TERM 3, WEEK 9 Wilberforce Public School September 19 2019

NEWSLETTER Macquarie Road, Wilberforce NSW 2756 Phone: 4575 1424 Fax: 4575 1096

Email: wilberforc-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Webpage: www.wilberforc-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Public Speaking

Last week we held our second Annual Public Speaking Competition. All

students K-6 participated in an intensive public speaking program in Term 3.

The in-class rounds allows all students to present their speech and finalists

are selected from each class to participate in the Stage Finals. Our Stage 2

and 3 winners will represent our school in the Hawkesbury Competition

next term. This year the growth of students, especially in performing

impromptu speeches, was amazing. However, the hardest group to select a

winner from was Kindergarten. Congratulations to all our students who

presented a speech this term. Many thanks to Mr Maric from Hawkesbury

High School and Ms Maunder who has written a full report later in the

newsletter.

Staffing

We welcome back Mrs Bean who has been on maternity leave. She will be

taking over from Miss Dossaer on 3/4B. Miss Dossaer will continue to teach

3/4B on Mondays. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Miss

Dossaer for all her hard work on Stage 2 this year.

Camp Quality Puppets

The Camp Quality Puppet Show visited our school yesterday. The travelling puppet show for primary schools answers all the difficult questions kids have about cancer, dispels common myths and teaches students how to be supportive and understanding of kids living with cancer – all of which prevents bullying and exclusion. Many thanks to Mrs Ruzgas for all her support organising the event and to all the parents and students who supported the Crazy Hat Day and Jellybean fundraiser. We raised $607 for Camp Quality!

Department of Education Enrolment Policy Changes

The Department of Education has updated the policy around the enrolment of students in NSW Government schools. This policy can be found at:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/media/documents/changes-to-the-enrolment-policy-for-parents.pdf

The changes will impact out-of-area enrolments dependent on a school’s ‘cap’ or enrolment limits. A parent

information sheet has been included in this newsletter. Please take a moment to read this information sheet and

familiarise yourself with the way public schools will manage their student enrolments.

26 September – Netball Gala Day (Stage 2)

26 September - Specsavers Eye Testing

27 September – Last day of Term 3

14 October – First day of Term 4

15 October – Interrelate (Stage 3)

16 October – Hawkesbury Rugby League Cup

IMPORTANT DATES

ICAS

This morning students completed the last of the ICAS assessments. The testing window has been greatly reduced this year with the movement to online assessment. Congratulations to all the students and we expect results to return to us early next term. Many thanks to Mr Ranger for administering the tests.

Why Do Children Need to Develop Good Reading Habits?

Reading is one of the most important skills a child needs to learn to succeed in life. Children are active, curious and eager to learn. Reading books can help them gain knowledge, develop thinking skills, develop positive values and attitudes.

Children don’t just learn to read at school, in fact, the home is the first learning environment for young children and parents are their first teachers. It is the best place to begin good reading habits. In this respect, school and home are equally important in teaching children to read. It is for this reason we have revised how the home borrowing system works for readers in Stage 1. Students may now borrow multiple books in a week and readers can be returned daily. You can teach your child good reading habits and motivate them to read by:

Have a quiet place where you can sit and enjoy reading together.

Take time to talk about the books you read with your children. This helps to establish the concept that

reading generates ideas, opinions and questions.

Write your grocery list clearly and ask your children to help you read it in the store. This helps build

fluency and sight word vocabulary based on things that are familiar.

Spring Fair Dancers

We had brilliant weather for the Spring Fair and our students’ performances were exceptional. Many thanks to the parents who came along to support our students and to Miss Dossaer and Mrs Ezzy for all their hard work in preparing our performers.

Tell Them From Me!

Our school, like many other public schools in the state, will participate in a Department of Education initiative: the Tell Them From Me feedback survey. The survey measures factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices. Notes regarding this were sent home last week to Years 4-6. You only need to return the note if you DO NOT want your child to participate.

We will also be participating in the Partners in Learning parent survey, another part of the Tell Them From Me suite of surveys (student, teacher and parent surveys) on student engagement. The survey asks parents and carers questions about different factors that are known to impact on student wellbeing and engagement.

The survey is conducted entirely online and can be done from most digital devices. The survey will typically take 15 minutes or less to complete and is completely confidential. The parent survey will be conducted between 20 August and 25 October. Although participating in the survey is entirely voluntary, your responses are very much appreciated.

The parent survey can be accessed at: http://nsw.tellthemfromme.com/cdn2c

https://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/images/FAQs/TTFM_Student_Survey_FAQs_Parent_and_Carers_T12019e.pdf

Have you say today at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/basc.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN results have been sent home today for students in Years 3 and 5. Over the coming weeks we will be looking at our school data to look for areas of improvement. If you have any questions regarding the test, please contact your child’s teacher.

Have Your Say On Before and After School Care

The NSW Government is committed to providing before and after school care to all students of public primary schools in New South Wales. As part of the reform, a parent web form has been established by Service NSW that will enable parents to tell the department about their specific care needs and to stay up to date with any new developments.

The information provided by parents will help the Department of Education to understand your needs, give them insights into where there are gaps in service delivery and help to ensure the extra places are delivered where they are required.

Lawrence Hargraves Maths Challenge

The Lawrence Hargraves Maths Challenge is designed to be an enjoyable and valuable learning experience where students can develop their problem-solving skills. This year, Wilberforce took out second place. Congratulations to Indiah H, Toby T, Maya W, William T, Stephanie A and Samuel J for their exceptional efforts.

Thank you

Graham Wilkins

Principal

NEWS, NOTES AND HAPPENINGS

Canteen Volunteers Required

We are still looking for Canteen volunteers in Term 4. At this stage, as the roster stands, we have only 2 days that

have been filled and the Canteen will be closed for the majority of the term.

If you can volunteer, please log in to ‘Signup Zone’ to put your name down. Instructions on how to do this have

been emailed out today to those families on our email list. If you have no internet access please contact the

school and they will support you in doing this. Please click on the link below to register.

https://signup.zone/hyPkE9pBoL2CQKr67?fbclid=IwAR14YXGn0Zu9itcwVQ-

n8SETg87CjphZYIn8KEjS27aH0f9KNqO2QjWyv_g

Please note: Tomorrow Friday 20th September the Canteen will be open for LUNCH ORDERS ONLY and will be

CLOSED for Recess.

To the Parents for all their hard work covering our new Stage 1 readers.

To Mrs Ezzy and Miss Dossaer for coordinating the dancers at the Spring Fair.

To Mrs Ruzgas for organising the Camp Quality Puppets Show.

To Ms Maunder for coordinating the Public Speaking Competition.

To Mr Ranger for administering the ICAS tests.

NOTES Home NOTES Due Hawkesbury Dance Festival – Ticket Order TOMORROW Friday 20 September

Interrelate (Stage 3) Friday 27 September

Rugby League Skills Program (Kindy –Year2) Friday 27 September

Hawkesbury Dance Festival Rehearsal & Performance Wednesday 16 October

Swim Scheme (Year 2) Wednesday 16 October

Outdoor Education Experience Camp (Stage 3) Friday 18 October

Specsavers Eyesight Screening

Specsavers Richmond will be visiting our school next Thursday 26th September. All children in Kindergarten, as

well as those students in Years 1 to 6 who have enrolled since October 2018, will have the opportunity to receive

eyesight screening at school. Good vision helps students become successful learners.

A note has been sent home to those students who will be screened, which needs to be returned by Tuesday 24th

September. If you did not receive a note and would like your child tested please contact the front office.

Soundwaves

Week 10

Term 3

Graphemes: Graphemes: Extra Focus Concepts:

Graphemes: oo ew

ue u_e u

Blend: yoo

two, doing,

fruit, beautiful, through

Rhyming, Word

building/Word families,

Correct word usage/Vocabulary,

Homophones: dew/due, bruise/brews,

Greek and Latin roots: fugio, insular,

lumen, luna, unus

Week 1

Term 4

Graphemes: Graphemes: Extra Focus Concepts:

z zz s, se; s si freeze, anxiety,

scissors; massage,

exaggerate; luxurious,

camouflage

Alphabetical order,

Contractions: who’s/ whose

Word building/Word families

Using a dictionary,

Suffixes: sion, ism

STAGE NEWS

Early Stage 1

This term, Kindergarten have continued to work hard on their learning journey. In writing we have the aim of

being a Fish by the end of the year. We now have 75% of students working at or beyond the end of year

expectation. With our growing writing skills, we are close to getting our first Shark writers!

Writing Groups at the end of Term 2

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Writing Groups at the end of Term 3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

In Mathematics we have the aim of being a Panda by the end of the year. As all students are already Pandas or

beyond, we are now aiming to become Foxes by the end of the year. We currently have 61% of student working

at or beyond Fox level.

Early Stage 1 cont.

We have finished this term with great results, and a great experience. Here are some photos of our Zoo

excursion. Thank you to the parents who helped us make this day an enjoyable one for students.

Stage 1

A very productive Term 3 is drawing to a close. Congratulations to Stage 1 students who have worked hard this

term. Learner and citizenship qualities are being discussed during library sessions and students are beginning to

apply these in the classroom.

In the Australian animals literacy unit, the students practised researching and organising information in the

structure of a report. The unit incorporated reading comprehension skills of predicting, summarising, and

visualising, as well as grammar elements such as adjectives, noun groups and compound sentences.

It was pleasing to see the development of public speaking skills in the lead up to the finals in the school

competition. Congratulations on a fine effort to all students who prepared and presented topics in classrooms

and in the finals.

Mathematics topics treated this term have been length, time, 3D space, volume, capacity, mass and area. TEN

sessions have further developed students' skills in arithmetic strategies.

The geography unit included learning about natural, managed and constructed environments, weather around

the world, indigenous seasons and map reading.

Our classrooms look colourful as art activities have focused on Australian native flowers. In sports lessons,

students have practised dodging, leaping, kicking, two-handed strike and they have enjoyed playing indigenous

games.

Thank you parents, for your support during Term 3. We wish you and your families a restful and enjoyable break

from school and we look forward to seeing the students refreshed and keen for learning in Term 4.

Home Readers

The students now have an abundance of home readers from which to choose. Thank you to the parent

volunteers who covered the new readers so promptly. Home readers can be returned daily. The best way for

students to improve in reading is to read every day and to experience a wide variety of texts.

Stage 3

Stage 3 have enjoyed learning about Australia, America and European countries in geography. The students have

been introduced to Minecraft and are busy working on significant, iconic buildings such

as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, etc.

In English, the students have been focussing on writing information reports; learning

how to identify key words, write topic sentences with supporting detail, as well as

summarise main points. From this they have been able to research information and

write their findings in their own words across other KLA’s such as History and

Geography.

Our work on Australian artists has produced lots of great pieces, reflecting the works of

McCubbin, Roberts, Nolan and Whiteley, just to name a few.

Stage 3 cont.

Stage 3 enjoyed having their family attend their classrooms during Education Week. They displayed their work

proudly and shared stories about their learning.

LIBRARY

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2019

Well done to the 255 students who have completed the challenge this year. Certificates will be given out in the

next few weeks.

Congratulations to the following people for achieving a Gold certificate in this year’s Challenge. These people

have completed the challenge four times.

Cooper A, Amman A, Aaron A, Ryan A, Jade B, Selene C, Fletcher C, Baily C, Zanda C, Zavia C, Addison D, Sarah F,

Ned G, Zoe G, Rebecca H, Callum H, Victoria H, Liam H, Lachlan H, Katie K, Chelsea L, Baily L, Hudson M, Georgia R,

Jack S, Willow S, Jessica S, Sienna T, Ben T, Emily V.

The following students have achieved a Platinum certificate. This means they have competed the challenge seven

times.

Andrew A, Stephanie A, Maddison G, Jessie H, Mackenzie K, Macy M, Adam M, Thomas P, Juliet R, Josiah S, Blake

V, Declan T, William T, Jazmin T, Sian Z

Public Speaking Finals

Last Thursday we held the K-6 public speaking finals. Two students from each class

represented the school and spoke in front of their peers. The Principal from Hawkesbury

High School, Igor Maric joined in the adjudication and commented on the high standard

of the speakers. It was also noted how well the students delivered their impromptu

speeches this year. Two students from Stages 2 and 3 will now represent Wilberforce

Public School in the Hawkesbury Public Speaking competition next term at Freemans

Reach Public School.

The results were as follows:

ES1: 1st Sam H, 2nd Emily D, Highly Commended Grace S

S1: 1st Scarlett B, 2nd Caitlyn M, Highly Commended Luke W and Brooklyn M

S2: 1st Emily S, 2nd Ashlee D, Highly Commended June B

S3: 1st Mackenzie K, 2nd Maddison M, Highly Commended William T

WEEKLY ASSEMBLY

Whole school Assembly every Friday 12:15pm

WEEKLY AWARDS

Bronze Ella W 1D, Aaron B 3/4B x 2, Brodie F 1E, Zara W 1E, Rhys S 2C, Mason E

1D, Dekoda-Rae B 3/4B x 2, Mia L 2C, Jacob A 3/4B x 3, Chevy D 1/2W,

Luke M 3/4R, Nathan S 2C, Sonny H 2C x 2, Ryder S 5/6C, Nate G 5/6R,

Renee S 5/6T, Joshua T 3/4H, Mason R 2C, Ryan S 5/6R, Caitlyn M 2C,

Charli T 2C x 3

Silver Aaron B 3/4B, Rhys S 2C, Jacob A 3/4B x 2, Chevy D 1/2W, Luke M 3/4R,

Nathan S 2C, Joshua T 3/4H, Caitlyn M 2C, Charli T 2C x 2

Gold Luke M 3/4R, Joshua T 3/4H

UNIFORM

OPEN EVERY 2ND Monday FROM 3PM. The shop will be opened next on: Monday 14th October.

Orders can be placed online through our online store at www.wilberforcepandc.com.au

P&C

Our next P&C meeting will be held on Monday 4th November.

Date Class Teachers

20 September 5/6R Mr Ranger

27 September Kindy Mrs Phillips/Mrs Dickerson

18 October Prefects Ms Tierney

CANTEEN

Please note: Tomorrow Friday 20th September the Canteen will be open for LUNCH ORDERS ONLY and will be

CLOSED for Recess.

Monday Wednesday Friday

23 September 25 September 27 September

Lorraine Plant Sandra Binks Nerida Plant

Rebecca Dutschke VOLUNTEER NEEDED VOLUNTEER NEEDED

CLOSED for Recess LUNCH ORDERS ONLY

Monday Wednesday Friday

14 October 16 October 18 October

CANTEEN CLOSED VOLUNTEER NEEDED VOLUNTEER NEEDED VOLUNTEER NEEDED

VOLUNTEER NEEDED VOLUNTEER NEEDED VOLUNTEER NEEDED