Term 4 Week 10 Wednesday 16 December 2020

SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY- 24-hour security hotline 1300 88 00 21

Important dates for your diary...

For your diary...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

UNIFORM SHOP OPEN 28 JANUARY 2021- 9:00am-11:00am

TERM 1 2021begins for students in Years 1-6 on Friday 29 January. Please note Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 January are School Development Days for staff only.

*Tuesday 2 February 2021- Kindergarten commence

THE SKOOLBAG CALENDAR IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED TO INCLUDE 2021 DATES. 

From the Principal, Ms Hanson

As we come to the end of the 2020 school year, I take this opportunity to thank our community for the continued commitment and support offered to our students and staff throughout what has been a challenging year. On behalf of all the staff at Beacon Hill, we wish all our families a wonderful Christmas, New Year and holiday break. Treasure this magical time with your nearest and dearest, make the most of the glorious summer weather and find some time to relax and recharge! I look forward to seeing everyone on Friday 29 January 2021.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Mrs O’Sullivan, Mrs Ross, Mr Matthewson and Chelsea for organising our very special Year 6 farewell on Monday evening. It was a lovely, memorable evening for the children and an event I am sure they will forever remember. The gorgeous presentation prepared by Chelsea, Mrs Ross and Mrs O'Sullivan was a wonderful acknowledgement of each student’s growth and a lovely memento of a special journey, the dinner at Manly Leagues was delicious and the cupcakes generously prepared by Sam Gojak were just delicious. The venue was beautifully decorated and the disco, coordinated by DJ Chelsea, was so much fun!

FAREWELL TO OUR YEAR 6 CLASS OF 2020/ YEAR 12 OF 2026! WE WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST FOR BRIGHT FUTURES AHEAD. WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU ALL. BE SURE TO COME BACK AND VISIT!

Back to School 2021!

While it seems like a long way away at the moment, we are working very hard to prepare for our (years 1-6) students’ return to school on Friday 29 January 2021. At the beginning of the new school year, students will remain in their 2021 classes in what we call a “Holding Pattern”. In most cases they will continue with their current classes while enrolment numbers are finalised. This can sometimes take a couple of days, especially when numbers fluctuate. If your child is going to be leaving the school and you have not notified the office or if your child/ren is/are going to be absent on the first day back, can you please let the school know in January in writing or by email: beaconhill-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au This will ensure we can firm up enrolment numbers quickly at the beginning of the school year.

On the first day back for children, which is Friday 29 January 2021, the children from Years 1 to Year 6 (that is, this year’s K- 5) will line up in the same place as they did throughout this year for morning lines with their 2020 class group. Their 2020 teachers (where possible) will collect classes and take them to their classrooms. If it is raining on the morning of 29 January, students should proceed straight to their 2020 classrooms where they will be advised where to go if there has been a change.

On the second day, Monday 1 February 2021, all students will line up under the COLA where we hold our shade structure assemblies. Once 2021 classes are formed, lining up arrangements for the new year will be organised and communicated to the students.

Our 2021 kindergarten students will commence on Tuesday 2 February 2021. Detailed information regarding kindergarten’s starting procedures has been emailed out to families.

Class structures for 2021

At our final P&C for the year, I presented possible class structures for 2021. We have been working on a few models as we firm up numbers and new enrolments for 2021. It is important to be mindful of the fact that this is not set in stone and can change before the beginning of the new school year. At present, the structure we are working on includes:

4 x Kindergarten classes, 3 x Year 1, 3 x Year 2, 2 x Year 3, 1 x Year 3/4 composite, 2 x Year 4, 3 x Year 5, 2 x Year 6.

School Uniform

The holiday break is a great time to check children’s school uniforms to ensure our children return next year in full school uniform, including black closed shoes and correct school hat (which in 2021 is the broad brimmed hat). Many children will be replacing shoes over the holiday break, so please make sure black shoes are at the top of the shopping list. Let’s return next year with a great start and excellent attitude towards wearing full school uniform. We want every child to show they are proud to be part of Beacon Hill Public School!

NBSC Year 7 2022 Intake HPGE Intake Programs

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School Planning for 2021!

As we plan for next year it is vital that we have accurate data regarding definite enrolments. Changes to enrolments can make a significant difference in terms of staffing, classroom accommodation and actual class formations. So please, if you are moving to another other area next year and have children not returning to us in 2021, we would appreciate you notifying the school office. Similarly, if you plan to start your child in Kindergarten next year and you have not yet enrolled him or her, or completed all documentation, then please contact the school office as a matter of priority as our Kinder 2021 children will soon commence their transition to school program.

From time to time we have families who extend their holiday and will therefore not return to school at the commencement of the school year. It is imperative that the school receives notification, in writing, that the children are returning to school prior to the end of first term, if they are to be included in the numbers that are submitted to the DoE. So, if you are extending your holiday, please complete the form below with as much information as possible regarding return to school dates. It is important that this information is in writing and signed by parents/ carers.

2021 Notification

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Covid-19 Information for Parents and Carers

The Department regularly updates their website to reflect the current health advice and to ensure the community is informed of the expectations on school sites for students, staff and the community. The information can also be accessed using the link below. 

https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families#School1

From the Deputy Principal-Mrs Walsh

Tree of Giving

WOW!

Thank you Beacon Hill for your AMAZING generosity in supporting our Tree of Joy this year. The office is overflowing with beautifully wrapped gifts for some less fortunate people in our community.

Coordinated by Ray White, the gifts will be distributed through local charities including Stewart House, Northern Beaches Interchange, Mission Australia and Taldumande.

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Tree of Joy – the spirit of giving is well and truly alive at BHPS!

 Merry Christmas to all our Beacon Hill families and thanks again for your kindness in helping others experience some joy this Christmas!

Year 6 Mini-Fete Day Fun!

SO MUCH FUN FOR EVERYONE! What a fantastic day we all had on Friday at the Year 6 Mini-Fete Fun Day. Year 6 students worked very hard planning and setting up their stalls; and students from kindergarten to year 5 appreciated their efforts. There were mazes, games, water slides and guessing competitions - something for everyone!! The weather was kind to us and the lunchtime sausage sizzle, delicious!

Congratulations Year Six on your collaborative efforts in planning and running such a successful day. There were some very tired students (and teachers and parents) by 3pm Friday! 

Year 5 go high up in the Tree Tops!

Year 5 enjoyed a picnic day of adventure and fun this week at The Hills Treetop Adventure Park. A mixture of nerves, excitement and a sprinkle of rain ensured there was never a dull moment!

Students enjoyed the opportunity to challenge themselves as they moved through the obstacle course high up in the magnificent Gum trees. They climbed weaved and flew through the tree tops on  self-guided rope courses of varying difficulty. From rope ladders, wobbly bridges, tunnels, cargo nets and zip lines, Year 5 students challenged themselves both physically and mentally! What a fantastic day everyone had at Treetops - the pride that students felt upon completing each challenge was awesome to witness! Well done Year 5.


In the library

Well done to everyone who completed the Premiers Reading Challenge. A big congratulations who received gold awards for completing the PRC for the fourth year running. These students are

Luca E, Zoe H, Jake W, Harry G, Tahnia G, Eve K, Keira L, Indigo M, Ethan N, Grace S, Agustina E, Jade C and Taiaroa L

Well Done!

An extra huge congratulations to Chloe H in Year 6 who has completed the PRC for the past 7 years and has achieved Platinum status

Well done Chloe, great reading.

 

Thank you for all your support this year in the library and I look forward to another great year of reading and borrowing in 2021.

Happy festive season and happy reading

Alison Shearer

Teacher/ librarian

OC CLASS PLACEMENT 2021 UPDATE

The Opportunity Class Placement Test was conducted on Wednesday 18 November 2020 in 1068 primary schools and test centres across NSW. The results of this test will be released to parents and schools in mid-January 2021.

Parents who are offered placement on behalf of their children will have just one week to respond to their offers. Parents are being emailed to ensure that they watch their emails or depute someone else to respond on their behalf if they will be out of contact when the results are released as offers will lapse if parents do not respond in time.

Key dates for remaining stage of the OC process:

  •  Mid-January 2021 – Placement outcome information is sent to parents and schools. Parents with offers must respond within one week.
  •  From mid-January 2021 – Parents accept or decline offers. The Reserve List is activated.
  •  25 January 2021 – Primary schools will be provided with an updated report of students with accepted offers.
  •  27 January 2021 – At 5pm, students with accepted offers are withdrawn from the reserve list.

Community News

BHOOSH Summer Vacation Care Program

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Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore school bus changes

In the coming months changes will be made to some bus and school routes and timetables in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore to improve travel times and frequency of services on key routes and to give customers more choice around how they travel. 

These changes have been led by Transport for NSW, who are working closely with State Transit to ensure we are delivering services where and when they are needed. We have also used Opal data and feedback from customers and stakeholders to inform the changes.  

There maybe some changes to your local school services and students may need to change their current travel patterns.  

For more information, please visit:  https://transportnsw.info/news/2020/northern-beaches-lower-north-shore-bus-service-improvements

Beacon Hill Public School

“Together we provide a respectful, happy and friendly school environment where everyone strives to achieve excellence.”