Mount Ousley Public School News

A small school with big opportunities.

Term 1 Week 6, Friday 5th March 2021

Principal's Report

We are now at the end of week 6 and it seems that the term is flying by. This week we have enjoyed the company of many parents at our 'Meet the teacher' afternoons. These afternoons were a terrific success with teachers demonstrating the teaching and learning that is happening in their classrooms and sharing how the class routines are organised and implemented. As a staff, we enjoyed having parents and carers back in our school. I would like to thank the teachers for such wonderful, thoughtful presentations. It was lovely to meet the parents who were able to come and chat in the play ground before and after your sessions, I am looking forward to our ongoing partnerships. If you were unable to make these meetings but would like to chat to your child's teacher please utilise the SeeSaw application to make a time with your child's teacher. 

Easing of Covid Restrictions: In fantastic news that has been released to us today, to come into affect on Monday 8th March, parents and community members are now able to come onto school grounds for picking up and dropping off, as well as volunteering and attending school events. This includes sporting events as along as we adhere to venue restrictions. Group singing activities can also resume. We do need to ensure physical distancing of 1.5mtrs and ask that parents only enter the buildings if they have prearranged appointments or are rostered on to volunteer in a particular classroom, canteen or uniform shop. We will be reducing the supervision at both gates to pre-Covid arrangements over the coming weeks and encourage families to meet inside the school this way families can all walk safely to their car together.

We also ask that after you have picked up your children that you do not stand near the crossings chatting as this causes confusion for those driving past, particularly at the Vereker Street gate. Parents can also assist us by making sure your child/ren know where they are being picked up each afternoon. If circumstances change throughout the day please call the office so we are able to get a message to your child. Please do not message teachers for these types of messages as they are busy teaching and may not see the message until after school. 

I wish everyone a very happy and safe weekend and look forward to another great week of learning and fun next week. 

Emily Jones 

Calendar of Events

Term 1

March           9         Band

                                  Footsteps

                     10        Regional Swimming Carnival

                     11        Bake Sale (more details below)

                     12        Paul Kelly AFL Gala Day - Years 5-6

                                 Food Forest Working Bee , 8am-11:30am

                     16        Band

                                 Footsteps

                     

                                                                                                                   26       Cross Country


Road Safety

Road safety is an ongoing feature in education campaigns to help students and families recognise and limit the dangers for children near roads and as passengers in vehicles. 'Safety Town' is an outstanding website with videos, interactive activities and helpful hints and tips for parents when teaching road safety to their children. As a school we also teach road safety as part of PD/H/PE. It would be great if you could reinforce these safety messages by demonstrating these behaviours and talking to your about the importance of road safety, particularly during drop off and pick up times. Here are a few top tips to start the conversation;

talk with your child and reinforce Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time you cross the road together

  • STOP! one step back from the kerb.
  • LOOK! continuously look both ways.
  • LISTEN! for the sounds of approaching traffic.
  • THINK! whether it is safe to cross.
  • give them lots of supervised practice with you or another trusted adult. 
  • talk with and teach your child about being alert in a road environment. 
  • always hold your child's hand. Did you know that a child's brain is not developed enough to judge the distance and speed of an oncoming vehicle until the age of 10!
  • explain why the place you have chosen is the safest place to cross the road.
  • point out dangers, such as vehicles coming out of driveways.
  • use pedestrian crossings and traffic lights correctly.

As adults we can also contribute to the safety around our school by;

  • parking legally
  • avoid dangerous manoeuvers such as U-turns and three-point turns, especially across double lines
  • closely supervising children near roads
  • make sure your child uses the Safety Door (rear kerb-side door) to get in and out of the car.

If you would like any further information on how we can keep children safe on and near our roads visit https://www.safetytown.com.au/

Digital Safety

Parents and carers play an important role in keeping our children safe and successful in the digital world when at home.

We encourage you to:-

  • ​​keep your children in sight when they are online (not closed away in bedrooms) 
  • share some online time with your child (play games together or get them to teach you something)
  • keep the lines of communication open (talk about what they are seeing, hearing, communicating and playing)​
  • reassure your child that they should tell you if they are feeling uncomfortable or unsafe without feeling like they will 'get into trouble'    
  • monitor any messaging and/or group chats of young children to ensure that they are communicating kindly and appropriately with each other​

If you would like any help or advice on these subjects, please get in contact with one of the executive team - Emily, Rebecca or Tiffany.

Remember that good habits start young, and if we are to empower our young ones to be successful, healthy and responsible digital citizens, then we need to be developing these skills now. 

If you would like to know more, please talk to us or check out this helpful website:-

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice/online-safety-basics

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice/good-habits-start-young

Garden Working Bee

Food Forest needs your help!

We are planning a working bee to help get the food forest off to a flying stat this year. If you have some spare time on Friday 12th March, we'd love to see you. Please bring your own gloves and gardening tools. We will have some gardening tools available if you do not have your own. Current sign on procedures will need to be followed, so for your convenience our sign on book and QR code will be available at the garden. Mrs Anderson and some of the classes will be in the garden between 8:00am -11:30am. Any time you are able to spare would be much appreciated.

General Organisation

School Office Hours

The school office is open from 8:30am till 3:30pm.

Statement of Account

Family statement of accounts went home with students this week. If you have any questions with regards to these accounts please contact the office.

Voluntary School Contributions

If you wish to pay the school contributions you may do so either by paying on-line or have your child bring the money in an envelope marked with their name an class on the front. We are asking for contributions of $30 per student or $50 per family. School contributions are voluntary.

School Band

It has been decided to extend the cut off date to join the school band. If your child would still like to join please have them come to the office to collect a note.

P &C meeting

The next P&C meeting will be held on 9th March 2021 at 6pm in the Collaboration Room. This will be the AGM for 2021. The easiest way to get to this room is via the Vereker street entrance, come in the back door and head towards the K/1 classrooms. We are able to host this meeting on site for up to an hour with a maximum of 30 participants. Physical distancing requirements and signing in will need to occur. 

P&C meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month  in the same location. We look forward to seeing you there.

Uniform Shop

All uniform orders can be sent to the office and orders will be filled on Monday afternoon and given to students each Tuesday once payment has been received. 

The uniform shop will be manned on Monday afternoon from 3pm till 3:30pm.

Empathy Project:- BTD Team (Book and Toy Donation)

Hello!

We are the MOPS BTD Team, Cheye, Milla, Kate and Coco. If you didn't know, or haven't heard of BTD before, we are a toy and book donation stall. We get children to give in toys/books they do not like anymore and they buy another toy or book, toys range from $3 to $5, books are $3, and the all new toy bags are $2 each, and they include 5 toys in each bag .We would like to announce to all parents that we are holding a bake sale next Thursday! Our ingredients will be placed out the front of our stall (outside of the canteen area) and every baked piece has a gluten free option - we are selling cookies and cupcakes only. If your child has allergies, we will be listing the recipe out the front of our stall, which will be visible to any and every person. Cookies are $2  and cupcakes will be $3. At the end of the week we will donate what has not been bought to the salvation army or the Wollongong homeless hub. Your child may donate gold coins or notes, if they prefer.

Thank you so much for reading! We hope to see your child soon!

Assembly Awards

Principal Award:  Estelle for showing empathy and care towards another student. 

Assistant Principal Awards: Lexi for excellent communication skills in the playground.

                                                 Ethan for empathy and initiative.

K/1 Shine:        Ben, Ella    

K/1 Explore:     Madoc, Su  

1/2 Thrive:       Isaac, Arya     

2/3 Connect:   Ada, Lorne  

3/4 Super:       Mohammad, Amara    

4/5 Loyal:        Christian, Tayla  

5/6 Gusto:       Hunter, Kane

5/6 Focus:       Hamish, Alana    


Congratulations to all our award winners.

                

Canteen

This term the canteen will operate at lunch times each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Student orders are to be placed in the order box outside the canteen before 9am. Orders will be collected by a class representative and distributed in the classroom at lunch eating time. A full size copy of the menu including prices is located on our website under the "About Our School" tab, then click on 'What we offer.' 

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Proudly opened in 1959, Mount Ousley Public School has a long history of providing high quality education to the children of Fairy Meadow. With a unique setting and innovative classrooms, along side the integration of technology, Mount Ousley is a small school creating big opportunities for your students.