Pictured L-R

Miss Whitmill – Interesting Fact

Did you know that Miss Whitmill can play the cello and the piano?

She has been playing instruments since she was 11.

She led a string group her at BHPS, when there were a few cello players.

She would bring her cello in each week – you should see the size of it!!

Mrs Hurst – Interesting Fact

Did you know that Mrs Hurst loves to do a ballet class every week?

She has toes that can point so beautifully!

Her favourite part of ballet class is when she is at the barre.

You should see how graceful she is as she moves her arms through each ballet position

Mrs Graham – Interesting Fact

Did you know that Mrs Graham used to dabble in professional dancing?

As a teenager, she did dancing shows every weekend with a country and western singer who rode his horse on stage!

She taught all the dances to the original Hi-5 cast and even taught an American Hi-5 group (one of the members is now on Bold and the Beautiful!)

Mr McGee – Interesting Fact

Did you know that Mr McGee can play the bagpipes?

He always plays us a tune at our Anzac Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies.

When he plays, you get a picture in your mind of the sound floating across the highlands in Scotland.

You should see the size of his breath to fill up the bagpipes – the notes can last for ages!!

Our student leadership team work closely with Ms Hanson throughout the year. One of the things they collaborate on is determining future project areas for our school to enhance our school environment. Over the years, this has led to handball court and basketball court enhancements just to name a few.

This year, they would like all of our BHPS students and staff to participate in creating a commemorative tiled wall along the wall outside the canteen as you look out towards the top oval near the Year 6 chairs and tables. We would love for all of our students and staff to contribute to the design by creating their very own personalised tile.

In the first week of term 4, we are planning for our students to create their individual artworks for their tiles. Following this, the designs are sent away so the tile can be created.  At the same time a creative group of staff and students will prepare and paint our ‘wall’ ready for tiles to be displayed.  We hope to have our wall completed and ‘opened’ in week 9 of Term 4.

We think this is a lovely way to commemorate 2020 as well as beautify the area and we can’t wait to share our beautiful creation!

There has been some concern raised with police regarding the use of Pedestrian Refuge Island Crossings by young people. Please be aware and remind your children that Pedestrian refuge islands are not pedestrian crossings; they are installed on busy or wide roads to help pedestrians cross in two stages. Sometimes they are used with a pedestrian crossing when a staged crossing is required. There are many pedestrian Refuge Island Crossings throughout the Northern Beaches area, many of these on the school routes. 

Below is a link outlining information about the different types of crossings:

https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/pedestrians/pedestrian_crossings/index.html

The bush fire danger period generally runs from 1 October until 31 March and it is around this time that we are reminded of the need to annually update our bush fire plans. Beacon Hill Public School is identified as a school in a bushfire prone area, however we are not considered to be high risk.

In consultation with the Rural Fire Service, the following procedures will be followed at school:

In the event of a bush fire or bush fire smoke within the vicinity of our school, all children will shelter in their classrooms, with the following exception when necessary; classes located in the old Assembly Hall will be relocated to the Kindergarten block. Parents can stay up to date through the Beacon Hill Skoolbag app and email notifications. Parents will be informed via push alert on the school app and email communication methods if there is a need to collect students from school in the event of a bush fire emergency. Our emergency management plans have been updated to include student collection procedures and it is important that families are familiar with these and that they are followed during this time. We stress, that in the case of a serious and local bush fire, all school phone lines need to stay open to allow contact between the Emergency Services and our school. Please note, available to download are smartphone apps for iPhone and Android. The “Fires Near Me” app informs you of any fires which may be near your area and the “Emergency+” app provides callers with guidance about when to call Triple Zero. You can find out more information about this helpful application from the Rural Fire Service website: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au. In the event of bush fire smoke from hazard reduction burns or bush fires, staff and students who suffer from asthma are reminded to bring their medication and keep it with them in case it is needed. Inhalers are also available in the sick bay and with first aid kits.

Other useful phone numbers:

NSW Rural Fire Service – 1800 NSW RFS(1800 679 737)

Fire and Rescue NSW – 000 NSW State Emergency Service – 132 500

This term, our school is participating in the Partners in Learning parent survey, a part of the Tell Them From Me suite of surveys (student, teacher and parent surveys) on student engagement. The survey asks parents and carers questions about different factors that are known to impact on student wellbeing and engagement.

Running this survey helps our school understand parents’ and carers’ perspectives on their child’s experience at school. These include: communication between parents/carers and staff, activities and practices at home and parent/carer views on the school's support of learning and behaviour. This valuable feedback will help our school make practical improvements. 

The survey is conducted entirely online on smartphones, iPads, tablets, laptops or computers. The survey will typically take 15 minutes or less to complete and is completely anonymous and confidential. Although participating in the survey is entirely voluntary, your responses are very much appreciated.

More information about the survey is available at: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au

Your participation in this survey is very much appreciated and the feedback we receive will be used to guide our 2021 Strategic Improvement Plan. Please take some time to complete the parent survey before the end of term. Thank you.

Today the following students from Stages 2 and 3 had the exciting opportunity to participate in an online enrichment program provided by G.A.T.E.WAYS:

Jamie E, Byron B, Lachlan W, Mitchell E, George B, Charlie W, Georgia W, Michael T, Caitlin P, Matthew G, David G, Lani D, Eliza D, Georgie S, Skye S, Liam D, James T, Sienna E, Agustina E, Toby J, Ava M and Michael L, Dylan M, Christian C.

G.A.T.E.WAYS is in its 26th year specialising in providing challenging and inspiring programs for highly-able, gifted and talented learners. 

Students participated in the following programs:

CSI: Hogwarts with Simon Matheson Years 3 and 4: Forensic Science

Blimey! A terrible crime has been committed at Hogwarts – Mrs. Norris has been kidnapped! The cat, belonging to the Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch, was last seen near the Owlery, which sits atop the castle’s West Tower. A ransom note, delivered to Filch by owl, has demanded the lifting of a curfew on all students in order to obtain the cat’s release. Unfortunately, all magical attempts to solve the mystery have failed. Given that an anti-magic spell has been used to block all attempts to find those responsible, a crack team of Muggle forensic experts have been called in to examine the few meagre clues left by the criminal, or criminals, responsible. As members of the Muggle team, you will examine the forensic evidence to find both the missing cat and those behind this nefarious deed. Do you have what it takes to crack the case?

It's Chemicool with Robyne Bowering Years 5 and 6: Science

Have you ever wondered what makes certain foods spicy and hot, while others are as cool as a cucumber? Or considered why freshly cut grass or popcorn smell so good, while wet dogs and poo do not? Did you know that the aroma of oranges and lemons are produced by chemically identical molecules that are simply mirror images of each other? So, is an orange just a left-handed lemon? Would you be concerned if your doctor prescribed tarantula poison as a pain killer? All these questions and more will be explored as we delve into the very cool world of molecular chemistry to discover how patterns in the composition and shapes of molecules can tell us a lot about their smell, colour, toxicity or taste and to look at what science ‘says’ is the best way to cool a burning mouth if you eat a hot chilli.

What a fantastic scientific learning experience for these BHPS students. I hope they were able to get to the bottom of all all those questions!