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Just when you thought you were passed the worst, Covid strikes again!
This week more staff and students have tested positive, with classes and teaching impacted.
We are doing our very best to keep our routines and operations as normal as we can.
Many thanks to our staff who have stepped in to cover colleagues and taken over other duties and carried additional loads. Thanks also to our students who have taken split classes and different teachers in their stride. Even our Director, Mr Miezis, has been assisting in schools, providing additional cover for staff shortages.
Please keep monitoring for symptoms and testing where necessary. We still have RAT kits available for collection. As far I am aware these will be the last made available through our schools.
We are hoping that our planned School Picnic Day / Easter Hat Parade for kinder and our Rainbow theme will go ahead as planned next Wednesday, 6th April. Parents may need to wear a mask if in the hall for the parade. If the weather is kind, we can all assemble for lunch on our oval. Lunch will be from 1pm-2pm. Please bring a rug or picnic chair. I believe the canteen will be selling Hot Cross Buns on the day.
We say “See you later” to Mr Samuels who has taken on a new role with The Teachers’ Federation in Term 2. Mr Samuels will be travelling across the state supporting Public Education and our students and colleagues in all our state schools. We look forward to hearing of his experiences when he returns in Term 3.
Congratulations to those successful PSSA competitors-I know rain has also played havoc with your training schedules and to our Zone swimmers. I believe we are still awaiting these results.
I feel we are at least heading in the right direction as this week we started planning for our STePS Music Festival to be held in July. After 2 years of restrictions our dancers and choirs are starting rehearsals. A great sight to see their excited faces.
Condolences to Jammie and family on the sudden loss of her husband, killed in a road accident last week. We also know that Archer is still in Westmead after another bone marrow transplant in February with some complications. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you.
I hope the coming holiday break gives us all a chance to re energise and spend time doing family things. I hope the weather fines and Covid takes a break.
I would lastly like to thank all our families for your continued support over this first term. A special mention to our P&C, especially the Lumsden family, who have coordinated our Easter Raffle. Please continue to support this event and many thanks for the kind donations.
A very “Happy Easter” to you all!
Kris Hudswell
Principal
NEWS FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
HOME LEARNING
It has been a very busy term and with sickness and rain and we are left wondering when life will get back to normal. Maybe this is the new normal and we have to adapt and change and be flexible when these challenges arise. Parents are reminded that if students are home due to isolation that they are encouraged to complete the Department’s Home Learning Packages. These packages can be found here.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance at school is still very important. Even more so in these times. If your child is well then they should be at school everyday. It is vital. Families planning holidays should contact the school to let the school know of their intentions before travelling.
CHECK IN ASSESSMENTS and NAPLAN PRACTICE
Over the past few weeks Year 4 and 6 students have been completing the Department’s Check in Assessment tests. These assessments are a great way for teachers to identify areas of needs for their students and plug any gaps in their learning. The assessment, tests students in reading and numeracy skills. This test is done online.
Year 3 and Year 5 have also been busy practicing for the NAPLAN Test coming up on the 10th May. This year every student will sit the test online (Except year 3 Writing). The run-through was a great way to get used to the new process of using a device to complete the test.
Wishing all Blackwell families a safe and healthy Easter break and we will see you in Term 2.
Rod Woolard
Deputy Principal
Our next P&C meeting will be held on Monday, 4th April 2022 at 7pm.
This meeting will be held in the staff room.
Please feel free to come along.
The P&C are still welcoming easter egg donations for it's raffle to be drawn on Friday, 8th April 2022.
Please return all raffle tickets with money to the P&C box located at the Front Office by no later than Thursday, 7th April 2022.
PARENT / CARER TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Our Parent / Carer interviews are currently underway and are due to be finalised on Friday 1st April 2022.
Our online booking system has now closed. If you have not made a time and would still like to see your child's teacher, we ask that you please contact the teacher directly to organise a suitable time.
As the appointments are scheduled for 10 minute time slots, please ensure you arrive on time to ensure this runs smoothly.
Please keep in mind that many of our staff as well as our Blackwell families are currently impacted by Covid. As a result some of these scheduled interviews may have to take place over the phone. Thank you for your continued flexibility and co-operation.
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 the school pack, excursions, 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, 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.
AMENDED DATE Longneck Lagoon Leadership Day 2022
Where: | Longneck Lagoon Environmental Centre, Marayla |
Date: | Friday, 27th May 2022 |
Cost: | $20 - Payment has already been received |
Transport: | Bus |
Please return AMENDED permission note to the office by Friday, 13th May 2022.
Interrelate - Moving into the Teen Years Year 6
Where: | Blackwell Public School |
Date: | 12th, 17th and 19th May 2022 |
Cost: | $40 |
Transport: | N/A |
Please return permission note to the office by Friday, 29th April 2022.
Taronga Zoosnooz - Year 4
Where: | Taronga Zoo |
Date: | Wednesday15th June Thursday 16th June 2022 |
Cost: | $150.00 |
Transport: | Bus |
Please return permission note and deposit to the office byThursday 7th April 2022.
Stewart House Donation
If any family/student would like to make a donation to Stewart House. Please return this envelope (envelope has been sent home) by Friday, 13th May 2022.
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.
If prescribed medication is to be given to students at school, a blister pack either supplied from the chemist or in its original packaging is now required. Medication that needs to be cut will need to be done so by a pharmacist and delivered to the school in a blister pack.
Contact Information
Please ensure your contact details are updated at the front office so we can to contact you.
Student Absences - SMS Alert
If your child is absent from school you will receive an SMS at approximately 10am requesting a reason for their absence. If you could please respond to the SMS the school is then able to update their records using this system. You are not required to contact the school by phone prior to 10am to advise of your childs absence. Thank you for your continued support.
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
THE UNIFORM SHOP IS OPEN
TUESDAY 2:15PM - 3:15PM
&
THURSDAYS 8:30AM - 9:30AM
Online orders can still be placed.
We have had another great few weeks of learning up in Stage 3.
Congratulations to all our peer elected SRC members, Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) leaders and library monitors on your recent induction. We are proud of you and know you will embrace the challenge as you step into your new roles.
Over the past few weeks, various District trials have been held. Several of our senior students tried out and many were selected into the various representative teams. Congratulations to all students who tried their best at their trials and well done to those who made it through to the team. We still have several trials to go – unfortunately, the weather has not been on our side.
Also due to poor weather, our school leaders and our SRC team’s excursion to Longneck Lagoon has been postponed to Term 2 Friday, 27th May 2022. Please ensure to return your new permission note with the amended date.
Interrelate notes went home for Year 6 students last week. The cost of the program is $40 per student with money and note needing to be returned to school before Friday, 29th of April 2022. The program “Moving into the Teen Years” explores a range of adolescent issues and is a comprehensive sexuality and relationship education program. It is highly recommended by staff and previous students for all Year 6 students.
Parent interviews are being held this week in Week 10 – Monday, 28th March through to Friday, 1st April 2022. If you missed making an appointment or were not available during Week 10 to meet, please email your child’s teacher to make a mutually suitable time to do so. We look forward to meeting you.
This year, for Harmony Day, there is a poster and song writing competition open for all students from K-6, across NSW. We would love to see our incredibly creative students of Blackwell use some of their time at home to create amazing artworks and songs and join in! The theme this year is “Celebrating Harmony” with a focus on Belonging and Cultural Diversity. Any submissions must meet the Terms and Conditions to enter. These conditions, along with the Eligibility Criteria and other key details, can be accessed via the link: https://movingforwardtogether.org.au/poster-competition/ If your child does not have access to a scanner to complete the submission of their artwork, they can hand in their artwork to Mrs Reynolds by Friday, 8th of April (Week 11). There are great prizes to be won! Entries will close 16th April 2022. We hope to see many entries!
Many of our students are at an age where social media is very much a part of their socialisation with their peers. Whether it be social media apps to online games, we need to ensure we are supporting our students to use these digital communications appropriately and safely.
Parents and carers play a significant role in helping children to develop digital intelligence — the social, emotional, and practical skills needed to successfully navigate the digital world.
Please find some links attached with information that can assist you to help your child build digital intelligence.
*https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice/good-habits-start-young
* https://thecybersafetylady.com.au
* https://www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au
Please encourage your child to wear Blackwell’s school uniform which includes black shoes/joggers with white socks. Please remember to clearly label all hats, jumpers and lunch boxes or containers with your child’s name. There still has been several items found around the Stage 3 area and it can be difficult finding their rightful owners.
Our schoolbook packs are available to be purchased through the office. These packs include all classroom stationery, art supplies, computer software, incursions and more. Equipment will be issued by classroom teachers once payment has been received.
Attendance is important. If your child is absent, you will receive a SMS from the school, please respond to the SMS or send a note to school with your child upon returning to school explaining their absence.
Please ensure your current contact details are up to date. If needed, you can update your contact details via an email or ring the school to let one of our office staff know.
Every year, students from Blackwell PS have been encouraged to attend the dawn service on ANZAC day at the St Marys RSL. Mrs Hudswell will be there and would love to see some of her students wearing the Blackwell school uniform with pride.
An ANZAC service will be held at school on Wednesday, 27th April (Term 2/Week 1) to commemorate ANZAC Day. It will be a time to help remember and recognise all those who served or lost their lives in wars, conflicts, peacekeeping operations, and humanitarian efforts around the world. Lest We Forget.
On Wednesday, 6th of April, Stage 3 families are invited to join us for a picnic lunch on our back oval. The picnic lunch will begin at 1pm and finish at 2pm. Please feel free to bring a picnic rug or folding chairs and picnic tables to enjoy your picnic on. This is a whole school event so family members from all other stages will meet in this area too. We would love to see you there.
A busy term is almost ending and a wonderful way to finish will be with our Privilege Day of Motiv8 Sports. All students attending have consistently demonstrated good manners, good thinking, and good learning throughout the term. We cannot wait.
We hope everyone enjoys their break and comes back fresh and ready to start Term 2.
Until next time …. Take care,
Kellie Balloch on behalf of the Stage 3 team.