Wednesday, 13 March 2019

ERINA HEIGHTS Public School

Phone: 4367 7608

Email: erinahts –p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Relieving Principal: Vanessa Gordon

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Term 1, Week 6 – Wednesday 13 March 2019

PAYMENTS DUE Stage 3 Canberra Excursion – final payment due

Technology fees - $20

School contributions - $40

Stewart House envelopes

Dates to Remember

Fri 15 March Showcase Assembly

Fri 22 March Harmony Day

Tue 26 March Stage 3 Camp

Wed 10 April ANZAC Service

Fri 12 April Recognition Assembly

Fri 12 April Easter Hat Parade and Cake Stall

Fri 12 April Last Day of Term 1

Tue 30

April

Students Return

Attached to this newsletter:

Easter flyer

Cyber Forum flyer

Brave Program flyer

Lowes one day sale flyer

Class S3B Wow! What an amazing group of kids, I am continually impressed with the dedication and passion they have for learning. S3B have really gelled into an amazing unit and go above and beyond with their commitment to positive learning and behaviour both in and outside the classroom. We all collaborated in recent weeks on our classroom PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) display. The majority decided on a display based on a Ferris Wheel design with our class rules and values contained in the carriages. I was very impressed with the collaboration shown throughout the creative process. Congratulations goes to S3B for winning the best display award!

Brain Wellbeing has been a big focus so far this term with students engaging in a growth mindset unit of work aimed at understanding how our brain works and that when we exercise our brain we can achieve anything. We also participate in regular mindfulness exercises to understand how our emotions can positively affect our learning and social interactions. S3B are super excited about the upcoming Canberra excursion and the opportunity to see all the engaging learning we are participating in, showcased in real life. Mainly Mr Brown’s stories about the Mint and the cool robots that work there!

Wednesday, 13 March 2019

Principal Report School Showcase Assembly

I am looking forward to our first school Showcase this Friday. I look forward to sharing and acknowledging students

who have demonstrated respectful, responsible and personal best. I hope to see you Friday 1:45pm in the school

hall.

No Way to Bullying Erina Heights!

On Friday 15 March 2019, Australian schools stand united in their communities to celebrate the ninth National Day

of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA).

The National Day of Action is Australia’s key anti-bullying event for schools and communities. The staff, students,

parents and carers at Erina Heights PS say NO WAY to bullying! TAKE ACTION every day. The school will

undertake a lesson from the National Day of Action website on this date. Our school is committed to implementing

proactive strategies to support the whole Erina Learning Community in regards to bullying.

During Term 2 and 3 students will be engaging in learning antibullying strategies, school scaffolds for managing

bullying and undertaking a Kidsmatter program called Friendology. It is important as adults in the community that

we continue to talk to our children about how to manage bullying in a proactive manner and model it ourselves.

If you would like to know more about the NDA, or how you can help your child with issues of bullying additional

information can be found on the ‘Bullying, NO WAY!’ website –

https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/NationalDay

Code of Conduct and Procedures – School Visitors and Volunteers

At Erina Heights Public School, our aim is to support all parents and caregivers in the education of their

child/children. We value the strong partnerships that have been forged with our parent community.

This positive partnership is critical in establishing a shared vision and community spirit which fosters a nurturing

and supportive learning environment for all students, staff, families and community members.

Last year Mr Francis and the P&C in collaboration with the school staff and myself ratified the ‘Public Access Policy

– A Code of Conduct for Parents, Carers, Visitors and Volunteers.’

This policy clearly outlines the expectations we share in relation to the standards of behaviour expected of those

who visit the school, including the parent community, and details the necessary procedures that will help to resolve

issues in a timely and positive manner. A copy of this policy is available on the school website using the following

links – Our School – Public School Information – Rules & policies – School Policies – Public Access Policy.

An aspect of this policy that I would like to highlight is as follows:

Code of Conduct for Parents, Carers, Visitors and Volunteers:

All parents, carers, visitors and volunteers are expected to:

Treat all persons associated with the school with respect and courtesy

Ensure their child/children are punctual to class

Sign in for a visitor’s pass from the office if assisting in class, canteen, the library etc

Monitor all pre-school children who must stay with the accompanying adult at all times (this includes any

special events such as Open Days, Mother’s Day / Father’s Day breakfasts and P&C discos)

Make appointments in advance of expecting to obtain an interview with a staff member

Allow staff to supervise, investigate and manage students without interference

Discuss issues or concerns about the school, staff or students through the correct procedures and

Follow school procedures governing entry and behaviour on school grounds, including any restrictions that

may be imposed.

Please note: At no stage is a parent, carer, visitor or volunteer permitted to directly approach another

person’s child or talk about another child or family at a school event or activity.

Wednesday, 13 March 2019

Your cooperation and understanding is greatly appreciated in making our school a safe and harmonious learning

environment where students, staff and parents have the right to be confident, happy and active members of the

school community.

Stewart House Drive

Thank you to those families which have sent in their Stewart House donation. If you haven’t, please return the

Stewart House envelope with your family’s details and a $2.00 donation to be in the draw to win a family holiday

valued at $4,000 (destination of your choice). All entries need to be returned to school by the end of Term 1 Friday

12 April 2019 to ensure they reach Stewart House prior to the closing date.

To learn more about Stewart House and the wonderful work they do to support our children visit their website at -

https://www.stewarthouse.org.au/about-stewart-house/

ICAS Competitions REMINDER NOTES HAVE GONE HOME

This year, students in Years 3 to 6 will, once again, be offered the opportunity to sit the International Competition &

Assessment for Schools (ICAS) tests. There are six tests on offer again this year - Digital Technologies, Science,

Writing, Spelling, English and Mathematics. Students may choose to sit one, or all of, the tests, which will be

held 3 – 19 September. Closing day for payments Friday 5 April.

A separate note was sent home. If you would like your child to enter these competitions, please return the tear off

slip along with payment, to your child’s class teacher. Please note, that if your child is absent on the day of the test,

we are unable to provide a refund as all test papers are paid for upfront.

Being on time

Just a reminder that being on time is important each and every day. It you are late by 5 minutes or more you miss

at least half an hour of learning, over the term this equates to a whole day of learning or more. This actual adds up

over time. For many students who arrive late, classes have started the morning routine and this can be unsettling.

Kind regards

Vanessa Gordon

Relieving Principal

Personal Learning Pathways

Last Thursday and Friday all Aboriginal students’, parents and carers met with classroom teachers for the development of their Personal Learning Pathway(PLP). These PLP’s support our Aboriginal students in social, emotion, education, culture and leadership.

School Security

Over the last two weeks we have had some graffiti on doors, walls and bins. This is a reoccurring event over the weekend. Please if you are around and you see something suspicious occurring please do not hesitate to call the police or school security 1300 880 021.

Wednesday, 13 March 2019

Yarning Circle at work!

Vinnie has begun constructing our Yarning Circle. It is starting to take shape and we look forward to seeing it completed.

Friday 22nd March This year it is the 20th anniversary of Harmony Day. Harmony Day is held each year on 21 March to celebrate multiculturalism in Australia, as we are one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world. As part of this, Harmony Day has been renamed to Harmony Week.

Erina Heights will be celebrating Harmony Week by making Friday 22 March our big celebration of the different cultures, which make up our school. As part of this celebration, students are encouraged to wear orange, which is the international colour of peace. Students will participate in literacy, sport, art and investigative tasks to broaden their knowledge of the different cultures that make up our school.

Thanks,

Miss Faulks

Easter is just around the corner! The term is flying by and it will be our Easter break before we know it.

We are starting to prepare for our annual Easter raffle, with proceeds

going towards Year 6 end of year activities.

We need your help! You can help us by donating any chocolate goodies or Easter treats and gifts. Please drop them off at the school office by Monday 8th April.

More information will be circulated in the newsletter and raffle tickets will be sent home soon.

Your donations will help make this year’s raffle even bigger and better than ever. Raffle prizes will be drawn at the Easter hat parade on Friday 12th April.

We thank you for your support.

Stage 3 teachers and students

Swimming News

Congratulations to all the EHPS swimmers who competed at last week’s Zone carnival at Mingara.

Here are some of the highlights and results from the day

Harvey - 7th 200m Individual Medley

Kaelan - 7th Senior 200m Individual Medley

Noah - 8th Senior 200m Individual Medley

Skyla - 6th 8yrs 50m freestyle

Tahlia - 3rd 9yrs 50m freestyle (progresses through to Sydney North)

Aymee - 5th 9yrs 50m freestyle

Wednesday, 13 March 2019

Lily - 5th 9yrs 50m freestyle

Maia - 5th 11yrs 50m freestyle

Maleah - 1st Junior breaststroke (progresses through to Sydney North)

Giselle - 8th Junior breaststroke

Maia - 7th 11yrs breaststroke

Kaelan - 4th 11yrs breaststroke

Charlie - 7th Junior backstroke

Emilee-Rose - 6th 11yrs backstroke

Tayla - 7th 11yrs backstroke

Kaelan - 7th 11yrs backstroke

Maleah - 2nd Junior butterfly (progressing through to Sydney North)

Maia - 3rd 11yrs butterfly

Relay Teams

Junior girls relay team (Olive, Aymee, Tahlia Maleah) came 3rd

Junior boys relay team (Charlie, Harvey, Sam, Taj) came 6th

Senior girls relay team (Maia, Emilee-Rose, Lacey, Tayla) came 7th

Senior boys relay team (Arian, Noah, Cooper, Kaelan) came 6th

Overall results

Whole school - Erina Heights placed 7th out of the 13 schools attending the carnival

Junior girls - Maleah placed 3rd

11yrs girls - Maia placed 4th and Emilee-Rose placed 6th

11yrs boys - Kaelan placed 7th

Senior boys - Noah placed 5th

Special thanks to EHPS parents, especially Nikki and Amanda, for helping get swimmers ready for races. We really do appreciate your time, efforts and support.

Tuggerah Lakes certificates will be printed out for the first 3 places in each event and handed out by the end of term.

EHPS students have enjoyed receiving their ribbons for placings from our school swimming carnival at our Monday assemblies over the past two weeks. Thank you to EHPS parents Amy and Shona for another year of writing out swimmer’s name on ribbons. It is a huge job and we really appreciate your offers to help.

Community News