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

Strategic Direction 2

Fostering resilient, curious, thoughtful and collaborative learners.
Our students are confident, learners who have positive self esteem, stretch themselves and take risks with their learning. Having a strong sense of meaning and purpose underpins these beliefs. Projects our students, teachers and school community have engaged with involve strengthening our Student Voice through our SRC, our student leadership and our Green team. We continue our work with Dr Andrew Martin around motivation and engagement over the next semester.

Building a culture of powerful thinking across our school will ensure that we enable the aspirations of high expectations for every child to achieve their own personal best.

Staffing
I’d like to acknowledge the work of Claudia Mete who has been successful at interview and has secured herself a full time permanent position at Mosman Public School. This is an important journey for our early career teachers as they embark on their professional career. We wish Claudia all the best at her new school. We will welcome back Rachel Adams, a permanent member of the Balgowlah North teaching staff who has been on extended leave, she will commence at the start of Term 3 on 1M.

Band News
What a wonderful term of music our band students have engaged with from The Mother's Day Performance, Band Workshop, Harbourside Music Festival, Assembly Performance from Junior Band and to now the preparations for the P&C Disco on 20 June!

Rainbow Disco - tickets on Flexischools and volunteer to help make it a fun time
Just 10 days away, the Rainbow Disco is guaranteed to be a fun afternoon for everyone. It's the band's major fundraiser so please support it. Please see the poster below. Tickets are available on flexischools - purchase by Monday 17 June. Also seeking volunteers to assist with a range of jobs to help make it a fun time for all. Please contact Nicole.margetts@me.com.

Sadly for us our wonderful Band Director of two and half years, Mark Strykowski, and his family, are heading south where Mark's wife has taken a new, very important, role in Canberra. We have been fortunate to have Mark's expertise and experience as a musician and band conductor, among other things, at our school. He has worked with Angus and Nick to establish a program that is developing the students' abilities in musicianship while instilling the social skills and responsibility that comes with being part of a team. His leadership, calmness and positive attitude when interacting with the children has been an asset to the program. Mark has set a strong foundation from which our bands will continue to grow from strength to strength.

Kind regards

Brooke Keevers

Principal

School News

Curiosity and Outdoor Learning
Kindergarten students have been very lucky to participate in many optimal outdoor learning activities this term. Our diverse BNPS environment provides a wonderful resource to develop curiosity and strengthen student engagement. Mathematical, Scientific and English skills are just some of those Key Learning Areas further enhanced through our outdoor learning program.

Our ‘Hoop Study’ last week proved to be popular judging by the excited faces and thoughtful questions and observations made by students provided with a magnifying glass, clip board and ipad. Comparisons were made and variations between the different objects, such as leaves and other environmental items, were debated. Collaborative teamwork was a highlight!

Katherine Evans - Program Coordinator

Premier’s Debating Challenge
Last Thursday, round one of the 2024 Premier’s Debating Challenge saw the two BNPS teams pitted against Balgowlah Heights PS Opinionators and Balgowlah Heights PS Expressers. BNPS Team Manning (negative) were narrowly defeated on the topic ‘that primary schools should have a three-day weekend’. BNPS Team Bardoo (affirmative) were also unfortunately unsuccessful with their topic ‘that we should ban all tests in primary schools’. Our two teams were very competitive and are looking forward to round 2 in the challenge when we host Seaforth PS.

Team Manning: Olivia C, Talon D, Evie R, and Charlie B.

Team Bardoo: Sophia C, Ben B, Amy G, and Will G.

Chris McCall, Debating Coordinator

Our Wakakirri 2024 Journey so far

Waste Free Wednesday

Congratulations to our winners 1M, KE and 3R

Class Snapshots KR and KP

Library News

Congratulations to:-

Lilah F, Noah C, Parker C, Elliot G, Eva L, Sammy P, Violent R, Jack W, Lily B, Walter F, Manon D,

Thomas G, Kobi P, Claire Z, Archer C, Hugo D, Amy G, Kurt H and Logan P who have completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2024.

The "I Wonder" concept for children encourages curiosity and a love for learning by prompting them to ask questions about the world around them. It invites kids to explore their natural inquisitiveness, transforming everyday moments into opportunities for discovery and understanding. By fostering an environment where children feel safe and excited to express their wonder, this approach helps develop critical thinking skills, creativity, and a lifelong passion for knowledge. Whether it's pondering how plants grow, why the sky is blue, or how animals communicate, the "I Wonder" concept empowers children to seek answers and embrace the joy of learning.

Scholastic Book Club Orders
All orders for Scholastic Book Club need to be submitted by Friday 21st June

Teacher Picks!

Mrs Carroll’s favourite picture book is :

‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’by Michael Rosen ; illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.
A family embark on an exciting adventure to find a bear. On their journey, the family encounter many different terrains. They slide down a grassy slope, splash through a deep cold river, sludge through thick oozy mud, stumble through a deep dark forest, and walk through a swirling snowstorm.

“ It’s a classic. I love the story and the beautiful language. I used to read this story to my children and they loved it too.”- Mrs Carroll

Admin News

Parents Transporting Students
The Department of Education Policy for parents transporting students in school hours requires parents to have a Volunteer Working With Children Check from Service NSW and have completed the Declaration for Child Related Work.

If you have this clearance and would like to add yourself to the school's parent transport database please complete the declaration below and return to the school via email with copies of 2 forms of ID.
Declaration for child-related workers (nsw.gov.au)

Health
Winter is fast approaching, bringing with it an increased risk of seasonal flu, severe colds, and other common childhood illnesses. We have seen a rise in student illnesses presenting to the sickbay and within our school community. To prioritise the wellbeing of our students and staff, we kindly ask everyone to adhere to the guidelines for common childhood illnesses, which can be found here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Factsheets/infectious_childhood.PDF.

We also request that if your child exhibits any signs or symptoms of a virus or infection and generally feels unwell, they remain at home until they are asymptomatic.

School Bytes
School Bytes is the only digital platform for submitting absences via the School Bytes parent portal or App.

SchoolZine and School ENews are no longer active
If your child is away from school you can submit an absence online (see below).

Go into your School Bytes portal and click "Attendance"
Under Planned Absence, click "Create" and complete the details

Kindergarten 2025
We are enroling now for 2025, if you have not done so already please submit an online enrolment for your child. Online Enrolment Application (nsw.gov.au)

Please see the flyer below for important dates and if you would like to book a tour please call the office on 9949 4499.

Many thanks
Admin Team

Positive Behaviour for Learning

The Week Ahead

Saturday 15 June P & C Trivia Night
Monday 17 June K-2 Assembly 2.30pm
Thursday 20 June P&C K-2 and 3-6 Disco
Friday 21 June Regional Cross Country
Monday 24 June 3-6 Assembly 2.30pm
Tuesday 2 July Year 6 Eat Up Fundraiser
Wednesday 3 July BNPS Athletics Carnival
Friday 5 July Last day of Term 2

P & C News

Trivia
This Saturday night is Trivia Night! Be sure to get your raffle tickets on Flexischools. There are lots of great prizes to be drawn. 2 tickets for $10 or 6 for $20.

School Disco
Tickets on sale on Flexischools until Monday 17 June! Swipe across on Flexischools to find the tickets, past the trivia image.

SAVE THE DATE - Christmas Carnival 2024

The BNPS Christmas Carnival will return in 2024, so please save the date in your diary! There will be several announcements and calls for your assistance as we approach the carnival. The success of the carnival relies on contributions from all of you in our school community.

PLEASE START SAVING YOUR JARS (all shapes and sizes). These are required for the jams & preserves stall, as well as the tombola game.

PLEASE START COLLECTING YOUR SECOND HAND BOOKS. There will be a second hand book stall on the day of the carnival.

Koolkuna News

Throughout Term 2, the children have been learning about native plants, decorating pots, planting seeds and caring for a range of native flora to sell at our Bush to Beach Plant Sale on Thursday, 13th June.

Bush to Beach Plant Sale
When: Thursday, 13th June from 2:45pm
Where: BNPS School Hall Deck
What: All plants will cost between $5-$10 and all funds collected will be donated to Bush to Beach.

Since 2006, with support of the South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club, Bush to Beach has facilitated an annual trip for children in Brewarrina and surrounding communities to visit Sydney’s Northern Beaches – a 12-hour bus ride away – as a reward for good school attendance and behaviour. The program enables the young people to learn new skills, build confidence and experience an environment totally unlike the one they’ve grown up in.

Winter Vacation Care
Please find attached the 2024 Winter Vacation Care Program. Bookings are open via the Xplor Home App.

Please use the Xplor Home App to find the bookings tab and book into the appropriate sessions labelled "Vacation Care K-2" or "Vacation Care 3-6". If your session does not appear, this is due to the session being fully booked. In this instance, please select “request a space” for this day which will automatically add you to the waitlist.

If your place is approved from the waitlist, you will receive a notification on your Xplor Home App so please ensure you are monitoring this.

Changes or cancellations will be accepted up until 2 weeks prior to your booking and must be requested via Email.

Koolkuna OSHC Admin