5649 Canola Way Matong NSW 2652

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Remembrance Day

Principal’s News

This week we welcome Gabi Menzies who is doing her Year 10 work experience with us. An ex-student of Matong P.S., Gab is currently studying at Yanco Agricultural H.S. We are pleased to have her with us and trust she finds her time here both worthwhile and enjoyable. We also welcome back long-term classroom helper, Jess Walsh, who is currently on holidays from her teaching course at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, and is giving generously of her time until the end of the school year.

Miss McKelvie hosted a very successful Best Start day at our school last Tuesday, with all participants from our surrounding small schools full of praise for the quality of the input and outcomes gained from the sessions. Many thanks to P. and C. members - Cathy Booth, Jen Hatty, Michelle Hatty – for their catering efforts on the day.

Last Wednesday, our School Education Director, Peter Maclean, visited for his termly visit. Whilst here, Peter visited classrooms, talked with staff and spent time with me looking at where we are up to with our school plan and Annual School Report, as well as getting an update on programmes that are currently operating at our school. An emphasis in the region is reading in the early school years and Peter was especially impressed with the data presented on the progress being made by our students.

Last Thursday, Remembrance Day was observed with a brief, informal service at 11 a.m. Our school captains, Keiran Steward and Courtney Menzies, laid a wreath in memory of all those who have been affected by war, whilst Bianca Burles-Clark and Abby Lenord were our flag marshalls.

On Friday, we were fortunate to have Tim Schimd visit. Tim is a Year 12 student from Sydney who is currently visiting family in the area. He is quite adept (actually, I’d say he is a genius!!!) at solving the Rubik’s Cube puzzle and he had Stage 2/3 mesmerised as he deftly solved the puzzle time after time. Thanks to Sonya Spencer for organising the visit and Tim for giving up part of his holiday to share his skills with us.

Tomorrow we have Deborah Anscombe visiting us. Deborah is an ESL (English as a Second Language)

teacher in the region and she will be spending time with staff during and after school preparing programmes and assessment procedures for our new students.

Congratulations are extended to new school community members, Thu Hang Do and Rolf Sokolinski, who are getting married this afternoon. We wish them all the very best for their future life together.

And finally, we wish Courtney Menzies all the very best as she heads to the Central Coast next week to compete as part of the Riverina Girls’ Cricket Team at the N.S.W.P.S.S.A. Championships. This is a great achievement for Courtney and I know she will represent herself, her family and our school with distinction.

Have a good week.

Regards,

Ian Lucas

Review of Funding for Schooling

Parents may be aware that the federal government is currently reviewing their funding of schools throughout Australia. The panel carrying out this review is seeking community thoughts and opinions about the way Australian schools are funded. The N.S.W. Teachers Federation have three vans touring the state to raise community awareness and encourage submissions to the review. One of these vans is scheduled to briefly visit our school tomorrow morning, Wednesday, 17th November, sometime between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. We would strongly encourage as many parents as possible visit the van so as to become informed of the current funding of schools. Hopefully, following a visit to the van, school community members will be inspired to send a brief submission to the review.

Swimming School

Our annual swimming school for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 is to take place from Monday, 29th November till Friday, 10th December (weeks 8-9) at Ganmain Pool. Travel to and from the pool will be by bus, funded through our drought assistance money. We will depart the school at 11.45 a.m. each day and will return by 1.15 p.m., with lessons running from 12 noon till 1 p.m.

Pool entry for the ten (10) days is $20.00 , unless students have a season pass.

Please complete the attached permission note and return it with money no later than Wednesday, 24th

November.

New Storage

In an effort to reduce our ongoing storage issues, last week new cupboards were installed at the end of the hallway adjacent to the classrooms and in the hallway of the new administration block. They look great and will go a long way to alleviating the pressure on current storage areas. Many thanks to Lelia “Michaelangelo” Smith for her painting efforts over the weekend and to Adam “MOose” Symons for his professional assistance with the preparation of the area.

School Surveys

School Surveys

Many thanks to those who have returned the survey attached to last week’s newsletter. Two more surveys are attached to today’s newsletter. To ensure that all stakeholders in our school community have input to the formulation of Annual School Report and School Plan, it is important that we have as many of these surveys returned as possible. If there is not enough room to answer individual questions, please feel free to write on the back or attach extra pages. If you have an opinion on any aspect of our school that is not covered by the questions, please feel free to add extra comments. To allow for responses to be collated and included in planning for next year, it would be appreciated if all survey questionnaires could be returned to the front office no later Friday, 26th November. Many thanks in anticipation of your completion of these questionaires.

Presentation Night

Preparations for our annual presentation night are underway, with students doing well with their item. Dances are being fine-tuned and most of our leads are on the way to knowing their individual parts. Kristie Smith has kindly offered to oversee the costuming for the play and further information regarding costuming will be sent home shortly.

Mobile Library

The mobile library will be visiting us again next Wednesday, 24th November. Please ensure all outstanding resources are returned to the library box prior to the mobile library’s visit.

Answer to our last trivia question

Borambola is a (Wiradjuri) Aboriginal word meaning “meeting place”.

This week’s trivia question

What is the name for a male and female swan?

Ganmain SwimmingClub

First Training Session,

Wednesday 17th November

Squad Testing at 5pm for all participants

Swimming Club Street Stall, Friday 19th NovemberIt would be fabulous if all families could help with this by either cooking and/or by helping out on the day. Please

contact Kellie 0419276150 or Kerrilee 0427276377 if you can help.

Merit AwardsStage One Awards

Jessica Barrow Enthusiasm towards homework challenges

Mandy Costello Phonics work that is out of this world

Stage 2/3 Awards

Alex Costello Trying to make constructive contributions during discussions

Fraser Menzies Pleasing results in weekly spelling activities

RFF and Library Awards

Fraser Menzies Great progress in literacy

Jared Evans Always being a helpful class member

Bianca Burles-Clark Being a caring school citizen

Special Awards

Rosie Currie 6 Matong Merits, 2 book vouchers

Principal’s Award

Bianca Burles-Clark Fantastic commitment to camp activities at Borambola

Permission Note

Swimming SchoolI give permission for my child / children _______________________________________

to attend intensive swimming classes at Ganmain Swimming Pool from Monday, 29th November, 2010 till Friday, 10th December, 2010.

I understand that travel to and from the pool will be by bus funded through drought assistance money.

I enclose $ ___ for pool entry

OR

My child has a season pool pass.

Signed: ____________________________ Date: ____________