The Link

A Publication of Rydalmere Public School

Term 1 Week 10, 2024

Relieving Principal's Updates

Easter Hat Parade

Well done to our students who participated in last week’s Easter Hat parade. It was a lot of fun for our students and parents who came to watch. Congratulations to all the students who put in such a great effort with the creation of their hats.  

Voluntary School Contributions

The provision of quality education relies, not only on the quality of the teaching staff, but also on the quality of resources that we use to educate the students. We are fortunate to have an enthusiastic, experienced and committed staff at Rydalmere Public school who do their very best every day with the resources available to them.   

Rydalmere Public School acknowledges the many ways parents and carers contribute to our school each year, including donation of time, expertise, and vibrant community spirit, as well as voluntary school contributions and Individual Student Learning Resources. These contributions enable the school to provide greatly improved resources and facilities to enhance students’ learning experiences. I appreciate your support and generosity in contributing to the provision of excellent educational programs at Rydalmere PS.  

2024 Voluntary School Contributions

Rydalmere Public schools requests an annual voluntary school contribution, like most NSW public schools. This contribution is used to enhance our educational and extra-curricular programs and resources. This contribution is voluntary, and the Department of Education’s voluntary school contribution policy can be found here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/pd-2005-0233  

The voluntary school contribution for 2024 is $45 per student.  

Parents/carers can view their Statement of Account and make payment via the School Bytes parent portal early next week.

Staffing News

We have temporarily farewelled Mrs James and Mrs Townsend for the remainder of the year as they are now on maternity leave. We wish them well and look forward to hearing wonderful news regarding additions to their families.  We welcome Miss Reynolds who will be taking over library RFF for term 2. 

Sydney West Regional Swimming Championships

Congratulations to Oliva D who represented the school and zone at the Regional Swimming Carnival. In the 50m freestyle she placed fourth in her heat and in the 50m backstroke she placed first in her heat. Well done Olivia!

Share Our Space

Over the school holidays our school is part of the share our space program. Our field will be accessible via the Elanora Street entrance. 

Happy Holidays

The last day for this term is Friday 12th April. I wish all families in the community a safe and wonderful holiday with lots of opportunities for you to catch up with friends and family. Our teachers will return on Monday 29th April for school development day focusing on curriculum implementation. Students will return on Tuesday 30th April. 

Have a fantastic break and I look forward to seeing all students and parents in term 2. 

Regards, 

Mr Yee 

From the Office

Please contact the office by email if there has been a change to any of the following to your child/children's details:

- change of address.

- change of email.

- phone numbers - mobile or home/work.

- change of emergency contacts.

- Additional/change of medical circumstances

Lost Property

Our lost property box is well and truly overflowing with jumpers, hats, water bottles and other items.

Please ensure that all belongings are clearly labelled with your child's name and class.  Lost property can be returned to children quickly and easily if they are clearly labelled.

Our lost property box is located at the front office of the school (A Block)

Keeping in Touch

There are lots of ways to stay in touch at Rydalmere Public School:

Audiri: is our school communication platform. 

School Newsletter: for staying connected with school throughout the term, read our fortnightly school newsletter. Copies available through the school website or via our school app Audiri

School Website: for information about our school, visit our school website.

Email: School office rydalmere-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au


K-2 Assistant Principal Updates

Buddy Program

Our Year 5/6 buddies lent a helping hand to KM and K/1C students in creating their Easter Hats. The students thoroughly enjoyed collaborating to make their hats for the parade.

Thank you, West Ryde Officeworks

A big thank you to West Ryde Officeworks for generously donating craft boxes to assist our students from P-6 in decorating their Easter hats.

Iftar Dinner

We would like to invite our whole school community to attend our very first Ramadan Iftar community event at 6:30 pm on Friday 5 April 2024. All parents, cares, families and friends of Rydalmere Public School are all invited to attend. The evening will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone at our diverse school to come together in harmony and try foods from many different cultures. Rydalmere Public School will be providing manoush, and we kindly request that all attending families bring a suitable halal dish to share with one another.

3-6 Assistant Principal Updates

Important information for Year 4 families!

Applications for entry into an Opportunity Class 2025 open on April 4 2024 and close on May 20 2024. Families must apply online using the following link  https:// shsoc.education.nsw.gov.au/

Further information can be found at  https:// education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/parents-and- carers/choosing-a-school-setting/selective- high-schools/choosing-a-school/opportunity- classes

Students who have applied will be required to sit the OC Placement test on August 1 2024.

Complete the form in the link below to inform the school if your child will or will not ne applying.  

Exploring Our World: Student Adventures in Geography!

4/5 Silver is on a geography adventure, diving into a research project to understand our world, cultures, and countries better! Students chose countries to study, exploring geographical features, climate, and culture. They've created maps showcasing important landmarks and shared interesting facts about tourism. This project isn't just about learning facts; it's about understanding our world and aligns with the NSW Stage 2 and 3 geography curriculum, fostering critical thinking and cultural appreciation. Students thoroughly enjoyed this project, showcasing their knowledge and creativity with enthusiasm. From researching countries to crafting maps, they demonstrated their passion for learning and exploration.

4/5S Geography Projects

Dates Ahead


Friday - April 5Iftar Dinner - 6:30pm to 8:00 pm
Friday - April 12Last day of  Term 1
Tuesday - April 30School resumes for Term 2
Tuesday - May 7Mother's Day Stall Day 1
Wednesday - May 8Mother's Day Stall Day 2
Monday - 13 May P&C Meeting 7 pm in the School Library

Student Wellbeing

SRC Report

On Tuesday the 26th of March, Mrs Taylor, our school leaders and SRC members gathered together to work on our leadership skills as well as plan future events for Rydalmere Public School and the wider community. It was inspiring to have the 2024 Student Representative Council so engaged and passionate about how they can use their student voices to also be active citizens in our school and in their everyday lives.

First we discussed our roles and responsibilities as trusted SRC members of the school and then discussed how we can improve the school and use our voices to make it an even better place for students. Finally, we began to plan our first event of the year which will take place in Term 2. Stay tuned for more information early next term about all the exciting things we have planned!

The BRAVE Program

As your Learning and Support Teacher (LaST), I will be regularly sharing resources that I believe will benefit our school community. Every fortnight, I'll be sharing various programs and opportunities that you may find valuable depending on your circumstances.

This fortnight, I'm excited to introduce you all to the BRAVE Program. Developed by experts, this program is an interactive, online platform designed for the prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety. The best part? It's entirely free!

The BRAVE Program offers a range of tools and strategies to help children and teenagers better cope with their worries. Through engaging activities and resources, participants learn valuable skills to manage anxiety effectively. Additionally, there are specialised programs available for parents, providing them with insights and techniques to support their children on their journey.

You can access the BRAVE Program through the following link: https://brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au

Mrs. Kouros

Learning and Support Teacher (LaST)

Road Safety at Rydalmere PS

Given the location of our school on a main road, please take road safety seriously every day!

The Safety Town website is a suite of digital and non-digital teaching and learning activities to support the teaching of road safety from Kindergarten to Year 6 in NSW primary schools.

The website includes interactive activities, comprehensive teaching notes, links to relevant transport information, and updated information for parents and carers.

Safety Town helps parents to reinforce road safety messages and concepts that are taught at school. Please see the link below.

https://www.safetytown.com.au/

P & C Report

Easter raffle 

Thank you to all the families and friends of the school community who donated items for our beautiful Easter Raffle Hamper prizes. Over 30 hampers were assembled by P&C volunteers, which put big smiles on the faces of the lucky winners drawn during the Easter Hat Parade. Thank you also to all the families who supported this fundraiser by purchasing raffle tickets. We are delighted to announce we raised $929.

P & C MEETING

The next P&C Meeting will be held on Monday 13 May at 7pm in the school Library and online. We encourage as many parents and carers to attend. The P&C will be seeking nominations for President at the meeting. If you are interested in this role, or need more information, please contact us at rydalmerepnc@gmail.com

DATES AHEAD

Tuesday 7 May - Mother's Day Stall Day 1 (details coming soon)

Wednesday 8 May - Mother's Day Stall Day 2

Monday 13 May - P&C Meeting 7pm in School Library

Community Hub News

Are you interested in volunteering? Hub is happy to help you find the right place to volunteer. Are you a social worker looking for job? There are 2 job opportunities. Contact Seetha for more information.

For those I haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet, I'm Seetha, your friendly Community Liaison Officer at the Community Hub. You'll find me around the school from Monday to Wednesday and on Fridays. The Community Hub is your gateway to forging meaningful connections with fellow families, the school, and local services. It's a welcoming space where all parents can meet, mingle, and build lasting friendships.

So why not pop in for a coffee and a chat, or jump into an activity? I'm eager to meet all of you. If you want to learn more about the Hub or find out how you can get involved, give me a call at 0448331588 or shoot me an email at seetha.srinivasan@det.nsw.edu.au.

See you at the Hub!"

Monday:

 

9:30 - 12:30 pm - Conversational English class—no appointment needed

Tuesday:

9:00 - 10:00am - Walking Group. Meet at the walking gate for a casual walk near the wharf.

Wednesday:

One Box Collection Exclusively for those who've signed up. Between: 9 - 9:30 am &2:30 - 3:00 pm. 

Playgroup with SDN Children's Services -

9:30 - 11:30 am - Just walk in and play!

Friday:

9:30 - 10:30am - Dance Fitness with Sophie Get your groove on—no need to sign up, just show up! 

10:00 - 1:00 pm - Cupcake Decoration Course by TAFE Starting February 23rd, a few spots are still available. Grab them before they're gone!