Monday 25 August 2014 - Term 3 Week 7

Principal’s Report August Band Meeting: The band meeting will be held this evening Monday 25 August, commencing at 6pm in the staffroom. A representative from all band families(and those families interested in the band program) are very welcome to attend. Times Tables for this week: Years 3 and 4 will be working with the 8X table for the next 2 weeks. Years 5 and 6 will be working with the 9X table for the next 2 weeks.Mr Graham will see class champions on Monday at 11.30am. Multicultural Public Speaking and Debating News:The Hunter Multicultural Public Speaking Regional final will take place today Monday 25 August at Cardiff South PS. We will be represented by John McDonald from Year 6. All the very best John from the Eleebana PS learning community.

Our school debating team, comprising Ella De Grauw, Izaac Smith, Milly Bates and Natasha Elbeirouti will today be competing against other school in our zone at Valentine Public School. This competition is being organised as a zone round robin competition. All the best of luck debating team.

Future School Planning: The third and last parent survey will come home as a hard copy today Monday 25 August. This survey will focus on community participation in school programs, activities and events. The survey will provide an awareness of what is available and current participation. We will be asking for factors that limit community participation in school programs, activities and events. We will also

be asking for suggestions that could overcome these limitations and strategies for implementation over the life of the next school improvement plan. This survey will close this Friday 29 August 2014.

Calendar Day Week 7: 25th August – 29th August

FRUIT AND VEG WEEK Week 8: 1st September – 5th September

Monday • Year 6 Production rehearsal • Band Meeting 6pm • Multicultural Public Speaking Final

Tuesday • Father’s Day Stall Wrapping • Father’s Day Stall Wrapping

Wednesday • NPBS Maths Competition • Father’s Day Stall • Kinder 2015 Parent Meeting (#2)

Thursday • School Disco – Juniors 5:30pm Seniors 7:00pm

• Father’s Day Stall • Year 6 Spotlight Full Dress Rehearsal EPS

Friday

• Last day for Spotlight tickets • Spotlight DVD Orders Due • Rugby League: Juniors (Team 1) vJuniors (Team 2) at 1:30pm on Field 1 Seniors v St Paul’s Gateshead at 1:00pm on Field 1

• Father’s Day BBQ Breakfast 7:30 – 9:00am • Rugby League: Juniors (Team 1) v Belmont Nth PS at 1:30pm on Field 1 Juniors (Team 2) v Wiripaang PS at 1:30pm on Field 2 Seniors v Windale PS at 1:45pm on Field 1

Canteen Volunteers Urgently Needed: Due to Winter sicknesses and work commitments, we are currently experiencing some shortfalls in volunteer numbers at the canteen. Annie has worked almost singlehanded on a number of occasions to keep the canteen open. If you are able to volunteer on canteen, Annie would love to see you either at the canteen or through the office. Without volunteers, we will need to look at closing the canteen on days where it can’t be staffed.

Band News: The Band program going forward will include:

•Spotlight 10 and 11 September.

•Tuesday evening October 7 – We have been invited to perform at a pre Bandfest performance at WBHS.(TBC)

•Bandfest – This will be the final performance of the Intermediate Band before combining with Senior Band.

Succession Tuesday 21 October – Note the change of date. Int/Sen Bands perform as one. 16 footers performance starts at 6pm and concludes at 8.30pm. We will perform a 20 – 30 min set. Nationals News: Kaitlyn Klein has been in Albany, Western Australia this week, representing NSW at the National Cross Country Championships. Kaitlyn finished 18th overall, 3rd for NSW with the NSW team receving the bronze team medal. Congratulations Kaitlyn.

2015 Student Enrolments: We are now being asked to provide anticipated enrolment numbers for 2015. We are particularly interested in securing our 2015 Kindergarten enrolments as the Kinder orientation meetings are organised for later in Term 3. All students who are 4 ½ to 6 years of age are entitled to start school in 2015 in our Kindergarten classes. If you have students who are in this age group, or know of families of students in this age group, or any neighbours who currently attend other schools and would like to attend Eleebana PS in Kinder to Year 6 in 2015, could you (and tell them to) please contact the school office for an application form for enrolment. Thank you everyone.

Spring Fair: The major P&C fundraiser, our Spring Fair is fast approaching (Saturday 18 October). We are now officially in the planning stage for this event and the P&C are desperate for support from parent and community members to assist with this event. Volunteers are needed to assist committee members now. If you can assist in any way, please contact our P&C fundraising coordinator Debbie Fenwick on 0421 355 401.

Want to be a Corporate Supporter? The P&C have 4 spaces left on their corporate supporter’s board. If you are a business or individual who would like some advertisement space and also receive advertisement space in the weekly newsletter, please contact Tracey McDonald at the school office(4946 8927)

2014 School Watch Team: Mr Max Broadbent is the 2014 School Watch coordinator. Max has a number of parents on this team, but would welcome anyone else who would like to join. For information about School Watch, Max can be contacted on 4942 8001.

Term Dates: The last day of Term 3 is Friday 19 September for students and staff. All students and staff return to school for Term 4 on Tuesday 7 October (Monday 6 October is a Public Holiday.

Ian Graham, Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report Flu season is here! Influenza is spread from person-to-person through the coughing or sneezing of infected people. Remind your child about these good hygiene practices to minimise the spread of infection: • Anyone who is sick with influenza symptoms should stay home until their symptoms are gone. • Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw the tissue in the garbage

bin after use. • Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hands

cleaners are also effective. • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. • If you or your child develops influenza-like illness, seek the advice of your family doctor as you would

with any other illness. The seasonal influenza vaccine, which protects against the pandemic influenza strain as well as two other influenza strains, is now available free to eligible people. More information about the vaccine is available from the NSW Health Immunisation Unit's vaccination page. Previous vaccination with the pandemic influenza vaccine, Panvax® is not a barrier to also receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine.

Banish the “I’m bored” complaints these holidays: It’s harder in winter to keep kids occupied with anything other than a small screen. Here are some websites that have great tips for things your family can do these school holidays, whether you’re staying put or taking off on a holiday across the state: Destination NSW (http://bit.ly/1niJ7sI) Winter school holidays in Sydney (http://bit.ly/1nQsVC6) School holidays in Newcastle (http://bit.ly/1nljlpg) Winter school holidays Central Coast (http://bit.ly/1ingSwX) Attractions for kids in regional NSW (http://bit.ly/1lE8vMw) Sydney Olympic Park – What’s On (http://bit.ly/1lXUJ7Z) Australian Museum (http://bit.ly/1uEBhxD) Movie Reviews – Raising Children Network (http://bit.ly/1pKNjb6) Kids Camps – NSW Sport and Recreation (http://bit.ly/1hWxTra)

Keep brains ticking over these holidays: If your child is working on a personal project or a school assignment these school holidays (or you want to make use of the break for a little revision), don’t forget www.SchoolAtoZ.com.au has lots of information and fact sheets to help with homework. For students polishing their spelling skills, the free Spelling Bee mobile app also allows them to record a list of their own words and then test themselves. You might even want to challenge them with a list you create. Here’s where you’ll find the free app to download: http://bit.ly/Q9ez0G

Great things I saw last week: Many of our performance groups busily working towards a super Spotlight. A special farewell to Mrs Gibbs in Classroom 2G.

Have a great week! Dr Carl Leonard

Spotlight is almost here !

Spotlight is on Wednesday 10 September & Thursday 11 September Panthers, Newcastle.

Ticket Sales : Ticket sales will close this Friday 29 August. If you are yet to purchase your tickets, please do so via ‘Stickytickets’ ASAP. DVD Sales: DVD sales close this Friday 29 August. We require 200 orders to enable this production to go ahead. Once this total is reached, and we know that the DVD can proceed, we will open orders again. DVD’s are $35. Costume Requirements: Please ensure that you have purchased all costume requirements for your child/ren.

Dress Rehearsal – Wednesday 10th September All students are invited to attend a full dress rehearsal at Panthers on Wednesday 10 September. Please make sure you have returned your permission slip with $4 payment. Failure to do so will result in your child not attending. This is a CLOSED rehearsal so parents/volunteers will not be required. The school canteen will be closed on Wednesday 10th September. There are also NO canteen facilities available at the club. Please ensure your child brings recess, lunch and water bottle on the day. Please label all items. Students from Kindergarten – Yr. 2 are to arrive at school in their costumes. Please send their uniforms in their bags to change into when we return to school. Students from Yrs. 3 – 5 are to come to school in uniform and bring their costumes to change into prior to leaving for Panthers. Yr 6 students are to wear sports uniform – no costumes are required due to previous dress rehearsals at school. Band will not be rehearsing on the day. MSP Photography will be taking photos of students in their performing groups. Band and Year 6 will have their photos taken in Term 4 when MSP visits the school to take sporting/representative group photos. Library News

Premier’s Reading Challenge is over for student’s to enter their reading logs online. If you have finished but not entered your reading log return it to school before Friday 27th otherwise you will miss out for this year as the website closes and will not allow any late entries to be added . Congratulations to Billy Ellis and Ashley Adams KF, Rex Foster and Brodie Moffitt KBL, Sabella Grew-Reading KLF, Milla Bru KM, Myli Blundell KH, Chazz Harris and Cody Taylor 1D, Cooper Bru and Cooper Jones 2P, Darrien Moffitt, Emma Doughty, Emily Rye and Sarah Carlton 3T, Ruby Sills 3S, Jesse Adams and Victoria Elsworthy 4M, Elliot Humphrey 4JG, Violet Turner, Max Goldsmith and Scarlett O’Grady 4/5F, Nicholas Rye and Sophie Beattie 5R, Bayly Turner 6L, Chloe Chawner 6G and Ethan Hayes 6M, bringing our total to 269 students who have completed the Challenge.

BookClub closes on Tuesday, 2nd September. Those who read – succeed, Robyn Forbes

OOSH News The children enjoyed our science activities last week, with the favourites being the fake snow and the tower building challenge. With the wet weather the children have also been doing a lot of HAMA and drawing inside. We are still collecting plastic lids off bottles and jars for a large recycled craft project we have planned; we are also collecting plastic soft drink and water bottles for another project. If you can assist with this it would be much appreciated.

A reminder to parents, that the next committee meeting will be held this Tuesday 26thth August at 6:30pm in the OOSH room. All interested parents and community members are invited to attend. Our AGM date is also set for the 28th October at 6:30pm in the OOSH room.

Happy Birthday to Max W, and Riley S, we hope you have a wonderful day from all your friends at OOSH.

For OOSH enquiries or information please phone Carolyn or Kate on 49428186 or visit us between 7-9am or 2.30-3.00pm (please avoid after 3pm as this is our busiest time of day).

Thank you, Carolyn and Kate

Band News A big thanks to all the families that supported the bands Family Bingo Night on Friday. The evening was a huge success that was only made possible by the generous donations of our local businesses and the Eleebana families that came along to enjoy the night. Thanks Katherine Deer

P & C News – from the President

The P&C will be holding a Father’s Day Breakfast on Friday 5th September from 7.30-9am. If you would like to volunteer to assist with the BBQ please place your details in the P&C drop box in the office foyer or either call/text myself on 0418111794. This year our Father’s Day Stall will be held on Wednesday the 3rd and Thursday 4th of September. Working bees will be held on the following dates to wrap gifts from 9- 12pm in the P & C Room. These dates are the 26th of August and 2nd of September, any time you can spare would be appreciated. Don’t forget to bring in your donations for the stall please!

It’s Spring Fair planning time and we still need a parent volunteers! If you wish to volunteer please place your details in the P&C drop box in the office foyer or either call myself on 0418111794 or Debbie Fenwick on 0421355401. There are many small jobs still requiring volunteers so come on everyone your school needs you! Please remember this is our major fundraiser for the year to be held on Saturday 18th October.

Annie is desperate for canteen volunteers. Some days she has had to run the canteen on her own. If we don’t have enough helpers the canteen will not be able to operate on a daily basis. Please see Annie if you can spare 1 day a month.

Our term 3 Working Bee that was to be held on Sunday 24th August was cancelled due to inclement weather. I will advise as to a new date once it has been set by Marie Norris.

Sue Norris is now taking payments for her bus shopping tour of Sydney for all EPS Mums who are interested in a fun day out. It will be held on Saturday 1st November departing school 7am for Birkenhead Point and Homebush DFO, returning 7pm for $40. Numbers are limited so if you are interested in attending please leave your payment at the office in the P&C drop box in the office foyer. Credit card details are an

acceptable method of payment, along with cheque and cash. Sue would like to confirm numbers so prompt payment is appreciated!

There will be no P&C BBQ at the disco this term due to day light savings and the cold weather. A BBQ will be held at the term 4 disco. Thanks, Vanessa Price, P&C President

Canteen News Any volunteers that can assist in the Canteen for the Disco this Thursday night, please see me. We would really appreciate your help. Thanks Annie Dangas.

Canteen Roster – 1 Sept – 5 Sept

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Jo Farnant Jo Thompson Kim Isenhood Katherine Deer Matthew Lumsden Georige Lye Emma Hale Nicole Kelly Kathryn Clifton Heidi Cairney Melissa Bru Janene Freeman

Please support our Corporate Sponsors

Hall and Ground Hirers