PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Cowra Public School NEWS
Last Friday our school was strongly represented at the District Athletics carnival with several students placing in the finals of their age races and field events. Madeleine Mulligan and Chloe Wolfenden were both awarded age champions for their respective age groups with several others being very close to winning their age groups overall. Mrs Duncan reported that the manner in which our students conducted themselves during the day was also outstanding with several comments given towards the wonderful support our students displayed for each other. Many of our athletic representatives will now travel to Dubbo on 29 August for the regional carnival. During this week we have had several classes being involved again in the cough and blow program to promote good health in hearing from correct nose blowing. Last night the school hosted a general public meeting conducted by the Cowra Shire Council. The proposal put forward was directed towards the change in street scape in Kendal Street causing the need to divert traffic for a period of three months. Vaux Street has been put forward as a possible alternative and at the meeting the school strongly voiced its concern on this suggestion. The school is worried that the increase in traffic flow past the school poses noise and safety concerns to the children of Cowra Public School. The school will keep parents informed on this matter over the coming months but would encourage parents to contact the council to seek further information and voice concerns if they wish to do so.
NSW Department of Education and Communities the students come dressed as their favourite book character. We encourage all children to be involved in this wonderful event and to make it an even more special day the children will be walking on parade down the main street of Cowra highlighting the emphasis placed on reading at Cowra Public School. Also next week we invite all parents who will be enrolling a child in Kindergarten next year to come along to an Information Night next Wednesday starting at 7.00pm in the Infants Open Space. This evening is an opportunity to meet the teachers and staff of the school and to hear about the programs run in our classes in the first year of ‘big school’. Also it is an opportunity to look around the school and classes and ask any questions. Light refreshments will be on offer and we encourage all parents to come along even if they are undecided about their schooling choice at this point in time. Mrs Kilby will be taking leave for a short period of time and we are delighted to have Ms Parker taking K3. Ms Parker who is considered a permanent teacher at our school has been looking forward to working with our Stage 3 children. We know that the children thoroughly enjoy Ms Parker’s
This week several students sat the University of NSW Maths test. These exams are open to all students who pre-register at the start of each year. The school encourages parents and children who have not been involved in these exams to consider them for next year as they prove to be very valuable to students learning exam practice. Next week the school is celebrating Book Week with Mrs Oborn being very excited about the Book Week Dress Up, where
CONTACTING THE SCHOOL Administration Office Hours:
8.30am - 3.30pm
School commences at 9.10am School finishes at 3.15pm Students are not supervised before 8.45am
14 August 2014
Term 3, Week 5
Dear Parents
lessons and strong focus on literacy and maths. Several of our staff have been involved with on- going professional learning this week with both Mrs Garling and Miss Hyde completing training in L3 (literacy). This program has been tremendously successful which is only made possible by the dedication of a wonderful staff. Lastly I would like to mention Joshua Pokoney who will be travelling to State Rugby Union Carnival as part of the Western Region Team. Josh has already represented Western League and is truly a great ambassador to Cowra Public School. Good luck Josh. Have a great week.
Brad Tom P& C Meeting Thursday, 21 August 6.00pm in school staffroom Everyone welcome
ENROL NOW FOR 2015 - Kinder to Year 6 A school with unique learning opportunities. Moving beyond the present by educating for the future. Strong traditions reflecting community values. For further information contact the school.
Kinder Orientation Orientation sessions will be held during October for students commencing Kindergarten in 2015. Sessions will be held from 9.30-11.00am Sessions: Thursday, 9 October Thursday, 16 October Thursday, 23 October Thursday, 30 October
Phone: 6342 2400 or call into the office in Vaux Street. PROVIDING EVERY CHILD WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY, EVERY DAY. Mail: PO Box 285, Cowra Phone: 6342 2400 Fax: 6341 1357 School Counsellor 6341 3078 Email: cowra-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Web: http://www.cowra-p.schools.nsw.edu.au DEPT.HEALTH DENTAL CLINIC:
1300 552 208
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Cowra Public School
PRIMARY ASSEMBLY AWARDS INFANTS ASSEMBLIES Infants assemblies will now be held every second Thursday, i.e. even weeks. The assemblies will be held in the Infants Open Space and commence at 2.00pm and finish at 2.30pm when the children will return to their classrooms. At these assemblies students will be receiving Merit Certificates and PBL awards. Every alternate Thursday (not assembly week) from 12.30pm until 1.00pm the Infants will be holding combined singing in the Infants Open Space. All parents are invited to come along and listen to the children singing.
PRIMARY ASSEMBLIES The Primary will also be holding their assemblies every second Thursday, i.e. even weeks at 2.30pm in the school auditorium. The assemblies will include the Year 6 Public Speaking and Merit Certificates will also be presented on the day.
COMBINED ASSEMBLY The school will be holding combined assemblies twice a term. At these assemblies the Infants and Primary Aussies of the Month will be announced and the children will be presented with their awards. The next combined assembly will be: Term 3 Week 8 (Thursday, 4 September) at 2.00pm
FOR YOUR DIARY AUGUST 14
Infants Singing
18-22
Book Week
20
Kindergarten Parent Information Night
21
Infants & Primary Assembly
21
P & C Meeting 6.00pm
22
Commonwealth Games Day
28
Yr 4 Bike Day
29
Regional Athletics Carnival
The following students received their awards at last week’s Major Assembly. PRIMARY MERIT AWARDS: Jacinda Doolan, Chloe Horne, Jack Croker, Shakiyah Howarth, Mitchell Blair, Daniel Hatch, Lavinus Howarth, Erin Moy, Tyreece Simpson, Lachlan Devlin, Cailin McKay, Abbey Smith, Le-Shane Williams, Chantelle Gee, Rebecca McIntosh, Murrieguel Coe, Telisha Beale, Aaliyah Ingram, Aedan Leatherland, Caitlyn Brown, Luke Wilson, Heidi Osborne, Jackie Kacarovski. INFANTS MERIT AWARDS: Zophia Eggleton, Kye Link, Taron McKeown, Braith Gain, Tia Hodgson, Zoe McKay, Jackson Smith, Sabion McKeown, Madison Cox, Mitchell Murphy, Ryan Kennewell, Montana Drage, Alex McFarland, Aaron Hall, Chloe Muddle, Mia Brown, Alysha Sheehan, Emmett Langton.
PBL AWARDS The following students have gained sufficient gotchas on the school’s PBL Program to receive an achievement certificate. The students received their certificate for being respectful, on task and safe. PRIMARY 75 Gotcha Award: Jacqueline Long, Nakeya Ryan, Erin Moy, Jessica Graham, Jack Croker, Hunter Reid. 25 Gotcha Award: Greg Brien, Ashleigh Saunders, INFANTS 160 Gotcha Award: Bar Niamh Webster 120 Gotcha Award: Ryan Matijak, Jim Hazell, Chloe Muddle, Bridie Smith, Sasha Paki 100 Gotcha Award: Olivia Kacarovski, McKay Sullivan 60 Gotcha Award: Alex McFarland, Lucas Dalton
YEAR 6 SOUVENIR TSHIRT Year 6 students have shown interest in ordering a Souvenir TShirt. The t-shirts will cost $25 each. They will be gold, with the design pictured above on the front and all the Year 6 students’ names on the back. The front design and students’ names will be printed in black. A note has been sent home and if you wish your child to take advantage of this offer please indicate on the note the size of the T-Shirt required and return the order form with $25 for each T-Shirt to the school by Friday, 5 September 2014. Please measure your child - do not estimate. T-Shirts cannot be exchanged. Year 6 Teachers
NOW ACCEPTING PAYMENT FOR:SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION:
$30 per student, with a family maximum of $60. Payment would be appreciated this term.
BAND: $10 per term Commonwealth Games Sports Day $2
STAGE 3 EXCURSION TO CANBERRA: Next instalment 21 August $50.00 Total cost: $272.00 $25 pie drive rebate has been taken off and outstanding balance details sent home.
KINDERGARTEN PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT Wednesday, 20 August 7.00pm in the Infants Open Space (entry via Brisbane Street). If you have a child commencing Kindergarten next year, please join us for this valuable information night. Kindergarten is an important year of schooling as children formally begin to develop their literacy and numeracy skills. Our school community will assist your child to adjust and help them feel comfortable.
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Cowra Public School
LIBRARY NEWS Book Week ~ “Connect to Reading” Week 6 18-22 August Book Week is held in Term 3 where we celebrate everything we love about reading. The theme this year is “Connect to Reading”. We will hold a Book Week parade where students are invited to dress up as their favourite character from a book. Many students (and parents) already have their thinking caps on. The Book Week Dress Up-Day and Parade will be held on Wednesday, 20 August. Children are invited to come dressed as a favourite character from a book. Participation is voluntary. This is not a mufti-day, students who do not wish to dress in costume are still expected to be in full school uniform. This year we are taking our Book Parade out of the school. We are going to parade down Kendal St, starting at the Post Office. Only those students who are dressed in costume will participate in the parade. Students are encouraged to carry a sign or a book to explain their costume. If you do not have the facilities to make a sign at home, students can make a sign in the library. Please see Mrs Oborn if you would like some help to make a sign before Wednesday.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL The Student Representative Council is a body of students elected by their classmates from Year 2 to Year 6 and includes the School Captains, Vice Captains and Prefects. Each year the SRC carries out fundraising to benefit various charities, including national and local organisations. This year, the students of the SRC have chosen to support the Cowra Community Chest as their local charity. To raise funds for the Cowra Community Chest, the SRC have organised a series of activities in which the rest of the students can participate. These events will be held over the next five weeks of Term Three. The activities and cost are as follows. Week 6 Week 7 Week 8
Bowling Skipping Volleyball
$1.00 per game 50c per session 50c per session
Sports Centre Sports Centre Under COLA Primary Tues/ Fri Infants Wednesday
The activities will be done by Stage 2 (Year 3 and 4) on Tuesdays, Stage 1 (Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2) on Wednesdays and Stage 3 (Year 5 and Year 6) on Fridays from 1.30-2.00pm.
YEAR 4 ROAD SAFETY PROGRAM CYCLING Many children ride bicycles, yet have little idea of basic cycling skills and safety, either off or on the roads. Each year children’s lives are lost in cycling accidents. Many of the accidents do not involve another moving vehicle and could be prevented through improved knowledge, skills and attitude. As part of our road safety program, we are conducting a half-day session of cycling activities at school for Year 4. To gain full benefit from the program, children with bicycles and Standards Association of Australia approved cycling safety helmets should bring them to school on Thursday, 28 August 2014. The helmet must be worn in the interests of safety and it is now the law. Children should try to arrange to borrow a helmet for the day if they do not own one. All helmets brought to school should have the child’s name on them. These basic cycling skills and safety lessons DO NOT INCLUDE CYCLING ON THE ROAD. All lessons will be conducted in the school playground. Their aim is to improve cycling safety. Please check your child’s bicycle for safety and discuss the way in which you would like your child to transport the bicycle to school. Parental help in the supervision and instruction of children would be most gratefully appreciated. The course will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and again from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., on Thursday, 28 August 2014. Children who are not able to get a bike to school for this day are encouraged to make arrangements to share a friend’s bike in order to participate in the bike safety activities.
Mrs Kathryn Macnamara SRC Coordinator
SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB
CUPCAKE DAY ~ RSPCA
Issue 6 of Scholastic Book Club was sent home this week.
When: Monday, 18 August.
The closing date for the book club is Tuesday, 26 August.
*** Please make cheques payable to Cowra Public School
Infants at recess and Primary at lunchtime.
Where: Infants and Primary playgrounds Feel peckish? Head to the cupcake stall on Monday to buy some delicious cupcakes. All funds go to the RSPCA to help abandoned and injured animals. Small: $1.50 Large $3.00
Medium:
$2.00
INVENTION COMPETITION Do you have an inventive child who is always coming up with hair brain ideas for making life easier? Does your child create loads of things with Lego? Does your child draw lots? Then this competition could be just for them: The BIG COMPETITION FOR INVENTIVE KIDS. Origin Energy company has been helping kids get switched on about energy for the last 10 years. Now, it's their time to shine. They want kids from Year 3 to Year 8 to tell them their brilliant ideas for their future. Three first prizes as a trip to NASA Space Centre in the USA. Nine runners up: $1000 each for educational grants and twelve third prizes: $4000 energy grant for their school. What they need to do There are no limits on how little or big your idea is. It could be a new invention, a smart way to save energy or a clever idea that helps people or makes their lives easier. Describe your idea in words plus a video or drawing. Describe your little-BIG-idea in 200 words or less. If you want, you can also create a 1 minute video or drawing to help get your idea across. How to enter? Enter using the form from the website: littleBIGidea.com.au Type or paste your text into the form upload your video or a clear image of your drawing, if you have one. Then enter your details and hit submit. Make sure you enter by 5 September 2014. Who can help them? Ms. Beecher is running a lunch time club called the inventors club ( Monday lunch times)- just for sharing ideas and guidance and to help those people who find it difficult to write. This is an activity that is NOT compulsory but students can work on at home independently. Raelene Beecher Learning Support Teacher Cowra Public School
SPORT DISTRICT ATHLETICS CARNIVAL Last Friday Cowra Public School sent forty two students to the District Carnival at Twigg Oval. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and all the athletes showed great sportsmanship while competing. Congratulations to: Madeleine Mulligan
Cowra District 11 Year Girl champion
Chloe Wolfenden
Cowra District Senior Girl Champion
REGIONAL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL DUBBO We have 20 students who are competing in the Regional Athletics Carnival in Dubbo Friday, 29 August. Please note our Cowra PSSA Zone uniform is black shorts (or netball skirt) and white top. Athletes will be issued with a number when they arrive at the Regional Carnival. Congratulations again and good luck to everyone. Shavaughn Duncan PE/Sports coordinator Girls Crystal Holmes Chloe Horne Madeleine Mulligan Natahsa Planicka Isabella Scammell Chloe Wolfenden Hallie Wolfenden Courtney Wright
Madeleine Mulligan 11 Year Girl Champion
Chloe Wolfenden Senior Girl Champion
Boys Gary Cheng Jayelem Cutmore Joel Edgerton Luke Kinsey Kyle Murray Marcus O’Connor Joshua Palmer Joshua Pokoney Trey Pollard Jumyah Simpson Mac Webster Cambell White
Students will need to make their own arrangement for transport to and from Dubbo. If you can’t take your child, please see Mrs Duncan for alternative arrangements.
Cowra Public School
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SPORT continued COMMONWEALTH GAMES DAY Cowra Public School has been invited to join other local schools in a special Commonwealth Games Day to be held on Friday, 22 August at Twigg Oval. We participated in an Olympic Games Day a few years ago which was a great day of sporting fun and was coordinated by the same company. Children will be allocated a country to represent and will then get the opportunity to make a flag to carry during the “Opening Ceremony”. Schools from the district are participating and it is a wonderful opportunity for all of our students to learn more about the Commonwealth Games and the ideals they represent. The cost for the day is $2.00 (The P & C is subsiding the day by $2.00). Students need to pay the $2.00 to the office before Friday, 22 August. Students will walk to and from River Park accompanied by their class teachers at 9.30am and return to school at 2.00pm. Students need to take their recess with them to the park. There will be NO ordered recess from the canteen. As the weather could be quite cold, students will need to bring plenty of warm clothing, water to drink and a waterproof sheet or garbage bag to sit on. Timetable: Details of carnival:
10.00am-10.20am Recess
10.30am-11.00am Opening Ceremony
Combined whole school ceremonies
11.00am-12.30pm Events
Primary and Infants combined events
12.30pm Lunch
Location - River Park
1.15pm-1.45pm Closing Ceremony
Cowra Public School Canteen will take lunch orders before school on Friday and deliver them to the oval. If students don’t wish to order they will need to bring a packed lunch. There will be a canteen available for parents at the oval. Shavaughn Duncan PE/Sport
TERM 3 SPORT A change in sports groups will take now take place on 29 August 2014 . I have listed below the sports being offered to the students and any conditions that will apply. During the cooler months sport will played on Friday afternoons from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. I strongly urge you to discuss the sports listed with your child and decide together what they should play. A note has been sent home. Please list THREE sports in order of preference and return the tear-off section to the Sport & Fitness Centre ASAP. Students who do not indicate their preferences will be allocated to sports where vacancies exist.
SPORTS ON OFFER Skating/Scootering
VENUE / REQUIREMENTS Skate-park (limit of 25 students) own scooter/skateboard and helmet is compulsory
$3 a week
drink and sunscreen
Netball
Col Stinson Park
Soccer
School or Twigg Oval
Oz Tag/Touch Footy
WEEKLY COST
drink, hat and sunscreen
drink, hat and sunscreen (shin pads & mouth guard)
$3 a week No cost
Holman Oval drink, hat, sunscreen
No cost
Walking for Fitness
Various venues close to school drink, hat and sunscreen
No cost
Indoor Hockey
At school drink, hat and sunscreen (limit of 24 students)
No cost
COMMUNITY
FREE GUINEA PIGS TO A GOOD HOME Phone 0427 953 443
ORANGE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION Come and try: If you have never played softball before or haven’t played for a long time this is your opportunity to come and see if you enjoy it with no cost or commitment to register. When: Saturday 20 or Saturday 27 December Where: Sir Jack Brabham Oval, Orange Times:
Ages 5-10
10am-11am
Modball
Ages 11-13 years
11.15am-12.15pm
Softball
14-19 years
12.30-1.30pm
Adults
2.pm-3pm
Cost: Nil. A free sausage sizzle will be available for all participants Contact Pam Kelly 0419 013 951 or Jacquie Lisle 0407 934471
COWRA COMMUNITY CHEST The Cowra Community Cinema is showing a special screening of Mary Poppins on Sunday 17 August. Time: 2.00pm Date: Sunday 17 August Venue: Civic Centre Theatrette Tickets: Adults at children’s prices – Single $6, Family $18 Available from Browse A While Books or at the Door Candy Bar available Dress up competition for the kids – prizes awarded for the best character! The screening is being hosted by the Cowra Musical & Dramatic Society.
PO Box 900, Cowra NSW 2794 Phone: 6342 1021
T/A Lic 2TA5695 Fax: 6342 4597
Email: info@cowrabus.com.au Web: http:www.cowrabus.com.au AUSTRALIAN GARDEN SHOW: Saturday, 6th September, Centennial Park, Sydney EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
WICKED: 11th October 2014, Capitol Theatre, Sydney - $210.00
BJORN AGAIN: 25th October, 2014: Canberra Theatre - $130.00
DIRTY DANCING: Saturday, 6th Decembmer, 2014: Lyric Theatre, Sydney - $190.00
2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS OPEN: Friday, 23rd January-Monday 26th January, 2015: Book early. EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
NEW ZEALND NORTH & SOUTH ISLAND: 18 days - Numerous activities included. Departing from Cowra 6th March, 2015. Returning to Cowra 23rd March, 2015. From $5,750.00 twin share
“Cowra Travel Takes you There”