Filter Content
Welcome back to our final term!
What a year this has been but hopefully we have all survived!
Information has now gone home to all our new kindergarten families regarding our revised transition programs. Amazing to think another whole cohort is about to start their journey with us.
Please check the school calendar as we have quite a few events and activities happening, especially for our Yr 6 students. We are trying to complete all planned activities in some form or other so that our students have experienced most of what we organised to do this year.
Congratulation to all Stage 2 and Stage 3 students who participated in our Public Speaking Finals last week. The standard was certainly impressive! Many thanks to Mrs Coard for all the effort such events create.
To our Winners:
Talia V | Year 3 |
Oliver J | Year 4 |
Lacey G | Year 5 |
Rohan S | Year 6 |
and Runners Up:
Leilani D | Year 3 |
Sahse S | Year 4 |
Tahlie W | Year 5 |
Jonathan V | Year 6 |
A huge congratulations on a great effort and delivery!
A reminder that I do post a weekly overview each Sunday on Facebook to assist with these happenings.
A warm welcome to "Kids Pantry" who are now running our canteen. I know Jayde and Damen are happy to hear feedback as we are now operating under the Healthy School Canteen guidelines.
Seems crazy but we are starting to think about 2021 so please let us know, in writing, if you are not returning to Blackwell next year.
This week sees the completion of our Department's External Validation process for Blackwell. These validations take place every 4 years and require all schools to complete a set of evidence based documents which are presented to a panel for consideration and recommendations. The executive team, together with staff representatives, and a P&C representative, Mrs Jo Dawes will meet with the department representatives this Thursday via ZOOM. The recommendations made by the panel will then form the basis of our new School Plan for 2021-2024. I would like to acknowledge all the work by staff, students and P&C members that enabled the executive team to collect and analyse a rich array of evidence. I would particularly like to thank Mrs Takami who undertook to collate all the evidence into documents which numbered almost 400 pages. A mammoth task!
As the Principal of Blackwell I feel very blessed to have such a community supporting all we do here. "Thank you all!" I am sure the feedback will be very favourable!
An exciting addition to our school and one that we have been considering for some time, is the establishment of a Support Unit at Blackwell. Beginning in 2021, Blackwell will be able to accommodate 10 students with special learning needs. These students are all in the early years of their education with more than half starting kinder with us. These students will have their own room with both a teacher and support aide, known as an SLSO-Student Learning and Support Officer. We are hoping we can meet these students and their families during our kinder transition program. I am looking forward to getting to know these students as well as are 60+ new kinders and their families. A reminder to our kinder 2021 parents, please make sure you have booked your orientation sessions on line. Emails have been sent. Please read and follow instructions.
To celebrate the mighty Penrith Panthers' success in reaching next weekend's grand final, this Friday, 23rd October students can wear their favourite sports jersey to school (doesn't have to be Panthers). NO Coin donation is required.Kristine Hudswell
Principal
If you have a child due to start school who is turning 5 on or before 31st July 2021, or know of someone with a school aged child living in the area, please let them know that they can come and collect an enrolment form from our front office and when completed it can be returned to our office with:
- Original Birth certificate
- Current Immunisation certificate
- Proof of Address - 100 points ID (eg Utility Bill, Rental Agreement or Council Rates)
A Note from the Deputy Principal
Welcome back for Term 4. It will be a busy term as we are trying to keep our activities as ‘normal’.
Photos have not been returned to the school as yet. As in past years, class and individual photos will be sent home as soon as the photos arrive at school.
Don’t forget to label all clothing, drink bottles, lunch boxes as many go missing.
Dates coming soon:
- 27th Oct – Story Bus for Stage 2
- 6th November – Super Science Circus Show incursion. For all students K-6. This is part of the school package.
- 9th November – Applications for Year 7 placement in Selective High School in 2022 closes. This applies to this Year 5 students only. Online application only.
- 13th November – Athletics 3-6.
- 18th November – OC test for Year 4 students going into Year 5 2021. This will be done at the school this year due to COVID.
Turning a Negative into a Positive – How to deal with a complaining child or teen.
Negative Thinkers
- Try to make everyone think their way and tend to bring everyone down with them
- Believe things are always worse than they are
- Can only see the negative in a situation
- Are often very ‘black and white’ in their thinking
- Blame others for their mistakes
- Are unwilling to try new activities
- Spend a lot of time complaining
- Are very critical of themselves
- Have lower self esteem
- Catastrophise events
- Encourage negative responses/interactions with those around them – it’s catching!
What to Say and Do?
- Acknowledge how they feel, eg.”I understand you feel this disappointed about missing out.”
- Set a time limit for listening to the negative thoughts. Eg. “Tell me everything about it in the next ten minutes, after that I don’t want to hear it any more.”
- Encourage hearing positive thoughts to counter the negative thoughts, eg. “Tell me a funny / good thing that happened in the game today.”
- Teach them to say “I can” not “I can’t”.
- Point out the positives that they are missing around them, eg. Did you notice that you were the only person that James was happy playing with today. He must know you’re a special kid.”
More suggestions will come in the next newsletter. Have a try at these few in the meantime.
Judith Wilson
Deputy Principal
It is that time again, another month has past. Is it just me or does it feel like, January, February, March, COVID, end of the year?
The P&C continues to be the voice of the parents and if you have ever thought about attending or wondered what it is we talk about, please join our next meeting via the Zoom link posted on our FaceBook page on Monday, 2nd November at 7pm. The Zoom format is a great way to slide into the P&C environment to see if it is a fit for you.
The vacancy on the executive for a Treasurer has not changed however, it remains an important role and if you are interested in assuming the job, it would relieve another executive member from undertaking two voluntary roles. Could this be the role for you?
On behalf of the P&C executives, I say this slower pace of life has never seemed so fast.
Regards
Cherie Pollard
2020 P&C Secretary on behalf of the P&C Executive
WEBSITE
https://blackwell-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/
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
When you access the $ Make a payment you must enter:
- the students name and class, date of birth
- contact details-full name, phone number and email address
- payment item-other, then description
These details are entered each time you make a payment as student information is not held within the payment system.
This is a secure payment system hosted by Westpac to ensure that your credit/debit card details are captured in a secure manner, these details are not passed back to the school.
You have the ability to check and change any details of the payment before the payment is processed
Details of the payments are passed daily to the school where they will be receipted against your child’s account. For any enquiries regarding the Online Payment process please contact the School Administration Office.
**PLEASE NOTE** Please do not pay any online payments which should be paid to a third party provider. For Example, School Photographers; P&C Fund-Raising etc. If unsure please call the school to check. CASH Only when paying at the Front Office.
Yr 6 T20 Cricket Fun Day
Who: Yr 6 Students
When: Friday, 30th October 2020
Where: Saunders Park, St Clair
Cost: NO COST
Permission note to be returned to the Front Office by Wednesday, 28th October 2020.
Kindy Incursion Wannabees Family Play Town
Who: Kindy Students
When: Monday, 16th November 2020
Where: School Hall
Cost: $17
Payment and Permission note to be returned to the Front Office by Thursday, 12th November 2020.
Yr 3-6 Athletics Carnival
Who: Yr 3-6 Students
When: Friday, 13th November 2020
Where: Saunders Park, St Clair
Cost: NO COST
Permission note to be returned to the Class teacher by Friday, 13th November 2020.
Yr 6 Fun Day – Motiv8sports
Who: Yr 6 Students
When: Thursday, 10th December 2020
Where: At School
Cost: $25
Payment and Permission note to be returned to the Front Office by Monday, 23rd November 2020.
Year 6 2021 School Leavers Shirts and Jumpers
Who: Yr 5 Students
Cost: Polo Shirts $50
Jumpers $38
Payment and order forms to be returned to the Front Office by Monday, 30th November 2020.
....................................................
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.
NEW CANTEEN OPERATING FROM TERM 4.
KIDS PANTRY CANTEEN
Lunch orders can be made at school or online
Please note in Term 4 the Uniform Shop will be open on Tuesday from 2:30pm - 3:30pm. Online ordering is available.