Pigeon Post

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/

• 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.

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.

When you're 4-and-a-half or just turned 5 years old and expected to go into an unknown place (for the majority), without the support of a known trusted adult, it can be pretty daunting! Evidence shows that it's not so for us!

Balmain Public School prides itself on a transition to school program that will build trust, in a safe and nurturing environment. Normally, groups of 20 of our future Kindergarten students get to immerse themselves in a 5-morning, across one week transition program.

As with much of this year, we've needed to look at the seemingly upside-down world around us through a different lens. Our transition program is no different...we continue to follow the advice from both NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education.

In keeping within the current guidelines, our new-look program now involves a a group of no more than 10 children per day, a check-in via QR code at the gate, a temperature check for the children (that they all admittedly do quite happily, as it's a pre-requisite at preschool), a kiss and a hug from the dropping off grown up, a deep breath and away they go for the next hour or so!

This week has seen the second of a 3-week, 3-session program at our school. It's so impressive to see that our 2021 Kindergarten students are already feeling like they're at home...they have happily entered our gates to experience the wonderful life of kindy at Balmain!

You can check out the post and story highlight on our Insta account:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CITu-t3nqXy/

Maria Lambos - Principal

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

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

SPECIAL 'CELEBRATION OF LEARNING' eNEWSLETTER to be published

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.

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

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

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!

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.