The Punchbowl Press

2022 Term 1 Week 5

Important Dates

Term 1

28 February - 4 March  Book Fair 

7 March - First Monday morning assembly for 2022

10 March - Selective High School Test 

28 March and 1 April - Preschool Photos

8 April - Term 1 Ends

Term 2

27 April - Term 2 resumes for all students

May 17 - Cross Country Y3-6

22 & 23 June - School Photos K-6

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and families 

Welcome to all our families, new and returning for 2022.  We faced more challenges than we expected over our summer holidays, however we have made an amazing start to the year.  It is very exciting to see our new preschool and kindergarten students begin their learning journey here at PPS.  It is equally exciting to see our current Year 6 students take their place as the leaders of our school, preparing them for their transition to high school in 2023. Our teachers and students have made a flying start to their learning, building positive relationships and focusing on our school values of respect, safety and learning.  

A big thank you for your continuing efforts in supporting our school and students during the pandemic – especially prioritising safety and learning. 

The Premier and Minister for Education have announced changes to school settings for the remainder of Term 1. These updated settings were developed in close consultation with NSW Health and key stakeholders to ensure we continue to keep our schools open for learning, while keeping up with changing community settings. 

School arrangements 

As of Monday 28 February: 

  • In the morning, drop off at all our gates will be from 8:30am and classes will commence at 9am.  I encourage parents to keep the ‘Kiss and Drop” in place.  Our students have shown an inspiring level of independence as they head into school through the gates every morning.  

  • Parents are welcome onsite in the morning and afternoons for drop off and pick up.  No School check in is needed as you will only be onsite for a short time. 

  • Parents who attend the office, will need to use the School Check-in QR code. To avoid crowding in the office area, the limit will be 3 adults at one time. 

  • To speak to the class teacher, phone the office for an appointment. 

  • Afternoon pick up will return to a 3pm dismissal for all K-6 students.  

  • Students will no longer be required to be kept in our stage cohorts.  Recess and lunch breaks will return to regular times. Community Language and Library will commence.  

  • The Canteen will return to breakfast from 8:30-8:55am and counter sales at recess and lunch. Lunch orders can be made by dropping a lunch bag in the classroom lunch basket or online www.myschoolconnect.com.au  

  • Preschool gates will be open 9:00 to 9:30 for morning drop off and from 2:30 in the afternoon. All children must be collected by 3:00pm. 

We will continue to use the core layered COVID-smart measures for minimising risk when planning activities and events. 

RAT Testing 

From Monday 28 February, we will move to symptomatic testing. Tests are to be used at your discretion such as if your child is symptomatic or there are cases in their class. Tests are being sent home with students throughout this week.  

Your child would have already received nasal swab or saliva rapid antigen testing kits from the school. Instructions are included in the kits detailing how to use the tests, check the results and dispose of the tests safely. You can also download the instructions through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website. The user guides will also contain a contact number for the suppliers if you need additional support. 

Students using saliva testing kits must not eat or drink for 30 minutes before taking the saliva RAT, to give more accurate results. 

Beyond that, students and staff can access PCR tests or buy their own rapid antigen tests as these are now readily available and accessible in the community. Mask wearing 

Masks will continue to be required indoors for all school staff, volunteers and visitors including parents and carers in primary schools until Friday 4 March. This means that from Monday 7 March, masks will no longer be mandatory for all staff. However, those who wish to continue to use them will be supported to do so. 

In line with community settings, workers who support our students with disability in SSPs, support units and some mainstream classrooms will be required to wear masks while working with students. 

Our school will continue to ensure our layered COVID-smart measures are in place, including vaccinations, maximising natural ventilation in learning spaces, continued good hand hygiene practices and enhanced cleaning. 

We strongly encourage our students and their families to consider vaccination including boosters when eligible. Find a vaccination clinic to book an appointment near you. 

We are excited to welcome our community back on-site next week.  We are looking forward to our first Monday Morning Assembly on Monday 7 March at 9am with all our families most welcome.   

Thank you again for your continued support during this school term.  

Mrs Donna McGeary 

Principal 

 

FUN Kids OSHC - Before School Care, After School Care and Vacation Care

Fun Kids OSHC provides Before School Care, After School Care and Vacation Care within the grounds of Punchbowl Public School. Download the attached flyers to find out more about accessing this service. 

Contact Fun Kids directly to register. 

Phone: 0422 968 085 Email: punchbowl@funkids.com.au

 

Download

Canteen online ordering has arrived!

Schools as Community Centre (SaCC)

SaCC programs have begun for 2022 and our centre is a hive of activity! Welcome to all our new families.

Our playgroups have continued in a Covid safe way and our littlest learners are enjoying spending time in the great outdoors. Look out for news on the Punchbowl Public School School as Community Centre Facebook page. 

Our newest program 'Kids Create' is a craft group for children aged 8-12, designed to help children to express their emotions creatively. We were pleased to see registrations fill up fast the program started in Week 5. We thank Breakthru and Belmore Youth Resource Centre for this wonderful opportunity to facilitate this group in our SaCC. 

All families are welcome to reach out to our SaCC at anytime. Please contact Asenati directly on 0439487865. 

Asenati Mareko - SaCC Facilitator 

Australia Day Awards 2022 for Canterbury Bankstown Council

Congratulations to Mrs Kontakos, who was nominated and recognised in the Australia Day Awards 2022 for Canterbury Bankstown Council.

Mrs Kontakos' work with the Punchbowl community was acknowledged and the difference her efforts make to our students and their families. Mrs Kontakos is a crucial part of the cogs that keep our school excelling in wellbeing. She makes strong, positive relationships with everyone and is a trusted and respected member of our school. 


Preschool & Early Intervention

The children from our mainstream and early intervention Preschool have had a wonderful start to the year.  

They have been settling into their new environments, exploring their space, learning the routine, building relationships with their educators and making new friends. Children are beginning to feel that sense of belonging.  

Children are becoming safe respectful learners in their environment through singing songs, playing, following steps, listening, responding, learning the expectations, to be life long learners.  

The beginning of the year is also about setting goals and we are ready to achieve them. Welcome to all our families and friends of Preschool. 

Early Stage 1

Gymnastics 

As part of the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) curriculum, Kindergarten students are participating in a gymnastics program this term. This program provides students with the opportunity to learn fundamental and core movement skills. It also develops a positive and concrete foundation by introducing the basic principles and skills required to participate in gymnastics. Students are loving keeping fit while learning the fundamental principles of gymnastics. Check out their fabulous skills! 

K/6 Owls & K/6 Kookaburras

K-6 Owls and Kookaburras have had a busy and enjoyable start to Term 1. We spent time looking after our lovely school garden with Ms Clare and Mrs Haidar. We enjoyed smelling the different herbs and lavenders. We worked with soils and watered the garden which was fascinating.  

A warm welcome to Mrs Jamleoui who has joined K-6 Kookaburras this year. We have a new Kindy student Salah, who has joined in Kookaburras and we also celebrated Katerina’s 11th birthday in K-6 Owls. We had so much fun in our Gymnastics session, stretching, jumping, skipping, running, doing forward rolls, which has increased and improved our flexibility and motor skills.  

Kookaburras enjoyed cooking with Mrs Haidar making mini vanilla bread balls, which were so delicious. Owls painted a masterpiece of lavender painting inspired by Monet and taught by Mrs Parks. Monet’s style of organic form and observing our beautiful garden has inspired us to become great artists. Owls and Kookaburras have started the year as busy learners!! 

Stage 1

Welcome to our New Teachers  

Stage 1 have welcomed 3 new teachers to the school, we are very lucky to have these teachers join us at PPS. Mrs Roberts – 1 Turtles, Mrs Mannell – 1/2 Manta Rays and Miss Chan – 2 Clownfish.  

 

In the classroom 

Stage 1 students have had a busy start to the year. Here are some of the highlights from our first few weeks back. 

Week 1 – We finally got to meet our new teachers, classmates and see our new classrooms. This was a big change for our Year 1 students who have moved into Stage 1 this year. There was a lot to explore, new faces, new playgrounds and lots of new things to learn. 

Week 2 – The PAX program was introduced in the Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms. PAX means peace, productivity, health and happiness, and is what the PAX Good Behaviour Game helps create and strengthen in each classroom. 

Week 3 – InitiaLit began in all Stage 1 classrooms. This program provides all students with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers. 

Week 4 – Weekly gymnastics sessions started. Gymnastics provides a wonderful opportunity for students to develop basic motor skills and promotes a fun way of engaging in physical activity.  

Stage 2

Stage 2 have been learning about the different ways to add and subtract numbers. This week, 3 Flourish practised and consolidated these important skills through playing card games. Students had to add or subtract numbers on their cards to make a target number in the grid. We had lots of fun trying to strategise to get three in a row and win the game! 

Stage 3

Welcome parents and carers to the new year of 2022. Students in Stage 3 have kicked off the year with so much learning across the curriculum. They have participated in the gymnastics program and are enjoying it immensely. They are currently learning techniques to help with their balance, focus and challenge the limitations of their body, which is beneficial for their personal development, health and physical education. 

Library

Library News 2021 

Stage 3 students have been excited about returning to the school library for learning and enjoyment. Many are keen to be borrowing from the selection of new books that have been added to the collection. Parents, kindly remind your child to bring a library bag so that they may borrow. A bag is needed to protect the books from damage. This is in line with our school value of responsibility.  

Year 5 and Year 6 students have been learning about Cyber Safety. They are beginning to understand what it means to be a digital citizen and behaving responsibly. Behaviours that students identified as responsible include: 

“Avoid posting personal information online.” Zeinab, 6 Positive 

“Get peoples permission first before posting about them.” Kadiatu, 6 Positive 

“Always be respectful with your posts.” Samir, 6 Positive 

“Limit the time you spend online. Get enough sleep so you are ready to learn and don’t get sleepy in class.” Noah, 6 Positive 

“Keep your personal information to yourself. Never give your passwords to anyone.” Sabah, 5 Terrific 

Library- MyOn

All our students have access to over 5000 fascinating eBooks covering a variety of interests. There are many titles that will spark student curiosity. 

Students have been issued with their login details. Please provide your child with the opportunity to access the MyON online library daily. Click on the link to visit the site. https://www.myon.com/login/ 

Library- Upcoming Events

Carnival Book Fair:

We have the much-anticipated Carnival Book Fair starting Monday 28 February 2022. There will be displays of enchanting books available for purchase. Prices range from $5-$20. We encourage you to foster a love for reading and learning by considering a book purchase. 

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge:

The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) aims to encourage a lifelong love of reading for pleasure. The chosen titles allow students to experience quality literature. It is open to all students in NSW from kindergarten to Year 9. 

In recent years most of our students completed the challenge and were awarded a certificate from the NSW Premier’s office acknowledging their efforts. Let’s work together to ensure all our students complete this year’s challenge. Students may borrower PRC books from the school library or your local library. For more information about libraries in the Canterbury Bankstown area click on the link. 

https://www.cbcity.nsw.gov.au/community/library-knowledge-centres/locations-memberships 

Punchbowl Public School Hats

School hats are available at the front office for $19. These are the new style bucket hats. Caps are no longer available to purchase from the school. 

Payments can be made online by visiting the school website and selecting 'Make a Payment'. Enter your details and include a note in the 'Payment Description' school hat.

Alternatively place $19 in an envelope labeled with your child's name and class and mark it with 'School Hat'. Please note the office does not keep change. Please include the correct money!

The office will make sure your child receives their hat. 

Uniform Shop - Pricelist

Download the updated uniform shop pricelist. 

Saouma's

SHOP 2/200 THE BOULEVARDE, PUNCHBOWL, 2196

(NEXT TO BROADWAY PLAZA)

PH: (02) 97503276

Order online at WWW.SAOUMASCHOOLWEAR.COM.AU 

TRADING HOURS:

MON-FRI 9AM- 5PM

SAT 9AM- 2PM

Download

Updated School Arrangements - from 28 February

As of Monday 28 February: 

  • In the morning, drop off at all our gates will be from 8:30am and classes will commence at 9am.  I encourage parents to keep the ‘Kiss and Drop” in place.  Our students have shown an inspiring level of independence as they head into school through the gates every morning.  

  • Parents are welcome onsite in the morning and afternoons for drop off and pick up.  No School check in is needed as you will only be onsite for a short time. 

  • Parents who attend the office, will need to use the School Check-in QR code. To avoid crowding in the office area, the limit will be 3 adults at one time. 

  • To speak to the class teacher, phone the office for an appointment. 

  • Afternoon pick up will return to a 3pm dismissal for all K-6 students.  

  • Students will no longer be required to be kept in our stage cohorts.  Recess and lunch breaks will return to regular times. Community Language and Library will commence.  

  • The Canteen will return to breakfast from 8:30-8:55am and counter sales at recess and lunch. Lunch orders can be made by dropping a lunch bag in the classroom lunch basket or online www.myschoolconnect.com.au  

  • Preschool gates will be open 9:00 to 9:30 for morning drop off and from 2:30 in the afternoon. All children must be collected by 3:00pm. 

Road safety arounds schools is a SHARED responsibility. Please follow the rules.

Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT)

From Monday 28 February, we will move to symptomatic testing. Tests are to be used at your discretion such as if your child is symptomatic or there are cases in their class. Tests are being sent home with students throughout this week.  

Your child would have already received nasal swab or saliva rapid antigen testing kits. Instructions are included in the kits detailing how to use the tests, check the results and dispose of the tests safely. You can also download the instructions through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website. The user guides will also contain a contact number for the suppliers if you need additional support. 

Students using saliva testing kits must not eat or drink for 30 minutes before taking the saliva RAT, to give more accurate results. 

Beyond that, students and staff can access PCR tests or buy their own rapid antigen tests as these are now readily available and accessible in the community.

This page provides the latest advice for parents and carers on the department’s response to the pandemic. This guide is updated regularly based on advice from NSW Health. Please check this regularly. 

Did you know that the newsletter can be translated to many different languages?

- Scroll all the way to the bottom until you see the ‘Select Language’ option. Select your preferences language

You can now read the news in your chosen language.

Local Community News and Events

Read in Your Own Language!

On our shelves, we have  books, magazines, DVDs and some newspapers in a wide range of languages.

These language collections are shelved separately from the English language collection and include adult fiction and non-fiction (factual information), junior fiction and non-fiction and picture books.

To help you, each item has a short code on the spine to show which language it is in and children's books are also marked with a 'J'.

 ARA – Arabic  BEN - Bengali CHI – Chinese GRE – Greek   KOR – Korean VIE - Vietnamese

Each library has a slightly different collection and some specialise in particular languages. You can also check our library catalogue, call us or ask a librarian where to find the language you are looking for.

More Languages

Can't find your language on the  shelves of your local library? Ask a staff member or call us on 9789 9423 as books in your language may be available at another branch.

We can borrow books in an even wider range of languages from the State Library of NSW. The poster to the left shows just some of the  languages in which we can obtain books.  Please ask at your local library for more information. This is a free service.

Read online at any time!

In our eLibrary, you will find even more reading options, including content in Chinese, Arabic, Greek, Bengali, Vietnamese, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian.

You can also watch movies and documentaries on Beamafilm, which has content in multiple languages for both adults and kids.

Want to know more? 

Call us on 9789 9423  and ask for more information, or to request books in a specific language. Or contact us using our online form.

Kidsflix event at Hoyts Bankstown

Coordinated by Arthritis SA for Arthritis NSW, Kidsflix event is a national free morning for children with arthritis, a disability, an illness or facing social disadvantage and their carers/family members.

The event will be held in an inclusive and non-judgemental environment and is 100% free to attend.

Link to register for the free event:   https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/kidsflix-bankstown-2022-registration-265719543307

It should be a fantastic morning for everyone and we’re so excited to be putting the event on after experiencing a number of Covid restrictions.