Term 1, Week 10 1 April 2019

Blakehurst Public School, Dewrang Street, Carss Park, NSW 2221 Tel: 9546 1555 Fax: 9547 1796 E-mail: blakehurst-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: blakehurst-p.schools.nsw.edu.au A Message from our Principal, Mr Cameron Smyth-Gapps Dharawal Language and Culture Camp On Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd March, Miss Iacullo and I had the privilege of attending the Dharawal Language and Culture Camp at the Royal National Park with Kooriannah McKenzie-O’Reilly, Emma Young and Karim Kandakji. The camp provided an opportunity for our students to meet Indigenous students from other schools and to connect with their culture through dance, language, weaving, cooking, spear making, boomerang design and fire making workshops. Our students had a wonderful camp and had the following things to say about their experiences: ‘’The activities that I really enjoyed were the decorating of the boomerangs with shells, the language class, learning the traditional dances, making a fire and throwing the spear. Thank you Mr Smyth-Gapps and Miss Iacullo. I loved this camp and recommend it to other Aboriginal students.’’ – Emma Young ‘’We had a great time at the Dharawal Language Camp. I really enjoyed meeting new people and playing with them when we had our free time between activities.’’ – Karim Kandakji ‘’My favourite thing at the camp was the language class because I love learning about my language. I also loved spear throwing and fire making because I love the bush and being in the outdoors. Thank you to Mr Smyth-Gapps and Miss Iacullo for taking us.’’ – Kooriannah McKenzie-O’Reilly

NAPLAN Tests for 2019 Parents with children in Years 3 and 5 would have recently received information regarding the upcoming NAPLAN tests. I would like to thank the parents who attended our workshop last Thursday afternoon and encourage all parents to access the links that were provided in the information that went home. Here, you will be able to access frequently asked questions, information about the online NAPLAN test as well as practice tests for Reading, Language Conventions and Writing. Over the next week, our Year 3 and 5 students will participate in a practice test here at school to support their preparation for the tests next term. I am more than happy to meet with any parents who have questions or concerns regarding NAPLAN.

The Bush Telegraph

Blakehurst Public School Newsletter

A caring community school - safe, respectful, resilient, engaged.

Tell Them From Me Surveys Our students will be completing a survey called the ‘Tell Them From Me’ survey between now and the end of the term. The survey is taken by students in Years 4, 5 and 6. The purpose of the survey is to give our students an opportunity to voice their opinion on how the school’s programs and initiatives are meeting their needs and interests. The results of the survey measure the engagement and wellbeing levels of our students and provide vital information that the school will use for future planning. Eligible students will complete the survey at school in class time. Information as well as an ‘opt out’ form has gone home to parents. If you do not wish for your child to participate in the survey, please complete and return the ‘opt out’ form as soon as possible. PSSA and Swim Scheme With our Cross Country Carnival being held on Friday Week 10 and Friday Week 11 being used for Season 2 PSSA Trials, our swimming program as well as cricket and softball have now finished until Term 4. Unfortunately, the inclement weather and the closure of local grounds impacted on our cricket and softball teams but we hope to have more game time when these teams resume their season in Term 4. I would like to thank Mrs Talwar and Mrs Walker for their coordination of the swimming program this term and would also like to thank Mr Taj and Miss Hamer for coaching our PSSA teams. I wish our students all the best at the upcoming trials as they seek selection in the Term 2 PSSA teams. School Food Project and Healthy Canteen I would like to thank our canteen manager Angela, and all of the parent volunteers who have worked so hard recently to update our canteen menu. The menu has received local attention and we recently had a photographer and journalist from ‘The Leader’ work with the canteen staff to promote our canteen. Thank you to Taj Shipway, who has been very actively involved with the canteen transformation and also dedicated her time to provide comments to the journalist. Thank you also to Greg Smith who made the arrangements for the media to visit the school. I greatly appreciate the contributions that our parents make to the school. The article is now online and will be printed in the upcoming edition of the newspaper. We are still seeking volunteers to work in the canteen. Thursday is a day where additional hands are especially needed. If you are able to spare some time to support our canteen, please contact the school office or speak to the canteen staff directly. Multicultural Public Speaking Competition Thank you to Mrs Talwar and Miss Kojic for their organisation and running of the Multicultural Public Speaking Competition last week. Thank you also to Miss Hamer and Miss Blewitt who had the very difficult job of adjudicating the event. I would like to congratulate all of the speakers on the quality of their speeches. It was clear that a great deal of time went into the preparation of each speech and I was very impressed with the passion that each student showed when speaking about their topic of choice. The winners for stage 2 are Emna A, 3/4H and Arshia S, 3/4G and stage 3 are Maeve W 5/6B, and Christian V, 5/6B. Our finalists will also be presenting their speech as part of our Harmony Day celebrations in Term 2.

School Calendar – 2019 Upcoming events at Blakehurst Public School Please put these dates in your diary. Dates and events are subject to change. Check the school website for recent updates and changes.

Term 1 – 2019

Term 2 – 2019

PSSA Sport There was no PSSA Sport on Friday 22 March due to wet weather. There was no PSSA Sport on Friday 29 March 2019. PSSA Sport has finished for Term 1. Regional Swimming Carnival On Tuesday 19th March, Jovial Wang, Cadell Barnes, Ciaran Barnes and Waheb Diab represented our school at the Sydney East PSSA Competition held at Homebush Aquatic Centre. What an amazing job they did. A huge effort and we are all so very proud of you.

SRC News Favourite Sports Jersey Day A BIG thank you to everyone for supporting our first SRC fundraiser for the year. Everyone looked fantastic in their team jerseys and colours. We raised $488.45. This money will go towards our sponsored child, Paige from The Smith Family.

Term 1 Week 10 2019 Friday 5 April Years 3-6 Cross Country

Term 1 Week 11 2019 Monday 8 April Operation Art Workshop Cronulla

PS – Stage 1 Tuesday 9 April Operation Art Workshop Cronulla

PS – Stage 2 Easter Hat Parade 12-15 – 2.00pm

Wednesday 10 April

Operation Art Workshop Cronulla PS – Stage 3 Parent Teacher Interviews 3.30pm-7.30pm

Friday 12 April Anzac Day Ceremony - 12.15 pm

Term 2 Week 1 2019

Monday 29 April School Development Day

Tuesday 30 April Students return to school (winter uniform)

Term 2 Week 2 2019

Tuesday 7 May Harmony Day Friday 10 May Mother’s Day stall Term 2 Week 3 2019

Tuesday 14 May NAPLAN – Writing Test Years 3 & 5 Wednesday 15 May

NAPLAN – Reading Test Year 3 & 5

Blakehurst Bluey says…

At Blakehurst Public School we are Safe, Respectful, Engaged and Resilient learners. PBL Assembly Awards The following students received awards in assembly…

Bronze Award Silver Award Niko Petroulias 3/4G Zac Shipway 3/4H Waheb Diab 3/4G Jacob Haddad 5/6T Gold Award Diamond Award Kayla Oldfield 5/6B Nailah Latif 5/6B Ryan Larsen-Birch 5/6I Lucas Breski 5/6T Jessica Becker 5/6T Aaliyah Tutaki 5/6T Annabel Ira 5/6T

Emma Young 5/6T

Banner Award Cyrena Zhao 5/6B Krisanthi Patagias 5/6T Sabella Shipway 5/6T Kurt Michael 5/6T Isabella Benny 5/6T Kooriannah McKenzie-O’Reilly 5/6T Isabella Ricao 5/6T Zack Strkljevic 5/6T Anthony Koulianos 5/6T Congratulations to the above students and keep up the great work. Social Media So many amazing things are happening at our beautiful little school; make sure you are in the know! The school Social Media Committee announced tonight the launch of their brand new Instagram page @blakehurstpublic. They also revealed that the school twitter account has been tweeting again from @blakehurstps and..... there is now an official BPS Facebook Page and they are looking for likes - head on over to https://m.facebook.com/BlakehurstPS and give them a little love ❤

Year 6 Election BBQ Fundraiser On Saturday 23rd March the Year 6 Fundraising Committee held an Election BBQ for the community to purchase their “Democracy Sausage” and delicious cakes to make the voting experience one to remember. It was an amazing day with dad’s cooking, mum’s selling and students encouraging the public to buy a sausage or cake. Thank you so much to all the parent volunteers for their help setting up, cooking, packing up, making cakes and donating much needed items. Thank you also to members of our school community who donated items for us to sell. It was so great to see so many people get behind this event and it once again showed how amazing our school community is. Blakehurst is so lucky to have such great parents and families that make these events so successful. Also a HUGE thank you to some of the local businesses in our community for their contribution to this event. Thanks to Carss Park Finest Meats for their delicious sausages, IGA South Hurstville for donating many cans of drink and Woolworths at Sylvania for the bread. In total we ended up raising $748.20 to go towards year six activities at the end of the year which is such a great effort! Thank you! Miss Blewitt

Canteen Roster Term 1 Week 10 Monday 1 April Angela Tuesday 2 April Angela, HELP NEEDED! Wednesday 3 April Mary, Megan, Jessica Thursday 4 April Mary Friday 5 April CLOSED Canteen Roster Term 1 Week 11 Monday 8 April Angela Tuesday 9 April Angela, HELP NEEDED! Wednesday 10 April Mary, Selvina, Jessica Thursday 11 April Mary Friday 12 April Mary, Lisa Canteen Roster Term 2 Week 1 Tuesday 30 April Angela, HELP NEEDED! Wednesday 1 May Mary, Jessica Thursday 2 May Mary Friday 3 May Mary, Lisa Canteen Roster Term 2 Week 2 Monday 6 May Angela Tuesday 7 May Angela, HELP NEEDED! Wednesday 8 May Mary, Jessica Thursday 9 May Mary Friday 10 May Mary, Lisa Canteen will be closed this Friday 5th April, due to Cross Country Carnival. Can you help out in our school canteen? We are seeking help to make sandwiches, smoothies and salads and would love to welcome in some new faces. Our canteen operates between 9.00-2:30 and if you have any time spare during the week we would love some extra hands. Please grab a volunteers’ form from the office or pop into the canteen and say hi. There’s free tea and coffee and food for our volunteers along with new friendships, fun and smiles from the students. Canteen Coordinator: Taj Shipway School Lunch Orders via www.flexischools.com.au : blakehurstpscanteen@gmail.com

Blakehurst Bites Week 10 Community Communications Congratulations to Julia Chen from 5/6I for winning the Design a Logo for the “Blakehurst Bites” Canteen competition. Below is Julia’s winning logo.

We made The Leader!!! From tuckshop treats to a healthier overhaul at Blakehurst Public School. Please read the article below. https://www.theleader.com.au/story/5967029/from-tuckshop-treats-to-a-healthier-overhaul/?cs=1507

P & C News Mother’s Day Stall - Friday May 10th Planning is now well underway for our annual Mother’s Day Stall. This event provides the opportunity for all students to be able to purchase a special gift for a significant carer, mother or grandmother in their lives. We are currently seeking donations of new, good quality gifts to support this event. Gifts can be donated at the school office. We are also reaching out to our community for volunteers who can help our students to choose their gifts on the day of the stall. If you are keen to help please let us know by emailing blakehurstpandc@gmail.com Thank you for your continued support. P&C Fundraising

Photography Workshop SEMI FINALIST WINNER OF THE MORAN PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP

Last year, 3/4R had the privilege of attending a whole day photographic workshop, organised by the Moran Arts Foundation, on the 15th August, 2018. Congratulations to Ahlyrah Lubis from 3/4G, who was one of the 130 student winners as a semi-finalist selected, Australia wide. Well done Ahlyrah!

Woolworths Junior Landcare grant

We’ve been successful with our application for a Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant for our sustainable gardening and outdoor learning area project! Blakehurst Public School is one of 538 primary schools and early learning centres throughout Australia receiving a Woolworths Junior Landcare grant to help grow our next generation of environmental champions. The grants are being funded with money made from the sale of the Woolworths recyclable “Bag for Good™” which was launched in 2018 when the supermarket stopped using single-use plastic bags. The children and teachers are looking forward to working and learning from this project and we will keep you updated on the results. Look up the following link to access the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant map and read about our project! https://landcareaustralia.org.au/woolworthsgrants/maps