TERM 3, Week 10 Bilpin Public School Tuesday 24th September 2019

NEWSLETTER 2517 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW 2758 Phone: 4567 1154 Fax: 4567 1388

Email: bilpin-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Webpage: www.bilpin-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

** All newsletter attachments / notes will also be available for printing from the school webpage **

IMPORTANT DATES PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

We would like to commend all students for their hard work and commitment to learning this term. We wish them a restful two week break and hope you all have a safe and relaxing long weekend. I would like to once again thank the staff at Bilpin Public School for their ongoing dedication to providing engaging learning opportunities for our students. A considerable amount of time is invested in planning lessons, as well as ongoing assessment and reporting to ensure the individual needs of all students is met. Teachers commit time during the evening, on weekends and each holiday period to ensure their students receive a quality education. Our SASS staff are always on hand to support the teaching staff, students, parents and broader community. We are lucky to have such a wonderful team at Bilpin!

Students return to school on Monday 14th October.

Last day of Term

This Friday is the last day of Term 3 and students are permitted to wear mufti. K/1/2 students may also wear mufti to their excursion to Brewongle Environmental Education Centre.

Kindergarten 2020 Transition Program

Last week our new Kindergarten students for 2020 attended school for their first Transition Day. The students spent the afternoon session participating in

a range of activities with Mrs McCloy, Ms Wheen and our current Kindergarten students. I would like to thank Mrs McCloy and Ms Wheen for the time and effort they have taken to develop activities for the Transition Program. Small Schools’ Public Speaking and Debating Competition On Thursday, 12th September, Ariarn, Isaac, Max, Annika, Billie and Sojo competed at the Small Schools’ Public Speaking and Debating Competition at Maraylya Public School. Congratulations to Ariarn for winning the Stage 3 Division and Annika for coming second in the Stage 2 division. All students tried their very best and did a fabulous job!

I would like to thank Ms Wheen for all the time and effort she has spent in coaching the students with their speeches. I would also like to thank Mr Gaffey, the Principal at Maraylya for organising the competition and providing this opportunity for our students to compete against other small schools in the area.

SEPTEMBER

Thursday 26th – Principal’s Lunch

Friday 27th – K/1/2 Brewongle

Excursion

Friday 27th - Last day of school –

MUFTI DAY

Sat/Sun 12th & 13th - Bilpin

Flower Show

TERM 4

OCTOBER

Monday 14th – Students return

Thursday 17th – Sydney West

Athletics Carnival

Thursday 17th – Gymnastics start

Wednesday 23rd – Dance Festival

– Rehearsal and Performance

Year 5 Leadership Training Day

Last week Year 5 attended the Year 5 Leadership Training Day. The students had the opportunity to work with Year 10 students from Colo High learning about the 5 Building Blocks of Leadership.

The Year 5s also developed new friendships with students from other primary schools in the Colo Learning Community. We were very proud of the behaviour and cooperation displayed by our students.

We hope they have learnt valuable tips in readiness for student elections in Term 4.

I would like to thank our Year 6 leaders; Ariarn, Joel, Abby, Sasha and Aliza for attending to assist as helpers for the day by taking messages between groups, taking photos and preparing food for over 200 people. I would also like to thank and congratulate Ariarn for presenting an excellent speech about student leadership and her experiences as a school leader.

Small Schools’ Athletics Champions

Congratulations to Leander and Abby who were presented with their trophies at our parent assembly for being 2019 Small Schools’ Champions.

Stage 3 Camp

Last week, 5/6, Mr Hynds and I spent two days at YMCA Camp Yarramundi. The students had an action-packed time on the flying fox, undertaking team initiatives, abseiling, the giant swing and the cave maze. The students’ instructor Dale, explained each activity extremely clearly and supported them in facing their fears and challenging themselves to have a go. All activities required patience, perseverance and teamwork. We were very impressed with the students’ ability to encourage and assist each other to complete each task.

I would like to thank Mr Hynds for organising such an exciting and worthwhile experience for the students.

Hawkesbury Dance Festival Tickets

Ticket orders were due last week. Once the organising school is aware of how many extra tickets are available, we will notify parents who have indicated they require extra tickets.

Principal’s Lunch

This term’s Principal’s Lunch for students who have achieved 3 Principal Awards or the Shining Star Medallion, will join me for lunch on Thursday 26th September.

Shining Star Medallion

Congratulations to Peppa in 3/4 for achieving the Shining Star Medallion! Peppa is an excellent school citizen who works extremely hard in class, always follows school rules and is always willing to help others. Well done Peppa!

Department of Education Enrolment Policy Changes

The Department of Education has updated the policy around the enrolment of students in NSW Government schools. This policy can be found at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/media/documents/changes-to-theenrolment-policy-for-parents.pdf

The changes will impact out-of-area enrolments dependent on a school’s ‘cap’ or enrolment limits. A parent information sheet has been included in this newsletter. Please take a moment to read this information sheet and familiarise yourself with the way public schools will manage their student enrolments.

Have Your Say On Before and After School Care The NSW Government is committed to providing before and after school care to all students of public primary schools in New South Wales. As part of the reform, a parent web form has been established by Service NSW that will enable parents to tell the department about their specific care needs and to stay up to date with any new developments. https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/basc The information provided by parents will help the Department of Education to understand your needs, give them insights into where there are gaps in service delivery and help to ensure the extra places are delivered where they are required. As you are probably aware, our school is currently serviced by Kurrajong Before and After School Care. Presently, the centre is finalising enrolments for next year. There is currently a bus service to Bilpin on some mornings. We would like to know if anyone is seeking after school care in 2020 to determine if a potential bus service may be required in the afternoons. So that I can liaise with the Director at Kurrajong OOSH, please complete the attached form and return it to school by Friday 27th September.

Why Do Children Need to Develop Good Reading Habits? Reading is one of the most important skills a child needs to learn to succeed in life. Children are active, curious and eager to learn. Reading books can help them gain knowledge, develop thinking skills, develop positive values and attitudes. Children don’t just learn to read at school, in fact, the home is the first learning environment for young children and parents are their first teachers. It is the best place to begin good reading habits. In this respect, school and home are equally important in teaching children to read. We encourage ALL students to read daily to increase their vocabulary, oral fluency and comprehension. You can teach your child good reading habits and motivate them to read by: • Having a quiet place where you can sit and enjoy reading together. • Taking time to talk about the books you read with your children. This helps to establish the concept that reading generates ideas, opinions and questions. • Writing your grocery list clearly and ask your children to help you read it in the store. This helps build fluency and sight word vocabulary based on things that are familiar.

Happy Birthday We hope the following students had a great birthday this month! Clayton (12 years old), Patrick (12 Years old), Leigha (11 years old), Charlotte (7 years old)

Mrs Melanie Mackie

Principal

NEWS, NOTES AND HAPPENINGS

NOTES Home

NOTES Due

Before and After School Care Survey Friday 27th September

Canteen Roster Friday 27th September

Enrolment Policy Information for Parents NA

AWARDS

PBL

Week 8 K/1/2: Charlotte 3/4: Emily 5/6: Abby

Week 9 K/1/2: Sophia 3/4: Hugh 5/6: Ariarn

Term 3 Bronze

3/4: Max, Zakath, William

Term 3 Silver

3/4: Gemma, Luke, Isaac, Annika, Ben, William, Lexie, Cleo, Emily, Billie, Brandan,

Lilly, Charlie, Sojo, Ryan, Peppa, Hugh, Khannah, Bailey, Keira

5/6: Sam G, Clayton

Term 3 Gold

3/4: Leander, Mia, James

5/6: Sasha, Aliza

CANTEEN Many thanks to the parents who have returned their canteen rosters already. Please return them by Friday 27th September, to ensure a roster can be created ready for the beginning of the Term 4. Thank you to our wonderful Term 3 canteen helpers!

P & C

The next P & C Meeting will take place on Monday 4th November from 3:40pm in the staffroom.

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Bilpin Flower Show will run from Saturday 12th October from 11am

until 4pm and continue on Sunday 13th October from 10am until 3pm.

There are 4 categories for children;

9 years and under (2 categories) Toy Story in flowers

Vegetable construction

15 years and under (2 categories) In a teapot

Like a rainbow

All entries for the Show are received between 10am until 8pm on Friday 11th October at the Bilpin Hall. Entry is free.

We encourage students to support the Bilpin Flower Show by entering in the following categories and attending over the weekend, which is the last weekend of the school holidays.

MTAS Kids School Holiday Workshops 30th September - 11th October 2019

Enrolling now for 5-15yr olds!

10 am – 12 noon 1pm – 3pm

Mon 30th Sept Paint a Landscape Make Your Own Slime

Tue 1st Oct Paint an Abstract Picture Draw & Paint Mermaids

Wed 2nd Oct Draw Fantasy Creatures Make Dragon Wind Chimes

Thurs 3rd Oct Create a Crystal Fairy Make Colourful Clay Critters

Fri 4th Oct Pottery —

Mon 7th Oct ~ Public Holiday ~

Tue 8th Oct Draw Unicorns Paint an Underwater Scene

Wed 9th Oct Make Your Own Dragon Decorate Treasure Boxes

Thurs 10th Oct Paint a Dragon Make Magic Lanterns

Fri 11th Oct Make Jewellery —

Cost: $15 per 2hr workshop per child; all equipment supplied.

Venue: Richmond Art Supplies, Shop 1, 328 Windsor St, Richmond

Bookings Essential: phone Deidre 0412 979 731

For more information: www.mtas.com.au

STAGE 3 CAMP

Hawkesbury Police Officer of the Year

We would like to acknowledge and recognise Sergeant Col Williams for being the recipient of the Hawkesbury Police Officer of the Year. Col has been recognised for his work with domestic violence in the community, specifically a particular event where he was the first respondent to a horrific incident. For his bravery and courage, Col has also been nominated for the NSW Police Officer of the Year. Last year during the Bilpin fire, Col coordinated getting the students through on the buses so that they could get home safely, providing a police escort. Without his personal assistance in that situation, students could have delayed getting home that day. He always looks out for our students and community and we are extremely appreciative of the work he does and the support he provides. Congratulations Col and thank you for keeping our community safe!

“Learn to Live” bilpin-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

2517 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW 2758 (02) 45 67 1154 Fax : (02) 45 67 1388

www.bilpin-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

BILPIN PUBLIC SCHOOL

Tuesday 24th September, 2019

Before and After School Care Survey 2020

Dear Parents, We are requesting information regarding parent interest for Before and After School Care services in 2020. This survey is separate to the Department of Education’s Survey that is included in this week’s edition of the newsletter. Presently our school, like other schools in the Colo Learning Community, utilises Kurrajong Before and After School Care Centre at McMahon’s Park. This survey is to determine need and is not a guarantee of placement. Kind regards, Mrs Melanie Mackie Principal

“Learn to Live” bilpin-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

2517 Bells Line of Road, Bilpin NSW 2758 (02) 45 67 1154 Fax : (02) 45 67 1388

www.bilpin-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

Before and After School Care Survey 2020

Child’s Name: ______________________________ If you require Before and After School Care and your child currently uses the service at Kurrajong, please complete the section below by ticking the relevant boxes. My child currently attends Kurrajong OOSH on the following mornings. (Please tick inside the box below the relevant day/days.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

My child currently attends Kurrajong OOSH and I would like a bus service on the following mornings. (Please tick inside the box below the relevant day/days.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

My child currently attends Kurrajong OOSH and I would like a bus service on the following afternoons. (Please tick inside the box below the relevant day/days.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Child’s Name: ______________________________ If you require Before and After School Care but your child DOES NOT currently have a place at Kurrajong OOSH, please complete the section below an expression of interest in before and/or after school care by ticking the relevant boxes.

Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Morning

Afternoon

*Please complete the attached information and return to the office by Friday 27th September, 2019.

education.nsw.gov.au

Within the enrolment cap, a number of enrolment places (the buffer) must be kept aside for the likely number of local students who will need to enrol during the year. For this reason, a school will not take non-local students once they reach their buffer, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

100-point residential address checkParents planning to enrol their child at a school that is near or at their buffer or cap will be asked to complete the 100-point residential address check to confirm they live within the school’s designated intake area. This means you will need to provide documents to verify your child’s current address. So that schools only seek information relevant to your child’s enrolment, a list of approved documents for the residential address check is available from the school or the department’s website at https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/enrolment-of-students-in-nsw-government-schools.

Selection criteria for non-local enrolmentSibling enrolments are now clearly prioritised (where possible) and selection criteria for non-local enrolment will not include student ability, performance or achievement.

The Enrolment of Students in NSW Government Schools policy is in place to assist schools to meet their obligations under the Education Act 1990 - to ensure that every student has a place at their local school. The policy also communicates to staff and the community a transparent enrolment process.

Why was the enrolment policy revised?Across the state, many communities are changing. Some are growing at rates never seen before. Some schools that used to be able to accept out-of-area enrolments, no longer have the room to do so.The revised policy is designed to support schools to manage all enrolment applications, encourage greater consistency in decision-making and make sure the enrolment choices are clear for parents.

What are the changes?The enrolment capThe enrolment cap is the number of students that can be enrolled at a school based on the school’s permanent accommodation. The enrolment cap tells us whether the school may or may not have the capacity to accept non-local enrolments. It is not a target or limit on the number of local enrolments a school can take.Each school with a local intake area will have a cap set by the department from Term 4 2019.

Enrolment policy

NSW Department of Education

Information for parents

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education.nsw.gov.au

ContactFor general enquiries contact: 1300 679 332 or email: DoEinfo@det.nsw.edu.auFor enrolment enquiries, speak to your local school. Find school contact details at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/finding-a-public-school

I already have a child enrolled as an out-of-area student in a NSW Government school. Can I enrol my other children at that school too?This will depend on the capacity of the school:· If the school is not near its buffer, then siblings should

be able to be enrolled at the school. In fact, siblings of students currently enrolled will be prioritised, where possible, over other non-local enrolment applications.

· If the school is nearing its buffer, then the school will form a non-local enrolment panel. The panel considers non-local enrolment applications when the number of non-local applications received exceeds the number of places available below the buffer. Again, in this instance, siblings of students currently enrolled will be prioritised, where possible, over other non-local enrolment applications.

· If the school is at capacity they will not accept non-local enrolment applications unless there are exceptional circumstances.

I have already accepted an offer for my child to attend a school in 2020 that is not my local school. What happens now? The enrolment will proceed. Non-local enrolments accepted before Term 4 2019 for students starting in 2020 should not be affected.

What is the criteria for enrolment in a school that is not my local school? Schools that are able to accept non-local enrolment applications establish a non-local enrolment selection panel, if demand exceeds the number of places below the school’s buffer. Schools are required to make the selection criteria available to the school community.

My circumstances are challenging and I think this school is best for my child. We live outside the school’s intake area. What should I do?We understand that not everyone’s circumstances are the same, and that there are instances where exceptional circumstances will need to be considered. Your circumstances should be discussed with the principal of your local school who can assist you to negotiate an out-of-area enrolment if there are exceptional and compelling circumstances.

What has not changed?Schools will continue to enrol students who live in their local intake area, regardless of the school’s cap status. There are no changes to enrolment rights of siblings of non-local students. In schools with available places, each enrolment application is considered on its merits, including if siblings currently attend the school. If the school is below capacity, out-of-area applications for siblings of current students will be given enrolment priority.Schools will continue to provide families with support and advice during the enrolment process, including assessment of exceptional and compelling circumstances particularly for vulnerable students and their families.Schools will also continue to apply the policy fairly and consistently using transparent and accountable processes when making decisions around enrolment applications. Parents have a right to appeal to determine whether the stated processes have been applied in a procedurally fair manner.

But what do the changes mean for me?What if my child is already enrolled but we do not live in that school’s intake area?Your child will remain enrolled at the school as the revised policy does not affect students already enrolled in NSW Government schools.

We were in area when my child was enrolled in the school. The department has since changed the school’s boundary and our residence is now out of area. I have other children and I want them all to go to the same school. What are my options?At times it is necessary for the department to make adjustments to a school’s local enrolment intake area. This could mean a family with a child/children already enrolled is then outside the local intake area. When this happens, the family will still be able to enrol siblings together at the school, regardless of whether the school is over the buffer or cap.