Pigeon Post

https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families

On Monday 28 February, each student and staff member will be receiving a pack of 8 tests for symptomatic testing - these are to be used at your discretion, such as if your child is symptomatic or there are cases in their class. Please look out for them in your child's bag.

Students using saliva testing kits must not eat or drink for 30 minutes before taking the saliva RAT, to give more accurate results.

Note: The DoE will NOT be distributing further rapid antigen tests, as these are now freely available and accessible in the community.

Due to cohorting no longer required for our students, as of Monday 28 February, all students K-6 will be dismissed at 3pm.

Your cooperation in keeping the gates clear for movement of our students and staff is much appreciated.

K-2 students will be picked up from the basketball court - we ask that you remain on the outside of the court please

Years 3-6 will be dismissed from Gladstone Park gate - please ensure you are standing right back from the gate

Due to cohorting no longer required for our students, as of Monday 28 February, all students K-6 will be dismissed at 3pm.

Your cooperation in keeping the gates clear for movement of our students and staff is much appreciated.

K-2 students will be picked up from the basketball court - we ask that you remain on the outside of the court please

Years 3-6 will be dismissed from Gladstone Park gate - please ensure you are standing right back from the gate

 Workers and volunteers include:

• volunteers or staff operating uniform shops and canteens
• visitors supporting school operations and curriculum delivery (eg Footsteps, parent helpers in classrooms)
• allied health partners for the wellbeing of students
• university and TAFE students coming on school sites to complete their practicum or teacher training.

We are looking forward to having our parents and carers back onsite for Friday morning assemblies. For those of you who are new to Balmain Public School this year, our assemblies are held under the large COLA near the office.

PLEASE NOTE: DOGS ARE NO LONGER PERMITTED ONSITE. If you'd like to come in for morning assembly, please leave your furry friends at home as you come to school on Friday mornings.

Understandably, class teachers will be unable to engage in any lengthy conversations and/or discussions with parents and carers at this time.

Although we are able to comfortably fit our 355 students and teachers under the COLA, we are unable to also fit our visitors. If it is raining, or the area under the COLA is wet and the children are unable to sit, we may have to cancel. In the event of inclement weather, you will be notified via SkoolBag and our Instagram account in the morning. 

Sometimes, there's a last-minute downpour near bell time, so messaging may not be possible at this time. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

In case of inclement weather, awards will be handed out in class.

These will now be face-to-face, in your child's classroom.

You will receive further information soon.

If there is a positive case in your child’s class, year or other grouping, your child can continue to attend school in line with NSW Health advice.

If a student or staff member receives a positive RAT test, they need to:

• record the positive RAT result through the Service NSW website or Service NSW app

• notify the school of the positive RAT or PCR test result as soon as possible

• follow NSW Health advice to isolate for 7 days.

Negative results do not need to be reported to Service NSW or to the school.

Schools will inform their community when there is a positive case in the school and guide families on NSW Health advice, including monitoring for symptoms. Parents should expect regular communication with details of any impacted year groups or cohorts.

Advice for families - NSW Department of Education

Although teachers won't be able to provide work to students, please find a link to the NSW DoE's digital learning packs, specifically designed for students K-10 who are isolating.

They are timetabled and your child will be able to work through them at their own pace.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/learning-from-home/learning-at-home/2022-digital-learning-packs/primary

Note: Please do not hand this work in to your child's teacher, as it will not be marked.

FEMELLE ART SHOW

SATURDAY 26TH & SUNDAY 27TH FEBRUARY

9AM TO 5PM

BALMAIN WATCH HOUSE

179 DARLING STREET, BALMAIN

VIBRANT AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW ARTISTS.

CONNECTING ART WITH COMMUNITY AND LOCAL CHARITY. 

'Femelle' is a vibrant and exciting local Inner West female art collective who embrace joy, fun and creative expression. They bring to you their artistic talents, inspirations and passion for creativity and art. Grab a coffee and come to feast your senses on some beautiful and unique artwork. All in the lovely setting of our special and historic Balmain Watch House on Darling Street, Balmain.

Over 16 Sydney female artists, recognised and emerging, including Fleur Stevenson, Jane Sankey, Alexandra Plim, Patrice Wills, Imogen Eve, Michelle Huntington and Kezia Tan.

The art group was set up by Kati Wilson in 2017. Originally named ‘Mamas With Easels’ the friendly community hub supported creative females, and quickly became a place where new mamas could connect and make healthy relationships with other mums. The art group continues to nurture and encourage creative expression and the therapeutic style of making art. Creative intuitive art helps restore a healthy mind body balance and well being.

Femelle, also mentors and creates an opportunity for artistic development and placement. The exhibitions, which are held twice a year, are an experience for new artists to grow their confidence and boost motivation to work towards an artistic goal. In the longer term, they realise their own ability to follow their artistic journeys.

Kati has plans to grow the Femelle group and give females in other suburbs the experience of exhibiting their own art and being a part of an art collective. Intuitive painting classes will also be held over the coming few months.

Social connectiveness is important in community and connecting through making art is a fun way of bringing people together.

The Femelle group can be joined by going to our Facebook Group.

Contact: Kati Wilson 0415 090 589 for more information.

If you are interested in being a Class Rep, as per separate SkoolBag notification/email, please complete the following Google form:

https://forms.gle/5a8HVBvZHbiEsMk97

Thanks in advance!

We are building an ethics program at Balmain Public School with lessons delivered by Primary Ethics volunteers.

In ethics, students explore everyday issues suitable for their age. They learn to listen closely to each other, to disagree without putdowns and to think carefully as they form their opinions.

We have children on waitlists for Stage 1 and Stage 2 and want to give them the opportunity to take part in ethics. To do that we need more volunteers to teach. 

You can teach ethics if:

• You’re interested in what children think and you have an interest in learning
• You’re willing to learn how to use our lesson scripts to ask children ethical questions
• You can remain neutral and give the children space to think
• You’re available each school week at 10am on Fridays – you’ll need about an hour each week to prepare and give the scripted lesson
• You complete our free training and pass background checks

You will join a great community of Primary Ethics volunteers – at Balmain Public School and across NSW. You’ll have the rewarding opportunity of listening to the fantastic students at our school and helping them grow. You’ll develop new skills yourself – facilitation skills, plus skills in communication and active listening.

 Primary Ethics provides free, comprehensive training with online self-paced learning plus trainer-led workshops (by Zoom or face-to-face).

 Curious?

 Visit www.primaryethics.com.au