Term 3 Week 6 Newsletter - Monday 26th August 2024

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Term 3 Week 6

HAPPY SASS WEEK!

CELEBRATING OUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM THIS SCHOOL SUPPORT RECOGNITION WEEK

26 August to 30 August 

SASS stands for School Administrative Support Staff. Our SASS and other staff in non-teaching roles play a vital role in keeping our school running smoothly. Whether it’s greeting our school visitors, managing essential school finances, maintaining school grounds or providing administrative support, these colleagues are the backbone of the school community.

This week we acknowledge their invaluable efforts supporting teachers, parents and carers and the community.

• Clare Cattell – our hardworking, friendly and incredibly helpful business manager. Clare looks after asset management, health and safety, the school budget, technology and compliance. These are very significant and large portfolios and Clare does an amazing job with each of these. Her resourcefulness and faultless commitment to helping others provides invaluable support and leadership to our school office and its people. We could never thank you enough for all that you do!
• We thank our school cheerful administrative manager, Sharena Ratnarajah. Sharena is responsible for managing SASS operations and is of invaluable assistance with a range of tasks. She looks after the money that comes in and out of the school and there is a mountain of paper work and computer work for every transaction. She looks after new enrolments and hire facilities and works very hard at using the finance and administrative systems that are continually being updated. We are extremely grateful for her commitment and humour.
• Of course, the very first people you speak to when contacting our office are our often our SAOs, school admin officers. They are Mrs Blieva, Mrs Dechnicz,  and Mrs Desai. They help so many people and are extremely busy – they answer phones, welcome new people to our school, prepare our newsletter, look after children who are sick or hurt themselves, look after  the printing and photocopying, check emails, buy equipment for the school, field counter enquiries, look after lost property and work in the school library – and this is just a portion of what they do. We are extremely fortunate to have such a friendly, capable team to help us.
• General assistants (GAs) Mr Louw and Mr Berry – Our GAs helps to keep our school maintained. They come to school very early every morning –keeping everything in our school safe and in working order, fixing equipment and buildings, assisting the departmental contractors that come to our school, setting up our microphones and chairs for assemblies, moving resources and equipment, mowing grass, checking stock, gardening, upgrading equipment and furniture and helping with many jobs around the school. We are very appreciative of all they do.
• We thank our school learning support officers (SLSOs) Mrs Aoutal, Ms Karadanian, Mrs Moriarty and Mrs Nagarajan – our SLSOs work in classrooms helping teachers and students with their learning. Sometimes they may help an individual student complete their work, sometimes they run special programs such as in reading, sometimes they help children be safe and happy in our playground and sometimes they busily prepare resources and activities.  Our support officers are very important people in our school, and we take this opportunity to thank them for all they do for us.

There are so many great things about John Purchase. We are so lucky to have such a magnificent team of support staff at our school. I am thrilled to be working with each and every one of them, and so thrilled that our students, our teachers and our parents have such wonderful people and committed members of our team, helping us every day.

This week I ask our community to think of the people in our school who support us and spend some time thinking about how they have helped you or your child/ren.

BAND CAMP

There was mention of an upcoming band camp at the P & C  meeting last week. We hope the band students, tutors, organisers and volunteers have a productive and enjoyable weekend.

Please note this event is not a school activity, and therefore does not take any responsibility for organisation of the activities or the supervision of the participants

Parents should make their own decisions regarding participation, including accepting the inherent risks associated with the camp and understanding any applicable insurances or waivers. Any staff member participating in the camp are attending in their private capacity and are not acting on behalf of the department.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
TAKE VACATIONS WITHIN THE SCHOOL VACATION PERIOD

I have received a significant increase in requests for extended leave (travel), with the numbers of requests received in the recent past being unprecedented. While I understand the benefits of students travelling and spending quality time with family, vacations should be taken out of the school term and should be taken within the 11 weeks of scheduled school vacation periods. School vacation periods are included below for your convenience.

Please note applications for travel during school term require supporting travel documentation. These applications will not necessarily be approved.

CHILD PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITIES (repeated)

VOLUNTEERS: IMPORTANT INFORMATION
(including P & C Volunteers)

Thank you for your commitment to the safety and well-being of our students.  Your dedication is invaluable to our school community.

We want to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students in our care, and as such, it’s essential for you to be aware of this Child Protection information.

Part A: Working With Children Requirements

Please ensure you:

1. Sign in at the office using the QR code and show photo ID each time you are volunteering.
2. Complete the Declaration for Child-related Workers: https://education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/policy-library/public/implementation-documents/pd-2005-0264-07.pdf

Part B: Child Protection Requirements

Here are the key points you need to know:

• Responsibilities: All staff, including volunteers, have a responsibility to report any concerns about the safety, welfare, or wellbeing of children and young people. This includes identifying risks of harm and providing support where necessary.

• Mandatory Reporting: Volunteers are considered mandatory reporters under NSW legislation. This means you have a legal obligation to report any suspicions or concerns of child abuse or neglect. If these become apparent while volunteering in the school, these should be communicated immediately to the Principal or relieving principal or the most senior person in attendance at school. You can also make reports directly to the Department of Communities and Justice. The phone number for the Child Protection Helpline is 132111.

• Training: Volunteers are required to be informed about indicators of abuse and neglect, as well as reporting procedures. Please refer to the link below, which outline key indicators of abuse and neglect. An overview of indicators is also available at the front office.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/school-community/child-protection/child-protection-policy-guidelines/resources

Mrs Leonie Cole (LaST) provides training for Volunteers, which is compulsory at our school for school volunteers (including those helping in and out of the classroom such as on excursions). This training is highly recommended for P & C volunteers as well. Please leave a message at the school office if you would like to attend Mrs Cole's next training session.

2024 Term Dates & Holidays (repeated)

PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ARRANGE TRAVEL DURING SCHOOL VACATION PERIODS, RATHER THAN DURING THE SCHOOL TERM

Term 3 2024 - Monday 22 July 2024 (students return Tuesday 23 July) to Friday 27 September 2024

Spring school holidays - Monday 30 September 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

2025 NSW term dates and school holidays

Please note: School development days for staff are included in these term dates and parents and carers should not send their children to school on these days.

• Term 1 - Friday 31 January to Friday 11 April
• Autumn school holidays - Monday 14 April to Friday 25 April
• Term 2 - Monday 28 April to Friday 4 July
• Winter school holidays - Monday 7 July to Friday 18 July
• Term 3 – Monday 21 July to Friday 26 September
• Spring school holidays – Monday 29 September to Friday 10 October
• Term 4 – Monday 13 October to Friday 19 December
• Summer school holidays (Eastern) – Monday 22 December to Monday 26 January 2026
  

Term 3 Week 6

Monday 26th August 2024

Our dancers have been very busy, performing wonderfully over the weekend! Congratulations! Good luck to Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 Dance Troupes, who are also participating in the Hawkesbury Eisteddfod, tomorrow! 

Our P & C will be holding a Father's Day Stall at school this Thursday. All students are encouraged to bring a small amount of cash to school, in order to go 'shopping'. The organising committee has suggested a maximum spend of no more than $15 please, so all students can be accommodated.

Stage 3 students will be performing an item at this Thursday's K-6 Assembly. Parents are cordially invited to join us under the COLA at 1:35pm.

Have a positive week!

If you can be anything, be kind.

Adela King
Deputy Principal

Congratulations Public Speakers

Stage 2 and Stage 3 students delivered their speeches last week. As a result, we congratulate Aditi (5/6H), Shreya (5D), Anton (4MM) and Myilen (4MM), who will represent JPPS at the Hills Public Speaking competition. 

Bullying No Way - How Parents can help (repeated)

By working collaboratively within our community, we can collectively help reduce bullying.

Parents and carers play an important role in helping your child understand bullying, and know how to respond to it.

If your child tells you about things at school, or you observe something in public that involves conflict or bullying, take the opportunity to talk about what bullying is. You can learn more about what defines bullying at bullyingnoway.gov.au.

Questions you could ask:

• What do you think bullying is?
• Have you seen it? How did you feel?
• Have you ever felt scared at school because of bullying?
• As well as me, who are the other adults you would talk to when it comes to things like bullying?
• Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?
• Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you do if it happens again?

Remind your child that bullying is never okay and discuss how they can respond safely if they experience or witness it.

Encourage them to seek help from a trusted adult and keep seeking support, if needed.

By promoting open communication, we empower children to stand up against bullying and create a safer environment where everyone can feel that they belong.

Term 3 Diary Dates 

• Thursday 29th August - ICAS Mathematics
• Thursday 29th August - 1:35pm K-6 Assembly under COLA
• Thursday 29th August P&C Father's Day Stall 
• Tuesday 3rd September - Kindergarten 2025 Parent Meeting 9am at school or 6pm via Microsoft Teams
• Thursday 5th September - Zone Athletics Carnival at Sydney Olympic Park
• Monday 9th September - 7pm P&C Meeting
• Wednesday 11th September - Year 5 Leadership Day
• Thursday 12th September - Year 6 Mufti Day Fundraiser
• Thursday 19th September - 9:30am K-6 Assembly and Book Character Parade
• Tuesday 24th September - 10:30am Principal's Morning Tea in Hall
• Wednesday 25th September - 11am Bronze Medallion Morning tea in Principal's Office
• Friday 27th September - Last day of Term 3

Our School Expectations

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

This week's expectation is: 

Respect: Share the playground space with 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.

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:

Ryan P (4D), Emma C (KO), Samuel L (2K), Sharon (3B), Gemma L (3S), Kelly S (4MM), Alex (KH), Darian (3B), Adriana (1B), Siya W (4MM), Hannah L (1B), Reyaan S (3S), Lerry (2K), Curtis L (KO), Birat x3 (3S), Amelie J (3S), Jay (KH), Brendan (3S), Amelia D (2RJ), Flynn (KO), Jayden S (2L)

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

The Term 3 Principal's Morning Tea, will be held in the hall, at 10:30am, on Tuesday 24th September. Parents of recipients are cordially invited to attend. 

Congratulations:

Liam H (1B), Indiana R (1B), Stella W (1KR)

Silver Award

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm this Thursday 29th August, under the COLA. Stage 3 students will be presenting an item. All parents are cordially invited to attend. 

Congratulations:  

Clynton L (6G), Prayaan K (4MM), Samuel Z (3/4B)               

Gold Award

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm this Thursday 29th August, under the COLA. Stage 3 students will be presenting an item. All parents are cordially invited to attend.       

Congratulations:

Clynton L (6G) 

Bronze Medallion

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm this Thursday 29th August, under the COLA. Stage 3 students will be presenting an item. All parents are cordially invited to attend.       

A morning tea for Term 3 Bronze Medallion recipients, will be held on Wednesday, 25th September, at 11am in the Principal's office.

Silver Medallion

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm this Thursday 29th August, under the COLA. Stage 3 students will be presenting an item. All parents are cordially invited to attend.       

ICAS Assessments 2024

Thank you to everyone who completed the online parent payment system for the 2024 ICAS assessments. Enrolments for ICAS for 2024 have now closed.  
John Purchase Public School is running the following assessments for Years 3 – 6 for those students who have already enrolled:

• Mathematics: Thursday 29th August 2024 (Week 6)

On the morning of the assessments students are to meet Mrs Musgrove at the Canteen Cola at 7:30am.  From this point students will be sent to a classroom where they will sit the assessment under the supervision of a teacher. All ICAS assessments will be completed on a laptop. Parents do not need to stay until the completion of the assessment, students will be sent back to the COLA once they are finished.

Any queries regarding ICAS please contact Mrs Musgrove.

Dance Announcement 

Congratulations to our amazing dance troupes who competed on Sunday at the hills dance spectacular. 

• Stage 1 came 2nd out of 1. Some their feedback was: excellent spacing and patterns with fantastic personalities
• Stage 2 placed 2nd out of 13 schools. Some of  their feedback was: Good use of your technique and lovely connection to your music. 
• Stage 3 received highly commended out of 8 schools. Some of their feedback was: Nice floor work and good sense of timing. 

We are so proud of their hard work and dedication. Thank you and congratulations to our wonderful teachers who worked hard to prepare and train these troupes. 

They received some lovely feedback from the adjudicators:

Our dancers also head off to their second competition tomorrow to compete in the Hawkesbury Eisteddfod, we wish them luck.

Dance Coordinator
Mrs Adele Walters

SPORTS REPORT

Winter PSSA results 

Stage 2 vs Cherrybrook Public School

Soccer
JPPS Boys 0 lost to CPS 9
JPPS Girls 0 lost to CPS 4

Netball
JPPS Boys 6 lost against CPS 16
JPPS Girls 5 won against CPS 4

Stage 3 vs  Epping North Public School

Soccer
JPPS Boys 1 won against ENPS 0
JPPS Girls 0 lost against ENPS 8

Netball
JPPS Boys 14 won to ENPS 2
JPPS Girls 15 won to ENPS 11

Laura Davidson

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.

https://volunteersignup.org/RAFL8

Uniform Shop (repeated)

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 will definitely NOT be accepted. Thanks for your understanding. 
   
2. To shorten your waiting time in the 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/ 
   

Thank you. 

Pace 
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.

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/