MAGPIE MESSENGER TERM 1 WEEK 10

Issue 5 2020

Term 1 Week 10

Heathcote Public School

I never could have imagined how different our world and school would look today compared to two weeks ago. The school feels so empty without the smiling faces and positive energy that our students bring. Our staff are sad not to see the students each day, but love hearing their voices and seeing their work and photos through Microsoft Teams. Nobody in the school had ever used Microsoft Teams two weeks ago, and now teachers are delivering quality lessons each day using this platform.

There is no substitute for face to face teaching, but this online learning method gets us as close as we can to having the students back in the room. I thank all our teachers for bravely stepping outside their comfort zone to embrace this new style of teaching. There has been a lot to learn and it hasn’t been easy, but everyone is slowly becoming more confident. I particularly thank Miss Anderson for her hard work, expertise and dedication in helping all staff, students and parents to understand how to manage this technology.

We have been receiving lots of positive feedback from parents in the last fortnight and I would like to express my gratitude for all the comments, emails and phone calls. I am regularly sharing these with staff and it certainly gives staff a boost to know their efforts are appreciated.

Thank you to all parents for the effort you are putting in at home with your child. You are our partners in teaching and our transition to home learning would not have been possible without your valued input. Together we can keep our students learning and get through this difficult time.

Our advice around hygiene remains the same:

1. Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly. Try not to touch surfaces with your hands.
2. Sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, disposing of the tissue straight away and then washing your hands.
3. Stay home if you are unwell.
4. Maintain a distance of 1.5m between each other. 
   

HOOSH / P&C Meeting and AGM

Thank you to those who were able to attend the HOOSH and P&C meetings a fortnight ago. Our school is very grateful to the parents who have volunteered for a role on the P&C this year. There are still some vacancies and I encourage all parents to think about putting their hand up for one of these roles. At the meeting the P&C agreed to hand over $15000 to the school for:

·         Electric hand driers for the student bathrooms ($5000)

·         Landscaping in the school playground ($5000)

·         New books for home reading and classroom libraries ($5000)

NDA against Bullying and Violence

The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence was be held on Friday 20 March. This was an opportunity for our school to discuss ways to counter bullying and violence. As part of this day, SRC members handed out wristbands to students as they arrived at school. The key messages from the day were:

What is Bullying?

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. Bullying is never okay.

Responding to Bullying

There’s always something you can do to respond to bullying. You can:

·         Keep your distance

·         Don’t bully back

·         Tell the bully what they are doing is not ok

·         Talk to an adult you trust

·         Take time to do something nice for yourself

·         Have someone help you report cyberbullying

Being a Good Bystander

Bystanders can help too by:

·         Setting a good example

·         Walking away with the person being bullied

·         Checking in later with the person being bullied

·         Listening and staying calm

·         Using assertive but non-confrontational language

·         Distracting the bully

·         Helping the person being bullied to tell a trusted adult

Our Pledge

Heathcote Public School should be a safe place for everyone so bullying must be stopped. Our pledge is to:

·         Speak up when others need help

·         Appreciate others and be a good friend

·         Choose to do what’s right

·         Encourage people around us to make a stand against bullying

Reports

Term 1 Social Progress Reports will be available to be picked up from school tomorrow. Students may come to the school at some time before school or during normal learning time to pick up their report from the classroom. Some classes will also have some worksheets or a booklet with the report for students to complete at home as part of their learning. If you wish to discuss the report with your child’s teacher, please email the school and a phone interview will be arranged.

Dance and Band Lessons

We are aware that parents have paid for dance or music lessons that are not happening at the moment. We are looking into the options of whether these lessons can be taught online, make up lessons could be taught later in the year or refunds issued. We are waiting to see how things pan out and will be able to share more information about this early next term.

NAPLAN 2020

Please be aware that NAPLAN has been cancelled for this year for Year 3 and Year 5.

SSSMF and School Spec

We were very sad to hear that the Sutherland Shire Schools Music Festival and Schools Spectacular have been cancelled this year. We are hoping to have a concert at school later in the year so that our dance and choir students will still have an opportunity to perform for our community.

Take care and look after each other! 

Damien Field 

Principal

Harmony Day

On Wednesday 24 March, Heathcote Public School enjoyed Harmony Day with the canteen morning tea, as well as dressing up as in orange, their cultural colours or traditional dress. Each class talked about valuing the cultural diversity in our community,  sung “I am Australian” and created a giant orange letter to spell out “Harmony Week” so we were still able to celebrate Harmony Day!​

Miss Cattell

2020 Premier's Reading Challenge has begun. Each student in K-6 is encouraged to complete the challenge which ends Friday 28 August and will be recognised with a certificate from the NSW Premier at the end of the year.  The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students and to enable them to experience quality literature.

It is not a competition but a challenge for each student to read more and to read more widely. Students should record the title of the book and the PRC number on the reading log in their homework books or simply enter the books onto the PRC online student reading record which will be available to enter from 2 March.

Students must read a certain number of books to complete the challenge.

K-2 must read thirty books with a red, green or purple sticker. Books can be read by the student or they can be read to the student by the parents, teacher or older sibling.

Years 3-4 must read twenty books with a green or purple sticker. Books must be read by the student.

Years 5-6 must read twenty books with a purple sticker. Books must be read by the student.

Happy reading everyone!!!!

Chess Club is on every Monday morning at 8:15am in the Library. If your child is interested in chess please encourage them to come along to learn the rules and develop the skills to play chess. Each lesson students have the opportunity to play against each other and utilise the skills learnt. Your child may also have an opportunity to represent our school at competitions held outside our school. We look forward to seeing more students join our Chess Club.

Please make sure your child brings their library bags to school on the day their class visits the library. 

Mrs Pucovski

Librarian

Congratulations to these children who have received an Achievement Award.  Their names will be announced at this week's assembly. 

KA   Calder F, Ryan J, Slater G, Dylan M

KM   Essie J, Kye T, Will R, Mackenzie C

1B   Noah W, Jordan F, Phoebe P, Alex V

1H   Harlem W, Sarah B, Kalinda P, Jaden K

2D   Adrian C, Mila R, Andy B, Mitchell M

2G   Tyson W, Skyler C, Natasha C, Declan P

2S   Adriano V, Maddie N, Kayleigh P, Leo B

3R   Ella C, Lincoln C, Connor P, Makya D

3S    Imogen P, Charlton W, Seth P, Noah G

4A  Ruby M, Jamie S, Amelia M, Ellyse F

4S   Isla M, Chloe M, Lucy B, Chase C

5/6A  Malia B, Dylan T, Allee R, Riley W

5/6C  Harry H, Tommy M, Umyna C, Ryan F

5/6M  Jacinda M, Emma C, Harry H, Addison K

RFF   Archie P (1B), Lucas C (4A)

Library  Maya J (3S), Jacob H (2G)

LaST  Jacob H, Lyam P

• Blake D
• Hayley D
• Maddie N
• Milla E
• Xavier B

Congratulations to the following students who will be presented with a Silver Award at this week's assembly. 

• Declan P
• Abbigail H
• Mitchell J
• Madison S
• Lacey M

Congratulations to the following student who will be presented with a Gold Award at this week's assembly. 

• Nicole L

It has been a pleasure being part of our P&C for many years now. I look forward to seeing our P&C executive team renew and bring in more great leaders after our AGM. We have a unique relationship between our school and P&C and look forward to seeing it continue to grow in future. 

Beth Elliott 

P&C President

Many thanks as always for your support

Rebecca Bussell

Volunteer Fundraising Coordinator

Ph: 0428 439 794 E:rbussell@rockymountaineer.com

CLOSED 

Uniform shop opening hours:

Monday 8:30am - 9:30am 

Wednesday 2:30pm - 3:30pm

We only accept cash or cheque in the shop.

Reminder Flexischool orders are filled on Monday mornings.

Any questions please just ask! 

Emma Stokes

Uniform Shop Coordinator

0418 993 679

CBA School Banking 2020 - CLOSED

Watch this space for news about the great new Dollarmite rewards on offer in 2020 and look out for the Parent Packs coming home very soon.

Term 1 

• Terry Denton's Activity Book
• Mini Soccer Ball (size 2)

Term 2

• Treetop Stationery Set
• Treetop Handball 

HELP PLEASE! Apologies if I sound like a broken record but once again we are in need of some new parent helpers.  A couple of our volunteers are no longer available due to changes in work and family commitments. If you can spare an hour or so on a Monday morning just twice a term then please call Helen Holloway 0434120218. 

Thank you from HPS School Banking Team

Connie, Danielle, Helen, Leah, Lisa, and Silvia

Families may be asking the question – Is HOOSH open?  Whilst Heathcote Public School remains open, our HOOSH service will also be open to assist families during this difficult time.  We will be asking families to please follow the social distancing rules when signing children in and out of the service.  Children who have been attending HOOSH for the last few weeks will be aware that all children will be asked to wash their hands as they enter the service and also before eating along with other various points throughout the session.

As we continue to work this unprecedented time, and as things change and progress further updates regarding HOOSH will be provided via skoolbag or via email to all HOOSH families.  Can all families please ensure their email addresses are current and up to date.

If you require urgent casual placements please contact Alana on 0437 001 752 or email hoosh@live.com.au

Lauren Doel

HOOSH Convenor

CLOSED 

Have a great fortnight

Naomi Russell

Canteen Coordinator 

The P&C email address is

heathcotepublicschool@pandcaffiliate.org.au

Heathcote Public School 

Oliver Street

Heathcote, NSW, 2233

9520 8759

Email: heathcote-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Visit us on the web at http://www.heathcote-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/