Pigeon Post

2020 Volume 4 Issue 4

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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...

‘Transition to School’ program dates for 2021 Kindergarten information has been sent out this week via SkoolBag. Book in NOW!

Enrolling now for Kindergarten 2021

How to apply

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

Art Appreciation...

'In Visual Arts...(they) also develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in appreciating their own artworks and those of others, recognising some relationships between artists, artworks, audiences and how the world is interpreted.' - Creative Art K-6 Syllabus'

With only 2 weeks to go of our 'Flora & Fauna' K-6 Virtual Art Show, art appreciation has definitely been a highlight of the entire experience.

In past years, all student artworks were hung and displayed in the hall, with classes having the opportunity to briefly visit the 'gallery' with their teachers. As our hall is used by a variety of community users, we normally have to take down the entire display within a few days of putting it up.

The COVID-19 experience has changed our presentation, with only 3 classes having their artworks exhibited each week, along the 'First Floor Gallery'. Each exhibit remains for the week, allowing for multiple opportunities to visit and enjoy. This has allowed for a more in-depth appreciation of their own, as well as others' artworks!

A sneak peek of this week's artworks can be accessed via our Instagram account...?

Maria Lambos - Principal

Head over to Instagram for a sneak peek at this week's art show...

Instagram links...

Still Life Vases - 1/2 Cactaceae

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHJaAfjn0bF/

Kandinsky Collage Trees - K Jasmine

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHL4fKuHEbp/

Fantasy Tree Sculptures - 3/4 Bamboo

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHOhBVTHBf3/

Is your child missing out on important opportunities?

COVID-19 update...

The Department of Education continues to work closely with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), NSW Health and other agencies to ensure our schools continue to operate in the safest ways possible during the COVID-19 environment.

CONTINUING:

  • Students and staff with flu-like symptoms will need to be tested and provide a copy of a negative COVID-19 test result and be symptom-free before being permitted to return to school
  • Parents and carers are not allowed on school sites or at offsite school events held during school hours

ON HOLD:

  • School activities that involve gathering of parent and community members such as parent functions, working bees, school barbecues, parent information evenings and on-site cultural events
  • Parent and carer attendance at assemblies and other school activities unless it’s an end of year school event, such as the Year 6 graduation, and the venue can cater for the 4 square metre distancing rule

FROM 12 NOVEMBER:

  • Year 7 transition to high school in Term 4
  • school planned end of year events can proceed in a COVID-safe way while adhering to relevant COVID-19 Safety Plans - 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
  • P&C meetings may occur on the school sites with executives and invited guests. These meetings must occur outside of school hours and are limited to a maximum of 20 people

Current advice:

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

2020 YEARBOOK - ON SALE NOW!

PLEASE ENSURE YOU PAY FOR THE YEARBOOK VIA FLEXISCHOOLS ONLY. Instructions above?...please do not pay via the school payment system.

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

Friday 16 Nov - LAST DAY - Selective high school applications for Year 7 2022

Weekly: Wk 1-Wk 8 - Gymnastics program

K-2 - Fridays - 1/2C finish at 3:00pm

3-6 - Thursdays - 3/4B finish at 3:00pm

Monday 19 Oct-Friday 20 Nov - Virtual K-6 Art Show

Issue 2 of FLORA & FAUNA Special Edition Newsletter coming soon...

Wednesday 11 Nov - Remembrance Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we commemorate the 102nd anniversary since the guns on the Western Front fell silent and reflect on the significance of that event. We also pause to remember all the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

We will remember them. Lest we forget.

Wednesday 11 Nov - Zoom P&C meeting

link to meeting to come...

Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 Nov - NAIDOC Week celebrations at Balmain PS


Wednesday 18 November - Year 5 2021 Opportunity Class Placement Test

Friday 20 November - Virtual Trivia Night - Tickets on sale NOW!

Friday 11 Dec - Year 6 Day Out

TBC

Monday 14 Dec - Year 6 Graduation

TBC...

Tuesday 15 Dec - Celebration of Learning

TBC

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!


THANK YOU TO OUR P&C!!!!

FROM YOUR P&C

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

**No awards handed out this week due to inclement weather**

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!

**No Positive Pete awards drawn this week due to inclement weather**

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

Spotlight on...

K GUMNUT!!!!!!

KG have been such clever Gumnuts! We talked about all of the things that we have been learning over the past 4 weeks and then worked in collaborative groups to chat and write about what we enjoyed the most.

FAMILY TREES: KG have been doing a fabulous job of presenting their family trees to the whole class.

They have been so brave and we all loved hearing everyone's family history.

I was born in Sydney and my dad was born in Greenwich and I love my family.

- Lola

I have a big family and I like playing with my Ong Noi when my Pwa Pwa​ cooks.

- Ari

I liked telling about my family.

- Poppy

I love my family so much!

- Saxon

I have a big family and I love them very much.

- Emily

GYMNASTICS: Gymnastics classes began this term and KG have been marvellous monkeys hanging on the bars, jumping into the motorbike pose on the trampoline, rolling themselves into eggs and pencil rolls and balancing on the beam!

I like the bars - Esme

I like the wedge and I like doing the forward rolls - Frankie

I like doing ice cream scoops on the beam - Patrick 

I like the bars because it is fun swinging - Griffin

I like doing the bars because you can actually kind of swing! - Sam

I love the trampoline - because you can jump really high! - Sunny

FIRST FLOOR GALLERY: We visited the First Floor Gallery and saw our stunning peacock artworks.

PHOTO GALLERY

Reflection...

Mine was very colourful - Ethan

You had to paint, then paint again, then cut it all out, then do the eyes and go all over them with a sharpie and then stick the feathers on. - Nico

It was really HARD but they  were really COOL! - Niven

HISTORY: In history, KG have been learning about about how we grow and change. Isla, Margot and Arthur shared their ideas...

When I was a baby I couldn't even lie still - I wiggled - Isla

When I was a baby I could play and crawl - Margot

Now I am six I can stand on one foot and I can skip! - Arthur

BOOK WEEK: Last, but definitely not least...We loved dressing up as our favourite book character. Can you find us all?​

STEP BACK IN TIME...'Morilla Wonga' - Balmain Demonstration School 1961 - FINAL

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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!