Term 2 Week 8 Newsletter - Monday 16th June 2025

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Term 2 Week 8

As I write this final newsletter message as Principal of John Purchase, I feel a deep sense of gratitude and fondness for the many years I’ve had the privilege to be part of this wonderful community. It has truly been an honour to work alongside such dedicated staff, supportive families, and of course, our incredible students who bring so much joy and energy to our school every day.

Over the years, we’ve shared many milestones and achievements — from improvements in literacy and numeracy to creating a school environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to do their best. These successes have only been possible because of the teamwork and commitment of everyone involved in our school community.

I want to sincerely thank all of you for trusting me to lead this amazing school. Your trust and support have meant more than words can express and have been the foundation for all that we have accomplished together.

To our students, thank you for your curiosity, resilience, and for reminding us daily why our school is such a special place. Your enthusiasm and spirit have been a constant source of inspiration. To the families, your ongoing support and partnership have made all the difference and have helped us build a strong, caring community. And to the amazing staff, your dedication, hard work, and care behind the scenes have been the heart of this school’s success.

Although I am retiring from the principalship, I take with me a deep sense of gratitude and many cherished memories. Thank you for trusting me with the care and education of your children. I’m off to a new chapter where the bells don’t ring, no one asks me to open their yoghurt, and I can finally enjoy a hot cup of tea while it’s still hot! I’ll miss the laughter, the learning, the wonderful people who make this community so special — and yes, even the ever-growing mountain of lost property overflowing outside the office.

I wish each of you all the very best for the future. May the school continue to grow, thrive, and fill with the same warmth, energy, and spirit that made it such a joy to lead.

THANK YOU TO OUR HINDI CLASS

Thank you to our after school Hindi class for the beautiful farewell afternoon tea last week. I was truly touched by the kind words, thoughtful gift and warm wishes – it was a very special send-off that I will always remember.

I’d also like to take a moment to acknowledge the wonderful work of the dedicated teachers who run the Hindi language classes after school. These classes play an important role in helping students maintain and develop their home languages, which is something to be celebrated and supported. Multilingualism is a gift, and it’s fantastic to see our school community embracing and encouraging it.

NEW OOSH SERVICE - ENROL NOW! (repeated)

We’re pleased to announce our new Out of School Hours (OOSH) service: TheirCare.
Please refer to the Community section of the newsletter for more information about the service, how to get in touch and the invitation to the Information Session. 

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.

• 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

Congratulations to these students below who were awarded their Silver or Gold Award and Bronze Medallion at our K-6 Assembly a couple of weeks ago.

Students awarded a Silver Award
Phoebe C (3L), Emma H (4ML), Anika Mankar 6R

Students awarded Gold Award
Shreyas K 5/6H, Ethan L (6R)

Students who were awarded their Bronze Medallion
Liam F (5/6B), Justin S (5/6H)

Term 2 Week 6

Monday 16 June 2025

Farewell and Congratulations to Mrs Black

On behalf of Mrs. King, myself, the staff and students at John Purchase Public School, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Black on her well-deserved retirement. Throughout her remarkable career, which has spanned just shy of 40 years, Mrs. Black has been instrumental in nurturing a love of learning and leading others with aplomb. As a guiding light at our school, she has championed excellence, inspiring both students and staff to reach for the stars. Her leadership has consistently prioritised the needs of students, staff, and the wider community, and her steadfast support will no doubt have left a lasting impression on us all. Mrs. Black, thank you for believing in all of us and for your unwavering commitment to leading with integrity, heart, and vision. We wish you every happiness as you begin your next chapter.

Irene Robbins
Deputy Principal (Rel)

I am thrilled to share that last Thursday, our K-6 Athletics Carnival at Greenway Park Oval was a fantastic success! The sun shone brightly as students participated enthusiastically in a variety of events, showcasing their skills and sportsmanship. It was wonderful to see so many families cheering from the sidelines, creating a vibrant and supportive atmosphere. A big thank you to all the staff and volunteers who helped make the day possible. 

Irene Robbins
Relieving Deputy Principal

Term 2 Diary Dates 

• Monday 28 April - Staff Development Day
• Tuesday 29 April - Staff Development Day
• Wednesday 30 April - Students return to school
• Wednesday 30 April - K-6 ANZAC Remembrance Service under the COLA
• Monday 5 May - 5/6H Parent-Teacher Interviews scheduled this week in administration block
• Monday 5 May - 7pm P & C Meeting via Zoom
• Thursday 8 May - P & C Mothers' Day Stall at school
• Friday 9 May - 7am P & C Mothers' Day Breakfast at school 
• Monday 12 May - Stage 2 Zoo Excursion
• Wednesday 14 May - 1:35pm K-6 Assembly under COLA - Stage 1 item
• Friday 16 May - Walk Safely to School Day
• Thursday 22 May - Zone Cross Country Carnival
• Friday 23 May - Winter PSSA competition begins for Stage 2 and Stage 3 teams
• Monday 26 May - National Sorry Day
• Monday 26 May - Gumnut & Wattle Debating Teams to Castle Hill PS
• Tuesday 27 May - National Reconciliation Week
• Wednesday 28 May - Stage Finals of Spelling Bee 
• Wednesday 4 June - 1:35pm K-6 Assembly under COLA
• Monday 9 June - Public Holiday
• Thursday 12 June - JPPS Athletics Carnival at Greenway Oval
• Monday 16 June - 7pm P & C Meeting via Zoom
• Wednesday 18 June - 1:35pm K-6 Assembly under COLA Stage 2 item
• Thursday 19 June - Athletics Carnival Backup date in case of inclement weather
• Monday 30 June - Bronze Medallion Morning Tea with executive
• Tuesday 1 July - 10:30am Principal's Morning Tea for Bronze Award Recipients in hall with parents
• Tuesday 1 July - 5:30pm Their Care (new before/after school provider) Information Session via Zoom
• Wednesday 2 July - Year 6 Excursion to Canberra (3 days)
• Thursday 3 July - Semester 1 Student Reports published on Impromation Parent Portal
• Friday 4 July - Year 6 return from Canberra
• Friday 4 July - Last day of Term 2

Our School Expectations

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

This week's expectation is: 

Aspire: try to achieve your best

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:

Ashleigh H (KNO), Theo L (KNO), Alger Z (KNO), Alice G (KS), Aurora L (KS), Leah T (KS), Katie R (1T), Talia L (1/2R), Alex B (1/2R), Matthew H (2B), Noah S (2B), Saanvii T (2B), Jasmyra K (2-O),  Ishaan D (2-O), Charlotte C (2-O), Skylar L (3ES), Maddie T (3ES), Alvin S (3ES), Mikael S (4B), Stella C (4B), Caroline F (3/4B), Alicia A (3/4B), Evie B (6B) x 2, Oscar Z (6B), Ethan L (6R)

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

Bronze Awards will be presented at the Term 2 Principal's Morning Tea, for Bronze Award recipients. This special event will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday 1st July, in the school hall. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Congratulations:  Logan C (6R)

Silver Award

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm, under the COLA, on Wednesday 18th June. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Madison B (4D), Queena L (4D), Evie B (6B), Amelia M (6R)

Gold Award

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm, under the COLA, on Wednesday 4th June. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

Congratulations:

Bronze Medallion

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm, under the COLA, on Wednesday 18th June. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

A morning tea for Term 2 Bronze Medallion recipients will be held in the principal's office at recess on Monday 30th June.

Congratulations:

William K (6R)

Silver Medallion

These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm, under the COLA, on Wednesday 18th June. 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, under the COLA, on Wednesday 18th June. Parents are cordially invited to attend.

YEAR 6 CANBERRA CAMP - REPEATED

Students in Year 6 will be visiting Canberra in week 10 of term 2. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs, with a focus on Australian history, culture, heritage and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being given the opportunity to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion, the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school on completion of the excursion. 

3-6 PRIMARY ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

The annual JPPS Athletics Carnival is scheduled for Thursday 12th June 2025, at Greenway Oval (back-up date Thursday 19th June, if necessary, due to wet weather). All students in Years 3-6 will attend and students in Year 2 who turn eight prior to 31st December are also invited to attend, as competitors only.

This year the following events will be held at Greenway Oval on the morning of the carnival:

● 800m (experienced runners preferred)
● High jump (experienced jumpers only)
● Discus finals

A separate note will go out for these events.

The field events (discus and shotput) have had trials held within class sport times. ONLY those students who passed the trials and made the finals can participate in these events. If your child is in YEAR 2, is turning 8 years old by 31st of December AND has experience in these event, please contact Mrs Murray or Miss Brennan via the school email.

The following students have been successful in making the finals for shot put and discus. This will also be displayed on the 5W and 4D art area window.

Discus - students will need to arrive at Greenway Oval at 7:30am

Juniors (8, 9 & 10 years)
Boys: Aavin P, Yanqi T, Jayden S, Reyaan S, Siddharth V, Damir O, Eric W, Atharva S
Girls: Emma H, Audrey L, Hannah W, Annabel C, Charlene L, Amelie J, Amber Y, Kaaiena G

11 years
Boys: Harrison C, Aveer C, Liam F, Alastair B, Quinn W, Avyay K, Anton R, Rayaan S
Girls:  Elise C, Charlotte C, Kina W, Manuela W, Mia Z, Rosie A, Emily L, Sachi K

Seniors (12, 13 Years)
Boys:  Charles H, Haadi F, Pashaan S, Kayshav S, Viven K, Bhavya S, Justin S, Ethan L
Girls:  Swarnika R, Parisaa S, Alejandra L, Daisy L, Aditi D, Sachkeerat R, Jessica S, Isobel M

Shot put - this event will run during the normal hours of the carnival. Students will need to listen for their event to be called by Miss Moore on the microphone on the day.

Juniors (8, 9 & 10 years)
Boys:  Yanqi T, Hayden T, Rishi P, Damir O, Eric W, Rudhvic T, Numair K, Prayaan K
Girls:  Emma H, Hannah W, Annabel C, Neyanshi K, Shiva S, Charlene L, Phoebe, Charlotte S

11 Years
Boys:  Harrison C, Aveer C, Carter M, Rohan R, Adam L, Ruaan U, Samkit S, Quinn W
Girls:  Anika M, Yuridia S, Elisha F, Kina W, Manuella W, Rhea D, Siya W, Sophia C

Seniors (12, 13 years)
Boys:  Charles H, Haadi F, Pashaan S, Kayshav S, Justin S, Ethan L, Viven K, Bhavya S
Girls:  Swarnika R, Parisaa S, Alejandra L, Daisy L, Aditi D, Sachkeerat R, Jessica S, Isobel M

Mrs Murray &  Miss Brennan

On Friday of Week 6, students from K-6 had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a whole-stage free dance session with a specialised company called Dance Curriculum. Tai, the dance teacher, engaged all students and even got the teachers up on their feet and moving. The company bases its teaching on the NSW Creative Arts dance syllabus, offering a fantastic way for both students and teachers to explore innovative approaches to dance education.

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.

TONIGHT'S P&C MEETING DETAILS

P & C Meeting 7pm via Zoom Monday, 16^th June, via Zoom.

All parents are very welcome to attend.

Topic: P and C Meeting 16 June
Time: Jun 16, 2025 07:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
Https://nsweducation.zoom.us/j/65150669809?pwd=enZ504gs2VFbjzBoz8JUuibuUTCebo.1 

Meeting ID: 651 5066 9809
Passcode: 236741
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Meeting ID: 651 5066 9809

Find your local number: https://nsweducation.zoom.us/u/exAZRlxdT

JPPS UNIFORM SHOP

Uniform Shop Closure Notice : Mid-Year Stock Take
​
Shop will be closed for Mid-Year Stocktake on 25-27 June (Wed-Fri). Pls take your online order before or after this period.

General Notes:

Opening Hours (School Days):  8:30-9:30am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Online Ordering & Pick Up In Shop:
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/

Friendly Reminders: 
Any size change of items (except hats & socks) 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.

FROM THE CANTEEN

Thank you - A massive thank you to the mums who helped out at the canteen for the Athletics Carnival last Thursday.  Without the help of our volunteers, it would not be possible to provide a canteen service at the carnival so we are very grateful for the help we received on the day.  A special mention of thanks to Mr Morris for volunteering his time on the bbq for the carnival.


Volunteers needed:  The canteen is also in URGENT need of volunteers to help keep it running smoothly!  We have a few days where we desperately need an extra helper - specifically Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. If you can spare time from 9.30am - 1.15pm once a month, please email jpps.canteen@gmail.com

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.

A MESSAGE FROM THEIRCARE OOSH SERVICE

TheirCare is an experienced Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) company with 495 services nationally. TheirCare was founded in 2017 and provides a stimulating and safe environment for all children in OSHC. During sessions, children develop life-skills, friendships, confidence, and creativity through play-based programs. We look forward to starting the TheirCare service with an official start date of Monday 21^st July - 2025. An online information night is scheduled on Tuesday 1^st July – 5.30pm (details attached) so families can meet the team and to find out about registrations, times and bookings for the service.

🎉 Ready to Jump In? Let’s Get Started!

Not enrolled yet for OSHC? No stress—it’s super quick and easy to sign up! Just click here and get started.

📝 A Few Quick Checks Before You Finish:

To help us create the best experience for your child, please double-check these details during enrolment:

• ✅ Emergency contacts – make sure we have someone to call if needed
• ✅ Medical information – including allergies, medications, or health conditions
• ✅ Any diagnoses – like asthma, anaphylaxis, or other important info

This info helps us keep your child safe, supported, and smiling throughout their time with us.💬 Got Questions? We’re Here to Help! Our friendly Customer Support Team is available Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM – 8:00 PM (AEST) 📞 1300 072 410📧 info@theircare.com.au

We can’t wait to welcome your family to TheirCare!

Please also refer to the flyers below for further information.