William Street Email: Bellingen-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Principal: Elizabeth Mulligan PO Box 42 Website: www.bellingen-p.school.nsw.edu.au Phone: 02 6655 1147 Bellingen NSW 2454 Fax: 02 6655 2615

Term 4 Week 10 Monday, December 8 2014

Canberra Excursion

What an exciting time for Year 6. Canberra was all that we expected and more. We set out on Monday morning with a crew of 42 students, two teachers and two parents, who were very lively and enthusiastic despite the early start. Everywhere we went the students were engaged and participated fully in all activities. The guides constantly commented on the student’s beautiful manners and excellent questions. Everyone was full of energy almost 24 hours a day until the bus trip home which was much quieter than the one on the way down. Canberra is an intense educational experience and the students now have a good grasp on how our democracy works and many of the functions of our national capital. I would like to thank Denise Head, Pete Barron and Dean Besley for their tireless support and congratulate the students on their excellent behaviour. Kate Sommerville, Organising Teacher

From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parents/Carers, Year 6 returned on Friday from a fantastic week away in Canberra. This really is a wonderful learning opportunity on so many levels – culturally, socially, and academically. Thank you to Mrs Sommerville and Mrs Head who accompanied Year 6 and to Peter Barron and Dean Besley who were parent helpers. Year 6 are at Bellingen High School today for their Year 7 transition day and will have their Farewell tomorrow night here at school. The Principal’s morning tea is a component of our award program when students receive their Principal Award 1, 2 or 3. This week I will be providing a fruit juice ice block for the many students at this level as we celebrate their positive behaviour. (Students with specific dietary needs will be catered for.) Each year Bellingen Public School looks at areas of curriculum or school culture as part of its self-evaluation process. Seeking feedback and opinions from parents and

caregivers in the form of a survey is one way to do this. This year parents of students in Year 1, 3 and 5 will receive a survey about the Quality Learning Environment provided for their child/children. Responses are confidential. It will be used to inform school planning and structures and guide professional learning offered to staff. Students and staff also complete similar surveys This Thursday morning at 9:30am will be our annual Presentation Day. Please join us as we celebrate the achievements of our students. Students finish school on Wednesday 17th December. Thursday and Friday are ‘pupil free’. Staff will continue with planning for 2015; complete technology training; investigate mindfulness practices and look into goal setting both as individuals and as teams. The Year 6 final assembly will be on Wednesday, 17th at 2.15pm. The whole school will farewell them. Have a great week Elizabeth Mulligan, Relieving Principal

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Term 4 - Week 10 Monday, 8 December 2014

This week’s VALUE - TOLERANCE

Tolerance is accepting myself and others

Tolerance is knowing we are all different

Tolerance is being understanding and open-minded Music News

Karin Braidwood, exquisite guitar teacher, hosted her concert on Friday in the Music Hub. 24 Students entertained the audience with their careful and clever playing. As co-ordinator, it was thrilling to observe the progress of individual students for the Term 4 concert in 2013 to 2014. Well done students and supportive parents. Elizabeth Scott

“Born to Dance” Concert

What a beautiful and entertaining night of dance. So many of our Bellingen Public students are involved each week in dance classes and it was fantastic to see so many beautifully made up, familiar faces dancing so professionally on the weekend. Super dancing girls! Elizabeth Scott Music Room Official Opening

The Hunter Howatson Music Hub will be officially opened at 11.15, Tuesday December 16. Please drop over and share in the opening which acknowledges Hunter’s dedication to having a great space for young children to learn instruments. Elizabeth Scott

Thank you Morning Tea

Volunteers were entertained by the String group at the Thank you Momorning Tea held on Friday last week. Bellingen Public School would like to thank all our volunteers who give so much of their time to assist our students and school. Thank you.

Christmas Cards and Candy Canes

Feel free to give your friends Christmas Cards but please, no candy canes. Students are eating them early in the morning and once open, candy canes are very hard to wrap for later. some parents do not want their children to have them and some students have different dietary needs. Please save candy canes for home. Band Performance

The band will be giving an end of year performance on Wednesday December 10 at 5.30pm. If you are thinking about learning an instrument next year, this is a great opportunity for you and your family to see how much fun it would be. Ann Phelan

Year 5 Buddies visit Burrows

Our Year 5 students have formed trusting and caring relationships with next year’s Kindergarten students during the orientation visits that have taken place this term. So much so that when the pre-school group at Burrows recently prepared a play based on the story “Miss Spider’s Tea Party”, the first people that the Burrows students wanted to invite to watch were their Year 5 ‘buddies’! Students with buddies at Burrows walked down to watch the play last week and enjoyed both the performance and the little bit of play time with the Burrows equipment and the pre-school students afterwards. Thank you to Burrows for including us in this lovely experience. Ms Everson

Warm Fuzzie

School Accounts

All school accounts need to be finalised before the end of year. We now have EFTPOS and are happy to take payments over the phone this includes all band, and string group payments.

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Term 4 - Week 10 Monday, 8 December 2014

News from 2E & 2/3J

During the term 2E and 2/3J have been studying past and present families. As a finishing activity for the unit our class when back in time to 1914 all dressed up as if they were students at school. During the day we eliminated technology and went back to basics. During sport we played a number of games such as knuckles, hopscotch, marbles and skipping. Students were given discipline from 1914, learning how many srikes of the cane a child would receive during a day for simple things. Don't worry it was only a picture of one. A great day was had by all and a big thank you to parents for your support with costumes Craig Ellem

SAFETY AND SECURITY If you notice ANYTHING amiss on

our school grounds (intruders, fire, break in etc.) please call 131 444.

This is a 24/7 service. Please help to keep Bellingen PS safe!

Uniform Shop Closure

The uniform shop will be closed next week so the P & C can stocktake for an annual audit. The last day the uniform shop will be open is Friday 12th December from 8.40 to 9.30am.

Library Notice

Dear Parents, I have been giving out overdue book notices to students. Please help your children to search for these books (and any others) and return them as soon as possible for stocktake. If you feel that you have not seen these books or are sure they have been returned don't stress, as sometimes books do make their way back on to the shelves unaccounted for, especially with the little children, and these books will show up at stocktake. As borrowing has now finished for the year I would like to thank you for encouraging your children to borrow and read books, and I look forward to sharing my love for books with the children next year. Carole McFaul, Librarian

Student Banking Reward Items

Do you have 10 tokens? Please come and see me if you would like to place an order as some items are no longer available.

Tomorrow will be the last banking day for the year due to the last week of term being a short week. Thank you for supporting the School Banking program and don’t forget that Tuesday is School Banking day! Sandra Ruming, School Banking Co-ordinator

Canteen News

As the season to be jolly approaches and as the to-ing and fro-ing with an ice cream company is far from tidings of comfort and joy, there will be no mention of those sad issues involving fruit stacks in this week’s epistle. Instead, this week’s instalment is set out to inform readers that there will be a penchant for lime and raspberry flavoured ice cups as these will be coloured green and red respectively. These colours have been chosen for their relevance to the time of year as they represent the holly plant which fruits at this time of year in the northern hemisphere. It has nothing to do with a successful sporting team associated with lepus curpaeums. The special this week will again be in keeping with the traditions of a politically correct, non-religiously specific, not commercially exploitive seasonal celebration. It will again be turkey schnitzel, served with cranberry sauce and a fresh salad. The special will not be available until Thursday and Friday when it will sell for $3.50 or $5.00 with a drink Feeding your children to a better education, Eddy Vardabasso, Canteen Supervisor

Canteen Roster –December

Tue 9 Raelene McMahon, Leonie, Kahlia Fletcher Wed 10 Leonie Jennings Thu 11 Sharon Benelle Fri 12 Penny Stark, Raelene McMahon, Leonie Mon 15 Leonie Jennings Tue 16 Leonie Jennings, Raelene McMahon

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Term 4 - Week 10 Monday, 8 December 2014

Current Notes

P & C Raffle tickets

Meals on Wheels – Giving Tree

Diary Dates

December

Mon 8 Year 6 BHS Orientation – Parent/Carer session, 6 – 7pm (note change of time) Tue 9 Stage 3 Surf Excursion Tue 9 Kindergarten Picnic at Connell Park, 10.30 – 12 Tue 9 Year 6 Farewell Dinner & Disco Wed 10 Band Performance 5.30pm Wed 10 Piano Concert, 9-11am Thur 11 Presentation Day Mon 15 BHS Band Performance, 2.15 Mon 15 Staff v Yr 6 T’ball game Tue 16 String Concert, 9.10 to 11am for violins, cellos, viola and double bass. Wed 17 Last day for Students/Year 6 Final Assembly, 215pm

January

Tues 27 SDD Wed 28 First day for Yr 1 – 6 students Wed 28 to 30 Best Start for Kindergarten

February

Mon 2 First day for Kindergarten

Community Notices Bellingen Public School does not endorse these products or services.

People. Culture. Country. Be part of something extraordinary at Saltwater Freshwater Festival on Australia Day. Share and celebrate in the spirit of country where our rivers meet the sea. Experience living Aboriginal culture on the Mid North Coast, home to the nations of the Gumbaynggirr, Biripi, Dunghutti and Worimi people. Saltwater Freshwater Festival is back featuring headline act Archie Roach, joined by acclaimed hip hop artist Briggs, rising star Radical Son, Gumbaynggirr soul songstress Emma Donovan with her band the PutBacks and the fusion dance band DidJital. The complete festival line-up promises an inspiring experience for all. Enjoy dance, story, crafts, language, art, ceremony, children’s and youth area, workshops, yarn space and food from the heart of the saltwater freshwater communities. The festival was a massive success in its first year in Coffs Harbour in 2010, and after four years of touring the region, is now back in Coffs to position itself as one of the East Coast’s premier Aboriginal cultural events. Come together for Saltwater Freshwater Festival at Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens - Monday 26 January 2015, 9am – 5pm. Free entry. www.saltwaterfreshwaterfestival.com.au or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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