Term 4 Week 4 Newsletter - Monday 3rd November 2025

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Term 4 Week 4

Kindergarten 2026

This week marks the final Kindergarten Orientation session for our incoming 2026 students. It has been a pleasure meeting so many new families and welcoming them into the JPPS community. Our future Kindergarten students have thoroughly enjoyed their classroom learning experiences, while parents and carers have been gaining valuable insights about school life in the Annex. This week, both students and families are looking forward to joining their Year 5 buddies for a school tour — a wonderful way to complete their orientation journey!

JPPS and The Anxiety Project – Upcoming Parent Workshop

Strategic Direction 2: Student Agency in our School Excellence Plan focuses on supporting students to develop the capacity to regulate their own learning, build positive learning dispositions, and acquire the skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing, increasingly complex world.

To support this focus, JPPS has engaged in a two-year initiative called The Anxiety Project. This program has been developed to address the rising levels of anxiety among children in Australian schools.

At JPPS, The Anxiety Project equips teachers, students and parents with practical skills and strategies to reduce student anxiety. Through participation in the program, teachers and parents gain valuable knowledge to help students understand and manage anxious thoughts and develop techniques to calm their bodies. Each lesson includes clear learning intentions and success criteria to guide and measure progress.

Last week, our incoming Kindergarten families took part in a parent session with Mrs King and Mrs Paris. They look forward to hosting another Parent Workshop in the Library on Wednesday, 26 November at 5:00pm. Please save the date and join us to learn practical strategies to support your child’s wellbeing.

Using the Kiss and Drop Safely

Please help us keep our Kiss and Drop zone safe and efficient by staying in your vehicle, pulling forward to the next available space and ensuring children exit on the kerb side. Be respectful of our neighbours by not blocking driveways, and if the zone is full, circle around the block to avoid traffic congestion. Thank you for helping keep drop-off and pick-up times safe and smooth for everyone.

P&C Meeting – 10 November

At JPPS we are fortunate to have a dedicated and supportive P&C. Our P&C works behind the scenes to enhance our school community — from organising events and fundraising, to supporting school initiatives that directly benefit our students. Their enthusiasm, generosity and commitment make a real difference every day.

We warmly invite all parents and carers to come along to our next P&C meeting — it’s a great way to get involved, share ideas and connect with our wonderful school community.

Vanessa Rogers
Principal

Attendance

Regular attendance and punctuality are key to every child’s success at school. Arriving on time each day ensures that students do not miss important learning activities scheduled early in the morning, helps establish positive routines, and reinforces the value of being punctual. It also gives students time to greet their friends and settle into the day calmly, reducing classroom disruptions and setting a positive tone for learning.

We encourage all families ensure their child arrives at school before the morning bell so they can begin the day confidently and make the most of every learning opportunity. Attending school every day and arriving on time helps boost confidence, build friendships and supports strong educational outcomes.

As the term becomes busier, we remind parents and carers that appointments and commitments be arranged outside of school hours wherever possible, so that learning time is maximised and good habits are maintained. Together, we can help every student get the best start to their day and reach their full potential.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

CONGRATULATIONS Alastair!

A HUGE congratulations to Alastair (5/6B) after taking part in the Swimming Nationals in Ballarat last week, where he achieved outstanding results and some PBs. Alastair competed across six events (four individuals and two NSW team relays) and achieved the following results:

• 1st 50m Butterfly
• 1st 100m Butterfly
• 1st 200m Individual Medley
• 3rd 100m Freestyle
• 1st NSW Team A (Medley Relay) 11 boys (butterfly leg)
• 4th NSW Team B (Freestyle Relay) 11 boys

Congratulations, Alastair on your amazing achievements!

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Congratulations to the following students who achieved outstanding results in the recent State Championships competing for Titan Athletics.

Aussie Gold State Championships

Sophia Campbell
Youth Advanced POM - 2nd Place
Youth Lyrical - 1st Place

Charlotte Campbell
Mini Novice POM - 1st Place
Mini Novice Jazz - 3rd Place

Carina Mao
Mini Novice POM -1st Place

Cheercon State Championships

Sophia Campbell
Youth Advanced POM - 1st Place
Youth Lyrical - 2nd Place

Charlotte Campbell
Mini Novice POM - 1st Place
Mini Novice Jazz - 5th Place

Carina Mao
Mini Novice POM -1st Place

Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation (‘AASCF’) State Championships

Sophia Campbell
Youth Advanced POM - 1st Place
Youth Lyrical - 3rd Place

Charlotte Campbell
Mini Novice POM - 1st Place
Mini Novice Jazz - 4th Place

Carina Mao
Mini Novice POM -1st Place

Term 4 Week 4

Monday 3rd November 2025

Dear Parents and Carers

Today, I spent time with some very excited Year 5 students, as they prepared speeches for leadership positions in 2026. Round 1 of the election ballot commences for Stage 3 only, tomorrow.

Important reminder: As previously advised, applications for the High Potential and Gifted (HPG) class assessments need to be received by 3pm tomorrow (Tuesday 4th November).

Currently, Mrs Scott is extremely busy listening to and watching the many talented students who are auditioning for the annual Talent Showcase, to be held at the end of this term. I popped in to the hall last week, in time to see Shanaya, Jayden and Ava performing. We certainly do have many talented students at JPPS!

If you can be anything, be kind!

Have a positive week!

Adela King
Deputy Principal

Under-16s social media age restriction legislation

From 10 December 2025, many social media platforms will be required to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on certain age-restricted services. The changes aim to protect children from pressures and risks they can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts.

The eSafety Commissioner is leading the implementation of the law. They are responsible for identifying platforms and supporting the community with information and resources.

Under-16s will still be able to see publicly available social media content that doesn’t require logging into an account. There are no penalties for young people who use age-restricted platforms or for their parents and carers as the responsibility is with the platforms.

We encourage you to access eSafety’s resources and support for families on their website and register for one of the upcoming webinarsExternal link for parents and carers.

Talent Showcase Auditions In Progress

Science in Action in 1/2R

Mrs Robbins and 1/2R would like to sincerely thank Mr Perera for his enthusiasm and commitment by sharing his expertise and for organising all the materials needed, when he visited JPPS last week, to support scientific discovery. It was greatly appreciated. 1/2R students certainly had a wonderful time learning through many hands-on experiences. We are very proud of our students’ curiosity and teamwork as they explored the science behind everyday phenomena.

The students discussed questions such as: What other metals or fruits could be used? And how many orange cells would be needed to power devices? These discussions helped build their confidence as young scientists.

Seeing Sound in Action!
One highlight was an experiment with Mr Perera and his frequency generator and amplifier. Students watched in awe, as Mr Perera played sounds through a speaker, changing the volume and frequency. On top of the speaker sat a bowl of rice, and students observed the rice begin to jump and dance, with higher frequencies producing faster jumping, and louder sounds cause stronger vibrations, making the rice jump even higher. This demonstration helped students understand that sound is created by vibrations, which travel through a medium (in this case, the bowl and the air) as sound waves. We explored new scientific vocabulary such as 'Hertz' (the unit used to measure frequency), 'vibration','medium' and 'frequency'.

Electricity from an Orange?
Another exciting experiment involved investigating energy by making a simple battery from an orange! Students inserted a nail (coated in zinc) and a piece of copper into an orange, then connected wires from the metals to a small LED light. The zinc reacted with the acidic orange juice, releasing electrons. Electrons flowed from the zinc to the copper through the LED. Inside the lemon, ions moved through the juice to balance the charge, completing the circuit. Students were amazed to see the LED light up using energy from a chemical reaction. This experiment introduced concepts such as chemical reactions, electricity, and how energy can be transferred and transformed.

HPGE (High Potential and Gifted Education) - repeated

The NSW Department of Education recognises that high potential and gifted students require support to optimise their growth and achievement. Professor François Gagné suggests that potential exists along a continuum, where, given optimal conditions, high potential can lead to high performance and achievement. Gagné outlines that students may exhibit potential in one or more domains including intellectual, creative, social-emotional, and physical.

At John Purchase Public School, we offer a rich and varied educational program, combining academic, cultural and social opportunities, designed to assist each student to fully develop his or her skills, in a happy and supportive classroom environment.

We believe that high potential and gifted students benefit from:

· an opportunity to learn with their like-ability peers;

· an opportunity to experience a rigorous and challenging curriculum;

· experiencing high cognitive tasks and

· being supported in their special interests and talents.

John Purchase Public School is staffed by supportive teachers, who plan both skills-based and critical thinking programs, to address syllabus requirements. High potential and gifted students benefit from participating in learning that is rigorous and incorporates extension and enrichment activities. These activities allow students to extend basic concepts and to connect their personal interests within a differentiated curriculum. All John Purchase Public School staff are committed to providing an outstanding education. Learning programs are based on NSW syllabuses. However, the content of our special programs within the high potential and gifted classes, are further differentiated to meet the needs of these students. Planned teaching strategies include:

· compacting of the curriculum

· basic skills expansion

· higher order thinking

· student choice

· open-ended tasks

· advanced content

· acceleration in curriculum areas

· collaborative learning

In 2026, we plan to provide High Potential and Gifted (HPG) classes at our school. The quantity and structure of the classes will be dependent on student numbers in Stages 2 and 3, as well as staff available next year. Selection of students for HPG classes, is based on test performances and the limited availability of places within the classes formed in 2026. Please note that students currently in HPG classes, remain in the HPG cohort. Therefore, students currently enrolled in 3/4B, 5/6B or 5/6H, do not need to re-apply.

If you would like your child to be considered for HPG class placement in 2026, he/she must participate in the assessment program at our school. There is no charge for this.

Application forms must be returned to the school office by 3pm Tuesday 4th November 2025. No late applications will be accepted. All candidates who have submitted their applications by the due date, will be tested over the two weeks, commencing Monday 17th November 2025.

All assessments will be completed during school hours, at flexible times determined by the coordinator. A testing timetable will not be published.

Parents will be notified if their child is offered a placement at the beginning of the 2026 academic year. Numbers of students accepted into an HPG class may vary from year to year, as school and grade student numbers impact how many HPG places are available.

Term 4 Diary Dates 

• • Tuesday 4 November - 9:15am Kindergarten 2026 Orientation Session 3 of 3
  • Tuesday 4 November – Leadership candidates present speeches to Stage 3
  • Tuesday 4 November – 3pm HPG Applications close for JPPS HPG assessments
  • Monday 10 November – 9am Yr 5 Leadership speech writing
  • Monday 10 November – 11:20am Leadership Speech Assembly (parents invited)
  • Monday 10 November – 7pm P & C Meeting 
  • Tuesday 11 November – 10:35am Remembrance Day Service under COLA
  • Wednesday 12 November – Year 5 Camp to Narrabeen
  • Thursday 13 November – Year 5 Camp to Narrabeen
  • Friday 14 November – Year 5 Camp to Narrabeen
  • Friday 14 November – Kindergarten Excursion to Calmsley Hill Farm
  • Monday 17 November – HPG assessments begin for Yrs 2-5
  • Thursday 20 November – 1:35pm K-6 Assembly under COLA
  • Monday 24 November – Year 2 Swimming School commences
  • Wednesday 26 November – House Captain nominations begin
  • Wednesday 26 November - 5pm - 6pm The Anxiety Project Parent Follow Up Session 
  • Friday 28 November – HPG assessments for Yrs 2-5 conclude
  • Monday 1 December – SRC Eat Up Initiative
  • Tuesday 2 December – 10:30am Helpers’ Morning Tea
  • Tuesday 2 December – Last Scripture classes for 2025
  • Wednesday 3 December – House Captain nominations due
  • Thursday 4 December – 1:35pm Last K-6 Awards Assembly
  • Friday 5 December – Yr 2 Swimming School concludes
  • Monday 8 December – 9:10am Yr 6 Graduation Assembly
  • Monday 8 December – 11:30am Stage 2 Celebrations of Learning Assembly
  • Monday 8 December – 1:30pm Yr 5 Celebration of Learning Assembly
  • Tuesday 9 December – 9:10am Stage 1 Celebrations of Learning Assembly
  • Tuesday 9 December – 11:30am – Kindergarten Celebration of Learning Assembly
  • Wednesday 10 December – Talent Showcase (parents invited)
  • Wednesday 10 December – 5:45-8:30pm Yr 6 Farewell Dinner
  • Thursday 11 December – House Captain Elections
  • Friday 12 December – Year 6 Mini Fete
  • Monday 15 December – 11am Bronze Medallion Morning Tea with executive
  • Tuesday 16 December – 10:30am Principal’s Morning Tea for Bronze Award recipients
  • Tuesday 16 December – Class Parties after 11:30am
  • Friday 19 December – Last Day of 2025 for students and staff

Our School Expectations

Congratulations to our students who have demonstrated our school expectations of Respect, Responsibility and Aspire.

This week's expectation is: 

Aspire: encourage others

Purchase Pride Badges

Purchase Pride awards recognise positive student behaviour on the playground and in the classroom. When students receive ten Purchase Pride award cards, these should be left in the boxes on the ‘award shelf’ inside the school office foyer. Each set of ten awards needs to be bundled together and clearly labelled with the student’s name and current class. The acceptance of awards closes for administration at 9am every Thursday morning.

Purchase Pride cards also have a 'tear-off' strip. This strip may be removed by the recipient and placed in the appropriate stage box in the award shelf, to go in the lucky dip draw, for a canteen voucher. Canteen vouchers are drawn by our SRC representatives, at the end of each term. Students are notified directly, if successful.

Award recipients will be presented with a coloured Purchase Pride badge, the week after their name is published in this newsletter, at the Monday morning assembly, during term time. This badge may be worn on the school uniform. Students are encouraged to hand in their awards regularly and not 'stockpile' them.

Congratulations:
Lucy B (1KR), Samara G (1KR), Alex B (1/2R), Amelia C (1/2R), Phillip B (1T)

Class Awards System

In addition to Purchase Prides, JPPS has an incremental class awards system. When a student has received ten class awards, these should be left in the boxes on the ‘award shelf’ inside the school office. The ten class awards need to be bundled together and clearly labelled with the student’s name, current class and award level reached. A clear, snap lock bag is ideal for this purpose! Students need to be responsible for their own awards, as replacements are not issued. Students are encouraged to hand in their awards, rather than 'stockpiling' them until Term 4, so they don't miss out on special celebrations, such as the Principal's Morning Tea.

10 Class Awards = Bronze   20 = Silver   30 = Gold   40 = Bronze Medallion  
50 = Silver Medallion   60 = Gold Medallion  75 = Platinum Medallion and Principal for the Day!

All awards (including Bronze) received by 9am on Thursday mornings, are ‘stamped’ and published in the next school newsletter, which is usually on the following Monday, in term time. At this time, I indicate when these awards will be presented. Silver Awards, Gold Awards and all Medallions, are presented at whole school assemblies. Please note that Bronze Awards are only presented at the end of each term, at the Principal's Morning Tea.

Bronze Award

Bronze Awards will be presented at the Term 4 Principal's Morning Tea, for Bronze Award recipients. This special event will be held on Tuesday 16 December at 10.30am, in the school hall. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Congratulations:

Sophia C (5DM)

Silver Award

These awards will be presented at the next awards assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 20th November, under the COLA. The choir will be performing. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Gold Award

These awards will be presented at the next awards assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 20th November, under the COLA. The choir will be performing. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Bronze Medallion

These awards will be presented at the next awards assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 20th November, under the COLA. The choir will be performing. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

A morning tea for Term 4 Bronze Medallion recipients will be held in the principal's office at recess on Monday 15th December at  11am.

Silver Medallion

These awards will be presented at the next awards assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 20th November, under the COLA. The choir will be performing. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Gold Medallion

These awards will be presented at the next awards assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 20th November, under the COLA. The choir will be performing. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

SPORTS REPORT

Summer PSSA results 

Stage 2 vs Thornleigh West Public School

Tee Ball
JPPS Boys 10 lost to TWPS 14
JPPS Girls 14 won to TWPS 12

League Tag 
JPPS Boys 10 lost against TWPS 14
JPPS Girls 2 lost against TWPS 9

Stage 3 vs Dural Public School 

Softball
JPPS Boys 9 won against DPS 1
JPPS Girls 3 lost against DPS 10

League Tag 
JPPS Boys 5 lost to DPS 8
JPPS Girls 2 lost to DPS 4

Please note: Stage 3 PSSA is finished for the year and there will be no training or game next week and onwards.

Stage 2 still has a game this week, followed by finals next week. 

Laura Davidson
PSSA Sports Co-Ordinator

NEW LOCATION FOR LOST PROPERTY

Your lost property items have moved location!  They can be found at the bottom of the stairs below the year 1 classrooms along the admin block wall.

Please check it regularly.

Thank you.

CHANGES TO SCHOOL BUS SERVICES
COMMENCING MONDAY 17 NOVEMBER

Route 3140 starts 3 minutes earlier.

We remind students they must have a valid Opal card to travel on all public transport, and must tap on and off morning and afternoon.                                                                                                                                            

Uniform Shop News

Kindy 2026 Starter Pack ready for order: Please note that the Kindy Starter Pack we accept online order only. Place your order at the website: https://uniforms.jppspandc.org.au/ 

JPPS Uniform Shop Opening hours:

8:30-9:30am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday  

Friendly Reminders: 

1. Any size change of items has to be arranged within 14 days upon purchase with FULL packaging and receipt shown ONLY. Any used items or missing packaging would definitely NOT be accepted. Thanks for your understanding. 
   
2. To shorten your waiting time in shop, we highly recommend all parents order uniforms online and arrange pick up. Items can be changed if there is a sizing issue. https://uniforms.jppspandc.org.au/ 

Brenda
Uniform Shop Manager

Please note our school publishes community information for the convenience of families but does not endorse any activity, organisation, person or product.

JOHN PURCHASE PUBLIC SCHOOL accepts no responsibility for content on third-party websites and providing a link does not imply that the school endorses that website.

Join the Salvos Generosity Challenge
Christmas 2025!

Help support local families doing it tough by collecting essential pantry items for The Salvation Army’s Christmas Giving Tree.  Ideas are on the list below but by no means limited to just these.

Together, we can bring hope and joy to our community this festive season.

Items can be dropped off at the foyer in the administration block.