Newsletter #1, 31 January 2014 - Patterson Lakes Primary School

NUMBER 1 – 31 JANUARY 2013
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
DIARY DATES
STAFFING
Fri 31 Jan
Preps 9.30am - 12pm or 1pm - 3.30pm
Mon 3 Feb
Whole school assembly 9.10am in the hall
Canteen Opens today and will be open
Mon, Thurs & Fri
Wed 5 Feb
Yr 1 and 2 Footsteps incursion
Thur 6 Feb
Yrs 3 - 6 House Swimming Carnival
We welcome Victoria Jones [Prep], Sandra Murphy [Prep],
Mark Drysdale [Music], Cecile Danne [French] and the return of
Mark Koppens and Sarah Alford to Patterson Lakes Primary
School.
Tues 11 Feb
First session of Runners Club 8.10am
ANDREW WOOD
Wed 12 Feb
Yr 3 BBQ at Roy Dore Reserve
Yr 1 and 2 Footsteps incursion
Mon 17 Feb
Yr 2 incursion - Speaker from the Chelsea
Historical Society Visit
Tues 18 Feb
Curriculum Free Day. No students at
school today.
Meet The Teacher Interviews 12pm-7pm
Wed 19 Feb
Yr 1 and 2 Footsteps incursion
Wed 26 Feb
Yr 1 and 2 Footsteps incursion
Mon 3 - 7 Mar
Yr 6 Camp to Coonawarra
Wed 5 Mar
Yr 3 Excursion to Scienceworks
Yr 1 and 2 Footsteps incursion
Patterson Lakes Primary bid farewell last year to Monique
Corcoran, Danny Wilkins, David Geake, Michelle Flinos,
Cam Gold, Jasmin Baker, Loretta llott, Sally-Ann Jackson, and
Marika Creaser.
Parents will be aware that Andrew Wood, a fire fighter and
emergency teacher at PLPS, was burnt during an explosion
whilst rescuing police officers from a Middle Park apartment
fire on Saturday 4 January. We wish Andrew a speedy
recovery.
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
At last year’s final assembly, the following students were
announced as our 2014 school leaders. I wish them every
success in their leadership roles.
SCHOOL CAPTAINS
Hailey H 6C and Brodie K 6B
JUNIOR SCHOOL COUNCILLORS
Mon 10 Mar
Pubic Holiday - Labour Day
Harry L 6C, Lizzy C 6A, Monique W 6C, Lily P 6A, Maddy N
6C, Yasmin B 6B, Lucy R 6C, Vicky N 6A , Hannah U 6B and
Bianca C 6A.
Thompson Tornadoes House
Harrison F 6C, Skye C 6C, Charli H 6A, Kye M 6B
Gladesville Gladiators House Captains
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Maddie M 6B, Chloe M 6C, Lauren M 6A, Nikolaj D 6A
Wells Wildcats House Captains
WELCOME BACK
Ellie S 6B, Jasmine R 6A, Jake B 6B, Jack B 6A
I would like to welcome back all families to the new school
year. I hope that the festive season was a safe and happy
family affair.
McLeod Mustangs House Captains
Brodie C 6B, Seth M 6A, Jenna H 6B, Zoe B 6A
Class Captains and Waste Warriors
Our current school enrolment is 754 students. I would also
like to welcome our prep class of 2014 and new students in
Years 1 - 6 to Patterson Lakes Primary School. I hope your
stay at Patterson Lakes is both fulfilling and rewarding.
I have included a small number of reminders below to assist
parents for the commencement of 2014.
The names of Class Captains and Waste Warriors will be
published in next week’s newsletter.
‘MEET THE TEACHER’ MEETINGS
‘Meet the Teacher’ meetings have been scheduled for Tuesday
18 February from 12.00pm - 7.00pm. Parents will be able to
log times required shortly.
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS
Just a reminder to all parents that teachers are officially on
yard duty before school from 8.45 – 9.00am and after school
from 3.30 – 3.45pm. A bell is sounded at 3.45pm to ensure
that students that have not been collected by parents report to
the office.
For new parents to our school, the following procedures have
been implemented in relation to student safety and children
arriving at school well before 8.30am.
Contact will be made with parents informing them that staff are
not officially on yard duty until 8.45am.
Parents will be asked if they can find other alternatives for
morning supervision.
If there are no other supervision alternatives, parents will be
provided with an enrolment form for Before School Care.
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
STUDENT ABSENCE BY TELEPHONE
The office encourages parents to leave a message on the
Absence Line [Press 1] when your child is going to be absent
from school.
WATER BOTTLES IN CLASSROOMS
Children are encouraged to bring water bottles to use in their
classrooms during class time. Research informs us that
children usually do not drink enough water during hot weather.
This can sometimes result in dehydration. Headaches, bad
behaviour and sleepiness are all associated with dehydration.
Bottles should be the ‘pop top’ style and contain water only.
JEWELLERY
Jewellery and make up [other than studs and sleepers] should
not be worn at school. This policy reduces health problems,
peer group competition and in the case of jewellery, the chance
of losing a valuable item or causing an accident. Earrings
should be of the ‘sleeper’ or ‘stud’ type. In some activities,
Workplace Health and Safety Regulations may require sleepers
to be covered by tape or the removal of all jewellery.
PUNCTUALITY
The school seeks the cooperation of parents to ensure that
children arrive at school no later than 8.50am to enable
classes to commence on time and without interruption.
If children arrive after 9.00am they miss important introductions and instructions to learning sessions. This disadvantages
the child who is late, and also impacts negatively on the other
students and the teaching time for the whole class as the
teacher often needs to stop teaching to re-explain instructions
to the late child.
Children who are late are required to go to the office and
obtain a late pass before proceeding to class. If children are
required to leave school early, parents are required to sign an
early leavers pass at the office.
Children who continually arrive to school well before 8.30am
will be directed to the Before School Care Program.
BIKE SAFETY
Bikes must be walked in the school grounds after 8.30am and
before 4.00pm. This ensures the safety of all students and
adults. Students who disregard this safety guideline will not be
permitted to ride their bike for the remainder of the school year.
The use of other forms of wheeled transport i.e. skateboards,
scooters, rollerblades continue to be banned as a mode of
transport by students to and from school. School Council
discourages students below Year 3 from riding their bikes to
and from school, unless under the supervision of an adult.
There is a $146 fine for not wearing a helmet.
NEW TIMETABLE
The school has redesigned the Specialist Timetable to allow for
35 periods every week to ensure the Computer room, Library,
Art room, Music room and school hall are utilised for all classes.
The impact on students is that recess is 21 minutes earlier and
lunch is 8 minutes later.
ONE BIN POLICY
During the past 3 years, students have been encouraged to
bring ‘nude food’ to school that has minimal wrapping. Most
food will be eaten in classrooms, with only unpackaged food
being allowed in the eating area.
The aims of the ‘One Bin Policy’ are to:
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Encourage parents to adopt an active role in planning
the types of snack foods, lunches and packaging that is
provided for their children,
Reduce the amount of material going to landfill,
Reduce the amount of litter being produced,
Reduce the cost to schools of waste and litter
management, and
Encourage Patto to be a good example on waste
minimisation practices
VALUABLES AT SCHOOL
The Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development [DEECD] does not hold insurance nor does it
accept responsibility for private property brought to school by
students, staff and visitors.
HOUSE POLO TOPS
Just a reminder to parents that House Day is every Friday.
Students are to wear their House polo top to school.
WHAT TO DO WITH OFFICEMAX BOXES
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
BOOK LIST BACK ORDERS
Any back orders will be delivered by Officemax to home
addresses. Apologies for any inconvenience that this may
have caused families. Class teachers are well aware that a
number of students will not have all their requirements to start
the school year and will assist those students who are still
waiting for their items.
STUDENT TEACHER – 4th YEAR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
This year we welcome Megan Rosenbrock who will be
completing her 4th Year Internship at our school. Megan will be
teaching 3A with Mrs Ryan and will be here for a significant
part of the year. Please make Megan feel welcome at PLPS.
SPORTS NEWS
The House Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 6th
February for Years 3 - 6. Students are to meet at school in the
morning at 9.00am.
Permission forms should all be returned to school by now.
They MUST be filled in completely - no missing information!
Students that have not returned permission forms will be
allocated to a junior class for the day.
Students to wear house polos, school hat, school shorts and
bring with them bathers, towel, sunscreen (applied prior to
coming to school), drink bottle, snacks/lunch, Max $5.00 for
canteen.
Students NOT ALLOWED TO BRING: mobile phones,
cameras. The only photos allowed are by teachers and
parents (of their child/children only).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Parents Helpers must have a current Working with Children's
Check and bring it on the day as they will be required to wear
it around their necks. Parents who wish to come along and
support and spectate will be designated an area for viewing.
Regards Kelly Laughlin and Michelle Conway.
NAME
BIRTHDAY
Sara S
29 January
Austin M
31 January
Jasmine M
31 January
Chloe L
1 February
Mackenzie M
1 February
Alexander M
2 February
Lily B
2 February
Charli M
2 February
Xavier B
3 February
Audrey B
4 February
Austin M
4 February
HEAD LICE
HEAD LICE - LET’S FIGHT THEM TOGETHER …..
If you find lice, do not worry or be embarrassed. Head lice
are a normal part of childhood - nearly 1 in 10 primary
school children could have head lice at any one time.
Most of us know what a hassle it is to treat head lice and
just how frustrating it can be when your child comes home
scratching their head yet again.
But parents can fight the spread of head lice by working
together:
Check your family's hair for lice regularly - once a week is
ideal!
TIQBIZ
WORLD’S GREATEST SHAVE
Thomas S of 6B is raising money for the Leukaemia
Foundation by shaving his head on March 15th 2014. So
let’s all get behind Thomas as he continues his fundraising
by donating on www.worldsgreatestshave.com.au and
searching for his name.
FUNDRAISING
SAVE THE DATE ……….
FIRST AID NEWS
A timely reminder to all parents and carers that we have
numerous students at this school with life threatening
allergies to certain foods. Letters will be sent home next
week with students who have a child in their class suffering
with a life threatening allergy, outlining what the allergies are.
SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2014
PLPS will be holding a Trivia Night on Saturday 29th March
2014 at 7.30pm in the school hall. Please feel free to
organise a table of 10 with your family and friends. The
cost is $180 per table. BYO nibbles and drinks and make a
night of it. Come on guys, let’s all get on board and make
this a night to remember.
One of the main concerns in our school is allergies to nuts
and this year we have many students with life threatening
allergies to various nuts, especially hazelnuts and peanuts.
Given that one of the main ingredients in Nutella is hazelnuts
and peanuts in Peanut Butter, I ask parents/carers to be very
mindful of this when packing your children’s lunch and to
avoid sending peanut based foods to school. We also ask
that you educate your child(ren) with regard to not swapping
food with other children at school, encouraging safe habits.
CANTEEN NEWS
Regards,
Rachael Grady - First Aid Officer
The canteen re-opens on Monday 3rd February 2014
COMMUNITY NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
Chelsea YCW Netball Club
Looking for new members especially in Under 9’s and Under
11’s teams. Training and games are both held at the CDNA
courts, Sturdee Street, Chelsea. Registrations and club
information Friday 31st January at 4.30pm at the netball courts
on Sturdee Street, Chelsea
For further details, please contact Sue Gales on 0408 058 031
KIMEKAI CHELSEA HEIGHTS OPEN DAY.
FEBRUARY 15TH 12PM
ALL WELCOME, DEMOS, BBQ, PRIZES.
227 WELLS ROAD CHELSEA HEIGHTS