RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESILIENCE

Newsletter of the Leura Public School Community Volume 8, Issue 10 Term 2, 2020 Week 10

Coming Events

Week 10 3/7 Last day of Term 2 PBL – RESPONSIBLE Students wear RED!

TERM 3 Week 1 20/7 Staff Development

Day

21/7 Students return

Week 3 – *Education Week *Details to be confirmed

5/8 Cross Country Whole school

RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESILIENCE

From the Principal…

I write this final Principal Message for what has been a most

turbulent term, not just in the world of education yet across

the world more broadly. As we come to the end of this week and look back on the past few months,

I am absolutely overcome with pride as I ponder the journey we have all travelled together. No-one

could have predicted the tumultuous changes we have gone through this term. I’m sure everyone is

looking forward to a little down time after this disruptive and rapid changing time. This term has

challenged us all in ways we could never have imagined, yet also provided an opportunity for some

innovative approaches to meeting the challenges we all faced, and continue to face, with COVID-19.

I am very proud of the way the staff, students and parents have worked together in our community

to ensure the safety and wellbeing of each other, and the delivery of learning programs. I have

realised and experienced firsthand the amazing resilience and support of the Leura Public School

community. I share a heartfelt thank you to parents, students and staff members at school for your

unwavering support, words of encouragement and thoughtful feedback.

Staffing Matters

It is with great pleasure, following a merit selection process, that I can announce our new

permanently appointed principal is Mrs May Ptolemy. Mrs Ptolemy comes to Leura from Cambridge

Gardens PS, where she has been an Instructional Leader for a number of years. Some students and

staff have been fortunate to meet her already, on a brief visit to our school earlier this week.

I know you will all enjoy getting to know May when she begins at Leura on Monday 20th July.

After many years working at Leura PS and across a number of roles within the Department of

Education, Mrs Paula Forrester will begin her retirement during the coming holidays. We do hope to

see Mrs Forrester again during Semester 2 to wish her well.

Mrs Hutchinson is now on maternity leave after the birth of her son Percy. Mr Angel will continue as

classroom teacher on 5/6H until the end of the year.

Mr Horton-Hallet, one of our School Learning and Support Officers (SLSO), has moved to

Blackheath PS and will start there in Term 3. We will continue to have Mrs Baker as our SLSO until

Mrs Burey returns from maternity leave.

Mrs Rhodes, who has taught on K/1F this term, will resume her role as a casual teacher at Leura PS

from Term 3. I will return to classroom teaching on K/1F from the start of Term 3. Thank you to

Mrs Rhodes for stepping in so brilliantly during Term 2.

Mrs Jinks, who has filled in as a Relieving Assistant Principal for Early Stage 1 and Stage 1, will

resume her classroom teaching role on KJ from the start of Term 3.

Semester 1 Reports

Semester 1 Student Reports will be sent home to most students today. In line with advice from the

NSW Department of Education, our school reports for Semester 1 2020 have been adjusted to cater

for students learning from school and at home. Please be aware that all students may not have

covered the same syllabus outcomes or content during this period. The report will not grade student

achievement using the A-E scale for outcomes. The teacher’s comments will focus on English and

Mathematics as well as learning that students have undertaken in other key learning areas. The

report will also provide information about student attendance, their commitment to learning and

identify the next steps in learning. You will probably have one of three possible reactions when you

receive the report today:

1. The report reflects exactly how I thought my child would be going at school.

2. The report seems to be better than what I expected, based on what I see my child doing at home.

3. The report reads as though my child isn't performing as well at school, compared to what I see at

home.

RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESILIENCE

Please be mindful that reports reflect what teachers assess and is based on what they see and hear

in classroom contexts. Children are different at home and what you see isn't always the same as

what teachers see. This is not a reason to be concerned, rather a reflection on life. We all perform

and act differently in different contexts.

No matter what your child's report states, please be positive about his/her achievements and

supportive about where he/she can improve. Children are like sponges - your comments will remain

with them long-term. Be praiseworthy, positive and loving when you discuss their progress with

them. If you have a concern, frame your words positively e.g. "I note your teacher has said that you

need to be better organised for school each day. I am going to explain how I get myself organised

for work each morning...".

You have millions of reasons to be proud of your child ... celebrate his/her growth and achievement.

If you have any questions about your child’s report, please make an appointment to speak with your

child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. I acknowledge and thank all teachers for the way

they have assessed students and translated their knowledge of how each student has achieved into

Semester 1 reports. Leura Public School teachers are brilliant (especially this semester with

everything else that has happened in the world!).

Department of Education Guidelines related to the way our school operates will continue to be in

place for the start of Term 3. We will operate at the start of Term 3 how we are ending Term 2.

Any changes that occur during the school holidays in regard to the guidelines to drop offs, pick ups,

parents in classrooms and school events will be communicated via Skoolbag.

Enjoy the winter school holidays, take time to rest, and enjoy the company of your family. We look

forward to seeing all our students return on Tuesday 21st July for the commencement of Term 3.

Warmest regards,

Jodie Field

Relieving Principal

Congratulations!

Mrs Hutchinson and family, and welcome

Percy Hutchinson

born 19th June 4.12kg.

RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESILIENCE

CORE VALUES – Term 2, Week 10

Class Respectful Responsible Resilient

KJ Hunter Harvey Gustavo

K/1F Vivienne Orlando Cooper

1/2A Harlee Rhyleigh Abbie

1/2B Izabel Patrick Maddie

This year the Voluntary School Contribution charged to school families is $50.

These funds will be used to contribute to the cost of purchasing

literacy resources for Year 3-6 classes.

Total so far for 2020: $1204

THANK YOU!

It is important that the contact details we have on file

for students and families are kept up to date.

This includes phone numbers, emails and home addresses, and

emergency contacts.

We would appreciate if you let the school know if any details

have changed – email leura-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

or via the change of details form on the Skoolbag app.

Reminder from Katoomba High School to all Year 7 parents for 2021

If you have a child enrolling into Year 7 in 2021 could you please submit your

enrolment forms as soon as possible to assist with our planning. If you have any

questions please call 02 4782 2622 or email katoomba-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

and we will happily answer any questions you may have.

Thank you.

Katoomba High School

Administration Staff

RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESILIENCE

Congratulations to all those fabulous children who got through the challenges of online

learning in our band program! Our students are sounding great and we are looking forward

to the time when we can perform again.

Instruments Available!

For students interested in starting lessons in Term 3, the following instruments are

available: Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium and Percussion.

Please collect an EOI form from the front office.

Mr Connor

Wednesday 5th August It's time to pop those running shoes on and start practising

for the Cross Country Carnival.

This year we would like to invite all students to participate in

the Leura Public School Cross Country Carnival.

The carnival will be held within school grounds. Students will run particular

distances based on the age they are turning this year: 8, 9 and 10 year old boys

and girls run 2.0km; 11, 12 and 13 year old boys and girls run 3.0km. Students in

Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2 will be running shorter distances.

Please be aware, this will be a school-based competition with students not

progressing to district due to NSWPSSA cancellations of events. We still look

forward to celebrating students' achievements in physical activities and wellbeing.

RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESILIENCE

NSWPSSA Updates The School Sport Unit wishes to advise that the following

Sports events have been cancelled for Term 3, 2020:

NSWPSSA Cross Country

NSWPSSA Netball state championship

NSWPSSA Boys Touch state championship

NSWPSSA Girls Rugby 7s

NSWPSSA Rugby Union state championship

NSWPSSA Golf state championship

NSWPSSA Girls Touch state championship

NSWPSSA Boys Softball state championship

NSWPSSA Girls Softball state championship

Primary Girls Cricket trials

Primary Boys Cricket trials

The following Sports events have been cancelled for Term 4, 2020:

NSWPSSA Athletics

All Term 3 and 4 2020 NSWPSSA activities are now cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

Plus all NSWPSSA knockouts competitions have also been cancelled for 2020. The health

and wellbeing of everyone involved is paramount and at the heart of this decision. We

recognise the pressures that schools are currently experiencing and supporting staff and

students remains our highest priority.

NSW Primary Schools Sports Association

Important Reminder

Please note a change to

the dates for NAIDOC

Week 2020, now being

held in November.

Our annual Book Character Parade will go ahead

in Term 4.

The date has been set for

Tuesday, October 27th.

So start planning and creating your costumes

for the 2020 Book Parade.

Don’t forget, pre-schoolers are welcome to

participate in our parade.

RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESILIENCE

Students in KJ made thank you cards for our enhanced cleaning staff to say

thank you for all the work Tashi and Melissa are doing in our school.

We are very excited to learn that Ethics classes will recommence in Term 3, Week 3.

Sadly we have to farewell two of our teachers – Jenny Rubbo and Colin Day – who are no longer

teaching due to work and personal commitments. We thank them for their years of dedication and

hard work in the Ethics program.

This also means that we are now URGENTLY seeking more volunteers to teach Ethics or we will no

longer be able to run all of our current classes. If you are interested, or know someone who is,

please visit www.primaryethics.com.au/volunteer and complete the form. We are also looking for a

new Ethics Coordinator to start in 2021. If this is of interest to you please complete the form

above.

We are very keen to provide Ethics classes to every family that has chosen this option, but we need

to have enough volunteers to make this happen. Thank you for your support.

Petra Braat Ethics Coordinator

RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY RESILIENCE

Thank you to everyone for taking part

in the Stage 3 fundraiser.

Students and staff spent the school day

learning in their comfy pjs and together

raised over $320 towards this year’s

Year 6 Farewell.