Narrabri West Public School

Our next merit award assembly will be held on Friday 3rd July.  We will be presenting Silver Badges to all students who have reached this level in our merit award system. The presentation will be via 'Zoom' and a free BBQ lunch for all students will be provide. This is a relaxing and fun way for students and teachers to celebrate another busy and successful term of learning.

The 2020 Semester 1 report will provide a summative account of student progress and achievement on learning covered during Semester 1, at school and at home, with information about what might need to be done to support your child’s learning growth.

Reporting to parents will focus on the learning that has taken place so far this year, which includes individual student’s progress and achievement of the learning provided both at school and at home with guidance to move learning forward.

The grading of students using the five-point A-E scale and general comments will not be included.

These changes apply to Semester 1 2020 only. Student reports for Semester 2 will be delivered using the A to E grading.

Reports will go home on Monday 3rd August 2020.

We are now taking Kindergarten enrolments for next year. Please return the form at the end of this newsletter if you have a child to enrol in 2021.

Whilst this seems very early, we have to advise the Department of Education of our anticipated 2021 numbers early next term. These numbers of course determine our staffing entitlement for next year.

Please also pass this information on to any family members, friends or neighbours who may have a child enrolling at school next year. Please encourage them to visit us so they can see for themselves the wonderful students, facilities and resources that we have.

Please remember we are also taking enrolment applications for Pre School in 2021 as well.

This term our School leaders have the opportunity to participate in the online GRIP Leadership Conference. Over 30,000 students attend this practical and interactive event annually, and our students are engaging practically in each session, with activities that have been especially created to assist our students in their role as SCHOOL LEADERS. The name, GRIP Leadership, stands for the four core values of the conference: Generosity, Responsibility, Integrity and People. The four main topics that our leaders will be completing focus on:

Students who are being picked up at the end of the school day are supervised on the back oval near the hall and we ask that all parents collect their children from this area.

Due to health guidelines and restrictions parents are not permitted on the school ground without the permission of the Principal. Please call the office before entering the school grounds.

Please notify your child’s teacher if your child has permission to walk home. 

This term has been full of changes and challenges.  The holidays will give everyone a chance to rest and recharge. Term 3 will be another 10 very busy weeks.

Thank you to our teachers for their terrific efforts this term. This has been an extremely busy time and we are very lucky to have such a dedicated group of teachers who work very hard for your children and have their best interests at heart.

Please remember that school recommences for all students on Tuesday 21st July. Monday 20th July is a School Development Day, when all teachers will be working on planning for the rest of the year and looking at ways we can further enhance our teaching and learning programs.

PLEASE NOTE: Information regarding the Athletics Carnival and excursions will be advised early next term.

We are very fortunate at Narrabri West to have committed staff who work long hours to provide the best learning opportunities for our students.

At the moment we are very short of casual teachers and if a teacher is on leave it is not always possible to cover the class. On these occasions we have to split classes and students are supervised with appropriate work in different classrooms.

We thank you for your anticipated cooperation and understanding.

 Narrabri West School’s most well-travelled and loved Bear.

Westy believes that the most important thing in the world is spending time with students from Narrabri West and getting to know their families. He loves to travel and has helped to make many special memories that will last a lifetime. Every Friday, he opens his mailbox and chooses a letter that is written by the students. He then packs his bag (with the “bear” essentials”) and spends time with this student at home. Westy captures his adventures on camera and loves sharing them with the school when he returns.

 Westy Bear has had adventures all over Australia and has even travelled overseas. New York City, Los Angeles, Florida, Fraser Island, Townsville, and Adelaide just to name a few places. Westy has travelled in style and has had his passport stamped many times. He even saw Prince Harry and Megan on their royal tour in Dubbo and has enjoyed numerous school excursions with his Westy friends. Despite being a bear who is well travelled and even described as a “globe trotter”, Westy’s favourite pastime is meeting the “local” bears in his hometown of Narrabri.

 Westy even has his very own Facebook page. If you search for Westy Bear, you can send him a 'Friend' request and Westy will 'friend' you so you can follow his many adventures. If students are lucky enough to take home Westy for a weekend or holiday, they can post photos to his page and let all of his friends know what he is up to.

This term Westy has enjoyed visiting students in class and taking part in his first “zoom assembly”. The good news is, Westy has been happy and healthy during Term 2 and is grateful to be part of a school that keeps teddy bears safe.

 Westy is looking forward to more adventures this year and can ‘bearly’ wait to visit the homes of Narrabri West students again.

If only bears could talk. Westy would have many stories to tell.

Parents are responsible for the regular attendance of students at school, including partial attendance, lateness and leaving early (Education Act 1990). If your child is late to school:

• Parents are required to accompany their children to the office to provide the school with a valid explanation so that accurate records can be maintained.
• If you are unable to accompany your child to the office please ensure you provide them with a written explanation to give to office staff.
• If your child is leaving early due to an unavoidable appointment parents must provide an explanation, preferably to the teacher the morning of that day.

You may send a note to the teacher, use Skoolbag, email or phone the school, or respond to our email or SMS notification, to provide this explanation.

Parents are reminded to please be aware of children and other cars in the car park when dropping off and collecting children. Council can and have conducted random checks and patrol at any time. Cars SHOULD NOT park in any areas that are No Parking Zones including behind cars in the staff parking area, so please note the area on either side of the large industrial waste bins is a NO PARKING zone and this is clearly signposted. The collection truck comes at any time and our cleaners also need access as well, particularly around 3:30pm which is when they are emptying the school bins. 

With some cold weather already here, and winter fast approaching, lots of children will experience asthma related illnesses.

If your child has been diagnosed with asthma, your doctor or health care provider should have provided you with an Asthma Action Plan to help you and your child with their asthma.

It is recommended that you provide your childs’ school with a copy of their Asthma Action Plan and their own Ventolin puffer (and spacer if needed) so we too can help your child with their asthma if they happen to have asthma whilst at school.  The school does have Ventolin for emergency use only.

If you have already provided us with an action plan, please ensure that it is current and up to date.

These plans must be signed by your doctor or health care provider.

Our school has been recognised as an Asthma Friendly School by meeting the set criteria to become an Asthma Friendly School.

The criteria are as follows:

•              Asthma records kept for each student with asthma

•              Asthma first aid posters are on display

•              Asthma medications are readily available to students with asthma

•              Spacer devices are available

•              A plan is in place for managing asthma during sporting activities, excursions or camps

•              Asthma education offered to parents/caregivers within the school

•              Asthma education provided for all school staff

•              Asthma education program in the health curriculum

•              Potential asthma triggers minimised with in the school environment

 1 IN 4 PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN &

1 IN 7 HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE ASTHMA!

• Can we become desensitised over time?
• Does fitting in play a part?
• What are the risks?
• Developmental risks
• Impact on attitudes and behaviour
• Impact on wellbeing
• What can you do?

Follow classification guidelines, find out, talk with other parents.

By Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas.

https://www.parentingideas.com.au/schools/insight/what-content-are-children-watching/

Narrabri Junior Blue Boars full contact training can commence from July 1. 

• U6’s - U12’s training begins Friday 3rd of July at 5:30pm, then commences again after the school holidays every Friday 5:30pm in term 3.
• U14’s, U16’s Boys will train Thursdays at 5:30pm
• The Girls team will train Tuesdays at 5:30pm

Registrations must be completed via the Rugby Xplorer app (before any individual can start training). Visit the Narrabri Junior Blue Boars Facebook page for more information and to keep up to date with what’s happening.

We look forward to seeing everyone for another great season of Rugby.

School Banking program will remain on hold. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed with any updates including how we will be managing Dollarmite tokens for students. In the meantime, here are some handy online resources for parents who wish to maintain momentum with their child’s financial education: 

SMART MONEY:

Smart money (year 3) https://youtu.be/W0CcpM5stOE 

Smart money (year 4) https://youtu.be/CcO9tasK16E 

Online Spending Influences: https://youtu.be/GaBQ5X5elBA

THE BEANSTALK:

Smart Spending  https://youtu.be/xQXAI3O0rGM

FUN ACTIVITIES:

Savings List

https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/theme/personal/youth/youthsaver-hub/pdf/activity-sheet-june15.pdf

Money Maze

https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/theme/personal/youth/youthsaver-hub/pdf/activity-sheet-money-maze.pdf