Pigeon Post

2020 Volume 1 Issue 2

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

The BIG DAY has finally arrived!

What a fabulous start to the week! It was Kindergarten's official start to 'big school' on Monday, with their special, one-off starting time of 9:30 am. This gave the paparazzi (parents/carers, relatives and friends) plenty of time to take photos of the 52 super-cute kindies in their brand new uniforms! Some of our paparazzi traveled afar, just to be part of this special moment (a huge SHOUT OUT to the Grandma, who came all the way from South Australia for today!)

The only tears we saw were the ones coming down from the skies (as well as a couple of parents), as the kindies happily joined the line, turned and waved, then walked up the stairs with their teachers into the kindy classrooms.

To help console the grown-ups, as well as to get out of the rain, our amazing P&C put on a 'Cuppa & a Chat' straight after drop-off. It was a chance to meet some of the other parents and get to know each other a little better.

By the time the grown-ups went off into the big wide world, there were lots of smiles...they even remembered to come and pick their children up at 3:00pm!

Thanks to our 3 fabulous Kindergarten teachers - Mrs Goodridge, Ms Karstrom and Ms Jennett - who expertly made our youngest students' first day, such a memorable one! Huge thanks to parent Melissa S, who organised the morning tea, along with the support of some other parents - you made our Kindy families feel so welcome!

Mrs Maria Lambos - Principal

Photo Gallery: Our first day of school!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

All creatures great and small

As the owner of two German Shepherds, I fully understand and appreciate the importance of pets in a family’s life. With this in mind, I would like to express the school’s position in relation to dogs in the school playground. Under Section 14 of the Companion Animals Act (1998) dogs are prohibited on school grounds except where the Principal gives permission.

As our school continues to grow, so does the number of our furry friends assisting with dropping off and picking up of our students. It is important that we maintain a balance between the benefits of having family pets at the school and critical safety and hygiene considerations. If you are considering bringing your family pet to school, please ensure the following:

  • Dogs must be kept on a standard leash, in close proximity to their owner, at all times
  • Dogs must be very closely supervised, at all times, by their adult owners. They should not be given to students to mind
  • Dogs should not be left tied up unattended, as they may fret until their owner returns. Should you decide to tie your dog along the fence line, please ensure the gate thoroughfare is left clear, to enable easy entry/exit by our community, at all times - be mindful that some of our community members may NOT be animal lovers
  • Dogs should only be brought to school to drop students off or pick them up. They should not be brought to any special events held on school grounds e.g. Easter Hat Parade
  • Dogs should only be brought to school occasionally, rather than daily, to reduce the number of dogs at any one time
  • Owners must remain vigilant about their dog urinating or defecating in the school grounds. If this should happen, the owner must speak to school staff immediately and assist to clean it up
  • Only parents/carers of Balmain PS students have permission to bring their dog into the school playground. Please make other family members or employees, who might drop off or pick up students, aware of these guidelines
  • Remember that our playground is in use for after care in the afternoons - please ensure that the playground is cleared by 3:15pm, when the FJT students arrive and ESC staff are supervising all the BPS and FJT students in their care

For all parents/carers in our playground:

  • Supervise your children closely around the dogs in the playground

Your cooperation in following the above guidelines is essential, so that all students, staff and families are safe at school and so we can continue to enjoy the benefits of having dogs as part of our school community.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

WEEKLY - Community Morning Lines

  • Tuesdays - Announcements & community singing with Ms Penny Biggins
  • Wednesdays - Announcements & community singing with Ms Penny Biggins
  • Fridays - Awards: Learn Live Lead awards & You Can Do It! awards

WEEKLY - Canteen Orders - Fridays

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

If you need help with opening an account please contact Flexi Schools directly on 100 361 769 Monday – Friday between 8am and 5pm.

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

Fridays in Term 1 - Footsteps

All students K-6 will be participating in the 'Footsteps' dance program, as per the PDHPE (Physical Development, Health and Physical Education) syllabus

Footsteps note - payment due Thursday 13 Feb

Payment and permission due: Thursday 13 February
Download

Swimming Carnival Ribbon Presentations

We will aim to distribute ribbons according to this schedule. However, please note that the schedule is subject to possible change.

Just a reminder: Ribbons will ONLY be awarded to students, who place 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the final, or 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th overall in the heats (where no final has taken place).

Place ribbons will not be distributed for individual heats.  Ribbons will not be handed out for relay events.

Week 3

Tuesday Morning Assembly - 11 Feb

Junior (8-10 years) Girls - Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly

Wednesday Morning Assembly - 12 Feb

Junior (8-10 yrs) Boys - Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly

Week 4

Tuesday Morning Assembly - 18 Feb

11 yrs, 12 & 13 yrs Girls - Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly

Wednesday Morning Assembly - 19 Feb

11 yrs, 12 & 13 yrs Boys - Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly

17 February-6 March - 'Meet with the teacher' conference

Kindergarten, Stage 2 and Stage 3 only.

Book your 10-minute conference meeting here 

If you have trouble logging in above, go to www.schoolinterviews.com.au and enter the code: gua4g

Stage 1 meetings will be held from 16 March to 3 April.

Tuesday 18 & Wednesday 19 February - School Photos

Summer uniform to be worn - Order uniform items here

Sunday 8 March - International Women's Day

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

#IWD2020 #EachforEqual

16 March-3 April - 'Meet with the teacher' conference for Stage 1

Stage 1 classes - 1/2 Banana Palm, 1/2 Cactaceae, 1/2 Daffodil and 1/2 Lavender - will have their 'Meet with the Teacher' 10-minute meetings during Weeks 8-10. 

You will be sent your link separately, in due course.

Thursday 9 April - Last day of Term 1


FROM THE OFFICE

Absences

Student absences can be emailed to the school  on Balmain-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or Balmainps@gmail.com.  If you are planning on taking holidays during school term, you will need to contact the school to complete an Exemption form, which will be approved by the Principal.

Change of details

Please send change of details (such as: emergency contacts, address, mobile number, family situation) to the office, via email or Skoolbag.

Contacting teachers

If you need to contact your child's teacher, please email the school directly and your email will be forwarded.

Payments

Any payments are to be made through the Skoolbag app or clicking on the 'make a payment' tab on the school website.

If paying by cash or cheque, monies are to be placed into an envelope, clearly marked with student's first and last name, class and what the payment is for.  Please place in the white box outside the Office window. Permissions can also be placed in this box.

AWARDS

Awards

Due to Friday's inclement weather, the following awards will be presented at next Friday's assembly (weather permitting).

LEARN LIVE LEAD awards

K GumnutArthur Bdeveloping confidence and having a happy first week of school!
K JasmineAmber Sapproaching new experiences with a positive and enthusiastic attitude
K KaleSilas Rshowing great effort when faced with challenging activities
1/2 Banana PalmFinley Ta fabulous start to 2020 with excellent work and new friends
1/2 CactaceaeHarrison Sdemonstrating responsibility and enthusiasm
1/2 DaffodilNed Tfocusing on sounding out all his words before writing them
1/2 LavenderHenry Rdemonstrating growth in his ability to focus in class
3/4 BambooFarran Wdisplaying an exemplary work ethic in class
3/4 MagnoliaFelisha Kbeing a role model to her peers by displaying the schools expectations in the learning environment
3/4 RainforestLina Sher well-structured approach to writing. Well done, Lina!
5/4 MarigoldWilliam Bhis courteous and kind attitude he brings to our class
5/6 Cherry BlossomCharlotte Fdemonstrating great dedication and care in her work
5/6 FrangipaniLaura B-Sdemonstrating great resilience and persistence when taking on feedback for her goals
5/6 WillowEdward Hcommencing school with a solution-focused approach
5/6 YautiaDefne Iconsistently demonstrating her active listening and enthusiasm in class

YOU CAN DO IT! awards - Getting Along

K GumnutNico Hbeing a kind and caring friend to others
K JasmineWilliam Sbeing a compassionate and helpful member of K Jasmine
K KaleAnouk V D Bshowing great kindness towards her new classmates
1/2 Banana PalmOdin Sworking well with others and great classwork
1/2 CactaceaeNiamh F kindly taking care of her peers in 1/2C
1/2 DaffodilMarkus Amaking new friends with students in his class and being helpful to year one students
1/2 LavenderVictoria Gbeing a helpful and supportive learner in the classroom
3/4 BambooHugo H-Sassisting his peers with class work without prompting
3/4 MagnoliaOlivia Kbeing a positive and polite member to her new peers in 3/4M
3/4 RainforestOliver Dbeing a kind and compassionate member of 3/4R!
5/4 MarigoldArkie E Mher fantastic energy and enthusiasm in the classroom
5/6 Cherry BlossomFrederick Bsupporting his fellow peers and including everyone
5/6 FrangipaniEmily Raccepting others as they are and working positively with a range of peers
5/6 WillowAnthony Lhis organisation and positive manner
5/6 YautiaMadeleine Mbeing a welcoming and inclusive mentor, to our new Year 5 Treehouse students

THANKS TO THE P&C

CEILING FANS

A huge THANKS goes to the P&C, who worked tirelessly last year, to organise ceiling fan replacements in each classroom space throughout the school. The fans were installed in the last week of the holidays and have been working overtime since school has started!

Along with the portable air con units the school purchased at the end of last year for every classroom, the spaces are much cooler than ever! We are so grateful!

SUNSCREEN

The P&C has kindly purchased Cancer Council SPF 50+ Sunscreen for each class. Students who don't have their own sunscreen are encouraged to use before going out to break. Thank you for helping us stay sun safe!

ARTICLES

Swimming Carnival

What a fabulous day out for the Balmain Public School community! So many people helped make the day the success it was:

  • Ms Ferguson & Mr Carlton, for their exceptional organisation
  • Ms Weston, for her incredible announcing talent
  • All staff who attended, for their dedication to the roles assigned
  • A parent of ours, Van A, for transporting equipment
  • All the parent helpers
  • Our supporters, who helped cheer everyone on
  • Our students!

We couldn't do it without you...thank you!

Photo Gallery: Swimming Carnival

From the students of 5/6 Cherry Blossom...

There has been a lot happening with 5/6C as we come into the new year but one of the highlights so far was Balmain’s swimming carnival at Drummoyne Aquatic Centre.

This event was a blast, or should I say, a splash! It was great to see lots of students leading war cries and participating in events. We also had novelty events, which were amazingly led by Miss Reedy and Mrs Bowman.

All of the houses did so well! Overall, in 4th place, we had Wattle with a total of 87 points; although they came last, that is still a lot. In 3rd place, with a total of 91 points, was Lilly Pilly. In 2nd place, was Blue Gum, with 92 points, just above Lilly Pilly. But in 1st Place, with a high total of 96 points, is Grevillea! Congratulations to all the houses and people who participated.

Thank you so much to all the parents, carers and teachers, who helped out on the day and made the Balmain 2020 Swimming Carnival an amazing start to the year!

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Change a life in 2020

Raise Foundation, a not-for-profit mentoring organisation, is urgently recruiting 60 volunteers from the local community to mentor young people in its 2020 best practice mentoring programs at Sydney Secondary College (Balmain, Leichhardt and Blackwattle Bay Campuses). The programs run from March through September on Tuesdays or Thursdays and programs run on alternative days in surrounding suburbs.

Applications close on the 21st February 2020 and anyone can apply. Apply now to make a difference to a young person in your community at https://raise.org.au/volunteer/ 

Raise measures the impact of its mentoring programs and statistically significant outcomes include increased confidence and resilience, ability to set goals, coping skills, hope for the future and asking trusted adults for help. Raise mentors also benefit by contributing to the community, gaining improved listening / parenting skills and connecting with the younger generation.

From a 2019 Belle Property BALMAIN FUN RUN sponsor...

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Celebrating 160 years of quality public education in 2020!