Telephone 0296259036

mtdruitt.p-school@det.nsw.edu.au

Volume 1 Issue 21

21 February 2013

Important Dates Dates may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

25/2/2013 Kindergarten Information session School Library 5.00-6.00 pm

27/2/2013 District Swimming Carnival 4/3-8/4/2013 Footsteps Dance Lessons 5/3/2013 Swimming Carnival 15/3/2013 P&C 9.45 am Staffroom 22/3/2013 Easter Competition Draw at Assembly 12/4/2013 Last day Term 1 1/5/2013 Term 2 commences-students 9/5-10/5 2013 Mothers’ Day Stall 14-16/5/2013 NAPLAN Testing Yrs 3 & 5 17/5/2013 P&C 9.00 am Staffroom 21/6/2013 P&C 9.00 am Staffroom 28/6/2013 Last Day Term 2 16/7/2013 Term 3 commences-students 19/7/2031 P&C 9.00 am Staffroom 16/8/2013 P&C 9.00 am Staffroom 29/8-30/8/2013 Fathers’ Day Stall 20/9/2013 P&C 9.00 am Staffroom Last Day Term 3 8/10/2013 Term 4 commences-students 18/10/2013 P&C 9.45 am Staffroom 15/11/2013 P&C 9.45 am Staffroom 18/12/2013 Last day Term 4

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22/2/2013 Emotion Coaching 10-11.00am Library

Principal’s Report

2013 P&C Executive Congratulations to the following parents who have been

voted as P&C Executive members for 2013.

President Nicole Collisson

Vice President Liza Hert

Secretary Shobna Harding

Treasurer Colleen Manuhuia

Asst Treasurer Luisa Ramirez

Asst Treasurer Melek El-Etri

The P&C Executive are available during meeting times

to discuss issues relating to the school, policies and

fundraising.

The school would not run without the help of so many

parents and family members. The Home Reading room is

run by volunteer parents four mornings per week, these

same people added the protective corners on books, have

bundled class sets of notes, stapled raffle books and are

now busily organising the Mother’s Day stall gifts.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your time

and service to the students and staff of our school.

Car Parking

Parents are reminded that ALL in-school parking is

allocated to staff and special transport ONLY. Parents

need to park on the street and WALK their children to

class. Car parks are out of bounds and parents should not

walk their children through these areas.

Yours in education

Mick Kelly

Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report

Petition

Our neighbours across from the school and adjacent to

the park on the opposite side of Luxford Road have been

issued with letters from Blacktown City Council

concerning the rezoning of their land from residential A

to RE1 Public Recreation. This means council is

planning to resume the homes and make the area a

public reserve-there is no mention of play equipment for

children or any other facilities.

Many of our families will lose their homes under this plan which will ultimately affect the enrolments of our

school.

A map is enclosed indicating the area of resumption which is firstly the 3 homes directly near the crossing at the

school gate right through to Carlisle Avenue and secondly the homes that are near the park on Belmore Avenue on

the other side of Luxford near the new crossing.

The residents have begun a petition and are asking for your support in signing it to inform the council of the local

community’s opposition to this rezoning. The residents group will have petitions at the gate soon or you are able to

sign the petition in the school administration area.

Please show your support for our students, staff and volunteers who will be affected if this plan goes ahead.

School Newsletter Our newsletter is on the school website and may be accessed at www.mtdruitt-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/ but if you

do not have internet access please advise the teacher of your youngest child at our school that you need a hard

copy sent home each fortnight.

Woolworths Earn and Learn

This promotion closed on 12 August 2012. We collected 42000 stickers equating to 1400 cards of stickers. The

delivery of these items is expected by the end of March!

We have selected 18 big books:

Houses Around the World, The World of Dinosaurs, Sink or Float? See Hear Touch Taste Smell, Our Senses,

How Can You Tell? Science in Motion, Sound, Simple Machines, Properties of Materials, Watching the Night

Sky, Green and Growing, Cells to Systems, Energy on Earth, Thinking About the Weather, Bugs all Around,

Force of Magnets, Light.

Musical instruments:

6 African 15cm Djembe drums, 1 set of rainbow music bells, 23.5 cm rainmakers, Tambourines, Rhythm Stick

Activity Set, 25 Tone Metallophone, Percussion Class pack music sets,

Science items:

Table top light machine with coloured shapes.

Preschool will be rewarded with over 20 dress-up outfits, colour mixing glasses, dinosaur dig items for their

sand pit and outdoor magnifying sheets.

Thank you to everyone who actively collected the stickers and sheets for us. We are sure you will be ready to

collect again when the new promotion starts later in the year.

Annelies Cameron

Deputy Principal

Friendships to boost your child’s learning

If children are happy socially they tend to be more engaged in their learning. So teaching your child about the

importance of making friends is as vital as learning their ABCs.

Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/development/how-friendships-boost-your-childs-

learning

Assignment starters for the arts

Videos are great resources for getting kids enthused about their assignments. These pages on cubism,

percussion and critical studies provide key points to help them get started and links to useful sites to assist with

further research.

Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/other-subjects-and-projects/the-

arts/assignment-starters-for-the-arts

Helping your Kindy kid succeed at school

A great way to kick off your child's formal education is to understand the school culture and what your child is

doing in the classroom.

Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/development/helping-kindy-kids-succeed-at-

school

Speech problems

All kids learn how to talk and listen at different rates but did you know there’s a general pattern to your child’s

language development?

Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/health/speech-problems

Emotion Coaching Do you ever wonder just what is going on with your child? Why is he so angry? Why is she sad? Why does

she misbehave? Why does he talk back to you? Why doesn't he seem interested in learning? And what can you

do to make a difference? Well this program might just have the answers you need. The Got It team will be

presenting an information session on Friday 22nd February (Week 4) in our school library. The session will

run right after our Friday morning assembly - from 10am to 11am. Come along. Learn about the Got It

program and learn about emotion coaching. Everyone is welcome. Come and join us for a cup of tea and a

chat.

V Fischer

Assistant Principal

FACTS ABOUT HEAD LICE

Head lice are parasites that feed on human blood and live exclusively on humans.

Having head lice does not reflect a lack of hygiene – they feed on blood regardless of hair cleanliness.

Head lice do not hop or fly, 95% of lice are transmitted by close contact such as sharing hats,

headbands, brushes and pillows.

Head lice are especially common among kindergarten and school children between the ages of 3-12.

Head lice vary in colour from greyish white to brown, and are about the size of a sesame seed

The life span of head lice is 33-35 days

Children scratching their heads constantly may have headlice-please check and treat your child

according to the instructions on suitable products obtainable from your Supermarket or Chemist.

Most products require a reapplication within 7 to 10 days to be sure to kill all headlice.

Please be vigiliant-if everyone treats their children regularly then all students will benefit.

HOMEWORK CENTRE In our School Library

The MDPS Homework Centre is open on

Wednesday afternoons from 3:00pm to 4:30pm

for Primary Students in Years 3 to 6.

Support and guidance is provided with

Homework and Assignments.

*K – 2 Students are also welcome to attend with an adult.

Students have access to the computers, books and a printer.

For more details :

Speak to Mrs Cooper, our Teacher Librarian.

Rezoning of land near the school from residential A to RE1 Public Recreation

Monday – Wednesday SUPER SPECIAL

Delishe School Canteen

NOW AVAILABLE until 28 February 2013

$3.00

Includes:

4 Chicken Nuggets with Tomato or BBQ sauce or Sandwich of YOUR choice (childs serving)

Juice Popper or Small Slushie

Radz Chips (halal) or Popcorn