Pigeon Post

On Monday, a letter was personally delivered to me by Ben and James, both Year 1 students in 1/2 Banana Palm. You may have already seen the video of the boys reading it to me, uploaded onto our Instagram account - watch the video here.

'Nestigations' is a melding of Kindergarten 'Investigations' and transitioning into 'ProjectNEST', or authentic project-based learning, for Years 3-6.

It was an invitation I just couldn't refuse! I visited the class at 2pm and watched the entire class engaging in authentic learning...I even received a custom-made loom band ring, handcrafted in my favourite colours!

Mrs Maria Lambos - Principal

School hats are expected to be worn whilst outside in the playground, including before school, from 8:30am, when there is a teacher on duty outside.

The Balmain Fun Run caps can be worn on Fridays in Term 4, in the lead up to the event.

Thank you to the increased number of students now wearing their hats in the mornings. We are looking forward to seeing ALL STUDENTS wearing their hat during time outdoors.

Our regular opening hours are 8:15 - 9am on Friday mornings during school terms, on the middle floor of the main building - enter from Ms Pauline's Garden stairs.

If your child has grown out of some items that are still wearable, the uniform stall would love to receive your donated school uniforms!

All donations should be clean, and still wearable / saleable. All funds raised from second chance sales go back to buying resources for our school!

Please bring donations to the uniform stall on Friday mornings, or leave in the labelled box near the office.

If you can spare an hour a term on a Friday morning to help at the uniform stall, please get in touch with Lyndal and Josie, via balmainpsuniforms@gmail.com. All help is greatly appreciated and funds raised go back to supporting the school.

Order uniform items here

• Tuesdays - Years 3-6 Awards, Announcements & Community Singing with Ms Penny Biggins - led by our Ministers under the COLA
• Wednesdays - Years K-2 Awards, Announcements & Community Singing with Ms Penny Biggins - led by our Ministers under the COLA

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

Friday 28 February saw 'Clean Up Balmain Day', in lieu of 'Clean Up Australia Day', officially held on 1 March.

Huge thanks to Ms Reedy, 3/4 Rainforest's teacher, for organising our classes to help keep Balmain PS and Gladstone Park beautiful!

Click here for images on our Instagram account.

From the "Growing Strong Minds" Newsletter...https://growingstrongminds.com

In view of the chaos over the past few months - fires and illness in particular, we would like to focus on the character strength 'bravery'. You have no doubt seen countless acts of bravery, so how can we encourage this in children?

1. Role model bravery yourself - try something new, ask for help in a shop. As a teacher or parent you might bravely say "I don't know' to a question 'Let's try and figure it out, let's be brave and give it a try, we will probably get it wrong the first few times, as this is how we learn."

2. Teach children to notice when they are not feeling brave. What are they saying to themselves? Remember these are just thoughts they may or may not be true, take a deep breath and let them go. Picture the thought floating away like a balloon. Of course if they feel unsafe, they should trust their gut instinct and tell a trusted adult.

3. Practise square breathing - this calms the nervous system. Younger children can trace a square on paper with their finger as they breathe in and out.

4. Ask children to reflect on a time when they have been brave, for instance learnt to ride a bike. What did they think and feel? What did other people say or do to help them face their fear? How did they feel afterwards? How can they apply this in the future to be braver?

5. Take small steps and call on other character strengths to help you - perseverance, kindness to yourself - "You can do this, give it a go!" 

Bravery requires us to be authentic, take risks and be different. We can do this by embracing and using our own unique strengths.