Newsletter 5649 Canola Way Matong NSW 2652 Phone: 02 69277824 Fax: 02 69277877 Email: matong- [email protected] Web: www.matong- p.schools.nsw.edu.au TERM 4 WEEK 7 20th November 2012 th Tuesday 2o November Coolamon C.S. Orientation Day Wednesday 21st November Narrandera High School Year 6- 7 Transition Visit Tuesday 27th November Scripture Christmas Service – 10 a.m. Principal’s News Many thanks to Thu Hang for generously giving up her time so as to broaden our students What a great week Stage 3 had at Borambola! The understandings and experiences, and to Janelle weather was fantastic, the other schools were all for assisting on the day. very friendly, the camp staff (as always) were wonderful, the accommodation was very Last weekend, Community Days of Action were comfortable and the food was plentiful and held across the state to protest the severe delicious – for what more could one ask? The financial and human resources cuts recently range of activities was extensive and it was terrific imposed on N.S.W. public schools. Staff attended to see every student have a go at everything. For the events in both Griffith and Wagga Wagga, those activities where they could have more than which will hopefully bring about some positive one go, it was great to see the kids’ confidence changes to the cuts currently being imposed. build with each successive attempt. Kayaking, Last Tuesday, Mrs Lucas attended a full-day rockclimbing, craft, fencing, initiatives, low ropes inservice course in Narrandera which gave an course, geocaching, swimming, cookout, flying overview of the implementation of the new fox, BMX riding, raft building and archery were Australian curriculum. just some of the activities undertaken during the week. As part of a combined contingent of Neil Warnock, our local technology adviser, spent students from Ganmain, Grong Grong and most of the morning at our school, “building” our Matong, everyone worked well together as a team new notebook computers for use in our and the behaviour of our students was beyond classrooms. Whilst here, Neil also solved some reproach. The only lowlight of the week was when other technology issues we have been Anthony Rudder caught his little finger between experiencing. We thank him most sincerely for his the door and door jamb, which all but severed the time with us today. tip, thus necessitating a trip to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and surgery to reattach the This Thursday I am attending an Arcona meeting dislodged section. Anthony is to be commended at Grong Grong and then will be heading to on his courage and maturity in what was a most Sydney to attend a family wedding on Friday. Jess anxious and potentially stressful experience. All Walsh will be taking my class on both these days. students are to be commended on their efforts, Next Tuesday, we will be having our final scripture manners and behaviour throughout the week. As session for the year which will take the form of a always, I was very proud of them. An enormous combined Christmas celebration at the Uniting thank you goes to Mrs Evans, Mrs Graham and Mr Church Hall, commencing at 10 a.m. Parents and Campbell, for taking time away from their families community members are most welcome to join us to provide this wonderful opportunity for our for this event. A light morning tea will be served children. Your efforts throughout the week were at the conclusion of the service. nothing short of magnificent. Sadly, we bade farewell to Father Mark Whybrow Our students will now be sifting through the last Wednesday as he had his last scripture lesson thousands of photos taken during the week to with us before taking up his new posting at Hay. prepare powerpoint presentations that will be Mark had been a popular member of our religious shown following our Year 6 Farewell dinner. instruction team since his arrival in the area and Whilst we were away, Miss McKelvie, Mrs Lucas his quirky wit and sense of humour will be missed. and Miss Walsh taught the remaining students We wish him all the best and thank him for his who were still at school. They participated in some involvement with our students. great activities, the highlight being a Vietnamese Have a great week and I look forward to seeing as Tet celebration last Friday. Thu Hang Do, ably many of you as possible at our Christmas service assisted by Janelle Beard and the students, next week. concocted a delicious Vietnamese feast for lunch which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. There was Regards, even some left over for Mrs Evans and me on our return from Borambola. We probably didn’t need it Ian Lucas but we ate it anyway – YUMMO!!! Parking / Student Pick-Up fundraising efforts. Out of the ten thousand riders who rode the distance, he currently sits as the With the onset of harvest, I am a little concerned sixtieth highest fundraiser overall – a high about the current situation with the picking up of accolade indeed for the generosity of the Grong students after school each day. Vehicles travelling Grong, Matong, Ganmain and Narrandera in all directions as they depart could be a recipe communities. for disaster as drivers negotiate school buses, other parents vehicles and oncoming traffic. I urge Without wanting to single out individual donors, all drivers to take extreme caution when leaving there are some folk who deserve special mention the school of an afternoon. – the Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong Football and Netball Club, who allowed a “bucket collection” at Movember their recent presentation night, which netted The month of Movember is now well and truly past $700; Amanda and Adam Symons who donated its halfway point and it is again great to see the entire proceeds of an evening at the Providore blokes of all ages in our local area supporting Coffee Shop in Ganmain that was held to raise men's health - especially prostate cancer and awareness of MS and made $660; and Kerry depression - by sporting moustaches of all Symons (an MS sufferer), the staff at Matong different shapes, sizes, designs and colour. For the Public School and wife, Bron, who were his first time, we have had a lady officially join our support crew prior to, during and after the event. ranks to help this most worthwhile cause. Our Narrandera Rotary Club invited Kerry and Ian to MOtong team, comprised of Mo brothers and speak at a recent meeting. Kerry outlined the sisters from Grong Grong, Matong and Ganmain, symptoms and effects of MS before telling her own will be holding their end of Movember celebrations story since being diagnosed with the disease. Ian at the Royal Hotel, Grong Grong, from 7.30 p.m. followed with a slide show and talk about the on Friday, 30th November. Hopefully, all members actual ride. Their presentation was well received of the team will be in attendance with their by those present, most of whom had no idea of spouses, and community members are the implications of this insidious disease. encouraged to come along to view the range of mo's on display, see who are the award winners A huge thank you goes to all those local folk who and hear a little about men's health issues. donated so generously towards this most worthwhile cause – your support is truly Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Grongy appreciated. Pub on the 30th. The MS Gong Ride Support Team. Sydney to Wollongong Ride for Multiple Sclerosis Mobile Library Recently, Ian Lucas participated in a charity Our next visit from the mobile library is tomorrow, pushbike ride from St Peter’s in Sydney to Wednesday, 21st November. Please ensure all Wollongong, in an effort to raise funds for the books and other library resources are returned to fight against Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a the box in the hallway. degenerative disease of the nervous system that Lunch Orders currently affects over twenty-three thousand Australians, three out of four of whom are A reminder that lunch orders for this week are to females. be in the lunch box by Thursday. Through the generosity of community members, This week’s trivia question work colleagues, friends, his family, local businesses and community organisations, he has What is “geocaching”? raised over four thousand dollars already, with Answer to last week’s trivia question fundraising winding up at the end of this month. Riding as part of the public education team, Ian “Borambola” is an Aboriginal word meaning “a was the highest fundraiser in this group at the dance”. time of the ride, which saw him presented with the “school bell” in acknowledgement of his Concert Costumes Reminder Food for Fines campaign has started again at the Coolamon Library. This is a great opportunity to Costumes are due at school on Friday, 30th clear all outstanding fines by donating non- November (Week 8). perishable food in lieu of money. All collected food will be donated to St Vincent de Paul in Coolamon. Coolamon Library News They will then distribute the food to our local families within our shire. The library will be hosting an open day, “Love th your Library” this Saturday, 24 November @ Storytime will be held this Friday, 23rd November 10.00am – 12.00pm. The day will showcase all @ 10.30am, theme “Up stories”. Children will our programs and collections available at the enjoy a book reading, songs and a craft– everyone library. Some of the activities are – learn how to is most welcomed to attend. download books, celebrity storytime, decorating biscuits, handball competition and make a book The Coolamon Library is on Facebook! News, mark.