NSW Department of Education and Communities

Cowra Public School

NEWS

4 December 2014 Term 4, Week 9

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

FOR YOUR DIARY

December

5 Magazine orders close

8 Primary Minor Assembly 9.30am

9 Infants Major Assembly 9.30am

9 Primary Major Assembly 11.30am

10 Infants Class parties

10-12 Stage 3 Excursion to Canberra

12 Community & Parent helpers morning tea at

10.15am

15 Yr 6/Staff Softball game

16 St 3 Class party

16 St 2 Class Party

17 Year 6 Graduation

17 LAST DAY OF TERM FOR STUDENTS

January

27 Teachers return to school

28 Students return - Yr 1-6

29 Kindergarten commences

CONTACTING THE SCHOOL Administration Office Hours: 8.30am - 3.30pm

School commences at 9.10am

School finishes at 3.15pm

Students are not supervised before 8.45am

Mail: PO Box 285, Cowra

Phone: 6342 2400

Fax: 6341 1357

School Counsellor 6341 3078

Email: cowra-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Web: http://www.cowra-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

DEPT.HEALTH DENTAL CLINIC: 1300 552 208

Dear Parents

This week the school has been in the

final week of the swim school program

and I would like to congratulate the

children on their efforts. Also I thank

the staff who attended and the

wonderful swim instructors assisting at

the pool.

We are very excited about next week

with the major assemblies and the

Year 5/6 excursion to Canberra taking

place. The students and staff are

looking forward to these events and

we encourage parents to come along

to the assemblies to share in the

achievements of the children.

As we move towards the Final

Assemblies for the year I am reflecting

on our year in 2014. Cowra Public has

constantly been driven in providing

each and every student with endless

opportunities. From academic

programs, through to enrichment

activities such as Mathletics, band,

enrichment group, Archikidz Goes

Bush, public speaking challenges,

choir, dance and university testing

exams. The school has also provided

opportunities for students in sport in

PSSA teams ranging from cricket,

soccer, rugby union, rugby league,

touch football, netball, AFL and sports

such as athletics, cross country and

swimming.

We have had many visiting groups

and performers at the school from

snake shows to Bell’s Shakespeare

Company, lifesavers through to visiting

bands.

At school the children have been

given a host of opportunities to

become involved in an array of extra -

curricular events including discos,

movie nights and bingo.

I would like to thank the staff who

have always put the children of

Cowra Public School first and

foremost and have always gone the

extra mile through their teaching,

coaching teams, directing choirs and

providing children with a love of

learning.

The school has per formed

exceptionally well in all areas and

has achieved the highest accolades

in many fields with a highlight being

State Champions in Public Speaking.

This, along with winning several fields

of the Cowra Eisteddfod plus the

sporting success of many individual

students and teams, the school can

reflect on a very positive year.

Enjoy the week.

Brad Tom

School Magazine

Order your copy of the

magazine at the school office

up until tomorrow,

Friday, 5 December, 2014.

Cost: $10.00

The magazine will contain an

outline of the year’s events as

well as students’ academic and

sporting achievements.

P & C CHRISTMAS

RAFFLE

REMINDER

1st Prize – Framed Painting by an

Aboriginal Artist

2nd prize – Grocery Hamper

3rd prize – $100 Voucher (Phil’s Blinds &

Awnings)

The raffle will be drawn at the major

Primary Assembly on Tuesday 9

December, 2014 at 11.30am.

Raffle ticket books need to

be returned to the school

tomorrow Friday, 5

December. All books

whether they have been

sold or not need to be

returned to the school.

Page 2

INFANTS ASSEMBLIES

Infants assemblies will now be held every

second Thursday, i.e. even weeks. The

assemblies will be held in the Infants Open

Space and commence at 2.00pm and finish

at 2.30pm when the children will return to

their classrooms.

Every alternate Thursday (not assembly

week) from 12.30pm until 1.00pm the Infants

will be holding combined singing in the

Infants Open Space. All parents are invited

to come along and listen to the children

singing.

PRIMARY ASSEMBLIES

The Primary will also be holding their

assemblies every second Thursday, i.e. even

weeks at 2.30pm in the school auditorium.

The assemblies will include the Year 6 Public

Speaking and Merit Certificates will also be

presented on the day.

COMBINED ASSEMBLY

The school will be holding combined

assemblies twice a term. At these

assemblies the Infants and Primary Aussies of

the Month will be announced and the

children will be presented with their awards.

Cowra Public School

PRESENTATION ASSEMBLIES

~ INFANTS ~

Presentation Assembly

Tuesday, 9 December at 9.30am

Major awards will be presented at this assembly.

All parents and friends are invited to attend.

~ PRIMARY ~

Final Assembly

Monday, 8 December at 9.30am

Special merit certificates, service and citizenship awards

and sporting awards will be presented at this assembly.

Presentation Assembly

Tuesday, 9 December at 11.30am

Major awards will be presented at this assembly. All

parents and friends are invited to attend.

Year 6 students will receive their

GRADUATION CERTIFICATES

at an assembly on Wednesday, 17 December at 2.45pm

PRIMARY ASSEMBLY

AWARDS

The following students received their awards

at last week’s Major Assembly.

PRIMARY MERIT AWARDS:

Trevor Murray-Simpson, Sarah Buckley, Sky

Sherwin, Zavier Ryan, Will Graham, Hayden

Gailey, Elliott Blee, Towen Schick, Abbey

Druery, Madeleine Mulligan, Lewis

McFarland, Tahlia Ryan, Ella Meeuwisse,

Luke Wilson, Jasper Dunn, Jazmyn Carter,

Peter Hardwick, Chelsey Howarth, Aedan

Leatherland, Jackie Kacarovski, Erin Moy,

Tayah Matijak, Charlie Duclos.

INFANTS MERIT AWARDS:

Mathew McIntosh, Nate Williams, Rylee

Pound-McGuiness, James Wallace,

Samantha Riley, Elora Blackmore, Sean Cox-

Coffee, Felicity Bolton, Taamara Paki,

Nathan Cheng, Jacob Graham, Madison

Cox, Ryan Matijak, Madison Brown, Jaz

Dunlop, Stephanie Dresser, Sasha Paki,

Hannah McKay.

PBL AWARDS

The following students have gained

sufficient gotchas on the school’s PBL

Program to receive an achievement

certificate. The students received their

certificate for being respectful, on task

and safe.

PRIMARY

150 Gotcha Award: Lavinus Howarth, Gary Cheng, Justin

Saxby

100 Gotcha Award: Archie Osborne, Justin Saxby, Hollie

Baker, Lacie McKeown, Chris Brown,

Mitchell Graham, Daniel Hatch, Dylan

Miller, Kimball Sullivan, Jayden S. Brown

75 Gotcha Award: Zavier Ryan, Abbey Druery , Damian

Bell, Krystal White

50 Gotcha Award: Hayden Gailey, Jace Tarrant, Jordan

Bennet-Stewart, Chloe Horne, Shakiyah

Howarth, Tayah Matijak, Mitchell Blair

INFANTS

160 Gotcha Award: Jim Hazell

140 Gotcha Awards: Bridie Smith, McKay Sullivan

120 Gotcha Award: Cand i ce M e e uwi s se , Ay sha

Johnstone

100 Gotcha Award: Chamberlain Gi l lham, Brooke

Bennett-Stewart

80 Gotcha Award: Montana Drage, Liam Saunders,

Madison Brown, Tahlia Lazanski,

Lorissa Wood, Jemima Scammell,

Connor McMahon, Ezekiel Carter

40 Gotchas Award: Katelyn Anslow

20 Gotcha Award: Emma Harding, Seth Crutch, Paige

Muddle, Athor Aborro

2015

CAPTAINS, VICE CAPTAINS AND PREFECTS

Cambell White

Captain

Anja Gower

Captain

Lewis McFarland

Vice Captain

Madeleine Mulligan

Vice Captain

Jake Camps

Prefect

Glenn Saxby

Prefect

Nashwa Bakini

Prefect

Isabella Scammell

Prefect

Tahlia Ryan

Brigalow House Prefect

Harlee Simms

Kurrajong House Captain

Heidi Osborne

Myall House Captain

Courtney Wright

Wandoo House Captain

NOVEMBER AUSSIE OF THE MONTH

Primary ~ Ashleigh Saunders Ashleigh is pictured with her family and the presenter, Lloyd

Garrett representing the Cowra Services Club.

Ashleigh is a mature, responsible student, who works meticulously

on each and every classroom task, every day. She is a wonderful

role model, following PBL expectations and wearing her school

uniform in a proud manner. She possesses a cheerful and positive

attitude when dealing with staff and peers alike. Ashleigh is an

extremely reliable and forward thinking class monitor.

Infants ~ Candice Meeuwisse

Candice is pictured with her parents, sister and the presenter, Mr

Lloyd Garrett representing the Cowra Services Club.

Candice received her award for being a thoughtful, respectful

student who applies herself diligently to any task. She is a caring

friend, always supporting others. Candice is an exemplary

student, a wonderful representative of Cowra Public School.

Candice wears her uniform with pride.

INFANTS CLASS PARTIES

& SOCIAL

DATE: Wednesday, 10 December

Infants classes will party in their classrooms from 12.00

noon - 1.00pm.

Santa will make a surprise visit during this time.

A social will be held in the school auditorium from

2.00pm - 3.00pm.

Children may wear party clothes - please remember a

hat.

Children are asked to bring a plate of food to share.

Please be mindful of allergies (especially peanuts).

If your child has any allergies please contact your

child’s class teacher.

Some suggestions:

Fairy bread

Sandwiches

Fruit platter

Fruit skewers

Salad platter

Cold meat (includes chicken)

Chips

Dip and biscuits

STAGE 3 CLASS PARTY

Pupils in Stage 3 will be having their class party at the Cowra Aquatic

Centre on Tuesday, 16 December from 11.30am - 3.00pm.

Cost per child will be $2.00 or a season ticket. This will be collected by

the class teacher on the day (please try to have the exact money).

Students need to bring plenty of drinks and a small amount of party

food to share (nothing with peanuts or peanut flavouring due to

allergies). Please include a paper plate to put it on and slice up food

that needs to be into small pieces.

Children should wear casual clothes and bring their swimming gear, a

hat, t-shirt, sunscreen (no zinc cream).

Swimming organisation

Guidelines for swimming, as set out by the Department of Education

and Training, will be followed. The in-pool schedule will be as follows.

1. All pupils swimming ability will be tested in waist-deep water

under close supervision.

2. Pupils will be grouped as follows.

Strong swimmers who can participate in deep water activities will

be marked with BLUE WRIST BAND.

Weak swimmers and non-swimmers who can participate in

shallow water activities will be marked with YELLOW WRIST BAND.

Pupils will then participate in structured swimming activities based on

their swimming ability.

For all groups the teacher to student supervision ratio will not exceed 1 :

20.

A note will be sent home in the next week. Please fill in all the details

and return it to their home class teacher. STAGE 2 - CHRISTMAS PARTY

WHEN: Tuesday, 16 December, 2014 from 11:00am until

approximately 2:30pm

WHERE: River Park

TRANSPORT: Walking (wear comfortable joggers). The

students will be accompanied by their class teachers

and walk to and from River Park.

MORNING TEA:

Bring your own party food.

LUNCH:

Bring your own OR purchase McDonald's (a note will

be sent home with choices).

ACTIVITIES: Water activities (students will need to

bring their costumes, towel and rubber thongs or water-

proof shoes)

Sporting equipment will be provided, however, you

may bring your own.

COMPULSORY:

Hat

Sunscreen

Covered Walking Shoes (joggers),

Casual clothes - no bare shoulders

Drinks, water bottle

The permission note and McDonald’s note will be sent

home next week and must be returned to their class

teacher by Friday, 12 December with the correct

amount of money for McDonald’s if ordering. There will

be no change given.

YEAR 5 FAREWELL TO YEAR 6

Date: Monday, 8 December 2014

Time: 6.30 - 7.00pm Finger food supper

7.00 - 8.00pm Social/bushdancing

8.00 - 8.30pm Formal Ceremony in Auditorium

Dress: Smart casual

Cost: Year 5 only: $2.00 towards the cost of the farewell

cake.

Year 5 students are each to bring a small plate of finger

food, ready to eat. Chips, drinks and lollies will be supplied,

so please don’t bring them along.

Suggestions for food are: Sand-

wiches; fruit platter/skewers; sal-

ad platter; cold meat (includes

chicken); sausage rolls/mini

pies/mini quiches/mini pizzas;

cocktail frankfurts.

Children are not to arrive before 6.40pm

and we ask that you are punctual in

collecting your child at 8.30pm from the

auditorium. If your child is travelling

home with someone other than their

Cowra Public School Page 5

STAGE 3 CANBERRA EXCURSION

As the time draws closer the students are getting excited about this excursion. The excursion will occur: Wednesday, 10th

December to Friday 12th December 2014 (Week 10).

Accommodation: will be at Camp Cottermouth.

All students are to be at the front of the school, Vaux Street, by 7.15am on the first day of their excursion. The bus will be leaving at

7.30am sharp. The bus will be arriving back to Cowra Public School at 4.15pm. Please be on time to pick up your child.

WHAT TO PACK/WEAR

Day 1 - Full school uniform including socks, black shoes and a school bucket hat. MUST BE WORN ON FIRST DAY

School bucket hat (compulsory)

Joggers or black school shoes (only)

Bring your own toiletries - deodorant (roll on only), comb/brush, soap, toothpaste and toothbrush

Pyjamas

Sleeping bag and pillow case

Towel

2 changes of underwear and socks (for Thursday and Friday)

Your own morning tea and a drink (for Day 1 only), packed in a disposable container and labelled with your name.

You will also need to bring your lunch and a drink (for Day 1 only), packed in a disposable container and labelled with your name.

Day 2 - CPS sports uniform, including joggers and a school bucket hat.

Day 3 - Smart casual clothes, joggers or black school shoes and a school bucket hat. Year 6 yellow t-shirt optional.

Wear neat, casual clothes including a WARM TOP in case it’s cold in Canberra. (One year it snowed while we were there!)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Make sure EVERYTHING you bring is clearly labelled with your name. Teachers will not be responsible for any lost items.

All medication is to be in a clearly marked container and is to include instructions/details of administration. All Medication

(excluding puffers if you need to have them with you) is to be handed to the teachers before you get on the bus.

DO NOT BRING: lollies, chewing gum, mobile phones, jewellery.

Electronic games/ipods/MP3 players are permitted FOR TRAVEL ONLY. These will be collected for safe keeping on arrival at camp.

All must be clearly marked with your name.

Extra food is not permitted. Please be considerate of other children’s food allergies and the potential risk to life.

SPENDING MONEY is not necessary but you may bring a maximum of $20. All money is to be put into an envelope with your name

and the amount clearly written on the front. The teachers will collect the envelopes before you get on the bus and then give them

to you at Questacon.

You may bring a camera only if you know how to use it and you are able to load and unload film if necessary.

We will be staying at the Camp Cottermouth, Stromo, ACT. The phone number FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY is 02 6249 6855

PLEASE BE SURE CHILDREN ARE COLLECTED PROMPTLY AT 4.15PM ON THEIR RETURN FROM THE EXCURSION.

YEAR 6 GRADUATION

When: Wednesday, 17 December 2014

Where: Cowra Public School auditorium

Time: 2.45pm

All parents, families and

friends of students in Year

6 are invited to attend the

Graduation Ceremony.

SPECIAL LEARN-TO-SWIM LESSONS

Tomorrow is the last day for the Intensive Learn-to-Swim lessons.

Students are reminded to bring their costumes and towel to school.

The school would like to thank Mr Albert Murray for organising the

lessons and all the swimming staff involved with conducting the

lessons.

All students involved in the lessons have become more confident

swimmers and hopefully what they have learnt will see them safer in

the water.

Page 6 Cowra Public School

SPORT

P & C

PRIMARY SPORT ~

Primary sport will be class based for the rest of the term due to

Swimming School and the Stage 3 excursion taking place.

CANTEEN NEWS

To celebrate the start of summer, tomorrow, the canteen will

be holding TOMORROW a:

“summer beach party”

Sausage in a roll - small $1.00 (with/without onion)

Sausage in a roll - large $2.00

Sausage in a roll $6.00 (with pasta, garlic bread)

Fruit marshmallow kebabs $1.00 (with chocolate sauce)

Fizzy ice drink using syrups $2.00

Decorated cup cakes $2.00

Small cup cakes $1.00

NO OTHER HOT FOOD AVAILABLE

Also try some of our new delicious healthy

snacks every day at recess

Banana muffins $1.00

Fruit & Custard cups .50c

Pizza muffins $1.00

Choc top bananas .50c

Stay tuned to the newsletters each week for

the weekly specials.

P & C CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

GREAT PRIZES!!

With less than one month to go until

Christmas, it’s time to start thinking about

planning for the big day. The P&C will

again be running a Christmas raffle, with

some great prizes on offer. This year you

could win:

1st Prize – Framed Painting by an

Aboriginal Artist

2nd prize – Grocery Hamper

3rd prize – $100 Voucher (Phil’s Blinds & Awnings)

The raffle will be drawn at the major Primary Assembly on Tuesday

9 December, 2014 at 11.30am.

Raffle books of ten (10) tickets ($20.00) have been sent home

today to families, please sell the books and return the money to

the office as soon as possible.

There will be a prize awarded to the student in Primary and Infants

who sell the most raffle books.

Raffle ticket books need to be returned to the school

before Friday, 5 December. All books whether they

have been sold or not need to be returned to the

school.

Raffle drawn Tuesday, 9 December at the Major

Primary Assembly

CANTEEN ROSTER

8/12/14 9/12/14 10/12/14 11/12/14 12/12/14

Cindy Newsome Cindy Saxby Natalie Crutch

Trisha Long

Diyan Coe

P & C NEWS !!!

The P & C will again be holding a FETE. The

FETE is scheduled for Friday, 20 March 2015

commencing at 5.00pm in the school

grounds. This will be the P & C’s major

fundraiser for the year and all proceeds from

the FETE will go towards your child’s

education so please mark the date down on

your calendar. COWRA NIGHT MARKETS

The P & C will again be running a stall at the Cowra Night

Markets to be held on Friday, 12 December 2014.

The P & C is looking for assistance with the stall. At this stage the

menu is still being finalised but if you know of any parents, family

or friends who would be wiling to assist on the night, please

contact the school office.

Assistance will be needed from 5.00pm until 8.00pm.

~~ 15 weeks to go ~~

FRIDAY 20 MARCH 2015 5pm in the school grounds

We've had to change the date of our fete due to the NSW state

election in late March. Please note the fete has been brought

forward a week from that previously advertised.

Mark the date in your diaries – the P&C’s major fund raising activity for 2015 is only 16 weeks away.

It's not as close as Christmas but we will seem to get to the date just as quick!

All funds raised from the fete will be used on projects that benefit all children at our school - there

are things you can be doing now to help our fete committee.....

WE NEED YOUR HELP!—we can’t run a fete without help so please consider donating an hour or two

of your time on fete night. The P&C need help before and after the fete to set up and pack up, as

well as helpers to work on the stalls over the fete’s duration. If you can help in any way, please fill out

the form in next week’s newsletter and return it to school before the end of Term. Many hands make

light work!

JAZZY JARS—we will once again be running this fun stall at our fete - start planning now.

Start collecting empty jars with lids over the Christmas break - unusual shapes and sizes

appreciated! You can fill your jar with almost anything and the filled jars will be

collected early in Term 1 next year. Once again, there will be a prize for the class with

the most jars and the challenge will be to unseat Mrs White's class - the reigning Jazzy

Jar champion class! More details will be published in the new school year - but start

thinking now!

STALL HOLDERS—do you have a product or service that you want to sell? Our fete gives you the

opportunity to peddle your wares at a very affordable price. If you are interested in having a stall at

our fete, please contact the school office.

HAUNTED HOUSE –ENTER ONLY IF YOU DARE. The famed CPS HAUNTED HOUSE will

return to this year’s Fete, with plans underway for it to be spookier and scarier than

ever! This attraction is one of the children’s favourite, but it does need a few hours

of setting up so if you have some creative flair and are not afraid of the dark,

please get in touch with the P&C. Also wanted - any ex Halloween props and

decorations, scary ghosts or spider webs - please leave your donations at the school office.

BOOK STALL – clean out your children’s book cases, games cupboards and DVD's to make way for

the Christmas stash. You can donate any preloved books, magazines (in good condition), video

games or DVDs to our school for our book stall. Books can be left at the school office leading up to

Christmas. Make some room at your place and donate them to us!

OTHER ATTRACTIONS – Dance performances, student art displays, face painting, fun

activities for all ages, insane balloon fun, chocolate wheel, school

merchandise, EXCELLENT FOOD and much, much more.

PLAN A FUN EVENING OUT WITH YOUR FAMILY AT

OUR FETE ON MARCH 20 !!!

PO Box 900, Cowra NSW 2794 T/A Lic 2TA5695 Phone: 6342 1021 Fax: 6342 4597 Email: info@cowrabus.com.au Web: http:www.cowrabus.com.au

2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS OPEN: Friday, 23rd January-Monday 26th January, 2015: Book early to secure selection of sessions. from $930.00

LES MISERABLES: Saturday, 13 June 2015, Capitol Theatre, Sydney - $220.00

MATILDA: Saturday, 12 September 2015, Lyric Theatre, Sydney, $220.00 ZEALAND NORTH & SOUTH ISLAND: 18 days - Numerous activities included. Departing from Cowra 6th March, 2015. Returning to Cowra 23rd March, 2015. From $5,750.00 twin share

“Cowra Travel Takes you There”

COMMUNITY

Cowra’s Carols in the Japanese Gardens

SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER

Cowra Japanese Gardens

Enjoy the twilight and get into the festive

spirit with Carols in the Japanese Gardens on Sunday, 14 December.

Gates open at 6.00pm with carols starting at 7.00pm

We have had word that Santa may be stopping

by!

ADMISSION IS FREE