recognise his comments on the collegiality and support he has experienced at this school from staff and parents. This school community’s support of Mr C and our staff in general has certainly helped to create condi ons in which great teachers can thrive. For this reason, I commend all of you and celebrate the win that this is for Mr C and also for our whole school! Well done Mr C and Mi agong Public School! Please see Mr C’s ar cle in this newsle er. 

Mobile phones to save chimpanzees! Many people recycle cans, glass and paper without a second thought, but don’t realise that they can also recycle their old mobile phones and other electronics. Mobile phones contain coltan, a mineral that is mined from crucial great ape habitats in East and Central Africa. Although coltan can be extracted from old mobile devices and reused, in 2008 more than 70% of the world's supply was newly mined. The good news is that you can help to reduce the need for new coltan simply by recycling your unwanted mobile phones!

All donated phones will be data wiped, and either refurbished and resold by PhoneCycle, or broken down and recycled by MobileMuster. These organisa ons will then donate the money raised to JGIA to support

It is my great pleasure to inform you that last week one of our teachers, Mr Jim Christodoulopoulos, was awarded a Na onal Excellence in Teaching Award in Melbourne. As one of only 13 across the na on and the only primary teacher in NSW, Jim has joined a highly respected group of excellent teachers in being acknowledged.

The ASG Na onal Excellence in Teaching Awards are unique; they are the only na onal teaching awards where nomina ons are made by parents, students, and school communi es—making these the ‘people’s choice’ teaching awards. The NEiTA Founda on provides an annual teaching awards program that allows Australian and New Zealand communi es a formal way to publicly recognise and applaud their inspira onal early childhood educators, teachers, principals and centre directors.

Mr Christodoulopoulos was one of three New South Wales teachers who received a na onal award last week at a ceremony in Melbourne. Selected from more than 1350 nomina ons in 2016, the 13 na onal award recipients have been honoured for their

inspiring and innova ve contribu on to teaching.

I would like to commend Jim on his success and also

Thursday 16 March 2017

Mittagong Public School

Term 1 Week 8

Newsletter

In training for the Cross Country

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Term 1 Week 8

the work of Dr Jane by helping fund our conserva on programs in Africa.

Mi agong Public School has a collec on box in the front office where you can drop your old mobile phone in for recycling.

Dear Anonymous Parent, I would like to thank you for nomina ng me for a “Teacher Award” in 2016. When I first received the email and read that I was nominated and the requirements, I really didn’t know what to think. A er collegial encouragement and family support I decided to write the essays and answer the ques ons. To my surprise I reached the finals and was awarded a cer ficate at the end of the year at our school’s presenta on day. At that stage I felt gra tude to the family that nominated me and a humbling yet sa sfying feeling which I cannot express. The truth is that as teachers we are ‘programmed’ to give and serve and never really expect anything in return. Our ‘award’ is to see our students thrive in the environment we have designed and created for them. Nevertheless there was another round for candidates, so I con nued wri ng the required essays and answered ques ons on my pedagogy, and I am pleased to announce that I won. On Friday 10 March 2017, I was awarded a Na onal Excellence in Teaching Award in Melbourne in a beau ful ceremony that celebrated teachers. I was surrounded by my teary family and supported by Mr Mansfield and Mr Murray. As I held my trophy, cer ficate and a cheque for $5000 all I could think of was, this anonymous family and their child that gave me a ‘stand out’ moment in my career; because they simply wanted to say thank you. So this is my thank you, to you, anonymous parent, and a chance to commend all parents that work together with teachers so they can see their children and our students, be the best versions of themselves. Mr Christodoulopoulos

Stage 2 are Bound for Botany Bay,.... in Term 2 This ar cle is a preview for families. Later this term all Stage 2 students will be issued with a note describing a very exci ng excursion we plan on taking part in during Term 2. As part of our unit of work called First Contacts, the Year 3 and Year 4 students will visit Botany Bay during June. We wanted to give lots of warning because, not only will the excursion cost around $30 per child but we will leave school by 8:00am and not return un l around 4:00pm. This is such a valuable experience, we wanted to give families every opportunity to prepare. The students will

Faces of Mittagong School

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Term 1 Week 8

experience some aspects of life for our first Australians, the indigenous Aboriginal people and their ini al contact with Captain Cook. There will be role plays, reenactments and exploring the Botany Bay Environmental Educa on Centre. Families are welcome to begin paying the cost of the excursion as soon as the notes come home. It is also important to note that Year 4 will be issued their note for the Fitzroy Falls Camp later this term also. This is also a very valuable experience and we would love to see all students par cipate. Finally, the school policy states that students cannot par cipate in excursions un l a payment for the resources pack is complete, or a payment arrangement, has been nego ated. We hope all students in Year 3 and Year 4 can take part in these valuable and unique opportuni es.

Easter Egg Drive For many years Mi agong Public has delivered Easter eggs to the residents of The Abbey nursing home and to the elderly people who receive Meals on Wheels support. Over the next 2 weeks we would gratefully appreciate dona ons of Easter eggs to make this event possible. All dona ons of Easter eggs will be collected at the morning assembly. Some of our senior students will be involved in gi wrapping the eggs ready for delivery to The Abbey by the SRC in week 10.

The SRC will be running an Easter Egg Raffle to raise funds for the purchasing of the diabe c chocolate eggs which are needed for some of the recipients. Tickets will be on sale each morning for 20c. The raffle will be drawn during week 10 of this term.

Coordinators: SRC, Joan Ferguson, Barbara Schymitzek & Gavin Murray

Stage 1 Boomerang Bag Making Last Friday, some of our Stage 1 students were very fortunate to take part in a Boomerang Bag making workshop. Ebony Barnes from the Southern Highlands Boomerang Bag movement, visited the school and assisted the students to make some ‘no‐sew’ bags from old t‐shirts. Ebony also instructed the children on silk screen prin ng and provided students the opportunity to add the Boomerang Bag logo to the bags made.

The Boomerang Bags movement works to reduce

the use of plas c bags, by engaging local communi es in the making of reusable bags from recycled materials. If you would like to get involved in this na onal movement, please get in touch with Ebony Barnes through the Southern Highlands Boomerang Bag facebook page or speak to Mr Egan at Mi agong Public School. If you have any second‐hand materials (fabric, tablecloths, quilts, curtains, pillow cases, mosquito nets, etc) suitable for making bags, please send them into school. Addi onally, if you would like to donate co on thread, straight pins, scissors, hand‐sewing needles etc your contribu on would be greatly appreciated.

Stage One Excursion to Moss Vale Show Tomorrow, all Stage One students and teachers will be travelling to the Moss Vale Show. We are all very excited about visi ng the pavilion to see the artworks we have entered. Buses will leave the school at 9.30am sharp, so it is very important that all students arrive at school on me. Students are also encouraged to bring a raincoat and small umbrella in the event of rain.

ICAS Update Did you spot the two errors on the ICAS note? No? My mistakes en rely. I made another two errors that I am now rec fying. The costs for the Wri ng and Spelling assessments were reversed. The Wri ng assessment is $17 and the Spelling assessment is $11. For the students that this affects, a note was sent home earlier this week sta ng a credit will be made for over payment and an extra $6 asked for under payment. Also the English assessment is open to all Y2‐Y6 students. All notes and monies are due by 3pm Friday 24th March. Again, I am very sorry for any confusion or inconvenience caused.      Amanda Buchanan 

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Term 1 Week 8

BULB DRIVE ‐ There are spare catalogues at the front office and a PDF is available on the school website if yours has gone missing. There are also iden ty s ckers and candles to order. 50% profit on bulb orders goes back to the school and 25% profit on s cker orders. We appreciate every order large or small as it helps raise funds for your children. FUN RUN – FORMS AND MONEY DUE BACK MONDAY 3RD APRIL: Due to the wet weather the fun run and cross country had to be postponed yesterday, let’s hope the weather is kind on the rescheduled day, likely to be 28th March (see permission note). Good luck with your fundraising! Don’t forget you can also set up an online fundraising account but you s ll need to fill out the prizes selected on the Fun Run form which went home. FRIDAY MORNING SAUSAGE SIZZLE:  A special thankyou once again to KENNARDS HIRE for their ongoing generous support in dona ng the gas for the Friday barbecue. Please support this business in return. CANTEEN:  Thankyou to our wonderful canteen volunteers, it has been great to see some new faces! We really appreciate parent/grandparent volunteer efforts. Order forms went out this week for our special Easter meal day on Thursday 30th March. Don’t forget, last day of term (Friday 7th April) canteen will be CLOSED.

SCHOOL BANKING: Don’t forget school banking day is on Fridays. Place your yellow wallets in the plas c box outside the brick building before assembly. If you have not signed up for school banking and would like to, visit the Mi agong Commonwealth Bank branch to open an account for your child. WHERE DO WE SPEND FUNDS RAISED? As you can see

2017 fundraising is in full swing. You may be wondering

what projects P&C is currently funding. This month we

were able to pay $1,500 to the school for purchase of

reading resources for the new Fitzroy class. And a major

project the P&C is likely to be assis ng the school with this

year is replacing the playground equipment so fall.

These are just some of the things P&C pays for to improve

your child’s experience at school. In recent years we have

funded things like computer upgrades and class tablets.

Thankyou to everyone who helps P&C support the school

by volunteering and/ or fundraising!

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

March Week 8

13 Gym

14 Kindy bus safety

15 3-6 Cross Country K-2 Fun Run

16 Clothing Pool Sale 8:30am

17 1/2 Moss Vale Show Senior assembly Bulb money due

18 19

March Week 9

20 Yr 6 Science Gym PLP meetings

21 Harmony Day

22 Book Club Due

23 24 ICAS money due Soccer Gala Junior assembly

25 26

March Week 10

27 Gym

28 3-6 X country K-2 FUN RUN

29 30 Canteen meal deal

31 Junior assembly

1 2

April Week 11

3 Gym Fun run money due

4 Hindmarsh/Noble Cup P&C mtg 6:30pm

5 6

7 last day term 1 K-2 Hat Parade Senior assembly Canteen Closed

8 9

April Term 2 Week 1

24 SDD

25 ANZAC DAY

26 Students return

27 28 29 30

Mittagong School Fun Run and Cross Country

New Date : Tuesday 28 March

Same details, same place, same everything except the date.

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Term 1 Week 8

School Calendar 2017

TWO FOREVER HOMES NEEDED FOR GIRLS CatholicCare's Foster Care Program is urgently looking for separate forever homes for two girls Jessie*, aged 10, and Molly, aged 11. Jessie loves animals and enjoys riding her bike and playing games. Molly loves reading and arts and cra s and would like to learn to cook. The girls are unrelated. Due to their complex needs, both girls need homes where they will receive one‐on‐one care and there are no younger children. They need carers who are kind, stable and compassionate to help them thrive and reach their poten al. Carers must be flexible, resilient and able to work in a suppor ve team environment with CatholicCare. Carers receive training, casework support and an allowance for day‐to‐day‐care, with extra financial support for educa on and therapies. Applicants undergo background checks and an assessment before being approved as a Carer. If you have the right quali es to be a Carer or know someone who could be a great Carer, please contact 4254 7712 or email tonil@catholiccare.dow.org.au 

P&C Chocolate Drive - Boxes of Freddo & Friends Funpacks, Easter Eggs Mix and the Natural Confectionery lolly boxes are available at school for parents to collect and sell to family and friends. All chocolate money must be

returned by 5 April.