Pigeon Post

2020 Volume 4 Issue 7

Acknowledgement of Country...

Connect with Balmain PS...Wonder what's goes on at our school? Follow us on Instagram for daily content, both through posts and stories...

Follow us on Instagram

Keep up with what's happening @ Balmain Public School

https://www.instagram.com/balmainps/


IF YOU SEE A COLOURED CIRCLE AROUND OUR EMBLEM, DON'T FORGET TO TAP ON IT, FOR OUR LATEST STORY...you've got to get in quickly, as it disappears after 24 hours!

⬅️ SOME OF OUR STORIES ARE SAVED AS HIGHLIGHTS...

Enrolling NOW for Kindergarten 2021

Visit our website for more information:

https://balmain-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/kindergarten-2021.html

Check here to see if you are in our catchment area:

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

Our new online enrolment process makes it easier and faster to enrol your child at your local school. To apply online, you must:

  • be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
  • live in the local enrolment area of this school

Apply online here

If you are not eligible to use the online form, or prefer not to, you can download an application to enrol.

Are you leaving us?

Will your child/ren be leaving us at the end of the school year (apart from current Year 6 students)?

If so, please contact the school via balmainps@gmail.com or balmain-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au with Att: Leaving School end 2020, child/'s full name and class. Please also include the name of the new school for administration purposes.

This information will assist us with planning for next year's classes. 

Thank you.

From the Principal

Giving thanks...

Happy Thanksgiving to our community members from the United States and Canada. Traditionally, Thanksgiving is an annual national holiday for both countries, celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year.

Balmain Public School also has much to be thankful for. Firstly, we have 381 beautifully individual students from K-6, who come to school daily, each bringing with them, their unique personalities and contribute to life at school, through learning and play.

Our students, staff and community have navigated through this unprecedented time and pandemic of 2020, a year that will not easily be forgotten, nor should it be.

Thanks to our students who have shown great courage, resilience, determination and tenacity this year. A special shoutout to our Kindergarten students, who have had to 're-start' school halfway through the year!

Thanks so much to our teachers and staff that have worked tirelessly this year, through both times of remote learning, as well as 'regular' school life, to ensure our students continue to receive a quality education, whilst also ensuring their wellbeing.

Thank you to our parents and carers, who have supported the school wholeheartedly, trusting that your children are safe in our care. You have been absolute pillars for the school, especially during the remote learning period and beyond, with your kind words and gestures to 'keep us all going'...we have been, and still remain, always grateful. Thanks for being so brave at 'Kiss & Drop', as we've had to follow NSW Health and NSW Department of Education guidelines, to ensure our students and staff remain safe.

An amazing group of volunteer parents have continued to ensure that our students have access to uniform items and have navigated their own way around COVID-19 and the restrictions it has brought, including assisting next year's Kindy students in being prepared for their first day of big school! Thank you so so much!!!!!!!

Special thanks must go to our P&C, who so diligently and passionately support our students and school, enabling us to continue delivering a quality education to all.

Thanks so much to our parent representatives, who have assisted in the panel process for 2 new permanent positions starting in 2021!

Huge thanks go to a group of parents, known as the Year 6 Graduation Committee, who have amazingly navigated through this difficult year of ongoing constraints, to organise a graduation for our incredible Year 6 cohort.

More recently, we give thanks to the volunteer group of parents behind last Friday's Virtual Trivia Night, who assisted in raising an incredible $21,200! Thanks also go to the individuals and businesses who donated for the raffle and silent auction, as well as all the people who joined in on the evening of fun and competition! Thank you to all!!!!

A special thank you must go to Victoria, Harry M's Mum, who is the driving force behind our school recently winning a $5,500 grant for new solar panels, as part of the 2020 Community Building Partnership program.

Our 2020 Yearbook parent organiser, Cindy, who is Lina and Leo's Mum, has done an incredible job...I had a sneak peek, as they actually just arrived! What an amazing keepsake for this very special year! Huge thanks to you, Cindy!

This year has indeed been quite an unusual one, but I'd like to acknowledge all the parents and carers who continuously give in kind and support of our students and school, in whatever capacity they can.

No matter how long you have been part of our Balmain family, we sincerely THANK YOU for your contribution and working together for our fabulous students and wonderful school.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Maria Lambos - Principal

Our latest playground improvements...

Virtual Trivia Night THANKS!!!!!!

Important message

End-of-year events and COVID-19

 As you know, we continue to follow the guidelines determined by NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education.

All end-of-year events MUST follow the 4 square metre rule, per the DoE guidelines, ‘...guests will be invited based on the total number of people (this includes staff, students, parents & carer or visitors) who are able to be accommodated under the 4 square metre rule’,  as per https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families#Graduation4

This requirement means we become quite limited with our options:

  • Balmain Town Hall - (traditionally used for our Year 6 Graduation and Celebration of Learning events) - has a capacity of 70 seated
  • School Hall - only has capacity of 28 on floor + 7 on the stage - NOT an option for any event
  • Newly-completed COLA (Covered Outdoor Learning Area) in playground - capacity of 47 undercover 

As there is no local venue, including the school, that can accommodate the various combinations for either the graduation, or Celebration of Learning, the school has had to make adjustments, whilst adhering to the guidelines:

  • Year 6 Graduation - Monday 14 December - students only
  • Celebration of Learning - via special edition eNewsletter, to be published Wednesday 16 December

We would like to acknowledge that this is not, by any means, our preference on how we had envisioned the celebration of our students and their achievements, however, our main priority is to celebrate our students as a school, whilst adhering to the DoE’s mandatory guidelines.

Thank you for your ongoing understanding and support during unprecedented times.

GIFTS, BENEFITS & HOSPITALITY

We are so grateful to our fabulous community for your ongoing support of our students, staff and school!

We are reaching the time year where many of our students and families like to show a token of their appreciation, by giving teachers and staff an end-of-year ‘thank you’ gift. Please know that this kind gesture is neither necessary, nor expected.

The staff are very appreciative of your generosity, however, as per the Department of Education’s ‘Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Procedures’, the token of appreciation must adhere to the following:

  • Value – up to $50 ONLY per student
  • NO cash or negotiable instruments such as cash vouchers, ‘pre-paid cash’ and ‘EFTPOS’ cards, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), shares or money orders
  • Gift cards are acceptable as a gift of gratitude, as they considered non-cash vouchers that must be used at specific retailers and cannot be converted to cash – a gift card cannot exceed $50 per student
  • Alcohol – MUST NOT exceed a value of $50

From the Office

  • If you are coming to the school for collections or information, please use the office window on Eaton Street where we have our friendly Duck, named “Bill”, hanging out the window. Bill can alert us to your presence and help us to help you with your requests.


  • If your family details, circumstances have changed, ie:  address, mobile numbers, separations, court orders etc, could you kindly email the school so records can be updated. This will ensure correct people are contacted and all relevant information is passed on correctly.


  • Please remember that if you are collecting your child early for an appointment or dropping them off, please ensure you allow extra time for that student to be located and brought down to the office.


  • If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact the office, or Mrs Lambos, to arrange alternate options.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Every FRIDAY

Go to www.flexischools.com.au to place your order

For any food/menu queries please feel free to contact us directly via email :

info@theschoolcanteen.com.au.

Alternatively, you can call Kirsty on 0416 786 603 and we will be happy to assist.

Kirsty and Jason Feliciotto – The School Canteen

Wednesday 2 Dec - P&C zoom meeting

link to zoom meeting to be sent via SkoolBag

Friday 11 Dec - Year 6 Day Out


Monday 14 Dec - Salvation Army Giving Assembly

Monday 14 Dec - Year 6 Graduation - 10am

Year 6 students only

Monday 14 Dec - Semester 2 Reports go home


Wednesday 16 Dec - Celebration of Learning

SPECIAL 'CELEBRATION OF LEARNING' eNEWSLETTER to be published

Wednesday 16 Dec - LAST DAY OF TERM/YEAR

2021 DATES

Friday 29 January 2021 - Students in Years 1-6 return

ALL students in Years 1-6 return today.

2021 Kindergarten students - 'Best Start' Assessment sessions commence today, run over 3 days. Bookings required...information to follow.

Wednesday 3 February 2021 - Kindergarten starts today!


FROM YOUR P&C

P&C Update - Trivia, Solar Panels & a new Treasurer

Hi everyone,

We'd like to give you some quick updates.

Firstly, we had our Virtual Trivia Night last week - if you were there, then you know how much fun it was and how successful. If you weren’t, then I hope you can join us next year.

We raised $21,200 which is an incredible achievement. Thank you!! Those funds will be used to make the school better for all our children.

Thank you especially to the fabulous volunteers who pulled the event together – Gabrielle Levette, Kate Dryden, Kate Hurst, Tara Smith, Barnaby Jenkins, Emma Weir and Gemma Puplett. They worked so hard and the P&C Executive could not be more thankful.

We’d also like to thank our major sponsors - Kitchen by Mike and Vintage Cellars and all the wonderful parents and local businesses who donated so generously for our silent auction and the raffles.   The best thing about Balmain is our community and the night was a brilliant example of that.

The second update is also some excellent news – our school has won $5,500 grant for new solar panels as part of the 2020 Community Building Partnership program.

A huge thank you to our own Victoria Lush for all her hard work pulling that application together.

Finally, our Treasurer, Alvin Lau, is leaving our school next year (sob!!) and so we need a new parent volunteer to pick up that position on the P&C.

Alvin and his wife Jen have been some of our most hardworking volunteers since they joined Balmain and we will really miss their dedication and their friendship. As Treasurer, Alvin transformed the way we manage our accounts, he is organised, methodical and clever. If you see Alvin or Jen between now and the end of the year, please take a moment to say thanks - we couldn’t do what we do for the school without amazing volunteers like them.

Our last P&C meeting for 2020 is on next Wednesday 2 December. We’re hoping a new Treasurer will volunteer before then, so they can work with Alvin to prepare for the meeting and have some level of handover.

If you are interested in joining the P&C and have a head for numbers, can you please let us know by emailing balmainpspc@gmail.com by Monday 30 November. This is a critical position so please consider it, we really need the help! 

Thank you!

The P&C Executive

Balmain P&C Welcomes 2021 Families...

Our P&C have created a Facebook group for our new families...here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPS2021/

School Uniforms


Order uniform items here


For any size exchanges, please:

1. Email the uniform stall with the details of the exchange, at: balmainpsuniforms@gmail.com

2. Return the items to be exchanged to the school office, clearly marked with Student name, Class and EXCHANGE

3. Replacement items will be packed and re-delivered to your child's classroom

Orders will continue to be packed and delivered for collection each week, until we are able to reopen the stall.

Thank you!

AWARDS

LEARN LIVE LEAD awards

K GumnutEsme McCwonderful demonstration of using a number line
K JasmineJulie V Mworking hard to master her teen numbers!
K KaleAurora Rher wonderful creativity in every writing task this week!
1/2 Banana PalmJames Chis enthusiasm for School life and learning
1/2 CactaceaeHenry Ftaking initiative and working well in a team
1/2 LavenderGabriela B Salways presenting her learning in a confident and thoughtful way
1/2 MangroveAnnabel Lthe positivity, maturity and willingness to learn that she brings each day
3/4 BambooAlfred Vhis jovial approach to every day
3/4 MagnoliaBonnie Dadjusting effortlessly to Balmain Public School
3/4 RainforestMonty McChis expressive reading during literacy rotations. Well done!
5/4 MarigoldFrankie Hher bubbly and enthusiastic energy
5/6 Cherry BlossomMatilda Rher continuous efforts in class and in her learning
5/6 FrangipaniLogan Pher incredibly touching alternate ending of 'Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes'
5/6 WillowJerry Yhis positive approach to Mock High School, which led to innovative and interesting contributions
5/6 YautiaThomas Ahis contributions and active listening during English lessons
STEAM K-2 - Ms BarcenillaNicholas M KKhis determination when creating instructions for the bee-bots
STEAM 3-6 - Ms BarcenillaElise G 3/4Bdemonstrating leadership by collaborating well during group learning
ART K-2 - Mrs BowmanVictoria G 1/2Lfantastic effort and beautiful watercolour work
ART 3-6 - Mrs BowmanAlex T 5/6Fhis determination and effort in Visual Arts
MUSIC K-2 - Ms BigginsOliver H KJhis accuracy in reading a percussion score - well done!
MUSIC 3-6 - Ms BigginsAlfred V 3/4Bfocusing in music, with fantastic results

YOU CAN DO IT! awards - Persistence

K GumnutGriffin S-Wnot giving up when faced with a challenge!
K JasmineRayson Mworking with persistence to complete challenging activities in reading groups
K KaleElliot Jhaving a continuous thirst for knowledge
1/2 Banana PalmHarrison Khis persistence in continuing to work hard in reading
1/2 CactaceaeClancy Acontinually improving his listening skills
1/2 LavenderNash E Mpersisting in his learning to achieve his learning goals
1/2 MangroveMarkus Ahis increased effort and confidence during literacy tasks
3/4 BambooDante Sdisplaying persistence with his creative writing
3/4 MagnoliaFrederique Rfabulous sizzling starts in narrative writing
3/4 RainforestCharlotte Hher dedication to improving her mathematical thinking
5/4 MarigoldJosie Apersistently giving her best throughout school
5/6 Cherry BlossomCaleb Ghis active engagement during Mock High School
5/6 FrangipaniCorey Mhis dedication in applying himself during Mock High school
5/6 WillowImogen Hher drive to persist with tasks in Mock High School to reflect the high standard she sets for herself
5/6 YautiaDennis Zhis focus and engagement during our 'Mock High School' days

POSITIVE PETE Awards

Thanks to Ms Karstrom, who organises the collection and distribution of the Gelatissimo ice-creams, as well as takes the fab photos!

PHOTO GALLERY: This Week's Positive Pete Winners

And the winner is...(drumroll please!)

Spotlight on...

1/2 MANGROVE!!!!!!

In English this term, 1/2M have been continuing their unit of work on writing narratives. We have been learning how to make our narratives more entertaining to read by including sizzling starts, tightened tension with different types of problems, and exciting endings! We have worked super hard to plan, compose, edit and publish our own narratives based on a stimulus image of an underwater scene! Have a look at how amazing our finished, typed up narratives look, including beautifully designed front and back covers.

Writing...

In mathematics, we have been revisiting length by measuring objects and areas all over the school in metres. It was great fun to challenge ourselves by making our own 1m pieces of string to help us measure the length of some curvier places that you might recognise!

Mathematics...

In music, we have loved learning about how to follow a leader and make different movements and patterns with our bodies to match the sounds that we hear in different pieces of music. Ms Biggins has taught us to think about moving our bodies to different levels to suit the pitch, dynamics and tempo of the music.

Music...

We know that the Book Parade happened earlier this term, but have a look at how incredible our costumes looked! We loved it!

Book Parade...

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

BRAINways SUMMER CAMP

Register for BRAINways Summer Camp NOW, as places are limited!

BRICKS 4 KIDZ

DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC

2021 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!

The Balmain PS Instrumental Program is a vibrant and fun program, where every student has an opportunity to learn an instrument in a supportive and collaborative setting. Our experienced music teachers from Directions In Music specialise in teaching primary school instrumental music programs, and we are excited to be welcoming our newest young musicians to join our program in 2021!

Learning a musical instrument is a wonderful skill for young people to have, and provides many rewarding benefits to a child’s development. Most importantly, playing music with our friends is fun!

If you are interested in enrolling your child in the 2021 Balmain PS Music Program, please use the QR code or link below to register online.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerz5PCDHd7v_eIzeqP57I2aQIRNrFOw39BMAH97dscfHmbcA/viewform

Alternatively, please call the Directions in Music team to enrol on 9662 2211.

No Scaredy Cats online interactive child development webinar for parents

No Scaredy Cats online interactive child development webinar for parents. 

Parentshop is hosting an interactive webinar for parents to help them identify and reduce anxiety and build resilience over three consecutive Monday evenings. 

16th, 23rd & 30th November 2020 - 7.00pm - 9.00pm AEDT

https://www.parentshop.com.au/events/52-webinar-no-scaredy-cats-for-parents/

Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus Selection and Enrichment classes

Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus Selection and Enrichment classes

Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus would normally hold an information evening for perspective families interested in our gifted and talented learning opportunities at the end of October.

Due to current Covid-19 restrictions we are unable to hold this evening.  Please click on the following link to see a presentation of information about learning opportunities for the Selective and Enrichment programs for enrolment in 2022:

https://balmain-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/b/balmain-h/localcontent/2022_Selective_Enrichment_Information_presentation.pdf

Contact us

Celebrating 160 years of quality public education in 2020!