Filter Content
Back together at last!!!
The school almost feels normal with the sounds of our students enjoying being with friends and our classrooms looking full!!!
I have put a link to an article I found to be extremely useful and easy to read. The Coronavirus has effected us in ways we still are yet to realise. I find the hardest of all is keeping my physical contact under control!!!
I am sure we have all found ways to cope and try to act as if nothing unusual is going on. Underneath the story is quite different!!!
Our staff will have opportunities to debrief and talk about our concerns. We are also finding ways to raise issues and allow our students opportunities to voice their concerns in a safe environment. We hope that our parents also have the means to voice their concerns. We are adding to our website with useful links and are always willing to be here for any parent. Sometimes just being able to voice our concerns and have them acknowledged gives reassurance. We also have our counsellors, Aimee Tang and Melissa Daher on site each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Our Chaplain, Katie Wilkinson works here Mondays and Wednesdays.
I know I have said this before but you have done an amazing job!!!
Our students seem quietly confident and have proven to be more independent than I thought! Not one kinder needed my help this morning and it is only day 4!
Our SRC are now proudly wearing their badges, our swimmers have their certificates and ribbons, library monitors are on duty and things are slowly returning to what is familiar. Photos were taken and are published on our Facebook Stage pages.
The canteen is operating under restricted services with only lunch orders being supplied. Our canteen is also undergoing a new leasing agreement so Tenders are currently being sought.
Our Uniform suppliers, Excel, are still only able to provide stock through their online ordering service. I can assure parents that as soon as restrictions are lifted they will be back on site. Deliveries have been very prompt.
A very large "THANK YOU" for assisting with drop offs and pick ups. Not easy managing such large numbers and multiple areas but so far so good.
A reminder that school bell times are 9am start and 3pm finish with our gates opening at 8:30am. Please endeavour to be on time as lateness is still an issue.
Students who are absent still require an note or phone contact with the school.
I have included two pieces of writing from Stage 2 that show we have some very talented young authors in the making.
On Monday 1st June 2020 at the P&C ZOOM meeting Mr Frank Zlendich has accepted the position of President of Blackwell P&C. The position of Treasurer is still unfilled.
Welcome back!!!
Kristine Hudswell
Principal
School Drop Off & Pick Up Zones are designed for your convenience and for your child’s safety. Designed for quick entry and exit, these zones minimise congestion and risk when used properly by all parents and carers. These zones operate under the same conditions as no parking zones, which means you may stop to drop off or pick up children for a maximum of 2 minutes.
A NOTE FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
It’s just wonderful to be back at school. What a joy it has been to see the smiling faces and to chat with your children. School has not been the same without our ‘kids’ here.
We are gradually moving towards a normality with a few items to mention this week.
Peaceful Kids
If you haven’t had a chance to look at this wellbeing program on our website, please do so. The mindfulness activities can help you, as parents, in developing your own mindfulness, calming and centring yourself. Weeks 6 – 10 are now up on the website to continue any of the activities you may have started.
OC class for Year 5 students in 2021
A separate note is going home to all Year 4 students giving information about the Opportunity class placement test and application. This year, placement will solely be on scoring from the test without school scores. Further information is given under this note about applications. It is important that you send the Intention for OC placement test note back to school. The school processes the names of children and use it to verify with the department to ensure that all students who enrol are on the lists for testing. Please note the dates for application. Definitely no applications are accepted after the cut- off date.
Speech Therapy
Blackwell still has the availability of a speech therapist on site once a week. If you would like a referral please ask the class teacher for one, fill it out and return to me. Gracie, the therapist comes in every Thursday so I forward any applications to her. This is not a free service or funded by the school but an outside agency that provides services within the school. There is a waiting list at the moment.
Have a good few next weeks and contact me if you have any questions. I am always available.
Judith Wilson
Deputy Principal
Revised Dates for Opportunity Class 2021
for Year 4 students in 2020
The process and timeline for Year 5 students to be selected for opportunity classes in 2021 has been revised and finalised.
As you are aware, the process was delayed as a result of COVID-19.
Online applications will now open on Tuesday 9 June 2020 and close on Friday 26 June 2020.
The 2020 Opportunity Class placement test will take place on Wednesday 16 September 2020.
Due to the shorter time frame, changes have been made to the placement process for 2020 applicants. These changes mean that the following components of the placement process WILL NOT take place:
- late applications
- school assessment scores
- illness/misadventure requests or appeals
- selection committees – placement will be determined by results of the placement test, ratified by the Department of Education and principals of schools with OC classes
To support you better, we have prepared some useful fact sheets. These fact sheets outline the key dates and changes you should be aware of to help you inform parents/carers of students who are interested in applying for this opportunity.
You will find the fact sheets at the links below:
Changes to the opportunity class placement process for 2020 Year 4 students The 2021 Year 5 opportunity class placement process was put on hold in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation. We now have a revised and simplified timeline for the OC placement process to ensure that students and families can have certainty about their placement as soon as possible. The changes include:
To ensure fair and consistent assessment of students across New South Wales, students will be offered places based only on their test results this year – there will be no school assessment scores. There will also be no opportunity for appeals given the tight timeframes. For further detailed information I encourage you to visit (https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5 |
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH WHATS HAPPENING AT BLACKWELL
WEBSITE
https://blackwellps.schoolzineplus.com/
SZAPP ALERTS
CLICK HERE FOR HOW TO GUIDE:
https://www.schoolzine.com/szapp-installation
https://www.facebook.com/blackwellps/
If you have any problems, please see the front office.
The SZapp APP gives your access to:
Latest newsletter
School Calendar
Absentee
Other forms & documents
and links to Facebook and Website.
- Calmsley Farm
- Taronga Zoo
- Thai-rific
- Yarramundi Camp.
Medication at School
Please ensure that the front office has ALL of your updated medical information and any medication required.
All Anaphylaxis & Asthma Plans need to be updated annually.
Parents and Caregivers
Please note that the Uniform Shop is currently CLOSED at school.
Orders are available on line ONLY
Badges, Certificates and Ribbons Presentation
Wednesday 27 May 2020
These following students received their badges, certificates and ribbons:
Welcome Back
Stage 3 teachers would like to welcome back everyone to the reboot of 2020. We are going to be working hard for the remainder of the term and we are hoping to have a modified report to you by the end of week 10. In term 3 we will then be hoping to have Parent Teacher Interviews. As you can imagine the teachers are pushing the students very hard to get through the content and for the remainder of the term English and Maths skills will be our main focus.
CAMP
We are holding on to a glimmer of hope that our camp will still go ahead this year to Hill End. The camp is not until the end of Term 3 and beginning of Term 4 and we are hoping that bans of excursions and camps have been lifted by then. Our camp costs $250.00.
Sports Days and GALA Days
We are hoping that as restrictions are relaxed our senior students will have the opportunities to participate in some GALA days. We will be definitely keeping a look out for these days and hopefully getting involved in as many as possible.
Absent Days
Parents please remember that if your child is away, a note to explain the absence needs to be sent into the teacher within seven days of the absent date. It is important that if your child is unwell that they stay at home.
Captain’s Message
A very big thank you to Brodie and Leihana for their messages of support during the period of lockdown. If you have not seen it then check them out on Blackwell Facebook page.
High School
Year 6 should be receiving information about their High School choices now. If you receive High School Enrolment forms they need to be handed straight back to the High School. Over the next few weeks if you have not heard from your selected High School please contact them to find out.