KatNews - Katoomba Public School

Newsletter
The
officialDate
newsletter of Katoomba Public School
KatNews
Volume 2015 No: 7
Term 1 Week 7: 12th March 2015
Merriwa Street, Katoomba NSW 2780
Tel: 4782 1226 Fax: 4782 2996
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.katoomba-p.schools.nsw.edu.au
School Expectations
Respect Yourself
Respect Others
Respect the
Environment
Uniform Shop
opens on Tuesday
mornings from
9am-9.30am.
Assembly tomorrow
will be led by 2/3O
The canteen is
closed until further
notice.
Each Friday “School
Lunchbox” available
online. Refer to
page 2 article
about temporary
closure of
Myschoollunchbox
site after 27
March. Will resume
again in Week 3
Term 2.
The Virtue this
week is
Love
From the Principal
Fathers/uncles/grandfathers can make a difference in getting boys to read.
Engaging boys in reading can be tough. Many parents find that their boys either aren’t interested in sitting
still long enough, or they often perceive reading as a “girl thing”. The consequences of boys not reading as
frequently or as copiously as girls can be dire. National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy
(NAPLAN) data shows that girls have consistently outperformed boys in reading across the last six years
of assessments. Research also indicates that boys are three to five times more likely than girls to have a
reading or learning disability. Experts agree that when it comes to engaging boys with books, the key is
reading with dads, uncles and grandfathers. When fathers/uncles/grandfathers engage with their boys in
reading, the level of boys’ engagement, interest and participation are known to change. Dads/uncles/
grandfathers are able to engage their boys in different ways with books, usually by hooking into shared
interests and developing sustainable reading habits.
The following tips are easy ways for dads/uncles/grandfathers to start or further develop
quality reading relationships with their boys.
*Dads/uncles/grandfathers are frequently seen as an untapped resource when assisting their boys with
reading. When boys see their fathers as frequent and resourceful readers, this sets the scene for their future
reading lives. Dads/uncles/grandfathers who share quality reading time with their sons are role-modelling
effective reading behaviours.
*Reading at home together is an excellent way to build quality reading time, though also consider making
time to head into the classroom for reading when you are available. Make a special time together on
weekends to venture to the local library or bookstores.
*Read about shared interests
*Encourage boys to choose what they are interested in reading. If they want to frequently read non-fiction
texts about animals or dinosaurs, this is okay. Don’t restrict your boys’ choice in reading – when choices
are restricted, a huge disincentive to read is created.
*Dads/uncles/grandfathers need to share their favourite texts with their boys – talk about the types of
authors, what happens in the story and what the characters are like. If you generally read only magazines
or the sport pages in the paper, talk about these too. This sharing builds strong relationships around
reading and demonstrates that reading takes on many different forms.
* When considering books to suggest to your boys, try to think of a broad range of different types of texts.
Comics, or graphic novels as they are now frequently known, are engaging, fast-paced, detailed and are
usually tailored to boys’ interests.
*Laugh and have fun. Boys love humour, and the plethora of humorous books that are in print makes
these a popular choice.
Allowing boys the opportunities to see the men in their lives as strong, resourceful and avid
readers helps to demonstrate the importance of reading. Take the time to read, discuss and enjoy
books with your son, grandson or nephew to help set them up for reading success.
Fiona Paine
Upcoming Events …………
Thursday 19th March
Friday 20th March
Cross Country
Discos and Harmony Day - Wear Orange
Volume 2015
KatNews
No: 7
Page 2
School Cross Country
Students in years 3 to 6 and any child turning 8 years old this year in year 2 will be participating in
our school cross country on Thursday 19th March 2015 starting at approximately 11am.
Children will need to bring lunch, drinks, some fruit and snacks for this event. They will need to
wear joggers, shorts and either a school shirt or t-shirt in house colours as well as a hat. It is also
wise to pack sunscreen, tracksuits, jackets and an extra jumper depending on the weather.
It should be a great day. If you are able to help on the day please contact me on 47821226.
Thank you for your support
Solly Wallace
Ride to School Day
Ride2School Day is on Wednesday 1st April
We are looking forward to lots of riders with helmets for our fantastic group
photo during the day. Students with bikes will also participate in some riding on a
track designed by Mr Nicholson after lunch. Our students will be joining other
students across the country in walking or riding to school.
National Ride2School Day is a chance for our students to come together and be
active on the way to and from school. An event like this can give all of us at
Katoomba Public School a taste of the benefits, ease and fun involved in walking and riding to
school!
Thank you for support.
Andrew Nicholson
Change of Date for AECG Meeting
Please be advised that the next Blue Mountains AECG meeting will be on Thursday
19th March at Winmalee High School. Please be there by 4pm for a 4.30pm start.
Please note this is a change of date.
Charmaine Tully
AECG Secretary
My School Lunchbox - Temporary Changes
My School Lunch Box will be closing for the period 31st March until
11th May as the business is being relocated and renovated.
The last order for this term will therefore be Friday 27th March,
and the service will resume again on Friday 15th May in Week 3 of
Term 2.
The company appreciates your understanding and is sorry for any
inconvenience.
For further information, please see their website or email Rae at
[email protected]
Volume 2015
KatNews
No: 7
Page 3
Congratulations to the following students who received awards in Week 6:
Principal Book Awards:
Ella Wallace, Tara Hughes, Jaya Doloswala, Finn Cousins,
Joseph Fliegner.
Academic Awards
K/B: Ada Blaxland, Talyn Dodd
K/1G: Olivia Laws
1C: Layla Roberts
1S: Aife Haigh
2W: Tabitha Sheppard, Robert Corlett
2/30: Natalie Johnson, Silas Finn
3/4D: Ivy Jayne-O’Connor
4/5M: Luca Gabardi, Tobey Shyne
5/6A: Jim Schoeler
5/6K: Braedon Holzmann
Friday Morning Tea with the Principal
This Friday morning after Assembly parents/carers are invited to stay in the canteen
area for a cup of tea or coffee with the Principal to chat and share P&C news.
KatNews
Volume 2015 No: 7
Page 4
5/6K and the CARES Bike Program
Last Thursday year 6 and some year 5 students participated in the CARES bike program at St
Marys. CARES stands for Community and Road Education Scheme. Constable Pritchard taught us
about road safety, communicating on the road including the use of hand signals, road signs and the
importance of wearing a helmet.
After learning about the road rules, we did bike training. If we
passed the test we got a bike licence which allowed us to ride on
the main track. They had made the track to look like a real road
with traffic lights, a roundabout and pedestrian crossings. If you
made unsafe decisions and broke the laws then you lost points
from your licence.
It was a great day, we learned a lot about road safety and at the
end we were rewarded with a nice cold ice-block!
By the 5/6K licenced cyclists!