Newsletter Term 3 Week 10 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 message

Dear BNPS Families,

Welcome to our final newsletter for Term 3. We remind our community that tomorrow is the National Day of Mourning and the final day of the school term is Friday the 23rd of September. 

Our staff and students will return to school for Term 4 on Monday the 10th  of October. There is no pupil-free day on the first day of next term. Term Four is an eleven week term and the last day of the school year for all students will be Monday 19th  of December.

Our students will return to school in their summer school uniform. Please ensure your child wears their hat to school every day to protect them from the sun when they are outside playing. 

Our final week of the term brings many reasons to celebrate. We wish to congratulate our talented athletes who participated in the Regional Athletics Carnival on Monday- Isaac R, Darcy H, Chris O, Isaac A, Frankie J, Chloe G, Henry F, Matthew D, Tyler W and Karina O.

Special congratulations go to Isaac R who placed 1st in the 1500m, 800m and long jump, 2nd place in the 200m and 3rd place in the high jump for his age category. Also to Chloe G who placed 1st in the 100m for her age category.

Our Kindergarten and Year 6 students will also enjoy their excursion to Taronga Zoo today. This special outing is an institution for our students and a highlight of our Buddies Program. 

We wish our wonderful students and their families a very happy, restful and safe school holiday break. Enjoy this time to reconnect and recalibrate after a very busy term of learning.

ICAS High Achievers

Earlier this term, some of our students participated in the ICAS competitions in the areas of English, Mathematics, Science and Digital Technologies. This is an opportunity for our students to challenge their knowledge and skills beyond the NSW curriculum. 

We are so proud of all of our students who participated in these assessments and wish to congratulate our high achieving students who were awarded High Distinctions (top 1% of results across Australia), Distinctions (the next 10% of results) and Credits ( the next 25% of results). 

We are still awaiting the arrival of all of the ICAS certificates and will send them home as soon as we receive them.

English

Digital Technologies

Maths

Science

Book Week Writing Competition

Mrs Horsley and Mrs Ridley were so impressed by all of the entries we received in our Book Week Writing competition. It was so lovely to see so many of our budding young writers indulge their love for writing through their exploration of this week’s Book Week theme ‘Dreaming With Eyes Open’. We highly commend everyone who entered as the standard of work we received was exceptional. Due to the number of entries, we awarded one winner in 3-6 and two winners in K -2. The winner of the 3-6 category was Lucy O and the K -2 category was Neve M and Claire Z.

We have included the winners’ entries for your enjoyment:

Rachel Ridley

R/Deputy Principal

Assembly Awards

School news

This week our Aboriginal Education Team consisting of teacher representatives across all stages of our school has been working on this year’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). A RAP is a working document outlining the goals and commitments to support reconciliation and Aboriginal education within the school. The team spent time collaboratively documenting the activities and priorities across the school and planning for future events. Once the RAP is completed this will be sent to our local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group for feedback and approval. We will be excited to share this with the wider school community when this has been done. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wBl6CauE9vGZWmn8TRagGGdBr_09klicco1ZRCMrZN8/edit?usp=sharing

Aboriginal Education Team - Deborah Horsley, Molly McIndoe, Eliza Ross, Georgia Witton, Lachlan Stewart.

Regional Athletics

Wow, what a great effort by all our Balgowlah North athletics to help the school to finish 5^th overall in the regional competition on Monday. There were a few personal bests amongst the seven students we had competing. Congratulations to Chloe G- 1^st 100m and Isaac R- 1^st 1500m, 800m, long jump, 2^rd 200m and 3rd high jump. They both will be competing at the NSW PSSA Championships on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20^th October. What a wonderful and exciting achievement! 

Choir news

The BNPS choir had so much fun with the all schools rehearsal at the Salvation Army Hall in the city. After catching the bus in with Beacon Hill Primary School we joined the other schools and sang all of our songs in preparation for the concert next term.

Mrs Harris and Mr McCall were very proud of the respect shown by all the choir members.

Tell Them From Me

The parent Tell Them From Me survey is now open for parents and carers. This anonymous survey provides parents' perspectives on their school as well as their child's learning at home. Communication between parents and staff, activities and practices at home, and parents’ views on the school's support of learning and positive behaviour to help build an accurate and timely picture that can be used for practical improvements.

To access the survey, please visit http://nsw.tellthemfromme.com/rhm7y

The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete and will be open until Friday 21st October (Term 2 Week 4).

Students in Years 4-6 will be completing the online student survey at school in Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 4. This will provide the school with information in relation to areas such as student interest and motivation, positive relationships, skills and learning challenges, sense of belonging and participation in school activities.

Mrs Sarah King

Pen Pal Connection

Exciting news! Our letters arrived safely at Upper Coopers Creek Public School last week. UCCPS students were over the moon with their letters from 3M and have already made a start on their own. 3M look forward to receiving their replies and responding to their questions. 

Miss Molly McIndoe

Movie Night at BNPS

We had some amazing weather last Friday which made our Movie night even more special, thanks to everyone who came along to support the school in raising over $6,000 (and having a lot of fun too) with special thanks to Ashley Gualter and Colleen Tobler for all of your advice and support.

We also wanted to thank our sponsors LMG Energy, Icon Homes and Timbaworx and to all of the local business who donated some amazing prizes for our lucky raffle winners.

The week ahead

21 Sept         Kindy & Yr 6 Zoo excursion         

23 Sept        Last day of Term 3

10 Oct         First day of Term 4

The Colour Run

This event at our school promises to be lots of fantastic, messy fun! The Colour Run is raising funds to purchase science, literacy and mathematics resources for the classrooms. Students run/walk/skip around a designated course here at school, socialising with friends, being covered in vibrant colours and almost forgetting that they are exercising! Adding interest and duration to the course along the way will be obstacles and challenges to make it more fun!

Our students will be bringing home a pledge card this week to collect sponsors for our Colour Run. Sponsors can pay online (preferred method of payment) or in cash when each child returns their sponsorship card. It would be fantastic if you could encourage your child to be involved in this, as it builds a shared sense of responsibility and ownership towards making a difference for our school.

ALSO we have some fabulous prizes:

-  a pizza lunch for the class that raises the most and a chance to COLOUR BOMB the teachers

-  movie tickets for the family for the child that raises the most in K-2 and 3-6

To donate online, click on this link: https://quickweb.westpac.com.au/OnlinePaymentServlet3?action=EnterAccount&communityCode=DETSQW&supplierBusinessCode=3984 

or go to our website or schoolzine app, and go to 'Make a Payment'. 

1. Add the student's name you are donating for. 
2. Add their class and DOB (it's ok if this isn't 100% accurate!).
3. Click 'Next' and add your contact details.
4. List the 'Payment Type' as 'Other'
5. In the Description write 'Colour Run'
6. Add the amount and the card holder's details.
7. Submit! 

We also accept cash!

We would appreciate all donations and pledge cards be returned to school by Tuesday 18th October.The students are quite excited about the class prize for the day! Parents are welcome to attend on the day to watch the fun. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

When is it being held?

Thursday 20th October at 1:45pm

Should students wear special clothes?

We are expecting the students to come dressed in mufti. However, the powered paint will show best on white clothes. Eyewear such as swimming goggles, snorkelling goggles, sunnies or safety goggles are a must.

Do the powders clean up easily?

Yes. Powders will wash into the grass, off trees with the first rains. Otherwise a bucket or a hose will do the same job. Powders will not permanently mark paths or buildings. They dust/wash off very easily. Powders will wash off the skin and out of hair with the first wash with soap. Powders will wash out of clothes with the first wash. This being said, most people don’t wear their most expensive shirt on the day.

What about asthmatics?

While the powders are generally not inhaled by the participants, it is never a good idea to expose people with respiratory illnesses to flying dust particles and the like.

How safe are the powders?

The school is using powders that are made purely from corn flour and food colouring.

How and where can I donate to raise funds for the quality texts?

Payment can be made online via the school website or the Schoolzine app -‘Make a Payment’, payment type – OTHER, description – COLOUR RUN

What if I don’t want my child to participate?

If you do not want your child to participate, you must advise your classroom teacher via email to balgowlahn-p.admin@det.nsw.edu.au before the day.

PBL term 3 week 10

Class snapshot - 6S

Waste Free Wednesday

Community news

Chores for a Cause - September 2022

We are calling on children across the Northern Beaches.
Join the 'Chores for a Cause' campaign for the month of September to help raise money for your local shelter.

Want to roll up your sleeves and help us put an end to domestic violence and women’s homelessness?

Need to feel like you’re actively making a difference in your community?

Hoping to do some spring cleaning and finally find the motivation you need to clean your bedroom?

Get your children involved...
Chores for a Cause empowers young people aged 8-18 to support the women and children in need in their community by completing chores in exchange for money they can donate to the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter . The aim is to raise awareness of gender inequality, domestic violence and women’s homelessness. 
Help us promote discussions on respectful relationships and homelessness in our community.
 

How does it Work?

During the month of September, we’d love you to complete chores in exchange for money that can be donated to the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter.

You might want to clean up the garage at home, wash a teacher’s car, mow a neighbour’s lawn, sort out that messy third draw in the kitchen…

You can negotiate what you think is a fair rate for your time and work with your parents and then donate that money to the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter.
When we all work together, we can do great things.

I've done my chores now what?

Well done! You are a life-changer. Click on DONATE HERE

THANK YOU for being a part of our community.
 

Warm regards, 
 
The NBWS Team

School Sponsors