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
