Holbrook Public School

Quality education for all, in a secure and caring environment

ISSUE 20: Term 4, Week 7 - Monday, 15 November 2021

From the Principal's desk

Welcome to Week 7! - Over the past two weeks, it has been wonderful to host Book Week (including the parade and book fair) and our school’s public speaking competition. The Book Week parade always brings with it an exuberance of energy, and this year was no exception thanks to the organisation of Mrs Biar and the extended Holbrook Public School team. Please find a link to a movie in today’s newsletter showing many of the marvelous characters who took part. Well done, parents, on a great effort in 2021!! We sold over $2,500 worth of books, too, which was incredible and will keep the culture of reading alive in Holbrook for some time to come.

Public Speaking Competition - The public speaking competition was also an opportunity for the students to make their mark. The finals were held under the covered outdoor area, with many remarkable speeches being noted. As part of the impromptu speeches, the students voted for Miss B to take on the task of completing one as well. Her topic was ‘gumboots’, and the students responded with great roars of laughter, cheering and applause. Fantastic effort, Miss B and all students! The winners of this competition will be announced at Presentation Day this year.

Vaccination of Adults on the School Site – As of 8 November 2021, all staff, contractors, parents/carers and volunteers need to be double (fully) vaccinated when visiting the school. Showing proof of vaccination and signing in on the Service NSW School Check-in app is required for all visits. At this stage, we are unaware of which families these restrictions may impact negatively. I apologise in advance for these circumstances; however, we must follow NSW Department of Education policy.

What does this mean for our school? Double vaccinated parents can only come to the school, on invitation, for specific purposes. For example to support curriculum delivery, student well-being activities and school operations (for example reading support, and lunch orders). Parents and carers must check in using the school check-in and show proof of vaccination on entry to the school site.

Double vaccinated parents will be able to attend the Year 6 Farewell (Wednesday 15 December), pending the school or any external venue’s COVID Safety Plan. We are currently investigating potential external venues. Failing the availability of a local venue, the event may need to take place at the school. Double vaccinated parents required to help with a specific role (for example, a speech or handing out an award) will be the only ones able to attend Presentation Day in 2021 (10 am Tuesday 14 December), which will need to be held outdoors. As in 2020, we will investigate the possibility of using Zoom to stream the Presentation Day event; however, as it now needs to be held outside, this may not be as efficient.

Staffing - Congratulations to Amelia-Kate White, who was successful in the merit selection process for the new permanent Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction position at Holbrook Public School! Amelia is currently working in a similar role at Thurgoona Public School and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Amelia is excited to be joining our team in 2022. In other staffing news, next year (for one day per week), we will also be employing a Digital Classroom Officer to act as an instructional leader for the high-quality integration of technology in all classrooms. Exciting times ahead!

Thank you for your patience and understanding with the changes in staffing that have been occurring this term. Due to DoE policy and Level 3 School Operations, we cannot run our fluid and flexible English and mathematics groupings for the remainder of the year. The home class teachers for all 3-6 classes will remain the same, however for English and maths, Miss Morgan will teach 3/4, Miss Barraclough will teach 4/5, and Mr Powys will teach 5/6. Miss Lavis will work across all three classes to provide support to students and teachers.

Congratulations and thank you - Caitlin Kotzur, who completed her third Year university practicum with Mrs Biar last week!        

Nathan Fisher

Principal

Book Club: Issue 8, 2021

Roadmap from Monday, 8 November 2021

As announced by the Minister, from 8 November all NSW schools moved to updated Level 3 settings that brought school operations more in line with what is allowed in the community. I would like to update you on the key changes that will be in place at our school from Monday 8 November and for the rest of Term 4.

Keeping us all safe on school grounds

A combination of layered COVID-safe plans and measures will allow us to prioritise student and staff safety and keep our school open. To do this, the following guidelines will be in place:

  • Students, staff and visitors must not attend school if unwell, even with mild symptoms.

  • All staff and adult visitors on the school site must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination.

  • Masks are required indoors for all staff, adult visitors and strongly recommended indoors for primary students. Masks can be removed when eating or exercising.

  • All staff and visitors must check in when attending a school site or gathering.

  • Adults should maintain 1.5 metres physical distancing wherever practicable.

  • Activities and events should be held outdoors where practical.

  • Indoor spaces will be well ventilated and as large as possible for the number of attendees - following square metre guidelines. 

  • Students should avoid mingling with other class and year groups when moving around the school.

  • Students and staff will maintain good hand hygiene and schools will continue with enhanced cleaning, including high touch points.

From 8 November

Our school will operate on updated Level 3 settings for the rest of Term 4 2021, with the following activities allowed in a COVID-safe manner:

  • Assemblies and presentations are allowed outdoors, with cohorts separated and physical distancing in place. Fully vaccinated visitors (including parents and carers) are only allowed to attend if completing a specific role (such as presenting) and at the invitation of the school.

  • Community use is allowed outside of school hours (including P&C meetings) with COVID-safe plans in place – in line with public health requirements.

  • Dancing, bands, ensembles and music classes will be allowed within cohorts. However, everyone must wear masks while playing instruments indoors. Other instruments that rely on breath or require a mask to be removed to be played, as well as singing and chanting, are not permitted in Term 4.

  • Excursions are allowed outdoors (and indoors where sole use of the premises is available).

  • Incursions are allowed indoors and outdoors where cohorts are kept separate.

  • Graduations and formals are allowed within cohorts, either on school sites or at external venues – with COVID-safe plans in place and physical distancing adhered to.

  • School sports are allowed, including inter-school sports and access to indoor and outdoor pools (from 1 November).

  • Transitions and orientations are allowed in a COVID-safe way that minimises mingling between students.

Parents and carers on site to support school operations

Fully vaccinated parents and carers will be allowed on-site to support curriculum delivery, student wellbeing activities and school operations (for example reading support, canteens and uniform shops). Parents and carers must check in using the school check-in and show proof of vaccination on entry to the school site.

Thank you again for your continued support during this school term.

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Meet Holbrook Public School's fishy friends

Isabel Yensch and Jasmine Lieschke are responsible for the care of our Kangaroo Creek duboulayis, pacific blue-eyes, olive perchlets, and purple-spotted gudgeons, which reside in the fish tank in the office. Bred by Lachlan Nevinson and Megan Adams, the olive perchlets and purple-spotted gudgeons are threatened species. This is due to:

  • Predation and competition with introduced fish;
  • Habitat disturbance by Common Carp;
  • Fluctuations in water levels and flow due to river regulation;
  • Increased turbidity and damage of stream banks by livestock access;
  • Decreased water quality due to agricultural runoff and siltation;
  • Extreme weather events, such as drought and bushfires.

Issy and Jasmine tend to our aquatic friends by scrubbing the tank and changing the water regularly and feeding them three times a week. These special fish provide entertainment and relaxation for our students and visitors alike. Thank you, Issy and Jasmine, for all your hard work. Thanks to the dedication of Lachlan, Megan and other aquatic breeders like them, there is hope for these colourful fish. 

Transition to School Visit – Wednesday, 3 November

'We Love You, Magoo!' by Briony Stewart was a big hit with the incoming Kindergarten students on Wednesday morning. The children made dogs and cats to take home with them. They had a great time having a snack and a play on the playground in the sunshine!

Book Week 2021

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dgpQpi5SDOQ0ntRBgavjrO4QaZtDSZdI/view?usp=sharing

What an amazing week we had last week for Book Week!

Well done to all students for a fantastic effort with their Book Parade costumes.  We had everything from Harry Potter and Minecraft, to Santa and the old man Carl from the movie Up, with everything in between!

Congratulations to the winners from each class:

K – Archie Finlay

1 – Jack Lindsay

2 – Darcy Hartwich

3/4 - Blade Maher

4/5 – Lacey McKillop

5/6 – Aiden Walmsley

Thank you to all parents who allowed their children to purchase books. We raised approximately $2500 and were able to purchase some wonderful books for the library. Hopefully next year, parents can be involved once again.

Thank you to all staff who assisted during the week.

Let’s all sit down and read a good book!

Christine Biar Book Week Co-ordinator

Holbrook Library Book Week Competition

Students in Kindergarten to Year 6 will be completing an artwork to enter into the Greater Hume Council Libraries’ Book Week Competition. Students from Holbrook, Culcairn, Henty and Jindera schools have been invited to enter the competition. There will be two winners from both the K-2 and 3-6 competition. The winner will receive a book for themselves and one for their school. 

This year's Book Week theme, and thus the competition theme, is Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. The artworks will be displayed in the library, and on the library's social media pages (Facebook and Instagram). 

Students may use any medium(s) they choose. 

K-2 Students 

K-2 students are required to draw a self-portrait of themselves in their old world, new world, or other world. 

Years 3-6 Students 

Students are to use the reflection in sunglasses to show their old world, new world, or other world. 

The competition closes on Friday, 19 November.

We look forward to seeing the wonderful creations!

Transition to School Visit – Wednesday, 10 November

The 2022 Kindergarten students had a colourful morning at our last transition to school session! After reading 'Elmer' by David McKee, the children made their own bright and colourful Elmer the Elephants! They also used coloured squares to show their counting up to 10! We look forward to another exciting transition on Wednesday, 17 November, which will be our second last for the year. 

Transition to School Program

Due to the Public Health Orders currently in place in NSW, the Transition to School program has been adjusted. In line with the NSW Department of Education, student cohorts must minimise mixing and mingling between cohorts. 

Unfortunately, this includes mixing student groups for the Transition to School program. This means that the 2022 Kindergarten and 2022 Year 6 students are unable to participate in face-to-face transition sessions.  

Instead, the 2022 Kindergarten and Year 6 students will create an individual “All About Me” page. Miss Hemphill will facilitate an exchange of “All About Me” pages, as well as a “Welcome to Holbrook Public School” bag in Week 10.  

We will also hold a Parent Information Session on Wednesday, 24 November from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m in the school hall. One fully vaccinated parent or carer per family will be able to attend this session. Parents will need to sign in at the office and show proof of vaccination before entry. The information session will coincide with the final transition session for 2021. 

The incoming Kindergarten students have two transition sessions remaining:

  • Wednesday, 17 November, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. 
  • Wednesday, 24 November, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (Parent Information Session 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

Thanks for your patience, as always!

Whole School Public Speaking Competition

On Wednesday, 10 and Thursday, 11 November, we held our Whole School Public Speaking Competition. All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 prepared and presented a speech to their class leading up to the competition and two students were then chosen to represent their year at the competition. Wednesday saw the students entertain the whole school under the COLA with their prepared speeches. On Thursday afternoon, students from Years 3 to 6 presented an impromptu speech to the whole school. Due to COVID restrictions, students in Kinder to Year 2 were not able to prepare an impromptu speech, as they are usually assisted by the older students and we are unable to mix cohorts. Congratulations to all our speakers. They did a wonderful job and we are very proud of them all. Winners of the competition for Early Stage 1/Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 will be announced at our Presentation Day at the end of the year.

Remembrance Day

The Flanders poppy has long been a part of Remembrance Day, the ritual that marks the Armistice of 11 November 1918.  Some crafty students decided they'd like to make their own poppies this year instead of using the plastic poppies.  Issy Yensch, Jasmine Lieschke, Issy Atkinson and Georgie Cardile, under the guidance of Mrs Jones, have been spending their lunchtimes in the art room making these awesome poppies using egg cartons, paint, a hot glue gun and safety pins. Great work girls, they look fabulous!

Remembrance Day 2021

The Year 1s and Miss Kotzur

Over the past four weeks, I  have been honoured to learn, teach and participate in some amazing activities with Mrs Biar’s wonderful Year 1 class. I have had great fun teaching the students about the features of plants and animals, how to group animals on their features, mathematical grouping and volume, guided reading, story writing, handwriting, and literacy practice. It has been a marvellous learning experience for me, as I began to teach some of my favourite lessons to a whole class, and I thank the students and Mrs Biar for being patient and supportive in this time. I hope that the students of Year 1 have had as much fun learning the content taught as I have had teaching it. I will miss you all dearly and I hope to see you all and the rest of the students and staff again soon.

As one of our final lessons together, the Year 1s focused on the text ‘Winner Winner Bin Chicken Dinner’ by Kate and Joel Temple, exploring the White Ibis and its name, as well as concepts of sustainability, kindness, and sharing. Together we drew a Bin Chicken and illustrated the city and old swamp habitats that the ibis lives in.  Here are some superb examples.

Miss Caitlin Kotzur

2022 School Leader Nominations

Last week, Year 5 students were nominated by their peers to run for the 2022 school leadership positions. These students will present a speech, about why they should be a leader, to the school on Wednesday, 24 November. All students and staff will then vote and the leaders will be announced at Presentation Day. All Year 5 students will run for Sporting House Captains. Students will vote for the leaders in their sporting houses. Each house will have a captain and vice-captain. These will be announced at Presentation Day.

Colour Fun Run Fundraiser - Reminder

The much anticipated Colour Fun Run Fundraiser is being held on our school oval on Friday, 26 November. All students need to return their pink permission note to be able to participate in the colour run. They should all have a yellow sponsorship form to gather sponsors to participate in the fun run. For every $10 they raise, they will receive a ticket into the draw for some prizes. Notes and money need to be back at school by Tuesday, 23 November to be eligible to enter the prize draw. 

Intensive Swimming K-2

This year, the Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students will participate in the School Swimming and Water Safety Program, run by the NSW Department of Education. The program is run over a 10-day period in Weeks 9 and 10, from Monday, 29 November to Friday, 10 December. Due to COVID restrictions and guidelines, students will participate in class groups. Each class group will have a 45-minute lesson per day. A note will be sent home this week, with a breakdown of times and costs.

Miss Hemphill

2021 Presentation Day

At Presentation Day, we award students who have achieved excellence, consistent improvement, citizenship and sporting achievements. Each year, the local community sponsors the awards. If you would like to make a donation towards the book prizes this year, it would be greatly appreciated and your name will be listed in our newsletter. Donations of cash or cheques, made out to Holbrook Public School, can be handed in to our office.

Need uniforms?

Please ring or email your uniform order through to the office. Payments can be made online, by clicking the 'Make a Payment' option on our website or by credit card over the phone. We will then place your order in the front office for collection on Monday's Wednesdays and Fridays or give it to your child to take home with them.

Pre-loved uniforms for sale from $5 each


Uniform ItemSizes Available
Summer Uniforms
Short sleeve polo shirt4, 6, 8, 10, 12
Shorts6, 10, 14, 16
Summer dress4, 6
Winter Uniforms
Long sleeve polo shirt4, 6, 8, 12
Fleece jacket4, 6, 8, 12
Long pants4, 6
Tartan pants6, 8, 10
Tartan skirt6, 8, 10
Windcheater6. 8
Sports Uniforms
Sports shirt6, 8, 10
Sports shorts6
Track pants
6

Term 4, Week 6 class awards

Sustainable Sam

This award is given to the class who keeps their room tidy, consistently uses their recycling bin and turns off lights when the room is not in use.

Year 1

Yellow Star Card

For excellent behaviour in the playground.

Ned Dodds and Thomas Maclagan

Blue Star Card

For excellent behaviour in the classroom.

Sophie Burey and Alistair Jeffries

Values

For actively displaying our school values: Care, Courtesy, Consideration and Co-operation


Term 4, Week 6 award recipients

Teachers

Recipients
Miss Hemphill

Hunter Atkinson: For presenting a fantastic speech on apples! Well done, Hunter!

Bonnie Cronin: Always presenting her learning in a very neat, detailed and precise manner. Great effort, Bonnie!

April Henderson: For presenting a wonderful speech on her baby sister, Nita! Well done, April!

Flynn McKillop: For his continued effort and dedication to all areas of his learning. Well done on your willingness to always have a go, Flynn!

Ollie Saunders: Sportsmanship

Mrs Biar

Edwina Barr-Smith: A sensational effort with MultiLit, having passed 23 levels in 4 weeks

Alistair Jeffries: For having great ideas for his story-writing and being creative

Orlando White: Sportsmanship

Mrs Ross

Harry Purcell: For his application in maths. Harry has been sharing his clever ways of counting groups in a very modest way

Tyler Warburton-Bell: For his huge efforts on class tasks. Tyler has been concentrating and finishing all tasks set.

Kasey Worldon: Sportsmanship

Miss Morgan

Grace Bennetts: For composing and delivering a very original speech as well as an impromptu one to her class and the whole school

Xander Bradshaw: For presenting his speech about the history of Lego with lovely expression. He wowed his classmates and was voted to repeat his speech and an impromptu one for the whole school.

Will Power: Sportsmanship

Miss Barraclough

Ollie Cardile: For going above and beyond to assist and facilitate the learning of others.

Jasmine Purcell: For thinking on her feet and persevering when things don't go to plan.

Chayse Ross: Sporstmanship

Miss Lavis

Isaac Bennetts: For capably and confidently presenting his prepared and an impromptu speech to the whole school

Eli Toll: For capably and confidently presenting his prepared and an impromptu speech to the whole school

Mr Powys

Tayleah Flewin: For bringing a positive attitude towards her learning in times of change

Ryder McKillop: For adapting change and embracing new learning opportunities with Mr Powys

Byron Flewin: Sportsmanship

Jett Coates: Sportsmanship

Mrs Wedgwood

Brydie Laffan: For enthusiastic participation in literacy activities

Lucy Ryan: For working hard with literal comprehension activities

Teddy Heijse: Sportsmanship

Mr Leitch

Jonty Ingle: For displaying respect and kindness towards his peers in the classroom. Great work, Jonty!

Flynn McKillop: For consistent application to all areas of his learning. Great work, Flynn!

Bonnie Cronin: Sportsmanship

Year 7 Selective High School Placement in 2023

Dear Parent/Carer

Selective high schools cater for academically gifted students with high potential who may otherwise be without sufficient classmates at their own academic standard. Selective high schools help these students to learn by grouping them with students of similar ability, and by using specialised teaching methods.

If you would like to have your child considered for Year 7 selective high school entry in 2023, you need to apply on the internet using a valid email address (not the student’s email address).

The Selective High School Placement Test will be held on Thursday, 10 March 2022.

Detailed instructions on how to apply and the link to the online form will be available in early-October 2021 at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-7

Applications open on 19 October 2021 and close on 17 November 2021. You must apply before the closing date.

You must submit only ONE application for each student.

The tear-off slip below is NOT an application and the school CANNOT apply on your behalf

Intention to apply form

Applications for Year 7 entry to selective high schools in 2023 open on 19 October 2021 and close on 17 November 2021 at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-7

All candidates are required to sit the Selective High School Placement Test to be held on Thursday, 10 March 2022.

Selective High Schools 2023

Aurora College

Parenting Ideas

Thunderstorm Asthma

Community news

Year 6 Orientation Day - Billabong High School

Date and Time

From Tuesday, November. 23rd, 9:00 am to Tuesday, November. 23rd, 3:30 pm

Location

Gordon Street, Culcairn NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

Information

Year 6 students who are attending Billabong High School in 2022 will spend the day following a timetable and attending classes in preparation for Term 1. They will take the opportunity to get the know staff, daily organisation and receive important information for starting high school.

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