Dear JPS Families,

Welcome Back to Term 3!

It has been a strong and settled start to the term with students returning ready to learn and classrooms calm, focused and engaged. In line with the Department of Education’s School Excellence Framework, we continue to prioritise a positive learning environment that supports student wellbeing and high expectations for learning.

It is always lovely to hear students sharing stories from the holidays whether they welcomed a new pet, spent time with family and friends, travelled or simply enjoyed a quiet break.

A Warm Welcome to Our New Students

This week we welcomed Anneke, Pippa and Dawson to Jamberoo Public School. We’re so pleased to have these three students join our community and wish them all the best as they settle into their new classes.

Line Marking

We have had new line marking completed on the basketball court, including a bright hundreds square and hopscotch. It has been wonderful to see JPS children (and their siblings in the mornings and afternoons) making the most of these fresh spaces.

Calling All Parents and Carers – Share Your Skills!

We are inviting members of our school community to volunteer to teach, demonstrate or share something with our students during Education Week. Last year we were lucky to experience some incredible sessions – from cooking and craft to science experiments, music and cultural stories. If you’d like to get involved, please follow this link by clicking here. We’d love to hear from you!

P&C Working Bee – This Saturday

Our P&C Working Bee is on tomorrow (Saturday) between 11:30am and 3:00pm. Whether you have half an hour or a full hour to spare, your help will be greatly appreciated. Light refreshments will be provided for volunteers and any children who come along to support the day. We hope to see you tomorrow! 

Staff Professional Learning

On Monday and also on Wednesday afternoon, our staff engaged in professional learning. Sessions focused on attendance monitoring, Reconciliation Action Plan, and deepening our understanding of how to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in teaching. We also looked at using Thinkers’ Keys to enrich and extend our students in literacy learning (HPGE), explored curriculum planning and reporting processes, and ensured our timetable practices remain compliant.

The afternoon on our first day back was dedicated teacher-directed time, allowing staff to prepare, plan and collaborate for the term ahead.

Vision Checks for Student Wellbeing

As part of our continued focus on student wellbeing, this week we welcomed Mobile Eyes to the school. Students received vision checks from a qualified optometrist, supported by Wade Horton, our Wellbeing Health In-reach Nurse (WHIN). This valuable initiative helps ensure our students have every opportunity to thrive in the classroom by identifying and addressing any vision concerns early.

NAPLAN Results

We’re pleased to share that our NAPLAN results this year were positive, with our students (as a cohort) performing above the National Average in all areas except for spelling in Year 5, which was slightly below the National Average. This is a wonderful achievement and a credit to our hardworking students and committed teachers.

In 2024, we identified that our phonics program was not producing the outcomes we expected, particularly in spelling. In response, our Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction - Mrs Behl-Shanks, has worked closely with teachers to build capacity in effective phonics/spelling instruction. As part of her role, Mrs Behl-Shanks leads school curriculum planning and implementation, aligning teaching practice with evidence-based programs and the NSW English syllabus.

This year, she has supported teachers through collaborative professional learning and instructional coaching focused on the Tessa Daffern Spelling Program. This has also involved lesson demonstrations, lesson observations and team teaching opportunities. The Tessa Deffern Spelling program integrates phonological (sound), orthographic (letter patterns), and morphological (word meaning and structure) knowledge to support students in becoming confident and capable spellers. Its structured and explicit approach not only teaches students how to spell words but also helps them understand why words are spelled the way they are.

While NAPLAN is held early in the school year and this year’s results won’t yet reflect the full impact of the new approach, we are confident that the continued implementation of high-quality literacy instruction will strengthen future outcomes.

Congratulations to our Year 3 and Year 5 students on their results.

Dharawal Language Program Begins This Monday

We’re excited to begin our Dharawal Language Program this Monday (Week 2), with weekly lessons for each class. Students will take part in a 40–45 minute session led by a specialist teacher.

Calling for Expressions of Interest: Picasso Cow Redesign Project

Did you know our three Picasso Cows were painted over 20 years ago as part of a national initiative that blended art with agriculture? Since then, these colourful creations have proudly stood in our school grounds, celebrating student creativity and honouring the town's rich dairy heritage.

After two decades of sun, rain and admiration, the paint is now chipping and the colours have greatly faded. It’s time to breathe new life into these beloved cows!

We’re inviting expressions of interest from families who may have a special connection to the original project—or from anyone passionate about being part of their next chapter. If you would like to be involved in the redesign, or if this project holds special meaning for your family, please email the school. Depending on the level of interest, we may form a small team of representatives to help guide the redesign process.

We’re also exploring a collaboration with the Kiama Art Society and we are considering donating one of the refreshed cows to the township of Jamberoo. It could be placed near the town’s welcome sign as a symbol of our creative spirit and community pride. 

Attendance Monitoring 

If you are experiencing any challenges that are impacting your child's attendance, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school. We are here to provide support and resources to help your child succeed. Every day matters, and we want to ensure your child has every opportunity to thrive.

Kind regards,

Katie Louttit

Relieving Principal

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOiUDELlCqEmOvFmmSH1W5CqYRGwcfBrQNtbs32pYSSlh5Eg/viewform?usp=preview

We are delighted to invite all grandparents and grand friends to join us for Grandparents’ Day at Jamberoo Public School — a special morning dedicated to celebrating the cherished role grandparents play in our children's lives.

The morning will begin with a morning tea at 9:30am, where families can reconnect and enjoy some light refreshments. From 9:45am, our students will take the stage to share performances filled with heart and joy — a true highlight of the day!

Following the performances, families are welcome to step inside the classrooms for a closer look at student learning during our classroom visits from 10:10am. Grandparents will have the opportunity to see students in their learning spaces, share a story, and admire the work they’ve been doing.

To wrap up the morning, our Book Fair will be open from 10:40–11:00am, giving grandparents the chance to help their grandchildren pick out a book or two — the perfect keepsake from a memorable day.

We can’t wait to welcome you to our school community and share this heartwarming celebration together.

Kindergarten  has returned full of excitement and energy for the new term!

Looking back on Term 2, one of the highlights was the Responsible Pet Program. We learned how to safely approach dogs and how to recognise their feelings. The children discovered how to tell if a dog is happy, scared, or angry, and what to do in each situation to stay safe.

In maths, we’ve been exploring Friends of Ten — pairs of numbers that add together to make ten. Through hands-on games and group activities, the students are becoming more confident with number combinations.

In literacy, we’ve begun learning about digraphs — two letters that work together to make one sound, such as sh, ch, th, wh, and qu. Students are enjoying discovering these new sounds in words and using them in their own writing.

We’ve also started some beautiful artwork that will be proudly displayed in the hall as part of our school production. The class have been enjoying the creative process and are looking forward to sharing their work with the school community.

We’re excited for all the learning, creativity, and fun that Term 3 will bring!

Last term, Birrahlee students participated in the Responsible Pet Program, a learning experience designed for children in Kindergarten to Year 2. As part of the visit, a trained educator brought along a very special four-legged friend.

Students learned how to safely approach and interact with dogs, how to be responsible pet owners, and how to recognise when a dog may be feeling scared or unsure. They were taught the correct way to meet a dog, what to do if an unfamiliar dog comes near, and how to care for pets with kindness and respect.

It was a fun and engaging experience that gave students practical strategies to stay safe and confident around animals.

Welcome back! The students in Nanga Mai have returned from the holidays refreshed, settled, and ready to learn. It’s been a smooth and positive start to the term, with everyone jumping straight back into routines and classroom learning.

In English, we’ve been exploring poetry with a focus on dances. Students have enjoyed creating their own poems using alliteration and repetition to bring movement and rhythm to their writing. It’s been wonderful to see their creativity shine through in their descriptive language.

In Maths, we’ve been learning to tell the time using analogue clocks. The focus has been on reading time to the hour, half hour and quarter hour. Students have shown great enthusiasm and accuracy with this skill and should be very proud of their efforts.

We’re looking forward to another exciting term of learning and growth in Nanga Mai!

Throughout Term 2, our whole-school PDHPE focus was on the important concept of consent, as part of our Child Protection Unit, supported by the Grow Your Mind program.

At a primary school level, consent is about recognising and respecting personal boundaries. This might be as simple as asking a friend if they’d like to play or give a hug—and learning to look for an enthusiastic yes in response. 

Learning to understand these cues requires real communication skills and confidence. Our students also explored how it can be brave and important to say no if they’re not comfortable doing something, even with their friends.

Several classes studied the “Golden Rules of Consent”, which you may have seen in the poster sent home. If your child is in the older grades, ask them if they can explain these rules to you—many of them can!

This learning fits seamlessly within our Child Protection curriculum, as understanding and respecting consent is a key foundation for staying safe. A core message we reinforce is: “My body is my body”—only I decide what is okay for me.

As we conclude this unit, now is an ideal time to follow up at home. 

Students also spent time identifying their trusted circle of adults—people at school, at home or in their community (such as coaches or family friends)—who they can turn to when they need help or someone to talk to.

Thank you for continuing these vital conversations at home.

Mrs McCormack

Thank you to all the Kindy students who joined in us in the veggie garden this week!

We were harvesting seeds from our dahlia plants (and those of parent, Erica Downes — thank you Erica!) We also planted broccoli seedlings, and watered all our growing plants. Thank you, Kindies! Students took home dahlia seedlings, lemons, finger limes and statis flowers. 

Mrs McCormack

Get ready for a magical week filled with stories, costumes, laughter and a celebration of reading!

Book Week 2025 is just around the corner, and we have an exciting lineup of events planned for our students, families, and community. From our colourful Book Parade to our heartwarming Grandparents’ Day, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. And don’t forget to visit our Book Fair, packed with books to inspire every reader!

Monday 25 August

The Book Fair will open for student viewing only during the school day. Students will get a chance to browse the books and start planning their wish lists!

Tuesday 26 August

The Book Fair is open to families from 8:30–9:00am and again in the afternoon from 3:00–3:30pm. Come along and discover a new favourite story.

Wednesday 27 August

A day full of excitement! Our Secret Teacher Swap where a surprise teacher swaps classes to share a story and an activity and our beloved Book Parade will run from 12:10–12:50pm. The Book Fair will be open 8:30–9:00am, after the parade, and again from 3:00–3:30pm.

Thursday 28 August

We welcome our grand friends and grandparents for Grandparents’ Day! Join us for a beautiful morning together, and visit the Book Fair before school (8:30–9:00am), after the event, and again from 3:00–3:30pm.

Friday 29 August

Our final day of Book Week! The Book Fair will be open from 8:30–9:00am and 3:00–3:30pm. It’s your last chance to grab a book or two before it wraps up for another year.

📖✨ Let’s come together to celebrate curiosity, creativity and the joy of reading. We can’t wait to see your amazing costumes, welcome our wonderful grandparents and share in the excitement of Book Week 2025!

Please click the link to register your attendance and let us know if you are able to help TOMORROW:

JPS Working Bee - Saturday July 26th