Narrabri West Public School

Our award assembly was held today on Friday 30th June. We presented awards to all students who have reached this level in our merit award system.  All students enjoyed a free BBQ lunch, this is a relaxing and fun way for students and teachers to celebrate another busy and successful term of learning.

The holidays will give everyone a chance to rest and recharge. Term 3 will be another 10 very busy weeks.

Thank you to our teachers for their terrific efforts this term. This has been an extremely busy time and we are very lucky to have such a dedicated group of teachers who work very hard for your children and have their best interests at heart.

Please remember that school recommences for all students on Tuesday 18th July. Monday 17th July is a School Development Day, when all teachers will be working on planning for the rest of the year and looking at ways we can further enhance our teaching and learning programs.

Congratulations to 2W, who were the winners of the McDonald's Champion Class Award for this Term. Thank you to McDonald's Narrabri for the kind donation of Happy Meals to everyone in the class.

Well done 2W, keep up the great work!

This Term, 5/6G, 5/6S and 5/6T have been hard at work with our units of work and a variety of extra curricula activities. Between buddy reading, NAIDOC Week, athletics training and Eisteddfod, Stage 3 have had an excellent term.

Mathematics

This term we have worked in class groups for Mathematics. Stage 3 teachers have continued to plan and teach engaging and hands on lessons. We have planned specific activities to help our students achieve their goals. Maths learning journals now include student learning goals. Students identify and work towards a topic specific goal and reflect on their goal during and after the unit. These goals have encouraged Stage 3 students, to be self-reflective learners and to achieve academic goals.

English

'Wonder', a novel by R.J Palacio has been our text focus for this term. The story follows a Year 5 boy with severe facial deformities who ventures from home school to a real school. Students have explored themes of the text, completed a novel / film comparison and planned and developed persuasive texts in the form of a debate and review. Overall, an excellent unit of work that engaged all students and taught some valuable life lessons.

Robotics

This term Stage 3 completed a week full of robotics with our own Micro:bit Grove Intervenor Kits. Students practiced their coding skills and collaboration to build rainbow LED strips, communication devices and even fruit instruments, where they connected bananas, apples and pears to Micro:bits to create different sounds when touched.

Science

What is a scientist? A question Stage 3 students answered through the term. Students explored the properties of solids, liquids and gases by experimenting with a range of materials.

Semester 1 is done and dusted, Year 6 are looking forward to their Canberra excursion in Week 6 and all students are looking forward to the athletics carnival (Week 2) and Education Week (Week 3).

On Thursday 22nd June the boys and girls PSSA knockout soccer teams made the trip to Moree to play their respective games against Moree Public School.

The girls played first and displayed amazing teamwork and soccer skills and looked almost certain to score several times. Unfortunately the final score ended up being a 2-0 with a loss to us, but each of the girls put in an amazing effort and can be proud of the outstanding game they played.

The boys game immediately followed the girls and in a game that proved to be an absolute nail-biter. The final score was a 2-1 with win to us, so the boys will advance to the next round. Each of the boys put in an excellent effort and demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship. Thank you to all the parents who helped get each of the teams to Moree.

Well done Westies!

We are now taking Kindergarten enrolments for next year. Please return the form at the end of this newsletter if you have a child to enrol in 2024.

Whilst this seems very early, we have to advise the Department of Education of our anticipated 2024 numbers early next term. These numbers of course determine our staffing entitlement for next year.

Please also pass this information on to any family members, friends or neighbours who may have a child enrolling at school next year. Please encourage them to visit us so they can see for themselves the wonderful students, facilities and resources that we have.

Please remember we are also taking enrolment applications for Pre School in 2024 as well.

Parents are advised that ‘Enrolment Expression of Interest’ forms are now available at the front office or on the Preschool section of our website for placement at our Preschool in 2024.

Please also advise any friends, relatives etc. who would like their children to attend next year of the availability of these forms.

We already have a lot of applications for the limited places available.

The Student Council organised our involvement in Crazy Hair Day on Friday 30th June.

Crazy Hair Day raises money for Cystic Fibrosis New South Wales. Cystic Fibrosis is the most common life threatening, recessive genetic condition affecting Australian children. It is a disease that affects a number of organs in the body, especially the lungs and pancreas. At present there is no cure, but the faulty gene has been identified and doctors and scientists are working to find ways of repairing or replacing it. With today’s improved treatment most people with CF are able to lead reasonably normal and productive lives. A great amount of time is being directed towards finding new and improved ways of treating CF and of finally finding a cure.

Just a reminder that it is now possible for parents to make online payments to the school for amounts owing for students, via a secure payment page hosted by Westpac. Payments can be made using either a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, and can be made via computer, tablet or mobile phone. The payment page is accessed from the front page of the school’s website by selecting $ Make a payment.

Items that can be paid include voluntary school contributions, subject contributions, excursions, and sales to students. There is also a category called ‘Other’ to cover items not covered in the previous headings, ‘Other’ can be used to make a complete payment of a school Statement of Account.

When you access the $ Make a payment you must enter:

• the students name
• class
• date of birth

These details are entered each time you make a payment as student information is not held within the payment system.

This is a secure payment system hosted by Westpac to ensure that your credit/debit card details are captured in a secure manner, these details are not passed back to the school.

You have the ability to check and change any details of the payment before the payment is processed. Receipts can be emailed and/or printed.

Details of the payments are passed daily to the school where they will be receipted against your child’s account. As a receipt has been issued from the payment page a further receipt will not be issued by the school.

For any enquiries regarding the online payment process please contact the School Administration Office.

Parents are responsible for the regular attendance of students at school, including partial attendance, lateness and leaving early (Education Act 1990). If your child is late to school:

• Parents are required to accompany their children to the office to provide the school with a valid explanation so that accurate records can be maintained.
• If you are unable to accompany your child to the office please ensure you provide them with a written explanation to give to office staff.
• If your child is leaving early due to an unavoidable appointment parents must provide an explanation, preferably to the teacher the morning of that day.

You may send a note to the teacher, use Audiri, email or phone the school, or respond to our email or SMS notification, to provide this explanation.

Once you have registered with My School Connect you can order uniforms online by using the same login details as used for the canteen. NSW Back to School vouchers can also be used through the App.

Please call the office on 6792 2377 if you need assistance registering. 

With some cold weather already here, and winter fast approaching, lots of children will experience asthma related illnesses.

If your child has been diagnosed with asthma, your doctor or health care provider should have provided you with an Asthma Action Plan to help you and your child with their asthma.

It is recommended that you provide your childs’ school with a copy of their Asthma Action Plan and their own Ventolin puffer (and spacer if needed) so we too can help your child with their asthma if they happen to have asthma whilst at school.  The school does have Ventolin for emergency use only.

If you have already provided us with an action plan, please ensure that it is current and up to date.

These plans must be signed by your doctor or health care provider.

Our school has been recognised as an Asthma Friendly School by meeting the set criteria to become an Asthma Friendly School.

The criteria are as follows:

•              Asthma records kept for each student with asthma

•              Asthma first aid posters are on display

•              Asthma medications are readily available to students with asthma

•              Spacer devices are available

•              A plan is in place for managing asthma during sporting activities, excursions or camps

•              Asthma education offered to parents/caregivers within the school

•              Asthma education provided for all school staff

•              Asthma education program in the health curriculum

•              Potential asthma triggers minimised with in the school environment

 1 IN 4 PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN &

1 IN 7 HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE ASTHMA!