Dear parents/carers and guardians,

This term is whizzing past! Thank you for your continued support of the school and teaching staff. Term 4 is well known to be the busiest one of the year and includes report writing, after school events, reviewing our Annual Implementation Plan and planning for 2024.

Creative Minds festival

Thank you to the team responsible for planning, organising and running the Creative Minds festival – Bec Geddes, Tam Brown, Eric Stock, Matt Di Nardo, Nat Hill and Lynda Hand. The amount of time that these staff members invested is enormous. The parents, students and staff who attended enjoyed themselves immensely. It was great to see students push past their nerves and perform live - a highly commendable effort! I would also like to thank those who supported the event by attending on the night. There are plenty of photos of the night on our Facebook page for you to have a look at!

Bell times

Next year, bell times will remain the same. That is, a 9am commencement of the day and a 3.10pm finish. There have been no plans to change the school hours. We are required to provide 300 minutes of face-to-face instruction each day for our students which we do under the current timetable.

Timbarra Community Festival

Planning for the festival is well underway! The carnival will be bigger and better this year and will include rides, petting zoo, stalls and food trucks! The carnival is scheduled to take place on the Wednesday, 13th of December. If you would like to purchase ride coupons or wristbands, please follow this link: https://compasstix.com/e/6ew0z7w8jq. If you would like to host a stall, please contact Kristen Poulton via the school email or the front office. Information regarding the carnival is regularly posted on our FB page.

Professional Practice Day

On Tuesday 5th of December, all staff will be undertaking their Professional Practice Day (PPD). Under the current agreement, teaching staff are entitled to two PPDs during 2023 (one per semester). As written on the Department website, Professional practice days provide teachers with release from their scheduled duties (all duties which would have been otherwise scheduled, including teaching) to focus on the improved delivery of high-quality teaching and learning. The Department have given schools permission to run one the PPDs as a student free day to relieve the pressure of finding casual relief teachers.

Respectful behaviour

Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that members of our school community are not upholding one of our school values - respect. It is important that we continue to demonstrate respectful behaviour towards each other, including staff and other parents. If you have any concerns, please contact the school rather than approaching parents or students. Aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated, and further action will be taken such as the issuing of trespass orders.

Kind regards,

Cassandra Marinopoulos

Principal

Ahoy! Thursday the 9th of November was not a normal school day and the kids were all filled with excitement. The Year 4 sailors went on an extraordinary excursion aboard the Polly Woodside ship in the city. We were all ecstatic and travelled by bus there and back. The Polly Woodside is a ship that was built in 1885 and it carried coal and supplies to many countries around the world. We helped our first mate Liz scrub the deck, ring the bell, steer the ship and explore the captain’s quarters. We got to simulate the experience of pulling up a sail in a storm by holding on with our elbows and feet with a tiny rope and holding on for dear life! We then went to the museum and saw some fascinating artifacts like models of the ship and the captain’s real diary. We got our ‘sea legs’ by going into an optical illusion of the moving ship. The Year 4’s really enjoyed this trip because there was a balance of learning and fun.

What a busy start to the term it has been in 5W! We have loved creating our ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ stories and are busy preparing our leadership speeches and letters. We are enjoying the opportunity to get our brains working with our daily maths challenge, using what we have learned this year about problem solving. We have been learning a lot about different environments and the ways that people have adapted to living in them as part of our ‘Acclimatised Civilisations’ inquiry unit. We have also been learning about ways to stay safe online and be responsible citizens of the digital world.

Patrick - I have enjoyed being in Soccer Academy this year and having fun with friends.

Armaan - I’ve enjoyed Academy this year because I like the things that we have been doing.

Roshni – This term I’ve enjoyed making the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ because I got to work with friends from the other class and we will be sharing it with our buddies.

Reshan – I've enjoyed the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ writing this term because it was fun and good to work with friends to create an adventure story.

Brooklyn – This term I’ve enjoyed writing the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ story because it was really fun to make it with friends and I’m excited to show it to my buddy.

- DATE -
Wednesday 13th December 2023

- TIME -
3.30-6.30pm

- WHAT’S ON -
This year's carnival is bigger and better, introducing a lot of new attractions and showcasing even more of our fabulous community!

This year we have upped the ante and have some rides as well as other attractions. The terrific rides are the Cha-Cha, Giant Slide and Chair-o-plane. Tickets can be purchased individually on the night, or an unlimited wristband can be purchased on the night or leading up, through CompassTix (https://compasstix.com/event/a9221a41-11be-438b-8ccd-e7b655b6f3db )! In addition to our rides, we have activities and carnival games for people of all ages to enjoy, including a petting zoo, face painting and a glitter hair station! The market stalls are back, perfect for Christmas shopping or to buy a special treat for yourself! We have a full line up of performances from our very own Young Warriors as well as some terrific Irish Dancing and bands from local schools to keep you boogying all night! Looking for a delicious treat? We’ve got you covered! Oz Whip, OMG Decadent Donuts, Shaved Ice Galore and our very own Timbarra Bake Sale are confirmed for your sweet treat needs!

- HOW TO GET INVOLVED –

Colouring Competition: Our wonderful Year 4’s have created colouring pages using their terrific IT knowledge and skills, a winning design was chosen for P-2, 3-4 and 5-6. Show us your best colouring, shading and pure creativity by completing your level’s colouring competition. Completed designs are to be handed to your classroom teacher. The winners of the colouring competition will receive a delicious block of chocolate and will have their designs displayed on the carnival night!

Donations: If you would like to contribute to our Community Carnival Raffle, please contact Kim Smith or drop off your donation directly to the front office. We kindly ask that any donations are made prior to Friday 8th December.

Mystery Jars: The Year 5/6 students will be holding a Mystery Jar stall. We are looking for donations of mystery jars. We are seeking at least 100 jars. Your mystery jar can be full of, but not exclusive to wrapped lollies, wrapped chocolates, hair ties, Lego blocks, craft items, accessories and small toys (e.g. matchbox cars).Once your jar has been donated, they will be collected and available on the day of the carnival to purchase through a lucky dip system from $1, $2 and $5. If you are using a pre-loved jar, can you please ensure that the jar has been thoroughly cleaned. Could your donations please be dropped off at the office and put in the basket outside the staff room. Donations will close Friday 8th December.

Market Stalls: If you would like to host a market stall at this year’s carnival, please follow the link https://compasstix.com/event/31ac5053-0357-410d-8711-0af187fdd41f  or contact Kristen Poulton for more information.

OSHC Phone Number: 9 705 7400

OSHC Hours: Before: 7am – 8:45am After: 3:10pm – 6:30pm

Vacation Care Hours: 7am – 6pm Curriculum Day: 7am – 6pm

*If our phone is unattended, please leave your booking or cancellation on the answering machine.

NOTE: We will only call you back if we are unable to take your child’s booking due to ratios, otherwise if you do not hear from us, your child’s booking is confirmed.

PUPIL FREE DAY – Bookings will be taken from; Monday, 20^th November to Friday, 1^st December

Tuesday, 5^th December will be a Pupil Free Day, so the OSHC Program will be running that day from 7am – 6pm, just like Vacation Care.

Children will need to bring; A Hat, Healthy Snack & Lunch and drink bottle with water only.

IMPORTANT: As our ‘Food Safety Policy’ states; children are not to bring any nut products, chocolate, junk food or any food that needs heating or that needs keeping in the fridge.

Children do not need to wear their uniform on this day but must be dressed appropriately for weather conditions - Breakfast is not served on this day.

JANUARY VACATION CARE 2024 INFORMATION

Please be aware that at the end of Term 4 2023, the OSHC Program finishes when the school term finishes, on Wednesday, 20^th December and will not return until; Monday, 15^th January 2024.

The January Vacation Care Program will go out on; Monday, 4^th December 2023 and you will have until; Friday, 15^th December 2023 (2 weeks) to make a booking for your child/ren

PLEASE NOTE: NO BOOKINGS OR CANCELLATIONS CAN BE MADE AFTER THIS DATE.

INVOICES

INVOICES ARE NOW SENT OUT WEEKLY!

As our ‘Payment of Fees Policy’ states;

A child’s position will be suspended if payment has not been received within three weeks of receiving their invoice. The suspended place will be re-activated once the invoice has been paid in full.

Please make sure you are checking your Emails. Also, if you have not received an invoice, please first check your ‘Junk Mail’ box. If it is not there, please contact us to make sure we have the correct Email address for you.

You can check all your details on your ‘Parent Portal’ at any time.

To check your Invoices, update any personal details and make sure we have the correct information at all times, this is the site you will need;

Parent Portal site: https://www.smartcentral.net/v2/home

Username: is your Email

Password: is your Mobile Number

POLICIES UP FOR REVIEW IN NOVEMBER

Celebrations Policy, Child Safe Environment Policy (VIC), Reportable Conduct Scheme Policy (VIC), Termination of Enrolment Policy, Recruitment Policy, Probation and Induction Policy, Probation and Induction Policy (employee), Open Door Policy, Orientation of Families Policy, Governance Policy, Withdrawal of a Child Policy.

NOTE: All Policies are available at the OSHC Service for parents to view and add input before the end of the review month.

EVENT DAYS COMING UP FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

6^th – 10^th – Re-Cycling Week

13^th – 17^th – Food Safety Week

14^th – National Fairy Bread Day

4^th December – International Cookie Day

*IF ANY OSHC FAMILIES WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE OR CONTRIBUTE TO ANY OF THESE EVENT DAYS, PLEASE SPEAK TO AN EDUCATOR AT THE OSHC PROGRAM

Lisa, Hailey, Ashlee & Chloe- (OSHC Staff)