Pigeon Post

2023 Volume 4 Issue 3

PLEASE NOTIFY THE SCHOOL OF A CHILD'S POSITIVE CASE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Advice for families - DoE website

https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families

Acknowledgement of Country...

Useful links can be found at end of this issue of the Pigeon Post...👇

ENROL HERE...

https://ehub.enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/schoolenrolment/?schoolCode=7404

Please let the school know, as we are currently planning for 2024...

Thank you for your understanding...

From the Principal's Desk...

In Australia, we celebrate World Teacher's Day on the last Friday of October, as the 5th October always falls in our school holidays. I'd like to acknowledge all the dedicated teachers we have at Balmain Public School, who go out of their way to ensure they're making a difference in every learners' education. We are so lucky to have you! Thank you!

THANK YOU!!!!!

Miles came third in the high jump at the State Track and Field Championships this week. This incredible effort has earned Miles a place in the NSW team, to compete at the National Track and Field Championships in Tasmania next month. Miles' best jump at this event was 1.58m. For context, Miles is 1.65m tall and has a personal best jump of 1.60m. Pretty massive! CONGRATS, Miles and best of luck in Tasmania!

PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING! We're collecting plastic bottle lids for a special project. Please wash and dry instead of recycling. There is a collection box in the foyer, outside the office. Thanks so much for your help!

Connect with Balmain PS...Wonder what's goes on at our school? Follow us on Instagram for daily content, both through posts and stories...

The week that was...

Check out what we've been doing this week. Head over to our Instagram account: @balmainps

Follow us on Instagram

Keep up with what's happening @ Balmain Public School

https://www.instagram.com/balmainps/


IF YOU SEE A COLOURED CIRCLE AROUND OUR SCHOOL LOGO, DON'T FORGET TO TAP ON IT, FOR OUR LATEST STORY...you've got to get in quickly, as it disappears after 24 hours!

SOME OF OUR STORIES ARE SAVED AS HIGHLIGHTS...

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) Framework

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/b/balmain-p/BPS_PB4L_Framework_2022.pdf

Student Leadership

ABORIGINAL EDUCATION PORTFOLIO - George, Bonnie & Emily

We all loved making a new Acknowledgement of Country, and saying it at assembly each week. We also loved playing the Aboriginal games at sport with Mr Baumann. We enjoyed doing Nude Food with the rest of the ministers, and loved going around to each classroom at the start of the year to check if they had an Aboriginal map and Acknowledgement of Country. We all liked when Costa came and liked tasting all the bushtucker that he brought in.

In term 4 we want to achieve:

  • Making a mural with the Arts, Culture & Communities Ministers. 

  • We want to get all the classes to make an Aboriginal artworks. They are auctioned off, and there will be games and activities. 

ARTS, CULTURE & COMMUNITIES PORTFOLIO - Rose & Addie

As the Arts, Culture and Community Ministers of 2023, we have had an amazing year as a part of the Ministry. At the start of the year, we created a fundraiser to help people in Syria and Turkiye during the major earthquakes. We raised just under $1500 over the course of 2 days! On Harmony Day, we created activities for each stage which included Stage 1 & 2 singing a song about harmony and Stage 3 to do a Harmony Day themed writing competition.

In Term 4, we, with the Learning and Engagement Ministers, are reintroducing BPS’s talent show.

HEALTH, FITNESS & WELLBEING PORTFOLIO - Miles & Indi

This year in the ministry, we have enjoyed every second of it. From browsing catalogues for new sports equipment, unboxing packages, presenting to the P&C and just having fun doing our job. 

Our favourite thing that we’ve done this year is replenishing the sports equipment for the sports room. This process involved looking through catalogues and finding out what we need for the school. We then proceeded to order everything we needed to order. Once the packages arrived, we proceeded to unbox and label everything. Mr Baumann and Ms Archibald have helped immensely in our journey in the ministry. Special thanks to Ms Reedy, Ms Whelan and Mrs Lambos as well.

We are really looking forward to this term and our special legacy project - the whole school picnic!!

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT PORTFOLIO - Cormac, Annita & Ginger

This year we have done many things including he International Day of Maths, attending the teacher meetings, nude food, many speeches and tasting bush tucker and tea when Costa and some other people from 

Gardening Australia came.

 We also went to the dawn service and we also made baabara, the mascot for Nude Food, a project encouraging students to bring in sustainable foods and lunch boxes.

We are excited to do the talent show at the end of this term and the whole school picnic, which we are working on with a few other ministers.

STEM PORTFOLIO - Zac & Jack

What we have done 

  • Parent interview for women in STEM

  • Science week - assembly, parents,

  • posters, incursion

  • Resources/planning  the stem room

  • Stem club

Over the wonderful year of 2023 your amazing STEM Ministers have done numerous things inspiring and adding science, technology, engineering and maths into the lives of everyone at Balmain.

Over the past three terms of 2023, our STEM Ministers have done a variety of different things such as: Interviewing parents  at assembly for women in STEM Day, Science week with an assembly, parents, posters and an incursion and redesigning the STEM room.

In Term 4 we are keen to keep helping out in the STEM room, to help with the whole school picnic and the talent show. Woo hoo!

SUSTAINABILITY Portfolio - Lauren & Harriet

From the start of 2023, our portfolio has contributed to many new aspects of our school. Everyone being in an awarding opportunity, we have accomplished a lot, this includes completing ‘Miss Pauline’s Garden’, which has become a great learning and calm space for everyone to enjoy. Our steering teachers Ms Cooper and Mrs Bowman have provided awesome opportunities for us to enjoy all throughout 2023 so far. 

We have been representatives for our school at the local Anzac Day dawn service, as we appreciated the soldiers who fought for our land. 

We have also been finding new ways to care for our environment and to try and encourage our peers at Balmain Public School to be more sustainable, one way we have shown this is by starting ‘Nude Food’ each Tuesday kids are encouraged to bring in lunch with no plastic to win a reward of 10 minutes of extra break time and our mascot, ‘Baarbra’. 

In term 4, we wish to accomplish continuing harvesting our crops from our veggie patch and selling our fresh produce to the Balmain community. 

P&C...

Follow our P&C on Insta @balmainpspc

Team P&C

Sign up for Uniform Shop Volunteers here...

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0a45ada92ca2fa7-uniform#/

October Meeting Minutes

Download

P&C Membership form

Download

To see what else we've been up to this week, head over to @balmainps!

***COMPASS IS OUR MAIN FORM OF COMMUNICATING WITH YOU***In case of urgent/important communication, notifications via the Compass app on your phone will keep you informed***

To ensure you receive all communication via Compass, please have the app downloaded on your phone, with the notifications turned ON.

Although the school pushes out notifications via the app and email, there may be times when an important message may be missed as emails may sometimes not be checked regularly.

If there were to be an emergency, (hopefully not), information would be pushed out via Compass.

From the Office

If you have recently received an invoice from the school, your assistance in finalising your account is much appreciated.

**SCHOOL RESOURCE FEE NOW DUE: In order to assist Balmain Public School teachers’ curriculum delivery of high-quality education for all students K-6, various school-based programs are organised by each stage team. All programs, which may vary from stage to stage, are an integral part of students’ learning. *Note: this is NOT a P&C Voluntary Contribution/Levy.**

If you are experiencing difficulty in making a payment, please contact the Office or Mrs Lambos.

School Resource Fees - Google form

https://forms.gle/1cbQWsKuikfm4tCo8

2023 Schedule of School Resource Fees

Download

Dropping something off?

Please label item/s with their full name and class.

Incorrect Payments 

There have been some instances where people are paying twice for items, or the incorrect amount. Please check prior to making an online payment.

Absences

Please use the Compass app to notify your child's teacher of their absence/s.

Kindy Parents/Carers

Sometimes children have 'accidents'. Where possible, we provide them with a clean dry change of clothes. Please keep spare underpants and socks in their bag, just in case.

Dropping off/collecting your child

If you are collecting your child early or dropping them off late, please come to the Office window on Eaton Street. Squeeze 'Bill' the Duck and we will organise a note for the student.  Also, if you are dropping anything off for your child, please ensure all items are LABELLED with full name & class.

Payments online

If you are paying for excursions etc, please go to the School website and click on the 'make a payment' tab and follow the prompts. You can also pay through the Compass app. Also, at the top of each week's newsletter, under 'Useful Links', there is a tab, 'Make a payment'.

Change of address/contacts

If you have moved recently or changed Emergency Contacts or mobile numbers, please email the Office so details can be updated.

Financial Difficulties

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact the office or Mrs Lambos.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

TONIGHT - FRI 27 OCT | HALLOWEEN DISCO

SAT 28 OCT | Nicho Halloween Festival

MON 30 OCT | Selective & Enrichment Information Evening

SAT 11 NOV | Remembrance Day | Loyalty Square | 11am

TUES 12 DEC | Celebration of Learning

Details to come...

WED 13 DEC | Salvo's Christmas Giving Tree

Details to come...

FRI 15 DEC | Last Day of School

Every FRIDAY (weather permitting) | AWARDS ASSEMBLY

Please leave your furry friends at home...

Every FRIDAY | Uniform Stall

Order items online here

The best way to order new uniforms is online and they will be delivered to children's classrooms each Friday morning.

Come to the uniform stall if you need to try items on for size.

Second Chance items are available the first Friday of every month during the school term. 

If you would like to volunteer to help, please either email us at balmainpsuniforms@gmail.com or sign up via the link

Located on the ground floor, next to the ConneXion Hub.

Every FRIDAY | The School Canteen: Special request for parents and carers to cancel their lunch orders if their child is not going to be at school for lunch, by texting 0416 786 603 with their child’s full name and class. In return, an sms will be sent back to confirm the order has been cancelled and all monies returned in full to the child’s Spriggy school account.


P&C Meetings | via Zoom and offsite (in-person) @ 7pm

Meeting dates:

  • Wednesday 8 November
  • Wednesday 6 December

AWARDS

LEARN LIVE LEAD awards

K Gigli - Mrs L Goodridge & Ms A DavisNicholas Qmaking a terrific effort with his writing!
K Wheat(ies) - Ms K WithersBillie McIworking hard to make excellent progress in reading and writing!
1/2 Angel Hair - Mrs E ArchibaldMillicent B Wenthusiasm towards and improvement in reading
1/2 Jowar - Ms L JennettDot Walways treating her peers with respect and understanding
1/2 Lasagne - Ms N LydonLili Mmaking fantastic contributions in reading groups
1/2 Pappardelle - Ms S Parsons & Ms A DavisMatilda Hexcellent progress in reading and star quality in our dance performance
3/4 Bigoli - Ms K BarcenillaMargot Bher flexible and accepting nature when facing unfamiliar experiences!
3/4 Cavatappi - Ms A CooperElodie Wher effective teamwork and wonderful portrayal of an echidna during our Drama incursion
3/4 Macaroni - Ms R McListerHarry Ssharing his funny and animated ideas when workshopping drama scripts
5/6 Bucatini - Ms L Burke & Mr T KimMia M-Cher incredibly detailed and realistic scientific diagram of a hercules beetle
5/6 Couscous - Ms A MannionNina Bhaving an open and generous heart and being kind to those who need it
5/6 Egg Noodles - Mr G ElixKai McBengaging enthusiastically with extension and extra-curricular activities
5/6 Pearl - Mrs A PitmanJasper Aan impressive final Freedom to Learn!
5/6 Ragi - Ms R ReedyAden Lbeing emotionally supportive and understanding to others

CHARACTER STRENGTH awards - HUMILITY

K Gigli - Mrs L Goodridge & Ms A DavisFinley Hcheering on his classmates during games and being happy when others win
K Wheat(ies) - Ms K WithersNoah Bbeing a thoughtful listener and putting others' needs before his own
1/2 Angel Hair - Mrs E ArchibaldIvy Nalways being willing to help others in need
1/2 Jowar - Ms L JennettMatt Nbeing humble in his academic achievements, and always helping his peers
1/2 Lasagne - Ms N LydonKian Dcelebrating others wins and being a helpful class member
1/2 Pappardelle - Ms S Parsons & Ms A DavisZachary B-Nhaving a go at a tricky dance and making it a fun experience
3/4 Bigoli - Ms K BarcenillaSophie Walways accepting her achievements with grace and kindness
3/4 Cavatappi - Ms A CooperSilas Rshowing kindness and equality in his classroom conduct. Silas you have the soul of a poet!
3/4 Macaroni - Ms R McListerAmber Zputting her best foot forward and leading with kindness and patience when working in a group
5/6 Bucatini - Ms L Burke & Ms S Walters/Mr T KimCleopatra McPacknowledging others' achievements and recognising them before herself and being humble and kind
5/6 Couscous - Ms A MannionRohan Cvolunteering to share his time and knowledge to help others in the classroom
5/6 Egg Noodles - Mr G ElixMillie Ocollaborating with enthusiasm and care during group work
5/6 Pearl - Mrs A PitmanGinger Rdisplaying genuine joy and encouragement for others' achievements
5/6 Ragi - Ms R ReedyLeah Lbeing a leader and assisting others in quadratic thinking

House Points...

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS!
WINNERS!
THIS WEEK'S RESULTS!

Best Class @ Assembly Award

NO ASSEMBLY DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

NUDE FOOD TUESDAYS WEEKLY WINNER

Each week, Baa-bara the Sheep will stay with the class that has the highest percentage of nude food in their lunch boxes. They will be entitled to 10 minutes extra play!

Congrats to 1/2A!

Positive Pete Winners

This week's winners...

ES1 - Lily K KW; S1 - Victoria W 1/2J; S2 - Lola B 3/4B; S3 - Cleopatra McP 5/6B

SPOTLIGHT ON...

1/2 PAPPARDELLE!!!!!

Did you know you can make butter from cream? 1/2P found a simple way to make butter, but it did require a bit of effort. Stage One has been learning about natural and processed foods and where they come from. We loved the process of transforming raw food into another form!

We have also been practising for our Stage One dance spectacular. We have fostered student voice in our production, with students having had input into their characters and dance moves. We can't wait to perform for all our parents and carers in Week 7!

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

...in alphabetical order

Balmain Public School website

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/

Comms - installing SkoolBag

https://www.skoolbag.com.au/installation-instructions/

Department of Education - Advice for families

https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families

Digital Learning Packs - for isolating students

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/learning-from-home/learning-at-home/2022-digital-learning-packs/primary
Note: Please do not hand this work in to your child's teacher, as it will not be marked.

Enrolment information - website

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/enrolment.html

Enrolment - online application

https://ehub.enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/schoolenrolment/?schoolCode=7404

Extended leave - application form

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/b/balmain-p/Extended_Leave_Travel_notification.pdf
Please ensure you complete all sections of the form, as well as to include a travel itinerary.

Extra-curricular activities @ BPS

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/extra-curricular-activities.html

Friday lunch orders

https://app.spriggyschools.com.au/login

Make a payment

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/payment.html#/student-details

P&C page on school's website

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/p-c.html

P&C membership form

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/b/balmain-p/pandc/2022/BALMAIN_PS_PC_MEMBERSHIP_FORM.pdf

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) Framework

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/b/balmain-p/BPS_PB4L_Framework_2022.pdf

School Resource Fees 2023 - Google form

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-28v-DiuR6pclcd2MjrlZrJyCkDJ2L23sqFs_fdh43lE7zg/viewform

UNIFORMS

Balmain Public School children are expected to wear full school uniform, including a school hat, every day. All children are required to wear full school uniform when representing the school on excursions, at sporting events or at cultural activities.

Uniform - online ordering

https://bps-uniform-stall.square.site/

Contact us

Est. 1860