Newsletter Term 1 Week 4 2023

"We acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians on whose land our school rests. Their footsteps and whispers blow in the wind, drift on the clouds, remain deep in the sandstone and float on the waterways of this place. Their memories and Dreaming stories will continue to connect us to the land and guide future generations of our school community. Country is alive if you take the time to look, listen and learn."

Principal's message

Connections

Thank you to all our parents for attending our information session on Monday night. We look forward to welcoming our Kindergarten parents and Stage 3 parents tonight as well. All presentations from the sessions will be uploaded to our school website on Thursday. Thank you also to our parents who have volunteered to be class parents. An email will come out today inviting you all to a morning tea.

We welcome Forest High students to our school today, working with our Year 6 students on a writing workshop, another fantastic opportunity to connect with our local high school.

We also look forward to our swimming carnival next week, a lovely opportunity for you to come and support our students!

Challenge

Thank you to our teachers for such a smooth start to the year. Our students are settled in classes, timetables are running and teaching and learning is well underway. These first few weeks are important as teachers start to build a deeper understanding of our students, their individual needs as well as their academic and social needs. 

Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs) are being created over the next couple of weeks. If your child is working on a  PLP, their Class Teacher will be in touch to meet with you to discuss their goals and seek your input into this process. Our older children are also encouraged to be active participants in these discussions.

Creativity

Fabulous to hear the sounds of our students back at their band rehearsals. We have over 50 students in our Band and Strings programs. Thank you to our conductors, P&C committee and our Band manager. If you would like your child to join please just let us know!

Extracurricular activities will be commencing soon. Students will be informed of all of these at morning lines each week by the coordinating teacher/s.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the Parent Information sessions tonight, and also at the next P&C meeting on Wednesday the 22nd of February.

Semester 1 SRC

Dates for the diary
Thursday 16th February               Paul McDonald Writing Workshop Stage 2 and 3
Wednesday 22nd February          School swimming Carnival 3-6
Tuesday 21st February                Salaka Drumming Incursion
Friday 24th February                    PSSA Round 1 commences 3-6
Saturday 4th March                      P and C Parents Night out 
Tuesday 21st March                     School Photographs

Parent Information Sessions
We look forward to seeing you all at our Parent information evenings this week:

Wednesday 15th February     Early Stage One 5.00pm to 6.00pm
Wednesday 15th February     Stage Three 6.00pm -7.00pm

Take care.

Brooke Keevers
Principal

Assistant Principals News

BNPS engages with the new NSW English and Mathematics Syllabuses

Our teaching staff have been keenly involved in professional learning focussed on the new NSW English and Mathematics Syllabuses. New outcomes and content in these syllabuses are underpinned by the latest research and evidence, making clear the essential knowledge, skills and understandings for English and mathematics needed by all students. There is a focus on making connections across concepts and key learning areas. A greater emphasis on student engagement and critical thinking are evident, as well as the development of 21st-century skills, such as digital literacy.

The role of the Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction (APC&I) is to ensure processes and structures are in place to support staff to collaboratively plan for English and Mathematics, teach the new curriculum and evaluate practice.

Introducing our Instructional Leaders at BNPS

Our instructional leaders identify focus areas for ongoing teacher professional development and work collaboratively with Classroom Teachers to resource strategically, implement instructional programs and establish a strong focus on high expectations for all students.

Jenni Reinhardt
Assistant Principal Curriculum & Instruction

Brooke Keevers - Principal,  Olivia Wakelin - Assistant Principal Stage 2, Susie Stock - Assistant Principal Stage 3, Sascha Carroll - Assistant Principal Early Stage 1, Jenny Reinhardt - Assistant Principal Stage 1, and Rachel Ridley - Assistant Principal

School News

Attendance

Regular school attendance is essential for your child to achieve their educational best and increase their sense of connection to their peers and the school community. When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier and your child will build and maintain friendships with other children.

Arriving on time:

Arriving on time each day:

• Ensures that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day Helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine 
• Give students time to greet their friends before class 
• Reduces classroom disruption 

Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained by parents.

Absences from school:

On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include: 

• Being sick, or having an infectious disease 
• Having an unavoidable medical appointment 
• Being required to attend a recognised religious holiday 
• Exceptional or urgent family circumstance (e.g. attending a funeral)

Following an absence from school you must ensure that within 7 days you provide your child’s school with a verbal or written explanation for the absence. However, if the school has not received an explanation from you within 2 days, the school may contact you to discuss the absence..

Parent Home Reading Workshop
Please join us for a Parent Home Reading and High Frequency Word Workshop. 

Who: The workshop is aimed at Kindergarten or Year One parents/carers who would like more information on supporting their beginning readers at home. It will be interactive and a chance to ask questions. 

When: Tuesday, February 28 at 9am in the library

(*A Powerpoint of the presentation will be sent out via the school app after the event for parents who are unable to attend.) 

Thank you,

Jenni Reinhardt and Sascha Carroll

Creative Arts in 2023!

DANCE! - This term students are participating in weekly Dance lessons with Mrs McAllister. We have already started learning about performing, composing and appreciating dance. Lessons include a warm up/stretch, explicit teaching, learning activities, reflection time and a cool down/meditation. The learning will also have a focus on Aboriginal Dance, dance around the world and dance through time. Students will continue with Music in Term 2.

Extra Curricular opportunities 
Students might like to participate in the following groups. More information to follow;

• Concert Band - Monday morning and Thursday lunch
• Senior Band - Tuesday and Thursday morning
• Junior Band - Monday lunch and Wednesday morning
• Beginner Strings - Thursday morning
• Choir for Y3-6 - Tuesday lunch (Hall with Mrs Harris)
• Senior Dance Group Y5 and 6 - Wednesday lunch (Hall with Miss Rooleht and Miss Ross)
• Drama Ensemble Y3 and 4 - Wednesday lunch (Dance/Music Room with Mrs McAllister)
• Operation Art - All grades

We are looking forward to a busy and exciting term in Creative Arts.

Eliza McAllister
Teacher

School Crossing Officer

We are looking for a new school crossing officer. This may be an opportunity for a local parent/grandparent that might like to train in this role, and nominate BNPS as the school they would like to work at. Please see further information in the link below.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/road-safety-education/safety-around-schools1/school-crossing-supervisorshool 

Sports News

School Swimming Carnival

The swimming carnival will be held on Wednesday 22 February at Manly Boy Charlton pool. Students in Years 3 to 6 can participate and students in Year 2 who are turning 8 in 2023 are invited to participate. Please ensure you complete the online permission and event entry form as soon as possible if you haven't already. We look forward to parents cheering on from the side!

PSSA Eagle tag

What a great afternoon we had for PSSA Eagle Tag Trials. Thanks to all the keen boys and girls who tried their best. Second trial date is Friday 17th February. 

Mrs Stock and Mrs Harris

Class snapshot 6/5H

Wellbeing

Peer Mediation
On Wednesday 1st March our Year 5 students will undertake a full day of peer mediation training as part of our leadership program. The workshop will enable students to become Peer Mediators in the K-2 playground for Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students. The training will provide our Year 5 students a structured process to resolve minor playground disputes.

At the workshop students will participate in activities that focus on problem solving, conflict resolution, active listening and communication. They will also engage in a variety of role plays to assist them become familiar with their new roles.

URSTRONG FAMILY Membership 

In 2021, with the support of the P & C,  Balgowlah North introduced the URSTRONG program. URSTRONG is a whole-school friendship skills program that provides a common language to guide children through the ups and downs of friendships. It focuses on empowerment, self-compassion and kindness. 

BNPS families are encouraged to take advantage of the free Family Membership to URSTRONG. Explore the website as it has brilliant articles, videos and resources to help you  support your child’s social and emotional wellbeing. 
Free Family Membership link: For Parents | URSTRONG

From K-6, the language and strategies of URSTRONG will be a feature of Term 1 Personal Development and Health programs and reinforced throughout the year. Here is one of URSTRONG’s core concepts:   

Thank you, 

The Wellbeing Team.

P & C News

P & C Meeting
The next P&C meeting will take place on Wednesday 22nd February 7.30pm in our library All parents welcome.

Dust off your leg warmers & get ready for an 80’s BNPS Parent’s Night Out 2023!

4th March 6pm
Seaforth Bowling Club
39 Kirkwood street, Seaforth 
Dress: a little or a lot 80’s

Tickets via Flexischools
Early bird $55 each, now till 22nd February 
Regular $65 each, 23rd February till 1st March 
Ticket sales close 1st March 5pm!

Raffle tickets $10 each 

A night of music, dancing, drinks & fun! Food will be served throughout the evening & drinks are all for sale at the bar!

Band News

Join our 2023 Band Program – register NOW

Our bands have had their first rehearsals – the enthusiasm is contagious. The students are having fun at rehearsals while making great music together. 

Being part of a band and playing an instrument is a wonderful experience with so many benefits in addition to learning a new skill. 

We are still accepting new members from years 3-5. If your child would like to join the band please read about Band on our website  https://bnpsband.wixsite.com/website

Questions?  Send us an email and we will be in touch:  bnpsband@hotmail.com

Strings Program – register online

Our string program began with our Junior Strings rehearsal last week.  Next week our beginner strings group will start on Thursday (21 Feb)  morning in the Library.

If you would like your child to join our string group please go to the website to register and for more information https://bnpsband.wixsite.com/website

Enquiries can be made at bnpsband@hotmail.com.

Canteen news

We're back!
We hope everyone is settling back into the school routine and that the transition is smooth for those new to school.  It's lovely to see all those happy faces and we had a chance to welcome this years' Kindy children when they visited the canteen last week and learnt how to pick up lunch orders.

The canteen uses the Flexischools app to take online orders.  To place orders please download the app, register your student and allocate them to BNPS. For more information please see the flexischools wesbite https://flexischools.com.au/

We've had an increase in supply costs and as a result there are a few items that have gone up in price but we've done our best to keep those increases to a minimum.

PSSA
PSSA will get underway next week which means the recess break on a Friday will be 11.00-11.15 and lunch break will be 12-1pm.

It's hip to be Square
The canteen has a Square card reader and can take card payments - including spriggys - for over-the-counter purchases.  There is a $1 min spend and a 2% usage charge

Cutlery 
If your child is bringing a packed lunch from home please remember to send in the necessary cutlery or send them with a few small coins to purchase cutlery from the canteen - 10c per spoon/fork.

Community news

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