Day – Billabong Park Mon 16th Dec – Stg 2 & 3 Reward Day – 10am-2pm Wauchope Public Pool Tues 17th Dec – Helpers Morning Tea – 11.15am Tues 17th Dec – Y6 Farewell – 6pm – 8.30pm Wed 18th Dec – Last Day of Term for Students Wed 29th Jan – Students return to school PRESENTATION DAY ASSEMBLY Our Presentation Day Assembly will be held on Thursday 12th December at 9.30am in the Hall. All students who are receiving an award were given a letter last Friday.

Term 4 – Week 9 Bronze Awards Laci Baird 3/4B Gold Awards Billie Karmis, Ziggi Roggensack, Charlotte Burgess KL Georgia Simpson, Isaiah Philip, Hope Gallagher 1/2KB Bingdjaura Binge, Chermeeka Fernando, Kaitlyn Lawer, Tyler Horrigan 1/2MB Kylie Wienke, Jai Smith-Lloyd 3/4B K-Yr2 TREAT DAY K-Yr2 are eagerly awaiting their end of term treat day at Billabong Park. Thank you to those families who have already paid. We look forward to sharing the day with so many parents and siblings. Some students are thinking about their behaviour very carefully so that they can earn the 8 stamps necessary to attend. Any child who loses the right to attend will be refunded any money paid. All money needs to be paid in full by Wednesday 11th December so we can make arrangements and organise alternate activities for those unable to attend. Many thanks Pip Riordan and Toni Lawes CANTEEN NEWS

Roster: Tue 10th - Help needed Wed 11th - Tara Thur 12th - Help needed Frid 13th - Help needed Mon 16th - Help needed Please note that we are now out of our normal pizzas at $1.50, we do however have deep pan Ham & Pineapple pizza slices at $1.75. Also sold out are Chicken Burgers. If you are interested in volunteering in the canteen next year please come over and visit or ring Imogen on 65838506 in the canteen. Imogen SPLENDOUR IN HALL DVD

Copies of the Splendour in the Hall DVD are now available at the Office for $5.

AFTERNOON TEA There will be an afternoon tea held in the Mingaletta room for our Aboriginal parents and families on Tuesday 10th December at 2pm. Please feel free to bring along a friend if you wish. Hope to see you there. Aunty Marilyn

CHESS Congratulations to Jackson, Travis and Liam, our A Team chess players, who travelled down to Sydney on Saturday 30th to compete in the Country District One Day Finals.

They came in first and were invited to play on the Sunday in the Metropolitan/State District One Day Finals which they came 11th out of 57 Schools. Well Done!

UNIFORM SHOP OPENING DATES The Uniform Shop will be opening in January on the following dates for anyone who needs to purchase uniforms: Tuesday 28th January – 8.30am to 10am Wednesday 29th January – 8.30am to 10am Thursday 30th January – 8.45am to 9.30am CAROLS BESIDE THE VINES All our students K-Yr6 are very excited about our evening of family Carol singing and rehearsals are sounding great. A reminder to all families, children must be accompanied by at least one adult as staff will not be providing supervision. This is a family and community event. There will be a sausage sizzle and drinks for sale by the P&C Committee at 5.30 prior to the carols. See you there! Wendy Friend YEAR 6 FAREWELL Our Yr6 Farewell will be held on Tuesday 17th December at 6pm to 8.30pm. There will be a sausage sizzle and drinks available during the evening at no cost. The canteen will be open to sell treats. Yr6 presentation and cutting of the cake is at 8pm and parents are welcome to attend at this time. The Yr6 students have decided that they would like a “Starry Night Theme”. Dress Code – Smart casual, appropriate footwear (no thongs). LIBRARY BOOKS The library will be closing for stocktake this week and we require all library books to be returned. Could you please make sure your child returns any library books that are at home. Miss Cassidy WATER BOTTLES Please make sure your child brings a bottle of water to school, with the weather getting much hotter now it is important they have plenty of water to drink.

YR6 BAREFOOT BOWLS Yr6 had great fun at barefoot bowls last Thursday. Most of them had never played before but picked it up very quickly. Thank you to Mr Ainsworth for organising this fun activity for us.

`

VOLUNTEERS FOR 2014 In 2014 the Stage 3 Science and Technology outcomes will be chiefly addressed through gardening and cooking activities. These sessions will be held from 12.45pm to 3pm over 4 days. For these sessions to have a major practical component we need volunteers to work with us during gardening and cooking activities. Throughout 2013 many of the students at our school really enjoyed participating in gardening activities. We welcome parents, grandparents, family friends or neighbours, so feel free to ask in the wider community. You don’t need to know a lot about gardening or cooking. We can all learn together. If you would like to work with our Stage 3 students on a volunteer basis with gardening or cooking activities please come to the Office and ask for a slip to fill out. Many thanks Debbie Bradtke JUNIOR CHOIR GARDEN VILLAGE VISIT Our Junior Choir visited the Garden Village Nursing Home last Wednesday to entertain the residents with Christmas songs. They were surprised by a visit from Mr Everson the General Manager of the Garden Village. It was great to see the residents join in our songs and the students enjoyed talking to them and sharing some morning tea.

COMMUNITY NOTICES Westport High School Has Talent Show 2013 You are invited to a great night of entertainment, with plenty of laughs, celebrating the many varied talents of our wonderful students! Who: Family, friends, colleagues, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandmas, grandpas, neighbours, long lost cousins…! What: The Annual Support Unit Creative & Performing Arts Concert. When: Wednesday 11th December 2013 Doors Open 6.00pm Show Starts 6.30pm Where: Westport High School Multi Purpose Centre (Hall) Entry Fee: Gold Coin Donation. There will also be a Christmas Hamper Raffle. Port Macquarie Library Christmas Party! All welcome to join in the fun of stories, songs, dance, Christmas craft andthe launch of the Summer Reading Club plus lots of new children's books to start your holidays! Special Guests include the most magnificent Ballerina, Minnie Masters, the Port Mac Uke Club who will lead a singalong and of course, the fabulous Storyteller Morgan Schatz-Blackrose Friday 13th December 4pm see you there! Port Macquarie Physi and Dance 2014 Information Days Port Central - 9am to 4pm Saturday 18th January 2014 Settlement City - 9am to 4pm Saturday 25th January 2014 Classes resume week commencing 3rd February 2014 Cnr Acacia Ave & Karungi Cres Contact Donna on 0408 304 151 or Coralie on 65 84 0350

Hastings River Milo T20 Blast School Holiday Program

7 or 8 – 12 Year Olds

Registration – Monday, 20th of January, 2014 from 9:00am

Dates – Monday, 20th to Thursday 23rd of January

Time – 9:30am to 1:00pm Venue – Wayne Richards Oval, Koala Street, Port Macquarie

Contact: Ashley Bryant on 0408 806 552

ashley.bryant@cricketnsw.com.au

PANTHERS NETBALL CLUB 2014 REGISTRATION DAY

15TH FEBRUARY 2014

9AM TILL 3PM ‘THE PIER’ – PORT PANTHERS See website for more details