Holbrook Public School

Quality education for all, in a secure and caring environment

ISSUE 22: Term 4, Week 11 - Monday, 13 December 2021

From the Principal's desk

Welcome to Week 11! What a magnificent penultimate week of the school year we had last week, with the sports assembly, Colour Fun Run and final week of the intensive swimming program all taking place in addition to some excellent classroom learning.

A huge thank you to Miss Hemphill for her organisation of the Intensive Swimming Scheme this year, under restrictions and challenging circumstances, and to Mr Earl, who bravely ‘volunteered’ to help in the pool on some of the cooler days. We were fortunate to have such great support from our local swimming instructors (Chontelle, Maggie and Angel) and Holbrook Public School staff, who marched with the students back and forth from the pool each day over the two weeks.

Thank you also to Miss Lavis, who coordinated the Colour Fun Run!! Wow, what an awesome day! It was warming to hear so many students (and staff) commenting on how fun this experience was. I can’t remember a more enjoyable day at Holbrook Public School, and there have been many. All staff jumped on board and supported Miss Lavis in creating a colourful and memorable experience. There were sausage sandwiches, Zooper Doopers, boxes of coloured powder and buckets of water! I know I was heavily targeted with powder and water from all directions, particularly by Year 6! Thank you to the community for your generosity throughout the fundraising process!

Thanks also to Miss Lavis for her sports assembly organisation and Mr Earl, who set up and organised the Zoom feed for parents.

Today’s newsletter is set up to make sure you know everything that is happening this week, as there are many events and changes to routine. I hope we haven’t forgotten anything.

Monday, 13 December

Semester 2 Student Progress Reports – were sent home today. We encourage all parents/carers to read the report and talk to their children about the strengths and areas for growth that the teachers have outlined. Please arrange a mutually agreeable time with your child’s class teacher (Tuesday – Thursday) if you would like more information. You can call the office to organise this.

Tuesday, 14 December

Presentation Day – Whilst it is disappointing that we cannot have parents, extended family and guests at tomorrow’s Presentation Day, please join us on Zoom at 10:00 a.m. for a live feed of all of the awards and speeches.     

Dear Parents, Carers and Guests

You are invited to join us for our 2021 Presentation Day event via Zoom at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 14 December. Please note: you will need to sign in with a registered Zoom account to access the presentation.

Nathan Fisher is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: 2021 Presentation Day Time: Dec 14, 2021 10:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

Join Zoom Meeting https://nsweducation.zoom.us/j/66629614599?pwd=UWZVcC9QdDNvajVIQ1IzY1JyajZIZz09

Meeting ID: 666 2961 4599 Passcode: 519958 One tap mobile +61370182005,,66629614599# Australia +61731853730,,66629614599# Australia

Dial by your location         +61 3 7018 2005 Australia         +61 7 3185 3730 Australia         +61 8 6119 3900 Australia         +61 8 7150 1149 Australia         +61 2 8015 6011 Australia Meeting ID: 666 2961 4599 Find your local number: https://nsweducation.zoom.us/u/ebk2bHNeOX

Join by SIP 66629614599@zmau.us

Join by H.323 103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney) 103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne) Meeting ID: 666 2961 4599 Passcode: 519958

Wednesday, 15 December

Year 6 vs Staff Soccer Match – At 11:15 a.m., during fitness and short lunch, our annual staff vs Year 6 sports match will take place. We usually play basketball, but with COVID restrictions still in place, we’ve opted for the wide-open spaces of the oval. I’m not sure this will work well for our staff!! Make sure you have some runners on, Year 6!

Leaders' Lunch – From 12:30 – 1:15 p.m., our Year 6 students will enjoy a pizza lunch from the Riverina Hotel, Holbrook. A note will be sent home tomorrow for permission and special dietary requirements.    

Year 6 Performance – With the absence of a whole school performance this year and our Year 6 students not having the opportunity to shine on stage, Miss Lavis and Mrs Wedgwood have organised a Year 6 play at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 15 December. A Zoom link has been provided below for Year 6 parents.

Nathan Fisher is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Year 6 Play - 'Ali Baba and the Forty Bikies'

Time: Dec 15, 2021 14:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

Join Zoom Meeting

https://nsweducation.zoom.us/j/64064494663?pwd=T0xEZmxJT3JwdzZmZnh0WnlxOU51Zz09

Meeting ID: 640 6449 4663

Passcode: 927432

One tap mobile

+61731853730,,64064494663# Australia

+61861193900,,64064494663# Australia

Dial by your location

        +61 7 3185 3730 Australia

        +61 8 6119 3900 Australia

        +61 8 7150 1149 Australia

        +61 2 8015 6011 Australia

        +61 3 7018 2005 Australia

Meeting ID: 640 6449 4663

Find your local number: https://nsweducation.zoom.us/u/eAaPj7xC3

Join by SIP

64064494663@zmau.us

Join by H.323

103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney)

103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne)

Meeting ID: 640 6449 4663

Passcode: 927432

Year 6 Farewell Dinner – We will be hosting a Year 6 farewell dinner at The Ten Mile, Holbrook, on Wednesday, 15 December, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. This is an alcohol-free event, and parents/carers have been invited to attend. Further details have been provided in this newsletter and previous notes. It will be a great evening, and we're all looking forward to celebrating Year 6 with the community!

Thursday, 16 December – will be the final day of term for students. Students do not need to wear school uniforms on this day but are encouraged to wear enclosed shoes and appropriate sun-safe clothing (school hat, no singlets etc.).

K-2 Fun Day – Due to COVID-19 restrictions, K-2 cannot attend the annual end of year pool day. While we understand this is disappointing, the K-2 teachers have found some great activities to do instead. Class groups will rotate around three activities: water activities (they will need a towel and spare change of clothes), scavenger hunt and disco.

3-6 Pool Party – Students will walk to the pool at 11:30 a.m. and return to school at 3:00 p.m. for the Year 6 Clap Out. All students will need a hat, swimmers, towel, rashie shirt, lunch and drink bottle.

Year 6 Clap Out – At 3:00 p.m., our school leaders will ring the bell in our new school garden, with the rest of Year 6 lined up on the 3/4 ramp. All classes and staff will come out of their rooms to ‘clap out’ the 2021 Year 6 students. Parents of Year 6 are also welcome to socially distance along the Swift Street fence behind the library and clap out Year 6. After this, all students will enjoy a Zooper Dooper under the COLA, provided by the P&C.

Farewell Holbrook Public School – As 2021, and my tenure as Principal, comes to an end, I would like to thank the entire school community, and the broader community, for their support during my time at Holbrook. What an amazing oasis Holbrook and Holbrook Public School is. I am so grateful that my career guided me in this direction, and I will be sure to visit regularly in the future. The last four years have been filled with many positive interactions with the students, staff, parents, carers, extended families and the community. It really has been a pleasure, and I wish the school and community all the best moving forward.

The future certainly is looking bright at Holbrook Public School. Mrs Wedgwood (Acting Principal) and Miss Lavis inducted and guided me through my first year at the school, and they will once again be at the school to pass the baton onto the next principal. We have an outstanding staff who are committed beyond my expectations, and I can’t thank them enough for their support in creating a positive school culture.

2022 will bring with it a multitude of positive improvements at the school. Mrs Amelia-Kate White will join the executive team as an experienced teacher and assistant principal in the new position of Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction, which will see even greater support provided to our students and teachers. A major technology upgrade will occur, seeing improvements to internet speed, new main learning displays in all classrooms, future-focused learning environments and an increase in laptops for students. As part of this, we will also have a Digital Classroom Officer working across all classrooms to provide instructional leadership on best-practice technology integration. Thanks to great support from our P&C and student fundraising, the new 3-6 playground will be installed in Term 1, thanks to great support from our P&C and student fundraising. Over the Christmas holiday break, we will also have new cricket nets installed and a new multi-purpose court, including basketball, netball, and tennis facilities. I know our students will get great pleasure and growth from these school improvements.

I hope to see many of you before I depart, but failing this, I would like to sincerely thank you all for your support over the past four years. 

Kind regards

Nathan Fisher
Principal

Greater Hume Shire Book Week Competition

The Greater Hume Shire Council libraries held a Book Week competition where students submitted artworks around the theme of Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. Five out of the nine winning entries were awarded to Holbrook Public School students! Congratulations to the following students who received a special book each and books donated to our library.

K-2 Winners

  • Ollie Saunders
  • Matthew Calvert

3-6 Winners

  • Isobel Atkinson
  • Chace Liddell
  • Lucy Barr-Smith

Thank you to the Greater Hume Shire Council and Ali, Dom and Carly (competition co-ordinators) for making Book Week 2021 out of this world!

Miss Hemphill

Year 2

Over the last fortnight, Year 2 have been writing with a purpose to inform. Last week students chose a topic to write a procedure on, and this week they are now orally presenting these to the class. So far, we have had demonstrations on how to use a bow and arrow (a blunt/school safe arrow), make a snowflake, shear a sheep, kick a football, and make clay earrings. Every student and teacher has learnt a new skill so far, and we look forward to continuing with these oral presentations over the week. Thank you to the parents for your support from home and for sending in materials where needed.

Mrs Ross
Year 2 Teacher

Year 3/4 Science with Mr Leitch

This term for science, we have been learning about how food and fibre are produced, with this being a keen topic for discussion amongst our students, with many students from farming backgrounds. In addition, students have also learnt about irrigation systems, which are a vital component to ensuring our plants/crops are adequately watered. They have completed an activity creating their own mini irrigation system where they transport water from a tank (cup) to their crops (another cup) through pipes (straws). As part of this task, students worked in groups, first designing their irrigation system before building it and testing it to see if it worked. They have worked collaboratively and have thrived as they've completed an excellent hands-on task.

Check out these videos: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wy_ReQKPLMChHQ80sgMtGbVDSjKI1Fbf/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FzdXTqWcL75kI03Iu6bp6zLwdX_vZd7z/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W7wXzSWKywcR5hD_aNeSFUOxBHQRqihe/view?usp=sharing

Mr Leitch

Surf's up for Summer

With the end of the term drawing near, Year 5/6 students have been designing their own surfboards for maths. The challenge was: - To create a board design that is unique and appropriate for the iboard market in Australia.

Each board must include the following:

  • 2 small triangles

  • 2 medium triangles

  • 2 large triangles

  • 6 horizontal lines

  • 6 vertical lines

  • 3 sets of parallel lines

  • 4 intersecting lines

  • An interesting shape that will tessellate at least 8 times

  • An unusual shape that is flipped or reflected

  • An acute, right and obtuse angle

  • ¼ of your board needs to be left as a solid colour

  • Name your creation

  • Build the prototype

Sports Assembly

Our annual sports assembly was held at school on Tuesday morning under the COLA. During this assembly, students were recognised for their sporting achievements and contributions throughout 2021. Congratulations to Paterson house for winning the Overall Winning House for 2021.

A huge thank you to the House Captains and Vice-Captains for all their hard work this year borrowing out, collecting and sanitising equipment. Your hard work has made it possible for our students to continue to enjoy borrowing equipment for the playground.

Congratulations to the following students who received sports team awards for 2021.

Boys AFL - Ryder McKillop – encouragement

Girls AFL – Sybil Triggs - excellence

Netball – Georgie Cardile – excellence

Cricket – Liam Mathewson - sportsmanship

Rugby League – Jack Lennon - encouragement

Tennis – Will Power – encouragement, Zamara Castles – encouragement

League Tag – Abby Pincott - sportsmanship

Intensive Swimming

A big thank you and congratulations to the K-2 students, families, instructors, and staff for completing Intensive Swimming for another year! It is a mammoth task, but it is so wonderful to see the students’ progress in those ten short (yet somehow very long!) days!  

The students were eager and enthusiastic, even through chattering teeth. They demonstrated great listening skills and manners, and were always polite.  

A huge thank you to our swimming instructors – Mr Earl, Maggie, Angel and Mrs Henderson, for braving the cold water and freezing children! Thanks to Margot Pitzen for arranging swimming instructors for us, and to Greater Hume Shire Council for providing lifeguards. Special thanks to Kacie for her encouragement of the students from the sidelines!  

And a final thanks to the Holbrook Public School staff – Mrs Biar, Mrs Ross, Mrs Wedgwood, Mrs Jones, Mrs de Steiger, Mr Earl and Ms K – for walking to and from the pool each day with the tired students.  

Miss Hemphill  

Colour Fun Run

What perfect weather we had for the first ever Holbrook Public School colour run last Wednesday. The students and staff had a fabulous day that began with a barbecue lunch. The prizes were then drawn and the colourful fun began. The course began with a hooter and a large, pink flamingo arch spraying water. The rest of the course consisted of a series of water stations, colour powder stations and obstacles to do along the way. The students that began the course clean and white, ended the course a lot more colourful!! I think the photos speak for themselves.

A huge thank you to the students for their excellent behaviour and sportsmanship throughout the day. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were quite happy to join in the activities. An extra big thank you to Year 6 students who capably manned the colour and water stations and to the staff who assisted in so many ways. An extra thank you to Miss Hemphill, who put together the playlist that Year 6 selected for the colour run. Thanks also to Mr Wedgwood, who set up the flamingo and water for the colour run.

Well done and thank you to the community for helping us raise just over $8000 for our colour run. This money will go towards paying for the materials, our World Vision sponsor child, the new playground and other projects that are happening in the school.

ICAS Assessment Results

Congratulations to all Holbrook Public School students who participated in the UNSW ICAS Assessments held during Semester 2, with Digital Technologies being completed in Term 3, and English, mathematics, science and spelling, all completed during Term 4. The award categories are as follows:

High Distinction - Top 1% of participants

Distinction - Next 10% of participants

Credit - Next 25% of participants

Merit - Next 10% of participants

Participations - For all remaining participants

Digital Technologies:

Merit: Cooper Glass

Credit: Will Glass, Jasmine Lieschke

English:

Credit: Darcy Hartwich, Ted Heijse, Isaac Nisbet

Mathematics:

Merit: Cooper Glass

Credit: Will Glass, Isaac Nisbet

Distinction: Justin Nisbet, Jasmine Lieschke

Science:

Merit: Cooper Glass

Credit: Darcy Hartwich, Will Glass, Justin Nisbet

Spelling Bee:

Merit: Jasper Hartwich

Credit: Justin Nisbet

Distinction: Ted Heijse

Congratulations again to all students. Certificates for mathematics, science and spelling are currently available to take home during Week 11.

The Giving Tree

Last week, Sonja, our School Chaplain, took these generous donations to the Uniting Church in Albury to be distributed to underprivileged children in the Albury area. Clair, the lady in charge, said that it was a Godsend, as they have many more children this year on the books due to many families losing their jobs and even their housing. She thanked Holbrook Public School on behalf of the children for this generosity. Sonja can do another delivery run tomorrow if anyone still wants to donate presents.

2021 Premier's Reading Challenge

Congratulations to all students who completed the Premier's Reading Challenge this year.

The 2022 Premier's Reading Challenge starts on 28 February 2022. Any books you have read since the last challenge are able to be entered into next year's records, so start your list now!

2021 Presentation Day

A huge thank you to the following families and businesses who made donations towards our Presentation Day:

  • Akro Constructions (the Boers family)
  • Bendigo Bank
  • The Bennetts family
  • Billabong High School SRC
  • Justin Clancy MP
  • Country Women's Association of NSW
  • Culcairn Teachers' Federation
  • Greater Hume Shire Council
  • The Hartwich family
  • Holbrook Bakery
  • Holbrook Breeders Australia
  • Holbrook Returned and Services League of Australia Holbrook Sub Branch
  • Holbrook RS Club
  • Jayfields Nursery (the Glass family)
  • JB Scanning and Livestock Services (the Burey family)
  • Lieschke Motors (the Lieschke family)
  • Lions Club of Holbrook
  • Little Billabong CWA
  • Martin's Bus and Coach
  • Mr and Mrs Mathie
  • The McKillop Family
  • Holbrook Paddock Eggs (the Pincott family)
  • Pitzen Land and Livestock
  • Rotary Club of Holbrook
  • The Wawszkowicz family
  • The Yensch family

Year 6 Play - Ali Baba and the Forty Bikies

Year 6 will be presenting a play, titled ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Bikies’, on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Year 6 parents are invited to join via the zoom link to see their child in action. 

Year 6 Farewell Dinner

Staff, parents and Year 6 students will be celebrating Year 6’s time at primary school on Wednesday night at the Year 6 dinner. The evening will take place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at The Ten Mile. Students and their guests are asked to wear smart casual attire. We look forward to an enjoyable evening to farewell Year 6. 

Last Day of School - Thursday, 16 December 2021

Students are asked to come in casual clothes on Thursday for the last day of school. As always, students must have a broad-brimmed hat, sleeves and sensible, covered shoes. Students in Years 3-6 will be walking to the pool so sneakers would be the best option. 

Pool Afternoon Thursday, 16 December 2021

This Thursday, students in Years 3-6 will be walking to the Holbrook Pool at 11:30 a.m. and will walk back to school and arrive at school by approximately 3:00 p.m. Students will need to bring their swimmers, a rashie shirt, a hat and their water bottle and lunch. Students will be participating in a number of structured activities during the afternoon. They will receive a Zooper Dooper, courtesy of the P & C, when they return to school. 

Lost Property

Please look through the lost property box just outside the office door. Any unclaimed items will be donated to either the Op Shop or our second-hand uniform shop on Friday, 17 December.

From the uniform shop

The second-hand clothing shop would be most grateful for any donations of good-quality pre-loved uniforms in all sizes. Recycled uniforms are always in high demand and looking for a good home.

If you’re a family with a Year 6 student and do not have younger children or a family with students leaving our school at the end of the year to move to another school, please consider donating to our second-hand shop.

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
Summer dress4, 6
Winter Uniforms
Long sleeve polo shirt4, 6, 8, 12
Fleece jacket4, 6, 8, 10, 12
Long pants4, 6
Tartan pants6, 8, 10
Tartan skirt6, 8, 10
Windcheater6. 8
Sports Uniforms
Sports shirt4, 6, 8, 10
Sports shorts6
Track pants
6

Thunderstorm Asthma

Parenting Ideas

Staff Development Day

Date and Time

From Friday, January. 28th to Friday, January. 28th

Location

146 Albury Street, Holbrook NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

Staff Development Day

Date and Time

From Monday, January. 31st to Monday, January. 31st

Location

146 Albury Street, Holbrook NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

Years 1-6 Commence

Date and Time

From Tuesday, February. 1st to Tuesday, February. 1st

Location

146 Albury Street, Holbrook NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

Kindergarten Best Start Assessment

Date and Time

From Tuesday, February. 1st to Tuesday, February. 1st

Location

146 Albury Street, Holbrook NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

Information

Best Start Kindergarten Assessment identifies students' literacy and numeracy skills on entry to Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Best Start Assessment

Date and Time

From Wednesday, February. 2nd to Wednesday, February. 2nd

Location

146 Albury Street, Holbrook NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

Information

Best Start Kindergarten Assessment identifies students' literacy and numeracy skills on entry to Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Best Start Assessment

Date and Time

From Thursday, February. 3rd to Thursday, February. 3rd

Location

146 Albury Street, Holbrook NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

Information

Best Start Kindergarten Assessment identifies students' literacy and numeracy skills on entry to Kindergarten.

Kindergarten students commence

Date and Time

From Friday, February. 4th to Friday, February. 4th

Location

146 Albury Street, Holbrook NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

School Photographs

Date and Time

From Tuesday, February. 8th to Tuesday, February. 8th

Location

146 Albury Street, Holbrook NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

School swimming carnival

Date and Time

From Friday, February. 11th to Friday, February. 11th

Location

Moore Street, Lavington NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

SR swimming carnival

Date and Time

From Friday, February. 25th to Friday, February. 25th

Location

Moore Street, Lavington NSW, AustraliaGet Directions

Community news

First Lap Learn to Swim Voucher

The First Lap voucher program provides $100 vouchers for children aged 3-6 years towards the cost of Swimming Lessons.

Who is eligible: Students in Kindergarten in 2021, Children starting Kindergarten in 2022, or have not yet started school.

First Lap vouchers can be redeemed at Holbrook Swimming Club and are available to be printed from 1 December 2021. Both First Lap and Active Kids vouchers can be redeemed at Holbrook Swimming Club and the club is running the first Intensive Swim School from Thursday, 16 December. Participants must be a member of the Holbrook Swimming Club for insurance purposes.

Information, Enquiry and Enrolment forms: Margot Pitzen 0407 658 40

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