Term 1 Week 9 Newsletter - Monday 24th March 2025

Each week, our newsletter can be translated into many different languages, by selecting your preferred language, from the drop down menu, above.

Term 1 Week 9

Thank you to Mrs King for relieving as Principal for the last month and Mrs Robbins for her relieving as Deputy Principal. We are extremely fortunate at John Purchase to have such committed and capable leaders.

CROSS COUNTRY

What a fantastic sunny morning we had for our annual Cross Country Carnival! Our Kindy to Year 2 students kicked off the day with boundless enthusiasm, running their hearts out and showing great sportsmanship. The energy was mirrored as our Year 3 to Year 6 students took to the course, demonstrating determination, resilience, and plenty of cheering from the sidelines. It was wonderful to see smiles all around and such strong participation across all year levels. A big thank you to our staff, volunteers, and families for supporting this memorable event It was wonderful to see the whole school community coming together, cheering each other on, and celebrating everyone’s achievements. A huge thank you to our staff, volunteers, and families for making the day such a success!

External link

ROAD SAFETY ON PURCHASE ROAD

I want to emphasise the critical importance of safe driving practices on Purchase Road after school. Last week there was  a near miss reported outside our gates, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance to protect our children, parents, carers, and staff.

To ensure everyone's safety, please:

• Avoid queuing to enter the Kiss and Drop zone. If the area is full, continue driving around the block or utilise nearby roundabouts until space becomes available.

• Follow the directions of our crossing supervisors. Their guidance is essential for maintaining a safe environment for all pedestrians.

• Refrain from using mobile phones and remain alert.

Alarmingly, research indicates that one in 20 drivers have been involved in a car accident or near miss around a school zone.

Let’s work together to ensure our school community remains safe. Your attention and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your commitment to our children's safety.

P & C Annual General Meeting (repeated)

Please be advised that the AGM and General Meeting of the P & C will be held on Monday 7th April, commencing at 7pm in the school annexe. At this meeting, all positions will be declared vacant.

Nominations for positions are now being advertised and interested parents are invited to complete the form below and submit this to the front office by 3pm on Monday 7 April.

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.

2025 Term Dates & Holidays 

TRAVEL SHOULD BE TAKEN DURING SCHOOL VACATION PERIODS, RATHER THAN DURING THE SCHOOL TERM

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 - 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

Term 1 Week 9

Monday 24th March 2025

Dear Parents and Carers

Today was 'School Photo Day' and I do thank parents for attending to school uniforms so beautifully.

Thank you, Mrs Robbins, for relieving as Deputy Principal, while I was filling the Principal's shoes!

Harmony Day, last week, was testament to the cultural inclusivity we try to promote and practice at JPPS, every day. Hundreds of students proudly paraded their cultural attire and Nirvi performed an Indian dance, accompanied by popular music. Thank you to our EaLD teachers, Mrs Scott and Mrs Taylor, for coordinating the day.

Huge thanks to our team of teachers, led by Mrs Murray, Miss Brennan and Mrs Robbins, for the organisation of last week's Cross Country Carnivals for K-2 and 3-6 students.

On Thursday evening, Mrs Narayan and Mrs Collier accompanied the choir to the Pulse Alive Choral Festival, after a long day of rehearsals. We are so appreciative of their commitment to our young choristers.

As the term rapidly draws to a close, please ensure that you book an interview with your child's teacher, while the School Interviews site remains open.

Our P & C is coordinating the ever-popular Easter raffle and colouring competition. All prizes will be announced at the last assembly for term, on Friday morning, 11th April. Please see further information in the P & C section below.

Invitations to attend the Principal's Morning Tea, for Bronze Award recipients, will be distributed in the next couple of days.

Have a positive week!

Let's accomplish BIG things with a Have a Go Mindset!

Regards

Adela King
Deputy Principal

Parent Teacher Interview Bookings 

Parent-teacher interviews are a vital opportunity for fostering strong partnerships between families and schools, particularly for K-6 children. These meetings provide a platform for parents to gain insights into their child's academic progress, social development, and overall well-being. By collaborating with teachers, parents can better support their child's learning journey, ensuring that each child receives the encouragement and resources they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom. Your involvement makes a significant difference in your child's educational experience! Our teachers value the opportunity to meet personally with parents to discuss each child's learning journey.

Parent Teacher Interviews will be held in the week commencing Monday 7th April, for all classes, except 5/6H. (5/6H interviews will be held in the week commencing Monday 5th May. Please use the separate booking links below.)

The site is now open. Parents are invited to book an interview time with their child's teacher using one of the links below. The School Interviews booking site shows teacher availability and will be open until 9:30am on Friday 4th April.

Booking Link

https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/64rfx

Booking QR Code

5/6H Parent Teacher Interview Bookings 

5/6H Parent Interviews will be held in the week commencing Monday 5th May. Please use the unique booking links for 5/6H below. Parents are invited to book an interview time with Mr Hayman using one of the links below. The School Interviews site is now open and shows teacher availability. It will be closed at 9:30am on Friday 4th April.

Booking Link

https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/terma

Booking QR Code

Congratulations Silver Award Recipients

These students were recognised at last week's Harmony Day assembly.

Congratulations Gold Award Recipients

These students were recognised at last week's Harmony Day assembly.

Congratulations Bronze Medallion Recipient

This student was recognised at last week's Harmony Day assembly.

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
• Tuesday 18 March - 9am Parent Interview booking site opens
• 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 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: 

Aspire: Bounce back when things don't go your 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:

Logan (6R), Rudhvic (4B), Rihaan S (5D), Xin (Shin) (3ES), Bryan Y (2B), Arya (2-O), Ahveen S x2 (6B), Reyaan S (4ML), Charlene L (4D), Kaira (2L), Matthew H (1KR), Ruby K (1/2R), Reni (4B)

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:

Abhay M (3L)

Silver Award

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 9:15am, under the COLA, on Friday 11th April. This assembly will include the Easter Hat Parade, as it's the last day of term prior to the Easter break. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Gold Award

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 9:15am, under the COLA, on Friday 11th April. This assembly will include the Easter Hat Parade, as it's the last day of term prior to the Easter break. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Congratulations:

Ahveen S (6B)

Bronze Medallion

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 9:15am, under the COLA, on Friday 11th April. This assembly will include the Easter Hat Parade, as it's the last day of term prior to the Easter break. 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 9:15am, under the COLA, on Friday 11th April. This assembly will include the Easter Hat Parade, as it's the last day of term prior to the Easter break. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Gold Medallion

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 9:15am, under the COLA, on Friday 11th April. This assembly will include the Easter Hat Parade, as it's the last day of term prior to the Easter break. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Civics, Parliament and Legislation in 5/6B and 5/6H

While our Year 5 peers were sitting their Naplan assessments, Year 6 students in 5/6B and 5/6H used this learning time to find out more about the Australian government and law-making process, in anticipation of our excursion to Canberra next term. We had a lot of fun holding mock elections to understand the functions of electorates and the House of Representatives. We then held a parliamentary debate to try to pass a law on mandatory homework across Australian schools. The Compulsory Homework Bill was defeated in the House of Reps and didn't make it through to the Senate!   

Miss Brennan
HPG Teacher

PULSE ALIVE 2025

On the 20th of March, Mrs. Collier and I had the pleasure of taking 20 JPPS students to the highly anticipated 2025 Pulse Alive Mass Choir event held at Sydney Olympic Park.

The day began with a series of rehearsals, where the students engaged in both vocal practice and the fine-tuning of their singing arrangements. This included working on harmonies and dynamics to ensure that their performances were cohesive and polished. Additionally, the students practiced choreographed dance movements, which added an energetic visual element to their singing. The combination of music and dance was designed to enhance the overall presentation and engage the audience.

In preparation for this event, the students had practiced many songs, spanning various musical genres. This repertoire not only showcased their vocal talents but also allowed them to explore different styles and expressions through music. The dedication and hard work that the students put into rehearsing these pieces were evident in their performances.

The production commenced at 7:30pm and was a spectacular showcase of talent. The event featured an outstanding ensemble of performers, including skilled dancers who captivated the audience with their choreography, solo singers who delivered powerful vocal performances, talented guitarists who added depth to the music, an amazing orchestra that provided a rich musical backdrop, and an impressive marching band that brought a dynamic energy to the stage.

Overall, the event was a remarkable culmination of music and dance, highlighting the hard work and creativity of all participants. It was an inspiring experience for the students, fostering a sense of community and collaboration among the various schools involved. 

Mrs Sonal Narayan & Mrs Margaret Collier
Choir Co-ordinators

Thank you to all the students who dressed in cultural dress and participated in Harmony Day 2025. We were very appreciative of the support for Harmony day from our JPPS community – the students who auditioned for a cultural performance, the teacher preparation, in class activities and song rehearsal, the parents and students who stepped forward to assist on the day, Mrs King for her organisational support and Ms Brennan for her musical support. Thank you to all the students for their positive feedback on their experience participating in Harmony Day.Mrs Scott and Mrs Taylor (EAL/D teachers)

SPORT NEWS

Congratulations to Alastair! He competed last weekend at the swim club Junior State Championship, which is the biggest competition of the year outside of school competitions! 
He had a really good weekend with lots of personal bests!

His results are below:

1st 200 individual medley 
1st 50m Butterfly
2nd 100m butterfly 
4th 50 freestyle
5th 100m freestyle
9th 50m backstroke
2nd and 3rd for his team relay events.

Congratulations! What an amazing achievement!

Important Message to Year 6 Parents and Carers - Year 7 2026 (repeated)

Dear Parents and Carers of Students currently in Year 6 in 2025

Even though the school year has only just begun, parents and carers must begin the online process of enrolling your child into high school for 2026. You will need to complete an expression of interest (EOI) form using the following link: 

Enrolment form (for moving on from Year 6 to 7). Applications are ONLINE.

The expression of interest will let you indicate which school you would like your child to attend in Year 7. 

If your child will not be attending an NSW Government high school next year, please let us know by completing a placement not-required form. 

If you are unsure whether they will be attending a NSW Government school, such as if you have applied for a private school or moving interstate, we ask that you still complete an EOI and follow up with your school once a decision has been made. 

The online process will guide you through your options and collect the information required to make the process as smooth as possible. 

For further information, including translation instructions, please visit: year 7 High school enrollment.

Mrs Adele Walters
Stage 3 Relieving Assistant Principal

BAKERS DELIGHT

The staff at John Purchase were so grateful to the wonderful people at Bakers Delight Cherrybrook who donated hot cross buns for our morning tea recently.

Thank you Bakers Delight we enjoyed them immensely!

LOST PROPERTY

One earpod was left at the Cross Country carnival last week.  Please come to the front office if this is yours.

The glasses below have been handed into the front office.  Please collect these if they are yours.

The lost property boxes are full.  Please claim any items that you have lost.

STUDENT TRAVEL PASSES

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

TERMS OF USE

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use .

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

SZAPP - repeated

Szapp is our handy mobile app for communications if your child/ren are on an excursion, at a dancing/sporting event or if there are any last minute changes to a timetable.  From time to time there are delays in buses returning to school on time or, there are unforseeable changes to an event that we need to get information to you in a hurry.  An example of this is when it rains and PSSA sport training is held before normal school hours.  Training can be cancelled so we need to notify you that training is off so you don't bring your child/ren to school as early.

The weekly newsletter can also be viewed via this app. 

Please help us by following the instructions below and install it on your device.  It would be a great idea to turn notifications on for this so you are notified immediately of any changes.

HOW TO SET UP THE PARENT PORTAL ACCOUNT IN SCHOOL BYTES - Repeated

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. 

https://support.schoolbytes.education/hc/en-us/articles/5184859634191-Parent-PortalSet-up-your-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.

P & C Annual General Meeting

Please be advised that the AGM and General Meeting of the P & C will be held on Monday 7th April, commencing at 7pm in the school annexe. Nominations for positions are now being advertised and interested parents are invited to complete the form below and submit this to the front office prior to the AGM.

2025 P&C EASTER RAFFLE

Easter is fast approaching!

The Easter Raffle is the most popular fundraising event at JPPS. Please find the link below for how to purchase tickets in the raffle: https://rafflelink.com.au/jpps25-easter-raffle

JPPS UNIFORM SHOP

Opening Hours (School Days):

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

Dear Parents,

1. 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.
   
2. 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 CANTEEN

Volunteers needed urgently!

Our school canteen is in URGENT need of volunteers to help keep it running smoothly!  We have a few days where we desperately need an extra helper - specifically Wednesday and Thursday. If you can spare time from 9.30am - 1.15pm once a month, please email jpps.canteen@gmail.com or call us. Your support makes a huge difference -

Thank you in advance!

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.