Principal – Jacqui Buchanan

Principal’s Report Fantastic news - Last week the NSW Government announced that Toukley Public school is one of the successful schools that will be funded to get air conditioning in all of our rooms and the library under the Cooler Classrooms program. Solar panels will be installed alongside the air conditioning to offset the energy use. The next step is for the Department of Education to send out a team to look at the scope of the work and then we’ll be on our way! Thanks to Mr Kelly who applied for this funding before he left. I really enjoyed morning tea with some of the students as one of the buy in reward activities last week. Other students used their B’mers to make paper planes, do art, use the Spheros and Beebots, do Zumba, cooking, attended a beauty salon, the use of computers and to play outside. By far the majority of Toukley Public school students do the right thing and follow the school expectations and it is lovely to see their great behaviour rewarded. As the term winds down, I am really looking forward to my first Coastal Christmas Carols at Toukley Public School on Thursday 6 December 2018 at 5:00pm. Just a reminder that this is a smoke and alcohol free event. Please note that the fixed play equipment will not be in use on the night. By all accounts, this is a lovely event and the children are rehearsing their songs frequently and will be performing with great gusto! Teachers have been busily preparing reports for parents and carers and these will be handed out on Thursday 13 December 2018. It has been so lovely reading about the students and it is obvious that although they are all different, with various strengths and personalities, they are all held in high regard by their teachers. Presentation day is next Tuesday 11 December 2018. The Year 6 farewell and assembly is on Thursday 13 December 2018. These are big occasions for our students and their families and a true celebration of the successes of these groups of students over 2018. The last day for students is Wednesday 19 December 2018. Kind regards Jacqui Buchanan

Upcoming Dates

Thursday 6 November - Kindy Start - Coastal Christmas Carols 5:00pm - Wyrrabalong excursion-new date - Footsteps

Friday 7 December - Gorokan High School sports day

9:30am – 2:00pm - Toukley neighbourhood pop up

centre 1:30pm – 3:00pm Monday 10 December - Summer and all seasons awards

presentation Tuesday 11 December

- Presentation Day 9:30am – 12:00pm Wednesday 12 December - Dance2bfit Thursday 13 December - Year 6 farewell 6:00pm – 8:30pm

- Year 6 assembly 9:15am – 10:00pm Friday 14 December - Summer awards PBL Monday 17 December - All seasons awards day Wednesday 19 December - Dance2bfit - Last day of school for students Thursday 20 December

- School development day Tuesday 29 January - Staff return to school Wednesday 30 January - Years 1 to 6 return to school

Please note the Best Start Assessment for Kindergarten will be held on 30 and 31 January, 1 and 4 February.

Parents will be notified by mail which day their child has been

allocated.

RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY

EXCELLENCE

Toukley Public School Term 4 Issue 4 – 5 December 2018

P O Box 715 TOUKLEY 2263 Phone: 4396 4275 Fax: 4397 1586

email – Toukley-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

2T News 2T have been learning to use similes, rhyme and repetition to create interest in their writing. We watched an animation called Caterpillar Shoes, then wrote a poem about the story.

Caterpillar Shoes I met a Grasshopper hanging from a twig.

He was green as the grass and liked to do a jig.

I gave Grasshopper springy shoes That made him jump, run and fun, jump, fun and run.

By Serenity

Caterpillar Shoes I came across a woodlouse who was as black as coal.

He curled up in a ball and liked to roll and roll. Next, a purple spider was dangling from above.

I gave him a pair of sticky shoes which he really, really loved. His body was as soft as fur, He must get a lot of burs.

By Micah

Caterpillar Shoes Hi, I am a caterpillar as green as grass.

I had some shoes that stopped my feet from getting really, really sore.

But they started to get a little tight and I had to get them to new owners.

I found a rhinoceros beetle “I bet my gold shoes you would love!” She put them on and she kept them

By Laura

Caterpillar Shoes I met a stick insect on a branch

He said “You cannot see me, I’m camouflaged on a branch As still as a statue”.

So, I went past a Woodlouse He rolled on a branch.

He went down on another branch. I walked past a spider Dangling from above.

I walked past a grasshopper Doing little jumps like a frog.

By Zack

Caterpillar Shoes One day I was walking with my two last pair of shoes.

I found a grasshopper doing little jumps. I gave it a pair of jumping shoes.

Then I watched it jump here, there and everywhere. Then it jumped on a twig and did a jig.

It jumped over glass on the grass. Then I found a little shiny rhino beetle.

It was shiny as a diamond. She loved them. By Monntanna-Anne

Caterpillar Shoes One day I was walking in the forest

I found a grasshopper on a leaf. He was as green as the Grinch.

Camouflaging was a cinch! The grasshopper was trying to jump from one leaf to another,

But he couldn’t, So I gave him a shoe that would help him jump really high.

By Tilli Caterpillar Shoes

I am a caterpillar and I have found a ball. Now I feel hungry and need to take a walk.

Then I found a woodlouse, He did not have any shoes.

I gave him some wooden clogs. I walked along and said “Do you want my slippers?

They will keep your feet as warm as toast.” By Joshua

In the spirit of the Japanese tradition of ikebana, we studied the plant sculptures created by Raku Inoue. We collected and sorted natural materials from our gardens, chose an insect or creature to create, and then

constructed thoughtfully but freely. Without using glue or tape, we carefully arranged each clipping from nature and photographed it from above when it’s complete.

Travelbugs Mini-beasts We had a visit from Travelbugs Mini-beasts as part of our Science unit. It was fun to handle the Spiny Leaf insects and Millipedes. We learned a lot about mini-beasts and why they are so important for our environment.

Canberra Camp – Year 6 Year 6 students from our school recently went on camp to Canberra, taking an educational tour of the national capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. We visited Parliament House on the Monday to see how the House of Representatives and the Senate are set out, role played the business of making laws and had a look at Old Parliament House (an interactive challenge and a quick look at the timeline of our Prime Ministers). The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion, the Australian Government contributes funding of $20.00 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion. Toukley Public School acknowledges the assistance of this funding in enabling us to provide a more affordable excursion for our students. After a very full day on the Monday, we set out on the Tuesday for Cockington Green, where we had a ‘world tour’ in just over an hour. The students marvelled at a miniature world that showed us unique architecture from around the world. We also visited the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) touring their fantastic facilities and ended up at the War Memorial, where it seemed that the more we saw, the more questions were being asked from us. It was great to see the way our students conducted themselves, surrounded as we were with many international and interstate visitors. With so many interested in tracing family members and trying to find their names on the Roll of Honour, we would suggest an online search to first find the regiment or section that relatives were in, as it narrows down the search. Our last day led us to the National Museum and WOW – Questacon. Far too little time to explore everything but we tried! Some children ‘dropped’, some quaked, some saw caged lightning and many just ran walked quickly from one exhibit to the next in excitement! Then we headed home. Tired but all in one piece. While we kept counting 1, 2, 3…56. We’ve already done so at school, but - on behalf of Mr Norman, Mrs Fagan-Miladinovic and myself, I’d like to thank the students for their excellent behaviour. It was a pleasure to take our Year 6 on camp and we have lots of good memories (NOT their singing…) that will last until – well, until we push them out of the school gates on the last day! Good times…with thanks. Mrs Kath Peek

Swimming Scheme and Water Safety Program Students in Year 2 will receive their Certificates of Achievement. Please take the time to read the range of skills your child participated in and what gains were made over the 10 days of swimming. All students should be congratulated on displaying excellent behaviour, being responsible for themselves and their belongings at the pool and always having a 'can do' attitude. Jodie Vipan

Library It’s that time of year when we need to recall all our resources to be checked for next year. Please return all books before Friday 7th December 2018. Notices for any outstanding items will be sent home on Monday 10th December 2018. Please return the item(s) or contact the library to discuss any issues. Thank you for your help with keeping our students reading this year. Mrs Sivanandan

What we have been doing in Outside School Hours Care

What’s happening at Outside School Hours Care Term 4 is almost finished, we thought it would be the perfect time to share what we have been doing at Toukley Public School Before and After School Care. We have had heaps of fun this term including activities like making play dough, cooking popcorn, pancakes and noodles, participating in crafts such as hand designs, leaf rubbings, butter fly paintings, Halloween craft and box construction. Our favourite games are “Buzz off hairy legs”, “Red Rover” and “Poison Letter. As always there was also plenty of quiet time for homework, relaxation and reading.     Meet the Team  We’re here to make OSHC the best experience possible for your children. If you have any questions about the program, feel free to drop by, meet the team and see what happens first hand.      To find out more about our program, view our fees and to register visit www.campaustralia.com.au and search for your school. It’s free to register! We look forward to seeing you and your family soon. From the Team at Camp Australia  Nikki, Leanne and Melinda

$100 VOUCHER FOR CHILDREN’S SPORT AND FITNESS FEES

Parents in NSW can claim $100 towards extra-curricular sport and other physical activity fees thanks to the NSW Government’s Active Kids program. This program will provide a $100 voucher for parents to put towards sporting fees and registration costs for each sc hool-aged child in NSW.

Families can use the voucher for registration and membership costs, as well as fees for activities such as swimming and dance. The annual voucher will not be means tested because the NSW Government wants every child from every family to get active and involved in community sport and fitness.

The health of our children is a priority for the NSW Government, and it is hoped that this makes a difference in enabling you to enrol your child in the sport or physical activity of your choice.

More details about the program and how to download your voucher is available at https://sport.nsw.gov.au/sectordevelopment/activekids or by phoning Service NSW on 13 77 88.

Canteen News As we are coming to the end of the year canteen stock may be limited. The last day for the canteen to operate for 2018 is Tuesday 18th December 2018.

Coastal Christmas Carols Toukley Public School will be hosting their annual Christmas Carols for 2018. Students from Preschool to Year 6 will be performing on Thursday 6th December 2018 at 5:00pm. It will be a fun filled afternoon with a variety of stalls and a visit from Santa. All are welcome! - BYO picnic blanket and chairs. - All children must be accompanied by an adult.