Caves Beach Public School Newsletter

Term 1 Week 9 and Week 10 - 23rd March - 2nd April 2026

Principal's Blog

Welcome to Term 1 Week 10 2026!

This week is busy, tomorrow is the Galgabba Year 4 Domain Discovery Day, Wednesday our Celebration assembly and Thursday the Easter Hat Parade.

This is our final week for the term with our last day this Thursday 2nd April and students returning on Wednesday 22nd April. Have a safe and enjoyable break!

Important Information About School Attendance

At Caves Beach PS we are committed to ensuring all students have the best opportunity to succeed. One of the keyways to support your child’s learning is through regular school attendance.

Compulsory School Attendance

In New South Wales, it is compulsory for children aged between 6 and 17 years to attend school every day it is open. Regular attendance helps children build important skills, stay connected with their classmates, and achieve their learning goals.

Advising Absences

If your child is unable to attend school due to illness or other unavoidable reasons, please let us know as soon as possible. You can advise us of your child’s absence by:

  • Calling the school office at 49711838
  • Sending a note or email to cavesbeach-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
  • Replying to our school’s online absence notification system 

Please provide the reason for the absence, as soon as possible, and the expected duration. The absence must be explained within 7 days.

Extended Leave for Holidays

Although the Department of Education does not encourage, we understand that families sometimes need to take holidays during school terms. Extended leave for holidays is not automatically approved and should be requested in advance. If you are planning a family holiday during the school term, you need to:

  • Complete an Extended Leave Application form available from the school office or website.
  • Submit the form to the principal for approval at least two weeks before the intended leave.
  • Provide details such as dates of absence and reasons for the holiday.

    • Please note that taking extended leave without approval may impact your child’s attendance record and learning progress.

    Your support in ensuring your child attends school regularly is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions about attendance or need assistance with the leave application process, please contact us at 49711838.

    Together, we can ensure every child thrives at school!

    Make My Day

    Last week two proud Kindergarten girls visited to show off their writing. Isla and Lily from K/1B wrote sentences about a blue whale and illustrated their writing. Great job girls!

    Breakfast Club

    We are excited to announce that our new Breakfast Club will be commencing next term, thanks to a generous grant from Foodbank. This wonderful initiative aims to support families who are working or may be experiencing difficulty providing breakfast, ensuring every child starts the day with a nutritious meal.

    A big thank you to our dedicated staff members who will be volunteering their time to run the Breakfast Club each morning. We look forward to creating a welcoming and supportive space for our students.

    Initially the Breakfast Club will be operating 3 days a week, Monday, Thursday and Friday from 8.30 - 9.00 under the K-2 COLA. For further information please contact the school office on 49711838.

    2026 Year 4 Galgabba Domain Discovery Day

    Tomorrow our Year 4 students will join the other school from the Galgabba Community of Schools to participate in 2026 Year 4 Galgabba Domain Discovery Day.

    Our focus is on identifying high potential and giftedness in our Yr4 students across the four domains of

    Intellectual, Social and Emotional, Physical and Creative and of course having fun! 

    Sue Gibson

    Principal

    Upcoming Events

    Week 10

    • Tuesday 31st March - HPGE Domain Discovery Day Yr 4
    • Wednesday 1st April - Celebration Assembly
    • Thursday 2nd April - Easter Parade & Raffle
    • Thursday 2nd April - Last day of term 1

    Week 1

    • Wednesday 22nd April - Students return
    • Friday 24th April - Anzac Day Assembly

    Class of the Week

    Awards

    Gold

    Congratulations to the following Gold Award recipients:

    Merit Awards

    Congratulations to the following Merit Award recipients:

    Week 8

    KF   

    		Tyrone B & Harry BKPMax S & Noah JK/1BSammy M & Arlo F
    1HRaiden N-S & Toby S1/2SAurora E & Hudson F2MAlva P & Lola A
    3LMilla L & Mason M3/4NHarriet H & Robert E4M
    4/5BPhoebe W & Alexa D5TGrace B & Arlo L5/6PJace T & Zayden E
    6SKoah R & Ashlyn M



    GYM Awards

    Congratulations to the following Celebration Award recipients:

    Week 8

    KFDaphne J

    		Kindness & Empathy
    KP

    Claudia P

    		Helpfulness & Respect
    K/1BLucian TPerseverance & Patience
    1HCade SKindness & Respect
    1/2SAtlas KKindness & Helpfulness
    2MIsabella MHelpfulness
    3L

    Ivy-Joan R

    		Generosity
    3/4NIzabelle R Respect & Helpfulness
    4M



    4/5BIsla GCuriosity
    5TRiver BJoyfulness
    5/6PArchie HCuriosity
    6SShelly FSocial Intelligence

    Merit Awards

    Congratulations to the following Merit Award recipients:

    Week 9

    KF   

    		Max C & Parker JKPMallory M & Tristan RK/1BIsla R & Alexander A
    1HLuka P & Florence D1/2SOscar P & Ruby J2MBilly S & Archie W
    3LOliver D & Rafe B3/4NNash S & Addison A4MImogen D & Lewis T
    4/5BTilly M & Dakota H5TSteele H & Charlie A5/6PNina V-O & Annikii H
    6SCallum B & Eleanor BK6RTyrus SK6FBailee O
    K6LMia H



    GYM Awards

    Congratulations to the following Celebration Award recipients:

    Week 9

    KFFlynn W

    		Helpfulness & Respect
    KP

    Roy V-M

    		Friendliness & Kindness
    K/1BWillow JHelpfulness & Curiosity
    1HIndie PRespect & Kindness
    1/2SHazel RKindness
    2MLuca JHelpfulness
    3L

    Sienna G

    		Kindness
    3/4NHannah BRespect
    4M

    Bonnie D

    		Kindness & Teamwork
    4/5BSamara CPatience
    5TBodhi ACuriosity & Intelligence
    5/6PMarley HEmpathy
    6SEmily CPerseverance
    K6RTamira W-BHelpfulness
    K6lJace CPerseverance

    Other School News

    NSW Public Schools Student Survey

    In Term 2, we are offering our students the opportunity to participate in the NSW Public Schools Student Survey. The survey gives students the chance to share their thoughts and feelings about life at school, including questions about their engagement, learning experiences and wellbeing at school.

    Hearing directly from our students will help us understand what’s working well and where improvements can be made to our school. The survey is confidential, takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and will be conducted online during school hours.

    Participation is voluntary. If you prefer your child not to participate, please complete the opt-out consent form, which will be sent home, and return it to the school. Further information about the survey is available at https://education.nsw.gov.au/npss.

    Congratulations Mrs Gibson

    Last week we had the wonderful opportunity to surprise Mrs Gibson and celebrate her incredible 40 years of service to education!

    We were honoured to welcome past colleagues who shared heartfelt words, alongside Mrs Mac who spoke on behalf of our current teaching staff. Mila, one of our school leaders, gave a touching address on behalf of all the students at Caves Beach Primary School.

    What made this day even more special was having Mrs Gibson’s family with us to share in the celebration.

    Thank you, Mrs Gibson, for your dedication, passion, and all that you do – we truly appreciate you!

    Grow Your Mind

    As we come to the end of the term, it is important to reflect on the people we are thankful for in our lives, special moments we enjoyed and what we are looking forward to in the New Year!

    Displaying GRATITUDE for what we have, is an essential part of our well-being.

    At the end of everyday use your ELEPHANT to remember:

    • something that went well
    • one person you are thankful for
    • what you are looking forward to tomorrow

    You could start your own GRATITUDE journal.

    Environmental Group

    Learning and Support

    Supporting Students with Diverse Learning Needs

    As Term 1 comes to a close, we want to highlight how our school supports the diverse learning needs of all students. We understand that every child learns in their own unique way, and we are committed to providing tailored support to help each student thrive. 

    Throughout this term, our teachers have been working closely with Learning and Support Teachers (LaST) and School Learning Support Officers (SLSOs) to provide targeted assistance. Many students have benefited from one-to-one support or small group sessions, where personalised strategies and resources help them engage more confidently with their learning. 

    By adapting teaching methods, offering additional resources, and using assistive technologies, we aim to ensure all students can fully participate and make progress. We also value strong partnerships with families to develop personalised learning plans that build skills, confidence, and independence. 

    Thank you to everyone for a wonderful start to the year. We look forward to continuing this important work next term, helping every student reach their full potential. 

    If you have any questions or want to learn more about how we support diverse learning needs, please feel free to contact us. 

    Aboriginal News

    Sport News

    PSSA Cricket

    Caves Beach Public School faced off against Kahibah Public in a spirited and enjoyable match. Although Caves Beach came away with a loss, the game was filled with positive moments that reflected the true spirit of school sport.

    There was outstanding sportsmanship shown by both teams throughout the match. While umpiring, Mr Powell noted several instances of players encouraging one another, with comments like “Wow, he is an amazing bowler” and “What an awesome shot” heard from both sides. It was a great example of respect, teamwork, and appreciation for each other’s efforts.

    Athletics Come & Try Event

    Our students from our MC classes had a fantastic time at the Come and Try Athletics Carnival in Newcastle last week.

    Band News

    Band Update

    Congratulations on a great term 1 of band! The ensembles are both sounding amazing, your hard work is paying off. 

    Senior Band will perform at celebration assembly on Wednesday this week, commencing at 9:40am. Please wear band shirts and arrive at 8am for a short rehearsal followed by assembly set up. 

    There will be no junior band on Tuesday week 10, but as normal Thursday. 

    Band will return week 1 of term 2 on Wednesday morning for senior band. 

    Wishing you all a wonderful Easter holiday. 

    Mrs Scott

    Weeks 10 – Term 1 

    Junior band 8:15am – 8:55am - Thursday only  

    Senior band 8am – 8:55am - Wednesday only

    Week 1 - Term 2

    Junior band 8:15am – 8:55am - Thursday only  

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

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

    Tutor Lessons:

    Lance Verdon- clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone & percussion - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday  

    Rachael Sebastian- keyboard -  Tuesday

    Isabella O'Brien - flute and bass guitar - Tuesday 

    Fees:

    Fees will be collected through the school office for all band members. These will be allocated to your School Bytes account in the next few weeks and include the whole year fee and instrument hire, if applicable. 

    These fees can be paid off termly @ $60 per term or in full at any stage of the year. 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.

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

    Reeds:

    Reeds are available for purchase with cash only to Mrs Scott or Lance at band rehearsal:

    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! 

     

    Library News

    Borrowing

    Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 come to the library every week to borrow during their library lesson.

    All students in K- 2 must have a library bag for safely transporting books for them to be able to borrow.

    The loan period is one week. Books are considered overdue when this period has expired.

    Book care

    1.     Keep books in a library bag.

    2.     Have a special place at home for your library books.

    3.     Keep books away from babies and pets.

    4.     Have clean hands when reading.

    5.     Turn pages carefully.

    6.     Don't eat or drink while you read books from the library. 

    Scholastic Book Club

    Book Club is full of amazing books to kick-start reading. You can view the catalogue online.

    All Book Club orders need to be paid through LOOP.

    When you order and pay by LOOP, do not fill in the order form or return anything to school. Your order will be electronically linked to the rest of your school’s order. 

    Premier’s Reading Challenge 2026

    The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) opened on Monday 23 February 2026. This challenge is available for all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 10 and aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. Students are challenged to read, to read more and to read more widely.

    Please note that all Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students will be participating in the Premier’s Reading Challenge and automatically be registered. I will fill in their reading logs using the books they have borrowed and read in the library during shared reading sessions. Parents from Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 will not need to fill in their child’s online reading log.

    All students in Year 3 to Year 6 are encouraged to participate in the challenge. These students are required to ensure that books are recorded on the online reading log on the website listed below. PRC student reading records will need to be finalised by Friday September 18, 2026.

    https://online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/home.html

    The PRC website has links to booklists and a reading log you can download OR you can see me for a copy. You can also see the number of books you are required to read plus loads more.

    Please email the school if you have any questions about the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

    P&C News

    🌊 Caves Beach Public School P&C Newsletter

    📣 Where to Find Us & Stay Connected

    📧 Email: cavesbeachpublicschool@pcaffiliate.onmicrosoft.com

    🌐 Website: Caves Parent

    📱 Facebook: Caves Beach Public School P&C

    🛍️ Buy, Swap & Sell Group: Caves Beach Public School P&C Buy, Swap and Sell

    Together, we’re creating special memories and opportunities for our kids. 🏫✨

    Caves Beach Public School P&C

    Working together for our kids 💛 

    Canteen Chatter

    🍔 Seaside Bites Canteen News 🏖️

    Seaside Bites Canteen – Volunteers Needed

    A big thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers for their continued support of the Seaside Bites Canteen. A special thank you to the new parents and carers who have recently volunteered – it’s fantastic to see so many families getting involved in their children’s school community.

    If you’ve been thinking about volunteering, we would love your help, particularly on Fridays. Our canteen simply can’t run without the support of our volunteers.

    Shifts are short and easy to fit into your day: 9:00am – 12:00pm (approximately once a month).

    It’s a fun and friendly environment, a great way to meet other parents, and the kids love seeing you at school.

    Even if you can help occasionally – even once a term – we would really appreciate it.

    📧 Please contact us at: cavescanteen@gmail.com

    Thank you for your continued support.

    Madonna Seaside Bites Canteen

    Volunteer Roster for this fortnight:


    		Week 10

    		Week 1
    Monday30th Mar
    		Monday20th Apr  SDD
    Tuesday31st MarSandraTuesday21st AprSDD
    Thursday2nd AprNanaka & GlenThursday23rd AprSarita
    Friday3rd AprHolidaysFriday 24th AprAllison, Hayley & Shae


    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