Newsletter Term 2 Week 5
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Thank you to all of those parents who were able to come to our special Education Week Assembly. The performance by our students was just great. As I said at the assembly each fortnight we have an assembly and one of our classes puts on an item similar to that performed by 4H yesterday.
Kindergarten again performed “Green Eggs and Ham” which was so successful at the eisteddfod last week. Our band certainly gave parents and students a great idea of he range of instruments that are involved and performed a good range of pieces. North Nowra has always had a very good choir and he performance by the choir yesterday was very good indeed.
Such performances take a great deal of team work by the students and the teachers. We are fortunate to have teachers who are able to give our students such great experience.
Reporting to Parents
Our teachers are currently working very hard preparing the first semester report cards for students. The reports will be slightly different t those issued in 2007. The main difference will be that each Key Learning Area will have a written comment. The report will also contain gradings in English and Mathematics. The report will be quite extensive and be four pages in length. Social development, involvement in school activities and commitment to learning will also be a feature of the report.
Reports will be issued to students on Friday 27 June. Parents will receive advice of the arrangements for parent interviews that will be held during the week following the issue of reports.
Aboriginal Parent Meeting
All parents of Aboriginal students will receive an invitation to a special meeting to be held at the North Nowra Community Centre on Thursday 5 June. The purpose f the meeting will be to discuss the implementation of Personalised Learning Plans for all Aboriginal students at our school. This initiative is a Department of Education requirement for all Aboriginal students.
David Hogg
Principal
Newsletter Term 2 Week 3
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Last week at the regional Principal’s Conference I was fortunate to hear Jeff McMullen of 60 minutes and ABC fame speak. His presentation was very passionate and well researched. He was relating the influence ad importance of education in combating the problem that the disadvantaged have in our society. It is through education of these groups that many of negative outcomes experienced by these groups can be improved and eliminated. Things such as life expectancy have been directly related the level of education attained.
His main point hen was the role of schools and Principals in leading schools to improve this situation for those disadvantaged groups. Indeed it important that all groups in our school have their particular needs met. To this end we at North Nowra are working hard to make this happen for our students.
Student Details
I have written before asking that parents inform the school of any changes to a student’s details so that our records can be kept up to date in case of an emergency. It is important that the school has the current residential address of all students. As well it is essential that a current contact telephone number is available so that parents can be contacted. The school also needs to be informed of any custody issues that may relate to a student. In the event that a court order applies to a student the school must have a copy or we are unable to enforce the order.
Please contact the school in person, by telephone or note if your child’s details have changed so that we can update and maintain accurate records.
National Assessment Program
Today, tomorrow and Thursday our students in Years3 and 5 will be sitting for the new national assessments in Writing, Reading, Language and Mathematics. These tests will be administered first thing each morning. Please ensure that your child is at school on time on these days.
Regional Ensemble Visit
Next Monday, in place of our normal assembly, the school will have a performance from the Illawarra South East Regional Ensemble. This group of musicians, vocalists and dancers are touring the South Coast and we are fortunate to have them visit our school. The cost for the performance is $3 per student. This cost is well below that charged by other visiting artists.
This group performed at the Regional Principal’s Conference last week and were simply fantastic. I encourage all students to see this performance.
Voluntary School Contribution
Parents will be receiving an invoice for the voluntary contribution with this newsletter. The voluntary contribution is used by the school to purchase extra reading materials, craft supplies, sports equipment and library resources. Please pay this invoice promptly.
David Hogg
Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Term 2 is in full swing with a busy month ahead. This week we are having ur school cross country at the Willandra course at West Cambewarra. If the weather holds this will bev a great day for all students to enjoy. Parents are very welcome to attend and support their children running for their house. As part of the day the P&C are running a sausage sizzle. Please ensure that all orders for sausages are placed by tomorrow.
National Assessment Program
These tests replace the Basic Skills Testing Program that has been in operation in New South Wales. The National Assessment Program is a nation wide assessment program for Years 3,5,7 and 9. It is similar to the BST tests in that the areas covered are Literacy, Reading, Writing and Language, and Mathematics.
The tests will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings next week. It is important that all students in Years 3 and 5 sit for these tests. Please ensure that you have your children at school and on time on these days. Parents will receive a report on their child’s performance in these tests later in the year.
Education Week
This year Education Week will be held from Monday 26 May until Friday 30 May. We will be inviting parents to the school during this week. We will have an assembly and classroom visits during the week. You will receive more information about the week’s activities through the newsletter and by separate flyer closer to the event.
Vandalism
The school was attacked by vandals over the last weekend. The attack was concentrated on the school library with the vandals trying to break in through the front doors. Extensive damage has been done to the doors. The damage is so great that they may have to be replaced. The vandals also made attempts to break in through windows.
It is disappointing to have such an attack on our school. It is difficult to understand what is to be gained by creating so much damage. I ask that anyone who has information that may help us catch the vandals contact the school or Nowra Police.
Attendance
Towards the end of last term the Home School Liaison Officer conducted a roll check of all class rolls at the school. Unfortunately, he found a large number of cases of student absences not being explained. He made it clear to staff that all absences from school should be explained by note within three days of the absence or they should be recorded as unexplained.
We ask that when your child is absent from school that you provide the class teacher with a note explaining the reason for the absence when your child returns to school.
P&C Meeting
The P&C Meeting for May will be held in the staffroom tomorrow evening beginning at 7:00pm.
Industrial Action Early Warning
Parents will remember that the NSW teachers Federation held a stop work meeting at the end of last term. The meeting related to changes in the way school are staffed in New South Wales. At the meeting a motion was passed to hold a full day stoppage (strike) on Thursday 22 May if a settlement between the Department and the Teachers Federation is not reached. This notice is to give parents early warning that the stoppage MAY occur as it this stage no progress has been made in the dispute. As such parents need to consider alternative arrangements for child care on this day if the stoppage goes ahead.
Illawarra South East Regional Principal’s Conference
This conference will be held in Bateman’s Bay on Thursday and Friday of this week. I will be attending and thus will not be at school on these days. At the conference our Regional Director, Graeham Kennedy, Director General, Michael Coutts –Trotter and TV presenter Jeff Mc Mullan will be some of the speakers.
David Hogg
Principal
Newsletter Term 2 Week 2
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Term 2 is in full swing with a busy month ahead. This week we are having ur school cross country at the Willandra course at West Cambewarra. If the weather holds this will bev a great day for all students to enjoy. Parents are very welcome to attend and support their children running for their house. As part of the day the P&C are running a sausage sizzle. Please ensure that all orders for sausages are placed by tomorrow.
National Assessment Program
These tests replace the Basic Skills Testing Program that has been in operation in New South Wales. The National Assessment Program is a nation wide assessment program for Years 3,5,7 and 9. It is similar to the BST tests in that the areas covered are Literacy, Reading, Writing and Language, and Mathematics.
The tests will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings next week. It is important that all students in Years 3 and 5 sit for these tests. Please ensure that you have your children at school and on time on these days. Parents will receive a report on their child’s performance in these tests later in the year.
Education Week
This year Education Week will be held from Monday 26 May until Friday 30 May. We will be inviting parents to the school during this week. We will have an assembly and classroom visits during the week. You will receive more information about the week’s activities through the newsletter and by separate flyer closer to the event.
Vandalism
The school was attacked by vandals over the last weekend. The attack was concentrated on the school library with the vandals trying to break in through the front doors. Extensive damage has been done to the doors. The damage is so great that they may have to be replaced. The vandals also made attempts to break in through windows.
It is disappointing to have such an attack on our school. It is difficult to understand what is to be gained by creating so much damage. I ask that anyone who has information that may help us catch the vandals contact the school or Nowra Police.
Attendance
Towards the end of last term the Home School Liaison Officer conducted a roll check of all class rolls at the school. Unfortunately, he found a large number of cases of student absences not being explained. He made it clear to staff that all absences from school should be explained by note within three days of the absence or they should be recorded as unexplained.
We ask that when your child is absent from school that you provide the class teacher with a note explaining the reason for the absence when your child returns to school.
P&C Meeting
The P&C Meeting for May will be held in the staffroom tomorrow evening beginning at 7:00pm.
Industrial Action Early Warning
Parents will remember that the NSW teachers Federation held a stop work meeting at the end of last term. The meeting related to changes in the way school are staffed in New South Wales. At the meeting a motion was passed to hold a full day stoppage (strike) on Thursday 22 May if a settlement between the Department and the Teachers Federation is not reached. This notice is to give parents early warning that the stoppage MAY occur as it this stage no progress has been made in the dispute. As such parents need to consider alternative arrangements for child care on this day if the stoppage goes ahead.
Illawarra South East Regional Principal’s Conference
This conference will be held in Bateman’s Bay on Thursday and Friday of this week. I will be attending and thus will not be at school on these days. At the conference our Regional Director, Graeham Kennedy, Director General, Michael Coutts –Trotter and TV presenter Jeff Mc Mullan will be some of the speakers.
David Hogg
Principal
