From the Principal

Trivia Night

Last Saturday night’s P & C Trivia Night was a great success.  The comperes – Wayne Markman and Andrew Harvey – were fantastic and unrecognisable!  Their performances, costumes and sense of fun really made the night.  The Band was terrific – it was great to see current and former parents in the band. My thanks to Fiona Hearne, Nikki Rodgers and all the Year 1 parents involved in the organisation and to all those who attended.

Parent  Meeting re New Building

I would like to invite all interested parents to a special building meeting to be held on Wednesday 2^nd December at 8.30am in the Hall.  Representatives from Bovis Lend Lease and the DET will be at the meeting to explain the plans, discuss safety issues, outline construction timeframes and schedules.  They will also answer any questions that parents may have regarding the building and construction period.

This is an important meeting for all parents.  Please do come along and be informed.

Beach Party and Surf Show

As you would have seen in this term’s calendar, next Wednesday 25^th November will be our Beach Party and Surf Show. This is a whole school, whole day song and dance program involving workshops with professional musicians.  Previously, we have had this company, Bushwahzee, work with the teachers and children with  bush dance and 60s themes.  It is a wonderful opportunity for all the children to learn new songs and dances and to perform for one another.  The children should all wear “beach” clothes - bright shorts, t-shirts etc. and covered shoes.  There is no cost involved.

In the Swim!

Our Year 2 boys and girls are participating in the annual 2-week intensive learn to swim program at Manly Swim Centre.  This is a most important program, particularly for our non-swimmers.  My thanks to the Year 2 teachers for their organisation.

The Year 5 children are also “cooling off”!  They are participating in a 5-week Lifesaving Program at Northbridge Baths conducted by Lifeguard International.  This course covers aquatic safety, CPR, first aid, pool rescue and safety techniques.  This is another important program, particularly as we go into the summer months and school holiday period.

Reminder – End of Term Dates

November

Wednesday 25            Parent Meeting re New Building at 8:30am

K-6 Beach Party

Thursday 26                Band Concert 6:00 – 8:00pm

Friday 27                     Years 3-6 Dance Concert 2:00pm

December

Wednesday 2              Combined Christmas Scripture Service

Friday 4                       Mini Fête

Sunday 6                     Nutcote Carols – Choir Thursday 10  Kindergarten Graduation 9:30am

Friday 11                     Years 3-6 Presentation Assembly 9:30am

Monday 14                  Year 6 Farewell

Tuesday 15                 Talent Show

Wednesday 16            Party Day – Last Day of School

Gai Collett, Principal

Stars of the Week

	The Year 6 Robotics team who performed so well at the Annual Robotics Tournament at Macquarie University on Sunday. Our thanks to Mr Thomson, 6T, for all his organisation and support.
	The Crowhurst family who donated the black and white balloons for the Trivia Night.
	Sarah Baily and all the Kinder parents who prepared and hosted the delicious morning tea for the new Kinder parents.  It is a lovely introduction to our school.  Many thanks!
	The Year 5 boys and girls who dressed up for Colonial Day last week. They all looked wonderful. They enjoyed lessons with a specialist teacher who taught them how to write on a slate, use the inkwells and abide by class rules that were very foreign to them!  Thanks to the parents who assisted with the colonial costumes.

Dance Bonanza

Next Friday, 27^th November, our three Year 3-6 dance groups, including the boys troupe, will be performing in our ‘Dance Bonanza’. The performance will take place from 2pm in the School Hall and all parents are welcome to attend.

2010 Leadership Opportunities

Next Tuesday, Mrs Collett and I will be meeting with all the Year 5 students to discuss the leadership opportunities for next year. With our OC classes moving off-site, we will be moving away from our current SRC-based model. We will be electing a boy and a girl Captain, a boy and a girl Vice Captain and four prefects for each site. Every Year 5 child will have the opportunity to self-nominate for one of these positions. During Week 7, the candidates will present a short speech to their Year 5 peers who then cast their ballots to elect their preferred leaders.

Our House Captains (eight boys and eight girls) for 2010 will also be elected at House Meetings in Week 7.

School Chess Competition

We will be hosting our School Chess Competition tomorrow in the Hall. Anyone is welcome to participate. The entry is free for our Chess Club members and $5 for non-members. Thank you to our Chess Master Miro for organising this event.

Willoughby Chess Tournament

The NSW Junior Chess League is running a tournament next Tuesday for members of our chess group. We are relying on parents to transport children and provide supervision on the day. Without the necessary parent support, we will not be able to offer this event. Permission notes need to be in ASAP. Thank you Kerry Manton-Hall, Mum of James in 5KD, who has kindly agreed to coordinate this day.

Year 6 Farewell - Parent Function

Tomorrow is the deadline for RSVPs for those parents wishing to attend the Parent Function at Mosman RSL on the night of the Year 6 Farewell. The event will be held on Monday, 14^th December from 6:30pm at the Club and parents will be invited to join their children for the Farewell formalities from 8:30pm. Please contact Helen Triantis (Katya, 6T) at helen.distinctive@bigpond.com for more information.

Owen Taylor, Deputy Principal

Mathletics: Gold Awards Week 5

Congratulations to the following students who have recently received their GOLD certificates.

Andy Danis KV, Miah Gough 1J, Connor Taratoris 1J, Ella Spencer 2K, Lili Price 2EM, Matthew Hu 4LR, Faraz Ganji 4LR

David Brown, Mathletics Coordinator

Finding the Real Treasure

A long long time ago there lived a girl called Alice about the aged of eight.  She lived alone ion an old wooden ship.

Alice was looking for treasure.  She would sail night and day in search of treasure.  Every day she would get lonelier and lonelier she wished for a friend.  The reason she was looking for treasure was because if she became rich at least someone would want to be her friend. 

One fine sunny day at least she reached an island.  When she had rowed the boat ashore, she jumped out with excitement and immediately started to search.  After a while she noticed something.  Someone had been following her.

She stopped suddenly and turned around with a thud.  All she saw was a small little face peep out from behind a tree. She slowly tiptoed towards the tree and peered round.  She saw a little girl stare up at her with blinky blue eyes.  There was silence for a while and finally the little girl squeezed out a few words: “Are you trying to steal my treasure?” she murmured.  I nodded: “I wanted to be rich so people would want to be my friend” I exclaimed.

“Don’t do that” she quickly added “You can be my friend.  I’m always lonely as well”.  So Alice and the little girl, who was called Amy, skipped off together.  Alice never did own treasure but realised the real treasure that she had owned was her very own friend!!!

The End           Alice 2K

School Community News

CANTEEN ROSTER – Weeks 6 & 7

HELP NEEDED 4 DAYS IN THE NEXT FORTNIGHT– PLEASE EMAIL  lindapetrone@hotmail.com

AND TELL HER WHEN YOU CAN VOLUNTEER!  WE NEED YOU!!

BAND ROSTER – Week 6

Band News

Thursday 26 November: Next Thursday evening we have the Band End of Year Concert and BBQ from 6:00 to 8:00pm in the school hall. 

All band members are to arrive at 5:45 for a 6:00pm start. 

Any families who have not sent in an RSVP to your band coordinator, please do so ASAP – we need numbers to organise the BBQ under the COLA after the performance.

Carols by Candlelight at Nutcote

May Gibbs Nutcote and Neutral Bay Public School Choir will present Carols at Nutcote on Sunday 6 December.  Gates open at 6pm.  Bring your own picnic blanket and torch. Bib and Bub Tea Room will be open and serving refreshments.  The costs are:

Individual Adult $11, Family $22, Individual Child $5.

·         Ticket Order forms are available at the school office

·         No cash taken on the night

·         Credit card payments and cheques accepted

·         Forms need to be returned to Nutcote, NOT our school

First Reconciliation 2010

Enrolments are open for the sacrament of First Reconciliation next year in the Parishes of Sydney Harbour North [Neutral Bay, Mosman, Clifton Gardens + Beauty Point]. All children in Year 3 in 2010, or older, are welcome to enrol. The program runs in Term 1 with the sacrament celebrated on the 23^rd and 24^th March 2010.

Forms are available at each of the 4 parish churches or from the parish office at 23 Cardinal St Mosman. Further enquiries can be directed to Pina Bernard on 8969-3217 or pina@shnparish.org.au. Enrolments close 14th December 2009.