The Link

We have had a very smooth start to Term 2. Students returned to term with great enthusiasm and settled quickly back into their classes for the term.  The behaviour in our classes, assemblies and our playgrounds, has been, for the most part, outstanding. I've received feedback from several visiting teachers over the past three weeks praising the friendliness and good behaviour of our students. 

We have had a number of staff changes this term, and it has taken some time to fill vacant positions. I spent the 2 and a half weeks of term teaching Year 3, which I have to say, has been a delight. I loved returning to the role of classroom teacher for a few weeks, and getting to know each of the Year 3 students well.  

Our new, permanent Year 3 teacher, Mrs Arnott, entered on duty last Thursday, May 11. She had her first day with the class on Friday May 12.  Mrs Arnott brings with her  extensive experience and expertise as a primary school teacher, a teacher librarian, and a sports coach. 

Mrs Taylor, our assistant principal for Years 3-6, commenced teaching Year 4 at the beginning of this term. I am currently seeking a teacher to either take over or share class with Mrs Taylor for the rest of the year.

Ms Yap, who was sharing 6H with Mrs Dube, 2-days per week in Term 1, is now our 6H teacher Monday - Thursday.  Mrs Jaitani, another very experienced teacher with a high school, special education and sports background, will take Year 6 each Friday. Welcome, Mrs Jaitani, we are very happy to have you on the team. 

Welcome  and congratulations to Mrs La Faber who will be our relieving Assistant Principal K-2 each Thursday and Friday for the remainder of this year. She will not be on class, but will assist in teaching parts of our release from face to face and support programs during her two days. Mrs La Faber has extensive experience as a primary teacher and an assistant principal, and we are delighted that she has joined our team. 

In Week 2, we said goodbye to Ms Doyle on 1/2S. Ms Doyle has left teaching after being offered an exciting opportunity with an NGO. I know that she misses the students, staff and the community greatly, but won't be missing driving 3 hours per day to commute to and from our school. Her new job is a very quick trip from her home, and will allow a much better and healthier lifestyle.  

A recruitment process to find a  teacher for  1/2S has been underway for the past fortnight, and I am happy to advise that today I offered the position to a very talented candidate, who I believe will be a great fit for the class and our school.  We are now preparing her contract and, once it has been signed and finalised, I will announce further details, including a start date. 

Finally, I'd like to welcome Mrs Kenworthy, who has come on board 3 days per week as our COVID Intensive Learning Support Program teacher. Mrs Kenworthy is another very experienced teacher, who has expertise in learning support and in special education. She's a great asset to the team.

I would like to thank Mr Hajjaj for. his quick work in selecting and organising our PSSA soccer team.  With so many vacant staff positions and uncertainty about how and when they would be filled, we were not sure if we would have sufficient staff capable of taking the PSSA teams this winter. 

I am very appreciative of Mr Hajjaj's willingness to organise the PSSA teams in such a short window of time. I would also like to congratulate our students in Years 3-6 who found out they'd been selected for the team last Wednesday, and had their first round of the competition on Friday.  

Mrs Arnott, our new Year 3 teacher, has a great deal of experience in running PSSA teams, and will be assisting Mr Hajjaj coach and manage the teams

The Cross Country Carnival will be held on Monday May 22. The carnival is for students 8 years and older, in Years 2-6. 

Mrs Arnott , Mr Hajjaj and I will be organising the event and will provide further information as soon as possible.

I apologise for the very short lead time, and I thank Mrs Arnott  and Mr Hajjaj for their willingness to take on the organisation of this event.

On Wednesday, May 17, students in Years 2 - 6 will meet in house groups to  elect  a captain and a vice captain for their house.  To be eligible for the captaincy, students must be in Year 6, be a member of the house group, and not already hold a position such as school captain or prefect.

Year 6 students who wish to stand for election will be asked to speak for  no up to1-minute explaining why they will make a good house captain. 

It has come to my attention that some parents have been parking in the no-parking zone at the pedestrian crossing on John Street when dropping off children to attend Squiggler Academy in the mornings.  This puts the safety of other children and pedestrians who are using the crossing at risk. Please park in a legal parking spot, and walk your children to the gate when you bring them to school in the morning. 

Corinne Campbell

Principal

Welcome back to another exciting term! We hope you had a restful break and are ready to dive into the new term.

This term, we are continuing to implement the new NSW English and Mathematics curriculum across K-2. We recently held a planning day where we came together with Mrs Rana, our Assistant Principal Learning and Instruction (APC&I) , to learn and collaborate on effective teaching strategies. The day was filled with exciting discussions, hands-on activities, and professional development sessions that helped us gain a deeper understanding of the new curriculum and how to implement it in the classroom.

As always, we are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students. We believe that with hard work, dedication, and a growth mindset, this term will be a great success for everyone involved. Let's work together to make this term one to remember!

Mrs Townsend

Assistant Principal, K-2

I hope you all had a wonderful break and that you are feeling refreshed and ready to start the new term. As the students return to school, the team and I look forward to continuing to work with you and your children to ensure they have a successful year of learning.

We are excited about the learning that will take place in stage 2 and 3 this term. Our dedicated teachers have worked hard to plan engaging and challenging lessons that will inspire your child to learn and grow. 

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working with you to ensure your child's success.

Attention Parents! The Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition is open for all NSW government primary school students in Years 3 to 6. This competition is an excellent opportunity for children to develop their public speaking skills and confidence while exploring multiculturalism in Australia. Each year, approximately 2,000 students are chosen to represent their schools in the local finals, which will be held face-to-face in 2023. The competition consists of a prepared speech on a multicultural topic and an impromptu speech on a non-multicultural theme. Adjudicators will evaluate speeches based on matter, manner, and method, looking for confident and engaging speakers who balance personal opinion with information and humor with sincerity. The winners of local finals will progress to regional finals, and then state finals, with medals and trophies awarded to state finalists.

Speech topics for years 3 to 6 are below.

Attendance is critical to your child's success in school. We understand that there may be times when your child is unable to attend school, but we ask that you communicate with us and provide a valid reason for their absence. Being on time and attending school regularly helps students establish good routines and ensures that they do not miss out on important learning opportunities.

Mrs Taylor

Assistant Principal, 3-6

Friday 19 May : Walk Safely To School Day - Information and permission notes were sent home on Friday 12 May.

Monday 22 May: Cross Country Carnival (Y2-6) - information to come.

Monday 5 June:  Enviro-mentors Incursion for World Environment Day (TBC)

Wednesday 19 July:  Year 3 and Year 4 Excursion to Riverside Theatre "The Twits".

Welcome back to term 2! 

Hope you're enjoying the sunny weather before winter arrives.

On May 9th, we had Therese from Services Australia enlighten us about their digital services and how to detect and avoid scams. It was such an educational experience that we're now looking forward to hosting similar sessions with distinguished organizations like Sydney Waters, TAFE, and Health NSW.

Our school will be joining the "Walking Safely to School" program on May 19th, Friday. The Community Hub has arranged walking school buses from two locations, which will be led by our very own school staff. A note will be sent home, so parents or guardians can choose their preferred pick-up point and submit their response to the office on or before May 17th.

We're also looking for two volunteers to give away healthy snacks to those who walk to school. If you're interested, please contact me via text 0448331588 or email seetha.srinivasan@det.nsw.edu.au.

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Creator's Meet on May 26th and June 23rd! Kerri from Bunnings will lead another fun craft activity.

Hub Weekly programming schedule: 

Mondays: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm: Join our conversational English class, with no registration required. We provide childminding for registered participants.

Wednesdays: We offer One Box Collection from 9:00-9:30 am or 2:30-3:00 pm for our registered participants.

Additionally, we have a Playgroup available with SDN children services from 9:30-11:30 am (limited spots left).

Fridays: Come join Dance Fitness with Sophie from 9:30-10:30 am with no registration required.

For those who may not know me, my name is Seetha and I serve as the community liaison officer at our school's Community Hub.

I am available from Monday to Wednesday and on Fridays. The primary purpose of our Community Hub is to act as a bridge that connects families with one another, as well as with the school and various local community services.

The hub offers an inviting space for parents to meet, build connections, and foster friendships. We host weekly events and occasional activities that cater to individuals from all walks of life. Everyone is welcome to join us at the hub.

Feel free to drop by for a cup of coffee and a chat or participate in our activities. I am excited to meet you! If you want more information about the hub or how you can get involved, please do not hesitate to reach out at 0448331588 or seetha.srinivasan@det.nsw.edu.au.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Enjoy the rest of your day!