Balgowlah North Public School eNewsletter

"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

Public Education
This year’s theme for Education Week is 175 years of public education in NSW and focuses on learning from our past, celebrating our achievements and embracing the future with confidence.

Learning from Our Past
This year marks 175 years since the establishment of public schools in NSW. Founded in 1848, the Board of National Education was formed and tasked with establishing a public education system in NSW. Prior to 1848, schools operated under a denominational system and were the responsibility of churches.

We reflect and learn from policies and practices of the past 175 years.
We engage in truth-telling to have honest conversations about the past.

Celebrating Our Achievements

We celebrate our achievements throughout the NSW public education system.
We celebrate the significant contribution public education has made to society over the past 175 years.
We celebrate the work of teachers and support staff in developing and shaping the next generation.
We celebrate all types of learning that occurs at all levels across our education system.
We celebrate our shared responsibility in helping to shape the lives and futures of today’s learners.

Embracing the Future

Our education system is preparing young people to be agile thinkers and lifelong learners from the first days in early childhood education to post-school pathways. It provides equity and opportunities for all our learners.

Congratulations
Isla H has been successful in her audition for the State Primary Drama Ensemble, well done Isla a fantastic opportunity to connect and grow with talented students from across Sydney. The Ensemble will be performing at the end of October.

P&C
Will be held tonight in the library. We will provide an overview of our NAPLAN results as well as an update on the plans for the Kindergarten and Year One play space.

Visual Art
It was wonderful to spend time last Friday viewing Stage 3 artworks and their connections and reflections on their choice of artist. Just a few photos to capture a glimpse of their work. I’m sure it will be on display tomorrow in classrooms!

Brooke Keevers
Principal

Stage 3 Visual Art

Kindergarten
Our writing is blossoming in Kindergarten. It is wonderful to see the progress, beginning with writing sounds, then words and moving onto sentences. Our students have multiple opportunities to write each day across all subject areas. The focus is on empowering them to use their letter-sounds to spell words, and then write coherent sentences. The teachers have been working hard to teach our early writers the structure of a simple sentence, including correct grammar and punctuation.

This term, we have moved to experimenting with time connectives to sequence ideas and prepositional phrases to tell the reader about where or when an event has occurred.

Through studying quality texts, students are exposed to creative ideas and rich language. This inspires them as readers and writers, igniting a passion for literature.

Students are learning they can improve their writing based on the feedback from teachers. They are building skills to edit their texts after receiving feedback.

Kindergarten is at the beginning of their writing journey, developing the foundational literacy skills and progressively building on these skills. As teachers, it is incredibly exciting to watch our students’ confidence, knowledge and skills grow. We look forward to continuing to guide them to be curious, creative and reflective writers.

Examples of Kindergarten writing: Parker, Nessie and Flynn

School News

Junior State Music Camp
At the beginning of this term I was at the Junior State Music Camp for 5 nights. Although I missed the athletics carnival I still enjoyed playing music and making friends with other kids in years 5-8 from all over NSW. All sixteen percussionists went to the gym for the main band auditions. On the second day we went to the warm up room to be allocated into our bands. I was in the Kats Chernin Wind Ensemble. The other wind ensemble was called Grainger. There was also a stage band and orchestra.

The rest of the week was really fun. I spent the days rehearsing my pieces, learning to improvise in Jazz and doing fun recreation activities such as Archery and Go Kart building. In the jazz combo I had fun playing solos and learning the 3-2 and 2-3 clave rhythms. On Thursday night all of the mini bands got together and had a little performance. After that the stage band performed while we had a party. On the last day we had a big concert for the parents and it was really fun.

By Oscar G

Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition
The Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition is open to the Manly electorate’s primary schools.

Aim of the competition

To promote the public speaking skills of all students
To develop effective listening skills
To encourage confidence in students and the ability to speak in front of an audience
To develop the public speaking skills of students who have a talent and to promote this talent through a competition

This term every student in Year 3 to Year 6 participated in the school Bear Pit Public Speaking competition. Finalists from each class presented their speeches at a stage assembly. In Stage 2 and 3, one finalist from each stage was selected to represent Balgowlah North Public School at the Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition at Parliament House on 4 August 2023.

A very big congratulations to Amelia M from Stage 2 and Talon D from Stage 3 who were the successful candidates to represent our school at Parliament House. We wish you both good luck.

Also congratulations to all the following stage finalists:

3H Zoe G Frankie J Eddie O
3V Juliet K Amelia M Edward G
4/3W Toby P Asher S Tilly E
4HL Max C Abbey M Bonnie L
5M Olivia C Ben B
5R Talon D Millie G
6H Jess D Scarlett P
6S Darcy Y Matthew D

Creative Arts News - Musica Viva - Wyniss

We were lucky enough to view an exciting performance from Musica Viva yesterday. The ensemble that performed for us were a Torres Strait Islander group who sung, danced and played traditional musical instruments that they had made. They even incorporated games with spinning tops and string figures. This wildly entertaining and colourfully costumed ensemble showed how culture and history are passed on through music, dancing and games. Students came to understand the importance of traditions, and to be thankful to those who teach them. We will continue learning about Wyniss and their songs in our music lessons this term!

Eliza McAllister - Music and Dance Teacher

Sports News

NSWPSSA Netball Knockout Quarter Finals
On Wednesday morning the Balgowlah North netball team travelled to Oakhill Drive Public School to play the quarter finals of the NSWPSSA Netball Knockout. The team of Evelyn S, Addie B, Darcy Y, Josie P, Jess D, Scarlett P and Sophie Rogers played with determination and showed outstanding skill to win 38 – 6. Thank you, Lucy Orth and Leith Schmidt for transporting the girls there and back and to our injured Charlie O for doing the scoring for us on the day. We will look forward to playing the semi-finals against Mona Vale Public School on Friday this week.

Susie Stock

Waste Free Wednesday

Admin News

School Bytes

Shool Bytes Parent Portal provides easier navigation of the statement of account, permission notes and other information sent form School Bytes. The app can be downloaded by following the link below:

Parent Portal: Provide consent and payment for an excursion – School Bytes

On the app you can:

Make payments and pay fees
Give consent for excursions and activities

The Week Ahead

2 August P & C Meeting 7.30pm in the Library
3 August Education Week (Book fair, Open classrooms, Creatives Arts performances and Morning Tea - see flyer for details).
4 August Bear Pit at Parliament House
8 August Stage 3 Refugee excurison
9 August Stage 3 Forest High Writing Workshop
10 August ICAS-Writing Assessment 9:30am
15 August Choir Performance - Australis Concert
17 August ICAS- English Assessment 9:30am

Library News

Premier’s Reading Challenge

It is my great pleasure to congratulate another group of conscientious readers for completing the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Well done to:

Kindergarten – Elliot G
Year 1 – Harper M, Jack W
Year 5 – Meg A, Archer C, Kurt H, Aven L, Jack O

For those who are still reading to complete the challenge we have read a number of books in our library lessons which can be added to student reading records in K – 2 classes.

Kindergarten – Incredible Book Eating Boy, This Is Our House, Horrible Harriet
Year 1 and 2 – Magic Beach, Ella and the Ocean, Lionel And Me

There is still time to participate in the reading challenge for this year. Any books which have been read since the start of the year can be included. The challenge closes for student entries on Friday 18 August.

Class Snapshot -5R

Positive Behaviour for Learning

P & C News

P & C Meeting
The next P&C meeting will take place on Wednesday 2nd August 7.30pm in the Library. All parents welcome to attend.

Green Grove working beeSunday 13th August 10am - 12 noon. Please come down for a couple of hours with the kids to lend a hand. Use this link to regster your attendence: BNPS School Community: Balgowlah North School Community Working Bee (signupgenius.com)
We’ll have a BBQ after too!

Canteen News

We had lots of kids last week who thought they had an order but it wasn't placed or had forgotten to pack their lunch. We can't recommend ordering the night before highly enough to ahead of the morning rush and of course we're just a phone call away if you realise you've forgotten to order.Mel & Alex

Koolkuna News

For Term 3 Sustainable OSHC is collecting items for Smiles2U Care Packages.
Smiles2U is a charity that aims to bring care and comfort to the many children, adults and carers who pass through the doors of our local hospitals every day. Smiles2U now supports 13 hospitals (including Bear Cottage Hospice, Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead, and Royal North Shore Hospital) with care packages, smiles bags, cancer care packs and comfort for those who find themselves in hospitals unexpectedly.

We will be collecting the following items for these packs to support families and patients with comfort and care whilst going through a very challenging time in their lives.

Hygiene items

Shampoos/conditioners (travel size)
Toothbrushes/toothpaste
Moisturizer, hand creams
Soaps, mini tissue packs etc

Children Activity items
(must be brand new - due to hygiene regulations)
Gel pens, pencils, crayons, textas etc.
Colouring in books, Reading books, Sticker books, etc.
Teddy bears
Playing cards, Hot wheel cars, Mini Board games etc.
Craft Packs