Dear parents/carers,

This week our Year 3 and Year 5 students are sitting NAPLAN tests. The NAPLAN tests are a national test, every school in the country administers the test. The test is intended to provide school and parents with a snapshot of each child's learning progress.  The test does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress. NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through our regular school curriculum. There is no need for children to do additional preparation for tests outside school. This year students are being tested earlier than usual  and all schools now undertake the tests online. This means the tests are more tailored to each child as  the test presents questions which may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. Tailored testing allows a wider range of student abilities to be assessed and measures student achievement more precisely. Another change this year will be in how the results are presented for parents with results presented in a simpler format.

Unfortunately we postponed our Holi and Harmony Day activity this week due to rainy weather. The new date is 28.3.23. Look out for the note. Hopefully the weather will be fine  and we are able to enjoy a great day with families.

regards

Gabrielle Buczynski

Term 1 2023

15.3.23-27.3.23 NAPLAN

27.3.23 & 30.3.23 STEPS Vision Screening

28.3.23 Holi and Harmony Day

31.3.23 Photos for Early Intervention and Preschool

3.4.23 School Photo Day

5.4.23 School Cross Country

We are looking forward to our Holi and Harmony Day celebrations on the 28 th March! As part of our celebrations, we will be using colour powder. This powder is made of corn starch and is non-toxic. The powder won’t be thrown at students but rather parents have the opportunity to apply colour to their child/children or teachers will assist with this process. Students are encouraged to wear either white or orange to celebrate diversity and to allow for the colour to be seen. Parents are invited and encouraged to bring lunch and a rug or chair to enjoy a picnic with their child/children at 1pm. Following lunch students will rotate through a series of activities which parents are welcome to participate in. It is important students remember to bring a hat and sunscreen as all our afternoon activities will be outside. 

Preschool are learning about our preschool worm farm and the importance of sustainable practices to help our environment. We read our  “Wriggly Worm Farm” book and discussed our poster about the worms. Children are learning about the things worms like to eat. Did you know the worms don’t like chilli, onions, garlic, bread, milk, cheese or oranges. They love fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, tea leaves and hair. Children took turns at looking at the worms and saw where the worms live. Children are learning that the worm wee can be mixed with water and used to water the plants and flowers (EYLF Outcome 2).Some children fed the worms some banana skins we had collected from morning tea. We will continue learning about the worms and sustainable practices in the preschool.

On Wednesday 15th March 2023. One of our Year 6 students, Ivy participated in the World’s Greatest Shave event and had her hair cut very short at school, witnessed by Stage 3 students. Ivy wanted to raise money and awareness of the Leukaemia Foundation; an Australian charity dedicated to supporting people living with blood cancer. It was great that her peers in Stage 3 were able to cheer her on.

Ivy set a goal to raise $400 for this very worthwhile charity and on the 16th March 2023 she had raised $767. We thank community members who donated to Ivy’s charity.

Pendle Hill Public School SRC members are also organising a fundraiser for Ivy’s charity ‘The World’s Greatest Shave.’

This event will take place on Wednesday 22nd March 2023. Money raised will go towards the Leukaemia Foundation to assist them in providing information, treatment and care for many patients and their families.

The theme of our fundraiser is, ‘Crazy Hair Styles’ Students will come to school with the craziest hair styles and are asked to give a gold coin donation to support the World’s Greatest Shave.

The SRC appreciates your kind donation that will assist in supporting people living with blood cancer.

Congratulations Ivy for your achievements so far!

The Zone Swimming Carnival was held on Thursday 9th March at Blacktown Aquatic Centre. 

Congratulations to these students who competed. 

Thankyou to Mr Stone and to our parent helpers on the day. 

Just a reminder that when your child has their library day, they need a library bag.

The uniform shop has a very sturdy library bag for sale, this type of bag is preferred. No plastic shopping bags or the green grocery bags. The library bag needs to protect the book as it travels.

Book Club

    DUE 23RD MARCH 2023

Have you changed your Phone Numbers or Address? If so please access the form in the school bag app under the Eforms tab (Click on the school crest to find the eforms  tab) or click on this link:-https://console.skoolbag.com.au/console/form/list

Are you having trouble with Skoolbag or you would like to download it another device? Check out these easy, step by step instructions.

https://www.moqproducts.com.au/skoolbag/installation-instructions/