It’s hard to believe that we have been back at school for three weeks, the time is going so quickly. Congratulations to our 2023 Kindergarten students for starting school with so much enthusiasm, a big happy smile and lots of laughter. We are so happy that you have joined Blaxland Public School. The school prides itself in working in partnership with families and parents are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher if there are any concerns or information that needs to be discussed.
Staffing News
Mrs Everett has accepted a permanent role working in the Early Childhood Education- Sector and Community Readiness and she will not be returning to Blaxland Public School. On behalf of the students, staff and community, I wish Mrs Everett success in her new role.
Mrs Smith will be taking leave from Monday 6th March; we wish Mrs Smith a speedy recovery and hope to have her back with us as soon as she can.
NAPLAN 2023
NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.
Schools have transitioned from paper-based to computer-based assessments. Only Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper.
The NAPLAN test window is 9 days. This is to accommodate schools that may have fewer devices. The NAPLAN test window starts on Wednesday 15 March and finishes on Monday 27 March 2023.
Please read the attached information for more detail. We will provide all parents/carers a copy of Blaxland Public School's timetable next week. Please read the attached flyer for more information about NAPLAN. Please do not hesitate to contact your child's class teacher if you have further questions.
Student School Leadership Opportunity
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have a vacancy for School Captain for 2023. To ensure that this process is democratic, we will be holding an election for all interested Year 6 students. Students will need to prepare a speech and present it to the school on Monday 27th February at 11:40am in the school hall. Students do not need to make a poster.
How will this work?
Any interested Year 6 person may prepare and present a speech to the school.
Vice Captains and House Captains may also apply for School Captain position but will need to prepare a speech and present it to the school. Vice Captains and House Captains will not lose their current position if not successful. The current Vice Captains and House Captains do not need to apply for this position if they are not interested.
Students and Staff will vote for one student to be School Captain on the ballot paper.
If the successful candidate is a Vice Captain, the person with the second highest votes will become a Vice Captain.
If the successful candidate is a House Captain, then that sport house will then hold a House Captain election at a lunch time to vote for a new House Captain.
Blaxland PS After School Auskick Centre
We are offering an AFL Auskick Centre at Blaxland Public School after school on the top oval starting at 3:20pm-4:20pm each Thursday afternoon starting on the 2nd March and finishing on the 23rd March. If you wish your child/children to participate this program, please see the attached flyer to register and organise payment $50. Payment is directly to the AFL Auskick organisation.
Zone Swimming Carnival
Wishing the Blaxland PS Zone Swimming team all the best at the Blue Mountains Zone Swimming Carnival at Glenbrook Poll on Friday 24th February. Mr De Mattia will meet our team at Glenbrook Pool at 9:00am.
Maths Online
This year, all students K-6 will have access to a digital maths program called Maths Online. Classroom teachers will communicate if and how they will be using this digital platform. The school will cover this cost in 2023.
Planned Maintenance Works
Currently, all lights in the school are being upgraded to LED and these works will be done late in the afternoons and night. Painters are also onsite starting today to paint all covered walkways and poles.
Penrith Panthers Blitz
This year, Blaxland Public School is having a visit from the NRL and some Penrith Panthers players. All classes will have the opportunity to participate in an age appropriate 30-minute skills session on Monday 20th February. Thank you, Mr De Mattia, for organising this opportunity for us.
Ethics
Ethics classes are available in NSW public primary schools as an option for children who do not attend Special Religious Education (SRE) / Scripture.
The NSW government has authorised Primary Ethics, a not-for profit organisation, to design curriculum and deliver these classes. Classes are inquiry based and children use dialogue and discussion to learn how to think about ethical matters through the give-and-take of reasoned argument. Trained and vetted volunteer teachers lead discussions.
We can start ethics classes at Blaxland Public School on a Wednesday from 9:30-10:05am if there is enough demand and we have a trained parent/community volunteer to facilitate these classes at the same time as Scripture.
Primary Ethics will need volunteers to help organise and to teach. If you are interested in volunteering to be an ethics coordinator at Blaxland Public School, please contact the school. For general information about Ethics classes and Primary Ethics, please visit www.primaryethics.com.au
