The Link

A Publication of Rydalmere Public School

Term 4 Week 7, 2023

Relieving Principal's Update

School Remembrance Day Service

On Friday 10th November, our student leaders led the school's Remembrance Day service. Students learnt that this day marks the end of fighting on the Western Front on November 11, 1918 and that it is a day to remember the service and sacrifice of those who have died since World War I. The behaviour of all the students was exceptional. I was very impressed with the respect shown by all the students as the service begin in the hall and concluded with the laying of poppies (which were made by students) at the base of the flagpole.

Returning to School in 2024

Planning has commenced for our 2024 classes and class structure. In an effort to organise staffing, student placement and resourcing as accurate as possible, it's critical that we know how many students will be returning to RPS next year. Thank you to the families who have communicated their intentions for 2024, if you have not yet done so, can I ask you to please return your form to the school office.

Invitations to parents sent home

Our K-6 presentation day is on Tuesday 5 December at 9:30am under the COLA.  This special assembly allows us to acknowledge and celebrate students for academic excellence, improved learning, citizenship and sporting achievement. Our K-2 choir and school band will perform. We will also have students perform the hip-hop dances they have learnt this year. We have sent parents a personal invitation if their child is receiving an award at presentation day. 

Visitors from 5 Poppy

Students from 5 Poppy came to visit me with their wonderful mathematics work!

Staffing

Mr David Leydon (Director Educational Leadership Carlingford Network) asked me last week if I would like to stay on for another term at Rydalmere PS, which I jumped at this wonderful opportunity and replied to him immediately. It is with great excitement that I am able to inform the school community that I will be returning to RPS for term 1 in 2024. I have really enjoyed being part of this wonderful school community and I look forward to planning exciting learning experiences for our students. 


Have a wonderful week! 

Warren Yee

Relieving Principal

K-2 Assistant Principal Updates

What's happening in our classrooms?

Students are continuing to work hard, despite the end of the year coming closer! Students have enjoyed participating in sports and fitness lessons, K Daisy have been learning to use their body parts to make shapes and Stage 1 have been learning to participate in games. 

Teachers have also been busy assessing students learning in preparation for reports that will go home later this month. 

K-2 Students Learning

Cumberland High School Work Placement

Last week we were lucky enough to have Daniyal, Oceana and Lilly work with our K-3 classes. Daniyal, Oceana and Lilly are currently in Year 10 at Cumberland High School and are ex-students of Rydalmere Public School. It was great to see them return and give them the opportunity to explore teaching as a career choice. We wish them all the best in their future studies. 

3-6 Assitant Principal Updates

Unlocking Learning with Board Games

Our year 3 students are discovering the wonderful world of board games, currently focusing on the strategic and engaging game called, "Sequence." Board games like Sequence offer numerous benefits, fostering:

  • Critical Thinking: Students practice their problem-solving skills as they plan and strategise to win.
  • Pattern Recognition: The game encourages the development of pattern recognition, a valuable skill useful across various subjects and daily life.
  • Teamwork and Communication: Sequence is a collaborative game, developing teamwork and effective communication among our budding strategists.

Year 3 playing the board game, Sequence

Digital literacy

Some of our students in year 4 and 5 had the opportunity to dive into the world of digital literacy with a fun educational project. Using Google Sheets and conditional formatting, they created colourful houses. Students had to enter a number between 0 and 9 in each cell to create each colour. Students in stage 2 and 3 have been learning how to navigate Google apps, including Google Sheets. This fun activity is a stepping stone toward navigating spreadsheets.

Poetry

Term 4 has been all about poetry for our stage 2 and 3 students. Classes have learnt about different types of poems, explored their structures, read and presented examples and finally have been creating their own masterpieces.

Discover the wonders of nature from our year 6 poets. These students have beautifully expressed the captivating beauty of our world alongside the difficult realities of bushfires. 

The Deadly Bushfire

Antonio - 6H 

The roaring sounds

of bushfires bound

Flames scorching

Forest and animals torching

 

Ineffable environment

Dying to its fiery laments

Sentience still teasing

by fire un-seizing

 

Evacuations and alarms

Hoses of firefighters on arms

Communities now saved

In a now landscape blazed

But then, a slight haze

Brought by the wind turns into a blaze

Slowly and quietly

It travels through forest so silently

 

Only then it occurs that our saviours start to choke

With the repeated spout of smoke

It cannot be brought down

For it is as stubborn as a bloodhound

The deadly bushfire still roaring with sound

The Poem About Nature

Ayla - 6H

As I’m sleeping and I’m dreaming,

I can hear the waves of the ocean

Just like a gigantic potion

 

The light has a limit of time

But I feel that is a crime

Our nature is a benefit

But oh it’s so delicate

 

Flowers blooming

And the day is glooming

The sun may be bright

Just not during the night

 

Nature sparkles in the daylight

like its dancing in the spotlight

I wish I could be in nature everyday

It's just what I’d like to stay

Burning Worlds

Razvan - 6H

Treacherous bushfires and petrifying floods

Just take a look at all this blood

Nowhere safe, death is not option

We have to stick together, the tsunami is in motion

 

Terrible and horrible losses

Start getting out the hoses

Everlasting destruction

The blizzard is like an abduction

 

We have to run, our life is at risk

Away from the ash-full, darken mist

I just want a brighter day

Able to see a shining ray

 

As my world came crashing down

Everything since then has turned brown

I can’t live with this disaster

All I wanted was a happily ever after 

The Back Story of the Bushfire

Maryam - 6H

I start off as a little spark

But then all gets dark

I destroy everything I touch

No one wants to get near me much

 

Humans always think bad of me

But all I want to do is be free

All I do is try to help

But when people see me, they run and yelp I really don’t mean any harm

But in a second I realise I destroyed a farm

The wind pressures me, I really can’t stop

In just a blink of an eye, all the trees drop

 

I’m running and running with all my force

This is making me lose track of my course

It starts pouring with rain, I cant breathe anymore, I start to choke

I vanish and all that’s left of me is some thick ashy grey smoke

Nature

Kate - 6H

 

I smell the flowers

So colourful and free.

The trees sway in the breeze

And puts me at ease.

The beach sea water, time of life

People are happy eating ice cream

It’s a delight.

Preschool participating in National Recyclying Week

Helping to keep our school clean
Making their own paper out of recycled paper
Making their own paper out of recycled paper
Helping to keep our school clean
Helping to keep our school clean
Making their own paper out of recycled paper
Making their own paper out of recycled paper
Helping to keep our school clean

Dates Ahead

29 NovemberStage 3 Camp 
30 NovemberStage 3 Camp
1 DecemberStage 3 Camp
4 DecemberK-2 Christmas Choir at North Rocks Shopping Centre
5 DecemberK-6 Presentation Day
6 DecemberMini Fair
8 December

Year 6 Graduation assembly/ Year 6 Farewell Dinner and Dance

12 DecemberPreschool Green Group Graduation
14 DecemberPreschool Orientation
15 December

Preschool Blue Group Graduation/ Year 6 Clap Out/Party Day

Student Wellbeing

Positive Behaviour For Learning

The PBL Focus for Week 6 was Littering - Students learned about the importance of keeping the school environment safe and well presented for all to work and play. Learning about why it is important to keep the environment clean along with understanding how to keep it clean allows students to reflect on their actions and the impact that littering has on their school environment. With plenty of bins around, students are expected to keep our school environment tidy and litter free.  

The PBL focus for Week 7 is Uniform - Uniforms are an important part of how students represent the school.  Fostering a sense of pride in wearing them can contribute to the overall culture and identity of the school.

We have seen a positive shift in students Rydalmere PS consistently wearing the correct school uniform including hats. Keep it up!

The PBL focus for Week 8 will be Library.

PBL & Learner Awards - Week 6

PBL Special Awards - Week 6

P&C Report

We are delighted to announce that $772 was raised through the Cookie Dough fundraiser earlier this year, which allowed the purchase of soccer goals for the students.

Online fundraising for the Colour Run has now closed and prizes have been ordered. We will update you when prizes are ready for collection. Thank you again for your support of this event and thank you to the parents who completed the feedback survey.

 If you are able to assist in any way with any P&C activities or  vents, please contact us to register your interest. We rely on the generous support of our volunteers and members to run the canteen ,uniform shop and fundraising activities.

The next P&C meeting will be held Monday 4th December at 7pm in the school library. We encourage all parents to attend. To become a financial member of the P&C, please transfer $1 with your full name as the description to our bank account:

Rydalmere Public School Parents Account BSB: 062167 ACC: 10133599

Please note that we have a new email address: rydalmerepnc@gmail.com

Thank you,

P&C Committee

Community Hub News

Hope you are gearing up for summer holidays. 

First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who took the time to provide us with feedback on Grandparents Day. We greatly appreciate your input and will definitely take it into consideration when planning for next year. 

I am delighted to inform you all that the tile work, which was carried out during the event, has now been successfully finished. I would like to extend a big thank you to Bunnings for their continuous support throughout the entire process and for providing us with all the necessary resources. Without their contribution and the creativity of our community, this achievement would not have been possible. We are eagerly looking forward to revealing it during the year-end celebration. 

Please mark your calendars for December 11th for the "Year-End Celebration." We invite you and your friends to join us in commemorating our journey together. The event will feature an art session by Bunnings, henna art, and loads of enjoyment. We will also have a coffee van on site. Simply bring a plate to share and make this occasion even more delightful.  

Is your child starting Kindergarten or Preschool next year? If yes, please join us for practical tips and activities for your pre-schoolers on 6th of December from 10 am during our playgroup.

Take a quick look at our weekly programs: 

- English conversational classes for adults: Mondays from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm 

- Playgroup: Wednesdays from 9:30 am to 11:30 am 

- One box program (for registered participants): Wednesdays 

- Dance fitness with Sophie: Fridays from 9:30 am to 10:30 am 

For those whom I have not met, I'm Seetha Srinivasan, the community liaison officer at our school's Community Hub. My workdays are Mondays to Wednesdays and Fridays. Our Community Hub connects families with each other, the school, and local community services. It's an all-inclusive place where parents can meet, make friends, and partake in weekly or one-off activities that are open to everyone.  

Drop by for a coffee or join one of our activities – I would be happy to welcome you. If you're interested in learning more about the hub and how to get involved, don't hesitate to contact me at 0448331588 or seetha.srinivasan@det.nsw.edu.au. 

Scholastic Book Club