Term 3 Newsletter - 15th August 2022
From the Principal
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Term 3 Week 5
I would like to express a big thank you to Mrs King and Mrs Cole for filling in as principal and deputy principal, while I was taking leave.
As always, they fulfilled their responsibilities admirably.
It has certainly been a busy period, with Education Week to celebrate, the Book Fair and OC testing.
Have a great week!
Kindergarten 2023 Enrolments Are Now Open
Do you know someone who will be starting Kindergarten next year?
Enrolments for Kindergarten 2023 at John Purchase Public School are now open. Enrolments are completed online via the ENROLMENT tab on the school website or by using this link – https://johnpurch-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/enrolment.html
It is important that you enrol your child to ensure you receive all of our communication regarding transition to school.
The Kindergarten 2023 Parent Information Session, will be held via Zoom, on Tuesday 30th August at 6pm. A Zoom link will be emailed out to parents who have registered their child to commence Kindergarten at John Purchase in 2023.
We look forward to connecting with you via Zoom where you will hear valuable information about starting school.
Instructional Rounds
Last week we had the pleasure of hosting principals, executive and classroom teachers from our neighbouring schools for our instructional rounds, as we explored our problem of practice:
Are our students thinking like mathematicians?
- Are they reasoning, making connections, applying understandings, and problem solving?
- Do the Performances of Understanding (ie the tasks) teach and assess?
- Are there opportunities for substantive communication?
- Is effective questioning being used to assess, support and challenge?
These are important foci in mathematics for us, as we work towards our school vision: Empowering Learners Today for Tomorrow.
Our classroom visits showed students:
* practising strategies with fractions and addition
* demonstrating understandings of the number 15
* calculating and comparing a fraction of money
* finding the area of 3D letters
* estimating and rounding
* calculating the properties of 3D objects
* calculating capacity and connecting this concept with the time taken to fill vessels.
* identifying and listing 3D objects found in the real world
* writing and moving numbers on a place value chart
* drawing and describing 2D shapes using the metalanguage (rotate, reflect, translate)
* identifying correct and incorrect partitioning scenarios
* notating dollars and cents with money symbols using decimal notation
It was wonderful to have such positive feedback about our school, our teachers and our students over the two day visit. The Celebration Wall below shows feedback received from neighbouring schools.
Feedback emphasised:
- Collaborative environments
- Students supporting one another's learning during partner work
- Lots of opportunity for student talk
- Student and teacher use of metalanguage
- Use of technology and materials to model learning eg. interactive whiteboards
- Open ended questioning
- Anchor charts used across classrooms - student thinking displayed on walls
- Modelling through think alouds
- Students engaged in the learning and wanting to learn
- Students representing their learning in different ways e.g. drawing, algorithm, symbols, words
- Use of data and tracking of understanding
- Teachers formatively assessing the students and subsequently providing further assistance
- Scaffolds used to support student learning
- Explicit teaching
- Real world applications
We have so much to celebrate in terms of teaching and learning at John Purchase, as we further explore the big conceptual ideas underpinning the new syllabus and the use of number talks to foster understanding, application and transfer of skills and concepts.
Talking to Children About Death
Here is a link which explores this sensitive topic.
Congratulations Dmitry
Congratulations Dmitry on being selected to be a part of the New South Wales 13 and under Ice Hockey Team after an extensive selection process. Last week the team competed in the 2022 Phil Ginsberg National Championship tournament, which was held in Adelaide.
Dimitry also participated in the Junior Ice Rumble Tournament, which was held in Newcastle in the school holidays. Their team won a gold medal, which is an outstanding achievement.
These are very impressive accomplishments from a very talented student.
We are incredibly proud of you Dmitry!
Discipline Vs Punishment
One of the great challenges of parenting relates to discipline. We all want children to learn from the mistakes they make and to grow up to be able to self regulate their behaviour and to do the right thing. We want them to be happy, well adjusted and resilient. This means teaching them right from wrong and from time to time, it may mean disciplining children.
So what is the difference between discipline and punishment? Discipline refers to teaching children desirable behaviour for the future, whereas punishment focuses on inflictiing some kind of suffering based on past behaviour. The following infographic from www.parentingforbrain.com summarises the difference between the two.
COVID-SMART MEASURES TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT TERM 3
Many of our existing COVID-smart measures are continuing, including:
- staff, students and visitors staying home if unwell, even if there is a negative RAT, until free of symptoms
- rapid antigen testing for symptomatic students and close contacts
- students who are household or close contacts and are symptom free can attend mainstream schools if they receive a negative RAT result everyday for five school days
- staff and visitors who are close or household contacts must also wear a mask while on site
- mask wearing is strongly encouraged for students, staff and visitors, particularly when indoors and when physical distancing is not possible
- strongly encouraging all staff, eligible students and their families keep up to date with vaccinations for COVID-19, including booster shots
- good hygiene practices
- continuing to encourage natural ventilation and personal hygiene
- responding to local COVID-19 conditions
SCHOOL CROSSING SUPERVISOR - REPEATED
Unfortunately we are still without a School Crossing Supervisor (SCS) at the crossing on Purchase Road before and after school.
Our school may have a staff member at the crossing on most days to promote safety from approximately 8:40am to 9am and from approximately 2:50pm to 3pm.
We therefore ask parents to consider the children's safety and to remind children of the following:
- Cross the road at the designated pedestrian crossing facility
- Stop! Look! Listen! Think! when crossing the road
- Take care whenever you cross
- Don’t run across the road
From the Deputy Principal
Term 3 Week 5
Monday 15th August 2022
Dear Parents and Carers
Have you noticed the JPPS school vision recorded on the banner of this newsletter? It's also on the wall of the canteen, on our poster mural.
Empowering Learners Today For Tomorrow
Our staff is committed to making a positive impact on the learning of our students. Educators who visited last week, for the JPPS Instructional Rounds, noticed the positive and supportive classroom environments, fostered by our teachers. What a great foundation on which to build important skills and knowledge!
Our dance troupes will be experiencing their first eisteddfod competition in two years, this week, due to cancellations caused by the pandemic. Mrs Musgrove, Miss Griggs and Miss Mahler have spent a great deal of time planning the choreography, costumes and fine tuning rehearsals, with their dancers. Sincere thanks to our talented instructors!
Have an enjoyable week!
Mrs Adela King
Deputy Principal
Learning to Read
The executive team presented a masterclass, via Zoom, last Friday, focusing on reading comprehension. I used Hollis Scarborough's visual metaphor of the 'reading rope', to unpack key components of what makes a reader successful.
Our staff have been developing the use of the 'Think Aloud' strategy, when delving deeper, to establish meaning, in a range of different texts. During the masterclass, our Assistant Principals explained examples of this strategy, used across all stages. Some of our slides are included below.
Patterning in 1M
In Stage 1 mathematics, students explore additive number patterns that increase or decrease. Students in 1M were having fun creating, recording and describing patterns with Mr Johnson, last week.
Our School Expectations
Keeping our school community safe, is paramount!
Please help us to reinforce these expectations with your children, when using the Purchase Road pedestrian crossing.
Unfortunately, after many months, we still do not have a crossing supervisor, so members of the executive do try to assist students at the crossing.
It is so important to reinforce these expectations below, especially as there may be occasions when a JPPS executive staff member, cannot be present.
Purchase Pride Badges
Purchase Prides recognise positive student behaviour on the playground and in the classroom. When students receive ten Purchase Pride award cards, these should be left in Mrs King’s ‘award shelf’ in the school administration corridor. The ten awards need to be bundled together and clearly labelled with the student’s name and current class.
Award recipients will be presented with a coloured Purchase Pride Badge, the week after their name is published in this newsletter.
Purchase Pride cards also have a 'tear-off' strip. This strip may be removed by the recipient and placed in the appropriate stage box outside Mrs King’s office, to go in the lucky dip draw for a canteen voucher.
The Purchase Pride Badges recorded below, will be presented next Monday morning.
Congratulations to:
Kina 3P, Miya (2S), Isabel (KH), Hashika (2M), Rachel B (3/4B), Gabriel (2S), Keira G (3/4B), Jatin (3/4B), Bella E (4S), Akshara (1S), Audra P (2S), Liori M (KH), Hayden S (5F), Phoebe C (KN), Kaitlyn S (1M), Aarika (4G), Daisy (3P), Eric W (KR)
Class Awards System
JPPS has an incremental class awards system. When a student has received ten class awards, these should be left on Mrs King’s ‘award shelf’ in the school administration corridor. 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.
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!
This year, all awards (including Bronze) received by 3pm on Thursday afternoons, are ‘stamped’ and published in the next school newsletter, which is usually on the following Monday. At this time, I indicate when these awards will be presented. Depending on Covid guidelines, Silver Awards, Gold Awards and all Medallions, are presented at whole school assemblies. Please note that Bronze Awards are only presented at the end of each term, at the Principal's Morning Tea.
Bronze Award
These awards will be presented to recipients at the Principal's Morning Tea at the end of Term 2. This event is planned to be held at 10:30am on Tuesday, 20th September. The morning tea will be held in the hall and parents of recipients, will be invited to attend.
Congratulations to:
Emma H (1M), Kaitlyn M (1M), Miya J (2S)
Silver Award
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 25th August, under the COLA. All parents are cordially invited to attend.
Congratulations to:
Thomas W (3P), Aisha S (4M), Akshara G (4M)
Gold Award
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 25th August, under the COLA. All 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 Thursday 25th August, under the COLA. All parents are cordially invited to attend.
The Bronze Medallion morning tea for recipients and Mrs Black and Mrs King, will be held at recess on Wednesday, 21st September.
From the Teachers
New Enrolments for Kindergarten 2023
Do you know someone who will be starting Kindergarten next year?
Enrolments for Kindergarten at John Purchase Public School are open and applications are made online.
If you or someone you know is looking to enrol a child into Kindergarten next year, then please complete the online application form by following this link: https://johnpurch-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/enrolment.html
Please make sure you register your details with our office staff to ensure you receive all of our communication regarding transition to school.
The first of our transition dates is the Parent Information Session planned for Tuesday 30 August via Zoom at 6pm.
All parents of children who are enrolling for Kindergarten in 2023 are invited to attend.
Mrs Irene Robbins
Early Stage 1 Assistant Principal
ENGLISH ICAS EXAM THIS WEEK
On Thursday of this week 18 August 2022, students who have already enrolled in the ICAS exam will be sitting their English exam.
Students will need to arrive at School at 7:20am and meet Mrs Musgrove in front of the canteen on the steps.
Please ensure that your child arrives on time as there will be no makeup exam and no extra time given for late students.
The Science exam will be on Thursday 25 August 2022 and the Mathematics exam on Thursday 1 September 2022.
Please contact Mrs Musgrove should you have any queries.
Mrs Danielle Musgrove
Assistant Principal
'GOT IT' Emotionally Intelligent Parenting’ seminars
The wonderful ‘Got It’ team are repeating the highly recommended two part Emotionally Intelligent Parenting’ online seminars and have invited the JPPS community to join in for free.
The two online seminars are for all parents and carers of students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
Please see the flyer below for details of the course.
Please use the link below to register.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HzActEOmTGW--5dmuJsiuw
If you have any questions about the seminars, please contact me on 98753100
Mrs Leonie Cole
Learning and Support Teacher/Coordinator
DANCE NEWS
Our Dance Troupes will be attending their first competition this Wednesday at the Windsor Function Centre and they are all very excited.
Can I please remind parents and students that they need to arrive at school at 7:45 at the Annexe, in full costume with hair and makeup.
If your child is attending OOSH after we return, can you please make sure they have a change of clothes and a bag to safely pack their costumes into.
Wishing our dancers, the best of luck.
Miss Mahler
Dance Coordinator
CODING SPHEROS
4S have been learning how to code sphero robots on iPads this term. They have been linking it to their maths lessons by coding the spheros to turn at certain angles, move in certain directions and even having fun changing their colours! It has been a great way to learn teamwork and develop their technology skills.
Miss Saul and 4S
Premier's Reading Challenge FINAL WEEK
This week is the last week of the 2022 PRC.
Please ensure you have submitted all your books into your online reading log by Friday in order for them to be validated. Any entries after this date will not be accepted.
Students use the same username and password they use to log on to the computers at school in order to access their online reading logs. Happy reading!
Miss Brennan
PRC Coordinator
SPORT NEWS
PSSA results
Stage 2 vs West Pennant Hills PS
Netball
JPPS boys 5 lost to WPHPS 11
JPPS Girls 9 lost to WPHPS 11
Soccer
JPPS boys 1 lost to WPHPS 8
JPPS Girls 0 lost to WPHPS 6
Stage 3 vs West Pennant Hills PS
Netball
JPPS boys 2 lost to WPHPS 31
JPPS Girls 5 lost to WPHPS 25
Soccer
JPPS boys 1 lost to WPHPS 6
JPPS Girls 0 lost to WPHPS 8
Please see updated draw for Stage 2 and 3 Winter PSSA below.
Community Announcements
Please note our school publishes events for the convenience of families but does not endorse any activity, organisation, person or product.