Newsletter: Term 1 - Week 10

A Message from the Principal

Today has been a wonderful day to celebrate the end of term where we have had many of our students enjoying pyjama day, and our Year 2 students visiting the National Zoo and Aquarium. Next term will be another busy term where we will have our school review during week 7. This will involve a number of ACT system principals and an Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) lead reviewer visiting our school, talking to staff, students and parents and providing commendations, affirmations and recommendations at the end of the visit. I hope you all manage to have some rest and relaxation over the next two weeks. If you’re celebrating Easter, I hope you have a safe and happy Easter. I also hope for our families observing the Islamic Faith that Eid al-Fitr is an enjoyable celebration.

School Camp – I managed to leave the school on Tuesday to visit our Year 6 students at Camp Cooba. It was wonderful to see students engaging in some highly enjoyable but challenging outdoor activities. It seemed they were having a great time, and I’m sure, after returning yesterday afternoon that they all slept very well after an exhausting few days. Many thanks to the teacher for supporting this event through giving up their personal time.

School Photos – I am aware the dates for school photos this year aren’t ideal and would like to reassure the community that next year’s dates are more favourable. We will proceed with class photos on Monday 24 April for Kindy to Year 5. Should your child be absent, we will ensure that their individual photo is taken on the second school photo. This will ensure that for any students who are absent, that although they will not be part of the class photo, their individual photo will be included in the class package.

Islamic Education – Islamic Education classes will continue to run each Thursday at break one next term. If you are new to the school and would like to register your child for these, please do so here.

Dates to Remember

Term 1 - 2023

Friday 7 April - Good Friday public holiday
Sunday 9 April - Easter Sunday
Friday 21 April - Ramadan ends

Term 2 - 2023

Monday 24 April - First day of term 2
Monday 24 April - School photos (main day)
Tuesday 25 April - ANZAC day public holiday
Wednesday 26 April - ANZAC day assembly 9.15am
Friday 28 April - School photos (Year 6 and T/F Preschool)

Tuesday 2 May - Kinder excursion - National Arboretum
Tuesday 2 May - Preschool Nutrition Magician
Friday 5 May - Preschool Nutrition Magician
Monday 8 May - Cross country - Bonner oval
Tuesday 9 May - P & C Mother's day stall (M/T preschool)
Wednesday 10 May - Reading workshop
Thursday 11 May - P & C Mother's day stall
Sunday 14 May - Mother's day
Monday 15 - Wednesday 17 May - Year 5 camp The Tops
Wednesday 24 May - Year 1 excursion, Year 3 excursion (group 1)
Thursday 25 May - Year 3 excursion (group 2)
Saturday 27 May -3 June - National Reconciliation week
Monday 29 May - Reconciliation day public holiday

Monday 12 June - Sovereign birthday public holiday
Monday 19 June - Athletics carnival - Amaroo oval

Communications Sent Home This Week

Notes and Emails Home

Letter to community from Katy Haire

SMS Texts Home

Absences
Year 6 camp arrival

Enrolment Information Sessions

An online session on Wednesday 19 April from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm will provide parents and carers of children with developmental delay, disability, and diverse learning needs with information on the 2024 school year enrolment process and developing a relationship with their child’s next school. The session will be relevant for the enrolment of students from preschool through to college, including specialist school enrolments.

Sessions for parents and carers about supporting school transition will be held in term 3. Parents and carers can register by emailing EDUCommunityPartner@act.gov.au and they should include the school year their child will commence in 2024 (i.e. preschool, Year 9 etc.)

Contact Jean Walker on 02 620 58495 or jean.walker@act.gov.au.

School Photos

Save the date! Our school photos will be taken on the first day of term 2.

Main photo day is Monday 24 April.

Thursday/Friday preschool children and Year 6 will have their photo taken on Friday 28 April.

Please see the below information on how to order your school photo packs. Children brought home notes last week.

ANZAC Day Assembly

Passion & Purpose Dance

Passion & Purpose Academy - Years 2-6 - Wednesday Lunchtime Dance Program

Passion & Purpose Academy is Gungahlin’s fastest growing and only multicultural dance school, providing Canberra families with the most affordable hip hop dance classes for kids outside school hours.

Passion & Purpose is again very excited to offer Neville Bonner students the opportunity to participate in their lunchtime dance program every Wednesday. This helps parents as they don’t have to worry about transport after school or over a weekend!

The dance program will allow students to participate in interactive and beginner friendly Hip Hop and Afro dance routines, with a strong focus on building confidence, teamwork and staying active! Dance classes will be held outside every lunchtime in the hall from 1:30pm-2:00pm, starting in Week 1, Term 2!

Payment is $85 per child for the 9 week program starting in Week 1 (26 April) and going until Week 9.

Please enrol online to register your interest. It will be a first in, first served basis with limited spots available. www.passionandpurpose.com.au

Opening Soon: 2024 Preschool Enrolment

Enrolments for the 2024 school year for students transitioning schools or starting at a school open 6am on Wednesday 26 April. Families can apply online. Information about the school in your child’s Priority Enrolment Area can be found on the Education Directorate website.

Year 7 Amaroo School Information Evening

Mother's Day Stall

We’re holding a Mother’s Day Stall next term and we need your help!

All classes will have an opportunity to purchase a small gift for their special mother/grandmother/caregiver on Thursday 11 May.

We need some parent/grandparent volunteers to man the stall and assist our senior students managing the money and stock flow.

We have a roster system throughout the day so if you can only spare 30 minutes, we can slot you in. Any help/amount of time will be greatly appreciated.

In addition, if you are available to assist in the preschool stall on Tuesday 9 May, that would be wonderful too.

Please email nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com if you can lend a hand on the day. Please let us know what times suit you.

The P&C is running this event and all profits will go directly back into the school to support the implementation of the Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) program.

Invoice for Subscriptions

Families who did not order book packs with WINC have been emailed invoices for web based subscriptions. These include seesaw, reading eggs and Mathletics. Please promptly pay these invoices so your child/ren can be given access to these platforms.

Equity Fund 2023

Apply now for the Future of Education Equity Fund for the 2023 school year. Eligible low-income ACT families can receive one-off payments for financial aid to help cover the costs of their children’s educational costs, such as sport equipment and activities, music lessons, school uniforms and excursions. The Fund is open to eligible students enrolled in preschools that are attached to an ACT government school, through to Year 12 in the ACT. Further information and the online application form is available at https://www.education.act.gov.au/support-for-our-students/financial-and-resource-assistance-for-families

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL)

Last week we shared with you the finalists for our PBL mascot and will be announcing the winner next term. We will be working with a graphic designer to transfer the student's ideas into a design that we can use all over the school.

It has been fantastic to have a whole school pyjama day celebrating our students behaviour and the following of our expectations at Neville Bonner. I enjoyed walking around and seeing all of our students in their pyjamas with big smiles on their faces. We have made a lot of progress this term in implementing the PBL framework and it was a great end to a busy term.

As you will know PBL have been handing out tickets to acknowledge students who are safe, respectful and learners. Next term we will be moving to a more permanent system of tokens. Students will receive either a white (safe), blue (respectful) or an orange (learner) token. These tokens will then be collected in a large token collector that will allow students to keep visual track of our tokens and when we receive the tokens we will have another whole school celebration. Please see below for sample images of what this will look like. The school will be keeping track of the tokens with special acknowledgments when the students receive 30, 50 or 100 acknowledgements.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful P & C who kindly donated the money that we have used to purchase the tokens and token collectors. This is a fantastic addition to our PBL framework.

Parents' and Citizens' Association

Neville Bonner Parents and Citizens Committee

Our P&C provides services to the school such as canteen, second hand uniform shop, disco and other activities. Without a P&C, we cannot continue to do these things. For more information on our committee and event notices and updates, please head to the P&C Facebook or the Neville Bonner P&C page We are always happy to accept new members into the P&C and event volunteers as well - send us an email.

More information about our canteen; lunch orders and over the counter sales, and the uniform shop can be found on the P&C component of the school website.

Want to touch base with your P&C? You can email us at nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com, or connect through FB at https://www.facebook.com/NBPS.PandC.

Entertainment Book

Purchase this great online book full of entertainment vouchers and discount offers!! Single city books available for $69.99 or Multi city for $119.99. Did you know you can buy discounted vouchers, gift cards and presents with an Entertainment book? There are some really great offers. Make sure you subscribe to access the amazing deals. You can find the Entertainment book Official Site by clicking this link. Proceeds from each book purchased are donated to the P&C.

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Neville Bonner Primary School P&C Second Hand Uniform Stall is hosted under the school hall covered area for the following, upcoming, opening hours.

** Term 2 - Week 1 - Wednesday, 26th April, from 2.45pm to 3.45pm.

We have loads of pre-loved uniforms for sale. Preferred payment is via EFTPOS, however cash will be accepted. If you have good quality school uniform items you no longer need, the P&C will gratefully accept your donation to our second hand uniform stall through the canteen (or please place them in the tub near the front office).

Mother's Day - 14 May 2023

Mother's Day Stall planning has progressed.

Parent/Carers we will be asking for your help throughout the day between 9am and 3pm to assist. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.

Birthday cupcakes

Our amazing canteen team offers birthday cupcakes! Cost is $30 per class, with orders required one (1) week in advance. To place an order, or for more information, please email canteennbps@gmail.com.

Return-It Scheme

The P&C have registered with the Canberra Return-it scheme, you can donate to the P&C by using the mobile number (0497233172) or QR code.