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Welcome back to you all! We always seem to start each term with a flurry!
Many thanks to all who attended ANZAC services and continue to keep the spirit of the ANZACs alive. It is always a moving experience to attend a Dawn Service. Our Blackwell community were out in force with our school leaders, Ryder and Imogen lay a wreath on our behalf.
Our calendar says it all with just about every week filled with events and activities. Please keep the calendar handy. I do post on Facebook each Sunday for the coming week and our new electronic sign also acts as a reminder.
Keeping parents involved continues to be a goal. Our P&C monthly meetings are a great way to find out what is happening and voice your opinions. We need to hear your thoughts and comments. I take that ‘no news is good news” but ideally it would be wonderful to hear parent feedback. The P&C is currently working on some parent surveys to gather this type of information.
Many thanks for your support with our upcoming Mother’s Day stall on Friday, 12th May. I am sure the P&C will be seeking volunteers to man the stalls.
PSSA sport and trials will hopefully take place and not be so rain affected as was the case in Term 1. Mr Woolard has purchased new uniforms and representative shirts that have just arrived. Looking forward to seeing our students take the field in these.
Invitations to all our Aboriginal families will go out this week to ensure parents, students and staff are all involved in writing plans to meet each students needs. We have set aside Wednesday, 17th May from 3:15pm for an hour to come along and meet the staff. This will be our first YARN time for 2023. We have also been working with Kimberwalli staff to plan some exciting events during the year. We have already enrolled in the NAIDOC Cup gala day with our other STePS schools.
Our STePS Music Festival is well underway with choir and dance troupe rehearsing. Save the date – Thursday, 10th August 2023 at Panthers Evans Theatre!
Finally, Congratulations to Mrs Tess Marsh on her recent marriage.
And to Miss Ava Ghobrial, Miss Olivia Hanson and Miss Megan Hale on their graduation from Western Sydney University. Seems like only yesterday they were students!!
Looking forward to a busy but rewarding term ahead.
Mrs Kris Hudswell
Principal
News from the Deputy Principal
Welcome back to Term 2. We have a very busy term planned. Parents, please stay on top of permission notes and events happening at school. Our new sign has some information of up and coming events, as well as our stage Facebook pages and our calendar on our website.
Attendance
Great improvements last term with the percentage of students attending school. Blackwell has achieved over 90% attendance every week of last term. We need to get our attendance back to 95% pre covid times. In saying that, we do ask that if children are unwell then they need to stay home. Please provide a note upon returning to school explaining the absence.
Check in Assessments
Year 4 & 6 students will participate in an online reading and numeracy Check-in assessment.
The Check-in assessment is a NSW Department of Education online reading and numeracy assessment available to support schools to assess and monitor student learning.
The assessments can supplement existing school practices to identify how students are performing and to help teachers tailor their teaching more specifically to student needs.
The assessment will be scheduled for our Year 4 & 6 students during Term 2 Week 4 -Week 7. Students are asked to bring headphones or earbuds that plug into a computer to enable them to hear audio during the assessment. The type of computer connection needed is a standard 3.5mm jack.
Mr 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.
If you would like to use NSW Back to School Vouchers on the school packs, please ensure to email the school on Blackwell-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au with your child/ren details, QR code and Voucher number. When the outstanding payment is made your account will be cleared.
**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.
Where: | Clairgate PS, Banks PS and St Clair PS |
Date: | Wednesday, 10th May, Wednesday, 21st June and Wednesday, 19th July 2023 |
Who: | Selected Students |
Cost: | $30.00 |
Transport: | Bus |
Where: | Joan Sutherland Centre, Penrith |
Date: | Monday, 29th May |
Who: | Selected Students |
Cost: | $40.00 |
Transport: | Bus |
Where: | Auburn Botanic Gardens |
Date: | Friday, 2nd June |
Who: | Year 3 Students |
Cost: | $40.00 |
Where: | Blackwell Public School |
Date: | Friday, 9th, 16th and 23rd June |
Who: | Year 6 Students |
Cost: | $45.00 |
Where: | YMCA Camp Yarramundi |
Date: | Thursday 14th September - Friday 15th September |
Who: | Year 4 Students |
Cost: | $250.00 DEPOSIT $50.00 |
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.
Information for parents and students
School Travel Passes
Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.
In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.
New Student Opal cards (including new Term Bus Passes) will be sent to the student’s nominated postal address within two weeks of their application being approved.
Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
Terms of use
Students using Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.
Student Code of Conduct
All students are required to comply with the Student Code of Conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.
Mail sent from the Stakeholder Liaison Team, Customers Systems and Operations.
Further information can be found at transportnsw.info/school-travel
Enquiries can be submitted at transportnsw.info/passes-concessions-feedback
Welcome to the start of a brand-new term, hopefully after enjoying a safe and relaxing break with family and friends.
Last term, 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. 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 and Mrs Hudswell. Thank you.
Last Wednesday, our school leaders Imogen and Ryder were presented with special leadership awards from the Mayor Councillor Tricia Hitchen at Panthers. Both Imogen and Ryder have eagerly stepped into the role of School Captains at Blackwell and are certainly great role models for their peers. Congratulations.
We have a few exciting sporting events coming up on Tuesday 9th May. Mrs Cummins and Mrs Saia are looking forward to taking our Stage 3 Netball teams to the Netball NSW Cup at Jamison Park Penrith. The girls will need to find their own way to the venue and will met at 8:30am at the courts near the tower/canteen. Mr Woolard will be meeting the AFL teams down at Jamison Park for the Paul Kelly Cup. All AFL players will need to have a mouthguard to play. Good Luck to all our teams competing – we know you will try your best and play with Blackwell pride.
The P&C Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Friday 12th May. There will be a range of gifts available to purchase. The prices price points are $3, $5 and $8. It might be a good idea to supply a reusable bag to transport any items bought. Thank you to the team of volunteers who have organised the Mother’s Day stall and who will help out on the day. We are grateful.
We are currently in the final stages of organising our Stage 3 camp. We offer a separate Year 5 and Year 6 - 3 day – 2 night camp to Canberra.
Year 5’s dates are Wednesday 8th to Friday 10th November (Term 4 – Week 5) and Year 6’s dates are Wednesday 22nd to 24th November (Term 4 – Week 7).
A $50 non-refundable deposit is due on Wednesday 28th June (Term 2 Week 10) to secure a spot on the camp. The remaining balance for this camp needs to be paid by Wednesday 18th 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.
Camp notes will be sent home once all details like activities and accommodation have been confirmed with the company.
Our Peer Support lessons will continue for 2 more sessions – ending on the 22nd May.
Our Year 6 students have consistently been congratulated for their kindness, patience and great leadership skills when running these sessions by the supervising teachers.
We are so proud that our students have stepped up to the challenge of being Peer Support leaders of these groups. The feedback from their peers / group members has also been excellent.
Interrelate notes went home for our Year 6 students last term. The cost of the program is $45 per student with money and note needing to be returned to school before the 2nd of June. 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.
Our online homework started again this week. Students simply sign into their Google classroom, complete and then submit the tasks. They get immediate feedback for their responses. Please remind your children students to hit the submit button.
Homework is issued on Mondays and is due in on Fridays. We also encourage all students to complete Lexia for a minimum of 30 minutes a week and read for enjoyment daily.
As we head into the cooler months, please encourage your child to wear Blackwell’s school uniform which includes blue jumpers and tracksuit pants with black shoes/joggers and white socks. As always, please remember to clearly label your children’s belongings. We already have a small collection of Year 6 jumpers with no name on the tag and we would like to return these to their owners.
Over the next few weeks, auditions are being held for the Sydney West Dance Sport Competition. This is an opportunity for our Year 6 students to learn some partner dances like the waltz, gypsy tap and cha-cha and then compete against 20 other schools in Term 4 in both partner or team events. It is one of the highlights of the year and a great experience for all students involved. In fact, one of Blackwell’s ex-students and former school captains, Toby Lowing, went on to become a Junior Champion Dancer after participating in our school’s team.
We look forward to creating another great team in 2023.
Last term, several Stage 3 tried out and trained for the OZ Tag and Milo Cricket GALA day which was to be held on Tuesday 4th April at the Kingsway. Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side and the GALA day had to be cancelled. However, Mr Woolard has now been able to reschedule the event for Thursday 22nd June. A new permission note will come home closer to the event.
This means we will push back the Netball and Soccer GALA day into Term 3 which will give all schools an opportunity to train their teams.
Until next time …. Take care,
Kellie Balloch
Dates for the calendar (correct at the time of printing)
Week 3 Tuesday 9th May – Netball NSW Cup – Mrs Cummins - Paul Kelly Cup – Mr Woolard Friday 12th May – Mother’s Day Stall. Gifts $3, $5 and $8.
Week 4 Monday 15th May – Peer Support Lesson 5 Friday 19th May – Walk Safely to School
Week 5 Monday 22nd May – Peer Support Lesson 6 Friday 26th May – National Sorry Day
Week 6 Saturday 27th June to June 3rd National Reconciliation Week Monday 29th May – Sydney’s Writers Festival Friday 2nd June – Money due for Interrelate – Year 6
Week 7 Monday 5th June – District Cross Country Wednesday 7th June – Panther Trophy Friday 9th June – Year 6 Interrelate
Week 8 Monday 12th June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday Wednesday 14th June – Reports home & Regional Cross Country Friday 16th June – Year 6 Interrelate
Week 9 Parent Interviews ALL WEEK please book online. Thursday 22nd June – Stage 3 Gala Day – OzTag and Cricket Friday 23rd June – Year 6 Interrelate
Week 10 Tuesday 27th June - Jolly Bops Incursion. Wednesday 28th June – Deposit for camp due Thursday 29th June – PAWS lunch |