Mount Ousley Public School News

A small school with big opportunities.

Term 3 Week 2, Wednesday 27 July 2022

Principal's Report

 What a fantastic start to the term we have had!

This week we have celebrated our First Nations Culture and Peoples through our NAIDOC Week incursion. Our students participated in a range of cultural experiences that helped them to experience First Nations art, music, singing, story telling, seasons and connection to the land. Thank you to all our students for embracing this opportunity to engage in the world's oldest surviving culture. Thank you Mrs Giesajtis for the organisation and time that went into preparing these activities.  

On Monday 1st August we will launch Education Week with a picnic lunch from 11am-12noon and open classrooms from 12-1pm. Please join us as we celebrate all of the wonderful aspects of our school and of Public Education. 

If you would like to have your say in the naming of our house groups please vote by 3pm on Friday by clicking this link https://forms.gle/RNcuXsvseLpV239H8 The results from this survey and the student and teacher survey will be compiled and shared with you early next week. 

Library News

This week, the students have been given issue 5 of Book Club. As a promotion for Book Week, any parents making a LOOP (online) order from this issue will be given the opportunity to receive some free books. If $30 is spent in one transaction, you will be entitled to select 1 free book at checkout. If $50 is spent in one transaction, you will be entitled to select 2 free books at checkout. If $70 is spent in one transaction, you will be entitled to choose 3 free books at checkout. These books are subject to substitution if the chosen title is unavailable. Please note this is only a LOOP offer and does not apply to orders handed in at the office. All LOOP orders must be placed with a registered account to qualify for the promotion and the LOOP app must be upgraded to the latest version. 

 In other news, a number of students have been unable to borrow recently, because they already have several books at home. If your child hasn’t brought home a book for a while, could you please have a look on bookshelves or under beds? It would be great for each child to be able to borrow regularly, as we have new books coming into our collection all the time.

Finally, I am looking forward to Book Week celebrations later in the term. Further information will be sent home in a future newsletter. The students have been creating some amazing pieces of work in their library lessons and I love listening to their ideas each week.

 Susie Hamers

Education week

Education Week is an annual celebration of NSW Public Education and the achievements of our schools, students and education system. This year Education Week will be held from the 1st to the 5th of August, celebrating the theme: Creating futures- education changes lives.

This is the first Education Week in 3 years where we can celebrate with our families on our school grounds! On Monday 1 August (Week 3), all families are invited for a picnic lunch and to visit your child/children's classrooms 12-1pm. This opportunity will give you the chance to explore your child's learning environment and engage with their learning. You can also check out the improvements to our school grounds and hear about what is coming next. We hope to see you there! 

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

Between Weeks 4-6 of this term, all Year 1 students will complete the Phonics Screening Check with their classroom teacher. Please see the below information about the check. All students across NSW will complete this assessment in Term 3. 

What is the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check?

The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a short, quick assessment that tells teachers how your child is progressing in phonics. Your child will sit with the class teacher and will be asked to read 40 words aloud. These words include 20 real words and 20 nonsense words. The test normally takes a few minutes. If your child is struggling the teacher will stop the check. The check is carefully designed not to be stressful for your child.

What is phonics?

Phonics is the relationship between letters and sounds and is vital in learning to read. Some children struggle with learning to read so it is important that these children are identified quickly so teachers can plan for any specific support they may need.

Why use nonsense words?

The assessment includes pseudo or nonsense words to see if the student is able to use their knowledge of blending to read a word rather than their memory of having seen that word before.

More information

If you have any further questions, please read the attached Parent Carer Factsheet or talk to your child’s class teacher.

Download

Award recipients

Congratulations to the following students who have received awards this week. It is wonderful to hear about the achievements you are having in the classroom, playground and across all areas of our school. Well done. 


K EmpowerHarlye B & Sohie S3/4 RiseSage M & Aila Pierce
K/1 BelongRiana R & Eric ND3/4 JusticeMark H & Rose A
1/2 DiscoverMae F & Eugenie T5/6 BraveAlana B & Dema A
2 PrideRafa C & Mihn5/6 AdventureOliver W & Anastasia SG


Anxiety and Engagement Outreach Class

Illawarra Hospital School - Anxiety and Engagement Outreach Class (X-Cite Program)

​The Anxiety and Engagement Outreach Class is an intervention for Stage 2 and 3 students who are disengaged, or have been identified as at risk of disengaging, from their mainstream school due to anxiety. The program aims to enhance the student's engagement in education and to partnership with schools in building their capacity to manage students with anxious behaviours.

 Next Program

​Orientation Date:  Tuesday 30 August 2022 (Week 7 Term 3)

Commencement Date:  Thursday 1 September 2022 (Week 7 Term 3)               

 ​Applications and further information will be emailed in Week 3.

Covid safety measures

As we begin this term we are facing yet another wave of the COVID-19 virus. The NSW Department of Education have implemented a range of strategies to assist in reducing the risk of transmission in our schools for the first 4 weeks of term.

  1. Masks are highly recommended to be worn by all students and staff while inside.
  2. Fresh air flow in every learning space will continue to be utilised as we know this is one of the best ways to limit transmission.
  3. Cleaning during the school day bolstered, with a concentration on high touch surfaces.
  4. All community members, including students are urged to continue to be up to date with their vaccinations and have a flu shot.
  5. Rapid antigen tests are being distributed to schools in the coming weeks, each child will receive a pack of 5 tests. These can be used when they have symptoms or when they are a household contact of a positive case.
  6. Frequent hand washing will continue

Keep children home if they are sick. 

If your child is a household contact they can attend school if they are symptom free, have tested negative (this must be done each day), wear a mask while indoors and inform the school that they are a close contact. 

Administration

Update student details

Thank you to all our families who have returned the updated emergency contact information. If you have not yet returned your family's note, please do so as soon as possible. 

Canteen

From Monday 8 August we will have revised prices for items in the canteen. Please ensure the correct payment for orders from this date. New prices have been sent out on Seesaw and can be seen in this image.

Crossing Supervisor 

Unfortunately, there will be no crossing supervisor at the McGrath Street crossing this afternoon and both morning and afternoons for Thursday and Friday this week. 

University of Wollongong - Learning Labs Holiday Program

The University of Wollongong (UOW) invites your students to LITTLE and EARLY LEARNING LABS, an academic and creative arts enrichment holiday program. UOW are targeting students from Year 1 to 6 who are passionate, self-motivated and curious learners. 

Venue: University of Wollongong, Wollongong Campus 

Dates: 

Little Learning Labs (Years 1 and 2): 26th - 28th September 2022

Early Learning Labs (Years 3 to 6): 28th - 30th September 2022

Download the Brochure for further information, or visit the Learning Labs website. 

Download

Kindergarten 2023

We invite all families with children turning five prior to 31 July 2023, to enrol for Kindergarten. If you have a child, or know someone who has a child that fits this age bracket who are ready to enrol in school, you can access the online enrolment forms through the enrolment tab on our website or by clicking this link: 

https://mtousley-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/enrolment.html 

Alternatively, you are welcome to call or come and see our friendly office staff for your enrolment pack. 

We are also happy to conduct school tours and answer any questions you may have at a time that suits you and your family. 

Calendar of Events

TERM 3

Please see below our list of school events for the upcoming months:

August1Education Week celebrations

9GameChangers Semi finals

10K-2 Excursion - Killalea National Park

21-27Book Week

26-27Southern Stars performances

29-31Student Led Conferences 
September2Student Led Conferences

19 - 23UCI World Road Cycling Championships

21-23Stage 3 Camp - Canberra

23Last day of term 3

COMMUNITY NEWS

Connecting with our school digitally

http://www.skoolbag.com.au

Mount Ousley Public School is a very tech savvy school with so much to celebrate and share. To make sure you are always well-informed and up to date please like our Facebook page, visit our website and stay in touch through SeeSaw and of course Skoolbag.

Skoolbag - http://www.skoolbag.com.au

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mount.ousley

Website - https://mtousley-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/

Contact Us

Proudly opened in 1959, Mount Ousley Public School has a long history of providing high quality education to the children of Fairy Meadow. With a unique setting and innovative classrooms, along side the integration of technology, Mount Ousley is a small school creating big opportunities for your students.