Banksmeadow Public School

In This Issue

- Book Character Parade

- Library

- Premier's Reading Challenge

- School Photos

- Science Week

- 'Virtual Beggar' App

- Dance News

- Father's Day Stall

- Tell Them From Me Surveys

- The Partners in Learning Parent Feedback Survey

- Dogs @ School and School Events - REPEAT

- Uniforms - REPEAT

- Issues or Conflict - REPEAT

- Dance Fever - REPEAT

- Open Night and Kindergarten Orientation - REPEAT

- P&C News

It was another busy week last week, with many exciting events taking place. Congratulations to the many students who attended the Zone Athletics Carnival last Monday. There were some great results from the students who competed. The behaviour of these students was also very positive and was a great representation for our school. Well done!

Wednesday's Spelling Bee Final was exciting and nerve inducing, with students being asked to spell some very difficult words. Each competitor tried hard and it was great to see so many students taking part. Well done to all competitors! Congratulations to the winners from each stage: Stage 1 - Aika & Ben ; Stage 2 - Joshua & Tate ; Stage 3 - Hayden & Jem. The Stage 2 and 3 winners will progress through to the regional final later this term.

Some of our students participated in 'Week of Tastes' and had the opportunity to taste some different types of foods. This program provides a chance for students to try some new foods, as well as discuss the types of tastes and feelings that can come from eating these foods. Thanks to Brasserie Bread for donating a great variety of foods for the kids to enjoy.

Good luck to our Junior and Senior Dance Groups who will be performing at Showcase @ the Juniors tomorrow night. The dance groups were spectacular at our Education Week Assembly a couple of weeks ago, and I'm sure they will dazzle the audience again tomorrow night. Thank you to Vicki Hunt, Miss Stone and Mrs Bragg for all of your work in getting the groups ready this year. An enormous congratulations must also go to Mrs Bragg for organising the whole Showcase event. The event runs over three nights and provides opportunity for over 1000 students at local schools to perform. It takes a huge amount of effort and coordination for this event to be possible. Many of our teachers also help out behind the scenes on these three nights. I know the students love these performances and are grateful that our wonderful teachers make them possible!

Our Open Night is coming up soon (Thursday 1st September). If you have any relatives, friends or neighbours who may be interested in enrolling their child at Banksmeadow Public School next year, please encourage them to come along for a tour of the school and to hear about the many programs we offer. We are now accepting Kindergarten enrolments for 2017.

Ms Hoskins

Acting Principal

Don't forget the important events this week:

* Showcase tickets can be paid for and picked up at the school office

* Showcase rehearsal on Monday and performance on Tuesday night

* ICAS Maths test on Tuesday

* It would be appreciated if all invoices could be finalised before the end of the term please

Book Character Parade

To celebrate Book Week this year at Banksmeadow, we are holding a book character parade. Children can dress up as any character from a book. If you are stuck for ideas, have a look online. The parade will be held on Wednesday 24th August at 9.15am. All entrants will have the opportunity to win a prize. Please send your child to school in their outfit. They can remain in it for the day or bring their school uniform to change into.

Hope to see you there.

Carol Macdonald

Library

Just a reminder to parents that in order to borrow books from the library, children are required to bring a library bag to library. If they don’t have a bag they will be unable to take a book out. This is to protect our books from damage.

Carol Macdonald

Premier's Reading Challenge

The closing date for the PRC is Friday 19th August. Children in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 must have read the required number of books and have entered them on their student reading log by this date in order to receive their PRC certificate in Term 4. The closing date is very strict and no entries can be made after this date.

Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 children have already had their reading log filled in by me at school.

Carol Macdonald

School Photos

School photos will be held next Thursday 25th August. All students are expected to be in full school uniform, including black shoes. Class photos will be taken first, followed by special groups and family photos. Special groups that will have their photo taken on the day will include: Junior and Senior teams for AFL, Rugby League, Softball, Cricket, Soccer and Netball; Band; Debating; Student Leaders; SRC and House Captains. These group photos can be purchased at a later date.

Family photos must be ordered prior to the day. Please collect a Family Photo envelope from the school office and return before next Thursday.

Science Week

This week is National Science Week. The theme for this year is 'Robots, Drones and Droids'. Throughout the week, classes will be participating in activities based around this theme. Some of the activities require the use of recycled materials. If you have any materials at home that may be of use (boxes, clean packets, containers, cartons, etc) then please send them to school with your child tomorrow.

On Wednesday, all students will participate in an interactive presentation with "Science Steve" from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics. "Science Steve" will be bringing models of the robots that are currently being used in this field.

'Virtual Beggar' App

It has been reported that several of our students have downloaded an app called 'Virtual Beggar' onto their iPads and have been playing this at home. This app has a chat function that allows players to chat with strangers. There have been reports that this app and the chat that occurs in this app are not suitable for children. We recommend that you check your child's iPad and delete the app if they have it.

Please ensure you speak regularly with your child about the importance of not speaking with strangers on the Internet. If they are exposed to a conversation that is inappropriate, please remind them to tell a trusted adult immediately.

Dance News
Showcase @ the Juniors is THIS WEEK!
Monday, 15th August is the rehearsal day at Souths Juniors. The dancers will travel by bus to Souths and return during the day. The show is tomorrow, 16th August. Costumes will be sent home with the children so that they can be worn to Souths on the night. Parents who are able to assist with hair and make up tomorrow are most welcome. Please meet between 12-3pm on Tuesday in the old hall near the office. The children meet the teachers at 6pm inside the Club on Level 2, in the foyer outside the auditorium.
Tickets for the show are ready to collect from the school office. Please pay for and collect your tickets. We would like to thank the generous support of the P & C who have assisted with some of the cost of the bus travel to Souths.

Father's Day Stall

Father’s Day is fast approaching so it’s time to spoil the special men in our children’s lives!! We will be holding our fabulous Father’s Day Stall on Friday 2nd September. Our children really enjoy this experience but we really need your support so there is enough gifts for all the students to pick something special. It would be greatly appreciated if you would wrap your gift in clear cellophane please.

If you are able to help on the stall on Friday 2nd September, or help wrap gifts on the Thursday before, please email Sarah Monahas at bpspandp@hotmail.com or call on 0412 017 292

Gift prices will range from $1.00 to $15.00

Some Gift Ideas include: - Thermos ǀ Coffee Mugs ǀ Wrapped Lollies ǀ Socks ǀ Hat/Cap ǀ Gardening Gloves or other Gardening Items ǀ After Shave Gift Set ǀ Sports Towel ǀ Games ǀ Stubby Holder ǀ Chocolates ǀ Fishing Accessories

Banksmeadow Public School P&C thanks you for your continued support

Tell Them From Me Surveys

This term, our school will participate in a Department of Education initiative: the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey for Years 4-6. The survey aims to help improve student learning outcomes and measures factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices.

You may remember that our students also participated in a Tell Them From Me student survey in Term 1 this year. Asking students to complete the survey twice in one year allows us to identify trends in student responses as well as track engagement and motivation across the school year.

More information about the survey is available at: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents

The survey is a great opportunity for our students to provide us with valuable and quick feedback on what they think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help improve how they do things at school.

The survey is confidential and participation is entirely voluntary. It is conducted online and will typically take less than 30 minutes to complete. The survey will be administered during school hours on a date between 28 August and 21 October.

A consent form about the survey is being sent home with students. If you do not want your child or children to participate, please return the form to school by 26 August. Copies of the form and FAQs are available from the website above.

The Partners in Learning Parent Feedback Survey

This Term, our school will be participating in the Partners in Learning parent survey, another part of the Tell Them From Me suite of surveys (student, teacher and parent surveys) on student engagement. The survey asks parents and carers questions about different factors that are known to impact on student wellbeing and engagement.

Running this survey will help our school understand parents’ and carers’ perspectives on their child’s experience at school. These include: communication between parents/carers and staff, activities and practices at home and parent/carer views on the school's support of learning and behaviour. This valuable feedback will help our school make practical improvements.

The survey is conducted entirely online at home or on public computers. The survey will typically take 15 minutes or less to complete and is completely confidential. The parent survey will be conducted between 22 August and 21 October. Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary, however, your responses are very much appreciated.

More information about the survey is available at: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents

Dogs @ School and School Events - REPEAT

The Department of Education has regulations that state that no dogs are allowed on school property. Please refrain from bringing dogs through the school gates.

Dogs are also not permitted at any school event, including ESPSSA events such as Friday sport and Zone carnivals. Please do not bring your dog to these events.

Uniform - REPEAT

Over the past several weeks, there has been a decline in the look of our school uniform, with many students wearing items of clothing to school that are not correct uniform. Could all parents and caregivers please ensure their child wears correct school uniform each day, including school hats, jumpers, polo shirt, coloured socks or stockings, and black shoes. When students take pride in their appearance at school, it can have a positive impact on their application to their learning. It also enhances the community look and feel of our school. School photos will be held in Week 6 and it is expected that all students will wear correct uniform, including black school shoes.

If your child is missing a jumper, please look in the Lost Property bins (located outside the Basement or in the Office area) as there are many unclaimed jumpers. Please also ensure you write your child's name clearly on the tag of their clothing so it can be returned to them if found. If your child is wearing a pre-loved jumper, please ensure you cross out the previous owner's name so that it can be returned to the correct owner.

Issues or Conflict - REPEAT

From time to time, students may experience conflict between their friends or other students. Often these can be managed informally, with some issues even resolving themselves after a couple of days. If your child does report a problem they are having at school to you, please encourage them to talk to their teacher who will be able to assist them in resolving it. Alternatively, you may like to make an appointment to discuss the matter with your child's class teacher. At no time should a parent approach another child to discuss events that have occurred, nor should these private matters involving children be discussed in the playground or on social media.

Dance Fever - REPEAT

The Dance Fever challenge is coming up and will be held on the Thursday evening of Week 8 (8th September). Students in Years 3-6 are invited to represent the school at Homebush Sports Centre. On the night, the students will perform the dances they have learnt at school this term. A note will be sent home this week with all of the details. Notes will need to be returned by next Monday (15th August). We hope your child will take the opportunity to represent the school and enjoy a fun night with their friends.

Open Night and Kindergarten Orientation - REPEAT

Dates have been set for our annual Open Night and Kindergarten Orientation Days. If you have relatives, friends or neighbours who may be interested in enrolling their child at Banksmeadow Public School next year, please encourage them to come along to our Open Night to learn a little more about the school. Dates are as follows:

Open Night - Thursday 1st September

Kindy Orientation Morning - Wednesday 14th September

'Kids Into Kindy' Transition Program - each Tuesday from Week 1 (11th October) to Week 6 (15th November) of Term 4

Dates for the Calendar - TERM 3

WEEK 5

Monday 15th August

Showcase Rehearsal

Tuesday 16th August

ICAS Maths Test

Showcase - Junior and Senior Dance Groups

Wednesday 17th August

Visit from "Science Steve"

Assembly @ 11:50am

Thursday 18th August

Friday 19th August

Premier's Reading Challenge ends

PSSA Sport

WEEK 6

Monday 22nd August

Tell Them From Me Surveys open

Tuesday 23rd August

ESPSSA Athletics Carnival (Day 2)

Wednesday 24th August

Book Parade @ 9am

Thursday 25th August

School Photos

Friday 26th August

NO PSSA

K-2 Athletics Carnival

Other Dates For Your Calendar...

Wednesday 31st August: Big Band Bash

Thursday 1st September: Open Night

Friday 2nd September: Father's Day Stall

Thursday 8th September: Dance Fever Challenge Night

Tuesday 13th September: Sugar Workshop; SEPSSA Athletics Carnival

Wednesday 14th September: Kindy Orientation Morning

Wednesday 21st September: Crazy Hair Day (SRC Fundraiser)

Banksmeadow Public School

e-news 2016

Term 3, Week 5

In This Issue

Dates for the Calendar - TERM 3