Term 1 Week 4 Newsletter - 19th February 2024
From the Principal
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Term 1 Week 4
COURT ORDERS
The department recognises that family breakdowns take place. Unless there is formal notice otherwise, it is assumed that both parents have shared and equal parental responsibility for their children and both parents have been involved in decisions regarding their children’s education. This also means the school recognises that each parent has equal duties, obligations, responsibilities and opportunities relating to matters involving the school.
If changes occur in your family relationship which might impact on the relationship between the school and your family, you should advise the school immediately. This includes providing copies of any relevant court orders.
BE A CYBER SAFE PARENT
Here is a link to a very useful resource:
There is information to help you help your child/ren to stay safe online. I urge parents to take a quick look to see what is available.
- Explore websites and engage in games together
- Manage privacy settings on apps and social media together
- Set some basic rules about online safety
Here is a snapshot of what is available:
- a webinar on 15 March, supporting your child with online gaming,
- an online course, Online Safety for Young People Living with Disability
- a podcast, How to Keep Your Children Safe Online
- a TV series aimed at K -2 and another aimed at Years 3 - 6, exploring online safety
- advice about how to protect your information and secure your devices
MAINTAINING OUR RESPECTFUL CULTURE
This term, you will notice new posters around the school that aim to help support a safe and respectful culture at our school.
These posters are part of an initiative to remind everybody to treat our hard-working school staff with kindness and respect. Every school community around the state is very different. While most schools are respectful and harmonious, violence and unsafe behaviour in any form, is not acceptable in schools. School staff and students have the right to learn and work in safe and respectful learning environments.
With that in mind, I encourage you to join everyone at our school in getting behind this important work to make a positive change.
We value our partnerships with you to support our students to learn, grow, and belong. It is up to us – the school and the parent-body - to be good, respectful role models to our students. Together, we can create a safe and harmonious environment for our students and staff.
I hope you will support this initiative. What do you need to do? It is easy: Please treat our students and staff with kindness and respect, at all times. We are here to help you.
I invite you to contact me if you have any questions.
P & C POSITIONS - P & C ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
MONDAY 11 MARCH
Join our P & C in 2024 – It’s a great way to be involved in our fabulous school!
Being on the P & C is a great way of supporting our school and meeting other mums and dads. We would love to see you at the meetings. On Monday 11 March the P & C annual general meeting will be held. At this meeting all positions will be declared vacant. If you are interested in nominating for a position, you will be warmly welcomed as there are many positions to be filled.
Please complete a nomination form which can be accessed on the school website: johnpurch-p.schools.nsw.edu.au and click on the canteen, band, uniform P & C tab from the top menu, and then click forms. This form has also been included in this newsletter for your convenience.
The National Assessment Program- Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2024
This term, your child will undertake NAPLAN assessmentExternal link. NAPLAN provides schools with valuable information about your child’s learning progress in literacy and numeracy. NAPLAN is only one way we assess student learning in years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
NAPLAN will take place from Wednesday 13 March to Monday 25 March in 2024.
Your child's teacher is getting students ready for NAPLAN and will provide appropriate support and guidance. Students will become familiar with the types of questions in the tests and the online testing platform that we use. In addition to school preparation, I want to share with you some information on how you can further support your child for NAPLAN.
Preparation for NAPLAN
Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN and do not need excessive preparation or the use of services by coaching providers. You can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is a part of their school program. If you or your child/children would like to know more about the NAPLAN online platform you can go to the public demonstration siteExternal link and do some practice tests and past NAPLAN papersExternal link are also available online.
Participation in NAPLAN
Adjustments are available for students who have diverse functional abilities and needs. On a case-by-case basis, reasonable adjustments for individual students can be made so they can complete NAPLAN. Speak to your child’s teacher to discuss the adjustments available. For more information read the Guide for schools to assist students with disability to access NAPLAN (PDF 96 KB)External link.
Assessment tips
You can support your child by reminding them to simply do their best. You can also encourage:
a healthy diet
drinking lots of water
getting enough sleep
exercise and relaxation time
These along with arriving at school on time ready to sit the test will help prepare our school to bring their best on the day.
PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – Cryptosporidium
NSW Health has advised of very high rates of cryptosporidiosis, a diarrhoeal disease, in the community.
To prevent transmission at upcoming school swimming carnivals, NSW Health recommends all schools:
- advise students to refrain from swimming if they are experiencing, or have experienced in 2 weeks prior to the carnival, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea
- emphasise the importance of regular handwashing with soap and water
- remind students to avoid swallowing pool water.
COMMUNITY CHARTER
The School Community Charter outlines the responsibilities of parents, carers, educators and school staff in NSW public schools to ensure our learning environments are collaborative, supportive and cohesive. It describes expectations regarding communicating with our school, that respectful communication is a right and the importance of working together in partnership to maximise the learning and wellbeing outcomes for our students. Please take some time to look at the charter attached.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS - A MESSAGE FROM DOE
It’s been great to have our students back in classrooms and settling into the school year. I know all our teachers are looking forward to a successful 2024 and are excited to work with you to make this a memorable year for your child.
The evidence is clear that consistent attendance is the essential first step for your child to have a positive experience at school.
Every day matters for your child’s learning. In recent years we’ve seen too many students miss a day of school here and there. Missing school for students means missing assignments, time with friends, an important maths lesson or getting picked for a sports team. With days missed, years are lost.
Students are required to attend school every day, whether it’s the first or last day of the term, Mondays, Fridays or days dedicated to sports carnivals, school excursions and incursions.
Help us make sure your child is achieving their best and stays ahead in their learning with regular school attendance. The more time your child attends school, the greater their opportunity to learn, make new friends and improve their wellbeing. Together, let’s build positive attendance habits for a lifetime.
If your child is absent from school, please let us know why as soon as possible, even if it’s just a few minutes at the start or end of the school day. Of course, there will be times when your child is unable to be at school (like when they are unwell). Medical appointments should take place outside school hours where possible and family holidays should be taken in term breaks.
If your child is feeling anxious about coming to school and you need support, please reach out to your child’s teacher or me directly. Our staff are here to work with you and your child to help them attend school each and every day. There are also helpful resources for parents and carers on the Every Day Matters website.
Thank you again for working with our teachers and support staff to make sure your child is at school, on time, every day. We all want to see our students learn, grow and belong in our equitable and outstanding education system.
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 4
Monday 19th February 2024
Class teachers are looking forward to hosting information sessions about our learning programs, this Wednesday evening, 21st February. The parent sessions are being held at school and it is appreciated if arrangements are made for child-minding. Additional staff will be near the administration block, to assist with directions to classrooms. A school map is on display on the wall of the administration block. Information from all stage teams, including learning trajectories and administrative guides, will be emailed to parents, at the end of this week.
Mrs Cole (Learning and Support Teacher) will be hosting an information session for parents interested in volunteering in classrooms, next Monday 26th February. This meeting will be held via Zoom at 9:30am.
Students interested in joining the JPPS dance troupes are reminded that there are three separate auditions being held on site, before school, this week. Mrs Walters is coordinating the auditions.
The annual JPPS Swimming Carnival will be held at Knox Aquatic Centre this Thursday, 22nd February. Only competitors will be entering the water. Health advice regarding Cryptosporidium infections has recently been published. Please refer to the information guide above. Mrs Townsend and her team have been extremely busying coordinating the event.
Have a positive week!
In a world where you can be anything, be kind.
Adela King
Deputy Principal
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 updated 14.2.24
- 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
- Monday 26th February - 9:30am via Zoom Parent Volunteer Training Session
- 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 - Pulse Alive Primary Choral Performance (new date)
- Wednesday 20th March - 1:35pm Harmony Day Assembly under COLA (new date)
- Thursday 21st March - JPPS Cross Country Carnival for Years 3-6 (some Yr 2s) (new date)
- 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:
Responsibility: Be responsible for the choices you make
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:
Indiana R (1B), Amy S (2L), Sachkeerat (5J), Alastair B x 4 (3/4B), Isabel (3/4B), Shanaya (4T), Anton R (4MM), Holly S (1B), Kai B (3/4B), Satvik (3B), Daniel S (3/4B), Sophia C (Yr 4), Liam (1KR)
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:
Amy S (2L), Anton R (4MM), Jeremy S (4MM)
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:
Daniel S (3/4B), Mia B (4D), Aaryan R (5/6H), Mia Z (4D)
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.
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.
From the Teachers
2024 Premier's Reading Challenge
The 2024 PRC opens on Monday 26th February and will run until Friday, 23rd August. Students use the same login they use to access the laptops/ipads at school. If you are unsure of what your child's login details are, please check with their classroom teacher. The rules/requirements for the Challenge can be found on the official PRC website.Happy reading!
Miss Brennan
PRC Coordinator
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
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
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
Swimming Carnival - Just a reminder that if your child is going to the Swimming Carnival on Thursday, please do not order lunch through Flexischools for them. Flexischools lunches are only available if your child is at school.
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.