Oxley Park Public School

Learning Together for the Future

114-130 Adelaide Street, St Marys 2760 : 9623 1375 : 9623 1340 : oxleypark-school@det.nsw.edu.au

Term 4 Week 9 2nd

December, 2015

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

As the end of the 2015 school year approaches, it provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on and celebrate yet another fabulous year of learning at OPPS. This year we have used funding to continue to provide extra support for students in all classrooms, have provided ongoing teacher professional learning in both English and Mathematics for all teachers, and made our school an even more exciting place to be with the inclusion of fixed equipment in Area 5 and Area 2. Mrs Tanevski has worked extremely hard with our K-2 teachers as part of the Early Action for Success initiative to focus the spotlight on learning for our students in all K-2 classrooms. One just has to wander past any classroom at any time to hear, see and feel the buzz of learning.

Our students have performed in dance groups, represented our school at sporting and music events, and have delighted us each and every day with their eagerness to learn. Mathletics has seen its most successful year yet with our students earning 809 bronze, 114 silver and 12 gold certificates. Congratulations to all of the students who have worked hard all year long to improve their numeracy skills.

Just last week, we participated in White Ribbon Day, a very important initiative which focuses on the safety of women and children in the home. We were so fortunate to have rugby league legend, Mark Geyer, attend and speak about the importance of this event. Our students had such a wonderful time participating in a whole range of activities from hair spraying and origami to the oz tag and tug-o-war. The day was a huge success in raising awareness. A special ‘thank you’ to Mr Van den Dolder for his organisation.

Today our students had yet another fantastic time at the annual Year 6 fundraiser, Pedlar’s Day. Well done to our Year 6 students and teachers for organising such a successful and fun event. High school is around the corner and it is great to see our Year 6 students working hard as a team, and develop important lifelong skills of working cooperatively.

Last week we farewelled our principal, Mrs Annett. Mrs Annett has always put the needs of our students at the core of everything we do here at OPPS and we wish her all the very best at her new appointment as principal at Stewart House.

It is with great sadness that I also will be farewelling OPPS at the end of the year to take up a new position at Regentville PS. Seven years has flown and I have had the opportunity in that time to work with amazing students and teachers and a highly supportive school community.

Mr Van Den Dolder will be relieving Principal, and Mrs Oxley will be Relieving DP while we await the appointment of the new Principal.

This will be the last ‘big’ newsletter of the year, but please look at next week’s newsletter for any final information for the year and our app will also keep you updated with any necessary news.

Regards,

Jodi Bennett (Relieving) Principal

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Notes sent home this fortnight Have you returned?

Year 6 Farewell and Signature Bears

Calendar

Week 11 Week 1 Term 1 2016

15th Dec

16th Dec

Year 6 Farewell 6pm Last Day Students

27th Jan

28th Jan

Staff Return Students Return - Years 1 to 6

Oxley Park End of Year Christmas Concert Just a reminder that Oxley Park’s End of Year Concert is being held next Wednesday evening at 5:30pm. Please have your children to their classroom or designated holding space by 5:00pm to get costumes on. K-2 students will get ready in their classroom, Year 3 and 4 students the hall and Year 5 and 6 students the library. Once students are dressed and ready they will be able to sit with you and watch the show until their class/stage is called to perform. Once your child has performed and returned any borrowed costumes they will be sent back to sit with you. The P & C will be selling sausage sandwiches and drinks from 5pm. See the P & C news for more information. In the event of wet weather a backup date has been scheduled for Monday 14

th of December at 9:15.

Please note this will be a day performance! We will notify everyone via the school app if the concert is to be postponed.

In preparation for our end of year Christmas concert students will require the following items for their performance.

Preschool: Boys: White or black t-shirt and dark coloured shorts.

Girls: White or black t-shirt and shorts (skirts will be provided)

Kindergarten: Girls: Coloured skirts with white shirts

Boys: Jeans with white shirt

Year 1: Boys: black pants or shorts, plain white t-shirt. Hair spiked

Girls: Plain black or white t-shirt, black legging (skirt will be provided). Hair in pony tail

Year 2: All students black pants, shorts or skirts and bright coloured t-shirt.

Year 3:

3S All students black pants, shorts or skirts and black t-shirt.

3B All students black pants, shorts or skirts and bright coloured t-shirt.

3/4C and 4H All students denim shorts or jeans (no skirts). White t-shirt or flannelette shirt, sneakers and if they wish to wear a

cowboy/cowgirl hat. Girls to have hair in pig tails plaited.

4/5M All students black pants and black t-shirt

5D All students in black pants, shorts or skirts.

Boys black t-shirt

Girls Tops as per note provided to them by Miss Derigo

5/6H Boys: black or dark blue pants, short. Black or dark blue plain singlet or t-shirt.

Girls: Bright coloured shirts or dresses that flair out or plain coloured t-shirt with a skirt.

6J All students in black and white clothing with a black hat and joggers

6L All students black pants (no tights) and baseball cap.

Girls: Plain white singlet top

Boys: Plain white t-shirt

Mrs Luzak’s Dance group

Skin coloured tights.

Miss Rositano’s Dance group

Black pants and black singlet top.

If you have any questions, please see your child’s class teacher. We don’t expect any parents or carers to be out of pocket and

teachers are happy to discuss costumes with you. If your child does not own the suggested item, wearing something as close to

that as possible is more than fine.

Week 9 Week 10

2nd

Dec

Pedlars’ Day

7th Dec

8th Dec

9th Dec

10th Dec

11th Dec

Presentation Day Gold movie day Christmas Concert 5:30pm Koori Yarn Time Excursion to Barangaroo Talent Quest Finals Party Day

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High School Transition Days The following Year 6 students have had the opportunity to spend some extra time at their high school. I liked making some new friends who showed me around the school – Madison The best part of my transition was making pizza muffins in cooking class – Jaz I enjoyed making a key ring in metal and woodwork class – Lauren I liked making some new friends and playing kickball with them – Braedon I enjoyed learning how to make pizza muffins in cooking class – Blake Making new friends for next year was my favourite part of the day – Peter Playing kickball with my new friends for next year was the best part of my transition - Tahlia

Australian Pioneer Village

On Tuesday 17th November all of stage one went on an excursion to the Australian Pioneer Village.

First we got on a bus and drove a long way to get there.

Then a man called Kevin talked to us about sheep in the sheep shed. He told us that you can’t dye a black sheep’s wool.

Next we did lots of activities. We went to the blacksmith, made some butter, pumped water into a bucket and we got to ride on a

horse called Ned.

Finally we walked around the old village, had our lunch and piece of bread with butter that we made before we went on the bus to

go back to school.

Live Mathletics Leaderboard for this fortnight

Leading the way………..Ma Ayiana

Tristan B 3/4S

Jack J 3/4S

Ryan K 3/4S

Ashleigh M 3/4S

Daniel M 3/4S

Eve N 3/4S

Sarah N 2C

Reece R 3/4S

Jasmine S 3/4S

Savannah T 2/3M

Chelsea W 3/4S

Who led the way for 2015?

The following students are the overall leaders for Live Mathletics for 2015. Congratulations!!!!!!!!

Ma Ayiana 3/4S

Blake D 6J

Emily G 3/4S

Ashleigh M 3/4S

Moeed M 2/3M

Daniel M 3/4S

Chase M 2/3M

Viresha S 1H

Isaac T 4H

Savannah 2/3M

EAL/D Cooking Demonstrations The EAL/D cooking demonstration has been postponed to next year as the hall is heavily booked for end of year activities. We will resume these gatherings in 2016 so keep an eye on the newsletter and app. Thank you to all the enthusiastic families who attended our first get together and see you next year! Mrs Konarew Aboriginal Excursion Don’t forget the Aboriginal family excursion is on next week on Thursday, 10

th December. Please be at school at

8.15am so we can leave promptly at 8.30am. School students need to wear a school uniform. Please bring a hat, food and water. Closed in shoes will also be needed. Extra notes are available from the office. If torrential rain occurs on the day the excursion will be cancelled. If there is light rain all children and families are asked to bring raincoats and or umbrellas. If you have any questions please see Mrs Konarew.

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News from the Library Congratulations to the following students that have made it to 10 borrows from the school library.

5D Alyssa, Samuel, Samiya, Lily KS Olivia 1R Amber 4H Kassidy

KP Dylan 4/5M Mhac 3B Tuqiri, Kaycee, Meagan 1H Ellaousie, Roma

2C Madisen, Tyler, Logan 1A Ciara, Brookyn 3S Tahnee, Brayden, Gemma, Janis

6L Makailah, Alicia, Baelie, Blake, Namra, Casey

Congratulations to the students listed below on reaching 20 borrows from the school library.

6J Lachlan B, Lannery, Blake, Bianca, Amelia, Jacob, Madison, Safia, Declan, Patrik 6L Sione

3B Abdullah, Melody, Anastasia, Lenny, Amy, Rana, Shanel, Amir, Hayley, Ciara, Shayla, Monique, Caleb, Taylah, Emallie, John-

Paul

2C Hrithik, Nawal, Tobias 3/4S Ryan B, Ayiana, Ethan, Laura, Ryan K 1A Mariam, Sunia

5/6H Elyzah, Christina, Robert, Emily P, Dylan 5D Talisha, Chelsea, Kyan

3S Kiera, Eboni, Izayah, Elizabeth, Simran, Khodi, Paige, Brock M, Marvin, Joseph, Zach

KS Phoenix. Mahrosh, Clarissa, Mae, Genevieve 2R Wyatt, Koshin

4H Preston, Keanan, Isaac, Ali, Mackenzie, Atem, Taimata, Hooria, Riley KW Lucas, Braden

1L Rema 4/5M Angel, Madison, Umeed, Huzaifah, Taylah, Mason, Pati, Domnick

Congratulations to these students that have achieved 30 borrows from the school library.

6J Tianah, Carlin, Samr, Michelle, Isaiah, Chelsea

5D Dylan

Congratulations to Cody from 6J who is the student that has borrowed the most from the library. At the last count Cody

was up to 45 borrows from the library.

New Library Operating System

The library has a new operating system that went live in October. Over the past 2 months Miss Manwaring has been learning the

system and getting an understanding of the tasks it can do.

As a result, the new system allows notes to be produced and mailed to parents showing both overdue books that your child has

borrowed and those books that are not currently overdue but rather borrowed in your child’s name.

In the new few days these letters will be arriving in your letterbox. Please do not panic. It is a new system which will happen at the

end of every year. If you can locate the book, please return it to the library placing it on the bench. If the books are unable to be

found in the house please pay the amount as indicated on the letter.

Currently there are 707 books borrowed and/or overdue from the school library. If these books are not returned, the library will be

missing about $67,000 worth of books and it does not have the funds to purchase books to replace those lost. Your help in this

matter is appreciated

Miss Manwaring Teacher Librarian

RSL Library Donation

Oxley Park Public School is extremely grateful for the generous donations that the RSL St Marys Sub Branch has donated to us

over the years. They supported the library again this year by donating a generous $500 towards books in the library. Our School

Captains were invited to the presentation of the donation. This photo below shows the School Captains and three of the gentlemen

who represented the RSL St Marys Sub Branch responsible for the generous donation.

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White Ribbon Day Last Wednesday we were able to welcome rugby league legend Mark Geyer to the school to help us recognise White Ribbon Day and the importance of the message that violence against women and children is totally unacceptable. On hand we had members of staff, our wonderful Penrith Panthers assistants, school parents and police officers taking the oath to stand up against violence in the home and community. Many thanks go to Mr Matikainen, Mr Ellerington and Mr Chaplin for volunteering to represent the parents of Oxley Park. Following the ceremony we had plenty of entertainment to help us through the hot afternoon, and nothing was more popular than the water spray tent rigged up by Mr McInally. In addition, we had fairy floss, balloon twisting, origami, drumming, tug of war, face painting, hair dye, plenty of games and even our reptile man to keep the children entertained with crocodiles and snakes. Apparently snakes make a terrific addition when worn as a hat or scarf! Many thanks to the staff for helping out so enthusiastically. The children enjoyed a great day and a strong message was sent about the importance of White Ribbon Day

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P & C News The P & C will be having their Christmas BBQ at the Christmas concert on Wednesday 9

th December.

The cost is: sausage sizzle $2.00 and a can of drink $2.00. The P & C are working alongside Mission Australia this Christmas to help the families in the community who are less fortunate. We are asking for donations of non-perishable items so we can make up hampers. We are also asking for toys for children 1 – 16 years up to the value of $10.00. These items can be left at the canteen until the 11th December. We thank you for your continued support. Christmas Raffle The P & C will be holding a Christmas raffle. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. The raffle will be drawn on 9

th

December, 2015. All money raised must be returned to school by the 4th December, 2015.

Canteen News This is a reminder that the Canteen will be closed on the last day of school, Wednesday 16

th December, 2015

The School Opal card The School Opal card will officially launch its new online application for relevant parents and students travelling in the Opal public transport region on Monday 2 November. The application can be found at [transportnsw.info/schoolstudents]transportnsw.info/school-students Just like current paper travel passes, the School Opal card gives eligible students free travel to and from school on school days. However, the School Opal card makes travel simpler, because now students don’t need multiple application forms and passes if they use different transport operators within the Opal network. Students with school travel passes this year will not need to apply for a School Opal card unless they are changing schools, campus, their home address or moving from year 2 to 3 or year 6 to 7. Those students who do not need to apply will have a School Opal card sent to your school for the beginning of the first term in 2016.

Parents Count Too’

Did you know that through everyday activities and play situations your child will naturally use numbers. As your child’s first teacher, you can help support their development of addition and subtraction skills and strategies outside of the classroom.

This weeks ‘take home’ idea:

Look for patterns in the numbers on a calendar. Pose, ‘Why do these patterns occur

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PARTY DAY

Dear Parents and Caregivers, On Friday 11

th December all students at Oxley Park will be having their class parties.

All children from Kindergarten to Year 4 will be having Pizza, drink and an ice- block. (Vegetarian option is available) Students in Years 5 and 6 will be having hot chips, bread roll, drink and an ice-block The cost for each child is $5. The rest is subsidised by the school. All children are encouraged to wear mufti and join in the celebration with their class. Please fill in the form below and return it, with payment of $5, to your child/children’s class teacher/s before Monday 7

th December.

PARTY DAY

Child’s Name --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Class -----------------------------

Any allergies ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vegetarian option for pizza ----------------------------------------------------------------

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