Guildford West Public School
NEWSLETTER - 2019 Term 3, Week 5
Principal's News
Wow! What a busy term. Open Day celebrating Education Week and Book Week was a huge success. The staff did an amazing job in the library and in the classrooms. It was great to see so many students and staff in their costumes. We hope you enjoyed being part of the STEM challenge.
Our dance groups and choir have been practising hard for the Merrylands High School performance. They did an amazing job and made our school and their parents very proud.
The choir will be performing on 29th August at the Sydney Opera House as part of Our Spectacular. We wish these students luck with this performance.
Supervision of students
Our priority is to keep children safe at school. The supervision of students by staff begins at 8:30 am and ends at 3:00 pm. I am seeing a lot of students being dropped off before 8:30 am in the morning and sitting out in the cold for a long time unsupervised. If your work arrangements have changed and your children require to be dropped off early, the Guildford West OOSH is the place for them. The OOSH has activities and supervision for the student’s before 8:30 am.
In the afternoon, the office is only open until 3:15 pm. If you on the odd occasions are running late, your child will be in the office where the off class Executive teacher will supervise until you arrive. Parents must come to the office to pick up and sign their child out through our Late Sign out book so we know they are safe. Children are not to wait across the road in the park or outside the school. Again, if your work arrangements change and you cannot pick up at 3:00pm, arrangements should be made through the OOSH. On the occasions where a teacher or teachers remain on duty after school, they may be engaged in a range of activities including meetings with parents, preparation for the next day, professional development and staff meetings. These activities do not permit them to also supervise your child. The office is closed from 3:15pm as this is this end of the office staff’s work day.
Playground improvements
Multi Sensory Playground
Work has begun on the Multi Sensory playground in Palmer Street. This has been a long process due to all the department requirements, shipping of equipment from Germany and the necessary action around services and trees. The artificial grass has been laid and the demolition and installation of the sunken trampoline will occur in the coming weeks. The swing and bridge are on the container ship coming from Germany. This is very exciting and is a major community project involving contributions from the NSW State Government, the P&C association, The Alame Foundation and school funds allocated for students with special needs, so that the students in the support unit will benefit for many years.
Basketball/Netball court/Bike track
An update on the amazing Basketball/Netball court/Bike track is that we are waiting for the Department to complete the handover with the contractor. Until this occurs we cannot use the court. We have utilised a grant for Sporting Schools to add to our collection of bikes and helmets so that we are ready to offer cycling as a sport at school. We will be having ‘Wheels up Wednesdays’ where students can bring their bikes along to school and use the bike track along with learning the road signs and rules in a supervised environment. We will be installing more bike racks up near the Multi Sensory room for students to keep their bikes safe during the day. We are extremely lucky to have sort a grant from the Sports unit, Sporting Schools program and the Department to have this amazing play area at the school. To assist the teachers the school has purchased over $5000 in sporting equipment so that the classes can learn fundamental movement skills and ball games
Yours sincerely,
Ms K. Weston
Principal
Community Announcement
It has come to our attention from a concerned community member that there have been two Pitt Bull dogs roaming in the Palmer and McCredie Street area. These dogs have been reported dangerous to the Council and local police. Please be vigilant in the supervison of your child/children when walking to and from school. If you see these dogs in the area please contact Cumberland Council on 8757-9000 or Merrylands Police Officer Jeremy De Tar on 8757-9300.
NCCD
Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).
Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:
· year of schooling
· category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
· level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.
This information assists schools to:
· formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
· consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
· develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with a disability.
The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with a disability.
The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information.
To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).
Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).
Support Unit News
S Bligh have had an amazing start to term 3. We have worked hard towards all our goals and have had fun doing so.
This term, students have been busy learning about personal qualities and traits in our Humanities unit. Students have learnt about who they are as individuals and how their personal qualities and traits influence others. Students have researched real life heroes and how they can help others. Students have also created their own super heroes using personal qualities and traits we have learnt about.
Below are some images of the heroes students have created and their traits.
Students have written about some of the people that have influenced them in their lives and why these people are important to them. Students from S Bligh were very proud of their writing.
On the 8th of August, S Bligh students celebrated Book Week and Education Week, with the theme being ‘Reading is my secret power”, students came dressed as their favourite Superheroes or book characters. A very proud S Bligh won best dressed class 3-6! Students also participated in a STEM challenge during open classrooms. Students had fun creating a helmet to protect an egg.
This term, students have enjoyed visits to the Multi-Sensory room and have also explored different sensory inputs through play such as shaving cream and musical instruments. Below are some clear favourites amongst students.
Early Stage One News
It has been a very busy and exciting start to Term 3 for Kindergarten. They all loved dressing up as their favourite superhero or book character for Book Week. Students enjoyed participating in the STEM challenge for Education Week. We read the book ‘Who Sank the Boat?’ and the challenge was to make a boat (using only paddle pop sticks and masking tape) that could carry the most animals on the water. Students worked collaboratively in their small groups and created some very strong designs. The winning boat in K Lock held 42 animals!
As part of the Humanities unit, students have been learning about superheroes and their powers. We have discussed different real-life superheroes such as teachers, the police, doctors and firefighters. Kindergarten were lucky enough to get a visit from the police officers. They spoke to Kindergarten about the role of police, how the police keep us safe and how the police help the community.
Stage One News
This term, the students have been busy exploring how they, others and characters are unique. The children have enjoyed exploring the similarities and differences between characters like Herbert Kettle and Miss Annabel Spoon from Aaron Blabey’s story 'The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon'. They are able to show how these characters are different and connect these qualities back to themselves. We are just finishing up our great learning on this topic by completing a collage to show how we are unique individuals. We can’t wait to share these representations of ourselves. They will reflect what we have been learning for the past four weeks.
Stage 1 STEM
We enjoyed working with our carers to build the tallest free standing skyscraper. The students worked really hard in their groups to come up with some ideas about how to build the tallest buildings. A big thank you goes out to the parents and carers who assisted the students in these creations, during the open classrooms. We are going to be starting a new STEM unit soon and it is all about different seasons and weather. We can’t wait to share this learning with you.
Stage 2 News
Education and Book Week
On Wednesday 8th August, Guildford West Public School hosted our Book Week and Education Week celebrations. This year’s theme was 'Reading is my Superpower'. Students were encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character or superhero.
During the morning session, families were invited into the classrooms to complete the STEM challenge with their children. Our goal was to create a helmet for our superhero egg. The rules including having to have covered at least half of the egg, however, the helmet could not be wider than 5cm. The students enjoyed planning how to save this egg when dropped from the veranda. There were many creative ideas such as using cotton wool to protect the egg as well as designing a parachute to slow the egg during its fall. Some of the conversations were even based around gravity and the weight of different materials the groups were allowed to use. The students were very proud of their efforts and are to be commended on their teamwork!
Humanities Unit of Work
This term, Stage 2 have been focusing on our Humanities unit of work. This unit has seen students learn about who they are individuals and how their character traits influence others. Students have been looking at a variety of resources such as books, digital texts, movies and comic strips to develop an understanding of how different people in our world can influence others by their actions and words. Stage 2 students have also enjoyed thinking and writing about their real life superheros. Below are some published writing tasks.
People who influenced me
During my life so far many people have influenced me, however, no one as much as my family. My dad, mum and my sister. My mum told me to focus on my learning my dad taught me Arabic and my sister tells me to never talk or look to strangers and walk away.
My mum has influenced me by telling me to always focus on the teacher don't be silly, and try to do all my work before time runs out. Also she tells me to like remembering things that we learn so I can always remember it. She always tells me to try your hardest to get a good report, which I really want to make her and my dad proud of me.
My dad always helps me with Arabic so when I grow up I can know how to speak Arabic. Also sometimes when people talk to me in Arabic my dad tells me can you speak I say yes, but when I don't know a word he helps me. When my dad sees that I need help because I feel embarrassed, he has always been there for me and helps me by taking over or asking me what to say.
My sister always reminds me to not talk or look at strangers, I can only talk to my family, friends and friends of friends. I don't talk to strangers because I don't want to get kidnaped and I don't think my parents want me kidnapped neither. I follow the things that my sister says. I don't want that because my family is perfect just the way it is and I love my family and I know they love me back.
By Ghazelle
People who have influenced me
During my life so far many people have influenced me, however, no one as much as my family. My mum Mrs Flack and my two brothers have all had positive influences on me.
My mum influenced me by loving me. Because she helps me with my homework and makes me food. Ms Flack influenced me by helping me with maths and writing and making S2 Watson homework. My two brothers help me play games like roblox and. Minecraft and footy for home and hide and side at what. My brothers tell me at home.
She has been one of the most influential people in my life who has made me the person I am today.
By Isabella
People who have influenced me
I’d know a little bit math but my dad teaches me so many maths. He does easy, medium, hard, and more and I became a math worker. My mum teaches me English so I can get better at talking like I don’t want to be bad at talking. Mrs Flack teaches me a lot of things like maths, art, geography, and writing. I tried my best on all of those things and I did try my best a lot.
By Hamza
Stage 3 News
Excursion
As part of our learning around the Geography unit of ' A diverse & connected world' and after two failed attempts (thanks to the weather) to attend our excursion, we were off! On Monday the 29th of July, Year 5 and 6 students travelled all the way to the Chinese Gardens in Darling Harbour for a fun filled day with Ranger Jamie excursions. Students explored the hidden laneways of Chinatown and the majestic Chinese gardens of friendship and worked in teams to win an Amazing Race style challenge. Even the teachers had a challenge to complete! Congratulations to Mr Robinson who beat Miss Sebastian, Mrs Lobocki and Ms Hammill at filling his cup the quickest with rice using only chop sticks! A big thank you to Miss Clarke, Miss M, Mrs Bechara and Ms Ostapenko for joining us.
Please enjoy the photos below of our fantastic day!
3 Wow Writing
Just a section to show off some of the writing Stage 3 have been producing. Please enjoy two writing tasks from S3 Kennard with Mr Robinson.
Is graffiti vandalism or art?
By Jayden Emery Shepherd, Year 6
In my opinion I believe that graffiti can be both an art and vandalism because of the way it is created by the artist. Graffiti is also determined by the viewer, and also where it is placed. This is why I believe that graffiti can be both of these things.
Firstly, I strongly believe that graffiti is art because of what the artist is trying to do. Also I think Hosier lane is a great place for tourists and kids because they could be persuaded to do art when they start getting older. This is why I definitely believe that graffiti is art.
Secondly, I definitely believe that graffiti is vandalism because it is destructive. I think that graffiti is vandalism because they vandalise trains, buildings, public toilets and for what purpose to break into places it just destroys the environment. This is why I strongly believe that graffiti is both vandalism and art.
Finally, I firmly believe that graffiti can be both an art and vandalism because of where it is placed. Graffiti on the side of a building can be art, unless of course the building is important, and then it would be graffiti. No matter how nice graffiti looks, anything on something like the Opera House would be vandalism. This is why I definitely believe graffiti can be both an art and vandalism.
This is why I believe that graffiti can be both an art and vandalism because of the way it is created by the artist. Graffiti is also determined by the viewer, and also where it is placed. This is why I believe that graffiti can be both of these things.
Graffiti is vandalism
By Sonee Bheekarry, Year 6
I undeniably believe that graffiti is vandalism. This is because graffiti is illegal, it destructive and the meanings of the graffiti mean terrible things. This is why I absolutely believe that graffiti is definitely vandalism.
My first opinion on the fact that graffiti is definitely vandalism because it is illegal. It is illegal to graffiti on other people's property which I talk about in my following paragraph on why graffiti brings destruction. The main reason on why graffiti is illegal is because it is against the law to graffiti other people’s property without permission, but it is not illegal to buy the equipment for graffiti such as paint, brushes, spray bottles and etc. The local council is in charge of clearing up all the graffiti around the area, but what is even the point of doing graffiti around the area if your piece of work gets wiped over with a fresh coat of paint. Also it is a waste of money for the council and for the people who do graffiti’s money and time. This is because they will only be trying to redo their work, yet in the end it will only it will only lead for the council to go `over with paint again and again and it very clear that graffiting on other people’s property is a very illegal act and is a very common one too. These are the facts on why graffiti is illegal.
My second opinion on why graffiti is absolutely vandalism because it brings destruction many things such as our planet, public buildings and other public are which also includes schools. Graffiti destroys many people's property. You can notice lots of graffiti around and they are all on either on public walls, small bricked bridges [somehow] and even on building walls. The fumes that come off from the spray bottles spray paint lets out a toxic fumes that will leak out in the environment gases. The effect that the fumes that come from spray bottles that they use for graffiti furthers the happening of global warming. It also has the effect the water in open spaces which includes ponds, lakes, rivers and etc. In my experience I have witnessed was only last year when I was in year 5, I arrived at school and I placed my bag on the benches (that's what we had to do) , when I had noticed on the walls words and pictures. All over the outside of the classrooms and then when my class went for sports we saw graffiti all over the staircases, but we had to go on the other staircase since the one we went on before was covered in ill meaning words. The next day I went to school I saw people in another form of uniform, weird uniform, and they were coating over the graffiti and then after they finished they put four cones to surround it to make sure no one touches the wet and fresh coat of paint. Also after they finished putting a fresh coat of paint it aroma in the air was gross. This is why I without a doubt believe that graffiti is vandalism`
My last opinion on why I confidently that graffiti is vandalism is that because it has various terrible meanings and the meaning are not appropriate. There is lots and lots of graffiti anywhere you go no matter what and the most common type of graffiti are name tags and they have a very particular and the meaning is very specific. Name tagged graffiti means that there is a gang in the area, but then there is no point of writing your name on a wall of public or owned by a particular person’s property and for a whole bunch of people to know about you being in a gang. It is really silly to your own name, your nickname or even gang name where everyone can see it and know that you are in a gang. Gangs are known to be included in theft, war and vandalism. Graffiti can also tell you about the illegal acts the gang of the area have done (which in my words is really silly). This is why I firmly believe that graffiti is vandalism because of its meaning it has.
I undeniably believe that graffiti is vandalism. The reason is because graffiti is illegal, it destructive and the meanings of the graffiti mean terrible things. This is why I absolutely believe that graffiti is definitely vandalism.
Zone Athletics
On Thursday 8th August, 42 students represented Guildford West Public School at the Auburn PSSA Zone athletics carnival. Congratulations to these students whose results and behaviour were outstanding. Guildford West finished 2nd overall at the carnival. There were also some fantastic individual results.
- Diamond Pakoti- senior girls age champion. 2nd in 12 year girls 100 m, 2nd in senior long jump, 2nd in senior discus, 2nd in senior shot put.
- Ru’ua Akel- 1st in junior high jump- NEW ZONE RECORD
- Maison Chakti- 1st in senior shot put- NEW ZONE RECORD
- Renee Alame- 1st in junior girls 200 m-NEW ZONE RECORD, 1st in junior girls 800 m
- Rianna Alame- 1st in senior girls 800 m
- Reda Somi- 1st in 8 years 100 m
- Ibrahim Issa- 1st in junior high jump
- Tahlae Uluibau- 2nd in 11 years high jump, 2nd in 11 years long jump
- Jackson Peter- 2nd in 11 year boys 200 m
- Junior Boys relay team- 2nd ( Ibrahim Issa, Reda Somi, Jayden Beattie, Jaxon Speechley)
These students will go on to represent Auburn PSSA at the Regional carnival.
On this day Blake Goller competed at the National athletics trials finishing 6th in shot put and 13th in discus. Congratulations Blake.
Book Week
This year we combined Education Week and Book Week to provide a great opportunity to welcome parents to join their children in celebrating Australian Children’s Literature. This year the theme was' Reading Is My Secret Power'. Students were invited to dress up as a superhero or their favourite character from a book. During the morning session, students had the opportunity to take a superhero photo at the photo booth and participate in the K-6 Book Character Costume parade. Later in the morning session the K-2 classrooms were open for parents to join their children in a STEM activity based on the Superhero theme. Kindergarten STEM activity was to build a boat and Stage 1 classes had to create a free standing tall building. During recess, the superhero photo booth was available again, the book fair in the library provided the opportunity to purchase books or a picnic with family and friends on the grounds. After recess, 3-6 classrooms were open to parents to join in a Superhero STEM activity. Stage 2 STEM activity was to create a flying superhero and Stage 3 classes created a fast rocket.
Guildford West Children's Centre
Enrolments 2020
Guildford West Children’s Centre is located at 50 Princes Street Guildford West, sharing part of Guildford West Public School’s ground. The centre will shortly begin taking enrolments for 2020 for children aged 0-5. To register for a position please follow the below link to add your child’s name to the waiting list. There are limited vacancies available. If you have any questions please contact Kate Whalan by emailing gwcc@cumberland.nsw.gov.au or calling 8757 9073.
Guildford West Public School
Email: guildfordw-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: www.guildfordw-p.schools.nsw.edu.au
Location: 23-51 Palmer Street, Guildford West NSW, Australia
Phone: (02) 9632-9942
Facebook: guildfordwestps