Tamworth West Public School

Principal's Report

End of Year Activities

With only a little over two weeks to go in this school year, we still have a lot of things still happening at Tamworth West Public School:

Carols by Candlelight

The P&C are once again hosting the Tamworth West Public School Carols by Candlelight. This fun event will be held from 5:30 pm on Wednesday, 7 December 2022 in the school grounds, adjacent to the hall.

The P&C will host some stalls, including a sausage sizzle, there will be some caroling lead by some very talented parents and a visit from Santa. All money raised will go to the P&C in support of the students at our school. Families are invited to bring a picnic rug or chairs, and to sit back and enjoy a casual, friendly end to our school year.

Presentation Day

We are celebrating Presentation Day on Friday, 9 December 2022. An invitation and information note were sent home with students yesterday outlining the details for this special event, including information regarding our rehearsal for Presentation Day which will be held on Thursday, 8 December 2022.

Please take the time to read through this information, as both of these days involve variation of routine for the whole school. We also ask that parents and carers try to avoid making appointments on these days, as we will be off site for most of the time.

We do hope that you are able to join us and celebrate all things wonderful at Tamworth West.

Year 6 Graduation and Formal

Our fabulous Year 6 students will celebrate the completion of their primary education on Wednesday, 14 December 2022.

Families are invited to attend the Year 6 Graduation assembly from 12:30 pm in the hall. At this time, students will be presented with their graduation certificate.

From 5:45 pm, the “real celebrations” commence at the Tamworth Jockey Club. Our Year 6 students have been invited to attend their Year 6 formal, with the theme chosen for this year being, “All that Class”.

Semester 2 Student Reports

Our semester 2 student reports will be sent home on Wednesday, 14 December 2022.

This semester, for the first time, we are using Sentral as a platform for our academic reports. For the most part, there is very little difference in the final product, however I have received positive feedback from our classroom teachers in terms of ease of use.

Hopefully this will make it a win-win situation.

Stage 2 Major Excursions

What an amazing time our Years 3 & 4 students had in Dubbo this past fortnight. Our students are very lucky to have teachers who are prepared to give up time away from their families and lots of time for planning to ensure they have a great camp experience. It has been lovely to see the photos of their big trips pop up on our school Facebook page.

Menstrual hygiene program comes to Tamworth West Public School

The NSW Department of Education is introducing a menstrual hygiene program in NSW public school. As part of the program, schools are installing dispensers that provide free pads for students to access during school hours.

Our menstrual hygiene program aims to reduce any barriers that may prevent students from participating fully in school life. Menstruation (and its unpredictability) may stop students from attending school or taking part in learning activities. There are also known health risks from using improvised sanitary hygiene products.

The program has been successfully trialled in 31 schools, with positive feedback received from Principals and students alike. It is now time to introduce the program at our school.

Visit edu.nsw.link/MHP to download a flyer about the program which is available in English and 10 other languages.

COVID-19 Update

Students and staff should continue to stay home when sick

On Friday 14 October, those currently in isolation were advised by NSW Health that they may exit isolation.

Students, staff and visitors should only attend school when they are symptom free. We strongly encourage all students, staff and visitors to follow the guidance issued by NSW Health. We will continue to send home students or staff displaying symptoms.

Anyone who believes they have been exposed to COVID-19 is strongly recommended to monitor for symptoms and test if they have any concerns, as well as wear a mask. We will continue to support our families to use rapid antigen tests (RATs) if symptomatic or if you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19. RAT testing may help identify the infection early and is important if you are in contact with people at greater risk of serious illness if exposed to COVID-19.

Reporting requirements from 14 October

Please continue to notify us if your child tests positive to COVID-19 as we will continue to notify the school community of any known positive cases to prioritise student and staff safety and wellbeing.

For further information about the COVID-smart measures in place this term refer to the department’s Advice for families page.

Please note that all of our school’s changes to isolation requirements are based on the recommendations from NSW Health. Anyone who tests positive to COVID-19 or suspects that they have been in contact with a positive case should continue to follow the latest health advice.

School uniform

Just a reminder that students should be wearing black school shoes with summer and winter uniforms. Runners and sport shoes can be worn on sport days with the school sport uniform. With only a few weeks left of school, it would be great to see school pride in uniform continue.

End of Year School Development Days

The last day for Term 4 is Friday, 16 December 2022. This is due to an additional School Development Day announced for staff across NSW public schools.

School Development Days allow our staff to participate in professional learning that was put on hold due to COVID-19 staffing pressures and plan ahead for 2023 to ensure we meet the needs of our students.

With this change, we ask that you arrange alternative care for your child on Monday 19 December.

As we near the end of the year, I want to thank you for your ongoing support. We are truly blessed to be associated with such a wonderful school.

Kind regards

Terrie Kay

Principal

Crazy Colour Fun Run

On 28 October, our school held our first ever Crazy Colour Fun Run. This event coincided with a fundraising initiative which saw our school community raise an incredible $28 171. A massive thank you to everyone involved, especially students who sought sponsorship and raised money for the event.

We are very excited to announce that Tamworth West Public School will be donating $8451.30 to the charity, Win the Day. The Win the Day organisation is a public, non-profit organisation established to financially support families with accommodation, meal assistance and one-off treatment grants, as well as to raise awareness and support the funding of research related to rare childhood cancers. The Win the Day charity has been developed with a clear mission to alleviate the financial and emotional stress and worry that families experience when they are already in chaos.

Our incredible donation will go towards helping 11 families with meal assistance for 3 months. The Win the Day organisation is immensely grateful for our donation, and on 5 December at our weekly Meet and Greet, we will be presenting the donation in front of the whole school to the charity.

The remainder of the fundraising efforts we go towards the construction of a bus shelter to enhance our school environment.

Once again, thank you to all staff, students and our school community for all your efforts in making this event such a success and for bringing our community together!

If you would like to find out more about the Win the Day organisation, please see the website link and video below.

LINK - Win the Day | Not-for-Profit Charity | Australia

Yaama,

As mention in our last newsletter, the school had organised a visit from The Star Planetarium. We are happy to confirm it was a great success with all students being able to attend. Thanks to the Aboriginal Education team for organising this experience.

Last week, the Tamworth High Aboriginal Support team paid a visit to our school. They introduced themselves to our Year 6 Aboriginal students who will be attending Tamworth High in 2023. The “Meet and Greet” allowed our students to ask questions about what to expect at high school and to explain more about the school structure and timetables. The team also encouraged our students to attend the transition day which will be held in week 8.

This term some Stage 3 students have been participating in Girls and Boys groups which have been organised through the Opportunity Hub. We meet once a week on Wednesday afternoons to engage in cultural activities. Over the last 5 weeks, students have participated in storytelling through art and dance.

Christmas Carols

The P & C will be holding their Christmas Carols on Wednesday 7 December from 5.30 pm until 7:00 pm. It would be great to see as many of you as possible. We will be holding a sausage sizzle, with drinks and snacks available at a small cost. Santa will also be making an appearance.

We will be having an informal dinner catch up on Monday 5 December at Calala Inn from 6:00 pm for anyone who is interested in joining us and finding out more about P & C and meeting some current members.

Thank You!

A big thank you to all of you that have supported us throughout the year - our amazing group of volunteers who contribute so much time and effort to the stalls & BBQs; those of you who turn up at Bunnings on our BBQ day for a sausage; and those of you who give the students money to buy Mother's Day & Father's Day gifts. We appreciate all the support.

We hope you all enjoy the holidays and look forward to seeing you at the Christmas Carols.

Wow, I cannot believe that this is the final newsletter for this year!

Time really does fly when you’re having fun. Kindergarten have had a busy few weeks and the remaining two weeks are also jam packed with lots of events.

Mr Cody Edstein-Boyes

Mr Cody Edstein-Boyes joined us in Week 4 of this term on his teaching placement from the University of Newcastle and it didn’t take long for Kinder to warm to him. Kindergarten have loved having a teacher so passionate about sport. Mr E has been running a soccer game each day at lunchtime for all Kinder students who were very eager to participate. Kindergarten have also enjoyed the sport lessons Mr E has implemented and have learnt new skills each week whilst completing our gymnastics obstacle course.

On Friday we also had Mr E’s farewell. Kinder enjoyed icy poles together and gifted him a soccer ball with all their names signed on it. We wish Mr E all the best in completing his studies and are looking forward to seeing him back at Tamworth West next year.

Gymnastics Program

Each Tuesday, 25 students have enjoyed participating in Mr McGinnity’s gymnastics program. They have impressed Miss Massey with their flexibility, coordination and resilience each week. Kinder have learnt to do sit ups, handstands, cartwheels, tuck jumps and explore different movements on the mini trampoline. Here are some photos from the last few weeks.

Math

In Math we’ve been learning about volume and capacity and have enjoyed engaging in water play to demonstrate our understanding of ‘full’, ‘empty’ and ‘half’.

We would like to say an enormous thank you to all the parents/caregivers for all their support throughout the year. We wish you all a safe and relaxing Christmas break and we will see you in the New Year.

-Mrs Wilson & Miss Massey

Kindergarten Teachers

Wow, what a busy term we have had in 1SD. We have been planning and composing imaginative texts with students developing some great ideas for their stories. We have also been focussing on editing our work to make improvements.

Mathematics

We have been consolidating knowledge and skills we have worked on throughout the year. We have had a special focus on understanding mathematical language to help solve problems.

Sport

Sport this term has been a lot of fun as we participated in gymnastics. We have developed our skills in balancing, correct landings, as well as perseverance to complete a set of movements.

Sport

Sport this term has been a lot of fun as we participated in gymnastics. We have developed our skills in balancing, correct landings, as well as perseverance to complete a set of movements.

All students have demonstrated outstanding effort in our classroom and they should be proud of themselves. It has been absolute pleasure being a part of 1SD. I have watched everyone grow in their learning and have enjoyed every little personality in our classroom. I am looking forward to spending our last few weeks together, continuing to have our 1SD fun!

Mathematics

In mathematics students have been investigating different ways to group a series of numbers and to explain their thinking.

They have also played some addition and subtraction games that required various strategies to win the game.

PDHPE

In PDHPE, Year 2 continued to attend sport sessions run by Peel High School. Some Year 1 students attended gymnastics and all Year 1 honed their skills in Newcomb Ball. Students learnt about ways to remain healthy and how to maintain a positive mindset.

As exciting as the end of the year is for everyone in 1/2H, it is also a time to reflect on the wonderful year we have all had and the great memories we have created, as well as the wonderful learning and progress all students have achieved.

At the beginning of the year, I was fortunate enough to have 24 amazing students eager to learn.

I personally love learning so it was fantastic to see the students develop a passion for learning throughout the year. We spoke a lot about challenges and accepting mistakes. I am happy to say the students now understand that mistakes are a way of learning, and we should never be deterred by them.

They are all amazing and should be very proud of their efforts this year.

As a way to sum up the year, 2P have a video to share. The students were asked: “What accomplishment have you achieve this year?”.

Mrs Lothian and Miss Hewitt have had a wonderful year with our sensational year 2 students! We have watched our kids strive to be the best versions of themselves, academically and as little humans who can make a difference in the world. A highlight of this class was the kindness and social support they have given to one another, as well as the celebrations for every milestone achieved. There is nothing more rewarding as a teacher than listening to the way our students encourage their peers and navigate their way through situations. The class motto was: ‘OWN IT, FIX IT, MOVE ON.’

We have seen some amazing writing by these young authors and the skills of mathematicians when solving problems! We want to congratulate our class for their determination, dedication and ongoing enthusiasm to achieve! We have loved being part of 2L this year and encourage every student to continue make the most out of every learning opportunity!

End of Year

WOW! Can you believe that we are in December with less than 3 weeks to go until the end of the school year?? The year has gone so quickly and this is the last newsletter for the year.

English

This term in writing we are focusing on revising some different text types – informative, persuasive and procedures. Students have been able to use skills learnt earlier in the year to demonstrate their knowledge. Well done Stage 2!

Mathematics

Math groups have finished for the year. The feedback and overall results we have received has been very positive and we look forward to continuing them next year. Some of our Year 4 students have also been working with Mrs Hammond to do some extension work in mathematics.

Presentation Day performances

This term in preparation for our Presentation Day, students have been working in their year levels to learn their performance piece. Watch out for us on Presentation Day!

Colour Run Fundraising Update

Well done to our school and Miss May for the incredible job they did in raising money for the school. We raised a total of $28,000 and get to keep $16,000 of it within the school. As a school we decided to donate some money to a charity called “Win the Day”.

Win the Day organisation is a public, on-profit organisation established primarily to financially support families with accommodation, meal assistance and one-off treatment grants, as well as to raise awareness and support the funding of research related to rare childhood cancers.

We look forward to handing over our donation to a local representative of this charity!

Dubbo Excursion

83 students, 5 staff, over 2 weeks of school! What a busy time it has been. Our students had a great time visiting Dubbo and Wellington including staying overnight at the Dubbo Zoo, visiting the Dubbo Gaol, Royal Flying Doctors visitor centre and taking in some experiences at the Dubbo Cultural Centre. We did a lot of walking, SOME sleeping but LOTS of fun! Thank you to everyone who made the excursions happen and to the students who were great representatives of our school. Well done Stage 2!

Year 3

Year 4

House Points

The house that is currently coming first is Wentworth. Will it stay that way???

Crunch and Sip

The Tamworth West Aboriginal Education Team have organised for fruit to be distributed to each class to promote heathy eating. Students are encouraged to access the fruit within their classrooms, however are also still encouraged to bring fruit from home. As we move into the summer months at the end of the year, we would also like to remind families and students that a school hat and a water are essential at school every day. Please check with your child that they have a water bottle and hat packed each day.

Thank you for your support with this.

Calendar Art

Calendar art notes and money have closed. All the artworks have been completed and will be handed out as soon as we can!

Thank you to everyone who supported the fundraiser for the school.

Upcoming Events

• Carols by candlelight: Wednesday 7 December (more information to come)

• Presentation Day practice: Thursday 8 December

• Presentation Day: Friday December (more information to come)

• Year 6 graduation: Wednesday 14 December

• Last day of school/Class party (Movies) – Friday 16 December (more information to come)

As always, thanks to our families for the fabulous support they have given our staff this year. Mrs Lyon, Miss May, Miss Deaves and I are so proud to have taught such a great group of students and we wish our students the best next year!

Thank you also to our fabulous team of Mrs Lyon, Miss Deaves and Miss May who have made a difference in the education and lives of our students.

Felicity Bagshaw

Assistant Principal, Stage 2

Wow... what a fabulously eclectic way to complete the 2022 school year!

In the last two months Stage 3 students have been involved in events such as Stand Tall, Mini Muddies, a visit from the Newcastle Jets, Troy Cassar-Daley visit and are preparing for the upcoming Presentation Day events just to name a few.

Stand Tall

The Stand Tall event was a unique experience. Guest Speakers spoke throughout the day about their personal journeys and the impact their choices have had on their lives. Students were entertained by nationally acclaimed recording artists. It is hoped the resources they took away in the show bags will be a valuable resource, as they transition to high school.

While the Year 6 students were attending the event at TRECC, Mrs Van and Mrs Flick supported the Year 5 students, they created some fabulous multimodal texts. The photos do not do the day's activities justice.

Mrs Van and Mrs Flick again supported those students remaining at school on Friday when the Mini Muddies competitors were offsite. It is testament to our school's culture that not only are the students able to be flexible during the variations to routine but staff. It is another disruption to the learning but invaluable experiences and opportunities that build character and add life experiences.

Newcastle Jets Visit

Another fabulous experience and addition to the variation to routine was the Newcastle Jets visit. These exceptional athletes spoke candidly to the students about their lives as professional athletes and then stayed to sign autographs.

Troy Cassar-Daley

In Week 9, we welcome Troy Cassar-Daley to the school. He will perform several songs and speak about the importance of sustainability. He is a proud Aboriginal man and talented musician who is successfully using his popularity to empower young people. He strives to share his knowledge to benefit the environment and ultimately the people living in those spaces.

Year 6 2023 Shirts

Year 5 students have voted for their Year 6 2023 commemorative shirt. The process has begun, with students' names being sent off to the manufacturer for inclusion on the back of shirts. Notes will be sent out early 2023, with a size guide and pricing. Year 6 students have enjoyed wearing their shirt and have worn these proudly on sport days.

2023 Leadership Speeches

Well done to those students who wrote and delivered speeches for SRC roles in 2023. Staff were proud and excited to see such tenacity, courage and determination. Any student that can deliver a speech to over 300 people, students and teachers, will be a worthy leader of TWPS for 2023.

Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Stage 3 staff for their continued support and encouragement of Year 5 and 6 students. Mr Willis, Mrs Flick and Mrs Van have all been dedicated to supporting the academic, emotional and social growth of the students in their classes.

Kirrily Milton

Assistant Principal, Stage 3

This has been a very busy term for our students and teachers with lots of different school activities and excursions.

High School Transition

Our Year 5 and 6 students have participated in different high school transition days which will help make their transition to high school easier.

Dubbo Excursion

The Year 3 and 4 students enjoyed their excursion to Dubbo and The Taronga Western Plains Zoo. They had fun visiting different places around Dubbo as well as going to the zoo. One of the highlights of the trip was getting to sleep in a tent and visiting the gorilla enclosure.

Mini Muddies

Students from 3-6D had a fantastic day at the Farrer High School Mini Muddies. They completed an amazing obstacle course and had lots fun in all the different areas of the event.

Presentation Day

We are now focussing on preparing for Presentation Day and working on different dance and musical items with our mainstream peers. It's always an exciting way to finish off a wonderful year, and we are all looking forward to it.

Jaylen Krog-Hazlewood

We would like to congratulate Jaylen Krog-Hazlewood on his selection to tour the UK and France in December 2023. After playing for the North West PSSA Boys Football team, Jaylen was recognised for his talent and was later contacted by the Western Sydney Wanderers. They have offered Jaylen, and other students from NSW, the chance to play against academies in the United Kingdom and France. This is an amazing opportunity, and we look forward to hearing how the tour goes later next year.