Caves Beach Public School Newsletter

Term 3 Week 1 and Week 2 - 22nd July - 1st August 2025

Principal's Blog

Make My Day! 

It's good to see all our students back and welcome to our new students and families.

K-2 Athletics Carnival

Last week, K-2 held their Athletics Carnival. It was a fun-filled day where students participated in races and games, showcasing their enthusiasm. A big thank you to the teachers for their support and organisation in making the day a success!

Year 5 Excursion

Today, Year 5 set off for their three-day excursion to The Great Aussie Bush Camp, where they will take part in various activities that will challenge them and help them grow. These learning sessions are combined with exciting adventures, giving students the chance to develop real-world skills, make lasting memories, and feel a sense of achievement. I want to sincerely thank Mrs. Nebauer, Mr. Remington, and Mrs. Davis for taking time away from their families to provide these valuable experiences for our students.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

NAIDOC Week 2025 marks a significant milestone of 50 years dedicated to honouring Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," highlights the achievements of the past and the promising future led by our youth. Join us for the NAIDOC Week Opening Ceremony on Monday, August 4th, in the Caves Beach Public School Hall, featuring student and guest speakers, along with didgeridoo and dance performances. On Wednesday, August 6th, students will participate in classroom activities focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, and they are encouraged to wear out-of-uniform colours representing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. The celebrations will conclude with a Closing Ceremony and awards presentation on Friday, August 8th. We look forward to celebrating and reflecting on the importance of NAIDOC Week together! We are excited to have welcomed several new families to our school this term! We extend a warm welcome to each of you and look forward to getting to know you better as part of our school community.

Sue Gibson

Principal

Upcoming Events

Week 2

  • Monday 28th - Wednesday 30th July - Year 5 Excursion
  • Wednesday 30th July - Friday 1st August - HPGE Camp

    Week 3

    • Monday 4th - Friday 8th August - NAIDOC Week
    • Thursday 7th August - Stage 2 Touch Football Gala Day

    Week 4

    • Tuesday 12th - Wednesday 13th - Year 3 Excursion
    • Thursday 14th August - Stage 3 Touch Football Gala Day

    Class of the Week

    Awards

    Merit Awards

    Congratulations to the following Merit Award recipients:

    Week 1

    KFGwynne G & Bowie SK/1PLuka P & Jazmin J1SEzekiel C & Harper W
    1/2HRogue N-S & Lailee R2MOscar M & Mason M2/3BElish M & Levi L
    3PAlbee P & Evelyn C3/4BZoey W & Kelly A4TDakota H & Nixon C
    5NSophia S & Aaylah S5/6RBen P & Liam D6LLacey C & Cooper S
    6MMaiple W & Chayse O



    GYM Awards

    Congratulations to the following Celebration Award recipients:

    Week 1

    KFLucian T

    		Sportsmanship & Kindness 
    K/1P

    Ruby R 

    		Persistence & Respect
    1SIsabella MPerserverence
    1/2HMurphy FJoyfulness & Creativity
    2MRafe BRespect & Helpfulness
    2/3BGrace JRespect & Kindness
    3P

    Lucas P

    		Empathy
    3/4BRiver BLeadership
    4T

    Lennon P

    		Curiosity in Discussions
    5NAmber MKindness & Respect
    5/6RMila AHelpfulness
    6L

    Olivia G

    		Leadership
    6MLiam APerserverance

    Gold

    Congratulations to the following Gold Award recipients:

        Cameron R     3/4B

        Rocky T            3/4B   

        Willow J        4T

    Other School News

    Pen Licence 3/4B

    Congratulations to Grace, Sienna, Zayden and Zoey - the first Year 4 students to earn their Pen Licence in 2025! Your dedication to neat, consistent handwriting has paid off, and we’re so proud of your achievement. Keep up the amazing work!

    CELEBRATE NAIDOC WEEK 2025

    CELEBRATE NAIDOC WEEK 2025

    This year marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The theme for 2025 is "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrating both past achievements and the bright future ahead, led by our young leaders and the legacy of Aboriginal ancestors.

    Join us for the NAIDOC Week Opening Ceremony on Monday, August 4th!

    We’ll have inspiring student and guest speakers with didgeridoo and dance performances by students from Caves Beach Public School and Swansea High School.

    On Wednesday, August 6th, students will engage in exciting classroom activities to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. We encourage students to come in out of uniform, wearing colours that reflect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags (red, yellow, black, blue, white, and green).

    We’re thrilled to partner with Nyikina Mangala Community School from the Jarlmadangah Burru community in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. In support of this partnership, we invite everyone to contribute a gold coin donation during NAIDOC Week to help raise funds for the school.

    The celebrations will wrap up with a Closing Ceremony and awards presentation on Friday, August 8th.

    Let’s come together to celebrate, reflect, and honour the rich cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples!

    Grow Your Mind

    Another important Grow Your Mind concept to look after our mental health is Shark vs. Dolphin thoughts.  We are faced with many situations each day and it is vital we use our OWL and ELEPHANT to help us make wise decisions.

     For example, you make a mistake on your work.

    A shark thought is a harmful thought about yourself. You can challenge this thinking with dolphin thoughts. These are an optimistic way of thinking.

    “Everyone makes mistakes, we learn from our mistakes”

    “I have the confidence to try again”

    “I can ask someone for help”

     If you have a Shark thought how will you turn it into a Dolphin thought?

    Environmental Group

    Learning and Support

    What is Phonemic Awareness and Why is it so Important?

    One of the most critical early reading skills isn’t reading at all! It’s called Phonemic Awareness and it’s the ability to hear, identify and play with individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. It is essential for reading and spelling success!

    You’ve probably heard of phonics, which connects sounds to letters (e.g. knowing that the sound /sss/ is represented by the letter S). Phonemic awareness, on the other hand, is all about sound - with no letters involved. It’s the foundation children need to decode words, spell accurately, and read fluently.

    Phonemic awareness can continue to develop well after children start reading - and there are plenty of easy ways to do this at home, at bedtime, while cooking, or on a walk, e.g.

    ·         “What word am I saying? /d/ – /o/ – /g/”

    ·         “Say smile without the /s/?”

    ·         “Add /s/ to the start of top. What’s the new word?”

    ·         “How many words can you rhyme with log?”

    ·         “How many steps can you take to turn cat into pig by changing one sound at a time?” (cat-pat-pit-pig)

    ·         “Say nap backwards”

    Sport News

    PSSA Touch Footy

    Our Caves Beach Public School boys touch football team played a strong and determined game against Wallsend South, coming away with a hard-fought 8–5 win.

    After going down 1–0 early, the boys showed great teamwork and resilience to turn it around.

    They’re now through to the Hunter quarter finals — well done boys.

    Band News

    Band - Week 2 & 3 - Term 3

    Band returns this week for normal rehearsals; the staff are very keen to get the music making happening once again. A huge congratulations to junior band for a sensational performance at the end of term 2 at the celebration assembly. You all performed with confidence and showed exceptional organisational skills. 

    State Music Camp 

    Last week a group of stage 3 students attended the NSW State Music camp held in Sydney. This was a 5-night camp which allowed students to dive deeper into their music making and expand their musical skills. Lance and I were lucky enough to accompany these students for the week where these students proudly represented Caves Beach PS. The camp ended with an impressive concert which involved all 250 students performing in a variety of ensembles.  

    Congratulations Rebecca, Amelia, Gracie, Toby, Emily and Lilah.  

    Band Camp

    Notes will be sent home this week! The dates are Thursday 18th and Friday 19th September, please mark this in your calendars. 

    Students in years 3-6 will be overnight campers and year 2 students will be involved both days but not stay overnight. This camp will provide a wonderful musical experience as well as additional preparation time for Bandfest at the start of term 4. 

    Week 2 

    Junior band 8:15am – 8:55am - Tuesday and Thursday  

    Senior band 8:00am – 8:55am - Wednesday and Friday 

    Week 3

    Junior band 8:15am – 8:55am - Tuesday and Thursday  

    Senior band 8:00am – 8:55am - Wednesday only - No Friday 

    Please send a black display folder with current band music to rehearsals each week. 

    • Please keep in close contact with your tutors regarding absences. 

    Lance Verdon- Clarinet, Saxophone and Percussion - Tuesday, Thursday, Friday  

    Bethanee Swilks- Keyboard - Monday 

    Isabella O'Brien - Flute and Bass guitar - Tuesday 

    Bryn Wilson-Kellaway - Trumpet and Trombone – Wednesday

     Fees:

    Fees will be collected through the school office for all band members. These have been added to your school bytes accounts, please let Mrs Scott know if there are any errors or if you cannot view these fees. 

    Fees can be paid off termly @ $60 per term. Instrument hire fees are due term 1 to secure the instrument for your child. Instrument hire fee is non- refundable.

    Band fee - $60 per student per term, Junior and Senior band.

    Instrument Hire fee - $100 per year, due term 1

    Reeds:

    Reeds are available for purchase with cash only to Mrs Scott:

    Clarinet - Rico - $3.50 (Beginner students) 

    Clarinet - Vandoren - $4.50 (Intermediate - advanced students) 

    Saxophone - $4.50 

    Bass Clarinet - $7.50

    Students will be supplied with a reed when one is broken so they can continue to participate in rehearsals and lessons.  A slip will be sent home with your child with the cost displayed and payment is expected within the same week. 

    Happy music making,

    Kelsey Scott 

    Band coordinator 

    Library News

    P&C News

    Canteen Chatter

    🍔 Seaside Bites Canteen News 🏖️

    🍔 Seaside Bites Update 🏖️

    🌮 Taco & Nacho Day Delight! 🧀We wrapped up last term with a delicious twist—Taco and Nacho Day! 🎉 The canteen was buzzing with excitement as students enjoyed a fun, flavorful break from the usual menu. We hope everyone enjoyed the treat and the chance to try something a little different! 🎊

    ✅ Please Remember to check the QKR app anytime for new menu items and updates.

    🙏A big thank you to all our wonderful Seaside Bites volunteers for your continued support – we couldn’t do it without you! 💙🙌

    📩 Interested in helping out in the canteen? Give the school a call or pop us an  email at cavescanteen@gmail.com to sign up—we’d love to have you on board! 🥪

    Thanks again for all your support! 💛

    — The Seaside Bites Team

    The roster for Weeks 10 and 1 is below:  

    Week 2

    Week 3

    Mon28th JulyVickiMon4th AugustSarita
    Tues29th JulyKahlieTues5th AugustNikki & Tamara
    Thurs

    31st July

    		Jessie & LeanneThurs7th AugustNanaka & Glenn
    Fri1st AugustMel A, Danni & ChristineFri8th AugustAllirra, Bridgette & Genevieve

    Uniform Shop News

    Other Information

    Caves Beach Public School

    A caring, supportive school promoting high academic standards.

    Respect | Responsibility | Integrity | Acceptance | Care & Compassion | Honesty & Trustworthy