Pigeon Post

2020 Volume 3 Issue 5

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Keep up with what's happening @ Balmain Public School

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IF YOU SEE A COLOURED CIRCLE AROUND OUR EMBLEM, DON'T FORGET TO TAP ON IT, FOR OUR LATEST STORY...you've got to get in quickly, as it disappears after 24 hours!


⬅️ SOME OF OUR STORIES ARE SAVED AS HIGHLIGHTS...


Enrolling now for Kindergarten 2021

How to apply

Our new online enrolment process makes it easier and faster to enrol your child at your local school. To apply online, you must:

  • be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
  • live in the local enrolment area of this school

Apply online here

If you are not eligible to use the online form, or prefer not to, you can download an application to enrol.

From the Principal

#StayingWellAndSafe

As per the Skoolbag notification sent out on Monday and the Department of Education's website:

Schools are operating full time while actively following health advice.

Schools continue to be safe, and operations are in line with Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and NSW Health advice.

Balmain Public School will continue to follow advice to ensure the safety of our students, staff and community.

ATTENDANCE

Students should be at school unless:

  • they have a medical certificate which states that they are unable to return to school due to an ongoing medical condition and the expected time frame
  • they are currently unwell

In accordance with advice from NSW Health, parents and carers are reminded NOT to send children to school if they are unwell, even if they have the mildest flu-like symptoms.

Students and staff with flu-like symptoms will need to provide a copy of a negative COVID-19 test result before being permitted to return to school.

Symptoms can include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore/scratchy throat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Loss of taste
  • Loss of smell

Other reported symptoms can include:

  • Fatigue
  • Runny nose
  • Muscle pain
  • Joint pain
  • Diarrhoea
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Loss of appetite

Should your child present with any of the above symptoms, please arrange for a COVID-19 test.

A 24-hour home pick-up COVID-19 test can be organised by going to the following link:

https://covidtestsydney.com.au/

Once you have received your negative COVID-19 test results, please send a copy to the school via email.

Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Maria Lambos - Principal

PHONE PARENT-TEACHER MEETINGS and GOAL SETTING

As we are currently unable to have face-to-face meetings due to following NSW Health and DoE guidelines, phone meetings have been organised.

All class teachers have scheduled their availabilities between Week 6 (Monday 24 August) to the end of Week 9 (Friday 18 September).

Interviews are strictly 10 minutes only. To allow for technical issues it is vital that parents keep to this schedule and end their appointments in a timely manner. If you think you will need more time, please discuss this with your teacher at the appointment.

Please check that the phone number you have provided is correct. Your teacher will call you, so 5 minutes before your appointment is due to start, please have your phone nearby.

Teachers will be calling from numbers without any caller ID (Silent numbers). Please ensure you answer the call.

Your child should be sitting nearby for the goal-setting part of the meeting.

If you have any further enquiries, please contact the school office on 9818 1177.

Book in your session now!

https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code?code=4nwmg

OR

Log on to www.schoolinterviews.com.au and type in the code: 4nwmg

FROM THE OFFICE

A reminder to please use the Office window on Eaton Street for any of your school enquiries, or picking up students early/dropping off students after an appointment. We will escort them to the main gate (next to the office).

Also, with any correspondence to the school regarding your child, please ensure you list the child's first name, last name and class in order for your message to be forwarded promptly. 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Every FRIDAY

Go to www.flexischools.com.au to place your order

For any food/menu queries please feel free to contact us directly via email :

info@theschoolcanteen.com.au.

Alternatively, you can call Kirsty on 0416 786 603 and we will be happy to assist.

Kirsty and Jason Feliciotto – The School Canteen

Monday 24 - Friday 28 August - SASS (School Administrative and Support Staff) Recognition Week

Wednesday 2 September - Zoom P&C Meeting

link to come

Friday 25 September - LAST DAY OF TERM 3

FROM YOUR P&C

School Uniforms


Order uniform items here


For any size exchanges, please:

1. Email the uniform stall with the details of the exchange, at: balmainpsuniforms@gmail.com

2. Return the items to be exchanged to the school office, clearly marked with Student name, Class and EXCHANGE

3. Replacement items will be packed and re-delivered to your child's classroom

Orders will continue to be packed and delivered for collection each week, until we are able to reopen the stall.

Thank you!

AWARDS

LEARN LIVE LEAD awards

K GumnutSamuel Sexcellent writing and putting in that extra effort!
K JasmineAlec McEworking hard with best effort during writing!
K KaleChloe Cmaking a wonderful 'groups of' monster in mathematics!
1/2 Banana PalmTristan Lhis creativity and focus when producing his folk art trees
1/2 CactaceaeHarry Sbeing extremely helpful and reliable when completing errands
1/2 LavenderNina Bconsistently being a positive and helpful peer in the classroom
1/2 MangroveHarry Sconsistently displaying a positive attitude towards all his learning tasks
3/4 BambooGeorge Bpresenting insightful and thought provoking responses in SOLE
3/4 MagnoliaEve O'Calways trying her best and a great information report on Loggerhead Turtles
3/4 RainforestSilke McCher well-researched and creative SOLE presentation. Well done!
5/4 MarigoldDillon Phis continual enthusiasm to engage in his learning
5/6 Cherry BlossomMac Fconsistently working hard in lessons
5/6 FrangipaniSarah Hcontributing more to class discussions
5/6 WillowRyan KFor his kindness and willingness to help others in and out of the classroom
5/6 YautiaKathy Xher kind and collaborative nature within the classroom

YOU CAN DO IT! awards - Confidence

K GumnutIsla B-Rapproaching all classroom activities with enthusiasm and confidence!
K JasmineAmber Sconfidently answering 'predicting' questions during English
K KaleJasper Gshowing great enthusiasm towards reading and writing!
1/2 Banana PalmLennon Lhis increasing confidence in contributing to class discussions
1/2 CactaceaeGeorgie Cher confidence in her reading and always trying her best
1/2 LavenderSophia Kbeing a confident learner in MiniLit and demonstrating her learnt knowledge in the classroom
1/2 MangroveMiles L-Rhis confidence in using neater and more controlled handwriting
3/4 BambooPatrick Fcourageously asking for help when unsure of the task
3/4 MagnoliaFrederique Rimproved confidence in all learning areas. Keep shining! Well Done Frederique!
3/4 RainforestMonty McChis confident start at a new school. Welcome to Balmain!
5/4 MarigoldFrankie Hher increased confidence to ask clarifying questions
5/6 Cherry BlossomLachlan Rcontributions to class discussions and group work
5/6 FrangipaniCorey Mworking positively with a range of peers
5/6 WillowIsabel Dher confident approach to both Maths Olympiad and her F2L topic
5/6 YautiaJemma Wconfidently contributing to our literacy lesson on characterisation

POSITIVE PETE Awards

Thanks to Ms Karstrom, who organises the collection and distribution of the Gelatissimo ice-creams, as well as takes the fab photos!

PHOTO GALLERY: This Week's Positive Pete Winners

S2 - Elena B - 3/4 Rainforest
S3 - Freddie B - 5/6 Cherry Blossom
ES1 - Jasper G - K Kale
S1 - Oscar L - 1/2 Lavender
S2 - Elena B - 3/4 Rainforest
S3 - Freddie B - 5/6 Cherry Blossom
ES1 - Jasper G - K Kale
S1 - Oscar L - 1/2 Lavender

And the winner is...(drumroll please!)

BLUE GUM!!!!
BLUE GUM!!!!
BLUE GUM!!!!

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THIS WEEK...

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK

Head over to our Insta page for #scienceweek...

Stage 3 Cybersafety talk...

Spotlight on...

3/4 RAINFOREST!!!!!!

What a wonderful week we have had in the rainforest! We started by celebrating Science Week, looking at sustainable technologies and how they can reduce our waste and carbon footprint. This also tied into our Project NEST for this term! Using a carbon footprint calculator, we made visual representations of our footprints. Many of us were shocked to see just how big these footprints are! 3/4 Rainforest were inspired! We came up with lists of ways that we can create a more environmentally sustainable school.

Some of our ideas:

  • Speak to the canteen staff about plastic free options
  • Use old coffee cups to grow succulents for each classroom
  • Collect old computer parts and create arts and craft
  • Use recycled materials to sew library bags and pencil cases
  • Use a worm farm and compost to create our own soil
  • Put solar panels on the roof
  • Make hand-made paper
  • Turn off lights and fans when we aren’t using them. 

Photo Gallery

For Project NEST we have explored how the sun and milky way work. We began with a discussion, sharing what we know already and what we would like to know. After research we found out lots of new information (for example, that the sun is white not yellow!). We’re excited to learn more!

In SOLE, we have been researching the question: what will life look like in 50 years if we stop global warming? The responses were outstanding! We had a play, a model city, slideshow presentations and posters!

A poster from Red group

An excerpt from Purple Group’s script

Orange Group showing their work

Luca and Cormac with their model city made from recycled paper

In mathematics we have looked at the connections between multiplication and division, we found lots of patterns and strategies we can use!

Works from Luca and Kateryna

We have been learning about the Loggerhead turtle, collecting facts and writing informative pieces about it! Look at our paragraphs and diagram!

Photo Gallery

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Celebrating 160 years of quality public education in 2020!