Final Newsletter

This is our final school newsletter for the 2021 school year. We know how hard it is to find time to sit down, read and digest the information that gets shared in the newsletter each week, but for those of you that have stuck with us throughout the year – a big thank you! We appreciate you doing your best to keep up to date with everything that is happening at school.

It has been a very unusual year, with many challenges to overcome. I said in my speech at Presentation Day on Wednesday that more than ever, celebrating the achievements, growth and development of each of our students is even more necessary this year due to the circumstances in which their learning has occurred.

There have been times this year when it has been tough. Tough for families, tough for students and tough for teachers. We may not know the full impact of the pandemic on all aspects of our lives for some time, but it is always nice to reach the end of a school year with a chance to shift the focus away from work and school. In my interactions with all sections of the community, I see a genuine weariness and fatigue that everyone is feeling at the back end of 2021. It is my sincere hope that each of you get a good opportunity to rest, recover and prioritise some quality time with your children and families. Christmas is so special. I hope that yours is filled with joy, laughter, relaxation and peace.

On behalf of all the Lambton PS team – we wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

David Holland

Congratulations to our Students of the Week for Week 10 of Term 4:

Eleven students have received a GOLD Award for successfully completing the Premier's Reading Challenge for four years. 

As has been our custom, we will be hosting an end of year clap-out on Thursday 16 December at approximately 2:30pm for those students graduating Year 6 and heading off to high school, as well as those students that are leaving Lambton Public School and moving away. This is a little more challenging than it usually is because we are not able to host a community gathering of this nature on school grounds and we have several families who would like to attend that have family members that are unvaccinated.

In order to keep the whole-school feel to this event and not exclude anyone, the clap-out will occur on the open field directly behind our school. Students and parents will be asked to assemble in designated areas (see map below) to avoid mingling of cohorts. The students participating in the clap-out will leave via the back gate to make their way through each of the assembled groups.

All attendees 16 years and older are asked to wear a mask and family groups are asked to physically distance from one another. Year 6 students will be permitted to leave with their family at the conclusion of the clap-out if they are in attendance. All other students will make their way back into the school for normal exiting procedures at the conclusion of the event. 

Congratulations to the students elected to the role of House Captain for 2022:

·       Cook – Frida Borthwick Frostis & Emmett Bartlett

·       David – Jonathan Nohra & Willow Amos

·       Hunter – Lola Cunningham & Hugh Pearson

·       Shortland – HyoEun Yang & Henry Manuel

Parents, please note that the 2022 school year begins with two staff development days. This continues the change that was made by the Department of Education for all schools at the beginning of this year.

For your reference, the dates for the start of 2022 are as follows:

·       Friday January 28 – Staff Development Day 1

·       Monday January 31 – Staff Development Day 2

·       Tuesday February 1 – Mainstream Years 1 – 6 students return

·       Thursday February 3 – Kindergarten students begin (including Support Unit)

Please add these dates to your calendar. On the first day of school students in Years 1-6, are asked to line up under the cola with their 2021 class when the bell rings in the morning. 

The annual Swimming Carnival for 2022 has been scheduled for Monday, 14 February and will take place at the Forum Aquatic Centre, University of Newcastle. Due to an unfortunate mix-up with the Lambton Pool booking team, we have had to book at a different venue for 2022 (only).

The carnival is primarily for students in Years 3 – 6 however if your child will be in year 2 in 2022 and turns 8 next year, they may be eligible to attend.  To be eligible, these students must be able to competently swim 50m and be an active member of a swimming club. For now, please mark the date on your calendar.

More information about the swimming carnival will be sent home at the start of next year.

It’s not too late to get these back to school.  We are still missing quite a few home reading books that have not been returned at this end point in the year. We would respectfully ask all parents and carers to search high and low at home – on bookshelves, under beds, in bottom of wardrobes and at the back of the cupboard for any home reading books that your child may have brought home this year and return them to school as soon as possible.

There will be no questions asked, just please return them ASAP so that we can check them off and account for those missing. 

If your child takes prescribed medication during the school day, please arrange to collect any surplus or leftover medication from the office prior to the holiday break.  Please note that we are unable to give surplus medication to students to take home in their bags, it must be collected by an adult. If you are unable to arrange for collection, please contact the office to discuss alternative arrangements.

All students should have received their Semester 2 progress report last Thursday. If there are any families that require a second copy (and did not receive one), please contact our friendly office team who would be more than happy to print a second copy for you.

If you have questions or need further clarification about your child’s report, please contact the office to arrange a time to speak with their class teacher. 

Families wishing to enquire about enrolments for OSHC (Outside of School Hours Care) for 2022 are encouraged to email LakeMacNewy OSHC (formally Elermore Vale OSHC) on lambton@lakemacnewyosh.com.au with your name, your child’s name and your phone number. 

They will then forward you an enrolment pack and enter your details onto the Child Care Subsidy software ready to commence on Day 1, Term 1, 2022.

It’s been wonderful watching the students send and receive cards from each other in the lead up to Christmas.  The last day in which students can bring Christmas Cards to school to post in the mailbox to their friends is Tuesday 14 December. Thanks to all families for allowing your children to participate. 

Just a final reminder that we are always in need of more 2nd hand uniforms to assist families through this transitional uniform-change period. If you have uniforms that still have life in them or your child is leaving the school at the end of this year (eg Year 6) we would sincerely appreciate donations of these items. Students are encouraged to bring these items to the school office this week.

Please note, some classes are now participating in several Christmas themed activities due to the time of year.  These are not religious based activities such as scripture lessons for students who opt-in to do those lessons.  These activities are quite often curriculum related.  At other times of the year, curriculum activities are also often themed, eg, Anzac Day, NAIDOC Week, Harmony Day etc. This is another example of that practice. Please contact your child's teacher if you do not wish for your child to engage in Christmas-themed activities.