Newsletter Term 1 Week 11 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
What a fabulous term of learning and engagement we have had! Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Stage 3 Canberra Camp, our students had a fabulous time, we were very proud of how they conducted themselves. It was an extremely busy three days. Thank you to the teachers Chris Mc Call, Amanda Mason, Steph Rooleht and Anna Harris. Their good humour, care and support for all our students was very much appreciated.
Holidays are upon us. There will once again be maintenance of the school grounds and buildings over the holidays. Tradespeople will be onsite installing carpet and vinyl in classrooms, as well as in the library and administration block. Drainage work will also be occurring. Please ensure that if your children use the school grounds in the holidays that they are accompanied by an adult. Thank you to everyone for assisting with looking after our school.
Thank you to P&C Vice President Dan Brabant who has recently submitted a grant application on behalf of the P&C. Fingers crossed that we will be successful in being able to refurbish and add to our sensory play spaces in the kindergarten playground and front of school..
Lovely to see so many parents taking up the opportunity to connect with your child’s class teacher and share their progress over Term One. I hope you all have time in the holidays to connect, recharge and spend time with your children.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Wednesday 26th April.
Happy holidays everyone!
Brooke Keevers,
Principal
Assistant Principal's News
Northern Beaches Library Young Writers Competition
The Northern Beaches Young Writers’ Competition for 2023 is now officially live. Students from Kindergarten to Year 12, who live on the Northern Beaches, are invited to submit their composition for this creative writing competition by Wednesday the 31st of May 2023.
This year’s theme word is PROMISE.
For more information on the competition and previous years’ e-books please see the below link: https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/library/whats-on/challenges-and-competitions/young-writers-competition
If you have any questions about the competition please contact the organisers:
writers.comp@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au or libraryprograms@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Schools Spectacular
Applications for students to participate in the Schools Spectacular are now open. We encourage students who exhibit talent in and passion for the performing arts to consider applying for participation as individual performers. Balgowlah North Public School will not be participating as a school group this year.
Please refer to the website for further information on School SPectacular and how to support your child with an application:
https://www.schoolsspectacular.com.au/
K-6 Award Winners
3-6 Merit Certificate Recipients
Medal Recipients
K-2 Merit Certificate Recipients
Banner Recipients
Band Awards Recipients
OC Classes
Applications for Year 5 entry to Opportunity Classes in 2024 are now open. They close on Monday 15 May 2023. Please visit this website to apply: https://education.nsw.gov.au/oc.
All applicants will sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test on Thursday 27 July 2023. More details will be provided closer to the date.
School News
ANZAC Day
The ANZAC Day school service will be held on Thursday 6th April at 9.15am in the School Hall. It will be run by the school leaders and every class will lay a wreath on the stage by the class SRC students. Poppies will also be on sale on Thursday 6th April from 8.30am to 9am near the flagpoles at the Manning Street entrance. They are $5 each, supporting our veterans.
World's Greatest Shave
BNPS have registered to take part in their year’s World’s Greatest Shave on Wednesday, 3rd May to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. Year 6 pupils will shave, cut or colour their hair and Kindy to Year 5 will also participate with Crazy Hair Day.
Every day, 53 Australians are diagnosed with blood cancer, and 16 will lose their life.
Money raised through our efforts will give families facing blood cancer the special care, support and information they need – while driving breakthrough research projects discovering better ways to diagnose and treat blood cancer.
Please follow this link to sponsor a Year 6 student or donate to the BNPS Year 6 team for crazy hair day. You can also donate cash on 3 May at school.
Balgowlah North Public School | World's Greatest Shave | Leukaemia Foundation
Thank you for supporting our annual fundraiser.
WGS organising committee
ANZAC Day Poems by Year 6
Bodies hit the ground.
Screams of death and devastation ring around.
I’m fighting for my country in this new campaign.
But no one will forget the rain of blood.
Men and women with friends and family die.
With the sound of guns and cannons, there is lots of reason to cry.
I ran through the peninsula trenches filled with soldiers, while carrying two wounded men on my shoulders.
No longer a civilian, my heart fills with glory.
Those who died were only at the beginning of their story. May their spirit live on until this very day.
Lest we Forget for those who went away.
By Finn C
Alliances backing us up with no fright.
Never give up from day to night
Zero soldiers deserved to die
Anzac Day is for remembrance and memory
Dusk till dawn as the Last Post plays, lest we forget.
As the war continues devastation and destruction
Yelling at the top of our lungs, memories come to mind. Loved ones returning home was the best gift yet.
By Nova S
Brave men we salute you
And remember you today
Fighting in battle fields
In lands so far away
Australians and New Zealanders
Who fought so gallantly
Side by side together
For all of us to see
The decision I made
To let you go away
Left me in devastation
and separation
Let your spirit lift over me
And remember Gallipoli
Let us remember this history
And century of war
Many died and some came home
Their lives were not the same
The Anzacs were heroic
In body and name
LEST WE FORGET
By Nieve S
Although they're gone, their spirit is here.
It cost us lives, and a lot of tears.
Their bravery and friendship are forever more,
we'll never be the same, never like before.
Our hearts are scarred and can't be sealed.
But our love is in poppies, poppies filling a field.
There's a memory in everyone, deep within,
Because you've been through thick and thin.
The devastation, is just the start
Along with civilians, shattered apart.
Our pride is so strong, it's in our silhouette.
So, Lest we Forget.
By Darcy
Stage 3 Shoe Designers
Stage 3, for homework, was set a challenge to imagine, plan, design and create the 'perfect' shoe. Here are some of our wonderful future show designers!
Positive Behaviour for Learning
Class Snapshot - Kindergarten
Debating Club
Administration
Schoolzine
The app can be downloaded by following the link below:
SZapp - School Communication App - Schoolzine
On the app you can:
- Read infromation and updates from our school
- Submit an absence form for your child
- Make payments
- See the school calendar
- Give consent for excursions and activities
The Week Ahead
Thurs 6 April ANZAC Day Service 9.15am
Wed 26 April First day of Term 2
Sports News
Cross Country
The school Cross Country Carnival is coming up on the 10 May in Week 3 of next term. A reminder to start some running training in the holidays!!
Winter PSSA
We are currently gauging student interest to help determine which sports we can offer for Winter PSSA. Next Thursday, students will be asked to sign up for a sport and trials will begin on Friday 31st March. There will be two more rounds of trials on the Friday afternoons of Week 1 and 2 next term. Winter PSSA commences in Week 3 on the 12th May.
Waste Free Wednesday
Congratulations to KR and 1M for being our Waste Free Wednesday winners in Week 10!
Seedling Sale
When: Thursday 6th April 8:30-9am
Where: Bardoo Ave entrance
Cost: A gold coin donation
Come and purchase a beautiful seedling, grown in our very own Green Grove by BNPS students. All proceeds go towards feeding our chickens! See you there 🙂
There was great excitment at school last week when two demountables were removed the grounds! Students were able to watch some of the action from a safe distance.
P & C News
Community news
NBSC Manly Campus Open Day
The Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus Open Day will be held on Monday 1st May 2023. NBSC Manly Campus is a selective co-educational high school for students from year 7 - 12.
NBSC Manly Campus Open Day
Monday 1st May
9.30-11.30 am
Ceremony and School Tour, followed by morning tea hosted by the P & C
Opportunity Classes for Year 5 in 2024
The link below gives on information on Opportunuty classes for students going into Year 5 in 2024.
Ethics
Our Primary Ethics team is seeking more volunteers to teach Primary Ethics. We particularly need volunteers for Kindergarten, year 1, year 4 and year 6 students.
Ethics teachers receive full training by Primary Ethics, the not-for-profit organisation approved to design the curriculum and training for the ethics program. Training consists of a two day workshop and short online modules. Suitable volunteers have an interest in children’s education and the development of their critical thinking skills. You must be available to teach a 30 minute class on a Thursday afternoon each week. All lesson materials are provided.
In ethics classes, we aim to give students an opportunity to discuss and think for themselves about ethical issues relevant to them.
Students discuss topics such as:
- empathy;
- being an ethical consumer;
- how should we treat living things;
- how do we know when we have done something wrong?;
- intentions and knowledge - what might a whale know?; and
- understanding diversity.
If you are looking for an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to our school and be part of a great program, please visit www.primaryethics.com.au. You can also email our Primary Ethics Coordinator Susan Gray at bnpsethics@gmail.com for further information.
School Sponsors
