The Randwick Buzz

Term 2, Week 6 2022

Important Dates for 2022

Sunday 5th June                     Working Bee 9am

Thursday 9 June                     Kindergarten Excursion

Wednesday 15 June               Grow Your Mind Parent Information Session

Friday 17 June                         Swimming / Cross Country Assembly 10am

Monday 20 June                      P&C Meeting 7.30pm

Tuesday 21 June                      Year 6 Musical

Wednesday 22 June                Year 6 Musical

Wednesday 29 June                SRC Pyjama Day Mufti Day

Friday 1st July                          Last day of Term 2

Monday 18th July                    Staff Development Day (No students)

Tuesday 19th July                    First day of  Term 3

From the Principal

Thank you to the many parents who have been able to share some community socialization again by supporting the Election BBQ and Cake Sale. I loved the creative election theme to the cakes!

The P&C Comedy for a Cause evening was a great laugh (a good thing!) and thank you to our parents for their extensive organisation. Unfortunately I missed it as one of the many viruses circulating finally caught me.

This Sunday we have a working bee to move some mulch around and a general tidy up of school grounds. If you can help for a while and join in lunch, families are welcome from 10am-3pm.

Another opportunity to be involved is the first Sports Award Assembly on Friday 17th June. If your child is involved further information will follow. This will be followed on Monday 20th June 7.30pm with a presentation on the implementation of the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Curriculum PDHPE /Sport at Randwick by Assistant Principal, Michael Nemeth at the P&C meeting. 

We appreciate the extra effort families are making to keep sick children at home. Remember to keep up lots of reading and maths when well enough and avoid excessive screen time. You will have noticed particularly in younger grades that our teachers are also succumbing to the many viruses circulating. As far as possible we employ casual teachers for classes but they are in short supply or sick themselves. This has necessitated the splitting of classes across the grade. Children go with the same group of classmates and as they are in the same grade class can access the same teaching program. We realise that this is a concern but may continue through winter. If your child is having an issue or you have a question these can best be addressed to the grade leader:

Kindergarten:  Kat Valenti                  kat.valenti@det.nsw.edu.au

Year 1:             Marissa Crane             marissa.saucis@det.nsw.edu.au

Year 2:             Todd Mackie               todd.mackie@det.nsw.edu.au

Year 3:             Emma Garroway         emma.garroway@det.nsw.edu.au

Year 4:             Michael Nemeth         michael.nemeth@det.nsw.edu.au

Year 5 & 6:      Louise Manning          louise.manning7@det.nsw.edu.au

You may be interested to read the following article from Michael Fullan, Six Reasons to be Optimistic About Learning in 2022. Enjoy!

Regards,

Susan Allen

Six Reasons to be Optimistic About Learning in 2022

Enrolments Now Open for Kindergarten 2023

Randwick Public School Kindergarten 2023 Enrolments are now open online. Children turning 5 before 31st July, 2023 are eligible for enrolment.

Please use the link provided to navigate to the Online Enrolments area of the school website.

Enrolment - Randwick Public School (nsw.gov.au)

For any queries please feel free to call the school office.

From the Deputy Principal

Semester 1 Student Reports 

Student Semester 1 Reports will be sent home via the Sentral Parent Portal on Monday 27 June. These reports will be in a similar format to the Semester 2 2021 reports. Emails with log-in details for the Parent Portal will be sent out next week so please ensure that you have set up your Sentral Parent Portal access in advance of the release date of reports.   

Koojay Corroboree 

Last Friday, eight students participated in the Koojay Corroborree held at Coogee Beach. First held in 2015, the Koojay Corroboree is held by Randwick Council to launch Reconciliation Week. The sands of Coogee Beach came to life as Aboriginal Dancers performed traditional and contemporary dance while students interacted with the Dreamtime through dance, music and storytelling.   

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort and take fresh action in creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships.  Every year, there is an expectation that we all have a part to play in reconciliation and this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme ‘Be brave. Make change.’ is a tribute to that.   

Thank you to Mrs Leanne King and Mr Patrick Madden for organising the participation of our students in this event and Miss Louise Manning and Mrs Kate Cohen for accompanying our students to Coogee Beach. 

Lost Property 

Winter has well and truly arrived! As a result we would like to take this opportunity to remind families to ensure students are wearing their full school winter uniform including a ‘named’ jumper or jacket - particularly on cold windy mornings. If your child does not have a school jumper or jacket these can be purchased - second-hand or new through the Clothing Pool. 

The Clothing Shop is open on Thursday mornings from 8:30-9.30. If you can’t make it to school don’t forget the online ordering option through Flexischools.  

Lost Property is currently overflowing so please ensure that all uniform items are labelled clearly with your child’s name so that these items can be returned to you. 

Attendance 

We appreciate all the effort that families are making to ensure that students don’t come to school if they are feeling unwell. We know that this means families are using their supply of RATs responsibly. 

This has greatly reduced the number of students who are presenting at school with COVID-19 symptoms. While students are COVID-19 negative, the number of students with cold and flu has made a sharp rise in recent weeks and this is currently having an impact on student attendance. Please be reminded that it is still vitally important that students with cold and flu symptoms remain at home until they are symptom free and come to school equipped ready to learn. 

Free Flu Shots! 

Please see this very important message from NSW Health: A free flu jab will be available to all NSW residents in a month-long blitz from June 1 in an effort to combat this year's expected severe influenza season. With a sharp increase in flu cases already, the NSW Government will fund flu vaccinations at GPs and pharmacies until June 30.

"We strongly urge everyone over six months of age to get a flu shot as soon as possible to protect themselves and their loved ones, as the virus is easily spread and potentially deadly." Dr Chant said. 

NSW Health has also permitted pharmacies to administer flu vaccines to children aged five years old, reduced from 10 years, making it easier for families to be vaccinated together. Other protective measures individuals can take include staying at home if sick and washing your hands. Find out more about how to protect yourself from the flu at https://www.health.gov.au/news/influenza-and-covid-19-vaccination-provide-important-protection-this-winter

2022 Gerric Student Programs 

GERRIC is devoted to gifted education research, professional development of educators, programs for gifted students, courses for parents, gifted program evaluations in schools/school systems, and gifted education resources/information in the Asia Pacific region and the southern hemisphere. It is also one of only about ten such centres worldwide. They have a range of student programs running for gifted students during the July school holidays. For these programs they offer both face to face and online options so perfect for students in NSW.  

Staff Spotlight – Miss Laura Bentley

How long have you been teaching?  Where and for how long?    

I am in my 5th year of teaching this year. I spent my first 3 years at Northmead PS teaching Year 4, Year 1 & Year 2. It was a big school (like Randwick!) and I was lucky enough to teach at the same school as my Mum! I then moved on to teaching around Maroubra part time and casually last year before making the move to Randwick PS this year. I had heard fantastic things about this school and the rumours were all true! 

What do you like about Randwick Public School?   

The best part is the students. They are always respectful and what makes it so special is that they are always excited to learn new things and challenge themselves. I also love the incredible access to technology - individual iPads, STEM resources and robotics just to name a few! I’ve had lots of opportunities to learn and grow and I love working with my co-teacher Miss Fukui, she makes teaching fun. 

What is your favourite thing to do?   

My favourite thing to do is go rock climbing. It is something I have challenged myself to learn in the last few years and now I love getting out in nature, hiking to a cliff and trying to make my way up it. The views and feeling of achievement when I get to the top makes the fear worth it. 

What have you read recently?   

I recently finished Ken Follett’s ‘Century Trilogy Series’. It follows five families through the dramatic events of twentieth-century world history. It was really interesting and a great read, I learnt a lot! 

What is your favourite sports team?   

I love watching the AFL and (I know I’m going against a lot of our local Swannies fans here) my favourite team are the Greater Western Sydney Giants. It’s been fun coaching the mixed AFL PSSA teams this term! 

What is your favourite food?   

Chocolate. It is definitely my weakness! 

From the P&C

Election Day

Over 1000 sausages sold! Thank you to all the incredible volunteers that helped us raise over $6000 from the Democracy sausage and Cake Stall

ANZAC Day

After such beautiful and moving ANZAC Day Assemblies this term, the P&C wanted to show our gratitude and today gifted the School some new Poppies for the children to decorate the wreaths with next year.

The Comedy Night 

Last week was such a great success- we will share more in the next newsletter but a big shout out to everyone that helped bring it to life and those who attended.

The next P&C meeting is 20 June

The focus of the meeting will be all things sport including an introduction to the sport curriculum for all year groups and an explanation of PSSA (Primary Schools Sports Association).

Register in advance for this meeting: https://au01web.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5IrceyppzopGdTHv8cICnDU82qlFMtIbt_T

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Play date for Year 2-4

Friday 24th June Week 9, after school at the Parent's Room/ Uniform Shop (beside canteen) until 4pm.

Siblings are welcome and a light afternoon tea is on offer.

We need you - Working Bee this Sunday 5th June

First post-Covid working bee on Sunday 5 June, from 9am – 3pm

The working bee is a great opportunity to help keep the school grounds looking their best. Jobs for this working bee will include composting & mulching, maintaining the gardens, painting, book covering in the library and other odds & ends.

It would be great to see you at the bee – you can stay for an hour or two, or the whole day. Bring the kids and they can play or be put to work! There will be some morning tea and a BBQ lunch to keep us all going.

Please RSVP if you can make it so we can get an idea of numbers for the day - https://forms.gle/Xwz1pU3LAzgfDUU79

Please Note: On the day, all children under the age of 18 must be in the company of a parent or responsible adult carer.

Please provide your feedback by clicking on yellow banner link. We will direct the feedback to the appropriate people and/or share it in the newsletter! So that we can get in touch with you, support you or gather more information, it is greatly appreciated if you could provide your contact details if you would like.

Thank you!

Please see the Community Advertising section for activities held at the school, during school holidays and within the local community. You can access this link by by clicking on yellow banner link above or by visiting the Randwick Public School website, scroll down the front page and click on the link "Community Advertising". 

SFK Acadamy after school activity starting in Term 3, 2023

SFK Academy will be providing after school classes on Mondays and Tuesdays in Digital Illustration - Take your drawing and illustration skills from paper to digital, learn the principles of Digital Illustration with Photoshop and Wacom drawing tablet. 

Game Design - Take your drawing and illustration skills from paper to digital, learn the principles of Digital Illustration with Photoshop and Wacom drawing tablet.

Please use the above link to navigate to the After School Activities flyer for further information.

Information for parents and carers about the changes to school operations because of COVID-19 health advice current from 8 September 2020 is available in the following languages:

    Instantly translate this newsletter to 100+ languages

    With our Google Translation integration, you can access our newsletter in ANY language. Simply scroll to the bottom of the newsletter preview to give it a try.