Term 1 Week 3 Newsletter - 12th February 2024
From the Principal
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Term 1 Week 3
What a busy start to the 2024 school year! Students and their teachers have been enjoying settling into new classes, familiarising themselves with class routines and expectations and enjoying connecting with previous classmates, as well as making new friends. We are very proud of how well students have settled and adjusted to their new classes and routines and it has been a pleasure to see them actively engaged in their learning; putting in their best effort and showing a growth mindset.
It was very exciting to meet our 2024 Kindergarten students as they began their new school adventure last week. It certainly didn't take long for them to endear themselves to us with their big smiles and enthusiam! The kindy rooms are buzzing with a vibrant group of happy, confident students who are very eager to learn. They have many new routines to adjust to over the coming weeks, which must be very exhausting for them, but parents/ carers should be very proud of our youngest learners!
2024 CLASSES FORMED
Once again, we were delighted to have been able to form our classes on the first day of the school term. Classes are formed following careful consideration by the staff of the students’ needs. This is a very complex process and I thank the teachers and learning support team for the thought and time they have put into placing the students. The 2024 classes are as follows:
EARLY STAGE ONE | STAGE ONE | STAGE TWO | STAGE THREE |
KH Mrs Hooper | 1B Miss Barrett | 3B Mrs Barr | 5B Mrs Button |
KNE Miss Nelson & Mrs El Bazouni | 1KR Mrs Khoo & Mrs Reid | 3N Mrs Narayan | 5D Miss Dorabjee |
KO Mrs Onay | 1W Mrs Walters | 3S Miss Saul | 5J Miss Brennan |
2K Mrs Robinson | 3/4B | 5/6H Mr Hayman | |
2L Miss Leroy | 4D Miss Davidson | 6G Miss Gillett | |
2RJ Mrs Robbins & Miss Johns | 4MM | 6FG Mrs Fazzolari & Mrs Green | |
4T Mrs Townsend | 6MW Mrs Musgrove & Mrs Winston |
SPECIAL ALERT: PICK UP AND DROP OFF THIS WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY
Please plan for delays when dropping of and picking up students this Wednesday 14th February. Cherrybrook Technology High School is holding their Swimming Carnival. There will be 30 buses picking up from their bus bay (17 buses) as well as the Community Centre (13 buses), to transport students to the pool in the morning.
In the afternoon, it is anticipated the buses will return students starting from 2:15pm, with all due back by 3pm.
You may like to make alternative arrangements, such as parking in side streets and walking the students to school.
STUDENT HEALTH CARE NEEDS
We welcome information from parents about your child's health, even if you are not requesting specific support from our school. Our school asks for medical information when you enrol your child. It is also important that you let us know if your child’s health care needs change or if a new health condition develops. Information about allergies, medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes and other health care related issues (including prior conditions such as medical procedures in the last 12 months) should be provided to the school by parents. Please provide this information in writing to the principal. This will greatly assist our school in planning to support your child’s health and wellbeing. Please also remember to notify staff in the school office of any changes to your contact details or to the contact details of other people nominated as emergency contacts. We appreciate your assistance in this regard and assure you that any information you provide the school will be stored securely and will only be used or disclosed in order to support your son or daughter’s health needs or as otherwise required by law.
ANAPHYLAXIS
John Purchase Public School is concerned about the safety and well-being of all our students. Many of you will know someone who is affected by anaphylaxis, a life threatening allergic reaction. Our school does its best to be an allergy aware school. Staff have had training in severe allergy management and we have implemented a number of strategies to help keep students at risk of anaphylaxis as safe as we can. We have over 25 students who live with the risk of anaphylaxis to foods and insect stings. Whilst these children are being taught to care for themselves at an age appropriate level, we ask that you help us educate your child on the importance of not sharing food with others, washing hands after eating and calling out to an adult if they think their friend with allergies is sick. With increased awareness and understanding of anaphylaxis, you will be able to help protect those around you.
A food allergy is an immune system response to a normally harmless food protein that the body believes is harmful. When the individual eats food containing that protein, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, triggering symptoms that can affect a person’s breathing, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and/or heart. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction and is potentially life- threatening. It must be treated as a medical emergency, requiring immediate treatment and urgent medical attention. It is estimated that up to 400,000 (2%) Australians, including 1 in 20 children suffer from food allergies and some of them will experience a life-threatening (anaphylactic) reaction.
Symptoms of food allergy can include:
Mild to moderate allergic reaction
- Tingling of the mouth
- Hives, welts or body redness
- Swelling of the face, lips, eyes
- Vomiting, abdominal pain (note these are signs of a severe allergic reaction if the person has insect allergy)
Severe allergic reaction- ANAPHYLAXIS
- Difficult/noisy breathing
- Swelling of the tongue
- Swelling or tightness in the throat
- Difficulty talking or hoarse voice
- Wheeze or persistent cough
- Persistent dizziness or collapse
- Pale and floppy (young children)
Nine foods cause 90% of food allergies. These foods are:
- Egg
- Sesame
- Milk
- Soy
- Peanut
- Fish
- Tree nuts (cashew, almond, pistachio etc)
- Crustacea (prawns, lobster, crabs etc)
- Wheat
Peanuts are the leading cause of severe allergic reactions, followed by tree nuts, shellfish, fish and milk. At our school there are students with allergies to: nuts, eggs, sesame, dairy, seafood, kiwi fruit, oats, garlic, potatoes and wheat. Adrenaline/epinephrine is the first line treatment for severe allergic reactions and can be administered via auto-injector, called the EpiPen®.
To learn more about anaphylaxis and food allergies, go to www.allergyfacts.org.au and www.allergy.org.au
As the only way to manage a food allergy is avoidance, the school has implemented several strategies to help prevent a severe allergic reaction. We can never totally eliminate the risk of an anaphylaxis but we can all do things that will help lessen the risk. Please consider the child with food allergy when packing your child’s lunch or when sending in food for any special occasion, including birthdays, special events and school excursions.
We understand that dairy products are a component of a healthy diet for children and that children will consume dairy products at school. Foods that ‘May contain traces of various foods’ are fine for the non-allergic students to consume at school as long as they do not share food.
Staff members are trained in identifying an anaphylactic reaction and responding to this potentially life threatening situation. If parents would also like to complete the training, it is available online at no cost. Go to https://www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/about-ascia-e-training
COVID-smart measures continue for Term 1 2024
COVID-19 is still circulating in the community. We can all minimise the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases by maintaining good hygiene practices.
The COVID-19 baseline measures, listed below, will continue in 2024, to help reduce the risk of transmission among students and staff.
- Stay home if unwell, and do not return until symptom-free
- Practice good hygiene by washing hands often
- Make sure COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date
- Maximise natural ventilation and airflow to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses
- Do a COVID-19 test if at higher risk of severe illness
- Call your doctor if you are worried about symptoms
2023 - 2024 Term Dates & Holidays (repeated)
PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ARRANGE TRAVEL DURING SCHOOL VACATION PERIODS, RATHER THAN DURING THE SCHOOL TERM
Kindergarten 2024 commence on Tuesday 6 February 2024
Term 1 concludes Friday 12 April.
Autumn school holidays - Monday 15 April 2024 to Friday 26 April 2024
Term 2 2024- Monday 29 April 2024 (students return Tuesday 30 April) to Friday 5 July 2024.
Winter school holidays - Monday 8 July 2024 to Friday 19 July 2024
Term 3 2024 - Monday 22 July 2024 (students return Tuesday 23 July) to Friday 27 September 2024
Spring school holidays - Monday 1 October 2024 to Friday 11 October 2024
Term 4 2024 - Monday 14 October 2024 (for staff AND students) to Wednesday 18 December (for students) and Friday 20 December (for staff) 2024
From the Deputy Principal
Term 1 Week 3
Monday 12th February 2024
As advised last week, the School Photographer will be at school this Thursday, 15th February. Order forms were disseminated to classes last week. Full summer uniforms (not sports uniforms) need to be worn. From this year, all parents will be required to complete the Third Party Permission form, for school photographs. This must be completed for students to appear in class portraits or groups by tomorrow (Tuesday, 13th February). It is critical that parents complete this form on time. Should you wish to order family portraits (school siblings only), please pop in to the administration office to collect a separate order form. Please do not send order forms back to school until Thursday.
Information regarding the JPPS Swimming Carnival was distributed to parents of students in Years 2-6, last week. Please ensure online permissions and payments are completed this week. I have been advised that updates to the tab options in SchoolBytes have now been made, to assist the process.
We work in partnership to support the safety of our students. This extends to online platforms. Our teachers are most concerned to hear reports of some students using social media platforms, many designed for teenagers and adults, often without parent approval. Please be aware that the office of the eSafety Commisioner has some excellent resources available to support parents in managing online behaviours, including cyber safety. Resources can be found at this link:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/illegal-restricted-content/distressing-content#resources-for-parents-and-carers
It has been a pleasure visiting all classrooms, in recent days. Teachers and students have been learning names and establishing classroom routines and expectations. It has been particularly heartwarming to see the curiosity and wonderment of our new Kindergarten students, first hand.
The first P&C meeting for 2024 will be held via Zoom, at 7pm this evening. Details can be found below.
Have a positive week!
In a world where you can be anything, be kind.
Adela King
Deputy Principal
Welcome Kindergarten 2024
Miss Nelson, Mrs Hooper, Mrs Onay and Mrs El Bazouni have been very busy, supporting their new students to become familiar with new people, places and routines, at school. Pictured below, is a small snapshot of smiles on day number one!
Our teachers look forward to building positive partnerships with parents, this year.
2024 Parent Teacher Evening at JPPS
(repeated)
Wednesday 21st February 2024
Parents are cordially invited to attend the information sessions to be held in classrooms at these times:
Early Stage 1 classes (Kindergarten): commencing at 4:45pm
Stage 1 classes (Years 1 and 2): commencing at 5:30pm
Stage 2 classes (Years 3 and 4): commencing at 6:15pm
Stage 3 classes (Years 5 and 6): commencing at 7:00pm
Each session will last approximately 45 minutes.
Term 1 Diary Dates (correct as at 5.2.2024) repeated
- Tuesday 6th February - Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) students commence
- Monday 12th February 7pm - P & C Meeting via Zoom
- Thursday 15th February - School Photography Day One (Year 6 group, Kindergarten 2018, all current class and individual student portraits)
- Monday 19th February - 7:30am Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) dance auditions
- Wednesday 21st February - 7:30am Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4) dance auditions
- Wednesday 21st February - Parent Information Evening at school
- Thursday 22nd February - JPPS Swimming Carnival @ Knox Aquatic Centre for Years 3-6 (& some Year 2s)
- Friday 23rd February - 7:30am Stage 3 (Years 5 & 6) dance auditions
- Thursday 29th February - 1:35pm under COLA 2024 Leaders' Induction Assembly
- Friday 1st March - Summer PSSA competition begins
- Tuesday 5th March - SRE classes planned to commence
- Thursday 7th March - Zone Swimming Carnival @ Sydney Olympic Park
- Friday 8th March - P&C Welcome BBQ
- Monday 11th March - 7pm P & C AGM & Meeting at school
- Tuesday 12th March - Stage 3 Excursion to CTHS musical production
- Wednesday 12th March - NAPLAN period commences
- Thursday 14th March - JPPS Cross Country Carnival for Years 3-6 (some Yr 2s)
- Thursday 21st March - 1:35pm Harmony Day Assembly under COLA
- Thursday 28th March - 9:15am Easter Hat Parade Assembly under COLA
- Good Friday Holiday - Friday 29th March
- Easter Monday Holiday - Monday 1st April
- Tuesday 2nd April - 10:30am Principal's Morning Tea for Term 1 Bronze Award recipients and their parents
- Wednesday 3rd April - Bronze Medallion recipients' morning tea with Principal
- Monday 8th April - Parent/Teacher Interviews held at school this week
- Monday 8th April - 7pm P & C Meeting (to be confirmed)
- Friday 12th April - last day for Term 1
Our School Expectations
Congratulations to our students who have demonstrated our school expectations of Respect, Responsibility and Aspire.
This week's expectations are:
Respect: Speak to others in a polite and positive way
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.
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, 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:
Phoebe C (2RJ), Kelly S (4MM), Orlando G (2RJ), Victor H (1B), Brian S (1B), Salome (4T), Prayaan K (3N), Bradley C x2 (3B), Maddie T (2K), Ariel C (2L), Chloe A (4T)
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) now 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
These awards will be presented to recipients at the Principal's Morning Tea, towards the end of Term 1. This event will be held in the hall at 10:30am, on Tuesday 2nd April. Parents of recipients, are invited to attend.
Congratulations:
Jasinta Z (2L), Maddie T (2K), Arianna J (2K), Dominic M-C (2K)
Silver Award
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 29th February, under the COLA. All parents are cordially invited to attend. This assembly will also be the induction of student leaders 2024.
Congratulations:
Audra P (4T)
Gold Award
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 29th February, under the COLA. All parents are cordially invited to attend. This assembly will also be the induction of student leaders 2024.
Bronze Medallion
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 29th February, under the COLA. All parents are cordially invited to attend. This assembly will also be the induction of student leaders 2024. A morning tea for the term's Bronze Medallion recipients, will be held for students in the principal's office at recess, on Wednesday 3rd April.
Congratulations:
Ellie M (5/6H)
Silver Medallion
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 29th February, under the COLA. All parents are cordially invited to attend. This assembly will also be the induction of student leaders 2024.
Congratulations:
Rachel B (5/6H)
From the Teachers
Dance Announcement
We are excited to kick start another great year of extracurricular dance. If your child is interested in auditioning for the JPPS dance troupes, you will need to have filled out a permission form and students then need to attend their allocated audition morning.
Stage 1 group audition | Monday 19th Feb - 7:30am Annexe |
Stage 2 group audition | Wednesday 21st Feb - 7:30am Annexe |
Stage 3 group audition | Friday 23rd Feb - 7:30am Hall |
Please be aware that students who are accepted, are required to attend 2 rehearsals a week and a fee is involved. Please read the form for further information.
Adele Walters
Dance Coordinator
From the Office
We will be using School Bytes for all permission and excursion notes this year. Please be patient as the office staff navigate the new system and produce these communications. We would appreciate any issues you find are communicated to us promptly, so we can resolve them, as soon as possible. The Szapp app will be used for any updates, so make sure you are subscribed to that application, if you are not already.
An urgent reminder - that the school photos permission note is required by tomorrow 13 February for our whole school photos to be taken. If you have not responded to this permission, your child's photo will NOT be taken. Please ensure you complete this permission via the School Bytes parent portal TODAY!
LOST PROPERTY
There are a number of lost property items accumulating around the school. These items are collected and delivered to the lost property boxes for collection. These boxes are held outside the front of the administration building.
To reduce the number of lost items please ensure you clearly name your child's uniforms, lunchboxes and drink bottles so the office staff can deliver them back to the student classrooms. Please encourage your child to care for their belongings.
If your child loses an item, it can take a few days for it to appear at the office. Please check and re-check the lost property boxes regularly.
School Travel Applications 2024 (repeated)
2024 school travel applications are now open.
Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2024 can apply here. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting additional travel entitlement because of new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).
Students who change address, school, or have received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of Term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2024 school year. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.
If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e. grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, we will send them an expiry notification via email.
Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.
Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.
Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2024.
From the P & C
P & C Meeting Tonight Monday 12th February
via Zoom
Parents are cordially invited to attend the meeting tonight. Details appear below:
Topic: P&C Meeting
Time: Feb 12, 2024 19:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
https://nsweducation.zoom.us/j/62914762226?pwd=NjFhT3phS2F1T1dQUE1BSitaRXFYQT09
Meeting ID: 629 1476 2226
Passcode: JPPS
One tap mobile
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Meeting ID: 629 1476 2226
Find your local number: https://nsweducation.zoom.us/u/edZJpHvFMb
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
Are you interested in volunteering?
At John Purchase Public School, there are many opportunities to be involved and to support our P and C.
- P & C positions
- Special events
- Canteen
- School Uniform Shop
Volunteering helps you connect with people in the community.
If you would like to get involved, please put your name down at the canteen (for volunteering in the canteen), email our president, Richard at richardw@jppspandc.org.au or at the front office (for volunteering for other P and C roles).
P & C Volunteer Sign Up Form
Please remember to sign up to volunteer using the volunteer sign up form. This will assist in planning for next year. See the below link to the sign up form.
FROM THE CANTEEN
New menu item: We have introduced a new vegetarian option to our menu - Cheesy Vegetable Pasta Bake.
Lunch orders: We have had a lot of students come to the canteen at lunchtime without any lunch - particularly on Friday. While in quite a few cases, cockatoos have managed to open their lunch boxes and eat their lunch, quite a few students have not brought lunch from home, or have eaten it at recess. So we kindly ask parents to ensure you give your children adequate lunch for school, or if we provide lunch, to pay the amount owing as soon as possible.
JPPS Uniform Shop
Opening hours: 8:30-9:30am every Mon, Wed, Fri
Shop Closure Notice: The uniform shop will be closed on Monday 11th March.
Friendly reminder: To shorten your waiting time in the shop, we 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/
Thank you.
Pace
Uniform Shop Manager
From the Community
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.
Want to do something life-changing in 2024? Why not volunteer at JOHN PURCHASE PUBLIC SCHOOL as an Ethics teacher!
Ethics classes can only be offered as an alternative if we have volunteer teachers. Volunteers can come from our parents, grandparents, friends and local community, from every walk of life. Primary Ethics offers full, free training, lesson scripts and teaching support.
Ethics encourages children to listen closely and to develop their opinions through ethical reasoning. Ethics helps kids develop confidence and empathy. As an ethics teacher, you’ll get a lot out of it too!
If you have an hour a week and want to ensure children at our school can access this valuable program, go to: https://primaryethics.com.au/volunteer/ethics-teacher/
CLEANING POSITION
If you are interested in a cleaning position in a local school, please use the Q Code below.