GIRRAWEEN PUBLIC SCHOOL

Principal: Mrs K Junor Bando Road,

Phone: 9631 3650 GIRRAWEEN NSW 2145

11th March 2011

DIARY DATES—TERM 1 2011

March 17 SELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL TEST

22 HARMONY DAY

26 ELECTION DAY BBQ

30 PHOTO DAY

SCHOOL COUNCIL—3.30pm

April 3 WORKING BEE

5 GIRRAWEEN SHOW DAY

7 COMBINED SCRIPTURE SERVICE

8 LAST DAY OF TERM

From the principal

Dear Parents, This year our stage information sessions were a great

success. We had a packed audience at every session and

parents have expressed their appreciation for the in

depth information provided about our school‘s

programs. Thank you to all our teachers for their

excellent presentation of the material.

DISTRICT SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Congratulations to all the girls and boys who competed

in the District Swimming Carnival.

The following students represented our school.

Congratulations to each of you, we are all very proud of

your achievements:

India—3B

Amelia—3A

Harrison—3L

Thomas—3T

Kharrinnee—4A

Vithuya—4B

Dominic—4P

Marshal—4P

Dylan—E1

Luke—E2

Vithya—E2

Toyah—E2

Georgia—E11

Madeline—E11

Venkat—E11

Najeesh—E17

Gayathre—E17

Karina—E17

Yokesh—E17

Shania—HR12

Thank you to Ms Dunger for your support and

encouragement of our competitors.

LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAM

Our ―Learn to Swim Program‖ for Years 3 to 6 has

been very successful and Mr Wright has reported that

all children are doing well. The program will be offered

again next term. Permission notes will go home next

week so please return them as soon as possible to be

assured of a place. If you require more information

please phone Mr Wright on 96313650.

PARKING

A number of neighbours have complained about people

parking across their driveway in the morning and after-

noon. Our neighbours have always been very supportive

of our school. So please take special care and do not

park across their driveways.

CAR PARK

The staff car park is closed to pedestrian access. To

ensure your child‘s safety please make sure they use the

pedestrian footpaths.

HARMONY DAY

Harmony Day will be held on Tuesday 22nd March.

This year we will have our popular food tasting of dish-

es and treats from around the globe to showcase the

wonderful cultural diversity at Girraween Public

School. This year students will be able to wear their

national dress in a celebration of the theme ―Everybody

Belongs‖. Thank you to all the parents who will

provide food on the day.

ROAD SAFETY

Road safety is still a major concern in the morning and

afternoon. Please DO NOT call your child across the

road to your waiting car, instead talk to them about the

rules of road safety – and encourage them to STOP,

LOOK and LISTEN then when the way is clear walk

across the road at the marked crossing. We all need to

emphasise road safety to ensure the safety of all chil-

dren. Parents are the most important role models for

their children. Please set the very best

example because it may one day save your child‘s life.

PREMIER’S SPORTING CHALLENGE

Students at Girraween will be able to participate in the

Premier‘s Sporting Challenge over the next two terms.

The purpose of the program is to encourage children to

be physically active and develop healthy habits that will

last a lifetime. We would welcome your support in

encouraging your child‘s participation in this exciting

challenge. More information about the program will be

coming home next week.

PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS

We have had an overwhelming response from students

to join a performing arts groups this year. The interest is

wonderful and we want to provide as many performing

opportunities as possible. However, due to timetabling

constraints some children may have to choose the group

they are most interested in for this semester. Please see

Mrs Junor if you have any concerns.

SUPPORTING LIFE EDUCATION

Next Wednesday 23rd March students can wear their

favourite NRL‘s team colours or jersey for a gold coin

donation. All proceeds will go to support the Life

Education program.

K.Junor

Principal

Principal’s Awards

Writing: Nevin E11 Ruponti E11 Vyshali E11 Maansi E11 Sai E11 Sneha E11 Toyah E11 Dylan HR14 Georgia E11 Piyush E11 Sharani E18 Hamzah E18 Handwriting: Aadesh KL Siri KL Gishani KK Arishan KK Lauren 1A Pavethan 1A Anunaya 1A Trisha 1A Sandra 1A Rebecca 1A Harrison 3L Arathi 3L Chaitanya 3L Yanni 3L Deeva 3L Raghav 3L Thanuskan 3L

Poetry: Rachel E1 Mary E1 Arathi 3L Yasmin 3L Saaruyan 3L Raaghavi 3L Chloe 3L Kapbilaashan 3L Chaitanya 3L Melanie 3L Reading: Melissa 1A Bavethini 1C Pritika 1C Shreenidhi 1C Nyah 1C Sanjey 1C Mathematics: Nithusica KL Kishan KL Riya KL Deepikka KL Kevin KW Tia KW Hanush KW Shan KW Esli KW Tosha KK Tarine KK Pranavan KK

Miha M11 Kerim M11 Lathuksan M11 Sascha M11 Divya M11 Shargav M11 Maryam M11 HSIE: Saleen 4P Vennela 4P Krishantan 4P Jeffrey 4P Vishali 4P Creative Arts: Amaan HR18 Nilesh HR2 Kristen HR1 Homework Award: Dhruvmit 3B Rubika 3B Shakthiga 3B Darshi 3B Gaayathiri 3B India 3B Dounia 3B Sriraam 3B Anjani 3B Sreemithra 3B

Parramatta Park Trust

Sydney Symphony in Parramatta Park

8pm Saturday 19th March 2011

Free Concert

Hans Graf Conductor

Emma Sholl Flute

Janet Webb Flute

Grieg Peer Gynt: Suite No. 1

Doppler Concerto for 2 flutes

Tchaikovsky Symphony No.2 (Little Russians)

For more information phone 8833 5000 or

www.parrapark.com.au

Greystanes High School Information Afternoon

Date: Wednesday 16 March 2011 Time: 4pm until 6pm—parents What is on: Parent Information Sessions 4-6pm

www.greystanes-high.nsw.edu.au Phone: 9631 9144

P&C WORKING BEE

SUNDAY 3rd April 2011

9am to 3pm

Parent Name:_________________________________________________________

Child‘s Name(s):_________________________________________Class:________

Circle preferred time to attend Working Bee:

9am-11am 10am-12noon 11am-1pm 12noon-2pm 1pm-3pm

We all know it‘s hard to find spare time and therefore we thank you in advance for

your support to keep our children‘s playground and gardens healthy and tidy.

PS: You are most welcome to stay longer than the two hours if you can spare more

time!

Siva Veluppillai

Chairperson

P&C Environment Committee

__________________________________________________________

P&C WORKING BEE

SUNDAY 3rd April 2011

9am to 3pm

Parent Name:_________________________________________________________

Child‘s Name(s):_________________________________________Class:________

Circle preferred time to attend Working Bee:

9am-11am 10am-12noon 11am-1pm 12noon-2pm 1pm-3pm

Girraween Public School

The 2011 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge Friday, 11th March, 2010.

Dear Parents/ Caregiver,

As in previous years Girraween Public School would once again like all students in K – 6 to be involved in the 2011

NSW Premier‘s Reading Challenge. Last year, we had more than 75% of our students successfully complete the chal-

lenge, many of them for the second, third or fourth time!

The Challenge aims to encourage in students a love of reading for leisure and pleasure, and to enable students to experi-

ence quality literature. It is an initiative of the NSW State Government.

When completing the 2011 NSW Premier‘s Reading Challenge, students need to remember:

K – 2 and Support Classes need to experience 30 books in total

Yr 3 – 6 need to read at least 20 books in total

All students can include up to 5 personal choice books as part of their challenge It is important that when completing the log that students record the PRC ID Number. This is clearly indicated on the

appropriate booklists.

All class teachers have a copy of the books listed for the challenge for their particular year or stage group. Similarly, the

booklists can be found on-line at the web address below.

As in 2010, it is a condition of entry in the 2011 NSW Premier‘s Reading Challenge that successful students will receive

a certificate signed by the Premier and their name will appear in the Premier‘s Reading Challenge Honour Roll. If par-

ents or caregivers do not wish these details to be published, unfortunately the student cannot participate officially

in the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge. However, students may complete the Challenge for recognition within our

school community but they must not submit an on-line entry as conducted by Mr Wright when the privacy note is re-

turned to your child‘s classroom teacher.

Students have the opportunity to complete the Challenge up until the end of August, 2011, books read after this time

may be incorporated into the 2012 Challenge if a reading log is maintained. During the course of the Challenge Mr

Wright will be able to update the individual progress of students who present their reading logs in class. This will allow

us to systematically finalise all details associated with the Challenge and to verify student reading logs as they are pre-

sented.

Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 and the support classes will not need complete a reading log at home as it will be

completed as part of the reading program at school but still need to return their participation note to be acknowledged in

the 2011 Challenge. All students in Years 3 – 6 who return their participation note will receive a ‗Reading Log‘ to rec-

ord their progress. This year, students may wish to take the opportunity to complete their record on-line using their DET

internet username and password. However, we strongly recommend that parents are present to supervise and verify

this process where their child is completing a record on-line. Mr Wright will still need to complete the final verifica-

tion at school to complete the challenge for 2011.

As all Reading Logs (either on-line or sheet) will need to be verified by the school at the conclusion of the challenge,

they need to be returned to the class teacher. A good routine of weekly presentation to school is encouraged to allow for

continual acknowledgement of each individual student‘s achievements.

We would encourage you to make use of Holroyd City Council‘s Community Libraries for selection and borrowing of

books as well as our own school library. The community libraries available in our area include Greystanes, Wentworth-

ville and Merrylands Libraries and they should have a greater variety of books available for the Challenge.

Information regarding NSW Premier‘s Reading Challenge can be accessed at the following website:

www.premiersreadingchallenge.com.au

If you have any further queries, please see your child‘s class teacher, Stage Supervisor, or myself.

Yours in a Love of Reading

C Wright

Deputy Principal

Harmony Day Celebration When: Tuesday 22nd March 2011 11.30am-1pm Where: Primary COLA & Infants COLA What: Dress in National Costume (optional) Taste food from different cultures Provide a favourite recipe Please remember cold finger food only. Please send plates of food to school covered and labelled with: name of food / country / ingredients. This will allow students and teachers to see what they can eat, particularly if they have food allergies. Please remember NO NUTS!! Food can be delivered to the old staffroom (K-2) and to the old canteen (3-6) from 8.30am onwards. Looking forward to a great day. ESL Teachers

ELECTION DAY BBQ P&C has organised a fund raising BBQ on the day of the State Election - 26th March 2011. We will be starting the BBQ from

7.30am and finishing around 5.00pm. We are looking for volunteers to help this important fund raising event in our school.

Below is a list of times, if you can spare some time on the day we would love to hear from you. Please select an appropriate

time suitable for you. Complete your details then return this form to your daughter's/son's class teacher.

__________________________________________________________________________________

ELECTION DAY BBQ

Saturday 26th March 2011

7.30am to 9.30am 9.30am to 11.30am 11.30am to 1.30pm 1.30pm to 3.30pm 3.30pm to 5.30pm

Name:............................................ Student name:....................................... Class: ...............

Time availability: .............................................................

Contact Detail:..................................................................

We thank you in advance for your valuable contribution.

Regards

Jeeva Ratnam

Fund Raising Coordinator

P&C Committee 2011

Become a Volunteer Literacy Tutor In 2011

Nepean TAFE - Kingswood Campus will be conducting a short course on

how to become a Volunteer Tutor of Adult Reading and Writing.

The Tutor Training program will run for 8 sessions. It starts on Wednesday

morning - 23 March 2011 from 10am – 1pm and runs for 8 Wednesday

mornings (excluding the school holidays).

This is a FREE course.

For more information about this course please contact

Sue Farnham, Adult Literacy Officer at Nepean TAFE on

( (02) 9208 9347.

Do you have children aged 5-12 years?

Are you looking for something for them to do in the holidays?

Then how about a day at.............

VACATION CARE When: Monday 11th April to Thursday 21st April 2011

(Closed Friday 22nd April)

Where: Toongabbie Christian School, 30-40 Metella Rd, Toongabbie OOSH Rm 1

Cost: Up to $35 per child per day

Up to $18 per child 1/2 day

Booking fee $10 per family

Annual Registration Fee $25 child / $50 family

Incursion $10 child or $20 family

Excursion $25 child

Party Day $10 child / $20 family

Incursion: ―Create a Buzz‖ Science Workshop by Fizzics Education

Excursion: Featherdale Wildlife Park (Optional)

For further information contact Lyn Skelton 8863 2913 or 0404 892 419

School Zone Parking Rules & Penalties

You must not stop your vehicle on a

length of road or in an area in which a

NO STOPPING sign applies.

No Stopping includes when the

vehicle is not moving but the engine is

still running

Penalty $253 + 2 Demerit Points

You are allowed to stop your vehicle

only to set down or pick passengers,

or goods.

Your vehicle must not stop for more

than 2 minutes. The driver must not be

more than 3 meters from the vehicle.

Penalty $141 + 2 Demerit Points

You must not stop or park your vehicle

in a bus zone for any reason.

This includes when the vehicle is not

moving but the engine is still running.

Penalty $253 + 2 Demerit Points Penalty $253 + 2 Demerit Points

You must not stop your vehicle or park

in the middle of the road to drop people

Off or pick them up.

Always stop or park legally and safely at

the edge of the road or in a parking

area.

You must not stop or park your vehicle

on or near a pedestrian crossing to

drop people off or pick them up

You must not make a U-turn without

giving way to pedestrians or vehicles in

a school zone

Penalty $338 + 2 Demerit Points Penalty $253 + 3 Demerit Points

This fact sheet provides an overview of some of the penalties that apply

to illegal parking on all roads in School Zones.

Parking unsafely can put children’s lives at risk.

Take care when in School Zones

For more information see the RTA website www.myrta.com

Or Contact Holroyd City Council Road Safety Officer on 9840 9880