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"Inside everyone of us is the power to change the world." Roald Dahl-thought for the week!
Parent Information Evening is tonight so I hope you will be able to take this opportunity to meet ad hear what teachers have planned for 2019. All information given out at the sessions will be posted in our stage groups so please take advantage and joined these closed groups for the relevant stages.
A great Swimming Carnival last week saw competitors trying their very best to set new records and swim their personal best. I loved the way our students competed and cheered each other along. The novelty races were well supported and it was great to watch students try new challenges. I must admit my legs were a little weary that night!
We have almost completed our new Astro turfing( plastic grass as the kids call it!) Mr Woolard is hoping the oval will be our next project but that will require major funding. Stage 3 practical activity is almost refurbished with plans to have Stage 2 gutted and rebuilt during the next holiday break.
We have also been in contact with our Properties department to gain quotes to air condition the hall but first we will need to upgrade our electrical hubs. We are working on this as a community priority.
Congratulations to our newly inducted School Leaders for 2019. I believe classes are also in the process of electing SRC-School Representatives Councillors.
A busy start to Term 1 but one filled with promise and exciting new challenges.
I am happy to report that Miss Lane is finally at home and recovering from surgery. I would like to thanks Miss Jen Stojanovski for stepping in so effectively and looking after KL. All kinders seem to be settling into new routines ad adapting to "Big School." It can be a rather daunting experience for families
I would also like to welcome Mrs Allyson Drake who has joined us on Thursdays and Fridays to support our Aboriginal initiatives. As part of the STEPS (St Clair Erskine Park Schools) we have held our first meeting last week and are excited about some of our plans for the future.
Kris Hudswell
Principal
SCHOOL CAPTAINS
Daniel V | Savannah L |
SCHOOL LEADERS
Asa V | Charlotte M |
Cooper M | Dayne O |
Liam J | Tala I |
HOUSE CAPTAINS
ADINA | Ashton G | Chloe E |
Jett H | Courtney T | |
BIRRIWELL | Christian R | Phoebe A |
Cooper G | Taleah R | |
KIA KIA | Jake A | Bailey E |
Rydan A | Isabelle B | |
YALLUL | Ahmed S | Amali A |
Rhys T | Dakota G |
A note from the Deputy Principal
We are well and truly settled in to another exciting year at Blackwell.
Hopefully, all Code of Conduct booklets and Anti-bulling pamphlets have gone home. Don’t forget to read this as this is our basis for discipline here at Blackwell.
Working with Children Check
All parent volunteers must have a working with children check before you can help in the classroom. Please ensure your check is up to date if you come and help. You can apply for this online.
Values 4 Life – Cyber-bullying.
Coming soon – Tuesday, 5th March. This is an Incursion where all students will be attending. The cost for this is contained within the school pack. If you have not paid for school packs as yet, please ensure you do so by Friday, 1st March.
Student Leadership Conference
School leaders will represent our school at Homebush for a day of developing leadership skills and to understand what a leader ‘looks like’. Mrs Loscialpo will be escorting the students to and from the venue. Have a great day!
Yarn Time
An afternoon for our Aboriginal students and families is organised for Thursday 7th March 3.15 – 4.15pm. An invitation will be coming home soon.
Selective High School Placement test
Year 6 students who have applied for Selective High will sit the test on Thursday 14th March.
School Photo Day
Photo day is on Thursday 21st March. We will have Kinder up first for photos.
Family/sibling photos will occur during recess and lunch. Families will be called down to hall by Mrs Wilson. Please ensure that your child looks out for announcements of when to come. We cannot accommodate all families in the hall at recess so we will have 2 sessions.
Have a great fortnight and any concerns or enquiries please see me.
I DON’T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL
Tips for Parents:
- Some children adjust to change better than others. After you leave, your child’s sadness dissipates.
- Look at the times when your child is coping during the day, then ask “How did you get to be so strong to get through the sad time?” The child names his/her strengths then build on them.
- Give your child visual reminders of when you will be together again: clocks with sticker on hour of return, watch. Show your child where you are when you are not with him/her. E.g. workplace
- Stuffed animals, a scarf sprayed with your perfume, picture of you, a piece of a security blanket can ease anxiety. For older children, pin something inside their shirts.
- Set limits on goodbyes – Prepare your child briefly, stop talking about the departure. Be loving and confident: three kisses, three hugs ….then GO! Lingering only increases the anxiety.
- Tell your child to look up at the sky when he or she misses you and at that exact time you will be sending them kisses.
- It is perfectly normal for children to experience separation anxiety. If this continues acutely after a couple of months see your doctor.
Tips for Kids:
- You are very brave and can get through this. Take some deep breaths and remember another time when you have been brave. Do it again.
- Hug yourself
- Go play with other children who make you feel happy.
- Bring something from home to keep with you.
- Look up at the sky then catch the kiss mum or dad is sending.
- Remember, sad feelings do not stay for long.
Judith Wilson
Deputy Principal
Stage | Time |
Early Stage 1 (Kindy) | 5:00-5:30pm |
Stage 1 (Yr1 & Yr2) | 5:45-6:15pm |
Stage 2 (Yr3 & Yr4) | 6:30-7:00pm |
Stage 3 (Yr5 & Yr6) | 7:15-7:45pm |
Note From President
Hi everyone, it feels like another blistering start to the year with week 4 already upon us.
Our next P&C meeting is set for Monday, 4th March at 7.00 pm. It was great to see a good turnout for our February meeting for the first session of the year.
Also, Monday, 4th March at 6:30pm we will also be holding the Annual General Meeting for the P&C. Nomination forms for executive positions of the P&C will be available from the front office by Friday, 22nd February. Remember if you do decide to nominate someone you also need to provide your own name and details, unfortunately anonymous nominations are not binding. All executive positions will be vacated and available for nomination.
We have several fundraising opportunities coming up this term from the Family Portraits opportunity on Saturday, 16th March, followed by the BBQ and Cake stall that will be run on the next state election on Saturday, 23rd March. Following these events, the Easter Raffle will soon be upon us and of course the usual activities are planned for Mothers’ Day. All monies raised goes back into helping the school in various forms. Keep an eye out on our minutes from each P&C meeting to see the initiatives discussed with Mrs Hudswell on where we can direct our monies raised to support the school.
We continue to do our best to lobby on behalf of the school to improve the level of counselling services available. This under-resourced function of the school is run on a small headcount that is insufficient to meet the needs of the size of our school student body and support the teaching staff, therefore we will continue to raise awareness of this issue by talking with our neighbour schools and this month we will also look to commence engaging the wider P&C Federation to also recognise the issue and lobby on behalf of all schools. Tanya Davies has acknowledged our concerns and has directed us to grow our voice on this issue by engaging the wider community which we are currently doing.
If you have any questions for the P&C, or any items you would like discussed, please reach out via the Facebook Page or email us at blackwellpublicschool@pandcaffilliate.org.au and we will do our best to respond as soon as we can.
The P&C is a valuable way for any parent to gain insights into the school and its operations. Mrs Hudswell has always been very open and accessible to answer any of our queries at meetings and has always encouraged open communication. On behalf of the P&C executive of 2018 I would like to thank Mrs Hudswell for the effort she has always put into the P&C and in general for the support, direction and mentorship she always provides to our children and staff of Blackwell. Thank you also to the staff who regularly also take time out to attend our P&C meetings.
Kind regards,
Frank Zlendich.
2018 President – Blackwell Public School P&C
P&C Fundraising
Laura Jean Family Portraits:
When: Saturday 16th March 2019
Where: Blackwell School Hall
There are two ways to book.
- Fill out voucher and place it in the P&C box located in the office
- Go online to www.trybooking.com/455119.
Extra vouchers will be in the office.
Thank you to everyone who has booked in for our family portraits. We only have a few spots left so hurry and book your family in.
All money raised go towards resources for our school.
Election Bbq
We will be having an election bbq and cake stall on Saturday 23rd March 2019. We are looking for volunteers to help on the day, if you can help could you please write your name on the roster which is on the P&C box located near the office.
All monies raised go towards resources for our school.
Blackwell Public School has replaced Skoolbag with SZapp.
Please see the instructions below on how to download the free APP onto your phone.
If you have any problems, please see the front office.
The SZap APP gives your access to:
Latest newsletter
School Calendar
Absentee
Other forms & documents
and links to Facebook and Website.
For Term 1, 2019 Abel Schoolwear will be available every Wednesday morning at the school.
The next date is Wednesday, 27th February 2019.
Times are between 8:30am - 9:30am
SCHOOL PHOTO DAY
THURSDAY 21ST MARCH 2019
Order envelopes will be distributed to classes this week.
Photos can be ordered and paid online via the secure online advancedorder web portal specifically set up for our school. You must use the school’s unique 9 digit online ordering code which is found on the order envelopes taken home, and on the advancedaccess dashboard.
PARENTS WHO PLACE THEIR ORDER ONLINE DO NOT NEED TO RETURN THE ORDER ENVELOPE for individual and class photo. Only families who still wish to pay via cheque, cash or money order will need to return the order envelope to the school prior to or on photo day. Cash or cheque orders CANNOT be returned to the school after the day of photography.
SIBLING PHOTGRAPH ORDER ENVELOPES
If you wish to have a sibling/family photo please collect an order envelope from the front Office. If you are unable to do this, please write a note and have your eldest child collect the envelope.
These photos may be ordered online using the 9 digit code or via the envelope. Online orders for sibling photos will be cut off at 11.59pm on 20th March 2019.
Families may still order these photos after the cut off date by collecting an envelope prior to Thursday, and returning the envelope with payment enclosed on Thursday 21st March 2019.
Advanced Photography do not accept orders over the phone.
Separated families, if you prefer to personally collect your family or photo package from the school office, please select the “collect your pack” option when you order online.
SWIMMING CARNIVAL RESULTS & PSSA TRIAL DAY
Congratulations to the following students who will be representing Blackwell at the District Swimming Carnival on Friday 1st March 2019 at Mt Druitt Pool.
AGE GROUP | EVENT | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD |
Girls Open | 100m Freestyle | Abigail D | Savannah L | |
Boys Open | 100m Freestyle | Koby M | Liam L | |
Girls 8yrs | 50m Freestyle | Paige P | ||
Boys 8yrs | 50m Freestyle | Josh M | Deaun A | Liam W |
Girls 9yrs | 50m Freestyle | Tiana A | Monique G | Abigail D |
Boys 9yrs | 50m Freestyle | Jordan F | Brendan S | Finlay J |
Girls 10yrs | 50m Freestyle | Charlotte M | Madeline S | Teliah A |
Boys 10yrs | 50m Freestyle | Jarvis L | Brock G | Koby A |
Girls 11yrs | 50m Freestyle | Layla M | Sophia L | Keziah H |
Boys 11yrs | 50m Freestyle | Koby M | Liam J | Jake A |
Girls 12yrs | 50m Freestyle | Isabelle B | Amali A | Mia F |
Boys 12yrs | 50m Freestyle | Cooper M | Joel S | Cohen B |
Girls Junior | 50m Breastroke | Paige P | Monique G | |
Boys Junior | 50m Breastroke | Jarvis L | Koby A | |
Girls 11yrs | 50m Breastroke | Layla M | Olivia Z | |
Boys 11yrs | 50m Breastroke | Koby M | Jonathan V | |
Girls Senior | 50m Breastroke | Isabelle B | Courtney T | |
Boys Senior | 50m Breastroke | Joel S | Cameron L | |
Girls Junior | 50m Backstroke | Tiana A | Paige P | |
Boys Junior | 50m Backstroke | Jarvis L | Brock G | |
Girls 11 yrs | 50m Backstroke | Sophia L | Phoebe A | |
Boys 11yrs | 50m Backstroke | Koby M | Liam J, Jake A | |
Girls Senior | 50m Backstroke | Isabelle B | Lana D | |
Boys Senior | 50m Backstroke | Cooper M | Joel S | |
Girls Junior | 50m Butterfly | Abigail D | Paige P | |
Boys Junior | 50m Butterfly | Jarvis L | Brock G | |
Girls 11 yrs | 50m Butterfly | Phoebe A | ||
Boys 11yrs | 50m Butterfly | Koby M | Liam J | |
Girls Senior | 50m Butterfly | Isabelle B | Mia F | |
Boys Senior | 50m Butterfly | Joel S | Cooper M |
Parents are able to make online payments to the school for amounts owing for students, via a secure payment page hosted by Westpac. Payments can be made using either a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, and can be made via computer. The payment page is accessed from the front page of the schools website by selecting $ Make a payment Button below.
Items that can be paid include voluntary school contributions, subject contributions, excursions, sales to students and creative and practical arts activities (these include choir, drama and dance). There is also a category called ‘Other’ to cover items not covered in the previous headings. Other can be used to make a complete payment of a school invoice.
When you access the $ Make a payment you must enter:
- the students name and class
- the students name, and
- date of birth.
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.
Upcoming Events
School Packs
The school pack the year is as follows:
Cost: $80 - 1st Child / $60 - 2nd Child / $40 - 3rd Child
Money to be paid to the front office ASAP
**********************
Year 4 YMCA Camp Yarramundi
Who: Yr 4 students.
When: Thursday 30th May to Friday 31st May 2019
Cost: $200
Deposit $50 and permission note to be returned to the office by Friday 22nd
February 2019. Final payment by Friday 3rd May 2019.
**********************
District Swimming Carnival
Who: District carnival students
When: Friday 1st March 2019
Cost: $6
Permission note and money to be returned to the office by Monday 25th February 2019.
**********************
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
MERIT & VIRTUE AWARDS
WEEK 3, TERM 1 2019
CLASS | MERIT | MERIT | VIRTURE |
KD | Max H | Rashmika V | Ameliah P |
KH | Renwa B | Flynn W | Mariah G |
KK | Amira B | Gabriella C | Jordan V |
KL | Jake M | Lachlan N | Wynonnah |
WEEK 2, TERM 1 2019
S1T | Braxton A | Jax J | Isaac B |
S1J | Harlie M | Isaac S | Xavier A |
S1H | Jaide T | Harriet A | jayden L |
S1R | Charryl A | Nate A | Beau R |
S1C | Hayden S | Dylan N | Fatma A |
S1M | Aria H | Elliott L | Makiya T |
S1D | Cash T | Scarlett G | Elina J |
S1W | Frazer L | Christian N | Dior R |
MERIT & VIRTUE AWARDS
WEEK 4, TERM1 2019
CLASS | MERIT | MERIT | VIRTUE |
S2A | Xienna G | Isabelle H | Jake L |
S2B | Erin L | Trudie Y | Daniel D |
S2C | Harrison M | Grace Y | Chloe M |
S2L | Jack D | Emma M | Myleigh K |
S2MK | Angelina C | Abigail D | Josh M |
S2S | Noor A | Lyla D | Charlie G |
S2W | Kaylee F | Riley K | Zakariya M |
MERIT & VIRTUE AWARDS
WEEK 4, TERM 1 2019
CLASS | MERIT | MERIT | MERIT | VIRTUE |
S3A | Matthew B | Liam M | Alesha W | Gabriella M |
S3R | Brock G | Brooklyn S | Keziah W | Nishangan T |
S3T | Riley R | Brayden Z | Litara M | Shea W |
S3B | Ahmed S | Cooper H | Jonathan V | Dayne O |
S3F | Samuel M | Daniel C | Nikki S | Isabella J |
S3M | Jessica L | Jasmine W | Elliott B | Bradley C |
S3W | Cooper M | Chloe W | Ashton G | Finn B |