Barrack Heights Public School HUNTER STREET BARRACK HEIGHTS 2528

Email: barrackht-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Phone: (02) 42 964 222 Fax: (02) 42 972 818

‘WORKING TOGETHER’

NEWSLETTER 2013 Term 4 Week 10

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TERM 4 IMPORTANT DATES Tuesday 10th December Stage 3 Christmas Fair Day Wednesday 11th December Scripture Presentation / Parent Helper Morning Tea Friday 13th December Reports home Monday 16th December Presentation Awards Assembly 9.15 am - Invitation only Tuesday 17th December Year 6 Jamberoo Picnic Day / Classes Party Day Wednesday 18th December Year 6 Farewell

LAST DAY FOR ALL STUDENTS Friday 14th February 2014 School Swimming Carnival Current Notes & Payments Due 1. Voluntary Contribution - $20 per child or $50 for more than 3 children in a family. 2. School Magazine Subscription – For students in years 3 to 6 - $10 per student for 10 issues.

PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL MONIES OWING ARE PAID BEFORE THE END OF TERM

Dear Parents, Carers and Students, Swimming Scheme I am so pleased to report the raging success of the Barrack Heights PS involvement in the School Swimming Scheme 2013. I have just read and signed nearly 200 certificates that will be handed out to students this week, showing the development of our kids in the water. It was my pleasure to visit all three groups last week, and see the development for myself. The swimming teachers were highly complementary of the behaviour and attitude of our students and staff, who were always willing to get into the pool – no matter what the weather! I have booked us in again, next year and look forward to the school swimming carnival in February, where ALL students will be asked to attend and participate to the best of their ability. P&C Christmas Raffle The P&C are conducting a Christmas raffle, and tickets have been distributed to each child. If you require more tickets, please collect them at the front office. Tickets are $1 each and prizes will be drawn at the school on Monday 16th December 2013 at 2.30pm. Tickets and money should be returned to the school office. We ask that all tickets, whether sold or not, are returned by Friday 13th December 2013. Please write your child’s name and class on the ticket book cover, as these will go into a special draw for some wonderful prizes. There will also be a prize for the child / family that raises the most money! Thank you for your support. Christmas Fair Day Tomorrow, students from Years 5 and 6 will host a special event involving the whole school. Our senior students have been busy creating “fair” style games and activities for the rest of the school to participate in during the middle learning session tomorrow. All of the activities will cost between 10c-20c, and monies raised will be donated to UNICEF as our way of sharing the ‘Christmas spirit’. Students are allowed to come in Christmas coloured (red and green) mufti for the day. Christmas Celebration Assembly This Wednesday 11th December, the annual Christmas Celebration Assembly will be held at 10.15am in our school hall. All parents and family members are welcome to attend. Students can wear/bring a Christmas hat to this assembly, but otherwise must be dressed in full school uniform.

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Lost Property There is a lot of lost property – including swimming items – in our tubs at the moment. If the items are not claimed before the end of the year, they will be donated to a charity. Front Bench Assembly On Wednesday afternoon, we will be holding a small assembly to announce the 2014 Front Bench Parliament members. This assembly will also acknowledge the leadership and work of our outgoing 2013 Parliament. Parents of these students are most welcome to attend. Ngargens Yarn Up @ BHPS and Norta Norta Celebration On Friday 13th December, Mrs Mangos, Veronica, Troy and Aunty Patty will host a special celebration lunch for our students and their families who participated in either the Ngargens Yarn Up or Norta Norta groups this year. The presentations begin at 12pm and we hope to see everyone come along and celebrate the hard work and learning of all our kids! Presentation Assembly and Reports Next Monday, 16th December we will hold our big Presentation Assembly, starting from 9.15am. We ask that all parents/carers in attendance are seated by 9.15am (doors will open at 9am). There will be an official party of guests who will sit on reserved seating in the front row, so please leave these seats free. Student reports will be handed out on Monday afternoon for all students in Years K-5, with Year 6 receiving theirs at the Year 6 Farewell. Special sale Tomorrow afternoon, items from our school and library will be on sale outside the hall. Books are 50c and other items will be priced by offer/donation. Parenting Ideas - Membership Our School P&C have recently purchased a year’s subscription to the Parenting Ideas magazine. Parentingideas is Australia’s leading provider of parenting education resources to schools. They offer an extensive range of learning resources to parents, articles and up-to-date content for school newsletters, as well as professional development for teachers and parents. If you would like to see more, please go to: www.parentingideas.com.au and follow the instructions in the parents section. You can download the Parenting Ideas Magazine here as well. Additional information will be included in our weekly newsletter – this week look for the article on sibling conflict – some tips for the school holiday period! The countdown is continuing…………….. Sarah Rudling Principal Kindergarten 2014 enrolments The school is now taking enrolments for next year’s kindergarten students. If you have, or know of, a child who will be starting school next year at Barrack Heights Public School, then please contact our administration for further information. Enrolment forms can be picked up from the front office. If you have any questions or concerns, or have a child with special needs who will be starting kindergarten in 2014, then please ask to speak to the Kindergarten coordinator, or contact the school office. Miss Marianne Bunt Access Homework Centre The last lesson for this year will be held on Tuesday 10th December at the usual time at the usual place. The Homework Centre will reopen next year in Term 1.

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Community News

School Holiday Tennis Camp Warilla Bowls and Rec Club 9.00 – 12 noon (Jason Avenue, Warilla) Thursday 2nd, Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th January 2014. 9.00am – 12noon. All standards welcome.

• Games and prizes • Ball machine • Special family rates apply

All enquiries/bookings: Brett and Michelle Edwards - 42565166 or 0403289974 PCYC LAKE ILLAWARRA are running a January Kidzcare School Holiday Program. The program runs from Monday 6th January through to Friday 24th January 2014. For further details please check the notice board in the office corridor.

Summer Holiday Circus Workshop program in Kiama. It’s nearly summer again and The K.I.S.S. Arts Festival is back! As well as free street theatre, free nighttime variety shows and a pop up arts centre, the hugely popular Circus Workshops will be back again. Workshops run from 6th – 10th & 13th – 15th Jan 2014 from 10am – 3pm in the beautiful art deco “La Petite Grande” Circus tent in Hindmarsh Park. Kiama.Workshops will include juggling, unicycling, hula-hoop, acrobatics and aerial amongst other things. Children should wear sunscreen, loose clothing, bring some lunch and plenty of water. There will be a short presentation at 2.45pm of all the fantastic circus skills that your children have learned. For tickets go to: http://www.trybooking.com/EALW Or go to: www.kissartsfestival.com.au

Skoolzout @ Balarang The School Holiday Program is running between 19th December 2013 and 28th January 2014. The centre is open from 6.45am to 6pm at Balarang Public School, Government Road, OAK FLATS. For further information and bookings please call 4257 8075 or balarang@bigfatsmile.com.au A timetable of the program is displayed in the office corridor.

Or call: 0403 817 549