distance of 10 kilometres on the day,

which may be a challenge to many

involved, and the level of achievement

will be very evident. Good luck to all

involved.

Next week will see Mrs Cobcroft, and Mrs

Macnamara having some time away

from the school with Mrs Parker and Mrs

Pulling replacing these ladies. It is

wonderful to think we are able to source

such capable staff that will continue the

high educational practises at the school.

A very busy part of the term.

Brad Tom

Dear Parents

What a fantastic week we have had at

Cowra Public School! It started with the

overwhelming success of the Festival of

International Understanding and the

combined involvement of the schools in

the presentation of the float. Adding to

this was the enormous support of students

and families in the march down the main

street representing the Year of Family

Farming. Our school was highly

commended for their efforts with our float

by the organising committee and I am

very proud to announce our window

display was awarded first place. During

the last few weeks several parents,

students and staff members have put in

countless hours to make the Festival

presentation come together and I would

like to recognise Liz McKay and her band

of mums and Mrs Kilby for their

organisation of the project.

The school has also held its parent

information evenings this week with large

numbers of parents taking the opportunity

to come and talk with their child’s

teacher. If you were unable to attend

these evenings and you would like to

meet with the teacher of your child,

please ring the school to organise a time.

Last week saw the school involved in the

World’s Greatest Shave, raising money for

Cancer research. Miss Prue James

coordinated this initiative and also lost her

hair having set the challenge that if the

school could raise $1000 for the cause she

would have her head shaved. As it was

the school community raised $1881.35.

Several other staff members also coloured

their hair for the cause.

On Wednesday students from our school

were involved in an Aboriginal dance

workshop that will continue over the next

two weeks. These girls are involved in a

joint program between Mulyan Public

School and Cowra High School.

Today we held our combined assembly to

recognise our Aussies of the Month as well

as announcing the SRC Representatives

and the Library monitors. The regular

fortnightly assemblies for both Stage 1 and

Stage 2/3 will recommence in Week 10.

NSW Department of Education and Communities

Cowra Public School

NEWS

20 March 2014 Term 1, Week 8

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

CONTACTING THE SCHOOL Administration Office Hours: 8.30am - 3.30pm

School commences at 9.10am

School finishes at 3.15pm

Students are not supervised before 8.45am

Mail: PO Box 285, Cowra

Phone: 6342 2400

Fax: 6341 1357

School Counsellor 6341 3078

Email: cowra-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Web: http://www.cowra-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

DEPT.HEALTH DENTAL CLINIC: 1300 552 208

Tomorrow the school will be involved in a

Hockey Gala Day with several students

involved. The children will gain skills in what

is always a very enjoyable day. Children not

attending this event will continue school as

normal which will include regular sport.

Next week the school will be very busy with

several events occurring. Tuesday will see

the children in Stage 1 and Stage 2 involved

in bus talks which will outline how we travel

on a bus to ensure safety to all passengers

and how we hop on and off the bus

correctly. On Wednesday the school will be

hosting the first of our preschool visits with

Nurture One coming to participate in a PE

lesson with Mrs Duncan. One very exciting

event will be the Legs on the Wall Project

being held on Thursday in the school

Auditorium. Students will be involved in a

one hour workshop developing design

concepts for silos. There will be four sessions

held over the day which should be very

exciting.

Also on Thursday, the Stage 2 children will

be involved in a morning activity with the

Australian Rugby League development

squad. All children will be attending this

activity with the focus based on team

development and skills. Mr Murray is

coordinating the activity and it is one that is

greatly anticipated by the Stage.

On Friday next week the school will be

conducting the Stage 3 Walkathon. This is a

wonderful event that is enjoyed by staff and

students alike. The children have been

gaining sponsorship over the last few weeks

and all money raised goes towards the

purchase of resources that directly benefit

Stage 3 children. The children will walk a

P & C

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

~ Wednesday, 2 April 2014 ~

7:00pm in the school staffroom

Everyone is welcome to attend.

NOW ACCEPTING PAYMENT FOR:-

SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION: $30 per student, with a family maximum of $60. Payment

would be appreciated this term.

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE DISPLAY: all students welcome to participate - cost $6 (due

31st March)

UNIVERSITY OF NSW COMPETITIONS: (details page 2)

All Primary students are invited to participate.

Entries close Thursday, 10th April.

INFORMATION UPDATE

Attached to this newsletter is a coloured

sheet to enable the school to up-date

your contact and any additional

information. Please complete and return

promptly to the school office.

In an emergency situation, it is essential

the school has access to numerous

current contact details for all students.

Page 2 Cowra Public School

INFANTS ASSEMBLIES

Infants assemblies will now be held every

second Thursday, i.e. even weeks. The

assemblies will be held in the Infants Open

Space and commence at 2.00pm and finish

at 2.30pm when the children will return to

their classrooms.

At these assemblies students will be receiving

Merit Certificates and PBL awards.

Every alternate Thursday (not assembly

week) from 12.30pm until 1.00pm the Infants

will be holding combined singing in the

Infants Open Space. All parents are invited to

come along and listen to the children

singing.

PRIMARY ASSEMBLIES

The Primary will also be holding their

assemblies every second Thursday, i.e. even

weeks at 2.30pm in the school auditorium,

The assemblies will include the Year 6 Public

Speaking and Merit Certificates will also be

presented on the day.

All parents are invited to attend both

assemblies.

COMBINED ASSEMBLIES

The school will be holding combined

assemblies twice a term. At these assemblies

the Infants and Primary Aussies of the Month

will be announced and the children will be

presented with their awards. The first of these

assemblies was held today.

ST 3 WALKATHON - Friday, 28 March 2014

The Stage 3 Walkathon will be held on

Friday, 28 March 2014. To attend

chi ldren must participate by

collecting sponsorship or making a

donation before the Walkathon day.

It will be a normal school day for

students not able to participate in this

day.

The program for the day will be:

9.30 a.m. Leave school by bus for

starting point.

9.55 a.m. Commence 10 kilometre

walkathon.

12.30 p.m. Lunch and organised/

structured swimming activities at

Aquatic Centre

2.45 p.m. Return to school.

Children should bring a hat,

sunscreen, a drink, swimming gear

and wear suitable footwear and

casual clothing. (No singlet tops.)

Where any parents can assist with the

B.B.Q. lunch preparations, this will be

very much appreciated.

UNIVERSITY OF NSW COMPETITIONS

The University of NSW’s, International Competition and

Assessment for Schools is the largest independent

competition and assessment program for schools in Australia.

It is also delivered to over 20 countries.

Students in Years 3 to 6 are invited and encouraged to enter

the following ICAS subjects:

Computer Skills: (Tuesday, 20 May) $8.00

Science: (Wednesday, 4 June) $8.00

Writing: (Monday, 16 June) $17.00

Spelling: (Tuesday, 17 June) $11.00

English: (Tuesday, 29 July) $8.00

Mathematics: (Tuesday, 12 August) $8.00

(Sitting date in brackets.)

ALL ENTIRES CLOSE

Thursday, 10th April 2014

WORLD’S GREATEST SHAVE

What a fabulous day! All the students who took part looked

fabulous in their “Funky Hair Styles”. The school raised over

$1,881.35. This meant that all the teachers who volunteered to

have their hair coloured went through with the deal.

Mr Lewis looked great with pink hair, Mrs Day’s hair was very

green while Mrs Macnamara, Mrs Duncan, Mrs Cobcroft, Mrs

White, Miss Hyde, Mrs Oborn, Mrs Kilby and Miss Eldridge looked

fabulous with their new hair styles.

Miss Prue James was very brave and had her head shaved.

Prue looks great with no hair. Well done, Prue.

A big thank you to Hair on Vaux for coming and colouring the

teacher’s hair and shaving Prue James’ head.

All the students and teachers had an exciting time watching

their favourite teacher being transformed.

What a great effort from our school, raising all that money for the

World’s Greatest Shave.

Well done everyone.

Great pictures on page 4.

REPTILE DISPLAY Wednesday, 2 April 2014

On Wednesday, 2 April, all students have

the opportunity to attend and

participate in an Australian Reptile

Display “Snake Tails”.

The display is interesting, professional, fun

and educational, offering an

opportunity for students to observe and

interact with native reptiles in a totally

safe and secure environment. Discover

facts about Australian reptiles that will

amaze you .. it could even save a life

one day!

Cost is $6 per

student. Payment at

the school office up

until Monday, 31

March.

SCHOOL FEES

Each year the school asks families to pay

a small contribution towards the cost of

their child’s education.

This contribution helps to cover the cost

of books, paper and other items used by

every child.

The school has set the fee at $30 per

child with a family maximum of $60. This

equates to approximately 15c per day.

The receipt of your contribution would be

very much appreciated and payment

can be made at the school office.

Congratulations to the

eleven

Student Representative

Council members who

received their badges at

today’s assembly

McKay Sullivan - M1 Ruixi Zhang - C1 Kimball Sullivan - A2

Cailin McKay - M2 Tobi Casey - L2 Archie Osborne - C2 Diana Stojanovic - K3

Ashleigh Saunders - H3 Bailey Chalker - G3 Ronan Gailey - E2-3 Aedan Leatherland - H3

Congratulations to

the eighteen Library

Monitors who

received their

badges at today’s

assembly Nashwa Bakini Montana Buckley Brock Dalton Charmaine Doolan

Ronan Gailey Anja Gower Jessica Henderson Aaliyah Ingram Anna James

Jade Lanham Jade Milgate Madeleine Mulligan Tahlia Murray Tess Roberts

Jordan Ryan Ashleigh Saunders Isabella Scammell Luke Wilson

Page 3

SPORTING ACTIVITIES FOR TERM 1

Primary Term One sport has commenced and will continue until Week 11

with the exception of Friday 4 April (Week 10) being the CPS Cross Country.

Stage 2 will be having swimming as normal on Friday, 28 March (Stage 3

Walkathon Day).

PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR SWIMMERS AND TOWEL.

Shavaughn Duncan

PE/Sport teacher

SPORT

Page 5 Cowra Public School

STAGE 3 HOCKEY GALA DAY TOMORROW

Tomorrow, all Stage 2 & 3 students will be given the

opportunity to participate in an exciting Hockey Gala Day.

All specialised activities will be conducted by qualified

instructors trained in the various fields. It is a wonderful opportunity for our

students to come together as a group and get to know students from other

schools in a friendly non-school denominated competition. We actively

encourage all primary students to attend. It was a great success last year

with 450 students attending from all the surrounding schools.

Programme starts at 10.00am Finishes at 2.30pm

10.00am Brief welcome and introduction of NSW players

10.10am Students put into non-school based teams named after the national

competition and team building games performed

10.30am Recess

10.50am Skill games and activities in stations

12.00pm Lunch

12.20pm Mini Hockey Games (10-15 minute games depending on time)

2.10pm Presentations

2.30pm End of Gala Day

CROSS COUNTRY TRIALS

Cowra Public School will be holding their annual

Cross Country trials on Friday, 4 April 2014.

Details:

Early recess - 9.30am-11.10am

Proceed to River Park, assemble

Sit in age/sex groups

8/9 and 10 year girls and boys will complete

one lap

11/12 and 13 year girls and boys will

complete 2 laps

Order:

11 year boys 11 year girls 2 laps

12/13 year boys 12/13 girls 2 laps

8/9 year boys 8/9 year girls 1 lap

10 year boys 10 year girls 1 lap

District Cross Country will be held at Koorawatha

on Monday, 2 June. The first six placegetters will be

selected for the school team.

Regional Cross Country is in

Wellington on Wednesday, 11

June.

Please remind children about

hats, drinks and sunscreen and

they are to remain inside fence

lines and are not to go onto

roads etc.

LEGS ON THE WALL AND THE SILOS PROJECT

As part of the Sydney based international Theatre Company Legs on the

Wall, the Corridor project (Cowra Based), is offering nominated students the

opportunity to participate in a design project with designer Joey Ruigrok. Mr

Dylan Gower and Mrs Trisha Long will also be assisting throughout the day.

Students will take part in a one hour workshop developing design concepts

for the silos. Students will be asked to consider such questions as:

The silos look like tubes, What could they be?

What aside from grain could be inside?

Are the silos a landed space ship from another planet?

Perhaps they are the smoke pipe of an ocean liner?

From these types of questions students will be asked to design and create

their interpretation of the silo using the provided materials.

There will be four sessions held on the day, Thursday, 27 March, and each

session will contain 16 students. There is no cost associated with the program

and all materials are provided.

GIRLS’ ABORIGINAL DANCE WORKSHOPS

Jo Clancy will once again be running dance workshops for Aboriginal students. This year Jo has invited all Year 5 & 6 girls to

participate. The workshops will be held on three consecutive Wednesdays, starting on Wednesday, 19 of March 2014. The workshops

will run from 11.00 - 2.00pm in our school hall. Students from Mulyan and Cowra High School will also be attending.

Jo will then select a group of students to perform at the Opening Ceremony of Catapult in Bathurst on Tuesday, 8 April. More

information will be provided to those students who are selected.

Students need to wear sports uniform on the day and bring a drink bottle.

NAIDOC SPEECH

Congratulations to Lindsay Munro, who had been

asked to deliver his NAIDOC Public Speaking

Speech from last year at the Teacher’s

Federation Conference to be held in Sydney on

Friday, 4 April.

Lindsay will deliver his speech to over 100

Aboriginal teachers attending the conference.

RUGBY LEAGUE: DAVID PEACHEY

SHIELD (Years 5 & 6) & RUSSELL

RICHARDSON CUP (Years 3 & 4)

Cowra Public School will be participating in the David Peachey

Shield and Russell Richardson Cup against other schools in the

district on Tuesday, 8 April 2014 at River Park

All students not involved in the Netball Gala Day are expected

to take part in this day.

The students will walk to and from River Park at approximately

9.15am and will return in time for buses. They will be

accompanied by Mr Albert Murray, Mr Blake Duncombe and

Mr Greg Garlick.

Players will need to pay $1.00 (PSSA levy) to the office by

Tuesday, 8 April.

While the school makes an effort to minimise the possibility of

injury, and recommends the wearing of a correctly fitted

mouthguard and head gear, there will remain some degree of

risk inherent in participation in what is essentially a body

contact sport.

Albert Murray

Coach

COWRA RUGBY LEAGUE STAGE 2

COACHING/SKILLS MORNING

Next Thursday, 27 March, Mr Wade Judd and Mr Mick

Armstrong (Development Officers with the NSW Country Rugby

League) along with Cowra High School students will be holding

coaching/skills sessions with Stage 2 students from Cowra Public

School, St Raphael’s School and Mulyan Public School.

The main focus will be developing the finer points of rugby

league whilst also providing Cowra High School students with

experience in coaching at a junior level. It is anticipated that

the morning will start at 9.30am and finish at around 11.00am.

Children are to wear full sports uniform. Rugby League attire is

not necessary, although if students have boots and

mouthguards they can bring them along.

A drink bottle and a Cowra Public School bucket hat will also

need to be taken. At the end of the clinic every student will be

provided with their very own rugby league football.

If you do not wish you child to attend this coaching clinic,

please contact your child’s class teacher prior to Thursday, 27

March.

SPORT continued

COWRA RUGBY UNION WESTERN

REGION TRIALS

Cowra Public School students have been invited to participate

in a Western Region Rugby Union trial day on Tuesday, 25

March. This trial is a one day event that will be held in Cowra.

Children will be instructed on the day by Mrs Tom as well as

Mark DeBrincat, who is the Rugby Union Development Officer

for the Australian Rugby Union.

This trial is to gain selection into the Western Region team that

will play in Kiama later in the year at the State Carnival.

Rugby Union is a contact activity and risk is involved. The

children will be instructed on basic drills including tackling and

ball handling as well as playing a series of games.

Players will need to wear appropriate clothing for this activity

including shorts and sports shirt or football jumper. A

mouthguard is required and no child will participate without

one. Your child should have water and their lunch.

Bradley Tom

Rugby Union Convenor

NETBALL GALA DAY

Cowra Public School students have been

invited to participate in a Netball Gala

Day on Tuesday, 8 April. The Gala Day

which is held at the netball courts at Col

Stinson Oval is a fun non-competitive day

attended by all the Primary Schools in

Cowra and has proven to be very

enjoyable in previous years.

It is expected that all girls who are not involved with the David

Peachey/Russell Richardson Shield will attend the Netball Gala

Day as this is a whole school event and will be the allocated

sport session for Week 11.

Students will come to school as per usual on Tuesday morning

and after roll call will walk to the sporting venues, where they

will stay until the conclusion of the Gala Days at approximately

2.00pm-2.30pm. Netballers will be allocated teams which will

be of mixed ability. There will not be winners announced, just

acknowledgement of those students who display excellent

sportsmanship and effort.

Students attending both venues need to bring the following:

Hat and sunscreen

Plenty of water to drink

All food required for the day - NO LUNCH ORDERS THAT

DAY

As this day is part of the structured Sports Program a

permission note is not required. Please contact Mrs Duncan by

letter or phone if you DO NOT wish your child to participate.

Shavaughn Duncan

PE/Sport

WESTERN SSA AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL

Cowra Public School will be sending players to the Western SSA

Australian Football trial to be held on Thursday, 3 April at Parkes.

Congratulations to Luke Kinsey who is one of Cowra Public

School’s representatives at these trials.

Page 6

P & C

Page 7 Cowra Public School

CLOTHING POOL

The school runs a very well equipped Clothing Pool. The

Clothing Pool is run by the canteen manager, Mrs Lisa Willis.

Lisa is available to show parents the stock at any time.

Please be mindful that Lisa is extremely busy before school

taking lunch orders etc and at recess and lunch times.

The Clothing Pool has girl’s summer uniforms, boy’s shorts

and shirts and both boy’s and girl’s sports clothes.

COMMUNITY

PO Box 900, Cowra NSW 2794 T/A Lic 2TA5695 Phone: 6342 1021 Fax: 6342 4597

Email: info@cowrabus.com.au Web: http:www.cowrabus.com.au

DISNEY ON ICE: 11 July 2014 - Sydney - Expression of Interest WICKED: 11 October 2014, Capitol Theatre, Sydney - Expression of Interest

COWRA TRAVEL IN CONJUNCTION WITH GO SEE TOURING: Norfolk Island: 9-17 October 2014, Includes 13 activities/tours - Expression of Interest

“Cowra Travel Takes You There”

~ P & C ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ~

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

7:00pm in the school staffroom.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

PCYC COWRA Junior Disco

The next Junior Disco for Kinder to Year 6 children will be held

on Friday 28 March from 6pm to 8pm. Entry is $5 and there

will be a canteen and sausage sizzle in operation. A sausage

sandwich will cost $2. Music and lights provided by Laurie’s

Disco.

Supervision provided by PCYC Police, staff and volunteers.

Mixed Basketball and Mixed Netball

Basketball will be played on Monday nights and Netball on

Tuesday nights, with both sports being played at the PCYC’s

Young Road complex.

The first games will commence at 6pm in each competition

and finishing times will depend on the number of teams

nominated. Cost for each competition will be $60 per player

aged 18 and older, $45 per player aged under 18.

Nomination forms are available from PCYC.

PCYC Membership

You must be a PCYC member to participate in any of the

PCYC activities, yearly membership is $5.00 for under 18’s

and $10 for ages 18 and older.

THE INAUGURAL WOMBAT BOOKS

ILLUSTRATION CHALLENGE - NOW

OPEN! Wombat Books is seeking original illustrations from Australian

students to publish in a unique picture book by well-known

children’s author Aleesah Darlison. The Challenge has been

established to provide aspiring young illustrators with the

opportunity to be published in a professionally produced

children’s book and gain an introduction into the world of

illustrating.

The book, titled Zoo Ball, is scheduled for release in early 2015.

Up to twenty winning illustrators will be published in the book and

will also receive two free copies of the book and a $50 voucher.

They will be acknowledged on the Wombat Books website as a

rising illustrator and there may be opportunities for them to

illustrate work in the future.

One outstanding illustrator will be given the exclusive opportunity

to design the cover for the book and will win a cash prize of

$200.

For full guidelines and entry forms visit:

www.wombatbooks.com.au/competitions

SCHOOL HOLIDAY

CLINICS

Are you looking for some great fun activities for your children to

be involved in these April School holidays? AFL NSW/ACT will be

running a school holiday clinic for boys and girls aged 4-12.

Bathurst: Mon Apr 14 - George Park, Browning Street – 10:00am-12:00pm

Orange: Mon Apr 14 – Jack Brabham Park – 2:00-4:00pm

Young: Tue Apr 15 – Burrangong Oval, Burrangong Hall Road – 10:00am-

12:00pm

Cowra: Tue Apr 15 – River Park, Vaux Street – 2:00-4:00pm

Forbes: Wed Apr 16 – South Circle Oval, King Street – 10:00am-12:00pm

Parkes: Wed Apr 16 - Cheney Park, Station Street – 2:00-4:00pm

Dubbo: Wed Apr 23 – South Dubbo Oval, Boundary Road – 10:00am-

12:00pm

Mudgee: Wed Apr 23 – Victoria Park, Perry Street – 2:00-4:00pm

* Venues subject to availability

COST: $30 includes a NAB AFL Auskick School Auskick bag with

synthetic Sherrin football PLUS a drink/snack

Register by April 7, but pay on the day. To register, go to:

www.aflcentralwest.com.au and complete the short online

registration. It’s that easy!