Pelican Flat Public School Newsletter

Pelican Flat Public School acknowledges the traditional lands of the Awabakal people we teach and learn on and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS) recognition week

Next week is School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS) recognition week, where we acknowledge and highlight the important contribution our SASS make to our school community. Our SASS comprise of our Administration Manager Keryn Fairleigh Administration Officer Sally Grlyak, our General Assistant Rod Pink and our School Learning Support Officers, Tamara Edwards, Jennifer Mullins, Davina Lathwell and Emma Hibbard. These staff members provide our school and students with amazing support ensuring the school runs smoothly each and every day. Often their hard work goes unnoticed, however without them we would not function efficiently and effectively. The teaching staff will be holding a morning tea to recognise their efforts, however if you are in the office, on the phone or dropping a note to the school a kind word of appreciation or some positive feedback would be welcome. On behalf of the teaching staff at Pelican Flat I’d like to thank the ladies and gentlemen who are our SASS for everything they do for our students. 

Education Extravaganza

We have had a fun day celebrating education with everyone during our Education Extravaganza! I loved seeing all the amazing costumes students wore and the fun learning happening in classrooms. A big thank you to all our families for supporting students with costumes and attending events, and to our fabulous teachers for planning extra fun learning activities. 

Happy Father's Day

Thank you to The Local Yolk for their generous donation of the eggs for the Father's Day Breakfast this morning. Today the P&C held their annual Father’s Day stall. To all of our fathers and male carers, have a fantastic day this Sunday. Thank you to all our volunteers who make these events happen for our students.

ICT at school

ICT is integrated throughout all learning areas at school. Throughout the year, students will be engaged in using iPads and laptops, as well as a range of other technology-based equipment.   Each student has a personal account with the Department of Education (DoE), which can be accessed both at school and at home through the DoE portal. When students log in, they are asked to agree to use their account in a safe and respectful manner. This includes only accessing sites that are appropriate for learning and engaging with technology safely.   Internet safety is something our school takes very seriously. Responsibilities and rules for safe computer use have been discussed with students and any misdemeanours could result in a student’s not being able to access their DoE account.   

Mobile phones should be handed in at the front office each day they are brought to school and can be collected in the afternoon. 

Hats

As the weather warms up, students are required to wear a hat or play in the shade. Hats can be purchased from the uniform shop for $10. The uniform shop is open each Wednesday morning from 8:45am. Please ensure your child's name is on all of their belongings so that items can be easily returned. 

Stage 2 camp

Next week, our Year 3 and Year 4 students will attend a two night camp to Sydney. We hope they have the best time. 

Student toilets

Recently, the boys toilets have been significantly vandalised during school hours. This made us all very sad and disappointed. Students have been reminded that the toilets are not for playing in and that acts such as these takes money away from them and their learning. We ask that parents reiterate these expectations at home so that we can keep our school a clean and safe learning space for everyone. 

Staffing for 2023

As we head into the second half of term 3, it is getting to that time where classes and staffing for 2023 is being reviewed. If you know of any families who would like to join Pelican Flat Public School in 2023, please encourage them to make contact with us. We welcome everyone to your school. 

We are now taking enrolments for Kindergarten 2023. If your child is starting Kindergarten in 2023 see the office about our transition program. Transitions activities allows the children to visit the school each week and take part in classroom activities, allowing them to become familiar with our school setting and the day-to-day structures of a Kindergarten classroom. It has proven to be a beneficial for students transitioning into school.

If you are not returning to Pelican Flat Public School in 2023, please contact the school in writing to let us know. 

Mrs Leanne King

Principal of the magnificent Pelican Flat Public School

Our school assemblies are held fortnightly on Friday afternoons at 2:00pm. This is an opportunity for student achievements to be recognised. Our student leaders run the assemblies and each class takes turn to present an item or showcase their work. 

Our next assembly is scheduled to be held on Friday 12 July at 2pm under the cola. Everyone is welcome to attend. 3/4 will present an item and 1/2 will receive the Certificate of Excellence. 

Once kids reach the middle of primary school, the most talkative school tattletales tend to clam up, fearing backlash from their peers if they tell on someone. This can make it hard to get important information from students, even when the situation is dangerous or harmful. A student may feel intimidated by his or her classmates and not want to give the name of someone who hurt him. A student can feel scared enough not to speak up about a classmate who has been harassing him or her. They don’t want to be perceived as snitches or narks.

This is a challenge that faces most teachers. It’s important to teach students that reporting on a student who is harming himself or someone else is not snitching, it’s reporting. Explaining to our children that:

Snitching is:

• Trying to get someone in trouble
• Looking for attention
• Done because you want to get your own way or to damage someone you don’t like

Reporting is:

• Telling someone with authority about a situation that is dangerous.
• Looking our for your safety (both physical and emotional) of yourself and your peers.
• Speaking up because something is really wrong; not because you want someone to get in trouble.

Getting students to report can be extremely difficult. Even when their reporting was justified, they may be targeted by their peers as a snitch if teachers or administrators get involved.  Making reporting safe for students can require some creativity on the part of the adults in the situation. You may need to be creative, but it’s essential that we teach children that there are times when they absolutely should speak up.

The key to instilling a growth mindset is teaching kids that their brains are like muscles that can be strengthened through hard work and persistence. To reinforce that as parents, it’s important to praise effort over outcome. Here’s an example:

Instead of praising your child for a seemingly permanent characteristic (“You are so smart”), praise the effort they put into it (“You worked really hard to solve that problem.”) The first is known as people praise; the second is process praise. Process praise promotes an internal sense of self-efficacy because it reinforces that successes are due to effort (which the child can control) rather than some fixed level of talent or skill.

WEEK 8

7 - 9 September - Stage 2 camp

WEEK 9

16 September - Kindergarten 2023 transition session 1

16 September - Rainbow Dash

Week 10

21 September - Touch football gala day

WEEK 1

10 October - First day of Term 4 for students

WEEK 2

18 October - Kindergarten 2023 transition session 2

21 October - Assembly - CoE 1/2, item 3/4

WEEK 3

Ride Safely to School Week

WEEK 4

2 November - Kindergarten 2023 transition session 3

4 November - Assembly - CoE 5/6, item K/1

A reminder that students need to put notes and money into the red letterbox in the office in the morning before the morning bell at 8:55am.

Just a reminder that payments to the school; bookpack and subscription fee, excursions and sporting costs or anything to do with school activities, are paid into the school account, which can be accessed on the Skoolbag app or on the school website (https://pelicanflt-p.schools.nsw.gov.au). Uniform purchases are paid into the P&C Account (please see below for details).

NOTES DUE IN

• Canteen orders - due each Wednesday

President: Katrina Mackel

Vice President: Renate Heinzel and Katrina O'Neill

Secretary: Hollie Ritchie

Treasurer: Belinda Wolfenden

Uniform co-ordinators: Amy Logan

Canteen co-ordinator: Katrina Mackel

Bank details

Account Name: Pelican Flat Public School P&C

BSB: 032510

Account Number: 253979

Email address

pelicanpnc@gmail.com

Turn children's artworks, photos, hand and footprints into something they'll treasure for ever. Strong enough to use every day, they provide a lasting memory of childhood. Plates and clocks are 25cm diameter and made of durable BPA-free food-safe melamine, dishwasher safe and covered by a 40 year quality guarantee.

Plate $30 each

Calendar $20 each

Clock $35 each

An order form is attached below. templates are available from the front office and will be available to collect each Friday morning from under the cola.

Final orders are due on Friday 9 September 2022 to allow for delivery in early December.

If you are unable to do your day please organise someone to fill in for you. Numbers are available on the post on the Pelican Mums and Dads Facebook page.

PELICAN FLAT PUBLIC SCHOOL P&C ASSOCIATION THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Items available from the canteen at lunch after eating time (about 11:15am):

Fruit ice block 60c (Blackcurrent, Raspberry, Apple, Strawberry)

Smooze $1.00 (Coconut and Mango, Coconut and Pineapple, Coconut and Pink Guava, Simply Coconut)

Frozen milk cup 60c (Chocolate milk, Strawberry milk)

JJ's chips $1.50

Popcorn $1.50

Up & Go $2.00 (Strawberry or Chocolate)

Juice bomb $2.00 (Apple Raspberry, Grape, Watermelon)

Sea salt chips $1.50

Frozen juice $1.00 (Apple or Orange)

Thank you to all volunteers who help out at the raffles! We appreciate you!