Newsletter 6 2019
Principal's Report
As we head into the Easter school holidays, I would like to congratulate all staff and students for their efforts. Alstonville Public School students have challenged themselves and experienced success on the sporting field, in the classroom, on overnight camps and whilst working with community members. Thank you to the many parents and carers who volunteer their time to support student learning. Without your commitment and dedication, many programs would not be as effective as they currently are.
Due to the school holidays, the next P&C meeting will be held in May. Look out for a date to come in early Term 2.
Crazy Hat Parade
Thank you to parents and family members who attended our Crazy Hat Parade. The children's hats were creative and showed an array of sustainable and recycled materials. Prizes were awarded by our P&C representatives, Mel Hart and Nichole Roberts; Chris Duley; and Kate Moore. What a fun way to end Term 1.
Term 2
As the School Development Day is on Monday 29 April 2019, children return to school on Tuesday 30 April 2019. School Development Days are days set aside for staff training. Teachers will be completing CPR and Anaphylaxis training with NSW Surf Lifesaving; undergoing training for the implementation of the new PDHPE syllabus; preparing for the development of 5-weekly learning sprints for the children; and reviewing our excursion policy including Work Health & Safety obligations and curriculum links.
NAPLAN testing
NAPLAN testing will be undertaken from 14 to 16 May 2019, with a catch-up day for children who miss any tests on 17 May 2019. Children in Year 3 and 5 will sit exams in Reading, Writing, Literacy Conventions (spelling, punctuation & grammar), and Mathematics.
Red Cross
Thank you to the Red Cross who ran workshops for children in Year 3 and 4 on planning for natural disasters. The children completed a workbook, engaged in activities and decorated a pillowcase which will be used to pack an emergency kit and have ready to use in the case of natural disasters such as bushfire, flood, or severe weather events.
Middle School Leadership Project
Mrs Wheatland, Mr Hutchins, Mrs Hartley and Ms Moore will work with students from Rous Public School, Alstonville High School and Alstonville Public School to design leadership projects with mixed teams from each school. The children will be attending a leadership symposium later in the year. Student applications close today and I look forward to advising the successful candidates of the outcome next term.
ANZAC Day
On Monday, we welcomed John McDonough from the Alstonville RSL Sub-Branch and around 100 parents and carers as guests to our ANZAC Day assembly. The school band and choir performed whilst classes laid their wreaths on the school cenotaph. It was a moving ceremony with high quality performances from the children and I congratulate all of our students for their excellent behaviour and respect on the day.
ANZAC Day town service – 25 April 2019
The ANZAC Day march will commence at 9:15 am on Thursday 25 April. Students are asked to meet at the Paddy Bugden VC Memorial at 9:00 am in full school uniform, including broad-brim hat and a water bottle. Please look out for Mr Duley who will organise Alstonville Public School children. Please accept my apologies, I will be attending ANZAC Day services in Adelaide this year. We welcome as many children to attend as possible to honour this sombre occasion.
Term 2 Excursions
Stage 2 and 3 – GRIP Leadership conference, 9 May
Early Stage 1 – Byron Bay Farm experience, 15 May
Stage 1 – Crawford House history excursion, 14 & 15 May
Stage 2 and 3 – Mobile planetarium, 19 & 20 June
Year 5 – Stage 3 leadership Camp, Camp Koinonia, 26-28 June
Dance troupe – Far North Coast Dance Festival, 4 June
Schools Spectacular audition
Thank you to our dancers, Katherine Buckley and Mrs Harris, who have recently filmed a video audition and submitted it to the NSW Department of Education Schools Spectacular for consideration. We hope to gain a position with the performance team in Sydney for the performance later this year.
Outdoor furniture
Watch out for our new outdoor furniture which is due for delivery mid-Term 2. The P&C and school have jointly funded three new covered outdoor settings. Further settings will be purchased throughout the year.
Student Led Conferences
Thank you to all parents who attended Student Led Conferences in Weeks 10 and 11. It was wonderful to wander around listening to the children present their learning goals, progress and achievements to their families. The school continues to offer children a strong choice and voice in their learning and reinforce their personal responsibility in the learning process.
Kate Moore
Principal
Parliament Matters
The Year 6 jackets were enthusiastically received
Over the last few weeks a lot has happened at Alstonville Public School. We had school photos taken, which will look splendid on your walls. We have finished the Interrelate program, for students in Year 5 and 6, which went well. Year 6 went on a leadership camp to Lake Ainsworth which was fantastic! We are sure everyone involved had loads of fun. Stage 1 enjoyed an incursion with a representative from Dolphin Dreaming. We also had a team of chess players go and play chess against St Joseph’s.
Our ANZAC Day assembly on Monday was followed by the PB4L assembly. Our cricket team played their third round match against Maclean and the girls represented the school in netball. Both the boys’ and girls’ school soccer teams played their first games against Wollongbar Public School. We celebrated the last day of school with a crazy hat parade. What a term!
Reggie and Lochie
Early Stage 1
Creative Kindy
Last week's sandcastle building competition was very popular with both kindergarten classes.
Stage 1
Dolphin Dreaming
Stage One had the opportunity to engage with Aunty Delta from Dolphin Dreaming in Byron Bay. She painted our faces with ochre, taught us about the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander flags and showed us how to dance. We learned why dolphins are the totem of the Arakwal people and that we should only take what we need when we hunt for food.
Thank you Keith and Barbara for attending as our Community Elders. We appreciate your time!
Riley enjoying Dolphin Dreaming
Wilson loved wearing the special ochre
Nahla and Zahara getting ready to learn all about connections to places
1 Fiji
Special ochre from Aunty Delta for dancing
1 Fiji
Marley and Toby
1 Fiji
Charlie and Aunty Delta
Stage 2
The Force is With You
3 India have been getting creative while designing products that demonstrate how forces work.
Crane Swing
Created by Matilda and Indianna
Push and Pull Park
Created by Kate and Riley
Tsunami
Created by Jacob and Phoenix
Stage 3
Genius Hour projects in 5/6 USA
The students in 5/6 USA have been given time each week to research a topic of their own choice. For the last few weeks they have been presenting their learning to their classmates. The students have taught each other about an incredible range of subjects such as the great escapes of Harry Houdini, how humans evolved, when and how writing was invented, the world's most venomous snakes, and how and why myths and legends were created to name just a few.
Gillian investigated the science involved in baking
Erica taught us how the brain works
Lochie told us how, when and why the colosseum was built
Year 6 Camp
From the 27th until the 30th March, Year 6 went to the Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre in Lennox Head for a school camp.
There were many activities for the Year 6’s to enjoy, these included:
· Sailing
· Ropes course
· Marine Studies/Snorkeling
· Archery
When we arrived, we were put into day groups for activities and then we had lunch. There was a roster for day groups to contribute by serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. You could choose to do washing up or serve the food. Delicious meals were provided.
The cabins that we stayed in were roomy, had two showers, one toilet, two sinks and two mirrors. There were 6 bunk beds to a cabin. The bunk beds were proper bunks made of metal and they actually had a decent mattress. I am sure that everybody was comfortable and felt at home although some people may not have got much sleep!
Everyone had a great time. Thanks to the teachers for taking us.
Jasmine
Walking towards the head
High ropes
Getting ready to sail
Snorkeling
Some budding Robin Hoods
Making money at the Country Fair
Pre-sailing instructions
Boys on tour
We were well fed
Beautiful Lake Ainsworth
Safety first!
Ready to come home
Positive Behavior for Learning
PB4L Student Survey
This week we surveyed students across the whole school to find out what kind of rewards they find motivating. Students in 3/4 Romania used the data they collected in class to create column graphs in Mathematics.
Our data collection
Harry & Audrey
Armanie & Max
Ashlinn & Jude
Week 11
Canteen
Term 2 Week 1
All Settings
Clubs and Groups
Chess Club
On Tuesday 14 March the Alstonville Public School chess team braved torrential rain to send ten representatives to St Joey's for a friendly match. It was great to visit our neighbours and get more match practice before our next big tournament next term.
This was the second of our monthly meetings. We look forward to again hosting our closest rivals here next month.
Chess club meets every Tuesday lunchtime in 5/6 USA. New members are always welcome.
We were made to feel very welcome
Dance
Last Friday the Dance Group, who have been practicing at lunch time, submitted online video applications for the Far North Coast Dance Festival and School Spectacular.
The group, who have only been rehearsing for 6 weeks, have worked hard to pull together an item in a total of just 3 hours work! If successful the school will be notified early next term. Information and permission notes will be sent out prior to the event which will takes place on the 4th and 5th of June on the Gold Coast.
School Spectacular will be later in the year and for only a select number of students if successful.
We wish them luck! It is great to see them having so much fun!"
Sport
NSW PSSA Swimming
Congratulations to Izzie Rowe, who this week competed at the NSW PSSA Swimming Championships at Homebush in Sydney. Izzie placed 24th in the state in the 50 metre Breaststroke. Well done Izzie, we are really proud of you.
Izzie is in the gold cap, in lane 7 about to start her heat.
PSSA Netball
On Wednesday the 10th of April the PSSA girl’s netball team had their first game against Wollongbar. We all played very well but sadly we lost 14-0. Wollongbar moved on to play Ballina PS in the next round. Good luck to both teams. Thanks to all family and friends for coming down to watch the game, we really appreciate it.
Charlotte
PSSA Soccer
On Thursday the two Alstonville soccer teams played a game each at Crawford park against Wollongbar and they both played an amazing game the girls made it through to the next round with a spectacular win 4-1 which was an amazing effort as the girls had too many players away and had no subs so they didn’t get a break at all and The boys unfortunately lost 4-1 in a amazing game.
Ava
PSSA Cricket
On Wednesday the cricket team made its way to Maclean for round 3 of the PSSA competition. The two captains walked out for the toss and MacLean won and decided to bat. Their batsmen were in an aggressive mood and kept flogging the ball to the boundary. Then in the sixth over Parker bowled a perfect ball and it hit the stumps. At the drinks breaks, MacLean were 1 for 85. we got a few quick wickets thanks to Cameron, Baxter, Max and Parker and did well to restrict them to 5 for 120.
We came out to bat but it wasn't a good start with our opener out for a golden duck on the first ball. Lachlan, Max and Reggie kept us in the game and almost saw us bat out our overs. In the end they were just too powerful and dismissed us for 35 runs.
Good effort, boys.
Max
Term 2 Calendar
The following is a snapshot of the events coming up next term. PSSA knockout games will be added to the schedule as they are made known.
Week 2 - GRIP Leadership Conference (Yr 5 & 6)
Week 3 - Stage 1 Crawford House excursion, Kinder excursion to The Farm, School Cross Country
Week 5 - Zone Cross Country at Corndale
Week 6 - FNC Dance Festival
Week 8 - Stage 2 & 3 Planetarium incursion, North Coast Cross Country at Nana Glen
Week 9 - Year 5 Camp
Week 10 - PB4L Badge Assembly
K-6 Crazy Hat Parade
Students, teachers and families enjoyed the annual Crazy Hat Parade which was held at Alstonville Public School Friday 12 April! We are constantly amazed by the creativity of our students and we hope you enjoy looking at the pictures from some of our students from the parade today.
WANTED: OLD LEGO
If you have any old lego that is no longer in use, please consider donating it to the school. Any donations (large or small) can be dropped off at the front office and would be gratefully received. Thank you
Angela Jude (Learning & Support Teacher)
