From the Principal A very big welcome to the 2020 school year, I have no doubt that this will pass

us by quicker than last year especially with our plans for 2020. We start our

year with 19 students across Kindergarten to year 6; we continue to grow each

and every term! A special welcome to our new families and our new students

for 2020. We know that you and your families will love it here at Carcoar

Public. We pride ourselves on being the best small school around and

ensuring that we promote positive learning, strong family connections and

commitment to the community where we grow, and thrive.

It is with great pleasure that I welcome back our fabulous team. My team of staff constantly go above and

beyond to ensure the best for your children, school and community.

Mr Mark O’Leary – Classroom Teacher (Tuesday – Thursday)

Miss Kasey LePoidevin – School Administration Manager (Monday – Friday)

Mrs Dannielle Klarner – Student Learning Support Officer (Monday & Thursdays and

every second Wednesday)

Mrs Sue Scifleet – Student Learning Support Officer (Tuesday and every second Wednesday)

Mr Gavan Wicks – General Assistant (Tuesday)

Mrs Denise Smith (Cleaner)

Previously in this newsletter I mentioned our student enrolments for 2020. I would like to stress the

importance of our student enrolment numbers. We are very close to one of our magic number of 21

enrolments (just 2 more students) to provide some additional small school supplementation that can be

used across to school. If you know of any families within the area that are considering possible enrolment

could you please have them contact the school.

Additionally we welcome school tours and interviews for all prospective families from

the local and surrounding villages. As the revised enrolment policy doesn’t directly affect our school we are

able to accept local and non-local enrolments following a meeting with myself.

We hope that you like our new school signage to give the school a refresh. Over the next 12 months we

will continue to install additional signage with new school sign to be installed next – one as you drive

Carcoar Public School Newsletter Out of the Past | Into the Future

13 Icely Street, Carcoar 2791 | 02 6367 3032 |carcoarp.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Term 1 | Week 2 | Friday 7th February 2020

down Icely street and another one on the cross intersection. I welcome any feedback or suggestions for

the new signage throughout 2020. As you can also see we have refreshed our school letterheads and

newsletter, we are working towards making our school’s communication clear as well as ensuring that we

stand out.

Throughout 2020 it is also our goal to refresh the learning spaces with new 21st century flexible furniture to

accommodate our needs. But do this we will require some additional funds, hopefully from fundraisers –

more to follow shortly.

We are currently in the process of refreshing our school’s community, displainary and positive behaviour

policies. Once these policies have been refreshed we will share the new policies through

our communication pathways.

The staff and I look forward to working with our students, parents and our community to make 2020

another great year at Carcoar Public School.

Mr Nicholas Bullock

Principal

Attendance

Our target is to have every child attending at a rate greater than 95%. We expect children at school each

day unless they are unwell. Holidays are no longer exempt from this data and should be taken during

scheduled school holiday time wherever possible. Please assist us by doing the following:

1 - Always contact us immediately if your child is absent from school

2 - Encourage and reward school attendance

3 - Come to the office with your child if you are running late or leaving early from school.

4 - Students should present to the office FIRST so we can record this using our online attendance system.

Contact Details & Email Address

Please contact Kasey if any of your home contact numbers, mobile numbers, emergency contact details or

work details have changed. We must keep up-to-date information in case we need to contact you. Please

also provide email address so a full colour copy of newsletter can be sent to you. Attached is a form for you

to fill out if you need to.

No Hat Play in the Shade

With the hot weather it is important for us to abide by the ‘No Hat Play in the

Shade Rule’. Hats should be worn outside at all times. If your child does not have a

hat they will be asked to play under the COLA. Please assist us by ensuring your

child has their hat each day (These are available from the uniform shop) and it is

clearly labelled with their name. Caps are not to be worn. Applying sunscreen in

the morning before school is also a great idea and is readily available at school for

reapplication throughout the day.

School Uniform

A reminder that students are expected to wear the correct uniform each day. Uniform makes our students

feel smart, strong and proud. Raban shoes and tights are not part of our uniform policy and should not be

worn. All uniform is available at school with a price list attached.

Best Start

Kindergarten will commence their best start assessments in week 3. Mr Bullock

will be taking each student individually to complete work in literacy and

numeracy. Parents will then receive a parent report early in term one. The report

will have suggestions of strategies and ideas to do at home to improve skills in

reading, writing and number.

Parent Meetings

This term, Mr O’Leary and Mr Bullock will be asking all parents to arrange a time to meet with them

individually to speak to you your children. The purpose of this meeting is to share your child’s strengths

and weaknesses and provide some learning goals to work on. Prior to the meeting all parents will receive a

blank template which some questions to answer prior to the meeting. Students who require an Individual

Learning Plan or Personalised Learning Plan will also have a follow up meeting to develop 2020 plans.

Volunteer Agreements

All parents or relatives who volunteer to assist are asked to read and sign a Statutory Declaration that

complies with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012. Parents and grandparents are not

required to obtain the Working with Children Check number. Volunteers not related to a child at the school

must have the Working with Children Check number before volunteering at the school.

School Supplies

Thank you to all the parents who have supplied stationary, tissues and

soap. If you have not yet supplied these items could you please do so.

A list of requirements is attached.

Changes to Term 4 Staff Development Days

Carcoar Public School will have a variation to the staff development days that are normally held in the last

week of December. These Staff Development Days will now be held on the following dates, Thursday week

seven each term from 3.30-6.30. During these sessions staff will be participating in modules to support the

implementation of the curriculum and mandatory training. Please be aware that these Professional

learning sessions do not affect when students are at school as they are held outside of school hours. It is

important to note however staff will conclude the 2020 year the same day as students, Wednesday 16th

December.

Major Excursions for 2020

Please be aware that major excursions for our primary aged children occur each year. We like to give

parents plenty of warning before significant costs are presented. A $50 deposit for each child will be

requested in Term 1. We encourage parents to make payment plans or making regular payments each

week or fortnight.

Stage 1 – TBA

Stage 2 - Sydney Experience

Stage 3 - Kincumber Great Aussie Bush Camps

Homework Homework will commence in Week 5 of Term 1. All students will be required to complete nightly reading.

Mr Bullock is currently investigating homework online and will provide more details and information soon.

New South Wales Core Rules

The department of education has core rules that all students are expected to follow:

Students are expected to:

Attend school every day, unless they are legally excused, and be in class on time and

prepared to learn. Maintain a neat appearance, including adhering to the requirements of the

school’s uniform and dress code policy.

Behave safely, considerately and responsibly, including when travelling to and from school.

Show respect at all times for teachers, other staff and helpers, including following class rules,

speaking courteously and cooperating with instructions and learning activities.

Treat one another with dignity and respect

Care for property belonging to themselves, the school and others.

P&C Meetings

Our AGM will be held on Thursday 20th February at 2:30PM in the

School Library. We welcome all new and existing families to our

meetings. Following the AGM we will hold a short meeting to

discuss our plans and arrangements for 2020.

School Communication

As you are aware we are making some changes in the way we communicate. To further support this

communication update we will be colour coding information that we send home to you. We hope this

makes it a little easier to keep track of all school communication.

Blue Paper Excursions & Camps

Yellow Paper Lunch Orders

Pink Paper Urgent Information

White Paper Newsletters, receipts & general information.

To keep you better informed newsletters will be sent on a fortnightly basis in weeks 2, 4, 6,8,10.

Attached to the newsletter will be any permission notes, or important information for the following

fortnight. The newsletter will then be uploaded to the school website and School Stream app.

School Stream will be used to send out any urgent

information and updates just as school closures, reminders

for permission notes, school events and student absences.

Facebook will be used to share school celebrations, share success and

promote positive new stories about Carcoar Public School. Facebook will

also be used to post anything urgent and published newsletters.

If you would also like to receive your newsletter via email please see Kasey. If you have any concerns or

feedback regarding school communication please share your thoughts so that we can continue to improve

our ways in which we communicate.

Facebook Page Guidelines The intent of our page is to provide a hub for responsible community engagement that celebrates the daily

life of our school. We proactively support participation in social media to develop and grow digital

citizenship throughout our community. Carcoar Public School values the responsible use of social media

articulated in a range of policies and guidelines that govern the expectations of online behaviour. For

privacy and protection, we do not permit ‘facial tagging’ of our students and will only name students

where appropriate. We reserve the right to remove any content that we believe is in breach of these

policies, guidelines and the values of our school. Carcoar Public School will remove content if:

It contains content written by a student enrolled at Carcoar Public School or under 13 years

It is offensive, abusive, obscene, profane, hateful or racial content, links or images

It contains comments that threaten or defame any person or organisation

The direct full name or descriptive reference to a student in the comments section

It contains endorsements by other organisations or endorsements of other organisations

It is a multiple or repetitive post by a single user

It is a repetitive post copied and pasted or duplicated by single or multiple users

It contains anything else that the school deems inappropriate and does not align with our values,

standards, policies and guidelines of the Department of Education.

Random Act of Kindness

On our students first day back for

2020, we had an unexpected visit

from Rotary Orange - Daybreak

Group.

We welcomed John and Graeme

who presented each student with

a school bag filled with a lunch

box, school books and pencils.

This gift was an initiative of

Rotary Daybreak Orange. What

an amazing donation of goodwill

and support to our local schools.

Library

Library day for 2020 will be on Fridays. Please ensure your child brings their library bags in

to borrow, re-borrow or exchange books every Friday. Our Library is full of wonderful

books that we would like our students to take home to share and enjoy with their families.

Stage 1 students will borrow 1 book, Stage 2, 2 books and Stage 3 will take home 3 books.

Swimming Carnival

We started off 2020 with our fellow Heritage

Schools at our annual Swimming Carnival. This year

being held in Cowra, the students competed in an

outdoor pool in 41 degree heat! It was a wonderful

day and our students, as always, did us proud

competing and participating in events.

Thank you to the parents that provided transport

to and from Cowra, and for coming along to

support our school.

Congratulations to our students who will be

competing at the PSSA District level, and our relay

Team for again, making it straight through to

Western Region Carnival in Dubbo.