Newsletter Term 3 Week 9 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 News
As we near the end of Term 3 and the spring sunshine starts to brighten our days, we begin to look forward to the exciting events that are the cornerstones of the school calendar every year. One of these long standing highlights of the end of year calendar is the Kindergarten transition program which kicked off yesterday with a wonderful Teddy Bear’s Picnic for our 2025 families. I was joined by Mrs Sarah King in spending a gorgeous morning welcoming our newest students to the place that will become their second home for the next 7 years. We are so looking forward to the orientation programs we have planned for Term 4 and remind any families in our community who are yet to enrol that planning for 2025 is well underway so prompt completion of enrolment is very much appreciated.
Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition
I had the tremendous honour of accompanying two of our students to NSW Parliament House on Monday to participate in the final of the Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition. Jessica M (Year 6) and Thomas G (Year 4) joined with students from across 11 other local primary schools to showcase what was a truly inspiring display of critical thinking and public speaking. As a member of the audience, I was surrounded by parents, teachers and school executives who were all absolutely blown away by the standard of the speeches that were given and I cannot express how proud I am of Thomas and Jess for representing our school so outstandingly.
Write On Competition
As we continue the celebration of excellence, we are so thrilled to announce that one of our talented young writers, Seren Brent, has been awarded a silver medal in the WriteOn 2024 competition. This year there were 740 entries from over 400 schools across NSW and Seren was one of just 18 students who received a Silver medal.
ICAS
Last week we received our ICAS results for 2024. ICAS is a historic academic competition that has been sat by over 10 million school students from 16,000 schools across 41 countries since 1981. The aim of ICAS is to recognise academic performance in a way similar to sports or the arts, with engaging, fun questions designed by psychometricians, education measurement experts and experienced teachers to test students’ higher-order thinking skills.
We would like to congratulate all of our students who participated in this competition on their tenacity and zest for learning in engaging with this challenging assessment. A very special congratulations go out to those students in our community who achieved remarkable results:
Getting involved in t he BNPS Mathematics Journey
As you are probably aware, our teachers have embarked on a journey of strengthening the way we teach mathematics at BNPS so we can build the mathematicians of the future.
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible education for your children, we are reaching out to gather your thoughts and insights about how we can involve parents in understanding how they can support their child’s mathematical development at home.
Our Mathematics Curriculum Leaders, Mrs Hardy , Mrs Horsley and Miss Mussett are conducting a survey to gather your valuable feedback so that we can plan for future opportunities to engage our parent community in our mathematical journey.
Please complete the survey via the link below by Friday 27th September:
https://forms.gle/w4Qoky1KfkQavPsv6
Planning for 2025
Planning is underway for staffing for next year. It would very much be appreciated if you could complete the form below if your children are moving schools in 2025 and we are not yet aware.
Rachel Ridley
Principal (Relieving)
Assistant Principal's News
What an exciting term of learning we had in Stage 2! We enjoyed engaging in special events such as Education Week, the Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition, and Father’s Day celebrations. Our exploration of the unique characteristics of Australia, including its natural features, broadened our understanding of our diverse country. We embraced the use of Problem Strings in mathematics to deepen our problem-solving skills.
One of the highlights of the term was our journey into space within our science and technology topics, sparking our curiosity and imagination. Students practiced our Learning Disposition of effective collaboration and teamwork through project-based tasks like the Mars Rover robotics project. In this project, students immersed themselves in hands-on learning experiences to design, program, and test their very own robotic vehicles inspired by space exploration. It was a term filled with exploration, creativity, and growth for all in Stage 2!
Take a look at our snapshot of Term 3!
Olivia Wakelin
Stage 2 Assistant Principal
School News
Curiosity and Outdoor Learning
Hmmm… How many different ways could I sort a selection of 20 chosen objects from my environment?
Wow this is going to be so much fun! But it is so hot. Luckily we have our hats on. We are learning about sorting interesting objects. Mrs Evans asked us to be in groups and each person in the group needed to find four things. We found grey small rocks, dirty sticks, and bumpy brown leaves. We sorted them in beautiful colours.
By Mina W 1M
It was a boiling, steaming hot day. We went to find nature to sort into a pattern. My group sorted by biggest to smallest. Other groups did alphabetical order. What we collected was sticks, bark, leaves, flowers, and seedlings on the floor. Next we collected pink leaves and little tiny leaves.
By Marlow T 1M
Congratulations to our Waste Free Wednesday winners 4M and 5V.
Class Snapshot 2A
Sports News
PSSA
Summer PSSA will resume this week. There will be no PSSA in week 10. Summer rounds will continue in week 1 of term 4.
All training will begin in Week 1 of Term 4. Teams have been training on Friday afternoons for 2 weeks prior to this week's game.
Please note the change from Term 1 in training day/ time for our cricket teams.
Training Times
Cricket Friday morning 8am School cricket nets
AFL Thursday lunch time School oval
Eagle tag Friday Morning 8am School oval
Tennis
First lesson commences Friday 20 September x 8 weeks.
There are still places available, please register via the email sent from School Bytes on 4 September titled Tennis Term 4.
School Sport
Professional coaches will be running workshops in Netball and Cricket for students participating in School Sport.
Library News
Teacher Picks!
Mrs Lewis’ favourite picture book is:
‘The Bad Mood’ by Swan Huntley
Whatever the reason, you're just not feeling it today. You are in a bad mood. If you're hoping to be reminded that you should be grateful and happy, then this is not the book for you. This book is here to help you sink deeper into your bad mood and ask some questions.
“It is the story about how feelings don’t make up who we are. Feelings come and go and we can watch that happen and be aware of that process. Feelings themselves can go on adventures with us as well.”- Mrs Lewis
Admin News
Kindergarten 2025
If you have a student starting Kindergarten in 2025 and we have asked you for more paperwork, can you please come to the office when you are next in the school so we can finish your child's enrolment.
Many thanks
Admin
Positive Behaviour for Learning
The Week Ahead
Thursday 19 September Kindergarten School Tour 4
Monday 23 September Regional Athletics
Monday 23 September Year 5 Dance Sports Gala
Monday 23 September K-6 Assembly 1.45pm
Tuesday 24 September Kindy and Year 6 Zoo excursion
Wednesday 25 September NBLA Writers Workshop
Friday 27 September Last day of Term 3
P & C News
Democracy Sausage Sizzle
A big thank you to the sausage sizzle volunteers who served up a feast on Saturday!
Christmas Carnival Volunteers
There are volunteering opportunities now available. Please register your interest using the link below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EAEA923A2FECF8-50658414-bnps
Canteen News
Band News
Year 2 Gets a Taste of Band
Last Monday Year 2 had the opportunity to undertake the Selmer Music Guidance Survey lead by BNPS Band Director Mr Colden Anderson. The Survey provides a guide to a child's musical aptitude through a series of musical examples identifying higher and lower pitches, chord, melody and rhythmic differences and likeness. Year 2 were given the opportunity to hear Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone and Piano performing the examples. The session concluded with breathing and rhythmic games highlighting some of the exciting skills that are developed in band.
Music is a wonderful gift for a child that has proven benefits across academic, social and personal skills. It is a gift for life that imparts not only how to play an instrument in a team environment but fosters self confidence, empathy, and enjoyment.
Students will have further opportunities to hear the bands play and to try instruments in Term 4 with parent information sessions following. I urge you to talk with your child about the experience and upcoming musical opportunities available through the band program at BNPS.
Caroline Fechner
Band Manager
Koolkuna News
Don’t forget! Bookings are now open for Spring Vacation Care via the Xplor Home App. Please find attached the 2024 Spring Vacation Care Program.
Changes or cancellations will be accepted up until 2 weeks prior to your booking and must be requested via email.
School Community News
School Sponsors
