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The semester is flying and as we head into this last month reports are being finalised. These will be the first full reports that have not been impacted by Learning from Home in the past three years. Interviews will take place in the last week with bookings made on line. More information to follow.
The term has been jam packed with events both inside and outside the school. As always, our students have risen to the occasion with many venues continuing to compliment our students on their team spirit and behaviour.
As always, we expect our students to demonstrate good manners, good learning, and good thinking at all times and in all situations.
Students who receive Integration funding or have a diagnosed disability and receive additional support in the school setting have an Individualised Education Plan IEP. These have been developed for 2022 with input from class teachers, support staff, parents and students. A copy has been recently posted to families to ensure we are all working together to support our students. Many thanks to our parents who completed surveys and continue to keep us informed on any updated reports or plans.
A reminder that school supervision commences at 8:30am each morning and all students need to be collected at 3.00pm each day. There are local Before and After School Care facilities for those students who need additional supervision outside of school times. Please notify the school if you are running late and unable to be here for dismissal. Students can then be notified and kept in the foyer. The school is presently on a wait list for a Before and After School Hub. Our site has been inspected and permission has been tendered to Penrith Council. I am hopeful that sometime soon we will have confirmation of an installation date.
After another successful P&C fundraiser at the recent elections we are looking to hold Coin Races. These races are hotly contended with the victorious classes in K-2 and 3-6 winning a Pizza lunch. Each class has a tin ready to be filled with your kind donations. All Australian coins are most welcome.
Many thanks to our P&C members who have worked so hard this year to raise funds for our school. All funds raised during a year are returned to the school to purchase equipment for student use. Recent purchases have included new seating while a future suggestion is for the purchase of an electric sign.
Come along to our next P&C meeting on Monday, 6th June, 7pm in our staff room to hear more about the ways we can work together and make a great school even better. The P&C is the ideal forum to make suggestions and get involved.
Unfortunately, Covid is still playing havoc with student and staff attendance!! I have never had a week’s illness in my entire career. Please keep the RAT testing happening at any sign of a symptom or close contact. Please continue to notify the school so our records are current and accurate.
Apologies for the delay with School Photos. Unfortunately, this is beyond our control. If you have any concerns the manager has included their contact details.
Kris Hudswell
PRINCIPAL
NEWS FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
The 2022 Coin Race
Which class will win the coin race this year and earn their class a Pizza Party. The class that makes the longest line in K-2 and 3-6 will win. Two five cent pieces are longer than one ten cent piece. Classes have their own collection tins so start collecting and bring in your coins.
UNIFORMS
Parents can you please make sure that students are wearing Blue jumpers to school. We are starting to see bright-coloured jumpers being worn. A timely reminder that nail polish and jewellery should not be worn. All items including hats should be labelled.
EYE CHECKS
Free eye checks will be available for all students at Blackwell in Term 3. Information will be sent home this week to every child and parents have the options of completing the form online or returning the forms to the school's front office. Similar to the free dental checks, we encourage all parents to take up this opportunity.
ATTENDANCE
Parents we need to work together to improve the attendance of some of our students. I know it has been a difficult year with COVID but some of our students have not made a whole week at school all year. This affects their learning and makes it very difficult to catch up any work. Reports will reflect students attendance efforts and we are encouraging all students to have an attendance percentage of above 90%. Your child's teacher will give you your child's attendance percentage at Parent Teacher Interviews during Week 10.
Rod Woolard
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
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.
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
Steps Choir
Where: | St Clair Public & Clairgate Public |
Date: | Wed 8th June 2022 & Wed 22nd June 2022 |
Cost: | $15 |
Transport: | Bus |
Permission Note to be returned by Friday 3rd June 2022
Sydney Zoo - Stage 1
Date: | Wednesday 22nd June 2022 |
Cost: | $40 |
Transport: | Bus |
Permission Note to be returned by
Year 5 Hill End Camp
Where: | Hill End |
Date: | Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th November 2022 |
Cost: | $230 |
Transport: | Bus |
Permission Note and $50 deposit is non-refundable by Wednesday 29th June. Balance due by Wednesday 19th October 2022.
Year 6 Hill End Camp
Where: | Hill End |
Date: | Wednesday 23rd to Friday 25th November 2022 |
Cost: | $230 |
Transport: | Bus |
Permission Note and $50 deposit is non-refundable by Wednesday 29th June. Balance due by Wednesday 19th October 2022.
If you have a child due to start school in 2023 and have not yet completed an enrolment we ask that you do so as soon as possible. Likewise, if you know someone who has a child due to start school and has not yet enrolled please ask that they contact the school.
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.
PARENT/CAREGIVER TEACHER INTERVIEWS
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.
BLACKWELL CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
Congratulations to the following students who will be representing our school at the PSSA Zone Cross Country on Wednesday, 8th June 2022 at the Sydney Internation Regatta Centre.
Congratulations to all of our Stage 3 students who have been involved in a variety of activities both at school or out on the sporting field over the last few weeks.
Our Year 5 students have completed all their online NAPLAN assessments. They tried their best and we look forward to receiving their results next term.
Our AFL team participated with great sportsmanship, courage and skill in the recent Paul Kelly Cup. They came away with 2 wins and unfortunately were beaten in the semi-final by a strong Faulconbridge team.
Our Stage 3 Rugby League Panther Trophy teams are busily preparing for their Gala Day which is coming up on the Monday 20th June.
The District Cross Country is coming up on Wednesday, 8th June at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith. We wish the Blackwell team all the very best of luck.
Last Monday, a group of Year 5 students participated in Sydney Writers’ Festival’s program. The aim of the day is to inspire the next generation of readers and storytellers. Our students enjoyed the fun, interactive and educational day and even met Deadly Science author Corey Tutt.
Last Thursday, the Stage 3 debating teams meet for their first friendly debate. The topic Plastics Should Be Banned was argued with Year 5 as the affirmative and Year 6 as the negative. As both teams had members who had never seen nor participated in a debate before, it was a great opportunity to learn the formalities and expectations of a debate. Both teams presented persuasive arguments with evidence to support their claims and spoke confidently to emphasise their points. They learnt how to listen attentively in order to write and deliver rebuttals against the other team. Congratulations to the Year 6 team who won the debate. The coaches, Mrs Kenning and Mrs Reeves, were proud of both teams’ efforts and for their enthusiasm in preparing for the debate.
Last Friday, our Longneck Lagoon excursion was a huge success due to the immaculate behaviour of all of our leader representatives. All of the students thoroughly enjoyed participating in the challenges whilst demonstrating their effective communication, teamwork and problem solving skills.
Blackwell’s famous coin race is back. This is a P&C fundraising events with all proceeds going back to our school. Students are asked to donate 5c and 10c coins (we do accept all Australian coins) until Tuesday the 28th June. All coins are handed to classroom teachers until race day. On the day, all classes go head-to-head to see who has collected the most coins by creating the longest line of coins down in the hall. The Primary class (Yr. 3-6) who has the most coins will win a Pizza Party. Let’s go Stage 3 - start collecting.
At Blackwell, students can bring their mobile phones to school and have them stored securely during the day in the front office. Unfortunately, some of our senior students have not been following these procedures. Parents, if your child does bring a phone to school, please remind them to secure it in the office to avoid it being lost, stolen or damaged. In emergencies, parents can always contact or get a message through to their child by calling the school
The Stage 3 teachers are currently assessing and preparing your child’s Semester 1 report. These reports will go home on Wednesday 22nd June (Week 9). Parent interviews are being held during Week 10 – Monday 27th June to Friday 1st July. Please keep your eyes out for the instructions and the website link to book your appointment. If you are unavailable to make an appointment during Week 10, please email your child’s teacher to make a mutually suitable time to do so. We look forward to the opportunity to touch base again or to meet you.
Notes for our Stage 3 camp went home earlier this term. 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.
Over the next couple of week, our students will be participating in class-based competitions to see who will be a finalists in our school’s Premier’s Spelling Bee competition. Each class will select two students for the finals. The Senior Word list is available on www.artsunit.nsw.edu.au/program/nsw-premiers-spelling-bee Please ask your child for the password to get access to the list.
As the weather gets cooler, please encourage your child to wear Blackwell’s full school uniform which includes a navy-blue jumper or tracksuit pants. If your child is unable to wear the correct jumper for a short period of time (it is in the wash, dirty or too small etc.) please opt for a plain black or plain jumper. We ask students to limit their earrings to either sleepers or studs and to avoid wearing coloured nail polish to school.
We still have several items found around the Stage 3 area without names on them. Please remember to clearly label all hats, jumpers and lunch boxes or containers with your child’s name.
Attendance matters. When your child is absent from school, they miss important opportunities to learn, build relationships and develop life skills. If your child is away, please either respond to the SMS sent out by the school or send in a note with your child on their return.
Lastly, our schoolbook packs are still 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.
Until next time …. Take care,
Kellie Balloch on behalf of the Stage 3 team.