Burrawang Public School

Dear Parents, welcome back to 2007. We especially welcome our new students -Shannon, Anthony, Imogen, Coby and Kai in Kinder and Jacob in Year 4 and their families. We will be having a special morning tea on Tuesday 13^th February, to officially welcome these new families into our school community and invite members of the whole Burrawang School Community to attend.

Our current enrolment is 30; 16 in my class and 14 in Mrs Pratt’s class. As you are aware, we have altered our school hours to accommodate a second bus. We appreciate your support in this matter- by adding a bus for students from out lying areas, we have ensured the retention of 2 teachers at the school and will hopefully be able to attract more students from these areas to our lovely small school.

SWIMMING: This Friday interested students in years 3-6 will be participating in an inter school swimming carnival at Bundanoon Pool to help determine our team for the Bong Bong Small School’s Swimming Carnival to be held in Mittagong next Wednesday (14^th Feb).

All students in years 3-6 are invited to attend NEXT WEDNESDAY and there will be special 25m unofficial races for students who don’t compete in the official 50m races. Students not participating in the carnival will be able to remain at school with Mrs Pratt. We request parental assistance with transport for this activity. (Wingecarribee area carnival- 22^nd Feb). Official timed individual medley result is requested for those wishing to qualify for this event- or your child can stay back after the meet & be timed.) Please return notes ASAP- thank you.

OFFICE: Mrs Kim Cooper has taking leave for at least term 1 this year for an extended caravanning tour of Australia (last report was from the start of the Nullarbor). Mrs Hindmarsh will be relieving while Kim is away, with assistance from Mrs Di Eccleston from Colo Vale Public School when required. Invoices will be sent out at the end of term. A limited amount of financial assistance is available to cover certain educational expenses for 2007. All requests are to be in writing to me (Mrs Burge) and will be kept confidential. Please understand that this is a limited resource, but please apply if you need full /part assistance.

EVERYONE is invited to a SPECIAL MORNING TEA-

to welcome our new families and existing families back to school

Tuesday 13^th February 10.30am- 12noon

ALL WELCOME

Community members, family & friends are most welcome to attend too!

BOOKCLUB DUE: WEDNESDAY 14^TH FEBRUARY 2007.

TERM 1 CALENDAR: Please keep the attached calendar in a prominent place to keep you up to date with school activities. Please note that my office day is Monday and as far as possible it would be appreciated if you could see me on this day for any matters for discussion or any day after 2.45pm.

MEETINGS: Each term I am required to attend meetings in my capacity as principal of the school both in school time and after hours. As in past years, Mrs Hindmarsh and I will be sharing the role of teaching the Red class- ie job sharing (I will usually teach three to four days per week, Mrs Hindmarsh will teach the other one or two). Together we have negotiated areas to be covered and devised a timetable to ensure these areas are taught. Mrs Hindmarsh will continue to teach in her specialty areas of PD/H/PE, Science & Technology & Library each Monday when I have my teaching principal’s administration day. On other meeting days she will follow the timetable- covering the outcomes as required.

Usually regular DET meetings are planned for Thursdays- but may be held on other week days depending on the availability of venues and presenters. The role of a teaching principal is growing in complexity & accountability each year. There are more demands on our time and less support for us- it’s like doing 2 full time jobs at the same time. We are very fortunate to have a permanent teacher with the experience of Mrs Hindmarsh to ensure the continuity of learning for our students, so students are not faced with a different casual teacher whenever meetings are called.

Each term I will be attending these meetings-

TPSIG: Teaching Principal’s Special Interest Group- local small schools organisation.

LOCAL:                Moss Vale CoS (Community of Schools) Principals

DISTRICT:           Highlands CoS (Community of Schools) Principals

REGION: Illawarra & South East Conference – annually.

As well as Primary Principals Association Regional Conferences in terms 2 & 4.

Additional meetings are also held for special compliance training, instruction and information (eg anaphylaxis, new reporting format, technology, budgeting & legal requirements etc). I also participate in the special Combined Small Schools 2 day conference at Wombeyan Caves- where teaching principals participate in activities, attend courses and hear from specialists with a small school focus. This conference is highly beneficial to all who attend.

Along with these in school meetings, I also attend many meetings in my own time- including

Additional Linkages meetings, Health Promoting Schools (linked to the Health Dept), PSSA (sport), meetings with councils, risk assessment reviews, Teacher Association meetings, P&C meetings etc. It is essential that I attend these meetings to ensure that I am fulfilling all the DET requirements and keeping up to date with the ever changing nature of the curriculum, OH&S issues, policies & practices.

I will be including agenda items & issues covered at these meetings in future newsletters FYI.

TPSIG: Thurs 1^st Feb

Welcome to Mrs Jan Meadows (new principal at Kangaloon PS)

Tracy Coleman- Drug Education Consultant- review of curriculum & resources

Active After School Communities- Commonwealth Gov rep / funding guidelines.

Small School Dance Festival discussion        CPR training and requirements

Wombeyan Caves Conference                      Interschool Chess Competition

School Security                                           World of Maths participation

This meeting was followed by our annual PSSA AGM: 4pm- 6pm, where we organised our interschool sports calendar, area, district and regional representations, resources and budget.

P&C Meeting: Tues 6^th Feb       Burrawang PS. 7.30pm – 10pm

HIGHLANDS Community of Schools: Wed 7^th Feb Goulburn. 7.30am- 4.30pm

MOSS VALE Community of Schools: Thurs 8^th Feb. 4.30am- 6pm.

LINKAGES at Moss Vale High: Thurs 15^th Feb, 4pm- 6pm

HELPERS: We would like to run a few special programs this year, so if you can spare any time any mornings- please let us know- thanks.

RECORDERS: If your child has a recorder, could they please bring it in THIS THURSDAY. We plan to commence teaching recorder this term. There will be recorders available for purchase from the school- but we need to see how many we need to buy.

LIGHTS OFF!! Please turn your fluorescent lights OFF if you’ll be out of the room for more than 10 minutes. All other lights should be turned off when you’re not in the room. THINK GLOBALLY- ACT LOCALLY!!!

BURRAWANG YABBIE DAY This Sunday 11^th Feb.

Weigh in is at the

Burrawang Hotel

PLAYGROUP FRIDAYS

9.30-11am School Library

WEDNESDAY 7^TH FEBRUARY 2007

Burrawang Public school has the priority of providing opportunities for each student to achieve their personal best in all school activities.

When parents/guardians enroll their children at Burrawang Public School they enter into a partnership with staff. This partnership is based on shared responsibility and mutual respect-with the commonality of providing the best possible education for each individual student.

Teachers are responsible for the care and education of their students when at school. The teacher's task is to provide the best possible program to meet the needs, capabilities and aspirations of each student. Teachers are also responsible for appropriately communicating with parents about the educational progress & behavior of each student.

At Burrawang School, it is our intention to set up an environment in which the children will be happy, confident and motivated to learn. It is our aim to establish an attractive school environment, designed to stimulate the pupils' interests and to encourage their active participation in all aspects of school life.

In formulating our own school policy, we look to the "aims of primary education" document and its supplement as guides. The prescribed syllabuses are seen as the foundations on which our whole school program is based. Within this framework we have developed programs which are aimed at catering for the needs of the pupils (both gifted & talented and those requiring extra assistance in specific areas.)

It is our aim that pupils will take pride in their achievements. This provides a foundation for developing self esteem and confidence. Varied lesson techniques and procedures are designed to cater for individual differences and to maintain pupil interest.

Consultation, training & development opportunities, staff meetings and participation in district activities help to promote professional development of staff members.

Relevant evaluation procedures have been established to assess the performance of the pupils, the effectiveness of teaching techniques and to what extent the aims and objectives have been achieved. In the light of this evaluation, the need for remediation or extension will be assessed, the relevance of current aims and objectives examined and the planning of future programs determined.

Parental and community involvement in school matters is encouraged. The school is also recognized as an important part of the local community. Parental involvement will be routinely sought when new policies/directions are being planned.

As a result, it is our aim that the children at this school will develop knowledge and understanding of the world around them, the skills to enable them to live in this world and attitudes to assist them in becoming responsible members of the community.