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Welcome back to Term 2 and another busy, fun-filled time!
We started day one with a very moving ANZAC Service led by our senior students. It is always a poignant experience, made even more so, by the sacrifice and continuing contribution of the Gavin Family.
The Peer Support Program recommenced for 2022. Covid restrictions in previous years have prevented these types of programs. It was a lovely sight to watch all our students once again mix with students from other years and to see our Yr 6 leaders take on new roles and experience the joys of teaching!!
I did hear the comment “They didn’t listen!” several times!
I even heard from one kinder student taking over the role of leader and instructing his team on how things should be done!
The playground has been coloured with rainbows and artistic flair!
Peer Support sessions will run across the term each Monday from 2-3pm. We hope every child is here at school to enjoy these events and participate in learning in all its forms.
Our Cross Country will take place on Friday 6th May with lots of energetic students ready to sprint the distance. Fingers crossed the weather holds!!!
NAPLAN commences for ALL Year 3 and Year 5 students on Tuesday 10th May. This year all schools are required to complete the assessment tasks ONLINE so hopefully our IT will work perfectly!! These assessments are conducted nation wide and provide valuable data to schools. They are however just a snapshot in time. We ask that each student only tries their best!
Congratulations to two new staff who graduated this week Miss Fairall Lee, our relieving school counsellor and Mr Sterjovski, Stage 2 teacher.
We also congratulate an ex School Leader Damon Myburgh Sisam on his recent appointment to Blacktown Police!! Always wonderful to hear how our students are doing!
Over the holidays we have continued to upgrade the school environment. Recent additions include new outdoor seating for Stage 1. The bright, red umbrellas add a festive look to the area and the new picnic tables have an added bonus as our students can use them to write and draw.
New café style seating has also been purchased to upgrade the canteen area-we are just awaiting instalment. The P&C are also very happy that a long awaiting electronic sign has been purchased. We are waiting on council approval before this will also be installed. All funds raised by the P&C go directly back to the school to be used by our students and staff. Over the years the P&C have been magnificent in their support of Blackwell. Our reputation as a great school is also based on our environment and surrounds. The recent Easter raffle and Mother’s Day stall and the funds raised are testimony to our community spirit. “Thank you” all!
Kris Hudswell
PRINCIPAL
NEWS FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
Welcome back to a very busy Term 2.
I hope all families had a restful break and are ready for an exciting Term 2.
We would love to see our students coming to school everyday (when well), ready to learn and doing their best. Parents please make sure students are at school before 9.00am everyday. A number of students are arriving late everyday and missing vital learning time.
Naplan 2022 will be online. It will start on Tuesday, 10th May. Please read the attached information sheet for parents.
OPPORTUNITY CLASS 2023
Applications for opportunity class placement for 2023 are now open.
If you wish for your child to be considered for an opportunity class, we ask that you please return the tear off slip at the bottom of the note sent home on 4th April 2022. This is not an application but notification of your intention to apply. We ask that these be returned by Monday, 9th May 2022.
The application process is online and late applications will not be accepted. Friday, 13th May 2022 is the cut off date.
The Placement Test will take place on Thursday, 28th July 2022.
Please be aware that students successful will have to leave Blackwell to enrol in a school with an opportunity class for Years 5 and 6.
Rod Woolard
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
The P&C meet the first Monday of the month at 7pm, All are welcome. You can also stay up to date with P&C news by joining our facebook group. Use the QR code below and answer the questions.
Easter Raffle
Thank you to everyone who purchased raffle tickets and donated eggs. With your generosity we where able to raise $1015.55.
It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces at the Mothers Day stall. Some proud little shoppers indeed. Thank you to all who helped on the day. With the mufti day and stall we raised a total of $3067.10.
Election Day Cake Stall
The P&C are holding an election day cake stall on Saturday 21st of May. We are looking for donations of yummy goodness. Cakes/slices/muffins etc. The donations need to be dropped off on Friday the 20th of May in the afternoon to the kindergarten activity area. All donations need to be in disposable containers and a list of ingredients must be on the containers.
If you are able to donate or help sell the cakes on the day please let the P&C know via email.
Coin Race
We are excited to be bringing back the coin race at the end of June. We encourage everyone to start collecting your coins now!! More details to follow.
Thank you on behalf of the P&C
Amanda Lumsden
P&C PRESIDENT
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 |
Taronga Zoosnooz - Year 4
Where: | Taronga Zoo |
Date: | Wednesday15th June Thursday 16th June 2022 |
Cost: | $150.00 |
Transport: | Bus |
Final payment is due by Friday 27th May 2022.
Cross Country - Years 3-6 and Year 2 students turning 8
Where: | Blackwell Public School |
Date: | Friday 6th May 2022 |
Cost: | N/A |
Transport: | N/A |
Permission Note to be returned by Wednesday 4th May 2022
Sydney Zoo - Support Unit
Where: | Sydney Zoo |
Date: | Thursday 9th June 2022 |
Cost: | $40 |
Transport: | Bus |
Permission Note to be returned by Tuesday 31st May 2022
Calmsley Hill Farm - Kindergarten
Where: | Calmsley Hill Farm |
Date: | Friday 10th June 2022 |
Cost: | $38 |
Transport: | Bus |
Permission Note to be returned by Thursday 26th May 2022
Sydney Zoo - Stage 1
Where: | Sydney Zoo |
Date: | Wednesday 22nd June 2022 |
Cost: | $40 |
Transport: | Bus |
Permission Note to be returned by Friday 3rd June 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.
Cake stall as next P&C Fundraising event. The cake stall will be held as part of the upcoming elections on Saturday 21st May 2022. More information to follow.
Coming events include National Sorry Day 26th May 2022.
The traditional Blackwell Coin race is back! Classes will compete against each other to win a Pizza party. Teachers, parents and students start collecting your coins (10c are the best) and send them in to your class teacher.
The coin race will be held on Tuesday 28th June 2022 in our school hall.
Mr Woolard is very excited!!
Welcome to the start of a brand-new term, hopefully after enjoying a safe and relaxing break with family and friends.
Last Wednesday, our students attended a special Anzac Service at school, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our Stage 3 students for their respectful manners throughout. Our Year 6 students brought a tear to many of the audience member’s eyes as they signed along in AUSLAN to the song ‘The Spirit of the Anzacs’’. We are so proud of you all.
I would also like to extend thanks to the students from Blackwell PS who attended the dawn service on ANZAC day at the St Marys Diggers and Band Club with their families or met up with Mr Woolard. Thank you.
Notes for our Stage 3 camp have gone home this week. We offer a separate Year 5 and Year 6 - 3 day – 2 night camp to Hill End. Year 5’s dates are Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th November (Term 4 – Week 6) and Year 6’s dates are Wednesday 23rd to 25th November (Term 4 – Week 7).
A $50 non-refundable deposit is due on Wednesday 29th June (Term 2 Week 10) to secure a spot on the camp. The remaining balance for this camp needs to be paid by Wednesday 19th October (Term 4 – Week 2). You are welcome to pay in instalments or one lump sum – whatever suits your family best. If you are in need of some financial assistance, please speak to our principal Mrs Hudswell.
The testing period for the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Year 5 will start from the 10th May to 20th May (Weeks 3 and 4). NAPLAN is made up of 4 tests: reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
NAPLAN tests are just one aspect of our school’s assessment and reporting process and do not replace the ongoing assessments and observations made by our teachers about your child’s educational progress and performance.
As we know NAPLAN tests or any test really, do not assess all the wonderful attributes that makes each of our children/students exceptional and unique. They test how well your child did on that day. So please help support your children to come to school ready for the NAPLAN tests but like every day encourage them to be ready to do their best.
If your child is feeling nervous or worried about the tests, please let their class teacher know.
Our school leaders and our SRC team’s excursion to Longneck Lagoon has been rescheduled for Friday 27th May. The permission note with the amended date needs to be returned to Mrs Kenning as soon as possible. Thank you.
At the end of last term, Mr Rob Samuels, who taught many Stage 3 classes for RFF, was offered a higher duties position for Term 2 working with the Teacher’s Federation. Whilst we are sad to see Mr Samuels go, we are excited to welcome a new member of staff to the Blackwell and the Stage 3 team – Mr Ash Besre. Mr Besre will be teaching most of Stage 3 classes for RFF this term.
As we head into the cooler months, many Covid-smart measures have been updated to protect our school community and we appreciate your ongoing support and flexibility as we adapt to each new change. We will continue to keep updating this information to you via our Facebook page and newsletters etc.
Lastly, please encourage your child to wear Blackwell’s school uniform which includes black shoes/joggers with white socks. With the weather getting cooler, remember to clearly label jumpers with your child’s name.
Until next time …. Take care,
on behalf of the Stage 3 team
Kellie Balloch
Stage 3 Supervisor
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL