Caves Beach Public School Newsletter

Welcome to Week 7 Term 1 Caves Beach Public School for 2025

Make My Day

Last week I was thrilled to see some great work from two Year 1 students Myah and Hazel. Both girls were very proud to show their achievements during Literacy. I was also treated to listening to their heart words and happy to report they were both all correct! Congratulations girls!

I have also been very impressed by an outstanding group of Year 5 girls. Emily, Mila, Lilah, Lacey, Amber, Shelly, Violet, Nina and London have made a commitment to work with Mrs Chensee and myself on a Thursday in their lunch break to help fold paper cranes. The girls have picked up where stage 2 left off last year and are on track to completing the mammoth task of folding 1000 cranes to hang and send to the Children’s Memorial in Hiroshima. They are definitely a well oiled machine with folders, quality control, counters and baggers!

Our next parent communication session is our Real Schools Parent Information Session and is booked for Tuesday 18th March at 3.15. We invite all parents to access the invitation and information via the link below. Staff will be providing supervision for students while the session is running, to allow parents to attend. We also invite our families to stay on after the presentation and enjoy a sausage sizzle where staff will be on hand to meet with parents. We hope you will be able to join us.

Caves Beach Real Schools Parent Information Session - Video Invite

NAPLAN 2025

NAPLAN commences this week for our Yr 3 and Yr 5 students. The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students can undertake. As students’ progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with more information about students’ educational progress. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working, and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy. 

Sue Gibson

Principal

Week 7

• Monday 10th March - PSSA Swimming
• Wednesday 12th - Friday 14th March - Naplan

Week 8

• Monday 17th - Friday 21st March - Naplan
• Tuesday 18th March - Real Schools Information Parents Session

Week 9

• Monday 24th March - Naplan
• Monday 24th March - Parent interviews commence

Congratulations to the following Gold Award recipients:

       Gracie S          5/6R (2024)

        Bonnie D         2R (2024)

       Robbie E           3P

      Hayley B            3/4B

Congratulations to the following Merit Award recipients:

Week 5

Congratulations to the following Celebration Award recipients:

Week 5

Congratulations to the following Merit Award recipients:

Week 6

Congratulations to the following Celebration Award recipients:

Week 6

NAPLAN 2025 Parent and Carer Information

In 2025, NAPLAN will take place from Wednesday 12th to Monday 24th March for our students in Years 3 and 5. Students will complete four tests including writing, reading, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. These assessments are spread over the testing period, and we aim to keep the process calm and with minimal stress for the children. Students have viewed practice questions to ensure that they are familiar with the format and understand how to navigate the screen. Below is a link which allows you to view some sample questions. https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site

The tests are online, with the exception of Year 3 writing. The tests are tailored (or adaptive), which means that each test presents questions that may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. Tailored testing allows a wide range of student abilities to be assessed and measures student achievement more precisely. A student’s overall NAPLAN result is based on both the number and complexity of questions they answer correctly. Your child should not be concerned if they find questions challenging; they may be taking a more complex test pathway. 

What can I do to support my child?

-          Ensure that they have a good night’s sleep and healthy breakfast.

-          Pack a drink bottle and Crunch n Sip.

-          Reassure them that we use this information to track growth and how we can help them to improve.

-          Encourage them to do their best.

-          If possible, allow them to type using a keyboard at home and become confident with how to type capital letters, punctuation and paragraphing (Year 5).

Achievement Report

Student achievement is shown against four levels of proficiency: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs additional support. A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided to you later in the year.

Disability adjustments

Adjustments are available for students with disability. The adjustments will reflect the normal support a student receives in classroom assessments.

Withdrawals and exemptions

You can withdraw your child from NAPLAN tests. Your child may be exempt from NAPLAN tests if they have:

• significant disabilities that severely limit their capacity to participate in the tests
• a language background other than English and have recently arrived in Australia (less than a year before the tests).

NAPLAN Website for Parents- https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers

Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you have any questions.

Farewell to our wonderful canteen manager, Jo

On Friday, we held a special assembly to farewell our canteen manager Jo, who has worked at Caves Beach Public School for the past 9 ½ years.

Jo, you have been serving us not just with delicious food but also with your kindness, warmth, and a big smile every day. Your laughter, positive energy, and welcoming nature was appreciated by all. And of course, we’ll never forget the amazing food—especially those comforting hot meals on chilly days!

On behalf of all the students and staff, we want to say a HUGE thank you for everything you’ve done. Wishing you all the best for the future, Jo!

Learning Support Team

Mrs Sheba Boyd

• Tell us something about yourself (brief background, best place for coffee, best beach, what days do you work at Caves Beach PS) 

Hi everyone! My name is Sheba, and I’m the School Counsellor here at Caves Beach Public School. I have a background in psychology and education, with a passion for supporting students' wellbeing and learning. When I’m not at school, you might find me enjoying a chai tea at Goldbergs or going for a lake walk or swim.  

• What does a school counsellor do? 

As a School Counsellor, my role is to support students with their emotional, social, and educational development. This includes providing counselling, connecting families with external services, and conducting assessments. 

• How do we get in contact to speak to a school counsellor? 

The best way to get in contact with the school counsellor is through the Learning Support Team. Parents and guardians can complete a referral form with a brief summary of their concerns, and I will follow up from there, after a Learning Support Team meeting.  

I’m grateful to be working with such a proactive and caring team here at CBPS and look forward to continuing to support our wonderful school community in 2025! 

A big congratulations to all the amazing swimmers from Caves Beach who competed at the Zone Swimming Carnival today! We are so proud of everything you accomplished and for encouraging one another Let's keep cheering each other on! Go Caves Beach!

Week 7 – Term 1

Congratulations Senior Band on a wonderful first performance last week! It was an extremely hot day and it was a great effort to stay focused and perform a wonderful song as part of a musical gift at our special assembly for Jo! She was very honoured to hear the band and school perform for her together. Jo has been involved in the band program in a variety of ways over the part 10 years and has always enjoyed being next to rehearsals and class music classes, it was a fitting gift for her! 

Seesaw will be used as part of communication for band starting week 7. New band families will receive a code next week, continuing families should already be connected to the band seesaw from last year. Please contact Mrs Scott towards the end of week 7 if you need a new code or are having troubles viewing the account. Mrs Nebauer is also connected to the account as she will be providing support to the band program this year. 

When NAPLAN is happening in school this week and next some tutors may be in different rooms, these changes will be communicated in band and if there is any confusion, please ask your child to see Mrs Scott in the music room. 

There are still places vacant for new band members - notes are available in the music room from Mrs Scott at any time. 

Weeks 7 and 8 – Term 1

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

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

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

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

Bethanee Swilks- Keyboard - Tuesday

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 can not 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! 

Mrs Scott 

🐰 Easter Raffle

We will be collecting Easter eggs, chocolates, and Easter themed crafts for our much loved Easter Raffle.

 💡Easter raffle process:

✔️ Bring items into class and place them in the designated P&C box.

✔️ Purchase Easter Raffle Tickets 

✔️ All donations will be wrapped into beautiful raffle prizes by our wonderful P&C volunteers and raffled off on Friday, 11 April.

More information will be shared soon on donations and tickets!

Thank you for your support! 🌸🐣

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💡 Can You Lend a Hand?

We’d love some extra help at these events! If you’re available to volunteer, please email us. Every little bit of support makes a huge difference! 🧡

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📣 YOU CAN FIND US! 📣

💌 Email us: cavesbeachpublicschool@pcaffiliate.onmicrosoft.com 

🌏 Visit our website:Caves Parent

📘 Join us on Facebook: Caves Beach PS P&C

🛍 Buy, Swap & Sell Page: P&C Buy Swap and Sell

Have a great week,

Caves Beach PS P&C Team 🎉

We've had another wonderful week in the canteen, filled with laughter, delicious meals, and happy faces! A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers who continue to help make our canteen a success. Your time and energy are truly appreciated, and we couldn't do it without you.

🤝 Can You Help?

Our canteen relies on amazing volunteers to keep our doors open. Parents, grandparents, and carers, if you have a spare morning once a month, we’d love your help! No experience needed—we’ll train you as you go.🍴

📩 Interested? Pop into the canteen for a chat or email cavescanteen@gmail.com to sign up—we’d love to have you on board! 🥪

Below is our current volunteer roster for the next fortnight.

Ordering Uniforms

The Uniform Shop operates online all year round – orders placed via QKR will be delivered to classrooms throughout the week.  Alternatively, you can request that orders are left at the office for you to collect. 

If your uniforms are too big/too small, please email us and let us know - we can arrange an exchange to ensure that you have the right ones.  Or if you have ANY questions regarding uniforms prior to ordering - please let us know via email and we are happy to  help! cavesuniformshop@gmail.com

Place your order via the Qkr! App (quick, simple & our preferred option)

**You can link a credit card or debit card to the Qkr! App

If you need an order form to order/pay via direct deposit OR have ANY questions regarding uniforms prior to ordering - please let us know via email and we are happy to help! cavesuniformshop@gmail.com

If your uniforms are too big/too small, please email us and let us know - we can arrange an exchange to ensure that you have the right ones.