Newsletter

Date	Event
11-15 November	Swim Scheme Program (for registered students in Years 2-6)
21 November	Kindergarten Orientation Session #2
25 - 29 November	High School Mock Up Week for Stage 3 students
2 December	Year 5/6 Fun Day
3 December	Year 6 Orientation Day for Year 7 2025
4 December	Presentation Day
4 December	P&C meeting 6:30pm
10 December	Year 6 Farewell (for Year 5 & 6 students)
13 December	K-6 Colour Run Day and P&C Lunch Order Fundraiser
16 December	Semester 2 reports home
17 December	Class Picnic Day
18 December	Last day of Term 4

*Dates subject to change. Please ensure you regularly check for updates.

Activity	Attendees	Payment and Permission Due Date
Year 5/6 Fun Day	Years 5&6	25 November 2024
School Fees	All Years	*OVERDUE*

Selective High School and Opportunity Class Applications are now open

This year, there is a change in the application process for both Selective High School and Opportunity Class entry. 

Applications will now open each year from November to February (the following year) for both selective high school and opportunity class placement. Parents and carers will still apply online using the Selective high school and opportunity class placement application website.

Applications for selective high school and opportunity class entry in 2026 will be open from 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025. There will be no late applications due to the longer application period, and the application closing date being closer to the test dates and logistical constraints around organising test centres and devices.

This change to the application period means that parents and carers will now need to apply for opportunity class placement when their child is in Year 3 (or by the end of Week 4, Term 1 when their child is in Year 4). This change applies to students currently in Year 3. For selective high school placement, parents and carers will continue to apply when their child is in Year 5 and can now apply when their child is in Year 6 until the end of Week 4, Term 1.

Please follow the link below, to register your child.

https://shsoc.education.nsw.gov.au/

School Counsellor and School Psychologist Recognition Day

Friday 8th November was School Counsellor and School Psychologist Recognition Day. This year's theme "Little Moments, Lasting Change," captures the essence of the invaluable work our school counselling team do every day. They provide little moments of listening, understanding, and connecting that have supported students, families, and staff to notice their needs and strengths, persevere and grow. 

Thank you to Mr Govender (School Counsellor) and Mrs Nand (Senior Psychologist Education) for caring for the Telopea community. 

Mrs E Dooley

Principal (Relieving)

Telopea Public School would like to invite you to our Annual Presentation Day Assembly to be held under our school COLA on Wednesday 4th December 2024, commencing at 9.15am.

Come along and show your support for the great work the students have achieved throughout the school year. The morning will consist of the presentation of awards to students and a whole school song performance. 

We are thrilled to announce that students at Telopea Public School are participating in the Zing Active Dance Program this term. This program provides a fun and engaging way for students to improve their coordination, master fundamental movement skills, and express themselves creatively. Students are building confidence and discovering a new appreciation for the arts as well as supporting their physical, social and emotional development.  

This week has seen the commencement of Telopea’s Annual Swim School scheme for Years 2-6. This year we have a record number of students participating in the scheme which takes place at Parramatta Pool. Students participate in 5 days intensive small group instruction tailored to the student’s abilities. The improvement over 5 days is impressive, and the students take much delight in the activities. Needless to say, students taking part in the Swimming Scheme will be sleeping well this week.

Year 4 have been very busy working hard this semester. For our Science unit we have been focusing on the physical world and using natural resources. Recently we built solar ovens using everyday resources. The class carefully constructed their oven to ensure they will use the heat from the sun to bake our s’mores. We had lots of fun making our ovens and cooking our s’mores with our class. It was very interesting to go through the process from start to finish!

Our new school caps are now in stock.

If you would like to purchase uniform items, the uniform shop is open from 8.30-11.00am on Wednesdays but if you do require uniform urgently, please contact the office.

We are currently running low on some items in our uniform clothing pool, particularly of smaller sizes. 

If you would like to donate any uniform items to our clothing pool which your child is no longer using, you can drop off these donations to the school office. 

We welcome these uniform donations. 

COLLECTING STUDENTS FROM SCHOOL

A reminder that if you have made arrangements for someone to collect your child/ren that is outside of your normal arrangements, please ensure that you have notified the office so we are aware and can let other staff members know in a timely manner.  This applies to leaving early and for the end of the day. 

SAFETY

A reminder to all students and parents that entry to the School is via the Pedestrian gate on Chestnut Ave located near Block D. This is for everyone's safety. If you require disabled access there are two entry points into the school via the ramp into the school office and via the gate on the corner of Sturt and Manson Streets. 

NOTES SENT HOME

On occasion important notes will be sent home. Please ensure you remember to check your child's bag each day.

CELEBRATIONS

Here at TPS we enjoy celebrating student’s birthdays. You are most welcome to bring in something to celebrate but we ask that individual store bought small bite size cupcakes or individually wrapped sweets are brought in to school as this makes it easier for the students to eat. A large cake makes it difficult to distribute to their classmates. 

LOST PROPERTY

There are a number of items in the Lost Property box which do not have names on them. If your child is missing an item, please check this box which is located in the D Block breezeway.

CONTACT INFORMATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE CHANGE

Please ensure that your contact details are up to date. It is important that the School be able to contact you in case of your child being ill, a child not being collected from school or in case of emergency etc. If your family circumstances change, please also provide the school with any updated documentation. 

You can notify the school of any changes or updates via written confirmation or complete the template form located in the office foyer. 

MOBILE PHONES OR DEVICES

If you require your child to carry a mobile phone/device, you will be required to complete a permission note (please see the school office if you require this note). Student mobile phones/device are to be turned off and handed to the school office during school hours in the morning. Mobile phones/devices will be returned to the students at the end of each day. 

Dear Telopea SaCC and Telopea Public School Communities,

As we reach the halfway mark of Term 4 I reflect on the busy time we've enjoyed.

Friday Supported Playgroup

We recently read the Julia Donaldson book The Everywhere Bear.

Do you know the book?......in brief, a Year One class along with their teacher Mrs McAllister share their classroom with a bear. Not just any old bear but a teddy bear they've named Everywhere Bear (EB). They've given him this name because each student takes BE home and shares stories of their adventures. At Friday Playgroup we now have our own EB!! Dev took EB on a colour run. Ayla and Gabriel took EB to the park. Hannah and EB watched big brother's swimming lessons. EB helped Tom with the shopping and joined in at day care. Trianna and EB saw the elephants at the zoo. After such a busy time Eleanor gave EB a dizzy bath (washing machine clean) and after all that business Yanis and EB fell asleep in the car! At playgroup, we have lots of fun and learning....if you have under five year old children please feel free to join our group.

BREAKFAST CLUB

Free every Monday and Thursday morning 8:30am-8:50am. Last breakfast served 8:50am so students can assemble promptly for morning assembly.

Transition to School Program

It was a pleasure joining the Transition to School Expo last week. Families joining our Kindergarten class in 2025 were treated to an information session and displays for OOSH, SaCC, TPS administration and uniform shop. A task the SaCC Project oversees is the coordination of the StEPS (Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening) Vision Screening. The vision screening nurses will be onsite at TPS early next year to conduct vision screening. If you have children 4 years of age and would like to access this free service please contact the school office or phone/email me directly. 

I encourage you to contact me should you have any questions regarding SaCC initiatives.

Pip

Phillipa (Pip) Martins

Facilitator

Telopea 'Schools as Community Centres' (SaCC) Project

C/- Telopea Public School

Chestnut Ave

Telopea NSW 2117

Ph: (02)9898 3448

email: phillipa.martins@det.nsw.edu.au