e-News
Banksmeadow Public School
In This Issue
- Student Banking
- Cake Stall
- South Sydney High Open Day
- Mathletics, Literacy Planet and Reading Eggs
- Miss Marwood's Hippopotamus Choir
- Working Bee - Save the date!
- Performing Arts Rehearsal Reminders - Repeat
- Second Hand Uniform Sale - Repeat
- Health Care Plans - Repeat
- Library News
- P&C News
Time is flying by and we are nearly halfway through Term 1. All performing arts programs are running smoothly, and PSSA sport has also begun. Don’t forget to follow us on twitter (@BanksmeadowPS) to receive live updates and reminders.
Congratulations to all of the students who competed at the Zone Swimming Carnival this week. It was certainly the perfect day to spend by the pool. Our students were a fantastic representation of our school, in terms of behaviour, effort and sportsmanship. There were some excellent results, with several of our students progressing through to the Regional Carnival to be held in a couple of weeks’ time.
I am looking forward to meeting some more families at this afternoon’s Garden Working Bee in the top garden, and at tomorrow morning’s cake stall at Botany Town Hall. Thank you in advance to all families who have been able to volunteer their time to help.
Student Banking
The student banking program is now underway. If you are interested in registering your child for student banking, a member from the Commonwealth Bank will be at school on Wednesday 2nd March (8:30am) and Wednesday 9th March (2:30pm) to answer any questions and take new registrations. Please note these times have been altered from those published in last week’s newsletter.
Cake Stall
At tomorrow’s election, the P&C will be holding a cake stall at the Botany Town hall. We are asking for donations of cakes. Please bring your cake to school today and leave on the allocated tables in the 6M classroom. Alternatively, you can bring your cake directly to the stall on Saturday morning. The voting at Botany Town Hall will be open from 8am, and we'll be selling the cakes until we run out (usually around the middle of the day). If you are able to volunteer to assist on the day, please contact Sarah Monahas or email bpspandc@hotmail.com
South Sydney High Open Day
An Open Day for students interested in attending South Sydney High School is being held on Saturday 12th March. Please see the updated flyer at the end of this newsletter for more information.
Mathletics, Literacy Planet and Reading Eggs
Our school subscribes to Mathletics and Literacy Planet for Years 1-6, and Reading Eggs for Kindergarten. We are able to subscribe our school to these programs for significantly cheaper than parents may subscribe independently. All programs can be used at home to extend knowledge and for parents to see the current abilities of their children. The programs work across a variety of different platforms and only require a set login and password. The below information provides a brief description of each program.
Literacy Planet
Literacy Planet is a comprehensive literacy resource that covers Pre-Reading, Phonics, Vocabulary, Spelling, Reading, Comprehension and Grammar for all ages. Activities are interactive, fun and engaging, promoting students' willingness to learn while facilitating their literacy development.
There is stimulating content within Literacy Planet to keep students actively engaged and extend on the explicit teaching that occurs within all classrooms. Students can choose from thousands of literacy exercises and undertake differentiated activities selected by the classroom teacher. Different levels within each literacy skill ensure that students are consistently challenged and can map their progress.
Positive reinforcement is used throughout the program to actively encourage students to achieve and 'have another go'. Literacy Planet is a very user-friendly program. Audio-visual prompts guide students throughout the program, including positive reinforcement to encourage achievement. Literacy Planet provides a safe and controlled learning environment where interaction between students is controlled.
Mathletics
Mathletics is one of the most popular global maths websites with over 40,000 students from around the world using the site each day. There are over one thousand learning activities based around the latest Mathematics Syllabus. It is a learning resource that facilitates our teachers in providing quality personalised, formative and motivational maths for all learners, extending our students’ knowledge that is taught through explicit teaching strategies during regular mathematics lessons.
One of the core objectives of Mathletics is to provide content at an appropriate level of difficulty for all abilities. Teachers can modify and personalise a curriculum plan to meet individual student’s needs. Teachers also receive all data in real time on individual students and their whole class performances. This means that they target their teaching, on both a class and individual basis, to where it is most needed within their customised curriculum plan.
Reading Eggs
Reading Eggs makes learning to read interesting and engaging for young students, with fantastic online reading games and activities. The program supports core literacy teaching and focuses on letter sounds, first sight words and reading simple sentences. Students are able to progress through the sounds in a sequential format. They will begin to develop reading skills that will form the foundation of reading strategies in their future.
Miss Marwood's Hippopotamus Choir
Miss Marwood's Hippopotamus Choir will begin next Monday at lunchtime. All students welcome. Meet Miss Marwood in the 6M classroom.
Working Bee – Save the Date
A school Working Bee has been scheduled for Sunday 1st May from about 12pm. The aim of this Working Bee is to tidy up and weed some of the gardens within our school. By doing a thorough job on this day, it will make the areas more manageable for the future. We would love as many volunteers as possible…all gardening skill levels welcome! Please put the date in your diary and come along on the day to join our community. We are also looking for donations of a variety of plants. If you are able to assist in this area, please see Ms Hoskins or Mrs Twitchings. More information and confirmation of times will be published closer to the date.
Performing Arts Rehearsal Reminders – Repeat
Please ensure your child is aware of the days and times they will need to attend rehearsal:
Junior Dance - Tuesday @ 8:10am. Wear dance attire or comfortable clothing
Senior Dance - Tuesday @ lunchtime. Wear dance attire or comfortable clothing
Junior Guitar - Thursday @ lunchtime
Senior Guitar - Tuesday @ lunchtime
Senior Band - Tuesday @ 8:00am
Band tutorials - Wednesday
Second Hand Uniform Sale - Collection
The P&C will be holding a "Second Hand Uniform Sale" in the coming weeks. If you have old school uniforms that you no longer need, please consider donating them so that they can be added to the sale. Donations can be left in the office foyer. Unclaimed items from the Lost Property tub will also be sold at this sale. The date for the sale will be published soon.
Health Care Plans
We are currently updating health care plans for students with specific medical needs. Please check your child's bag for relevant documents that should be filled out and returned to school at your earliest convenience. If your child has medication that is kept at school (e.g. Epipen or Ventolin), please check with the office to ensure these medications are kept up to date.
LIBRARY NEWS - Repeat
Library Lessons and Borrowing
Library lessons began for all classes this week. If you are unsure on which day your child has library, you can check with the class teacher or with Mrs MacDonald. Each week your child will be able to bring a book home from the library to share with you. It is expected that books are returned the following week so that another one can be taken home.
To keep our books from being damaged, books should be transported to and from school in a waterproof bag. You can provide your own bag or school library bags can be purchased from the administration office.
New Library System and Donations
The very old library system is in the process of being replaced with a new system. This process began at the end of 2015 and will take until the end of this term to complete. This may cause some disruption to library and there will be some occasions where returning and borrowing will have to be suspended for a period of time. I will try to keep you updated on this.
Thank you to the people who have donated books to the library. I would ask that if you have books you no longer need, please donate them to a charity, as I will be unable to process any new books for quite a while.
P&C
P&C Email
Please send us your email address if you would like to be on the P&C circulation list.
Garden Working Bee
TODAY!! Friday 26th February after school - weeding the top garden, light duties only!
Second Hand Uniforms
We will be arranging a sale of second hand uniforms in the coming weeks. Details and dates will be published soon. Please leave donations of pre-loved uniforms in the foyer of the office.
New School Hats
A new version of the school hat will be phased in as the current one is phased out. It is the same shape, lighter material and easier to wash and fold. Samples can be found at the school office. Similarly, a new version of the blue sports pants, made from improved material, is being phased in.
Any new updates to uniform is phased in gradually and should be bought as needed, so there's no need to replace items until they are either worn out or grown out of.
Next P&C Meeting
Monday 7th March, 7pm in 6M demountable classroom. Everyone welcome!
Dates for the Calendar
Week 6
Monday 29th February
Hippopotamus choir @ lunch
Tuesday 1st March
8:00am Senior Band rehearsals in the band room
8:10am Junior Dance
Senior Guitar lessons @ lunchtime
Senior Dance @ lunchtime
Wednesday 2nd March
Band lessons for all Band members
11:50am Assembly
Student Banking sign up @ 8:30am
Thursday 3rd March
Junior Guitar Lessons @ lunchtime
Friday 4th March
8:15am PSSA Training
PSSA Sport
Junior Art Club @ lunchtime
Week 7
Monday 7 March
Hippopotamus choir @ lunch
P&C Meeting @ 7pm in the 6M classroom
Tuesday 8th March
8:00am Senior Band rehearsals in the band room
8:10am Junior Dance
Senior Guitar lessons @ lunchtime
Senior Dance @ lunchtime
High School EOIs distributed to Year 6 students
Wednesday 9th March
Band lessons for all Band members
11:50am Assembly
Student Banking sign up @ 2:30pm
Thursday 10th March
Junior Guitar Lessons @ lunchtime
Selective High School Test
Friday 11th March
8:15am PSSA Training
PSSA Sport
Junior Art Club @ lunchtime
Banksmeadow Public School
Email: banksmeado-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: http://www.banksmeado-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/
Location: Corner Trevelyan and Wiggins Streets, Banksmeadow
Phone: 9316 9608
Twitter: @banksmeadowps
