COLEDALE NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY EDITION
Principal's Report
Welcome back to all families and children for 2023 and to all the new families who are joining our wonderful school community.
The school term started off with 2 staff development days where the teachers completed CPR training, participated in Aboriginal histories and Cultures training and planned teaching and learning with new syllabus documents.
A big thank you to Mrs Chilton and all the parent volunteers who watered our garden and tended to the chickens over the school holidays. Also to Mr Madden who added a chicken run to the coop, the chickens are very happy in their lodgings.
A big thank you to Mr Olivieri who started off the year with 3/4 Blue, we will see him at our school regularly as a casual teacher. Welcome to Mrs Dixon who has begun here as a new permanent teacher and will take 3/4 Blue for the rest of the year. They have now moved into the new demountable which arrived in the first week of school.
It has been a busy start of term with many exciting events including the Swimming carnival, school photos, band and music lessons beginning, Living Ripples launch and our Sports program.
Best wishes to Miss Vernon who is getting married and will return as Mrs Haddon!
I hope to see you all at the welcome BBQ on Wednesday afternoon after the meet the teacher sessions.
Bernadette Stephens
Principal
KINDY FIRST DAY
Kindergarten have settled in well with their teacher Mr Kent. They have loved meeting their year 6 buddies and doing activities with them.
K RED
"Hey team, Mr Kent here, I'm loving being a part of the Coledale community, we're super fortunate to have such an awesome bunch of people matched with an incredible seaside. I live with my fiance (or wife as I've always called her) and our son who is now 3 months old! I'm a massive fan of all things sport. In my downtime I'll likely be adventuring with my little fam, catching up with family and friends, snowboarding, surfing or listening to music/audio books/podcasts."
1 YELLOW
My name is Miss Farrell, this is my 4th year teaching at Coledale Public School and I am on Year 1 this year.
I have been living in Coledale for 5 years now and I am so lucky to call this little gem of a place home!
I have a dog named Blue and a cat named Szechuan Peppercorn. I love the beach (still yet to find a beach better than Sharkeys!) I love traveling, music and getting lost in a good book.
2 GREEN
My name is Mrs Bartlett.
I've been teaching at Coledale on and off for 14 years.
I love being a teacher because I enjoy seeing children grow, learn from their mistakes and develop in all areas.
I love reading (never enough time), camping (could always be for longer) and living in Coledale.
I have 3 children who all went to school here and are growing up too quickly. I also have a wonderful husband and a yappy dog.
3/4 SILVER
I live in Wombarra in my parents family home. We moved from Sydney at the end of 2018 ready for the birth our first child, Miro. When I'm not at school I'm working on my plans for our new home.
My music taste is broad but my favourite artist would be Nick Cave in any Incarnation.
3/4 BLUE
I live with my husband, two dogs, one cat and three fish. I enjoy snowboarding and playing the flute. My favourite sports are mountain bike riding, soccer and basketball. My favourite music is Country.
I grew up in Thirroul and am looking forward to being back in the northern suburbs as I have been living in Jindabyne for the past 10 Years.
5/6 ORANGE
Hi, I’m Ms Gould on 5/6 orange.
I have been teaching for 30 years and I have been at Coledale for 13 years. I love where I work! Being with the kids and everyday being different to the next. As a passionate teacher there is nothing more satisfying than seeing a student achieve their personal learning goals. My interests include reading, bushwalking, travelling, and going to live theatre shows.
I live locally and know many students and their families very well! I look forward to seeing you all sometime at school.
5/6 PURPLE
Hi Everyone!
I am Mrs Thane, I am a Stage 3 teacher on 5/6 Purple. This is my second-year teaching at Coledale Public School. I am very excited for the year ahead. I grew up in Byron Bay and have lived overseas, in Jindabyne, Broulee and Stanwell Park before settling in Coledale. I enjoy surfing, snowboarding and basking in the sunshine.
See you around school this year! 🙂
Hayley
SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Our swimming carnival was held at Corrimal Swimming Pool in the first week of school. All students from years 3 to 6 attended to cheer on the swimmers on a very hot day. Thanks to the parent volunteers who helped out with timekeeping. The District swimming carnival is on next Tuesday February 21, notes will be sent home with the students who will be attending. The ribbons will be handed out at our first whole school assembly on Thursday Feb 23.
LIVING RIPPLES
This week we launched the Living Ripples Student in Wellbeing in Action program at Coledale Public School.
Survey data from a survey completed by parents, students at staff at the school last year was analysed to identify areas that we could work on at the school in the priority areas of physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships, and the school environment.
On Monday, students and parents worked together in an Intergenerational workshop to share ideas and discuss ways that we can direct energy and resources to ensure students have appropriate opportunities to develop resilience as they learn and grow.
The top things that students wanted was the reintroduction of the ‘Buddy Bench’, more roles for the SRC, Buddy classes and Peer support. As a staff we then worked on an implementation plan.
BAND
Welcome to the first Library News for 2023.
All classes visit the library every week. Each class is able to borrow and return books during their weekly lessons or during lunch breaks on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The library is also open during these periods for independent reading, writing, drawing and for playing board games.
Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 children are asked to bring cloth bags if possible to protect the books.
Mrs Porter
INTERNET SAFETY
Families can get support to set up good digital habits from a collection of webinars and resources from the eSafety Commissioner and their trusted partners.
Help your children safely navigate their digital world and educate them to avoid harmful online experiences.
· Explore websites with your child
· Engage in games together
· Manage privacy settings on apps and social media together
· Set some rules about online safety basics
For all parents
Playing games online can be fun and engaging but can also be challenging for young people to manage. Parents can support their children to learn how to stay safe on gaming sites and also how to seek support from the eSafety Commissioner.
For parents of 6-11 year-olds
Families with children in primary schools can set them up with good digital habits at the start of the year.
For more information or to register for webinars go to:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/cybermarvel/safer-internet-day/parents-and-carers
Mobile devices at school
The NSW Department of Education's mobile policy states “primary school students must not use digital devices during class, at recess or lunch unless approved by a principal or teacher for an educational purpose or as a reasonable adjustment for student wellbeing”.
It is very important that any issues a child has at school should be reported to a teacher first and that in case (such as illness) when parents need to be contacted, this is done through the school office.
If your child wears a device such as a watch that can send and receive messages, they will be required to hand them in at the office each day. Please remind them that they should be treated the same as mobile phones at school, i.e. not used to call and text between 9am and 2.45pm, and handed in to the office before school.
If you need to contact your child, the office phone will always be answered and messages relayed to your children.
At Coledale Public School students who have mobile phones are required to hand them in to the office for safe keeping, if your child has a mobile device at school (a phone or watch) please have them take it to the office and collect it at 2.45pm.
If you believe that your child needs their watch for an educational purpose or as a reasonable adjustment for student wellbeing, please contact the school and we will look at the personal circumstances.
Please do not hesitate to call me to discuss if you have any questions.
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts Yr 7 2024
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts (WHSPA) is a comprehensive, co-educational high school with a specialist performing arts focus. The school has twin goals of “academic excellence” and “excellence in the performing arts”.
WHSPA provides opportunities for gifted and talented Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts students to pursue a high quality performing and creative arts programs, whilst studying curriculum developed by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). All courses lead to the award of the ROSA and Higher School Certificate.
The school also offers extensive co-curricular company, ensemble, and studio art programs.
Year 7 Audition Applications OPEN now
- Term 1 2023 - Week 7 (Wednesday 8 March): Expo Evening at WHSPA - all invited bookings required*
- Term 1 2023 - Week 9 (Friday 24 March): Year 7 Audition Applications CLOSE
- Term 2 2023 - Weeks 1-3: Year 7 Auditions held
*Families are welcome to download our School E News app “Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts” and choose “Pre Year 7 (Year 6), for the latest information. The Expo will also be advertised on our Facebook page, soon!
Link to audition information: Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts Audition Information (office.com)
P&C
Below is the link for gofundme playground
https://www.gofundme.com/f/coledale-pc?qid=de67ac0900f21d68b056b83da0ede781
Upcoming dates & events:
Week 4
Wednesday 15 February Meet the Teacher BBQ
Week 5
Tuesday 21 February District Swimming Carnival
Week 8
Wednesday 15 - Monday 27 March NAPLAN
Week 9
Tuesday 21 March Harmony Day
Week 10
Thursday 30 March Cross Country
Week 11
Tuesday 4 April Happy Harold
Wednesday 5 April Happy Harold
Thursday 6 April Last day of Term
Contact us:
Email: coledale-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: https://coledale-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/
Location: 699 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale NSW, Australia
Phone: 4267 1885
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColedalePS