Newsletter Term 4 week 7 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

Celebration of the Arts
Everyone is very excited for our performance event tonight. An opportunity for all our students to have engaged with selecting music, organising sound and choreographing their own movements to create a class performance. Learning evolves through a creative process of collaboration, creating and problem solving together to create a performance.

Thank you to the parents who have supported us through sourcing costumes and communicating with families. We know that costumes add an extra layer of complication, but an important part of performing adds a definite sparkle to the night!  

Thank you to our amazing staff, the administration team that supports the teachers with resourcing and communication. Our incredible Performing Arts team Eliza Mc Callister, Karina Lewis, Anna Harris and Alice Pond. They have worked seamlessly to problem solve, create and imagine a vision for the night. Our team of teachers have supported them throughout the process as well as their physical presence tonight to ensure that our students have an incredible evening.

Photos will be uploaded through the newsletter as all parts of the hall including the aisles will be used for entry and exits we will require everyone to be seated through the whole performance. 

The Colour Run 2023
Will take place on Thursday the 30th of November at 1.45am. The Colour Run is raising funds to purchase Science and Technology, home reading and Physical Education resources for the classrooms. Students run/walk/skip around a designated course here at school, socialising with friends, being covered in vibrant colours, being squirted with water and almost forgetting that they are exercising! Adding interest and duration to the course along the way will be obstacles and challenges to make it more fun! It would be fantastic if you could encourage your child to be involved in this, as it builds a shared sense of responsibility and ownership towards making a difference for our school. 

There will be some fabulous prizes:
-  A pizza lunch for the class that raises the most and a chance to COLOUR BOMB some teachers.
-  Movie tickets for the family of the student that raises the most in every grade from K-6. If we reach our target goal, these students will also be able to slime some teachers.
- Our goal this year is to raise $20 000!!

Donating
You will find the link for donating in the emails sent to you on the 31 October and 21 November titled "Colour Run". If family and friends wish to donate, the individual email for each student can be forwarded to the donator. This provides a link to the School Bytes payment portal - click add an item - colour run donation - amount and payment methods.  These funds will link to the individual student without the donator seeing any confidential information. 

Parent voluteers
We also need 15 parent helpers on the day. If you are interested in helping please fill out the below google form by this Friday. Mrs Hardy will be in contact via email early next week to confirm the first 15 parents who returned the form. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTDKqe6C8pzXdMoUBbVG78wgi4Umh47yKtsYqjiUEoncbODg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Music and Dance Performance Showcase tonight

Performance Times:
K-2:  5pm (approximately 60mins)
3-6:  6:45pm (approximately 60 mins) 

Holding Rooms (for BNPS students)
Holding rooms will be open from 4:30pm
School students are not permitted in the audience. On arrival all students are to go to their holding room.

During the K-2 performance:

• K-2 students are in their holding room when not on stage
• 3-6 siblings stay in their allocated class holding room

During the 3-6 performance:

• 3-6 students are in their holding room when not on stage
• K-2 siblings stay in their allocated class holding room

At the end of the performance students will be escorted back to their holding room by a teacher
Parent’s will need to sign their child out of their holding room.

Evening performances: 
Please remain seated during the performance and keep aisles clear at all times. Hall doors will open strictly 10 minutes before each showcase. Students will be in a class item as well as the finale. Please structure your family arrangements for the night accordingly.

Food
Please ensure that all students have a substantial afternoon tea (or early dinner) before coming back to school. We have decided not to organise food on the night as there is a very tight turn around for everyone. Children are also encouraged to bring a lunch box and a drink bottle with them that they can leave in their holding room to snack on if they need too.

Photography & Filming:
Photography and filming are prohibited to protect the privacy of all children. 
Please ensure your phones are on silent for the duration of the performance.
Thank you for your ongoing support and we can't wait to see you tonight.

Brooke Keevers
Principal

Assistant Principals News

Kindergarten News 
Kindergarten students have relished opportunities to develop coding skills through using Blue-Bot robots and the ScratchJr application. In science and technology lessons this term, they have investigated different types of technology and created digital solutions. Students have become ‘Digital Detectives’ at home and at school, investigating how digital technologies meet needs, solve problems and enhance situations. 

Blue-Bot robots are fun and interactive, assisting students to develop an understanding of directional language and basic coding algorithms. When using Blue-Bot robots, they collaborate in groups, building sequencing skills and the ability to follow a simple set of instructions. 

With the ScratchJr application, students bring their own animated stories and games to life. They enjoy making their characters move, jump, dance, and sing. 

In personal development and health lessons, students have been learning to engage safely and responsibly with digital technology. 

It has been wonderful to observe our Kindergarten students develop their critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills by using technology in creative ways. 

Sascha Carroll
ES1 Assistant Principal (relieving) 

School News

Healthy Harold
Last week, some of our Year 6 leaders had the opportunity to participate in a special Life Education session that will feature on Channel 9’s Weekend Today show on the 25th of November. Darcy Y, Matthew D, Emily M, Ewan O and Scarlett P participated in a sneak peek session of a new module called ‘Take a Breath’ that engages Stage 3 students in an investigation around the issues surrounding vaping and smoking. Our students represented our school with amazing enthusiasm, maturity and engagement as they were interviewed by host Jayne Azzopardi on their response to the new program which will be introduced in 2024.

On Wednesday last week we had the chance to visit the world of health, giraffes and learning opportunities. Darcy, Matthew, Ewan, Scarlett and I had the opportunity to discuss the importance of not smoking or vaping with Michelle and instructor from Life Education. We became the subjects of an anti-smoking and vaping program, called ‘Take a Breath’.  This specific program is aimed at helping school students to make an educated decision about the dangers of smoking and vaping. We were so lucky to have a private visit with Heathy Harold and learn lots of facts about cigarettes, and the diseases that you can get if you make a bad choice to smoke or vape. It was filmed by the Weekend Today and will be shown on this Saturday.
Emily 6S and Scarlett 6/5H

Year 5 Leadership day
On Wednesday 15th November, all the year 5s participated in a leadership program to learn about being the next student leaders and house captains of BNPS. We got together and learned so much about being a leader. Year 5 played games and activities, growing our knowledge on being strong, smart leaders. We went through all the information on how to become a student leader, our speeches and the voting system. It was super fun and we can’t wait to read our speeches and find out who is going to be the next school captain! 
Talon D

I really enjoyed learning about Darcy, Matthew (the current school captains ), Ewan and Ruby’s (the current house captains) experiences they have had being leaders and captains of the school. They said “it has been challenging at times but an opportunity l will never forget”. Their words inspired me to try even harder to get a spot on the leadership team next year. It was a day that helped me build more confidence and was a day that has prepared me for Year 6 and any other year in my life that l must show leadership skills and confidence. 
Jess M

K-6 Picnic Day - Winnerremy Bay, Mona Vale
Our students and teachers will come together to celebrate a wonderful year of learning, friendship and fun at the K-6 Picnic Day on Thursday, December 14, 2023. We will be spending the day at Winnerremy Bay, Mona Vale, leaving at 9:15am and arriving back at school at 2:15pm.  

What to wear: Students can wear comfortable picnic clothes including an appropriate hat. Please pack a raincoat in case. 

What to bring: 

• Bring recess, picnic lunch and water bottles in a small backpack or library bag that is clearly named. Pack a waste-free lunch. Any food packaging will need to be taken home in lunchboxes. *Please note that there are no canteen orders and students are not permitted to purchase food at the park. 
• Please apply sunscreen in the morning before school and bring more to reapply during the day. Teachers will have some sunscreen supply as well. 
• Similar to last year, students may bring a small mat to sit on, a game or ball to play with. Make sure everything is clearly labeled.

The cost of this excursion has been included in the Term 4 Statement of Account.  It is essential we receive payment for this excursion and complete the digital permission note and make payment by Tuesday 12th December. We look forward to a fun day out celebrating with friends, wrapping up a fantastic school year. 

Sascha Carroll, Carol Saab and Olivia Wakelin

Seedling Sale
Next Thursday 23rd November, we would love to see parents and students come and support the Green Grove at our seedling sale! Our stall will be at the Bardoo Avenue gate from 8.30am. We invite all bean believers, cucumber commemoraters and succulent savers… with coins!
 🌳🌻

Waste Free Wednesday

Sports News

PSSA Training
Please note that there will be no training for PSSA in week 7 as no games will be held on the 24th November. Semi Finals and Finals will take place on the 1st and 8th December respectively. Training for teams that make it to the semis and finals will resume in week 8. 

Admin News

Class Snapshot - 4H/L

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Library News

This week will be the last week for library borrowing for the year, so that our annual stocktake can be done. Please help your children to find and return all library books by the end of next week (Week 8).

Premier’s Reading Challenge Certificates
Certificates for the challenge are now available for printing. I will be giving these out over the next 2 weeks to students during their library lessons. If students are receiving a gold or platinum award this year, they will be presented at the Week 10, K-6 assembly. 

Charity Book Sale
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning of Week 9, we are holding a second hand book sale. This will be outside the front of the library from 8:30 - 9:00 am. All books can be purchased with a gold coin donation and there will be a variety of novels, short chapter books and picture books. Proceeds from the book sale will be donated to a charitable foundation, Books In Homes. This organisation provides books-of-choice to children living in remote, disadvantaged and low socio-economic circumstances. If you would like to donate any used children’s books to the book sale, which are still in good condition, please bring them to the library. 

The Week Ahead

Band News

Koolkuna News

As we approach the holiday season Sustainable OSHC is participating in a Reverse Advent Calendar. In support of One Meal - Northern Beaches, Sustainable OSHC will be collecting a range of goods to donate to those families doing it tough these holidays.

Our Reverse Advent Calendar began on Tuesday 14th November and run for 24 week days until Friday 15th December. Refer to our Reverse Advent Calendar on display at the Sign In/Out Area to identify what products we are collecting on which days.

We hope our families will support this initiative by encouraging your children to drop the goods under the Koolkuna OSHC Christmas Tree.

Koolkuna OSHC Admin

P & C News

P&C Fundraising Information Evening
On Wednesday, 29 November at 7.00pm - 7.30pm at the school library, there will be an information evening for the 2024 Year 2 parents, to gain an understanding of the fun events planned for next year, and how you can get involved. So please diarise this date and come along and get involved. Help support the future growth of our school.

Final P&C Meeting 2023
The final P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday, 29 November at 7.30pm at the school library. We welcome your attendance as we discuss the wrap up of the year and plan for the year ahead. 

School Community News

On 19 November 2023, Logan P, Ben B, Charli K and Amy G represented Balgowlah North at the DanceSport Confidence NSW Championships at Homebush. Logan and Amy partnered up to make the quarter finals in the DanceSport Confidence division. Ben and Charli also partnered, and joined Amy and Logan in the semi finals of the After School Division. All four students danced beautifully to the quarter finals of the solo division, with Amy bringing home a medal for 4th place in the finals!

Disability Service Provider Expo 2023
As part of International Day of People living with Disability (which is observed on Sunday 3^rd December) Northern Beaches Council is holding a Disability Service Provider Expo. Join us for a free one-day expo featuring stalls from over 35 local disability service providers on the Northern Beaches. Connect, find support and new activities. 
No bookings required - come along on the day!

School Sponsors