Scotts Head Public School Newsletter

Term 1 | Week 4 | 18 February 2020

WAVES Program - Change of Start Date

Date and Time

From Monday, March. 2nd, 9:30 am to Monday, March. 2nd, 11:30 pm

Location

Forsters Beach, Scotts Head NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

Information

Cancellation of the WAVES program will continue due to surf conditions and water quality. The WAVES program will commence Monday 2 March. All students are permitted to participate from Kinder to Year 6. 

We will be providing activities that both improve our student’s fitness and their understanding of safe play and knowledge of the risks and benefits of the ocean. These structured activities will take place at Big Beach (Forsters Beach).

We will be providing one session per week for a period of six weeks in conjunction with the Macksville-Scotts Head Surf Lifesaving Club. Sessions will be held on a Monday from 9:30-11:30am. Each student will complete six one hour sessions. Each session at the beach will consist of a structured one hour lesson with 45 minutes of physical activity. There is no cost involved. Notes went home last week. Please send in your permission note if you haven't already.

This Week’s Whale Awards

Principal’s Column

Hello, Giinagay, Hai,

We have got off to a great start and as you read through this newsletter, you can see the students have lots of opportunities to get involved with activities around the school. Thanks to Pak Chris and Bu Rebecca for organising chess and school choir activities. A huge thank you to all the parents who helped at our swimming carnival last week. It was a great day and your support is appreciated by us all. Congratulations to our individual champions and runners up.


Congratulations to all the students who have progressed to the district swimming carnival to be held this Thursday. Pak Chris will be the teacher at the pool helping out on the day. Supervision and transport needs are to be provided by parents. Thanks in advance for your support.

 

Each week we focus on one of our Whale value awards that supports our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL). Thanks to the very talented Pak Adam for his visual designs which are displayed around the school. All designs include three different languages - Aboriginal, Indonesian and English.

 

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) brings together our whole school community to contribute to developing a positive, safe and supportive learning culture. The framework assists our school to improve social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes for students.  With a focus on PBL, teachers and students have more time to focus on relationships and classroom instruction. Students and staff benefit from: 

  • Increased time focused on instruction
  • Improved social-emotional wellbeing 
  • Positive and respectful relationships among students and staff
  • Support for teachers to teach, model and respond effectively to student needs
  • A predictable learning environment where staff and students know what is expected to deliver effective practices that can be sustained over time.

 

Specific attention to what needs to be done, how it is done and why it is being done across the school is critical to create positive, safe and supportive learning environments. These aspects include developing and using a common vision, language and experience to support PBL implementation through the value system, stating clear expectations of students and staff.

 

The culture of a school is set by the leadership and teachers. It is the students and parents that can really make it strong.  When students feel empowered through the Restorative Justice process, every child has a voice. This creates opportunities for positive relationships and establishes a positive peer groups that makes a huge contribution to the school culture.  See details of the Restorative Justice process in this newsletter.                             


Thanks, yaarri yaraang, terima kasih.

Bu Gillian
Gillian Stuart - Principal

Restorative Practices and Conferences

Restorative Practices and Conferences

Is a way of viewing conflict and wrong doing that focuses on:

  • The harm these cause to people and to relationships and the  obligation to repair that harm.
  • Is an approach to behaviour management and discipline that emphasises the importance of relationships.
  • Is a way for students to develop better understanding of, and empathy with, others.


Our Aim is:

  • To educate students towards self-directed right behaviour
  • To promote, nurture and protect healthy relationships among members of the community.
  • To enable students to be accountable for the real consequences of any wrongdoing.


Students will be encouraged to:

  • Listening carefully to what others are saying.
  • Not to be scared of talking about how you are feeling.
  • Using kind words when you talk to others in the class, at home and in the playground.
  • Doing their best to see a situation from the other person’s point of view.
  • Offering your support to other students as a friend, buddy of mediator.

Students perceive this approach as being ‘firm, but fair’.


Your school needs you!

If a child is complaining of an issue, please encourage them to build the life skill of asking for support and get them to approach a teacher and request a conference.


Discuss and reinforce these messages with your children


Restorative practices will:

  • Help you stay friends with everybody in our school
  • Let you tell your side of the story if you argue or fall out with somebody.
  • Let you talk about your feelings more often.
  • Help you to sort out any problems and to be friends again.
  • Help you feel safer at school.


What’s the point?

You can help your school to be:

  • A safer, happier place where your talents can be recognised and rewarded.
  • A place where everybody feels that they belong.
  • A bully free zone.
  • A place where you learn how to make and keep friends.

Please if you require more information please approach classroom teacher or Principal.

School Swimming Carnival

2020 Age Swimming Champions

District Swimming

Congratulations to our top swimmers, who will carry the aspirations of our town with them as they represent SHPS on Thursday at the District Swimming Championships at Macksville Pool. While we will face immense competition, especially from some of the bigger schools, we will show everyone that Scotts Head kids don't back down to any challenge. Congratulations to all students who have made it this far. We know you will represent your school and community with the highest levels of sportsmanship and endeavour.  

Apa Yang Terjadi di Program Dwibahasa Kita? What’s happening in our Bilingual Program?

Halo semuanya! Hello everyone! Apa kabar? Semoga sehat dan senang selalu. Hopefully you’re all healthy and happy always.

We are so lucky to have this program running in our school and we feel super proud to be a part of it. Bu Emi has brought much to our school and we welcome her to SHPS. This semester we have Pak Mur working with every class in the school, leading the study of Indonesian culture through song and dance. We gain a lot of attention through performances and recently a video went up on ABC Indonesia of our students singing one of their favourite Indonesian songs as a sign of respect in welcoming President Joko Widodo (alias Jokowi) to Australia. This video has become a sensation for the Indonesian audience and in six days it has received over 75,000 views, 250+ comments and over 1,300 shares! High profile agencies and institutions have loved our video. It has been shared by the Australian Embassy, the Asia Education Foundation and the Australia Indonesia Institute, among so many more. You can find the video by searching ABC Indonesia on Facebook or using this link: https://www.facebook.com/ABCIndonesia/videos/124017592298204/

 

HAVE FUN LEARNING INDONESIAN! ('Nikmatilah belajar Bahasa Indonesia!)

This term, Pak Mur is teaching three new Indonesian songs across the school. It is a great way to practice the language with authentic texts and really improve pronunciation. Here are the links to the songs for anyone who want to try some karaoke at home!

SONGS ON YOUTUBE:

1. Ambilkan Bulan  - Kinders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpiyMvDsAOc

2. Jangan Takut Gelap - 1/2 and 2/3/4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0P0Nmymwog

3. Bento - 4/5 and 5/6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WktT8bZGAtg


For any students who are new to the school and would like to try some extra activities to catch up, try the free website or App called 'Languages Online' by the Vic government. It has heaps of songs and games to learn the basics like greetings, numbers, colours and talking about friends and family.

LANGUAGES ON-LINE: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/languagesonline/default.htm


Speak with your child and ask them: “Do you know how many people there are in Indonesia?” Do you know yourself? Indonesia is a mystery to most people in the world, yet it houses the fourth largest population in the entire world. Many people actually don’t yet know that Bali is in Indonesia or they believe Bali to be the capital of Indonesia. Australia’s future is Asian – this cannot be denied whatever our opinion on that may be. At SHPS we know this and we are doing our best to prepare your child to be empowered in this future.

We teach a range of subjects and themes in Indonesia here at SHPS. Students learn Indonesian with us through immersion and real-life practical situations. They also get the opportunity to interact online with teachers in Bali. We do this so your child has the experience of learning through contemporary 21st Century applications. We also have a parents’ class operating Tuesday afternoons at 3:15pm. It is cheap and effective. We always welcome new adult learners to this program. Ring the school for details to get on board. Learning a language can be done at any time in your life. Bill Gates wishes he did: https://www.wolfestone.co.uk/blog/whats-bill-gates-biggest-regret-life-learning-foreign-languages/

Sekian dulu keterangan dari saya. That’s enough now for the information from me. Look forward to next week’s newsletter. We can always learn something more.

Salam hangat dari tim Bahasa Indonesia di SHPS.

Pak  Karl, Bu Emi, Bu Nik, Pak Mur

Siapa suka makan nasi goreng Indonesia?

NRL Values Visit

On Friday we hosted NRL legend Kieran Foran, who spoke to our students about the importance of self-respect and respecting others. His message of responsibility and resilience, highlighted from his own efforts to return to the playing field after shoulder surgery, echoes the messages our teachers are sharing with their classes. The message was a simple one; that determination can carry you as far as your dreams can travel. 

Native Bees now buzzing at school

A massive thank you to Rhys Pacey for organising a wonderful native bee hive for our school. The bee hive was in a dead tree at the Weir Reserve near the boat ramp. The council were cutting the tree down so Rhys organised for the hive to be saved and taken to the school. We purchased a new home for them and Rhys set them up so they can start rebuilding. The bee hive is now located on the Bush Tucker Track.

School News & Parent Information

Permission to Publish

Permission to Publish forms for 2020 were sent out last week.

It is a requirement that each year a Permission to Publish form is received.  Please ensure you send your completed form back to school with your child.

School Photos

School photos will be taken in Week 8 on Thursday 19 March.  Order forms will be sent home soon.

Years 5 and 6 Debating

Next week (Week 5) we will be holding try-outs for our debating team. The team will be heading to a training day at Nambucca on Thursday 5 March before competing against teams from nearby schools in a knock-out format. We encourage all Year 5 or Year 6 students to try out for the team. 

Softball

On Wednesday at lunch (weather permitting) we will begin our try outs for the school softball teams. Try outs are open to students in Years 4 - 6. We will have a girls team and a boys team in this year's knock-out competition. 

Extra-curricular activities available to our students this week at lunchtime

Monday: Choir (K - 6), Tuesday: Chess (K - 6), Wednesday: Softball (4 - 6), Thursday: District Swimming (2 - 6), Friday: Rock Band (3 - 6). 

'Try Everything' - Shakira. 

Our Murals

Community Notice Board

From the P&C

Canteen News

Sushi Days

We are excited to announce the Hub have generously offered to supply sushi for our sushi days.

Please place your sushi orders the Monday prior to ensure orders can be fulfilled.  The cost is $3 for 1 roll and $5 for 2 rolls. Flavours on offer are: tuna and cucumber, chicken teriyaki and vegetables, and a vegetarian option.

Term 1 sushi dates are below:

19 February, 11 March and 1 April.


New Ordering System

We will be trialing a new way of purchasing snacks on canteen days.

It would be appreciated if you could order your snacks with your lunch order. A token/s will then be given to the children with their lunch orders (in the bag) for them to return to the canteen to redeem once they have eaten their lunch. We hope this will allow for quicker service to the kids. 


Volunteers Needed

We urgently require volunteers to assist in the canteen on Monday’s and Wednesday’s from 8:30-12:00. Parents, grandparents and community members are gladly welcomed to help in any capacity.  Without volunteers we may have to close the canteen.


Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the P&C will be held on 24 February 2020 at 3:15pm in the library. This is a fantastic opportunity for all parents, grandparents and community members to come along and find out what is going on in the school. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Many thanks,

SHPS P&C Association 

Art House - for Creative Kids and Parents

Looking for some fun out of school activities to inspire you and your children?

A local community arts group, led by our Indonesian dance teacher, Alfira O’ Sullivan, is setting up a creative arts centre in Stuarts Point. Activities will be eligible for payment with the government’s Creative Kids and Active Kids vouchers. Transport from the Scotts Head school bus stop is also being investigated. Please click on the link below to fill out a 3 minute survey to help us create an activity program and timetable that will benefit you.  

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QLPCDD2

Community Notices

LASH Talk - Tuesday 18 February

The LASH talks are resuming starting with Bushfires on 18 February.

We will have three speakers:

1) Scotty Balfour, our Fire captain, to talk about experiences fighting local fires in November last year

2) Geoff Goldrick, from Grassy Head, who will present the evidence for and against climate change and hazard reduction as players in bushfires

3) Our third speaker will be Rhys Pacey who spends most of his time at the National Park north of Scotts Head. Rhys has worked extensively on country and can bring a cultural perspective to fire in our landscape.

 

All contributions will be fascinating. We need to learn what they can teach us because we will have more bushfires in future years. The evening starts with a meal at 6 PM, cost $29. Book early. Talks begin at 7 PM.

Michael Blockey, LASH Coordinator

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