Term 4 Week 2 16 October 2013

Dear Parents / Caregivers, Dates to Remember Term 4 Week 2 Newsletter Week, Swimming Scheme 15/10/13 P&C Meeting, School Banking 16/10/13 Premier’s Sporting Leadership Day, Transition to HS 17/10/13 Breakfast Club, Uni Sport, Starting School Group 18/10/13 Bandanna Day, Captains/Prefects Nominations, Scripture, Whole School

Assembly Term 4 Week 3 21/10/13 District Public Speaking (Regentville PS) 22/10/13 School Banking 24/10/13 Breakfast Club, Uni Sport, Starting School Group 25/10/13 World Teachers’ Day, Scripture, Whole School Assembly Term 4 Week 4 Newsletter Week 29/10/13 School Banking 31/10/13 Breakfast Club, Starting School Group 01/11/13 Scripture, Stage Assemblies Important Information for Parents Welcome to Term 3. Next Friday 25 October we celebrate World Teachers’ Day. World Teachers’ Day recognises the efforts of teachers across the world to provide a quality education to all students. I would like to acknowledge all the work our wonderful teachers at Kingswood Public School do to educate our students. The ongoing commitment and dedication of our teachers ensures that all students receive a quality education whilst looking after the wellbeing of each student. Our teachers also work with our families and the school community to provide care and support. It is a pleasure to work with such an outstanding group of teachers. Currently a number of our students are participating in the Swimming Scheme learning the vital life skill of swimming. Thank you to Mrs Andersen for coordinating the Swimming Scheme and to Mrs Fox and Mrs Prunty who are assisting Mrs Andersen in this successful program. NAPLAN results for our Year 3 and Year 5 students have been sent home this week. Please note that the results reflect how your child did in the test on that particular day. It is not a reflection of their overall school achievement. If you have any queries please contact your child’s teacher.

KINGSWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL

Quality Teaching in a Caring Environment

Our Year 5 students have received a letter in regards to an intention to apply for Year 7 entry into selective high schools in 2015. Please note the intention to apply is not an application. Parents are strongly encouraged to apply online. Online applications opened on 14 October and close on 18 November 2013. More information for parents is published on the internet at www.schools.nsw.edu.au/shsplacement On 6 October 2013 Busways became the operator responsible for delivering bus services in the area known as Sydney Metropolitan Bus Contract 1. This means all services, including school bus services, operated by Westbus and Hawkesbury Valley Buses in Penrith/St Marys/Richmond/Windsor areas prior to October 6 2013 are now operated by Busways in addition to their existing services in the Blacktown/Mt Druitt areas. School bus timetables, route descriptions and travel information can be found at www.busways.com.au School bus passes should be applied for via the usual process through the school office. Replacement school bus passes (for lost or damaged school bus passes) and Term passes (a reduced cost travel pass for students who are not eligible for a free bus pass) can be purchased online at www.busways.com.au/travelling_with_us/school_bus_passes or alternatively by visiting one of the bus depots. The Term 4 Calendar is attached to this newsletter. Please note that changes will be notified in the newsletter. Kindergarten (Early Stage 1) 2014 We are currently enrolling students for Kindergarten (Early Stage 1) 2014. Enrolment forms are available from the office. Parents will need to provide proof of residency, a birth certificate and immunisation certificate. Kindergarten (Early Stage 1) Orientation will be held on Wednesday 20 October. A note will be sent to parents with further information. Students in Not Returning in 2014 Please notify the office in writing if your child/children will not be returning in 2014 (except Year 6 students). This will assist us greatly with the formation of classes at the end of this term. New Working with Children Check There are new Working with Children Check procedures that all schools are mandated to follow. Further information is also available on the website www.newcheck.kids.nsw.gov.au Are Your Contact Details Current? Please let the office know in person or in writing if your contact details have changed. If your child is sick or we need to contact you for any reason, it can be really difficult if the numbers are not current. Thank you to all those parents who have informed us of any changes. Students Arriving Early, Starting Late and Absence Notes A number of students are being dropped off early each school day. Please be aware that the school does not take any responsibility for students who are on the school site before 8:30am. Please provide before school care for your child/children. Supervision of students commences at 8:30am each school morning. A number of students are arriving late to school. Please ensure that your child/children arrive on time each day. The morning session is prime learning time for students and students need to be here for the start of the first lesson each morning.If your child/children are absent, a note needs to be sent in to their class teacher. Please be aware that rolls are legal documents and children need to attend school each day.

If your child is going to be absent for more than 15 days to go overseas or on holiday, a general exemption form needs to be completed and approved before they go on leave. These forms are available at the office. Staff Car Park We have had ongoing issues with parents using the staff car park to pick up and drop off their children. As a consequence the staff car park will be locked each afternoon at 2:30pm. The car park is out of bounds to students at all times. Please do not enter the staff car park under any circumstances including walking your children through the car park. It is NOT a pedestrian thoroughfare. We are making every effort to keep all our students safe. Please assist us to do this. Thank you to all our parents who use the public car parks across from the school. We are also having issues with students not knowing who they are going home with in the afternoons and parents not notifying us when they are running late. Children become very distressed when a parent or caregiver is not at the school to collect them promptly at 3:00pm. Please ensure that you ring the office if you are going to be late to collect your children and/or there is a change of plans so that we can notify your children of these changes. Please also let your child/children know if there is a change for that day in regards to who is picking them up or where they are supposed to be. We would appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Keeping All Our Students Safe – Asthma Due to an update in the Administration of Prescribed Medication at School Policy, students with asthma need ready access to their reliever medication when an attack occurs. Parents are now required to complete a Request for Support at School of a Student’s Health Condition form. A letter and form was sent home to all families. Please complete the form if your child/children have a medical condition or health care need that the school should be aware of. Where the student with asthma is young, or needs assistance to administer the asthma medication please indicate this on page 3 on the Request Administering Prescribed Medication to the Student form. Parents must also provide a spacer with the medication. If your child/children are capable of administering their medication, please ensure that they carry their asthma medication at all times. It is vitally important that parents complete and return the Request for Support at School of a Student’s Health Condition Form to the office as soon as possible. Keeping All Our Students Safe – Anaphylaxis The Department of Education and Communities has supplied all government schools with a general use adrenaline autoinjector (an EpiPen) for their first aid kit. This does not replace the need for parents to continue to provide the school with an adrenaline autoinjector and ASICA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis signed and dated by their doctor when their child has been diagnosed with anaphylaxis. Instead the general use adrenaline autoinjector is intended for use if:

• An undiagnosed student has an anaphylactic reaction at school • There is a misfire of the adrenaline autoinjector that has been prescribed for a

student • A student requires further adrenaline autoinjector to be administered after his or

her own adrenaline autoinjector has been administered. Please contact the office if you would like further information in relation to this matter.

Dogs in the School Grounds The Companion Animals Act 1998 – Sect 14 states that dogs are prohibited from school grounds. Please do not bring your dogs into the school grounds as many students are frightened of dogs and we are trying to keep all students safe. Donation Bin State Wide Services Australia has delivered a donation bin to the school. The main objective of State Wide Services Australia is to aid and assist third world countries by supplying second hand clothing and textiles. The school will receive a donation from the company to have the bin on the school site. The following will be accepted: second hand wearable clothing, handbags; backpacks – all bags, belts (ladies, children and mens; shoes, thongs, sandals; jackets and jumpers; sheeting and pillowslips – flannelette and cotton; ties/socks; soft toys (small, no more than 30cm tall); children’s clothing; all undergarments (ladies, mens, childrens); towels, face washers and hand towels. Please do not put the following into the bin or bags for collection: wet, damp or mouldy textiles; excessively dirty or stained garments; material remnants less than 20cm square; no pillows or quilts; plastic wear, bric a brac, glass or sharp objects; books or hard toys. The bin will be at the school for a trial period. If dumping of unwanted goods that are not accepted occurs, the bin will be removed. The school will still be collecting for Stewart House each year. Breakfast Club Real Life Church is holding a Breakfast Club each Thursday morning this year. Cereal and milk will be served from 8:30am to 8:50am under the shade shelter in front of the Old Hall. Breakfast is an important start to the day and gets children ready to work and learn at school. I would like to thank Real Life Church for providing this service to our school. General Permission to Publish A note has been sent home in regards to general permission to publish. Please read the note and return it completed and signed to your class teacher as soon as possible if you have not already done so. School Website The school has a fabulous website that parents can access for further information about the school including permission notes and the school newsletter. Thank you to Mrs Fox who maintains the website.The website address is http://www.kingswood-p.schools.nsw.edu.au Excursion Notes A new Department of Education and Training Excursion Policy has come into effect. Please note we will no longer be able to accept hand written notes or verbal permission. A school permission note must be completed for each excursion and or special event. Stage 1 & Stage 1 Students – Change of Clothes If your child is in Early Stage 1 or Stage 1 could you please ensure that you have a change of underpants and winter/summer clothing in your child’s bag in case of a toileting accident. We have a very limited supply available at school and we would appreciate your support in this matter.

P&C - Making a Vital Contribution to Our School Our final P&C Meeting and afternoon tea will be held on Tuesday 3 December at 2:00pm in the staffroom. All parents and carers are welcome to attend. Norma Petrocco Principal Premier’s Spelling Bee 2013 At the end of last term, 4 students represented Kingswood Public School at the Regional Final of the Premier’s Spelling Bee held at Werrington Public School.Congratulations to Nancy S1/S2BH, Ameya S2/S3F, Suwasthigan S3J and Sarvam S3T for their excellent performances ! We are very proud of you ! Mrs Prunty Spelling Bee Co-ordinator

Tennis at Kingswood Public School

As part of Tennis Australia’s Hot Shots Tennis in schools program, Nepean District Tennis Association is now offering this great new program at your school.

Tennis in schools is a program that introduces children to tennis at their school from ages 5-12 years. It is delivered with the intention to help with the development of gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and introduce them to the fundamentals of tennis.

All equipment including rackets, balls and nets are brought on site by a Tennis Australia qualified coach in order to give children a realistic tennis experience with the convenience of being delivered at a time and place most convenient to you.

Classes are being offered at Kingswood Public in two timeslots on Tuesday mornings: 8.00am-8.30am, and 8.30am-9.00am. The cost is $7 per 30 minute session. To register a place for your child, or for enquiries contact Elton on 47212880 or via email tennisinschools@gmail.com.

My child ............................of class...........is interested in starting tennis lessons with Elton Stoney on Monday morning. Phone number.............................. Preferred time – 8am......... 8.30........(please return note to office)