Mini MurmurP U B L I C SCHOOL

Towamba

TERM 1 WEEK 8 THURSDAY 19 MARCH 2020

Tel 6496 7159 Fax 6496 7059 towamba-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

www.towamba-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Reminders

Coming Events

Attached:

• Best Start for Kindy parents• NAPLAN info• cough ettiquette

Tues 24 March Life Education

Wed 8 April Science morning

Thurs 9 April End of Term 1 & Easter assembly

Students only

TERM 2

Mon 27 April Staff Dev Day

Tues 28 April Students return

Covid 19 Update As you all know, the World Health Organisation has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Recommended actions are constant-ly evolving to best reduce the spread of this virus and protect those more vulnerable.More information about this for schools was sent home on Tues-day. A lot of events have been cancelled, including our end of term assembly, but some events with smaller numbers are going ahead- however this may also change in time. The Department of Education will be sharing emergency and priority communications regularly on all school Facebook chan-nels, including updates from Mark Scott, important operational updates and information around issues such as learning from home and hygiene practices.Please check our school facebook page regularly.The NSW Public Schools App would also be a useful app on your device if we become nonoperational.We appreciate your support at home with the three main health messages of1.Wash hands regularly- children especially2. Sneeze into a tissue and dispose immediately or sneeze into your elbow not your hands. Wash hands immediately after-wards.3. Stay home if you are unwell and don’t send students to school if they are unwell.

Life Education Tuesday 24 MarchThe decision has been made that it would be unwise to mix with additional people for Life Education next week, so we have cancelled our participation in this event. Thanks to all the parents offering transport etc, your involvement is appreciated but not needed at this time.

Hockey SkillsUnfortunately this hockey skills day arranged for the last week of term has been postponed until Term 3 on a date yet to be determined.End of Term assembly change Thursday 9 April*Due to the change of staff development plans, the last day of school is now Thursday 9 April. So our end of Term 1 assembly will be held on that day- with Easter and the holidays to follow.Unfortunately we have been advised that assemblies that in-volve parents attending should be cancelled to reduce risks.

We will still have our normal assembly but students only. Students will make their Easter Hats on the day, enjoy some Easter games and possibly even do some cooking for lunch. More info soon. End of term changes

Due to the Covid-19 health recommendations, the planned staff development day for Thursday 9 April has now been cancelled so that day will no longer be a student-free day. We will revert back to the usual Term 2 start arrangements too, with Monday 27 April now being the staff development day.

In summary that means: Thursday 9 April last day of school but no assembly Monday 27 April Staff only, staff development day Tuesday 28 April Students return for Term 2

Circus Skills PostponedUnfortunately this has been postponed until later in the year due to health advice.Science Activities Wednesday 8 AprilBournda staff will be leading some science activities for students at school on Wednesday 8 April, subject to change. Initially we offered that parents could attend this session too but we have been advised that no parent interaction is best.Fireflies ProjectStudent paintings are all virtually complete - and any unfinished painting work to be done at Vicki’s and will be arranged. Paintings will soon be displayed at Towamba Hall to brighten up the venue for BlazeAid- o make sure you let your friends and fami-ly know and go and check them out.We hope to have a gallery exhibition sometime and some art cards made too to share the wonderful positive visions that our students are creating. NAPLAN 2020NAPLAN for our Year 3 & 5 students will be in week 3-4 next term. NAPLAN is done online except for the writing assessment for Year 3. Students involved this year are Arlie and Moriah in Year 5, and our Year 3 cohort Jo, Hunter, Geoffrey, Ky, and Kokoda.Students will have the opportunity to do some practice tests to familiarise themselves with the procedure later this term.NSW School Updates AppNSW families can now get notified when their school becomes non-operational, wherever they are. The app will complement the other means of communication available to ensure families receive timely, accurate information in a crisis. Ready to down-load from the App store and Google Play. Multiple schools can be added- eg the high school as well as our school.Communication if your student is unwellIf your child misses a day of school please ensure that we have been informed within 7 days. The easiest way is to shoot us an email from your phone or ring up and let us know. Each week the newsletter includes a return slip on the back page that allows you to keep on top sending in a note for days missed. It’s easier to do it as it happens so you don’t have to remember later when the school system sends a letter about unexplained absences.

Get the NSW School Updates App

P&C NewsWinter school clothesNew jumper and winter pants for every student thanks to Vinnies ($800) and the P&C ($200)! Wonderful news. Make sure you get your size details in to us ASAP.Friday Lunches Term 2 slots open now! Please chat to or call Karen How, lunch-es co-ordinator on 0490 818 715 if you have any questions. Calendar save the datesP&C are catering for the Team Penning horse event 8-10 May. We will wait to find out the status of this event with regard to he corona pandemic advice.School Uniforms Available The P& C has a supply of school polo shirts embroidered with the logo for sale at $10 each. Sizes range from 6 to 16. If you would like to purchase a shirt please contact the school. Payments via direct debit or cash are accepted.P&C BBQ end of term cancelledThere will be no P&C BBQ due to no assembly.

Plain meat pie $4.00Gluten Free pie $4.00Cheese/Bacon $4.50Chicken/mushrm $4.50Vege pastie $4.00Sausage Roll $3.50Mini Pizza $2.50Juice $1.50Flav Milk $1.50

FRIDAY Lunches

Upcoming staff changes

16-27 March Nicci on leave. Wendy/Mrs Macey on class.Wed 25 March Mrs Binns away. Mrs Macey on class.

Working with ChildrenThe Working with Children check is something that all schools need for parents who volunteer at their school. It is not essential but greatly appreciated. The new WWC procedures supercede previous declarations and we appreciate all the parents return-ing their paperwork so promptly. The reminder box on the first page lets you know we have received it thank you. More volun-teers appreciated.Family UpdatesThanks too to the families returning their updates. Please return read through and return even if no changes. These FOEI updates re employment etc are also important for our funding. Best StartThe parent Feedback report for the Best Start Assessment for Kindy students is attached for those families. Please contact us if you wish to discuss anything,School Banking Commonwealth Bank has advised us that School Banking will not be operating until Term 2. Please do not send banking books in to school.Scripture Mr Dixon will be postponing his visits to Towamba until next term.Toilet PaperIf any school family is desperate for toilet paper we can share 1-2 rolls maximum per family from the school supply. Just ask!

Lunch Orders

Tomorrow: Steph Fri 27 March: Karen NFri 3 April: Karen H

ABSENCE & Partial Absence NOTEMy child_________________________________________________________________________

was absent from school on the date/s____________________________________________

OR will be arriving late/departing early at (time)___________________________________

due to__________________________________________________________________________

Signed ____________________________________ Parent/Carer. Date:____________

Community News

Check out the Face-book Page for more

information.

Entry forms have been emailed out. Message the Facebook page if

you would like an entry form.

No entry fee payable until we are 100% certain that we do not have to cancel due to the virus- keep updated via our

page.

ART CLUB

Vicki will have Art Club in her shed for small groups. Please call if interested. 0417178821

Fore more info contact Candice

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