Newsletter Term 2 week 1 2024
"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
Parent and Teacher Workshops - Engagement, Motivation and Learning Achievement
We will begin our professional learning work with Professor Andrew Martin, BA (Hons), MEd (Hons), PhD, Scientia Professor, Professor of Educational Psychology, and Chair of the Educational Psychology Research Group in the School of Education at the University of New South Wales, Australia.
Andrew is recognized for his research on student motivation, engagement, learning, and achievement. His research bridges other disciplines, investigating motivation and engagement in sport, music, and work.
On Tuesday the 14th of May he will be working with our teachers for a twilight professional learning session for two hours. Following this he will present to our parent body a workshop on research and practical tips around motivation, engagement and learning achievement.
If you would be interested in attending his presentation can you please click on the link below to register your interest.
Further information will be confirmed once we have enough interest in the workshop.
Thank you
Finishing Term 1, I had the opportunity to share Stage 2 and Stage 3 presentations and talk to the students about their learning. The excitement and engagement in classrooms was fantastic to see. Students were able to explain the processes, strengths of their learning and were able to reflect on how well they collaborated with their partners, all important aspects to self monitoring and improving your habits as a learner. Enjoy a snapshot from some of the classrooms!
Stage 2
Stage 3
Thank you to Talon and Olivia for representing our school at the Manly Dam ANZAC day service during the holidays.
Thank you to our school community for your financial support of our playground upgrade. We are just awaiting the sandpit cover, new toys and the construction of the teepee and cubby. Fingers crossed that the students will be able to explore the area once the rain stops!
Annual School Report 2023
Our annual school report has been published to our school website. The report outlines our achievements for 2023 and our operational activities for the calendar year. It is closely linked to our School Improvement Plan. The link below will take you to the full report.
2023 Balgowlah North Public School Annual Report (nsw.gov.au)
looking forward to a wonderful term of learning.
Brooke Keevers
Principal
Assistant Principal's News
Professional Learning at BNPS
Cross Network Professional Learning for Student Learning Support Officers
As a school we pride ourselves on facilitating professional learning opportunities that ensure the ongoing development and improvement of all teachers and support staff.
On Monday, we hosted a cross-network professional learning workshop for 45 School Learning and Support Officers (SLSOs) from across the Beaches network of primary schools. Our Learning and Support Teacher, Anna Harris, collaborated with Sue Miller, Assistant Principal for Learning Support - Beaches Network, to design a targeted professional learning opportunity that offered evidence-based,effective strategies which SLSOs can use to support students across a variety of contexts.
Our SLSOs have an incredibly complex and valuable role in our schools, working to support Classroom Teachers in implementing learning programs for students with learning, behaviour, social or emotional needs. They are a vital part of our educational environment and school community and investing in professional development is critical to ensuring our schools are inclusive environments where all learners can succeed.
The response to our cross network workshop has been so positive that Anna Harris will lead the development of professional learning opportunities for SLSOS across our network ongoingly.
Professional Experience Students
Balgowlah North Public School proudly participates in hosting and mentoring student teachers completing their professional experience placements as we see this as an integral part of us contributing positively to the future of our profession and the education of our students.
This term, we will have student teachers working in 2A, 4/3P, 2HL and 2/1C. They will be involved in all aspects of the teaching and learning program and deliver lessons under the supervision and guidance of the Classroom Teacher who remains accountable for curriculum delivery, assessment, student welfare and classroom organisation.
We look forward to welcoming our ‘teachers of tomorrow’ to our beautiful school this term.
Rachel Ridley
School News
ANZAC Day Writing Stage 3
War At Gallipoli
People just like me on these tiny boats are so young, so innocent, all of us going to war. It felt like seconds from the boat to the shore, I prepared myself for what was to come as my shoes dug into the sand making a tense crunch, then me and my brothers ran. Bombs going off wounding us but you couldn't hesitate even if your life long friend is lying on the beach dying, his blood coloring the sand crimson, all you could do is run for them and your country. Snipers shooting us, everyone praying to god they weren’t next, sadly for some, they were, their family's worst nightmare coming true.
Running up the hill one of my bullets pierced a Turkish soldier's head, but it didn’t feel like a victory, I didn’t know him and he didn’t know me and yet I killed him. Run, run, run is all I could think I could think of , it’s all anyone thought but what felt like an eternity ended in some hours because although war feels like weeks we still have breaks. When the trumpets sounded my head turned into a dizzy haze as I reflected on the horrors I had seen in the last 24 hours. Lest We Forget
Reid E 6S
ANZAC Day Poem
In amongst the shrubbery
rosemary dance and sway.
Still acting happily on this horrible day.
Soldiers lying in the ground not ever seen again,
All there family wondering where they’d been,
We will always remember them,
We will never forget what they sacrificed,
to make our world a better place.
Lest We Forget.
Aven L 6S
ANZAC Day
So many soldiers
Both young and old
Putting their lives at risk
Some of the stories are still untold.
Ongoing fights
Made by conflicts, so many
people did not know what would happen
But it was plenty.
A man with his donkey
Putting others before himself
Carrying the wounded taking them
To somewhere they can regain their health.
Two friends finding adventure
Looking forward to war
Coming back alright
But regretting what they saw.
They sacrificed their life
To give us a happy home
So on April 25th
All their names will be known.
We will remember them,
Lest We Forget.
Henry J 6S
ANZAC Day Poem
Putting their bodies on the line,
Seeing the world one final time.
Trying to do Australia proud,
The noise of the gunfire was extremely loud.
We shall never forget them.
Lest we Forget.
Rosemary growing on the Gallipoli land,
War spreading its deadly hand.
Smoke filled the air
As bombs were fired everywhere.
We shall never forget them.
Lest we forget.
The danger was real,
Some would not heal.
Many was sadly gone,
By the next day at early dawn.
We shall never forget them.
Lest we forget.
Olivia C 6S
ANZAC DAY
Feeling fierce, hopeful and brave,
Working hard, knowing they have a country to save.
Rosemary shining bright and green,
Gunshots firing along the scene.
Having the courage to do what is right,
They won’t give up, but they will fight.
As determination filled their head,
The land was painted in pain and dread.
Sacrificing their life and making an event,
Australia is lucky to have some of them present.
Today we remember their commitment and spirit,
As they sit in our hearts, for every minute.
Lest We Forget.
Tess P 6S
Poppies blow in the wind a drift in the air, a gift from the earth to remember those who have died. The memory of them shall never be forgotten. We remember those who died in the war, the ones who survived and those who had survived but lost loved Ones
Lest we forget
Benny M 6/5H
Anzac Day poem
As night turns to day,
ANZAC’s pull up on Gallipoli shore,
Faced with treacherous rock cliff face,
Enemy’s waiting, armed and ready.
They begin to climb,
Not knowing what will happen next,
Showing true ANZAC spirit,
Resilience, bravery and a great sense of humor.
On the 25th of April every year,
We wear a poppie or peace of rosemary,
In remembrance of those who served,
As these were the plants that were the first to bloom after the war.
Lest we forget.
By Cooper I 6/5H
As their boat washed up upon the shore,
It was the start of the First World War.
Not a smile in sight,
Just the look of devastation and fright.
Surrounded by the dead,
The only colour in sight was the poppies that were bright red.
Even though all felt lost,
Protecting their country was well worth the cost.
They were worried and scared,
It was a day they had been waiting for,
It was finally 25th of April 1914,
But suddenly we were no longer so keen.
Even though they were worried and scared, the Anzac Spirit kept them going,
The central powers could shoot them whenever without them even knowing.
It was truly a devastating time,
It was bitter as a sour lime.
It was really no fun,
They were surrounded by tanks and machine guns.
Se we must remember those who fought,
They did it for us, despite their deep regret,
So always remember,
Lest we forget!
Jess M 6/5H
Lest We Forget
Storming the beaches, ready to fight,
From the start of the day, to the end of the night.
Gunfire continues, climbing the hill,
Soldiers getting shot, the Central Powers kill.
Explosions occur, planes fly by,
Poppies grow, and comrades die.
Reinforcements come, tanks roll through,
They are intimidated, they retreat too.
The battle ends, many were lost,
Thank you soldiers, but at what cost?
Lest We Forget
Josh N 6/5H
‘Lest We Forget’
Comrades dying in the scene
Tanks rumble, the killing machine
Ships with soldiers ready to fight
Into the day and out through the night
People fight, losing their breath
Soldiers dropping, death by death
Guns fire over the hill
Hunting, fighting, going for the kill
The day that they lost it all
Thousands of soldiers dying, call…
Call for friends, family and loved ones
The fallen, latching there guns
Now we commemorate them hand in hand
The day they all came to an end, blood, sweat, tears and sand
The last post plays, crowd sits in complete silence
Thinking of the terrible, devastating violence
Lest we forget
Logan P 6/5H
Sports News
PSSA update
PSSA trials will be taking place on Friday in Week 1 and 2 of this term.
Teams will be posted on Monday Week 3. First PSSA game is Friday Week 3.
First tennis will also be taking place Friday week 3.
New navy PSSA Football socks are now a requirement for all PSSA soccer teams. These will be on sale from outside the office from 8.45am on Tuesday Week 3 for $5.
Congratulations to our Junior Boys Relay team on coming in 7th place in the State competition.
Library News
Welcome back to term 2.
Congratulations to:-
Boden W, Finlay M, Maxen W, Phoebe W, Summer C, Thomas B, Faith G, Kora P and Benjamin B who have completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2024.
A reminder about all the wonderful books that are on the eplatform that students are able to read or listen to.
These include:
- eBook and Audio Book library.
These can be found at http://balgowlahnorthps.wheelers.co/
or by downloading the EPlatform by wheelers app and finding our school.
To borrow a book on this platform, students use their DET username and password.
- Storybox Library – a fantastic collection of videos of favourite stories read by wonderful storytellers.
password: booksbnps
username: books
- World Book Online – online encyclopedia. Username and password: bnps
There is still plenty of time to take part in the Premiers Reading Challenge
The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is open to all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 10, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools. If you need help using the website and the answer cannot be found on the PRC Support site, please contact - prc@det.nsw.edu.au
Friday 23 August 2024: Challenge closes for student entries
Lunchtime in the Library
Students are welcome to come to our library at lunchtime at 1:15pm (second half lunch) on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. They will have the opportunity to play with Lego, draw or read books. Students can also borrow at this time.
Amanda Mason
Admin News
School Bytes
As School Bytes will be our only platform from Term 2, please make sure you are registered.
Method 1 - Parent Portal - accessed via this link: https://portal.schoolbytes.education
Method 2 - Parent App
App Store - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/school-bytes/id6463097826
Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=education.schoolbytes
Absences:
Can now be submitted via the School Bytes parent portal - absences.
Absences require an explanation within 7 calendar days from the first day of absence.
Illness:
With the change of seasons there will be an increase in cold and flu symptoms. If your child is unwell please keep them home to prevent the spread of illness in our school community. If your child exhibits symptoms they will be sent home.
Many thanks
Admin Team
Positive Behaviour for Learning
The Week Ahead
Friday 3 May Kindergarten Scool Tour 1
Monday 6 May K-2 Assembly 2.30pm
Wednesday 8 May Interrelate
Thursday 9 May Mothers Day Breakfast and Stall
Monday 13 May 3-6 Assembly 2.30pm
Tuesday 14 May School Cross Country
P & C News
Chicken Coop
Have you seen our upgraded chicken coop? Our four chickens, Barbie, Stacey, Chloe and Skipper are loving extra space, more shade & a safer coop! Thank you so much to Wynand and Elize Foot who not only shared their building skills with us but also their creativity & care for the well-being of the chickens by adding some additional touches that benefit the chickens! And thank you to everyone for your contributions as without the funds of the P&C this project would not have been possible. Thanks finally to the Brabant family who coordinated a Bunnings BBQ which also contributed to the project.
If your family is interested in joining the existing families who feed, water, clean & care for the chickens please reach out to Cate Webster on 042203773
Green Grove Working Bee
Save the Date for a Green Grove Working Bee on Sunday, 19 May, more details to follow.
Koolkuna News
Dear Families,
We hope everyone is having a lovely school holiday break and are ready for Term 2! Koolkuna OSHC is very excited to announce the team at Motiv8 Sports will be joining our After School Care curriculum in Term 2. Please find below information on the Term 2 Additional Activity and the link to sign up. Please be reminded, your child must be booked into Koolkuna OSHC in order to participate in the Additional Activity.
Term 2 Additional Activity
Motiv8 Sports - Kindy - Year 6
On Thursday afternoons in Term 2, Koolkuna OSHC will be joined by the Motiv8 Sports Team who will be running sports clinics to provide an opportunity to learn new skills across a range of sports and develop healthier lifestyle habits. Each clinic emphasizes on fun and inclusion, with inflatable obstacles, prizes and music to pump you up when participating in Flag ball Battle, Ultimate League, Gauntlet, Sponge Wars, Super Soccer, Super Sports Challenge and a final week Party Face Off. Dates: Term 2 Week 2 - Week 9 (9th May – 27th June)Time: 3:45pm - 5:00pmCost: $100/child for 8 week program
Motiv8 Sports Permission Slip
Kind Regards,
Koolkuna OSHC Admin
Canteen News
School Community News
School Sponsors
