Term 1 Week 4 Newsletter - Monday 17th February 2025
From the Relieving Principal
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Term 1 Week 4
Monday 17th February 2025
Kindergarten Best Start assessments are currently underway. These individual assessments are designed to provide valuable insights into every Kindergarten student's early learning and development, helping us to better support their educational journey. Best Start assessments focus on key areas such as literacy, numeracy, and social skills. By evaluating these foundational skills, our teachers can tailor teaching strategies to meet the individual needs of each student. This personalised approach not only enhances learning outcomes but also fosters a love for learning from the very beginning.
One of the significant benefits of the Best Start assessments is that they help identify strengths and areas for growth early on. This allows teachers to implement targeted interventions and strategies that support each child. Additionally, the data collected from these assessments contributes to a collaborative learning environment, where parents, teachers, and the school community work together to ensure every child thrives.
We encourage all parents to stay engaged in your child's learning journey. Your involvement and support play a crucial role in reinforcing the skills and knowledge they acquire during their time in primary school. Together, we can create a strong foundation for their future success. We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 26th February, for the Parent Information Evening, at school. (Please refer to the invitation below.)
Our school is committed to explicitly teaching and modelling appropriate behaviours and supporting every student to engage with their learning. I have included the JPPS Behaviour Support and Management Plan, further below, for your perusal.
As promised, you will also find below, an overview of extracurricular groups offered at JPPS.
Have a positive week!
If you can be anything, be kind.
Regards
Adela King
Relieving Principal
Child Protection - A Shared Responsibility
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 the NSW Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy. Here are the key points you need to know:
- Policy Overview: The policy provides direction and guidance for staff regarding child protection, including training, reporting on safety, supporting children and young people, and monitoring, evaluation, and reporting requirements.
- 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 parent volunteers 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.
- Training: Volunteers are required to be informed about indicators of abuse and neglect, as well as reporting procedures. Please ensure you sign up for the training provided by the school if you are volunteering to assist at school
- Supporting Children and Young People: Volunteers should cooperate with efforts to coordinate service delivery and decision-making with relevant service providers and inform students about their rights and available support avenues.
- Monitoring and Review: The implementation of this policy is monitored regularly to ensure its relevance and accuracy.
Risk of harm within the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 relates to the impact of abuse and neglect on a child or young person. The following indicators in tis link have been developed from research and clinical experience over recent decades. One indicator in isolation may not imply abuse or neglect. Each indicator needs to be considered in the context of other indicators and the child’s or young person’s circumstances. The lists are not in hierarchical order. Reference: https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/school-community/child-protection/child-protection-policy-guidelines/resourcesThank you for your commitment to the safety and well-being of our students. Your dedication is invaluable to our school community.
Child Protection and Parent Volunteers
INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERS
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.
Training: Volunteers are required to be informed about indicators of abuse and neglect, as well as reporting procedures. Please refer to the indicators in the JPPS Volunteers and Non-DoE Staff document that you must sign at the school office.
Always stay in sight of the classroom teacher. Leave the door open. You need to protect yourself as well as the child.
All teachers are trained in the up-to-date procedures to follow.
ANY information disclosed is confidential!
2025 Parent Volunteer Induction Training
All parents (and grandparents) interested in assisting in classrooms or on an excursion, this year, are invited to attend a special training session, presented by Mrs Robbins.
When: 9am Thursday 6th March
Where: School hall
Digital Technologies at JPPS
Our school has been recognised by the Department of Education, in STEM Education.
Congratulations, Mrs Jessica Lizarraga and students!
Best Start for Kindergarten Students
Miss Nelson-Shine is pictured below engaging in a Best Start assessment, with one of her students.
Kindergarten Snapshot
Selective High School & Opportunity Classes
Applications are now open for 2026 entry into selective high schools and opportunity classes (OC). The closing date for selective high school applications is Friday 21st February, 2025.
Parents must understand that the NSW Department of Education does not support students being removed from the school day to attend tutoring preparation for examinations. These absences will be recorded as unjustified.
'Students with too many unjustified absences from school will be brought to the attention of the selection committee. The selection committee is reluctant to offer placement to those whose attendance might not allow them to benefit fully from placement in an opportunity class or selective high school.'
Visit: education.nsw.gov.au/shs-oc
Extracurricular Groups
The information published below provides a guide for parents. Our coordinating teachers communicate directly to parents and students regarding dance and choir activities. When considering after school activities provided by facility hirers, please contact the organisers concerned, for the most up-to-date costs and timetables on offer.
NAPLAN 2025
Students in Year 3 and Year 5 will be completing assessments in Literacy and Numeracy next month. If you want to know more about the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, refer to the parent and carer brochure, available in a wide range of languages: https://nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carersExternal link
Students new to NAPLAN can visit the public demonstration site to become familiar with the online testing process. Remember that excessive preparation or external tutoring for NAPLAN is not necessary.
Visit the site today: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-siteExternal link
Parent Information Evening 2025 (repeated)
Who: All parents are cordially invited to an information evening after school, presented by class teachers. Each session will last for approximately 45 minutes.
Where: In classrooms - Please refer to classroom maps published outside the administration block
When: Wednesday 26 February 2025
Times:
4:45pm Kindergarten Parent session commences
5:30pm Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) Parent session commences
6:15pm Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4) Parent session commences
7:00pm Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6) Parent session commences
2025 Class Structure (repeated)
Student Health Care Needs and Emergency Contacts (repeated)
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 (repeated)
John Purchase Public School is concerned about the safety and wellbeing 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.
To learn more about anaphylaxis and food allergies, go to www.allergyfacts.org.au
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
ATTENDANCE MATTERS (repeated)
To support you in monitoring your child’s attendance, we encourage parents to access the Parent Portal in School Bytes where you can view your child’s attendance levels on a visual map. This map provides a clear view of your child’s attendance rate, calculated on the number of actual and partial days attended as a percentage of the total possible school days for the term. Attendance summaries will also be included in your child’s half-yearly and yearly reports.
Instructions for accessing this information through the Parent Portal are provided below. If you need any assistance setting up or navigating the portal, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our business manager, Mrs Clare Cattell.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW TO SEE ATTENDANCE DATA ON SCHOOL BYTES (repeated)
Once you have set up your Parent Portal account in School Bytes (see below information in 'From the Office' news) you will be able to view your child's attendance data.
In the Parent Portal you will see a tab called 'attendance' on the top bar of the page. This will bring you to your child/ren's attendance information.
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.
2025 Term Dates & Holidays
TRAVEL SHOULD BE TAKEN DURING SCHOOL VACATION PERIODS, RATHER THAN DURING THE SCHOOL TERM
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 - The last day of term is Friday 11 April.
- Autumn school holidays - Monday 14 April to Friday 25 April
- Term 2 - Monday 28 April to Friday 4 July. School development days are Monday 28 April and Tuesday 29 April. All students K - 6 begin on Wednesday 30 April.
- Winter school holidays - Monday 7 July to Friday 18 July
- Term 3 – Monday 21 July to Friday 26 September. The school development day is on Monday 21 July and all students K- 6 start on Tuesday 22 July.
- Spring school holidays – Monday 29 September to Friday 10 October
- Term 4 – Monday 13 October to Friday 19 December. The school development day is Monday 13 October. All students K - 6 start on Tuesday 14 October.
- Summer school holidays (Eastern) – Monday 22 December to Monday 26 January 2026
From the Relieving Deputy Principal
Term 1 Week 4
Empowering Students: Creating Positive Connections for Wellbeing!
At John Purchase, we are dedicated to preparing our students to be adaptable, lifelong learners with the skills to connect, succeed, and thrive. Our Friendly Schools Plus program, implemented for K-6, promotes positive relationships and prevents bullying, fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
We also maintain strong connections with our local police, which helps establish trust and a sense of security among students. When students feel comfortable approaching police officers, they are more likely to seek help in emergencies or for safety guidance.
Next week, Constable Ethan and Constable Joel, from Castle Hill Police, will engage with K-2, Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4), and Stage 3 (Years 5 & 6), with the aim of building trust between police and our young students. This initiative contributes to the development of a caring, inclusive and supportive environment, empowering students to make informed decisions and benefits both individuals and the broader community.
As a family, you might like to consider setting aside time to discuss the role of trust in your lives and encourage your children to identify safe adults they can turn to whenever they need support. Together, we can empower our students to navigate their world with confidence and resilience.
Irene Robbins
Relieving Deputy Principal
Term 1 Diary Dates
- Friday 31 January - All staff return
- Thursday 6 February - All students K-6 return
- Monday 10 February - 7pm P & C Meeting via Zoom (refer to Zoom link in P&C section below)
- Monday 10 February - Kindergarten Best Start assessments continue over the next few weeks
- Tuesday 18 February - 7:30am Stage 2 Dance Auditions in hall
- Thursday 20 February - 7:30am Stage 3 Dance Auditions in hall
- Friday 21 February - 7:30am Stage 1 Dance Auditions in hall
- Tuesday 25 February - K-6 Police Talks in the hall
- Wednesday 26 February - 1:35pm Student Leaders' Induction & Awards Assembly under COLA
- Wednesday 26 February - Parent Information Evening on site
- Thursday 27 February - JPPS Swimming Carnival at Knox Aquatic Centre
- Tuesday 4 March - planned date for scripture classes to commence
- Thursday 6 March - Zone Swimming Carnival
- Thursday 6 March - 9am Parent Volunteer Induction Training
- Friday 7 March - Summer PSSA competition begins for Stage 2 and Stage 3
- Monday 10 March - P&C Meeting via Zoom
- Wednesday 12 March - NAPLAN testing period begins
- Wednesday 19 March - 1:35pm Harmony Day and Awards Assembly under COLA
- Thursday 20 March - JPPS Cross Country Carnivals
- Monday 24 March - School Photograph Day (class, individual, sibling portraits)
- Monday 24 March - NAPLAN testing period ends
- Tuesday 25 March - 4 Students Leaders to Halogen Conference
- Tuesday 25 March - 9:30am Parent Interview booking site opens
- Tuesday 1 April - 10:30am Principal's Morning Tea for Bronze Award recipients
- Wednesday 2 April - 11am Morning Tea for Bronze Medallion Recipients in Principal's office
- Friday 4 April - 9:30am Parent Interview booking site closes
- Monday 7 April - Parent Interview week commences
- Monday 7 April - 7:00pm P&C AGM/GM at school in annexe (confirmed)
- Friday 11 April - 9:15am Easter Hat Parade and Awards Assembly under COLA
- Friday 11 April - last day of Term 1
Our School Expectations
Congratulations to our students who have demonstrated our school expectations of Respect, Responsibility and Aspire.
This week's expectation is:
Responsibility: 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. 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:
Curtis L (1KR), Jay (1T), Rose P-B (2B), Ava S (2O), Manya T (2O), Eric W (3ES), Brendan P x 2 (3S)
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
The Term 1 Principal's Morning Tea, will be held in the hall, at 10:30am on Tuesday 1st April. Parents of recipients are cordially invited to attend.
Congratulations:
Victor H (1/2R), Manya (2O), Seren S (5DM), Brendan P (4D)
Silver Award
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Wednesday 26th February, under the COLA. This assembly will also be a special event to induct new student leaders. Parents are cordially invited to attend.
Congratulations:
Ellie L (3/4B), Charlene L (4D )
Gold Award
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Wednesday 26th February, under the COLA. This assembly will also be a special event to induct new student leaders. Parents are cordially invited to attend.
Bronze Medallion
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Wednesday 26th February, under the COLA. This assembly will also be a special event to induct new student leaders. Parents are cordially invited to attend.
A morning tea for Term 1 Bronze Medallion recipients, will be held on Wednesday 2nd April, 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 on Wednesday 26th February, under the COLA. This assembly will also be a special event to induct new student leaders. Parents are cordially invited to attend.
Gold Medallion
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Wednesday 26th February, under the COLA. This assembly will also be a special event to induct new student leaders. Parents are cordially invited to attend.
From the Teachers
Reminder:
The Swimming Carnival is coming up in Week 5, on the 27th of February. Notes have been sent out, please go onto school bytes to return permission note and payment by this Thursday the 20th of February.
Laura Davidson
Co-ordinator
Dance Group Auditions 2025
We are holding our 2025 Dance Group Auditions this week. Students who have filled out the online form to audition will be required to meet Mrs Berry and the dance teachers at the front office at 7:20am on the following days.
STAGE 2 AUDITIONS - Tuesday 18th Feb - Annexe
STAGE 3 AUDITIONS - Thursday 20th Feb - Hall
STAGE 1 AUDITIONS - Friday 21st Feb - Hall
If you have any questions, please let Mrs Berry know.
Hayley Berry
JPPS Dance Co-ordinator
Learning and Support
Parents are encouraged to register for this excellent webinar designed to support our children.
Mrs Helen Paris
Learning and Support Teacher (Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
From the Office
HOW TO SET UP THE PARENT PORTAL ACCOUNT IN SCHOOL BYTES
IMPORTANT: To ensure that the registration process works smoothly, and you can link your account to your child, make sure that you use the same email address that you have provided to the school upon your child’s enrolment.
The School Bytes Parent Portal can be accessed via an app on your mobile device or your computer. The Parent App can be found on your mobile device’s app store.
Please find detailed information on the below link on how to set up a parent portal account.
How to login and use Parent Portal?
Open the portal link and login: https://portal.schoolbytes.education/auth/login
Currently, we are using the following modules:
- Payments - to get a statement of account and make payments for fees and excursions.
- Activities - to check the current events and give a consent to participate and pay any fees attached to an activity.
- Forms - to give consent for any permission forms, submit change of details form or extended leave applications.
- Attendance - to view and manage your child's attendance, including creating future absences and responding to attendance alerts as required.
From the P & C
FROM THE CANTEEN
Welcome Back: Welcome back to another exciting school year! We are excited to serve you again at the school canteen.
Welcome to new families: Welcome to new families of JPPS. The canteen is open daily from 8.30am to 1.15pm and provides recess and lunch to students and teachers. Lunch orders can be placed over the counter before school or via the FlexiSchools app by 9.30am. Lunches are picked up from the canteen at 12.30 by students and taken to their class. If any students do not have lunch, or it gets dropped or eaten by birds (yes this does happen), the student will be given lunch from the canteen and a note will be either sent home or emailed with payment due the following day. Payments can be made via Flexischools.
Price Update: Due to cost increases from our suppliers, there have been some slight price changes to some items for 2025. We appreciate your understanding and support. We hope you understand our need to increase prices while still trying to maintain reasonable prices to our parents.
New Pizza on the menu: We are introducing a new pizza to our menu – Cheese or BBQ Chicken. We can't wait for students to try it!
Volunteers Needed: A huge thank you to those who have already signed up to help in the canteen! Without the help of our volunteers we would not be able to offer the services to the students that we do. However we are in desperate need of more volunteers to fill our roster. If you can spare one day a month, we'd love your help. Typically volunteers come in anytime between 9 and 9:30am, make sandwiches etc (no cooking involved) serve at recess and lunch and finish approx 1:10pm, lunch is provided.
Please email us at jpps.canteen@gmail.com or call the school and they can put you through to us if you're interested.
We look forward to serving our students and making 2025 another fantastic year at the JPPS Canteen!
JPPS UNIFORM SHOP
Opening Hours (School Days):
8:30-9:30am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Dear Parents,
- We are temporarily unable to accept donations of pre loved uniforms until further notice, as our shop currently has an excess of stock. We appreciate your kindness and understanding.
- Recently, we have received requests from parents to exchange items without full packaging. To avoid disappointment, please note that all size exchanges must be made within 14 days of purchase, with the item in its ORIGINAL packaging and accompanied by the receipt. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to process exchanges for items that do not meet these conditions.
Thanks for your understanding!
Regards
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.
