Marks Point Classroom

PUBLIC SPEAKING:

This month our whole school public speaking finals were held and we were entertained by wonderful speeches from all finalists. The grade winners were:

Kindergarten: Olivia W and Harry M, Year 1: Meg O, Year 2: Lachlan M, Year 3: Chelsea C, Yeaar 4: Jemma K and Stage 3: Bree C and Milly W.

To view photos go to our school website gallery at: http://www.markspoint-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/sws/view/1444467.node

DEBATING

Our debating team has participated in and won their first two debates. The first debate was against Eleebana P.S. the second debate was against Fassifern P.S.

The team is an all girl side of Lauren A, Milly W, Bree C and Emma W. The team is coached by Mrs Stacey Gibson.

Marks Point P.S. Debating team

RUGBY LEAGUE:

Our boys rugby league team played and won 7 games to make it to the final and win the Paul Harrigan Cup on the 2nd June 2010. This is a competition for small schools. On the day we were undefeated, beating Islington, Cardiff, Gateshead, Mayfield East, St Peters Stockton, Hamilton North and St Pats Swansea. Mr Gleeson was rightly proud of the boys efforts with every player in the team scoring at least one try on the day. Gutsy effort from our boys! The team will now head off to Sydney to represent the region in the State Finals on the 25th August 2010.

The team was captained by Sam H and included Ben H, Jye H, Matt R, Hayden C, Brad C, Darren M, Liam C, Charlie M, Brendan B and Darcy H.

For a full report on the event please go to: http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=26379

Winners of the Paul Harrigan Cup

SOFTBALL

Our boys softball team had a big win over caves beach recently to the tune of 18 - 2. Mrs Lowe and Mr Johnston reported that the batting was so powerful that they actually shut the opposition out by carrying an innings for over half an hour! There will be a softball double header on Wednesday 28th July at Belmont Sporties. Girls will play at 11:00 am and boys at 1:15 pm.

STARSTRUCK

Starstruck is the Hunter/Central Coast performing arts spectacular held annually in June. Once again our school was fortunate enough to participate in the extravaganza that has been running for 17 years.

Mrs Banks and the girls spent many hours auditioning then practising their dance moves for “You’re the Voice”. Bree C was also selected to perform in a special dance for 12 and 13 year old girls called “Thirteen”.

Four shows were held at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and our girls did Marks Point School proud. I supervised students at the Saturday night show and was amazed at how it all comes together. Mrs Lowe did a fantastic job coordinating schools and entertaining us all out the back while we waited for our turn to dance. It was also great to see Mrs Langford working hard in the tunnels. Another fantastic show was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Well done girls!

Starstruck 2010

REGIONAL SUCCESS:

Congratulations to Brittany S, Emma W, Jai H, Ben H, Liam C and Hayden C who have been selected to represent the Hunter Region at the state softball titles in Sydney next term. Sam H was also successful in selection for the Hunter Region Rugby League team. Last week he played in the state rugby league trials as a representative of the Hunter Region team.

HOCKEY:

Congratulations to Mrs Lowe (co-manager and coach) of the Hunter Region girls hockey team. The Hunter Region team were joint state champions with Western Region. Mrs Lowe said this was the first win for the Hunter in over 20 years.

HALL:

The new hall is very near completion. We are hoping that it will be open in time for our Education Week celebrations in Term 3.

MATHS:

Mrs Langford and the K-2 teachers are very excited about being successful in gaining inclusion in the Targeting Early Numeracy (TEN) program. This program focuses on developing mathematical skills, knowledge and understanding in the early years.

REPORTS:

Student reports to parents went out last Friday. Interviews will take place in the first week of Term 3 for K-2 and the second week for 3-6.

Have a safe holiday everyone and see you all in Term 3

Last week our Zone swimming team had two days of competition on Monday (form strokes) and Tuesday (Finals in form strokes, heats and finals of freestyle and relays). All swimmers performed well in their races with some outstanding efforts from Hayden C and Kyah C who were finalists. Thank you to our P & C who donated swimming caps to all zone representatives.

Congratulations also to the students who represented their clubs at the recent State Surf Life Saving Championships. Hayden C received a bronze medal in the board relay and the ironman for Swansea Belmont SLSC. Bronte C, also of Swansea Belmont SLSC achieved a silver in the wade relay and a bronze in the run relay. Other students from our school who represented strongly were Liam C, Bree C, Lauren A and Mitch E.

Our students have also been enjoying the water activities and sailing that has been offered to us as part of the Active After School Program.

Students enjoyed a BBQ lunch yesterday thanks to a number of parents who volunteered their time to help. A big thank you to Troy Anderson, Karen Wright, Tony Roddom, Marie Cullen, Darren Wells, Kylie Wells and Lachlan Wells for helping to prepare such a delicious lunch for us!

It has also been great to see so many children taking up Mr Nichol’s challenge to wear a school hat!

Our Kindergarten students commenced their first week of ‘whole school days’ on Monday. Well done students, parents, carers and teachers.

COMING UP:

9th March - P & C School Disco - Theme is Summer!

15th March - Young Leaders Day - Executive only

17th March - Out of the Bag performance - notes go home 9th March. Cost is $4.40 per child.

19th March - P & C Gold Party

26th March - SHOW HOLIDAY - No school

We are now into our third week of term and teachers and students are really applying themselves to the task of quality teaching and learning. It was great to see so many parents attending our parent information sessions last week and this week. Our P & C meet next Thursday 18th February at 5:30pm in the computer room. Join us if you can.

Swimming Carnival Champions 2010

We kicked off this week with our school swimming carnival and our students participated enthusiastically in a great day of competition and fun. Thanks to Mrs Banks and Mrs Jones for their organisation and to all the staff and parents who assisted on the day. The results of the carnival are as follows:

1st place: GULLS, 2nd place: EAGLES, 3rd place: SWANS and 4th place: ALBATROSS.

CARNIVAL CHAMPIONS:

Junior Boy: Liam C, Junior Girl: Courtney M, Senior Boy: Hayden C and Senior Girl: Lauren A

While Years 1 to 6 were at the swimming carnival on Monday our Kindergaten students, Mrs Johns and Miss McDonell celebrated Spot’s birthday with a party back at school.

The Active After School Community sessions also commenced this week with water activities at school and sailing at the 16 Footers at Belmont. Once again these activities have been very popular with our students. A huge thank you to parents and staff who transported students to and from the 16 Footers at short notice when the bus didn’t arrive.

Today our students came dressed in sports theme to raise money to support our Hunter Region Representatives.

Zac F has been selected to represent the Hunter in both softball and rugby union. He will travel to Camden next week to play in the state rugby union championships to be held on 25th - 27th August. He will also represent the Hunter in the state softball championships in Lismore later in the year.

Shae O, Brittany S and Daisy W have been selected to represent the Hunter at the state softball championships to be held in Tamworth in the last week of this term. Congratulations to these students.

Sports dress Up Day photos

Following our School Cross-Country the following students represented Marks Point Public School at the Zone Cross Country last Friday:

8/9 Girls - Bronte C, Alex T, Jemma K and Bianca C.
8/9 Boys - Charlie M, Nelson W, Liam C and Elye L.
10 yrs Girls - Lara Grace O, Amy T, Kiara M.
10 yrs Boys - Ben H, Darren M, Matthew R, Jay S.
11 yrs Girls - Brittany S, Emma W, Bree C.
11 yrs Boys - Sam H, Jye H, Cameron B, Hayden C.
12 yrs Girls - Kayley M, Ella H, Chloe C, Daisy W.
12 yrs Boys - William V, Oskar M, Nathan C, Alex M.

Congratulations to William V who placed 6th at the Zone Carnival and will now represent at Regional Cross Country on the 29th May.

Congratulations also to Charlie M (8th) and Samuel H (10th) who received certificates on the day.

Check out the new Slideshow I just added to our slideshow page. Our students who participate in the Active After Schools program have been learning to surf this term at Backsmiths Beach. It looks like a lot of fun!

You can make your own slideshows at: http://www.slide.com/

On Wednesday 18th February 2009, Marks Point Public School had their annual swimming carnival at Valentine Pool.

Children from Years 3-6 participated well in a range of races including, 50m freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke, 100m freestyle, the medley and the relay. We also had two free swims and one great big noodle relay.  

The winning house on the day was Albatross followed by Gulls, Eagles and Swans.

The carnival champions were:

Junior Girl Champion: Alyssa C

Junior Boy Champion: Ben H

Senior Girl Champion: Kayley M

Senior Boy Champions: William V and Hayden C

The following children represented our school at the Zone Carnival: 

Heather M, Darcy H, Courtney M, Liam C, Levi T, Noah W, Alyssa C, Taleah S, Ben H, Matthew R, Bree C, Lauren A, Brittany S, Samuel H, Hayden C, Isaac W, Kayley M, Shae O, William V, Oskar M and Nathan C.

Darcy H came 3rd in the 8 years 50 m freestyle Final.

Ben H came 3rd in the 10 years 50 m freestyle Final.

The Junior girls relay team came 3rd. The junior boys relay team came 2nd. The Senior girls relay team came 6th and the Senior boys relay team came 5th.

Thankyou to Mrs Banks and Mr Jonno!

 By Ella, Shae, Bree and Kayley!