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Grafton Public School Newsletter

Locked Bag 9024 Grafton 2460 PHONE: Primary - 66421000 Infants - 66422286

Term 3 Week 5: Friday 13th August 2021

A Tradition of Excellence

COMING UP THIS TERM….. (subject to change due to COVID restrictions) Mon 16 August to Fri 20 August -Science Week Mon 23 August to Fri 27 August - Book Fair Monday 23 August - Mid North Coast Athletics

Friday 27 August - Book Character Parade Thursday 26 August - Kindy Kritters (12-2.30pm) Thursday 2 September - Kindy Kritters (12-2.30pm) Thursday 9 September - Bronze and Silver Badge Ceremony

Thursday 9 September - Kindy Kritters (12-2.30pm) Tuesday September 14 - P&C Meeting 6.30pm in the library Thursday 16 September - Kindy Kritters (12-2.30pm) Friday 17 September - Last day of Term 3

School Operations & Excursions At this point in time we are still operating at level 2 covid-19 school operations in the Clarence Valley. On these restrictions, we are able to go on excursions in our Local Government Area (LGA) with covid safe practices in place. As we realise this is an area that is changing day to day across the state, we are trying to provide all Grafton Public School students with an excursion in the next few weeks in case of a future tightening of restrictions. An excursion note will go home with students today or Monday. If your child is away, they will be able to collect a note from their class teacher when they return to school or a note can be collected from the front office on each campus from Monday. In the event that the Clarence Valley has a tightening of restrictions, we will hold the excursions later in the year. Technology Note Thank you to all families who have returned the 'technology at home' note. This will assist with home learning planning in the event of a lockdown in the Clarence LGA causing a change to school operations. Whilst we hope this doesn't occur, we will be as prepared as possible if it does. If you haven't returned your note, please do so as soon as possible. Book Character Parade This is always a highlight of our school calendar for our students, staff and usually our community. Unfortunately this year we are unable to have visitors on site, however, photographs from the day will be available on facebook after the event. I look forward to seeing what the popular characters are this year and how creative our families and staff are this year. If you haven't got your child's costume ready yet, there are some simple ideas available online. Sometimes the simple ideas are the best! The Long Way Home Writing Competition There were some absolutely fabulous writing pieces entered by our students covering the theme 'Look Up'. Congratulations to our four students who will be included in the published book for the Long Way Home Writing Competition: Tae Nagle, Theo Symons, Maggie Warburton and Joseph Lloyd. Inspired by the entries, Grafton Public School will be holding a school-wide writing competition later this term. Watch this space!

A message from our Principal ...

Bike Mechanics Mr Avery and the Bike Mechanics have been busy fixing bikes to donate to families in our community. It is a brilliant program with new skills being developed by the students involved and the joy of seeing the students "pay it forward". Thank you to Mr Avery and the Bike Mechanics for their commitment to the program. National Tree Planting Day Our Enviro Warriors did a fabulous job planting new trees and shrubs across our campuses last week. Thank you to Mrs Robertson for co-ordinating this day and Miss Chris and Miss Jody for assisting with the planting. Our Enviro Warriors and SRC have a number of projects they are planning in 2021 to make our school as sustainable as possible. Michelle McDonagh Principal | Grafton Public School

A message from our Principal continued...

Library News

The next P & C meeting will be held on Tuesday 14th September at 6.30pm in our library. All welcome, please come along!

New Home Readers The Department of Education have sent new decodabale readers for our K-2 classrooms. These readers will be used as part of our Home Reading Program. If we have any parents/carers who would like to help with covering these new books please call the office and we can arrange some books and contact to be sent home.

Book Character Parade Count Down! 2 weeks to go! What book character will you dress up like?

Change of date....Friday 27th, August Week 7

BOOK FAIR IS COMING! During Week 7, Scholastic Book Fair will be opening in the Library, providing your child with the opportunity to purchase a new book. All sales bring money back to Grafton Public School to provide more resources for your child’s learning. With every purchase of a book, your child receives an entry into the ‘Lucky Draw’. Winners of this draw receive a book prize!

Strictly no parents on site due to current COVID restrictions. Please send CASH if you would like your student to purchase a book during school hours. Book Fair will be opened from 8:20 am before the morning bell and second half of lunch. Monday 23rd August-Friday 27th August.

Premier's Reading Challenge The Premier's Reading Challenge will be coming to a close on August 31st.

Students in K-2 have completed the challenge as part of their library lessons at school. Students in grades 3-6 that have taken on the challenge independently will need to see Mrs Penfold to

validate their reading logs.

Noticeboard

Please help out - Recycled Materials

The infants campus is looking for recycled household items to be brought to school.

Things like food boxes, clear soft drink bottles or cylinders.

Later in the term some students may select the make and create Green Level Reward activity.

Year 1 Phonics Check In All Year 1 students will be completing the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check in the coming weeks. Phonics is the relationship between letters and sounds and is vital in learning to read and write. This Screening Check is a short, quick assessment that tells teachers how your child is progressing in phonics. Your child will sit with the class teacher and will be asked to read 40 words aloud. These words include 20 real words and 20 nonsense words. The test normally takes a few minutes. If your child is struggling the teacher will stop the check. The check is carefully designed not to be stressful for your child. If you have any further questions please phone the school and ask to speak with Mrs Fletcher or Mrs Stephenson.

Grafton High School—Year 7 Camp 2022 Expression of Interest If you have a child in Year 7 at Grafton High School next year and did not make it to the information session, our office has copies of the Great Aussie Bush Camp Expression of Interest notes that were distributed on the night. The camp will be held over three days in Week 7 of Term 1 (Wednesday 9 March to Friday 11 March 2022). Notes are to be returned to the Grafton High School front office.

Noticeboard

Good Mood Food

This week we held our silver and bronze badge ceremonies. Congratulations to all our worthy recipients! Unfortunately due to the current covid restrictions we were unable to

have our parents and carers onsite for this special occasion. Hopefully by the time the next awards ceremony comes around, we will be able to go back to normal and have visitors to

share this experience with us. Well done everyone!

Pictured to the right and above right are students who will have work included in the

published book for the Long Way Home Writing Competition. Miss Dowsett is pictured with

Maggie and Lloyd and Mr Taylor is pictured with Tay and Theo. Keep up the good work!

Next week is Science Week at GPS and our Mr Craythorn will be in his element…..get it?

There will be loads of science talk and some fun experiments taking place. A huge thank you to Grafton City Batteries for kindly donating some

materials for our week of science.

Community Notices

Grafton City Tennis Club continue to provide the children of the Clarence Valley with tennis lessons and competitions. The tennis club is located on Prince Street between the Showgrounds and the Skate Park. Our Hotshots training program is a group lesson designed for players of beginner and

intermediate levels from the ages of 3-18. It is run by advanced level teenage players every Friday during the term at 4pm, rackets can be supplied. Call Phil Beckman for more info on all tennis programs: 0422 586 089

Community Notices

Community Notices