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

Celebrations of Learning

Thank you to everyone for making the time to come and celebrate our wonderful students at our Celebrations of Learning on Monday and Tuesday. Our students have worked hard this year to strive for their personal best. They work hard to take on feedback from their teachers and also use self assessing techniques to assist them with their next steps in learning.

We are proud of each and everyone of our students, we appreciate all that you do to nurture and encourage your children to shine in their own area of passion, interest and talent. Our students have excelled in the academic areas of the curriculum, on the sporting fields and in the Arts. Thank you for sharing this opportunity with us.

Thank you to our wonderful band students who performed last night at their Ensemble Showcase. The committment that our students bring to practice, attending rehearsals and performing is commendable. We look forward to a new juniour band forming in 2024. The future is bright for our band program.

Thank you to our P&C for their acknowledgement of Jenni Reinhardt at our wonderful Celebration on Monday.

2023 student leadership team

Thank you to our fantastic student leaders who have persisted with challenges, taken up opportunities and been positive role models for all the students in the school. Thank you Darcy Y, Matthew D, Jackson T, Scarlett P, Noah S, Isaac A, Jess D and Emily M. We wish you all the best for high school.

Thank you also to our sports captains for displaying teamwork, sportsmanship, grit and determination in your sports leader roles this year. Thank you Lila B, Isaac R, Ruby T, Ewan O, Jimmy M, Charlie O, Van H and Neve R. Continue to aim high, do your best and make a difference.

Student Leaders 2024

Congratulations to our new 2024 student leadership team.

Captain: Talon D
Captain: Olivia C
Vice Captain: Charlie B
Vice Captain: Olive B
Prefects: Finn E and Lachie P
Prefects: Kahlia M and Amelia S

House Captains 2024

Kangaroos: Taylor Green and Vinnie Mader
Koalas: Sophia Cottrell and James Jones
Wallabies: Millie Gaudry and Cooper Inches
Wombats: Sammy Dylan and Darcy Crawford

Colour Run

Thank you to our students, teachers and families for a fantastic colour run last Thursday. Definitely one of the highlights of the year for us all. The final amount raised was $18, 498.50. The teachers will put this to good use with resources across the school in English, PDHPE and Science and Technology.

As we head to the final 8 days of term, please enjoy this time with your children, we have many events on and it is important to reinforce considerate and responsible behaviour at all times so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy these last few days.

Just a reminder of dates -

Last day of Term for students and teachers

Friday 15th December 2023

First day of Term One for students 1-6 2024

Thursday 1st February

First Day of Kindergarten

Best Start - 1st, 2nd and 5th February 2024

Tuesday 6th February

Kind regards
Brooke Keevers
Principal

School News

Year 6 Fun Day
Year 6 students have designed and made their own games and sporting activities. They will be holding a Fun Day event on Tuesday 12th December. All classes will be scheduled a 40 minute time slot. Activities will take place under the COLA and on the adjacent ovals. The games for Years 2-5 will range in price from 10c- 50c per turn and for Kindergarten and Year 1 a gold coin donation will be appreciated. Money raised will be used to purchase a Year 6 gift for the school.

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

Admin News

Email addresses
Please check the email addresses you have provided us with and ensure they are the same on School bytes. We have had several bounce back to us.

School Bytes Parent Portal
We will be transitioning to School Bytes in 2024 so it is really important that you download the parents portal. For any parents who still have not set up the School Bytes Parent Portal, please find instructions below:

Admin Team

School_Bytes_parent_app_info_10102023.pdf

Sports News

Sporting Success
Last weekend, the School Sport Australia National Track & Field Championships was held in Launceston, Tasmania. Two exceptionally talented athletes from our school participated. Huge congratulations to both Jamison S and Isaac R for their participation and success at such an elite level.

Jamison competed in the multiclass events with results as follows:
1st 800m
1st 4x100m relay
2nd 200m
2nd 100m
3rd long jump

Isaac competed in the 11 year age group with results as follows:
1st in 1500m
2nd in 800m
3rd in Medley relay

Congratulations Jamison and Isaac!

Well done to our Australian Champions!!!!!

Class Snapshot - KM

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Library News

Last week was the final week of borrowing for the term. Please help your children remember to return all library books this week. While our library is closed for borrowing please make use of our digital platforms. These include: Storybox Library Username - booksbnps, Password - books; EPlatform by Wheelers - download the app or go to the website. To access a book, students use their school username and password.

Book Club
Orders close for Issue 8 of Scholastic Book Club at the end of this week.

Book Sale
Please see below for information about our Book Sale next week. 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 this week.

The Week Ahead

Thursday 7 December - Christmas Stall
Friday 8 December - Year 6 Farewell Dinner 6pm-9pm
Monday 11 December - K-6 All School Assembly 1:45pm
Thursday 14 December - K-6 Picnic Day - Winnerremy Bay, Mona Vale
Friday 15 December - Last day of school for students and teachers
Friday 15 December - Year 6 Assembly and clap out 2.15pm-3pm

Band News

This week our Junior Band and Performance Band performed at the presentation assemblies representing the school proudly in front of students, parents, friends and honoured guests. It was a proud moment for us to see so many of our band students receiving academic awards – a testament that playing music makes smarter people!

Then on Tuesday evening, our bands and string ensemble, celebrated the end of a wonderful year of making music. Family members and friends gathered to hear the achievements of our ensembles, finishing off the evening with a sing along to We Wish You a Merry Christmas. The band members went home with a spring in their step and a certificate that acknowledged their commitment to the band program. Thank you to Ms Keevers, conductors and parents and carers for your support of our students and band program.

We wish all BNPS families and staff a Happy Festive Season.

Instrument Offers – Band 2024. Please confirm
For those who came along to our instrument tryouts, you will have received your instrument offer via e-mail in the last few weeks. If your child would like to join band please accept the instrument offer or have a conversation with us about the recommended instrument.

There is still time to join band 2024
Our Junior Band 2024 is coming together. There is still places available for students in years 3 – 5 (2024) to join the band in 2024. We will arrange an instrument tryout, please contact bnpsband@hotmail.com. Read all about band and fill in the Expressions of Interest form on the band website: https://bnpsband.wixsite.com/website/general-8

Join Our Strings Program 2024
It was wonderful to see our string group perform at assembly last week. Current Kindy and Year 1 (Year 1 and 2 in 2024) children are invited to join our string program and learn a string instrument. You can read all about our String program on our website https://bnpsband.wixsite.com/website/about-3.

Enquiries to bnpsband@hotmail.com .

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

It was a great turn out for the fundraising information session last Wednesday night. We have established the team leaders for each of the main events. If you would like to get involved, please reach out to the team leaders.

Term 1 - Parents Night Out - Prue Jackson (co-lead) and Rachael Riddington (co-lead)

Term 2 - Trivia Night - Alex Walding (lead)

Term 3 - Kids Movie Night - Laura Campbell (co-lead) and Gary Williams (co-lead)

Term 4 - Christmas Carnival - Dan Brabant (lead) with support from Laura Ferguson, Lindsay Sheather, Pip Perkins, Josh Moles, and Charlotte Brabant