POETRY PERFORMANCES AT THE EISTEDDFOD Our students definitely shone in their poetry performances in last week’s Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter Eisteddfod. Over three days 40 of our students plus two classes recited poetry beautifully at this event. This is a record number of students from Scone Public School volunteering to present their poems in this competition. We have never had so many keen and enthusiastic participants before and we are so proud of all of them!

The outstanding results are as follows;

In a small group performance first place getters were; Emily, Evie, Millie and Abbey, Olivia S, Dolores, Lorelai and Mikayla, Lacey and Adelaide, Cherese, Beth and Olivia C, Chloe and Eva. A second place was awarded to Miley and Laura. Isobel and Harmony came third in their section. Individual poetry recitations, first place was achieved by the following students; Cooper, Lucy, Adelaide, Hallie, Lachlan and Hannah. Runner up placings went to Alina, Olivia S, Faith, Holly and Lauren. Laura, Lacey, Nathaniel, Toby, Azizah and Athena came third.

DATES FOR THE CALENDAR

12 Jun Knights K/O Touch Footy Gala Day Stage 3 Public Speaking G/F 13 Jun Stage 2 Public Speaking G/F STEM Stage 3 14 Jun Athletics Day 2

- Senior Boys Discus, 800m & 1500m Races

17 Jun SHS Orientation Day 26 Jun STEM Year 4 2 – 4 Jul Year 5 Sydney Excursion

CANTEEN ROSTER

TERM 2 Week 7 10 Jun Queens BDay 11 Jun Rachael J 12 Jun Rachael J 13 Jun Help Needed 14 Jun Gemma A Sarah B

Week 8 17 Jun Rachel J 18 Jun Rachael J 19 Jun Rachael J 20 Jun Chris P 21 Jun Sherryn B Brooke M

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend.

We are now over half way through the term and teachers are busy finishing report writing for this semester. We have much to celebrate with the progress our students are making with their learning.

We have also received the results of the Years 4-6 Tell Them From Me Survey. We have much to celebrate as our students have reported an increase in their Sense of Belonging and Advocacy at School since the same time last year. Our students have reported above the NSW Government norm for Positive Relationships. All these indicators of social engagement allow the school to receive feedback about the various programs that we have implemented to ensure students feel known, valued and cared for.

A big thank you to the parents who assisted at the Athletics Carnival on Friday. Your help was very much appreciated. Well done to all the students who participated in the track and field events.

Deborah Fisher Principal

SCONE PUBLIC SCHOOL Success For All 82 – 98 Liverpool Street, Scone NSW 2337 Phone: 6545 1049 Fax: 6545 3046 Email: scone-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: www.scone-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Term 2 Week 7 Wednesday 12 June 2019

ASSEMBLY TIMES Years 3-6 No

Assembly 12.45pm Years K-2

Term 2 Week 7 Wednesday 12 June 2019 Highly Commended Awards were bestowed upon; Shelby F and Carolyn. Lily, Archie and Amaya deserve sincere congratulations for their keen participation too! Class 3O performed impeccably in the Choral Verse Speaking section for Year 3, reciting two contrasting poems. They were named winners! It was a very proud moment for Ms Osmond, her first Eisteddfod win! Congratulations to both her and her students. Class 3/4B were awarded second place, in a very close Year 3/4 competition. My students gave the best performance they had ever presented and I was so proud of them. Congratulations to them for this second place achievement.

The Eisteddfod provides a wider stage on which our students can perform. It’s very enjoyable, and judging from the number of enthusiastic participants we entered this year, our students are enjoying it too!

Nicole Borg

APEX PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION Last Wednesday night saw a record number of our talented public speakers present their very polished speeches at the Apex Public Speaking Competition, in Muswellbrook. The results were exceptional and the success in this field can be attributed to the hard work of our students, the support of our parents and the work of all our teachers. This life skill is held in such high regard at our school and these results reflect this culture. Here are the results; K-Yr 2 Nathaniel first, Olivia W and Ava equal second, Jackson O and Toby equal third. Highly Commended to Shelby R, Harmony and Lachlan F. Stage 2 Shoshana first, Adelaide second and Highly Commended to Alexander. Congratulations too to Lacey and Eilish who both performed creditably. Stage 3 Hallie first, Lauren second and Charesse third. Highly Commended to Angus, Beth and Chloe. It was a wonderful evening. Year 12 Muswellbrook High students, who were present, commented that they couldn't believe the strength of our students. The adjudicator was extremely complimentary too. Our students’ skills and confidence shone. The many and varied topics of speeches made for very entertaining listening. Perhaps the biggest news of the evening was the awarding of the Apex Public Speaking Shield, on which is engraved only SPS students' names, to Nathaniel C! The adjudicator was so impressed by this young man's talents, regardless of his young age, she awarded this honour to him, which means he has been named as the overall best speaker in the Infants/Primary section of the competition.

3O - 1st Place Choral Verse Speaking 3/4B - 2nd Place Choral Verse Speaking

Nathaniel C

Term 2 Week 7 Wednesday 12 June 2019 Congratulations and thanks to everyone who has had a major or minor role in holding our public speaking expectations to such a high standard which have now been on show to the wider community.

Nicole Borg

MULTICULTURAL PERSPECTIVES PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION – SELECTION DATE EXTENDED

Scone Public School will be participating in the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition this year. We will be selecting two students to compete in the Years 3 & 4 section and two students to compete in the Years 5 & 6 section. The students will be expected to give two speeches – A Prepared Speech and an Impromptu Speech. The students must choose a topic from the list of Multicultural topics which is available from Mrs Borg. The local final will take place on 1st July at Maitland East Public School. Students who are interested in participating in this competition will need to have their speeches ready for Mrs Borg to hear sometime this week please. Arrange a time with her that suits both parties. For the Multicultural Perspectives Competition the Year 3 & 4 students are allowed three minutes for their Prepared Speech and one minute for their Impromptu Speech. The Year 5 & 6 students are allowed four minute for their Prepared Speech and two minutes for their Impromptu Speech. Good luck to all interested students.

Nicole Borg PUBLIC SPEAKING GRAND FINALS THIS WEEK

The school’s grand final dates are as follows; the chosen Kindergarten to Year 2 students will present their prepared speeches to the school on Tuesday 11th June, from 9:30am. Stage 3 students will be asked to present both their prepared and impromptu speeches on Wednesday 12th June, from 9:30am. Stage 2 are also required to give their prepared speech and an impromptu one on Thursday 13th June from 9:30am. In the impromptu section, students will be given a topic and 5 minutes to prepare their speech. Parents, friends and relatives are most welcome to attend. All competitions will take place in our school hall.

As always, I look forward to hearing the exceptionally high standard of speeches our students deliver. I thank both teachers and parents for their continued outstanding support of this program within our school.

Nicole Borg

GIRLS’ TOUCH FOOTBALL On Wednesday 5 June our girls’ touch football team played in their Round 1 game against Murrurundi Public School. We were successful, winning the game 8-1. Everyone played a great game and showed outstanding sportsmanship. Our try scorers were Harper, Beth, Isla, Hannah, Bella and Charesse and there were plenty of try assists by the other players. We now progress onto Round 2 against one of the Singleton schools. Congratulations Girls!

Kate Croucher

Girls’ Touch Football Coordinator

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL Not all events were completed at the Athletics Carnival last Friday. This means on Friday 14 June the Senior Boys Discus and any student interested in running the 800m and/or the 1500m will go to Bill Rose Complex during the morning session. High jump and the Junior Girls Discus and Shot Put will be held over the coming weeks at school.

Vicky Schofield Co-ordinating Teacher

Term 2 Week 7 Wednesday 12 June 2019

PREMIER’S SPORTING CHALLENGE Students and staff will be recording and tracking their physical activity over the next ten week period. The aim is to encourage everyone to be more active. Mrs Schofield has been co-ordinating a “Walking Club” before school and students have been responding positively to this activity. Our school also operates a Breakfast Club every morning in our Community Hub and offers a healthy breakfast of cereal, toast and fruit to those who need it.

Many students come to school and begin their day by munching on packet foods such as chips and biscuits while they wait for the start of the school day. Please encourage your child to pack and eat a healthy option to have before school. Alternatively, encourage them to attend Breakfast Club for a nutritional start to the day.

WOOLWORTHS EARN & LEARN 2019 This year we will be participating in the Woolworths Earn & Learn program. Through this program we will be able to get new educational resources for our school and all we need you to do is shop for your groceries at Woolworths. From Wednesday 1 May to Tuesday 25 June, we are collecting Woolworths Earn & Learn Stickers. You will get one Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker for every $10 spent (excluding liquor, tobacco and gift cards). Place the Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker onto a Woolworths Earn & Learn Sticker Sheet and when it’s complete, the Sticker Sheet can be dropped into the Collection Box here at the school or at your local Woolworths. At the end of the promotion, we’ll be able to get some great new equipment. The range is extensive and offers lots of items ideal for our students – including resources for Maths, English, Science and some fantastic fun supplies for Arts & Craft, Sport and for our library. If you’d like to know more visit woolworths.com.au/earnandlearn.

WHY KNOWING OUR CHARACTER STRENGTHS CAN HELP US DO BETTER ACADEMICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY

Why does it seem to be easier to focus on what is not going well as opposed to what is going well? Or the bad things that have happened rather than the good? One reason is because we all have a negativity bias, which is designed to help us filter out possible threats to us. Being aware of how a person continues to put us down is a threat to our confidence and our brains are wired to help us feel annoyed and frustrated by this. Our negativity bias is intended to help keep us safe, but it can get to the point where it is in overdrive and we only see what can possibly harm us (physically, emotionally or mentally). Psychology has for many decades focused on relieving the effects of possible threats or actual threat by focusing on how to address anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress and the like. However, it is just as useful to also focus on things that help us feel safe, secure and calm as when we are in this state, we are wired to learn and to build positive relationships. This is where the research of Character Strengths comes in. Fifty five social scientists spent five years researching different cultures, religions and moral codes to find out what characteristics people display when they are happy, thriving, confident, calm and doing well. Through this research, the twenty four most cited characteristics were those listed as the VIA Character Strengths-things such as Kindness, honesty, gratitude, perseverance, teamwork etc. We now use the language of Character Strengths to help young people know what resources they have inside of them to help them be their best. When we help them identify these and find ways to use them, they begin to feel more competent, know their own unique identity and be happy to contribute things that they value. When we experience wellbeing, research also shows that not only are we more resilient but much better able to learn and do our best academically. Use the VIA Character Strengths website to help you understand those traits that lead people to be their best and help your children identify what makes them unique.

Term 2 Week 7 Wednesday 12 June 2019

COMMUNITY NEWS

Service NSW is coming to Scone Service NSW is pleased to announce that we are increasing access to NSW Government transactions and services in your area through a new offering, Mobile Service Centres. Mobile Service Centres launched earlier this year and provide access to transactions and services that are available at Service NSW Service Centres. They are custom-fitted buses with dedicated Service NSW staff on board to provide support to our customers across a broad range of services including:

• Renewing a driver licence or vehicle registration • Undertaking driver knowledge tests • Applying for births, deaths and marriages certificates • Undertaking eyesight tests for licence applications • Consulting with a Cost of Living specialist for help accessing more than 40 government rebates and

savings. Mobile Service Centres will accept cashless payments by credit and debit card or cheque. A Mobile Service Centre will now visit Scone every seven weeks. The first visit is scheduled for 5 June 2019. Please check the website for the latest information on service locations and opening hours at service.nsw.gov.au/msc. If you have any questions or would like to promote this service in your community, please feel free to contact me on 8059 2080 or engagewithus@service.nsw.gov.au.

Term 2 Week 7 Wednesday 12 June 2019

Eva and Chloe

Congratulations to our Successful Eisteddfod

Participants Hallie

Abby, Emily, Millie and Evie

Charesse, Beth and Olivia Lucy

Cooper Shoshana

Adelaide and Lacey