Term 4 Newsletter - 24 October
From the Principal
OUR NEWSLETTER CAN BE TRANSLATED INTO MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES EACH WEEK BY SELECTING THE PREFERRED LANGUAGE IN THE DROP DOWN MENU ABOVE
Term 4 Week 3
Have a great week!
WHAT HAVE THE CHILDREN IN KR BEEN LEARNING IN MATHS?
The children have been learning to count and order numbers and have applied this learning to create number lines. They have then used their number lines to add and take away numbers. Some of the questions posed included:
- How far along the number line would you find the number 30, 50?
- What would be the number before or after?
- What's the missing number?
- If I had my peg on 17, how many more to get to 21 (friendly numbers 17 +3 would be 20 plus one more).
DO YOU USE PASSWORDS OR PASSPHRASES?
Increasingly, hackers have cracked passwords to access data, personal information and bank accounts and to steal identities.
Hackers can crack passwords by:
1) using the most common passwords (e.g. 123456)
2) using public information about you (e.g. favourite rugby team)
3) using password cracking tools
Passphrases, using a sentence or four or more random words, which incorporate capital letters, lower case letters, numbers and symbols, are being encouraged. e.g. MyF@vBirdisa2can.
The image below shows how long it would take a hacker with modern password cracking tools, to crack your password.
Once hackers crack one password, they will try to use it to access other accounts. This is because people often use the same passwords for several different accounts. The strongest passwords are hard to guess and are not repeated across different accounts.
ROAD SAFETY
Refer to the flyer below for information about:
- how to teach children about road safety
- learner drivers
- school zone safety tips
HAVE YOUR SAY ON WHAT SCHOOL SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Reflecting on the challenges of the last few years, the NSW Department of Education is in the process of reviewing and evaluating what school success looks like now and in the future. It’s enhancing ways to support student success and wellbeing as part of ongoing school reform. The goal is to support our schools in a way that is more responsive to their needs and priorities.
To inform this work, the department is inviting parents and carers to share their perspectives on what the school and the department could do to improve the schooling experience. By participating, parents and carers will inform the department what is working well, what needs to be improved, and will be involved in shaping new and innovative initiatives.
If you would like to be part of the discussion, there are face-to-face and online forums being held in weeks 5, 6 and 7 of Term 4 (7 – 25 November). You can register your interest and find more information at Have your say on what school success looks like, including the locations and timing of sessions.
ADDITIONAL SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAY - REPEATED
The Education Minister announced an additional school development day at the end of this term and at the end of 2023. This means that the students' last day of school this term will be Friday 16 December.
The Minister also announced that teachers and executive will be provided with additional release time over the next three years.
This provides additional opportunities for teachers to engage with and implement the new curriculum.
COVID-19 TERM 4 - REPEATED
On 30 September, National Cabinet announced that from Friday 14 October 2022, people who test positive to COVID-19 do not need to isolate. In line with this announcement, the NSW Department of Education have worked with NSW Health to support all schools to adapt to this change while continuing to prioritise student and staff wellbeing by minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmissions.
Students and staff should continue to stay home when sick.
It is expected that when isolation requirements end on Friday 14 October, those currently in isolation will be advised by NSW Health that they may exit isolation. For our students and staff who have tested positive this does not mean they should attend school on Friday.
Students, staff and visitors should only attend school when they are symptom free. We strongly encourage all students, staff and visitors to follow the guidance issued by NSW Health at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/management/self-isolation-covid-and-close.
We will continue to send home students or staff displaying symptoms.
Anyone who believes they have been exposed to COVID-19 is strongly recommended to monitor for symptoms and test if they have any concerns, as well as wear a mask. We will continue to support our families to use rapid antigen tests (RATs) if symptomatic or if you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19. RAT testing may help identify the infection early and is important if you are in contact with people at greater risk of serious illness if exposed to COVID-19.
Reporting requirements from 14 October
Please continue to notify your school if your child tests positive to COVID-19 as we will continue to notify the school community of any known positive cases to prioritise student and staff safety and wellbeing.
For further information about the COVID-smart measures in place this term refer to the department’s Advice for families page at https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
Please note that all of our school’s changes to isolation requirements are based on the recommendations from NSW Health. Anyone who tests positive to COVID-19 or suspects that they have been in contact with a positive case should continue to follow the latest health advice.
Non-COVID-19 Vaccinations reminder from NSW Health
Due to the ongoing pandemic and stay-at-home orders that were in place over the previous two years, NSW Health have noted that some children and young people have missed out on the non-COVID school-based vaccination programs that they would have taken part in. The department would like to remind parents and carers to make sure that all of their child’s vaccinations are up-to-date, including other non-COVID vaccinations. If you are unsure about whether your child has missed any vaccinations, speak to your GP or go to NSW Health’s Immunisation requirements in primary and secondary schools at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/immunisation-in-schools.aspx
Parents and carers who have children with persistent or ongoing symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to have these assessed by their local health care professional. These symptoms may be related to other illnesses that require treatment and management by a doctor.
For more information on vaccinations refer to Vaccination requirements for school sites or the Australian Governments COVID-19 at https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines
On behalf of our school, I want to thank you again for your ongoing support in helping to keep our students, staff and community safe. I’d like to wish all our students and their families a great start to Term 4.
HANDLING TRICKY FRIENDSHIP DAYS - REPEATED
As you may be aware, our school subscribes to Parenting Ideas, and subsequently shares webinars and articles in our newsletter from time to time.
In the next parent webinar, Michelle Mitchell presents: Handling Tricky Friendship Days. This webinar is scheduled for 2 November 2022 at 8:00pm AEDT. In this webinar, Michelle Mitchell offers a set of practical guiding principles to help empower children to handle tricky friendships. Please refer to the flyer below for further information.
From the Deputy Principal
Term 4 Week 3
Monday 24th October 2022
Dear Parents and Carers
A very warm welcome to our new Kindergarten students and their parents, joining us at school tomorrow. It is certainly hard to believe how quickly the time has passed, since last year's transition to school program!
Year 5 students are reminded that nominations for 2023 leadership positions, are due to be returned to the front office by 9am tomorrow, Tuesday, 25th October.
Applications for 2023 HPG class assessments, close next Tuesday, 1st November.
Have an enjoyable week!
Mrs Adela King
Deputy Principal
High Potential and Gifted Classes 2023 (repeated)
At John Purchase Public School, we offer a rich and varied educational program, combining academic, cultural and social opportunities, designed to assist each student to fully develop his or her skills, in a happy and supportive classroom environment.
We believe that high potential and gifted students benefit from:
- an opportunity to learn with their like-ability peers;
- an opportunity to experience a rigorous and challenging curriculum;
- experiencing high cognitive tasks and
- being supported in their special interests and talents.
John Purchase Public School is staffed by supportive teachers, who plan both skills-based and critical thinking programs, to address syllabus requirements. High potential and gifted students benefit from participating in learning that is rigorous and incorporates extension and enrichment activities. These activities allow students to extend basic concepts and to connect their personal interests within a differentiated curriculum. All John Purchase Public School staff are committed to providing an outstanding education. Learning programs are based on NSW syllabuses. However, the content of our special programs within the high potential and gifted classes, are further differentiated to meet the needs of these students. Planned teaching strategies include:
- compacting of the curriculum
- basic skills expansion
- higher order thinking
- student choice
- open-ended tasks
- advanced content
- acceleration in curriculum areas
- collaborative learning
In 2023, we plan to provide High Potential and Gifted (HPG) classes at our school. The quantity and structure of the classes will be dependent on student numbers in Stages 2 and 3, as well as staff available next year. Selection of students for HPG classes, is based on test performances and the limited availability of places within the classes formed in 2023. Please note that students currently in HPG classes, remain in the HPG cohort.
This year, all Year 2 students will be assessed (unless parents opt out of the testing program by the due date). Students in Years 3-5 must complete an application form by the due date, with a nominal administration fee, in order to be considered.
Closing date for all applications is 3pm Tuesday 1st November, 2022.
Parents will be notified if their child is offered a placement at the beginning of the 2023 academic year. Numbers of students accepted into an HPG class may vary from year to year, as school and grade student numbers impact on how many HPG places are available.
Further information can be found in the letter emailed home to parents on 12/9/2022.
Our School Expectations
Congratulations to our students who have demonstrated our school expectations of Respect, Responsibility and Aspire.
This week's expectation is:
Respect: Enter and leave the office area quietly
Monday 24th October 2022
Due to the inclement weather this morning, we were unable to hold our usual Monday morning assembly, where students were to receive their Purchase Pride badges and ICAS English certificates. Weather permitting, we will hopefully be able to hold a short assembly later in the week for these students to receive their awards.
Please keep an eye out for a sZapp notification, confirming which morning this will occur.
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. Canteen vouchers are drawn by our SRC representatives, at the end of each term.
The Purchase Pride Badges recorded below, will be presented next Monday morning.
Congratulations to:
Jayden T (3G), Darian B (1P), Satvik T (1B), Rayaan S (3P), Joshua B (4M), Emma C (4G), Avni M (5S), David R (4S), Shrishved K (3/4B), Samuel A x2 (3G), Liam K (3/4B), Archer L (3/4B), Xin Z (KR), Sofia LG (3P), Ashley S (5S), Darin L x3 (4S), Lucy S (1B), Ellie W (1P), Caroline L (3G), Weldon X (3/4B)
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 4. This event is planned to be held at 10:30am on Tuesday, 6th December. The morning tea will be held in the hall and parents of recipients, are invited to attend.
Congratulations to:
Nyle S (5/6B), Frederick L (2S), Vihaan T (3N)
Silver Award
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 10th November, under the COLA. All parents are cordially invited to attend.
Congratulations to:
Samuel A (3G), Norah A (4M), Aarika D (4G), Jane R (3G), Ruby A (4M), James H (3P)
Gold Award
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 10th November, under the COLA. All parents are cordially invited to attend.
Congratulations to:
Ashley S (5S)
Bronze Medallion
These awards will be presented at the next assembly. This assembly is planned to occur at 1:35pm on Thursday 10th November, 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, 7th December.
From the Teachers
ICAS Results
We have started receiving ICAS certificates for those students who participated in the exams in Term 3. All participation certificates will be handed out by classroom teachers.
Any students who received a merit or higher will be receiving their certificates at the upcoming Monday morning assemblies as follows:
- English: Monday Week 3 (24 October 2022)
- Science: Monday Week 4 (31 October 2022)
- Mathematics: Monday Week 5 (7 November 2022)
Should you require any assistance with accessing your child’s results online prior to these assemblies, please contact Mrs Musgrove who can provide you with your child’s TAPID number and PIN.
Attention: Selective High School Testing 2023
Dear Year 5 Parents and Carers
Selective high schools cater for academically gifted students with high potential who may otherwise be without sufficient classmates at their own academic standard. Selective high schools help these students to learn by grouping them with students of similar ability, and by using specialised teaching methods.
If you would like to have your child considered for Year 7 selective high school entry in 2024, you need to apply on the internet using a valid email address (not the student’s email address).
Detailed instructions on how to apply and the link to the online form are available at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-7
Applications open on 18 October 2022 and close on 16 November 2022. You must apply before the closing date.
You must submit only ONE application for each student.
The Selective High School Placement Test will be held on Thursday 4 May 2023. Other key dates are:
Application website opens: 18 October 2022
Application website closes: 16 November 2022
Test Centre & Test Authority Advice Released: 20 April 2023
Selective High School Placement Test: 4 May 2023
Illness/Misadventure Request submitted 11 May 2023
Placement outcome expected to be released Mid-August 2023
Stage 3 Interrelate
Stage 3 parents are reminded that it is still not too late to register attendance for both you and your child to attend the online interrelate session on 27 October 2022.
To register and secure your place in the session you will need to follow the following link: https://events.humanitix.com/john-purchase-ps-family-evening-program-27-october-2022
For full details please refer to the letter sent to all Stage 3 parents at the end of last term or contact your child’s classroom teacher.
Cherrybrook Technology High School Orientation Day
Tuesday November 29 2022 from 9am-11am
This event allows parents and future Year 7 students the opportunity to become familiar with the school staff, curriculum and school procedures. Only students who have been accepted for enrolment at CTHS in Year 7 2023 and their parents are invited to this event. Parents will receive an enrolment package in the first few weeks of November which provides details of the Orientation Day.
Further information regarding preparation for starting high school is available at https://education.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/going-to-school/preparing/starting-high-school
CTHS Transition Assembly
To support our year 6 students with their transition to High School the current year 12 students, along with teacher from CTHS, will be visiting our Year 6 students and giving a short presentation along with answering questions about High School.
This will occur on Tuesday 1 November 2022 from 9am to 10am in JPPS School Hall.
Any questions please direct them to your child's classroom teacher or Mrs Musgrove.
Maths Olympiad and Games
This year we had a total of 60 students, from year 3 to year 6, participate in the Maths Games and Maths Olympiad teams. All students have worked extremely hard this year to achieve their results.
Of particular note our Maths Olympiad Team finishes in the top 10% of teams (90th percentile) which is a tremendous achievement.
Students from both the Olympiad and Games team will be presented with their certificates and any addition awards at our next whole school assembly, on Thursday 10 November 2022.
Well done teams!
Date extended for Yearbook photos and baby photo, to Fri 28th October 2022!
We are reaching out again to all Year 6 parents request you to send us photos that you have of your Year 6 child across various school events, school excursions, assemblies, special school days, etc. during their time in JPPS from 2016-2022.
Most urgently we are missing quite a few baby photos of the students. Please note, there will be a page in the yearbook that will have baby photos of all the students, and we are keen that all students are represented on that page.
Please send us the photos at jppsyearbook2022@gmail.com. The photos need to be clearly labelled with your child’s name, name of the event and year of event. E.g. lukegreen_babyphoto OR lukegreen_crosscountry_2019
School events and special occasions could include:
Special Days
Mothers day, Fathers day, Grandparents day, Mufti days, easter hat parade, book parade
Sports events
Athletics carnival, swimming carnivals, cross country events, zonals,
Special assemblies
Awards and recognition, Anzac day, Remembrance day, Harmony day, education week, end of year assemblies
General photos
At school, home learning days, excursions, camps,
The last day of sending photos is Friday 28th October 2022.
The yearbooks will be available at the end of the year before school finishes.
Thanking you
Mrs Musgrove and the Year 6 yearbook parents
P & C News
HAPPY RETIREMENT DONNA
At the end of Term 3 we said farewell to one of our canteen managers, Donna, who has retired to spend more time with her grandchildren. Donna has been a much valued and respected member of our school community after 18 years at JPPS as Canteen Manager. Staff, student and volunteers were able to say farewells throughout the week. On behalf of the P&C and the school community, we wish Donna an enjoyable retirement.
Anna will continue as canteen manager full time, however we will begin looking for a job share replacement in the near future. The school community will be advised when this role will be advertised, should anyone wish to apply.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW UNIFORM SHOP MANAGER
On behalf of the P&C, we would like to welcome Pace Tang as our new Uniform Shop Manager. Pace is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and is looking forward to providing parents and students with their uniform needs.
The Uniform Shop will remain closed this week for training but will open from next Monday 30 October and will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.30am to 9.30am. Orders can still be placed online but we will be resuming over the counter sales from that date.
A MESSAGE FROM THE YEAR 6 YEARBOOK PARENT COMMITTEE
The Year 6 Parent Yearbook Committee is starting work on the Year 6 Yearbook for 2022, which will have photos of your Year 6 child in his/her primary years.
We ask that Year 6 parents start sending us photos that you have of your Year 6 child across various school events, school excursions, assemblies and special school days during their time at JPPS from 2016-2022.
Please send the photos to: jppsyearbook2022@gmail.com (ideally in a jpeg format)
All photos will need to be clearly labelled with your child’s name, name of the event and year of event. e.g. lukegreen_crosscountry_2019
School events and special occasions could include:
Special Days: Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Grandparents’ Day, mufti days, Easter hat parade and Book Parade
Sports events: athletics carnival, swimming carnivals, cross country events and zone
Special assemblies: awards and recognition, Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, Harmony Day, Education Week and end of year assemblies
General photos: at school, home learning days, excursions and camps
All photos need to be sent to the above email address by Monday 17th October, at the latest, in order to allow time for us to put the book together.
Group photos of Year 6 students together work well. We will try our best to include as many as we can and at the same time ensure that all children are well represented.
We will also need one baby photo of your child for the ‘Baby Photos’ page of the yearbook.
The yearbooks will be available at the end of the year, before school finishes.
Thank you in anticipation of your support.
Year 6 Yearbook Parents
Community Announcements
Please note our school publishes events for the convenience of families but does not endorse any activity, organisation, person or product.
SALVATION ARMY GENEROSITY CHALLENGE
We as a school are keen to partner with The Salvation Army Norwest Region for their Generosity Challenge this Christmas!
It is the time of year where the Salvos are wanting to prepare and support struggling families across our community to celebrate this special time of year – Christmas. Their mission is to help 350 families from Castle Hill, to Dural, to Rouse Hill to the Hawkesbury with food and gifts so they can have a special Christmas period.
Would you be willing to support us in partnering with The Salvation Army Norwest Region this year?
We will set up a Christmas Giving Tree where basic pantry staples and new toys or books can be donated to support this Generosity Challenge. Basic pantry staples include long life milk, breakfast cereal, rice, pasta, pasta sauce, tea, coffee, tinned fish, tinned ham, tinned fruit etc as per the flyer below.
Please drop any donations to the administration office at the school by 2 December, 2022 and thank you in advance for considering to support the Salvos Generosity Challenge – Christmas 2022.