Newsletter Term 4 Week 6 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

Kindergarten Orientation

Smiles, balloons, excitement in the air…What a wonderful morning welcoming our 2023 kindergarten students last Thursday. Lovely to have our new students spend the morning with us. We look forward to another great opportunity tomorrow to connect with our new Kindi parents as we meet in the hall to answer questions and explain how our fantastic school operates. Thank you to our wonderful kindergarten team Sascha Carroll, Jenny Mercer, Georgia Witton and Camille Hadley for all the care that goes into the preparation of these learning opportunities.

A reminder to our parent community that students are not permitted to play on the school grounds after school. Our school playground is hired for use by Koolkuna OOSHC and community sporting groups. Koolkuna has spaces available if you require care either before or after school.

Volunteers 
We are looking for parent helpers who can assist with our special Owen Taylor memorial BBQ lunch on Tuesday the 29^th of November. If you are available to help between 11am- 1pm please contact the school office via email: balgowlahn-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Thank you lunch

As we move closer to the end of the term I am sure calendars are filling quickly. We would like to extend an invitation to our parent helpers and community volunteers to join us for lunch on the 1st of December. Please see below the invitation details.

Brooke Keevers

Principal

School news

Last Friday Beau P and Talia T represented Balgowlah North Public School at the Remembrance Day ceremony at Manly Dam. Student leaders from Manly Vale, St Kieran’s and BNPS were asked to deliver a speech about various aspects of war and present a wreath or gift. It was wonderful to see our leaders represent our school with such dignity and respect. Included is Beau’s speech that he had to give about, ‘What Remembrance Day means to me’.

Susie Stock

Remembrance Day Speech

My name is Beau Pashley, and I am honoured to be here to share in this important day of reflection and remembrance.

Thank you to Manly Warringah War Memorial Trust, Northern Beaches Council and Balgowlah North Public School, who Talia and I represent here today. 

WAR REALLY FRIGHTENS me!! I have not sacrificed anything for my freedom.  It was given to me, by those who came before me and sacrificed so much.  So now, it is my responsibility to never forget the service and the sacrifices of more than 410,000 Australians enlisted for service in the First World War. 

The First World War was, in its time, the most destructive conflict experienced by humanity.  When it began in August 1914, few imagined the course that it would take, or foresaw its terrible toll.  From a population of just under 5 million, more than 400,000 Australians enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), the force that Australia sent to the war – and more than 302,000 served overseas.  For most this meant Gallipoli, the Middle East or the war's main theatre: the Western Front in France and Belgium.  The AIF sustained approximately 210,000 casualties and more than 60,000 Australians lost their lives, a devastating toll for a small country. 

As a country, Australia was unsure of how to mourn its devastating loss.  There were no graves to lay wreaths at, no monuments to promote reflection and only two bodies ever made it back to Australia from the battlefields of World War 1.

Some families never even got certainty of their loved one's death, for they were listed simply as missing.  For years after the war had ended, the army received letters from hundreds of mothers, wondering how their child could just go missing in battle, never to be seen again.

They were trapped between hope and grief.  In this way, the whole of Australia was caught in a desolate limbo.  But it was the efforts of ordinary citizens that would help us overcome our loss as a nation and heal.  It was the tenacity of men and women who raised funds and lobbied important people that led to the creation of monuments to commemorate the conflict of WAR.  Just like where you're seated here today.

War wasn’t JUST about surviving gunfire; it was also about surviving the Elements of War. 

Year 5: Student Leadership Day

All year 5 students will take part in a leadership development program on Thursday 24^th November. The development of life-long leadership skills is one of the learning opportunities offered to all students at Balgowlah North Public School. Having effective student leaders supports the development of our school’s core values of respectful, responsible and safe behaviour.

• The aim of the day is to provide opportunities for all year 5 students to develop their leadership skills.
• Dress for the day: school uniform

Leadership Positions:

Student Leaders: (8 positions)

• 2 x Captains
• 2 x Vice Captains
• 4 x Prefects

Nomination for the Year School Leaders

• All year 5 students will participate in a structure leadership program
• Students then self-nominate for Student Leaders

Speeches for the Roles of Student leaders:   Thursday 1^st December

A successful student wishing to gain Captain, Vice-captain or committee will be required to present a 2-minute speech to their Year 5 peers. Speeches are written at school prior to presenting to their peers. Each student will be given half an hour to prepare their speech. Voting will follow immediately after the speeches are completed.

Voting for School Leaders

The Voting procedure will proceed as follows:

• eligible voters include: all year 5 students and all teaching staff
• students will vote for one boy and one girl candidate
• positions will be filled in order of the number of votes received
• results of the voting will be announced at the final K-6 assembly of the year

House Captains: (8 Positions- 2 students from each Sport house: Kangaroos, Koalas, Wallabies, Wombats)

Speeches for the Roles of House Captains: Friday 2^nd December

A successful student wishing to gain House Captain will be required to present a 2-minute speech to their Year 4 and 5 students. Speeches are written at school prior to presenting to their Houses. Each student will be given half an hour to prepare their speech. Voting will follow immediately after the speeches are completed.

These positions will be decided in 2023.

Band Captains: (2 positions)

• Library monitors
• Sound crew

Susie Stock

Stage 3 Assistant Principal (relieving)

Class snapshot - 5S

Last week, 3M received a special delivery of letters from students in the Lismore region of NSW. In Term 3, 3M formed a pen pal connection with students from Upper Coopers Creek Public School and Corndale Public School. We wrote letters about ourselves and asked interesting questions about what school life is like for them. 

Students were over the moon to get a response and learn about their new friends. We have already written and sent our responses, crossing our fingers and toes for a reply by the end of the school year. 

Miss Molly McIndoe

The Week Ahead

16 November       P&C Yr 2 2023 fundraising meeting                     

17 November      Kindergarten 2023 Orientation day #2    

23 November      Kindergarten Field of Mars excursion

24 November      Student leadership training

24-25 November Life education

27 November      Working bee

Monday   12th December:  3-6 Celebration of Learning ceremony
Tuesday   13th December:  K-2 Celebration of Learning ceremony
Thursday 15th December : K- 6 End of Year Picnic Day
Friday      16th December :  Final day of 2022 school year for students

Waste free Wednesday

Sports news

NRL Eagle Tag Gala Day

The sun shone brightly for the Balgowlah North senior/junior boys and girls eagle tag teams. They were competing against 10 Northern Beaches school in a NRL Eagle Tag Gala Day at Rat Park. It was a non-competitive day for schools to get out to enjoy the day and play plenty of eagle tag. All our teams played well, winning and losing some games. Mrs Kelly and I were very proud of our students who were respectful and showed good sportsmanship on the day.

PSSA news and dates for the diary.

As a consequence of the disrupted summer PSSA calendar during term 1 of this year, the combined Manly PSSA have decided to skip finals and continue to play rounds.

This Friday, the 18^th of November (formerly the semi-final round), will be round 1 (which would have been originally played in late February).

The following Friday, the 25^th of November, is skipped as it is the day of the School Spectacular which many of our local public schools perform in.

The final summer PSSA round (round 2 from term 1) is on the 2^nd of December.

Since there are now no finals, the respective sports winners and runners up will be determined by a first-past-the-post system.

PBL

Community News

School Sponsors