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 report

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope everyone has had an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and connect with family and friends over the break. Yesterday all the staff met for Professional Learning. We took a deep dive into the big ideas in Mathematics and took time to unpack the research of Dianne Siemon. We are excited about delving further into her research and what this will look like for the teaching of Mathematics. Having the opportunities to collaborate, share, practice and have deep professional dialogue ensures that we keep student learning as our core business.

Our term is definitely starting with a bang. World’s Greatest Shave tomorrow, and our P&C band workshops this Saturday. Next week we have a special assembly on Monday to celebrate the installation of our solar panels, our school cross country on Tuesday and our Mother’s Day band and choir breakfast on Thursday morning before school. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for fine weather!

ANZAC Day

Thank you to Beau P and Emily H for representing Balgowlah North so beautifully at the Manly Dam dawn service on Monday morning. Thank you also to Mrs Camille Hadley and Mrs Jenny Mercer for organising our Anzac Day service on Friday the 8th of April and inviting our special guest Mr Kieren Kelly. Our student leadership team ran the special ceremony with respect, compassion and empathy.

Updated COVID Guidelines

Isolation requirements for close contacts have changed, from this week students and staff can return to school as long as they have no symptoms and follow the close contact guidelines to do so, including daily rapid antigen testing (RAT) and wearing a mask indoors.
Additional supplies of RAT kits will be distributed to all schools to support staff and students identified as close contacts who are able to return. These will be sent home this week.
NSW Health have updated the advice for students and staff returning to school after testing positive for COVID-19 including the recommendation to wear a mask for an additional 3 days after the 7-day isolation period.

Teacher’s Day of Action

Just letting our school community know that the Teachers Federation has called a teacher’s strike next Wednesday the 4th of May. Our Kindergarten excursion has been rescheduled until Friday the 6th of May.
Further information will come out later in the week, at this stage our school will be open but we will be providing minimal supervision.

Interrelate

This term our Stage 3 students will be participating in the Today’s World program. The below link gives parents access further information so that you are further able to support your children with this valuable program.

https://elearning.interrelate.org.au/local/ecommerce/view.php?id=13

The code for free viewing is: DIGITALPROMO

Winter Uniform

Just a reminder that it is now time to transition to our winter uniform. The weather can still be quite changeable, our preference is for all our students to be in their winter uniform by Monday the 9th of May.

Brooke Keevers
Principal

School News

NAPLAN 2022

NAPLAN is an annual assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It tests the types of skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students will participate in tests in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

The assessment provides parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance.

NAPLAN assessments will be conducted online in order to provide a better and more precise assessment that is more engaging for students. Year 3 writing will still be conducted on paper.

All students eligible for adjustments have been contacted directly.

Our timeline of assessment will be as follows:

Tuesday 10th May – Writing

Wednesday 11th May – Reading and Conventions of Language

Thursday 12th May – Numeracy

Wednesday 18th May - Make up assessment day

If your child is absent for any of the NAPLAN tests, we will be holding a make-up assessment day on Wednesday the 18th of May.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in NAPLAN.

Sarah King
NAPLAN coordinator
Assistant Principal - Stage 2

Anzac Day

Anzac Day Poem

Blood red poppies lay in mourn

As people blow the trumpet horn.

Those with medals close to their hearts,

We remember those who faded in the dark.

Lest we forget,

The people who served.

Lest we forget,

Gone but not forgotten.

Lest we forget.

Kiana 6/5M

ANZAC Day

So many worries, too many to count

They fought with their lives for no amount

They didn’t reject or make a fuss

They just went in and fought for all of us

They're so amazing and thoughtful, selfless and good

Most of them died before adulthood

Kids were left alone with their mum

Sadly mums left their children too because they

became nurses

but that was only some

They're more than brave

more than strong

more than anything

you could say

So that’s why I made this

Poem about Anzac Day

The week ahead

28 April World's Greatest Shave & crazy hair day

30 April Band workshop

02 May Special Solar celebration

03 May School cross country

05 May Mother's day breakfast including bands & choir concert

Mother's day stall

Dave Lardner visit

09 May Field of Mars excursion Year 3

10 May Field of Mars excursion Year 4

11 May NAPLAN reading

Congatulations to Rose, Milly and Mila who received their medals at the end of Term 1.

PBL

Band news

Balgowlah North Public School has a strong and vibrant music ensembles program which caters to students from Year 2 - 6. Currently we have a Concert Band Program comprising three bands and a Strings Program.

Further information can be found at Home | BNPS Instrumental Music Program (wixsite.com)

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

Greatest Shave fundraiser scrunchie stall!

To help raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation’s Greatest Shave, we are going to be selling our homemade scrunchies on Thursday 28th April at the kindergarten entrance on Bardoo Ave from 8:30am-9am. We have lots of different colours and even some in school uniform fabrics. We are selling them for $3 each or 2 for $5. If you buy one you will be helping sick kids and the researchers to find a cure for this awful disease. Please come and check out our stall on Thursday morning and support the Year 6 Fundraiser - The Greatest Shave.

By Lucy & Nina!