30/05/2023
Principal's Report
Reconciliation Morning Tea
This Thursday, four students will travel to the Novotel, Wollongong to be a part of the Reconciliation Morning Tea. This event will be attended by hundreds of students and staff from across many schools, with many wonderful speakers and performers sharing the 2023 reconciliation message – Be a Voice for Generations. It will be a fantastic morning of shared learning and reflection that I know the students attending will thoroughly enjoy.
Reconciliation Week Activities
On Wednesday 31 May 2023, we will be holding our very own ‘Reconciliation Week’ activity day. During the day, students will complete a range of in-class activities. One of the activities will involve creating a reconciliation day poster. Later in the day, our students will meet, with their posters, for a short reconciliation day walk around the outside of our school. The walk will conclude on the flat, where we will have a whole school photo. It is sure to be a memorable day of fun and learning.
Sorry Day
Last Friday was National Sorry Day, a day where we commemorate the Stolen Generation. It is a part of the ongoing efforts towards reconciliation between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians. I want to acknowledge our students who led our Sorry Day Ceremony with great respect and pride, as they built knowledge and understanding across our school. Well done to our school captains, but also to Tatum, Kenadee, Matilda, Jake, Kai and Harper for showing wonderful leadership on such an important occasion.
NIAECG
Last Wednesday, our school hosted the Northern Illawarra Aboriginal Education Consultative Group termly meeting. With over 70 people in attendance, our school was proud to share our journey in Aboriginal Education, with the attending audience. I want to thank Mrs Carroll and our Aboriginal Education team, for their efforts in ensuring our school continues to move forward positively for our Aboriginal students and for all students, and for hospitably catering for a very important meeting.
Cross Country
Next Thursday, a team of nine students will represent our school at the Regional Cross Country Carnival at Cambewarra. We wish Reg, Lachlan, Cohen, Flynn, Archie, Jimmy, Harper, Lennox and Xander all the best as they take on some tough opposition on an equally tough course. I’m sure you will do your school and district proud.
Further to this, we had four students come eighth at the District Carnival and are on the reserve list, should someone withdraw from the carnival. Congratulations to Frankie, Arabella and Hannah on their strong performances.
As a result of such consistency, our school was announced as the champion school of the District Carnival. Congratulations to our team of 48 that brought home this trophy, a huge effort and amazing achievement.
PSSA State Touch Football
I want to congratulate Xander, Lennox and Jimmy who last week represented South Coast Touch Football at the state championships. These boys played against the best touch players across the state and more than did themselves proud. Well done boys, our school is proud of your achievements.
P&C Meeting
Our next P&C meeting will be on Wednesday 14 June, at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held in the school staff room. We hope to see you there!
King’s Birthday Long Weekend
Monday, 12 June is the King’s Birthday long weekend. There will be no school on this day as it is a public holiday. We wish all our students, their families and staff an enjoyable long weekend.
Mr Tim Fisher
Principal
COVID-19 Cases
Our school has been advised that members of our school community have recently tested positive to COVID-19.
Students and staff may have had contact with a person who was infectious with COVID-19.
While testing and isolation is no longer mandatory for exposures to someone with COVID-19 in school settings, NSW Health has provided advice on testing recommendations for the community following exposure to COVID-19 that should be considered when making decisions for your child and family if the situation arises.
Thank you for being vigilant with monitoring and testing for symptoms.
You are reminded that staff and students cannot attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. These include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell/taste, muscle/joint pains, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, extreme tiredness, unexplained chest pain or conjunctivitis (eye infection).
If symptoms occur at any time, you should not attend school and are encouraged to undertake a rapid antigen test. If you cannot access a rapid antigen test, you can attend a PCR (nose and throat swab) testing clinic. If your child tests positive, they should not attend school while displaying any symptoms. Students attending school are strongly encouraged to wear masks following a positive test or if they have been exposed to COVID-19. You are encouraged to register any positive test on the Service NSW website or Service NSW app so that you can be linked to important health care support and advice, and inform your school of the positive test result. Parents and carers are reminded to please ensure that you select your school name when prompted when registering a positive test for your child.
Advice and further resources are available on the NSW Health website including COVID-19 guidelines and fact sheets for people who tested positive or were exposed to COVID-19. Additional resources are also available on the NSW Government website.
The safety and wellbeing of our staff and students are always paramount. As such, we will continue to ensure that all necessary health advice is closely followed.
Moments In Maths
If you need anything counted, big or small, ask Kindergarten and Stage 1! Maths this week has been all about numbers, how to make them and how to count them. Our mathematicians have been learning about the importance of knowing number bonds. That is, how you can build numbers out of other numbers. Kindergarten have been using the Rekenreks to help them create all sorts of number combinations. Skip counting has been another focus in maths with Year 1 students enjoying a number of games which encourage them to count by 2s and 5s. Year 2 are applying their knowledge of numbers to create and count equal groups.
Click the image above to view more photos.
Woonona Public School's Stage 3 Dance Troupe Tickets On Sale Now
Woonona Public School’s Stage 3 Dance Troupe are performing in the South Coast Public Schools Dance Festival 2023. We would love you to come along and support our school. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased via the Illawarra Performing Art Centre website or below
Here is a photo of the girls from dance festival. They have been busy practicing two days a week and absolutely loving it!
Soccer Knockout Report
Boys
The State Knockout boy's soccer team for Woonona played against Russell Vale in the knockout round. The score was a very tight 2-1 win for Russell Vale with Ryan finishing off with a great team goal.
The second consolation game was played against Bulli with Woonona winning 5-0. Player of the match was Toby who scored 4 goals, while Lennox scored his first ever goal! Overall, we didn't win the knockout match but all the boys had a great experience.
By Ryan - Year 6
Girls
Last Friday, we got a chance to play State Knockout Soccer at Cawley Park against Russell Vale Public School. We luckily won 3-0!
It was a tough game against Russell Vale but extremely enjoyable. The players of the match were Maya and Wrenn and the goals were scored by Zoe, Maya and Ryley.
The soccer knockout was a great experience as we got to play another school and we now are really looking forward to going through to the next round to play again.
By Zoe, Ryley and Maddi
Library News
National Simultaneous Storytime 2023
On Wednesday 24 May, all students K-6 participated in the National Simultaneous Storytime along with over 2 million other students around Australia. Students loved having the opportunity to listen to Rebecca Young’s story ‘The Speedy Sloth’ and discuss the lessons they personally learnt from the book. Many buddy classes joined together to share this reading experience. It was wonderful to see so many students coming together to read for pleasure.
In Week 10, Woonona Public School will be hosting a Great Book Swap as part of our NAIDOC week celebrations. Students will be encouraged to donate a book to be part of the swap and then select another for a gold coin donation. All monies raised will help raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to help them purchase 35,000 new carefully chosen reading resources for remote Indigenous communities across Australia. More details on how you can contribute to this worthy cause will be sent out in the next few weeks.
Click the Indigenous Literacy Foundation image above for further information.
Premier’s Reading Challenge 2023
Finally, students 3-6 have been working hard reading books for the Premier’s Reading Challenge and many are well on their way to completing their 20 books. 3-4B and 5-6A are leading the classes with almost every student completing the challenge early. Well done!
K-2 students have also been working towards achieving their reading goals for the term. I ask that you help support your child with their borrowing by reminding them to return their Library books each week.
Book Club
This week Issue 4 of the Scholastic Book Club was sent home. Orders can be placed below and are due by Monday 12 June.
Please remember only online orders will be accepted. No CASH payments.
Happy reading,
Mrs Carroll
Librarian
Walk Safely to School Day
Friday 19 May was 'National Walk Safely to School Day' and we had so many students get involved in this event. While the tattoos handed out by teachers proved a big hit, many students said they enjoyed getting out in the sun and getting some exercise. We had many regular walkers but were also pleased to see many parents who drive further distances, park their cars a few streets away and walk to school. A BIG THANK YOU to students, parents and teachers who got involved in this fun morning.
Click the above image to view more great photos.
MS Fundraiser
Hi,
My name is Chiara Smith and I’m taking part in The May 50K challenge this May to raise funds for life-changing research into multiple sclerosis!
MS strikes young people in the prime of their lives. The average age of diagnosis is only 30 years old, and there is no known cure.
Please make a donation and support my challenge to leave MS where it belongs, behind us.
Your donation will support research into the prevention, treatment and finding a cure for multiple sclerosis to change lives.
Donation page is here: https://www.themay50k.org/fundraisers/kristy-chiarasmith
Lost Property
Please see the office if any of these items belong to you.
Southern Stars Tickets go on sale 20 June
Canteen and uniform shop
Onsite uniform shop closed until further notice.