New foyer welcome sign

This morning we took delivery of a “welcome” sign that we will have installed in the front foyer area. A smaller

version will be hung on the outside wall of the school near the front entrance. We are working hard to make our

school more inviting, friendly and physically appealing. So, we hope this is a good start and that we have captured

some of the native languages of our families.

Staff professional learning twilight session

All staff met on Wednesday evening of week 8 this term to continue planning activities to meet the end of year

Milestones for each of the Strategic Directions in the School Plan. You should notice a range of things happening

around the school this year as a result of this. Some exciting things planned are the student gymnasium, a mural

on a wall in the junior school playground, new music systems for the playgrounds, a messy sensory play area in the

junior school playground, creation of a purposeful music room and Grandparents Day celebrations.

Easter hat parade

Thank you to all families and friends that supported our school over the Easter period by selling raffle tickets,

donating eggs for the hunt, making your child an Easter hat to wear and attending school on the day of the hat

parade. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves. I know the students certainly did.

Thank you to the P&C for organising the raffle and donating the proceeds to the school.

Term 1

Week 11 Term 1 Newsletter

MARY B ROOKSB ANK SCHO OL

Term 1

Week 5 Term 1 Newsletter

MARY B ROOKSB ANK SCHO OL

Congratulations to all the Easter raffle winners

2018 EASTER RAFFLE PRIZE WINNERS

BEST EASTER HAT/DRESSED

Best Staff hat/dressed Brandon - GA

Best parent hat/dressed Myra Alonte

BEST STUDENT EASTER HAT/DRESSED

JUNIOR SCHOOL Michael – Wallaby

JUNIOR SCHOOL Xavier – Wallaby

MIDDLE SCHOOL Nathan – Kookaburra

MIDDLE SCHOOL Lucas – Kangaroo

SENIOR SCHOOL Zachary – Banksia

SENIOR SCHOOL Pio - Melaleuca

PRIZE WINNER CONTACT

1 Mariah Bottlebrush

2 Thomas Wallaby

3 Emma Waratah

4 Allan Bus Driver

5 Kylie Parent

6 Tama Waratah

7 Joyce Bus Driver

8 Carla Office

9 Renee Parent

10 Ben Wallaby

11 Maureen Blue Bus

12 Barnil Melaleuca

Student that sold the most Raffle Tickets

XAVIER UNGARO JOSHUA DAVEY

Wallaby Class Echidna Class

Term 1

Week 11 Term 1 Newsletter

MARY B ROOKSB ANK SCHO OL

PAWS Pet Therapy Vanessa and her dog Scarlet have started

visiting the school on Monday. All students

who spend time with her really enjoy

themselves and Scarlet loves the attention!

Harmony Day

We recently celebrated Harmony Day, with the

theme “Everyone Belongs”. All staff and students

decorated their own hand and these were

displayed in the corridor.

Term 1

Week 11 Term 1 Newsletter

MARY B ROOKSB ANK SCHO OL

St Patricks Day A fundraising day was organised by the School Learning and Support Officers of the

Junior School to raise money for the Kids of Macarthur Health Foundation – a charity

supported by schools in the Campbelltown area. Kids of Macarthur raises funds for

equipment for the children’s ward at Campbelltown Hospital. Our school raised $142.00.

The school turned a crazy range of greens on that day, with students and staff dressed in

green and eating an array of green food! Thanks to Chris, Kylie, Megan and Kathy.

Two new videos for parents and carers looking for child safe disability services

The Office of the Children’s Guardian have recently developed and released two videos. They are intended for parents of children accessing NDIS supports – and they serve as a reminder of some of the elements parents should look for when choosing disability supports for their children. The videos are titled:

A parent and carer guide to choosing a person to work with your child and A parent and carer guide to choosing an organisation to work with your child.

The videos are supported by printed and online resources that are easy to understand. You can find the resources via the following link on the Officer of the Children’s Guardian website.

http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-organisations/safespace-training-for-

disability-sector/safespace-resources

Late arrivals and early departures from school

Just a reminder to parents that dropping your child off late to school or picking them up

early can be very disruptive. This is especially so when students are on the playground

during a break time, as staff have a duty of care to all students and generally cannot

leave the playground to go to the office to bring down a student or pick them up. If

possible, could parents avoid dropping off and picking up between the following times:

Morning tea 10:15am – 10:45am

Lunch 12:15pm – 12:45pm

Afternoon tea 1:45pm – 2:15pm

We understand sometimes it is not possible to avoid these times, however, parents may

be asked to wait with their child until a staff member is available.

Absences

The Education Act (1990) requires your child to attend school each day that instruction

is provided unless prevented from doing so by sickness or other good reason. The Act

requires you to explain your child’s absence within (7) seven days of their occurrence.

Failure to do so will result in an unjustified absence being recorded.

With continual lateness, unexplained absence and/or partial absence, the school is

obliged to report apparent unresolved non-compliance with the Education Act (1990) to

the Home School Liaison Program for further investigation by a home school liaison

officer to help resolve the matter. Action taken may include the development of an

Attendance Improvement Plan with specific targets, strategies and timelines.

To avoid having to take these measures, can I please ask that parents provide an

explanation to the school (in writing or by phone) while your child is absent, or on the

day your child returns to school.

Along with the staff, I wish all families a very safe holiday and look forward to seeing all

students back on Tuesday 1st May.

Jen

Term 1

Week 11 Term 1 Newsletter

MARY B ROOKSB ANK SCHO OL

Class I care about

Learning

I care for

Myself

I care for the

Environment

I care for

Property

I care for

Others

Echidna Kobi

Joshua

Wallaby Thomas Zain

Koala Liam

Breanna

Kookaburra

Emu Liam Tabitha Ayesha

Bilby Marty

Britneu

Thomas Gauri

Stefan

Kangaroo Jay Tamazin

Melaleuca Synamyn

Patrik

Daniel

Bottlebrush Jacob

Kane

Elias

Mariah

Tysen

Grevillea Monica

Bailey

Banksia Ethan Sam T

Wattle

Waratah Tama Denzel

Month Junior School Middle School Senior School

March Joshua Liam B Monica

Month Junior School Middle School Senior School

March Cooper Liam S Ethan

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1 TERM 2

BEGINS

2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 Mother’s

Day Stall

12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 P&C

Meeting

9:30am

22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

May 2018

April 2018

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10

11 12 13 LAST DAY

OF TERM 1

14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

TERM 2 BEGINS TUESDAY 1 MAY

SPORTS NEWS Three of our senior students Sam T, Tama & Zach train for Special Olympics basketball weekly with Special Olympics Macarthur. All three have improved in their skills and court play, as well as having fun and making new friends. Recently the three boys played in a two day weekend Special Olympics tournament at Minto Indoor Sports Centre. There were 120 players in this competition from across NSW & ACT. Players are put into teams with Sam, Tama & Zach ending up in the same team. This was Sam’s & Tama’s first competition. The boys had a wonderful time and came second in their division. Well done Sam, Tama & Zach!

Special Olympics is open to everyone 8 years old & up with an intellectual disability. Special Olympics Macarthur offers athletics, basketball, bocce, cricket (during summer), equestrian, swimming & tenpin bowling. Special Olympics gives people with an intellectual d disability a wonderful opportunity to exercise, learn new skills, play sport at an appropriate level, make new friends & have lots of fun! For enquiries to Special Olympics Macarthur, contact Marc Ferguson on 0434 105 616