Clean Sweep of the Premier’s Spelling Bee 2011
On Wednesday, 14th September, Collaroy Plateau Public School hosted the Northern Sydney Regional Spelling Bee Final No. 1. Students from 19 different primary schools attended both the Junior Final (Years 3 and 4) and the Senior Final (Years 5 and 6). All students represented their schools brilliantly, spelling words such as querulous and baklava in the Junior Final and psychedelic and idiosyncrasy in the Senior Final.
In the Junior Session William Stamp from Avalon P.S. was the winner and In the Senior Session Toby Jones from Narrabeen Lakes P.S. Congratulations to both our winners who will now be representing the Northern Sydney Region at the Premier’s Spelling Bee State Final which be held at the Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Centre on Wednesday 16th November.
Will’s a Busy Bee at Avalon
MOLLUSC; noun; an invertebrate; one of the group of soft-bodied usually hard-shelled animals including snails, oysters etc ; OR a word that delivered the Regional Junior Premier’s Spelling Bee title to Avalon’s Will Stamp of Year 3 last Wednesday. We were delighted with the news that Will was victorious in this prestigious competition. Congratulations on a mighty performance Will. His fellow Avalon competitors, Henry Cross (Junior) and Oskar Smith and Tasman Couston ( Senior) each performed very well under considerable pressure against competitors from 19 primary schools. This year was Avalon’s first foray into this competition and we are very proud of each of these boys who represented us in the finals. We certainly wish Will the very best of luck when he contests the State final on 16 November.
The Northern Sydney Scholastic and Sports Academy
The Department of Education and Communities is currently developing strategic planning to improve the quality of education in schooling on the peninsula, and, as a part of this, Narrabeen Sports High School has been given funding to strengthen and promote the strong sporting culture that is part of the curriculum offered at the school. This funding has assisted in creating the position of Deputy Principal – Director of Sports Development, at Narrabeen Sports High, with Peter Stokes appointed to the position.
After approval from the NSW Government, and in consultation with the School Principal (Mr. Barry Miller), and other key stakeholders, the Northern Sydney Scholastic and Sports Academy will be ‘launched’ at the start of 2012. This Academy will be embedded into the framework and curriculum of Narrabeen Sports High School and it will be open to any student enrolled at the school. The focus of the Academy will be to afford elite, and emerging elite, athletes an environment for academic and social development, whilst acknowledging, and assisting with the development of, the individual training and competition demands in a chosen sport. (The Academy programs will replace the current Targeted Sports Program)
It is envisaged that seven sports will be offered as part of the Academy program in 2012 and the coaching of these individual sports will be supported by structures within the Academy, and the School, which will include:
• Individualised academic timetables;
• Mentoring programs run by staff
• Sport, and social development, focused seminars;
• Sport medicine and physiotherapy services;
• Financial assistance for training expenses.
More information, including specific sports offered, will become available in Term 4 of 2011, and it is hoped that the community will embrace the changing culture within Narrabeen Sports High School.
Elanora Heights Visual Arts Show ‘LOOK’2011
This year’s creative arts focus at Elanora Heights Public School is visual arts. With the help of artist in residence Tracy Smith and the talented students and their teachers, Elanora Heights Public School presented one of the best primary school visual art shows ever this term.
Opening night saw Pamela Griffith, renowned Australian artist and grandmother of Amelie in Year 1, praise the excellent work that was produced and presented by all the students. Parents and guests were delighted at the high standard and students really responded positively at seeing their work so respectfully put on show.
PCS Music Festival
The Peninsula Community of Schools Music Festival has been a wonderful display of the extensive talents of the students in their schools and their dedicated teachers. The theme this year was Australiana
Students from the PCS primary and high schools have sung, danced and performed their way across the stage at Barrenjoey High School. They looked fantastic in their fabulous glitz and glammer costumes and the audiences on both nights were treated to some amazing singing from the Junior and Senior choirs.
The applause and cheering that came at the end of each performance from the audience, was indicative of just how fine the performances were. All performers should be very proud of themselves. Take a bow PCS Music festival performers!
A very big thank you to the organisers and the Music Festival Committee who give up their time to make this special event happen each year.
Young Einsteins are Everywhere
Young Einsteins is a project that has been developed with Macquarie University as part of our STEM Project (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Enrichment program. This program has been delivered to Cromer PS, Bilgola Plateau PS, Wheeler Heights PS, Elanora Heights PS and Narrabeen North PS over the last 10 weeks. Young Einsteins – Imaginative Minds @ Work is an investigative design project. Students have investigated great minds from our past, explored different design processes, problem solved a range of invention scenarios and developed innovative designs. The students have happily risen to each and every challenge they have been given.
Some schools also participated in an Invention Convention where students were able to present their ideas about design and inventions. With students as an audience, the “Inventors” were asked questions about their design and the design process as well as being given both written and oral feedback about their invention.
Edita an Elanora Heights Champion
Junior Girls Champion and Athlete of the Meet at Regional Athletics Carnival
Edita G recorded the following results
• 1st in under 10 girls 100 metres
• 1st in Junior Girls 200 metres
• 2nd in Junior Girls 800 metres
• 3rd in Junior Girls discus
• 5th in Junior Girls shot put
• 6th in Junior Girls long jump
Barrenjoey HS Encourage Volunteering
The NSW Premier’s Student Volunteering Awards program encourages all students to undertake a minimum of 20 hours of volunteering during the time they are enrolled in Years 9 and 10. In appreciation of this contribution to the community, students will receive Premier’s Certificates (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond respectively) for completing 20, 40, 60 and 80 hours of volunteering. The program is underway at Barrenjoey HS.
The core values of public education are reflected in teaching in all key learning areas, as well as the many extra curricula activities offered by schools to students. Volunteering allows students to demonstrate their understanding of these values and experience the deeper learning that comes from genuine reflection and analysis of the impact of their altruistic actions.
For students at Barrenjoey HS, volunteering has been shown to have positive implications for their studies and community life. Goal setting, improved application to all aspects of their schooling and a more sensitive attitude towards the community, have been evident in students who have participated in the NSW Premier’s Student Volunteering Awards program.
Many students are already involved in volunteering outside school, with not-for-profit community organisations such as Surf Life Saving, sports coaching and so on. The Duke of Edinburgh’s service component is another form of volunteering that is acknowledged. Inside school there might are students who like to give their lunch times helping in the school canteen or library or being involved in the SRC and planning for fundraising activities. Peer mentoring and peer support are other forms of volunteering done at school that is also acknowledged.
Recently a small group of Year 9 students planned a volunteering project for the 40 Hour Famine fund raiser. They spent time shopping, baking cakes and selling them at school in their own lunch time. These students had a vision – they wanted to make a difference in the world – they planned accordingly and they successfully implemented their goals. What a fantastic effort.
Good Sports at Collaroy Plateau
Collaroy Plateau PS has had a very successful year in sports arena with a number of students representing their school, their region and their state. The results show just how versatile the students are in their sporting pursuits.
Pittwater Representatives:
Rugby League – 2 boys
Rugby Union – 2 boys
Netball – 1 girl
Sydney North Representatives:
Tennis – 1 girl
Basketball – 1 girl
Soccer – 2 boys and 2 girls
Netball – 1 girl
Swimming – 5 boys and 2 girls
Cross country – 2 boys and 2 girls
Athletics – 7 boys and 10 girls
State Representatives:
Shot Put – 1 girl
High jump – 1 girl
