Ph: 9637 2638 3 March 2011

Email: merrylande-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

important Dates
4/3 Clean Up Australia around school
7/3 High School Application forms sent home
9/3 Holroyd High transition Day Year 6
18/3 High School Application Forms due back

Awards

Class Awards 5 Class Awards

KW Ali Al-Naji,Priyansha Adhar

KS Disha Narsey,Yunus Saymar Elizar Kumar,Sonny Sharland,
KV Shogofa Aakefi,Edin Budimlic Zion Hansen,Harsh Shah,Ignacio
1C Alisajad Jawadi,Yeason Parwana Gambra,Jamelle El Khoura,Krish
1MP Dylan Nguyen,Eliza Kumar Singh,Sam Budimlic
1/2H Aishah Niazie,Sitara Sanaee
2S Ivan Janjic,Asya Elzant
2E Bubleem Dhiman,Arnav Bista
3V Ayberk Uslu,Micah Collis,Mortaza
Amiri,Anne Pati
3/4E Lee Knowles,Jonathan Villar,Aleyna
Isik,Elif Kelek
4K Deziray Ihimaera,Sadaf Hazara Friendship & Peace
Sean Hayes,Shanese Sharland, Awards
4/5M Kevin Dang,Jasmine Brook,Hani Al Susan Masomi,Tim Pati,Julian
Malicky,Vincent Bhim Nguyen,Mysa Al Ghalebi,Umut
5C Sarah Morrissey,Tutere Mataora- Bat,Mussa Elrich,Melika Bayani,
Moetaua,Pahul Kaur,Jasi=on Zion Hansen,Viamoso
Broadfoot Teo,Hayden Musgrave,Rose
5/6P Jordana Schaffarczyk,Lisa Latimer Katu,Reyan Ghazzaoui
6O Rodell Wreh

Banners
Zion Hansen,Ignacio Gambra,Bubleen Dhiman,Lisa Latimer,Vincent Foo

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 Principal’s report
Dear Parents,

On 4 March 2011, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) launched
the My School 2.0 website (www.myschool.edu.au). The website provides profiles on each school, and
includes information about the school such as numbers of students and staff, attendance rates and
results from the national literacy and numeracy tests. For the first time, the website now also includes information
about school finances and student gain in NAPLAN.

The NAPLAN is a diagnostic assessment for Year 3 and Year 5 in primary schools and Year 7 and Year 9 in high
schools. These assessments provide a snapshot of students’ performance in the month of May and provide
invaluable information to assist students in their learning. The results were never designed for the creation of league
tables and the ranking of schools. Our school data fluctuates from one year to another due to the transient nature of
students and families along with the number of students from a non-English speaking or refugee background. For
many of these students, school is the first time they learn English.

The financial data is a welcomed addition to the MySchool website. While it is predominantly made up of teachers’
salaries and utilities costs, the figures provides an indication of the costs per capita. Some schools have a higher cost
per capita due to having unique circumstances like a special Education Unit where the teacher to student ratio is a lot
higher, or being in a rural community. In the future, it is anticipated that the assets and physical resources can be
added onto the financial details to provide an overall picture of a school. Public schools are consistently audited
financially, for example the NSW Auditor General’s Office auditor is currently in our school for the next 2 days.

On the website, you will find an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA). This was created by
ACARA as a way of providing meaningful calculations from one school to another and based on parental occupation,
and the school or non school education achieved. Our ICSEA value is almost similar to some of our neighbouring
schools, and the schools that we are compared to have varying characteristics that makes the likeness problematic.

All students except Kindergarten receive homework daily. The core element of homework is Home Reading, the
Premier’s Reading Challenge, Maths book and other tasks provided by class teachers. Sometimes, students have
other commitments during the week like training for a sporting group, attending a youth group, scouts and guides, or
a family night that prevents students from completing homework. These are acceptable substitutions for homework as
they build knowledge and skills in other areas. However, it is important that students develop good routines at home,
including a regular time for homework and for bedtime.

Next Monday, all Year 6 students will receive a high school application form. All students are required to return the
form to the Office by Friday 18th March regardless of whether they are applying for public, catholic or independent
high schools. The designated high school is based on the location of your residential address and the high school
boundaries. Historical data indicates that many parents will apply for an out of area high school. Please be aware that
in the past, a number of our students have missed out on their first choice and it is best to place three choices of high
schools. Regardless of your choices, there is always a high school place at your designated high school.

The parking around our school is very limited. Even my teachers have to park on the road in the morning due to the
size of our school. This limitation will be even more magnified when we commence building our hall around the end of
April and May with tradespeople commencing at 7am. For safety reasons, it is important that you only park in
designated areas and always walk children across roads. Holroyd City Rangers will continue to conduct random
checks of schools and they will book motorists who breach the road rules.

Thank you to all parents and students who donated to Maroon for a Day, the final amount to Queensland schools via
the Department of Education and Training is $407.70. The school’s community generosity is truly appreciated.

Finally congratulations to our school representatives Sam Budlimic,Will List,Altin Jahiri,Zach Hansen,Jeremiah
Wendt,Emily Ha,Zion Hansen,Leigh Payne,Sarah McGuire and Paige Scurrah at the Auburn Zone PSSA swimming
carnival last Tuesday.
Will List and Emily Ha have been selected to represent the Zone at Western Sydney Regional Swimming Carnival.

Our school is participating in Clean Up Australia on Friday 4th March We will be cleaning up the school and
surrounding area and students are asked to bring some gloves to school on the day. The school will conduct a
risk assessment before the cleanup begins and students will be advised not to pick up any sharp items.

John Goh
Principal

School News

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Please return all borrowed school clothes to the office as soon as possible.

Free Breakfast at School.

Every Tuesday there will be a free breakfast for all children at school in the community room between 8.30 and
8.40am. This program is run as part of the School Chaplaincy program.

Kindergarten News

Did you know?

• If students miss as little as eight days in a school term, by the end of Primary School they will
have missed a year of education. Regular attendance will assist them with friendships and learning. If
you are experiencing problems getting your child to school please call the school for assistance. Ph
9637 2638
• Having good routines at home and being punctual each morning will support your child’s
learning. Eg The night before, prepare their correct uniform and attend to their school bag. Lunches
can be refrigerated the night before also.
• The learning that takes place in Kindergarten is essential to your child’s preparation in school
life. Often parents will say that Kindergarten students just ‘play’. However, play is an important building
block in areas such as language development (English), problem solving (Math) and conflict resolution
(Social Skills).
• Parents and Teachers model learning to the students and with repeated experiences, new
learning occurs. Parents are asked to assist your children in their learning by practicing their name
using capital and lower case letters, counting to 10,20,30, count backwards from 10,20,30.. say the
number after a given number eg 5…”6”, and reading their Home Reader each day.
• School life is important for your child, remind and encourage them to participate. Events such as
fundraisers, Easter Hat parade, class open days and Mufti days (when the children can wear everyday
clothes) are important and fun days for the Kindergarten children to share with the rest of the school.

This fortnight we are reminding the Kindergarten children to:

Use their manners- say please and thank you.
Kinder teachers
Miss Vassella, Miss Slender, Mrs Walker

PBIS News
At Merrylands East we promote the School Rules of Be a Safe, Respectful, Learner. Students receive awards
for academic and social skills that are evidenced throughout the school week. These awards are to be kept in a
safe place, at home, as they are not replaced if lost or damaged. In the K-2 classes up to 5 Class awards are
given out each week and in the 3-6 classes 7 Class awards are issued.
So how does the system work?
5 Class Awards leads to 1 Merit Award (given out at weekly Assemblies)
5 Merit Award leads to 1 Banner (given out at weekly Assemblies)
5 Banners leads to 1 Medallion (which is given out at the end of year Presentation Day)
Medallions are usually received from Year 4 onwards
Weekly Assemblies are held on Thursdays from 1.45-2.30pm and all parents are welcome to attend.

PBIS Committee

SCHOOL BANKING
School banking is available at Merrylands East Public School through the Commonwealth Bank. The banking is
done on Thursday every week, so your bank book needs to be at the school office by Wednesday afternoon. If
you would like to open a school banking account, please see Mrs McGuire in the office.

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SRC NEWS
Parents and Carers are invited to join us in next week’s whole school assembly as we hand out the badges to
the SRC Representatives.
Yesterday we had our first official meeting and Mrs Olivotto and myself are most impressed by the student’s
ideas and energy levels. They are very keen to make such positive changes in our school and have such grand
ideas that will benefit all students at MEPS.
Stay in tune!

Mrs Helen Stavropoulos and

Mrs Dana Olivotto

Sport Reports
PSSA Report
Sport this term is Softball and T-Ball. All games are played at Webbs Avenue
Playing Fields and the children need $5 for bus fare each week unless they have
paid in advance. Good luck to all our teams!

School Club
SCHOOL CLUB MEETING
WEDNESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY AT 2.30pm
IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM LOCATED NEAR THE FRONT GATE.
WE WELCOME ALL PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO ATTEND OUR MEETING AND PUT FORWARD
SUGGESTIONS ON MATTERS AT HAND AND/OR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME TO HELP.
WE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE LAST MONTH AND HOPE YOUR INTEREST CONTINUES THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR.
AFTERNOON TEA WILL BE PROVIDED.

SEE YOU THERE!

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