Newsletter Term 1 Week 7 2022

"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 report

Thank you

Our hearts go out to our many school communities that are dealing with great adversity due to the floods across Sydney and the North Coast of NSW. Our student leaders and our P&C school community are committed to providing support to these communities. We will keep you all posted as to what this support may look like over the coming weeks and how you may like to provide support. 

Celebrating Excellence

On Wednesday 2 March, 38 of our students participated at the Manly Zone Swimming Carnival against 11 schools from our zone.  A huge thanks must go to the parent supporters who cheered us on and to the parents who assisted with timekeeping on the day.  Our students displayed exemplary behavior and sportsmanship and achieved some fantastic results.  

Congratulations to the following 8 students who will participate at the Sydney North Regional carnival at Homebush on Wednesday 16 March:  Nicholas H,  Edward G, Millie G, Amelia S, Christopher O, Chloe G, Tess P and Rose C.

Millie G was named Junior Girls Age Champion for the meet - Congratulations Millie!

Chloe G was awarded Senior Girls Age Champion - a fantastic achievement! 

Building Connections

Continuing to build connections and collaboration across our network is one of our priorities within our schools strategic directions. On Monday we welcomed Mr Nathan Lawler Principal of Forest High school and SRC student leaders to our school to speak with Stage 3 students. 

Our teachers in stage 3 will be planning to build professional learning opportunities across our two schools in the area of mathematics. A fabulous opportunity to deepen our knowledge and forge strong links which will assist us in achieving high standards for all our students.

International Women’s Day

‘This week we celebrate International Women’s Day. This is an important opportunity for us to celebrate women's achievements and to acknowledge the vital role education plays in improving outcomes for girls, and all students.

The work we do in Education equips students with the skills, knowledge and tools they need to become the problem-solvers, leaders and change-makers of the future. This is particularly relevant in the context of this year’s theme Changing Climates: Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.

Central to this work is our commitment to ensuring every student, in every school, has equal access to challenging science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) programs. We want all students to feel empowered to achieve and thrive in STEM disciplines and be actively supported to pursue a career in STEM-related fields.

Georgina Harrison - Secretary’

Kind regards,

Brooke Keevers

Principal

School news

Selective High School test

The Selective High School test will take place on Thursday the 10th of March. Tests will take place in our school library and will be facilitated by Mrs Ridley. 

All candidates must bring their Test Authority Letter. Candidates should bring a plain water bottle, two sharp lead pencils, an eraser and a pencil sharpener in a clear, plastic zip lock bag. Students are also reminded to provide for their own medical needs as required such as asthma puffers and reading glasses.

No other equipment will be permitted in the exam room. Calculators, computers, smart devices and any other form of written or digital communication will not be allowed. 

Candidates must be at school on time as the test will commence at 9:15am.

Please see an approximate timetable for the test below:

9:10-Students go to library

9:20 Instructions and distribution of test materials 

9:30-10:10 Reading Test (exactly 40 minutes)

10:10-10:15 Short break and collection/distribution of test materials 

10:15-10:55 Mathematical Reasoning Test (exactly 40 minutes)

10:55-11:00 Short break and collection of test materials 

11-11:20 Recess

11:25 - 11:55 Thinking Skills test (exactly 40 minutes)

11:55-12:00 Short break and collection/distribution of test materials

12:00-12:30 Writing test (exactly 30 minutes)

12:30-12:35 test papers collected

12:40 Candidates dismissed

Rachel Ridley

Deputy Principal (Acting)

Library news

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Registration for the reading challenge is now open! Student’s will need their DET Username and Password which they use at school. If they are unsure about this, please contact their classroom teacher. Visit the Premier’s Reading Challenge Website to register and enter the Student Site by clicking on the section at the top. Here, students can discover books within genre groupings, look up books and enter the books they have read. Please contact me if you have any problems with registration.  

Deborah Horsley

Teacher librarian

World’s Greatest Shave 

BNPS have registered to take part in this year’s World’s Greatest Shave on Thursday 28^th April to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. Year 6 pupils will shave, cut or colour their hair and K-5 will participate in Crazy Hair Day.  

Every single day, over 50 Australian families will receive a devastating blood cancer diagnosis. The money we raise will provide these families with the special care and support that they need. We will also help brilliant research scientists continue their search for better ways to diagnose and treat blood cancer more effectively, and ultimately find a cure. 

Use this link to sponsor a Year 6 student and/or donate to the BNPS team for crazy hair day. You can also donate cash on the day at school.   

http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/balgowlahnorthpublicschool

World’s Greatest ShaveI’m taking part in #worldsgreatestshave to help beat blood cancer! Please sponsor me today.my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au

PBL

Waste free Wednesday

Dates for your diary

09 March

• The Forest High School open day 

10 March

• Selective High School test

16 March

• Regional swimming carnival
• P&C AGM - meeting to be held in the library

Community news

Combined Christian Scripture (also known as Protestant Scripture)

It was an absolute delight last week to welcome back the children in our Combined Scripture Classes in SEAT. To help reduce confusion, Combined Christian Scripture is also known as Protestant Scripture (as was indicated on the student notes that were sent home earlier in the term).
We have 7 classes running with teachers available for every class. It was lovely to see familiar faces and meet new ones as we began our classes for 2022. As well as being able to learn and think about the God who created us and how that fits with living well in God’s world, Christian SRE contributes to positive self-image, identity and resilience, forming young people in their understanding of love, justice & mercy from Jesus’ teaching.

The Education Minister, The Honourable Sarah Mitchell MLC, wrote this about SRE:

“SRE is a strength of our public education system, it benefits student mental health and well-being, provides safe places for students to explore faith and belief and strengthens multiculturalism.”

It’s not too late to join us and we welcome any child who would like to join us on Thursday. If you would like your child to be added to a Combined Scripture group, please contact the school via email.

Thanks, Combined Christian Scripture Teachers.

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