17 November 2008

 

Dear Parents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONCERT

Wow, what amazing performances.  Congratulations to the students staff and parents who worked to make sure the concerts were a success. Such  success needs an enormous amount of team effort and involves many people behind the scenes all of whom deserve to be recognised for their efforts.

 

Congratulations students you were amazing! The singing, dancing and drama was fantastic.  I am very proud of you.

 

Thank you, parents, for helping with costumes and organising your child to attend both nights of the concert. Not an easy task I know, so well done.

 

Thank you to the amazing Truscott Street staff for their dedication of time, energy and enthusiasm! Many staff members made costumes, organised props, painted back drops, painted nails, bought items,  practised the items many times and so much more…..

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There are many and varied demands put on staff on a daily basis. I really value their hard work and personal commitment to Truscott Street.

 

Thanks to Mrs Hollands for her choreography of the finale. It was a true celebration! A wonderful end to our concert.

 

A HUGE Congratulations and THANK YOU to Mrs Oweis and Mrs Millar for writing and producing this concert. The entire concert was planned, developed and put together over holidays, at night and on weekends and has taken well over a year to put together.  Staff chose the era or song they wanted and the concert took shape with Mrs Oweis and Mrs Millar piecing it all together. 

 

The dance instructors from the YMCA have been committed to teaching appropriate items for the students age, ability and song or era choice.  They were very successful. Gabby, Jo, Corinne and Cait thank you so much for your choreography and hard work helping us prepare for our concerts.

 

I hope everyone who attended had a fabulous evening.

 

What a celebration!

 

 

CAROLS NIGHT

We will hold a Carols Night at the school on Wednesday 10th December, 2008.  The band will play, dance group and choir perform as well as student performances. Keep the date free as it is always an amazing night.

 

There will be a mufti day soon asking for items for a Christmas Hamper.  Please help out to make sure we have lots of prizes for the Christmas raffle.

 

CONDOLONCES

Mrs Janette Cullen’s husband passed away recently.  Our thoughts and wishes with are with Janette and her family.  Mrs Cullen has worked as a teacher’s aide in the support unit for the past 20 years.

 

DISCO

A scary group of ghosts, witches, pirates, princesses and other scary creatures attended the Halloween Disco on Friday Night.  Thank you to Ms Gorman, Mrs Stericker and Mrs Shepherd for their work in organising the event. Thank you also to the wonderful parents who helped out decorating and on the night.

 

 

 

ENROLMENTS

If you know of anyone who hasn’t enrolled for school next year please ask them to contact the office on 98781264.

 

HOMELINK

Kindergarten students for 2009 have begun their orientation. Everyone seemed to have a great time. The new students met a buddy, played and participated in fun activities and the parents heard all about the school and had some literacy and maths sessions. We will continue to get to know our new families this Friday.

 

IMAX

All students K-6 will attend a picnic day on Wednesday 17th December at Darling Harbour.  There will be lunch in Tumbalong Park and a movie at the IMAX Theatre. In previous years students have attended the end of year picnic at Ryde Aquatic Centre. Staff have always worked very hard and were vigilant in their supervision. We have decided that it is time for a change away from swimming to something that every students can participate in.

 

INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS

Our first two interactive whiteboards have arrived.  One is in the library and one in 6G.  Why is it important to have interactive whiteboards?  They are the latest technology the help teachers motivate and teach students.  They are a tool to help demonstrate the process of learning.

 

International Soccer Success for Truscott

We congratulate Aaron on his success as striker with the NSW team at the Nationals in Melbourne late last term.

 

Over the holidays, Aaron toured Europe with another NSW squad.  The coach for OC Porto (Portugal) said his game was “Spectacular”!  Whilst there, the team had the opportunity to live in and coach with the Claire Fontaine Academy (Nicolas Anelka, Louis Saha, William Gallas and Thierry Henry trained there in the past).

 

We wish Aaron great success as he continues to improve on his sporting and academic success at Westfield Sports High School next year.

 

NAPLAN

Congratulations to students and staff on the excellent results in the National Assessments. The school average was above both State and National averages in all areas!!! (Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation and Numeracy) Staff will be analyzing the results to inform their programming and teaching.

 

PARKING

I would like to remind you to follow parking rules around the school.  Please do not park in the driveways of our neighbours.  It might take a couple of minutes longer to get to school if you have to park further away but it is much safer for our students.  The staff car parks are for the use of staff only!!!  It is dangerous to drop off your child or pick them up in the teacher’s car parks.

 

PRE-SCHOOL  VISITS

Throughout the term pre-school students from Nought to Five Pre-school have been visiting our school as part of a transition to school program.

 

The students have had a tour of the school, a play on the equipment, morning tea and a story in the library.

 

This is a great way for the students to prepare for “big” school and a way for our school to be showcased to prospective families.

 

PRESENTATION DAY

Students in Years 3 – 6 will attend Presentation Day on Monday 15th December. Awards will be given to students for academic and sporting achievements, leadership and citizenship. All parents of students in Years 3 – 6 are welcome.

 

REPORTS

Student’s reports will go home on Monday 15th December. Reports to date have included an overall achievement grade for English, Maths, Science & Technology and Human Society and Its Environment. This year reports will also include an overall achievement grade for Creative Arts and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education PDHPE. 

 

RYDE SCHOOLS SPECTACULAR

Razzle Dazzle was the theme and the audience were thoroughly entertained at the Ryde Schools Spectacular on Monday 20th October at the Opera House. 

 

Our students sang beautifully in the mass choir and the dance group performed amazingly to “At the Hop”. Congratulations to everyone and thank you to Ms Grenier and Mrs Hollands for their hard work all year preparing for the concert.  They are both very talented.

 

Truscott Street was one of the best AGAIN!

 

 

SCHOOL RULES

The following school rules were developed by the staff and endorsed by students and parents.  Through these rules students are encouraged to be:

  • courteous
  • caring and supportive
  • use commonsense
  • show consideration 
  • be cooperative
  • be role models of best behaviours
  • be vigilant and report incidents of unacceptable behaviour

 

Students should observe the following rules in all school settings (including travelling to and from school, at sport and on excursions):

 

1. Work and play safely

·        play without bullying, violence or physical contact in the playground

·        stay in school grounds and never be out of  bounds (including the buildings before and after school and during breaks, the play equipment before and after school unless supervised by parents)

·        no climbing or swinging in trees

·        report any non compliance

 

2. Respect others, their property and the environment

·        be honest, truthful and trustworthy                       

·        treat everyone with respect including students, staff, parents and visitors

·        respect ethnicity

·        no teasing, bullying, name calling or inappropriate language

·        keep the school clean

·        no arguing or answering back teacher or other adults

 

3. Listen to and obey instructions from staff and others in authority

·        obey classroom rules

·        encourage others to obey classroom rules

 

4. Follow school routines

·        wear correct uniform

·        be punctual

·        observe the homework policy

 

5. Do not bring inappropriate or unsafe items to school, eg illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, expensive toys or chewing gum.

 

STRIKES

What is a strike?  Why do we have them? A strike is part of our Good Discipline and Effective Learning Policy and are to help support students maintain appropriate behaviour at school.

 

STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

Students who are unwilling to be responsible school citizens will be involved in a behaviour management program that has five levels. These levels are designed to:

 

·        provide appropriate intervention strategies and feedback to the child and parent/s.

·        provide a tracking system that will allow the school to monitor students who have been placed on a Behaviour Improvement Program and support students who are at risk.

·        ensure that the program is focused only on the student’s behaviour.

·        empower the student  to be an active participant in the design and implementation of the improvement program.

 

Consequences

The following is a selection of consequences for students’ actions, which may be used in response to disregard of school rules.

 

School executive and teachers may vary the response to meet the needs of the individual student and situation.

 

Warning

·        Cautionary look

·        Hand sign – STOP

·        Cautionary word

 

Strike

·        Conference with staff

·        Request an explanation for student’s action/s

·        Indicate the effect of action/s on others

·        Ask student to identify the rule being broken

·        Restitution where appropriate eg: removing graffiti, tidying up ‘mess’

·        Letter to parents (after 3 strikes)

 

Detention

·        Conference with staff

·        Request an explanation for student’s action/s

·        Indicate the effect of action/s on others

·        Ask student to identify the rule being broken

·        Restitution where appropriate  - removing graffiti, tidying up ‘mess’

·        Identify a way to help a person who has been wronged

·        Time out from playground or classroom

·        Loss of privilege  eg exclusion from an activity, participation in a game or use of equipment

·        Letter to parents

·        Interview with parents

·        Conference between staff, student and parent/s

Suspension or Expulsion

 

Level One (Strike)

·        The class teacher or the teacher on duty will speak to the student/students involved in the incident, give a warning or a strike and will assist the students to engage in a mediation process immediately.

·        The strike and the reason it was given is recorded.

Level Two

·        Three strikes (one strike out) have been received and one day detention is given.

·        All strikes and the reason they have been given are recorded.

·        Consultation between teacher and student

·        Parents will be sent a letter to inform them of their child’s detention.

·        The detention is recorded.

Level 3

·        Six strikes (two strike outs) have been received and two days detention is given.

·        All strikes and the reason they have been given are recorded.

·        Consultation

·        Parents will be sent a letter to inform them of their child’s detention which they need to sign and return.

·        The detention is recorded.

Level 4

·        Nine strikes (three strike outs) have been received and three days detention is given

·        A privilege is taken away such as school functions, excursions and sport

·        Consultation

·        Parents will be sent a letter to inform them of their child’s detention and requesting an interview between the parents, the student, the teacher and the principal

·        Suspension is discussed if further strikes are received.

Level 5

·        If a serious incident occurs, the principal may apply a more serious response within Departmental Guidelines. For example, withdrawal of privileges such as school functions and excursions.

·        After alternative behaviour modification programs have been provided within Departmental Guidelines (Appendix E) a short or long suspension may be implemented at the discretion of the principal.

·        Parents will be informed both by phone and in writing by the principal.

Students in

  1. Kindergarten to Year 2 will be given a clean slate at the beginning of each term
  2. Years 3 and 4 will be given a clean slate at the beginning of each semester
  3. Years 5 and 6 will be given a clean slate at the beginning of each new school year.

 

SUPPORT UNIT CLASSES FOR 2009

Unfortunately as numbers have not increased since losing six of our Support Unit Students to high school this year and another at the end of this year we do not have the numbers to retain our 4 classes.  We will have 2 classes for students with physical disabilities and 1 class for students with multi disabilities.  It will be very sad to see one of our teachers and teacher’s aides leave us at the end of the year.

 

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Did you know that each teacher is allocated funds by the Government to continue their learning throughout the year.  Staff have participated in numerous professional development courses including CPR, Reading, Writing, Maths, Leadership, PE, Handwriting, Students with Anxiety and more.  

 

ENROLMENT 2009

If you are not going to be attending Truscott Street in 2009 please complete the attached form and return to the office as soon as possible so that we can organize our classes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K – 5 Students Not Returning to

Truscott Street Public School in 2008

 

 

Dear Mrs Shannon

 

My child / children will not be attending Truscott Street Public School in 2008.

Name ______________________ Class _____

 

Name ______________________ Class _____

 

Name ______________________ Class _____

 

Last Day of attendance ___________________

 

Reason _______________________________

 

______________________________________

 

Name of new school _____________________

 

Signed ________________________________

 

 

 

 

Michelle Shannon

Relieving Principal

michelle.shannon@det.nsw.edu.au