Newsletter: Term 1 - Week 1

A Message from the Principal

Welcome to 2024

There is something special about the first day of Preschool and Kindergarten and this week we welcomed our new classes to Neville Bonner. There were big smiles on faces, hugs and high fives, lots of proud parents and families members waving goodbye and wishing students all the best for their day. Visiting classes throughout the day I was able to see how engaged students were and how much fun they were having. I was able to sit with many of them who proudly showed me the work they were already doing on Day 1!


It was a really calm and settled start to the school year and over the week we welcomed back our other student groups. It was wonderful to hear about adventures our students had over the holiday breaks, movies they had watch and books read. Visiting classrooms I saw students reconnecting with each other with getting to know you activities and commencing learning activities.


A school is place where memories are created and friendships are made and we are so grateful to our community for partnering with us in your child’s educational journey.


P&C

Our first P&C meeting is Monday Week 3 at 7pm. Our P&C group is such a lovely group of supportive parents and carers and we would love to see some new faces. Whether you are a family who have just joined us or you have been part of the Neville Bonner Community for a while we would love to see you. The P&C operate our Canteen which we are lucky to have running 5 days a week. Last year the P&C organised many events and fundraisers such as Mothers/Fathers Day Stall, Disco, Community Book Fair, BBQs, Book Club, Second Hand Uniform Shop and who could forget our amazing Colour Run! I hope to see many of you on Monday night 12 February. For P&C updates please read further down in the newsletter. 


Mobile Phone Policy

A new mobile phone policy has come into effect from Term 1 2024 across all ACT public schools. From Term 1 2024 Students in Years K-10 at ACT public schools may not use or use personal communications devices at school, including recess and lunch, or during school authorised events. To support this policy we have created school based procedures which have been attached to this email. Should you have any feedback on our school based procedures please email Sylvia.Headon@ed.act.edu.au by 9/2/24. This draft will then be presented to the School Board.


Swimming Carnival

This year our swimming carnival will again only be for competitive swimmers who pass a proficiency test and are turning 8 and above in 2024. Our carnival this year will be held at CISAC, Belconnen on Monday 26 February. Notes relating to this will be sent to students Year 3-6 and select Year 2 students next week. We would love to see lots of parent volunteers. For any questions regarding the swimming carnival or to offer to help at the event please contact Richard - Richard.Hudson@ed.act.edu.au 

Dates to Remember

Communications Sent Home This Week

Notes and Emails Home

SMS Texts Home

Student Wellbeing at NBPS

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL)

At Neville Bonner Primary School we use a PBL framework to ensure a happy, safe school environment for everyone. This framework is based on our KTREE values (Kindness, Tenacity, Resilience, Empathy, Equity) and our three core expectations of be safe, be respectful, be a learner. This week and next week our learning groups will be revisiting our values and our expectations and creating a learning group agreement. This is a list of the expectations within the class so students and teachers know what the expected behaviours are. Below is an an example of one that has been created already. 

Medical Information

At the start of each school year every child is required to have a medical information and consent form completed. Along with this any medication (and action plan) that is required is to be delivered to the front office, and a medical consent form is to be completed. 

If your child no longer has a medical condition and does not require medication, please let us know.

Any students receiving a swimming carnival note next week will receive a hard copy of this form (last page ) and can use this to meet the above requirement.

Preschool and new students will have completed this form as part of the enrolment pack and are not required to complete another one unless details change over this year. 

The form is attached to this weeks newsletter link email. Hard copies are also available at the front office. 

Islamic Education

For our families who observe the Islamic faith, in 2024 we will be offering an Islamic Education program to students. Much like the Christian Education in Schools program which is in many ACT schools, this program being delivered by Islamic Education Services (ACTIES) will see volunteers come in and teach Islamic studies This will be a once a week half hour lesson on a fixed day of the week. If you would like your child/ren to participate in this program in 2024, please complete the Islamic Education Student Registration Form 

Update Household Details

If you have moved house or changed phone numbers, please be sure to update your details with the front office. 

You can do this in person at the office or via email: nevillebonnerps@ed.act.edu.au

It is important to keep this information up to date in case we need to contact you in an emergency as well as for when the new parent portal is released next year.

Thank you, the admin team.

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 with flexischools, over the counter sales and birthday cupcakes, as well as the uniform shop can be found on the P&C component of the school website.

Contact Us

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.

Gardening Crew

Do you like spending time outside, gardening or pulling weeds? Or perhaps you would like to learn about gardening? If you have answered yes to any of these then you may like to spend a few hours each month helping to maintain our kitchen garden space. P&C are looking for volunteers who would like to join our gardening crew as we embark on a 10 month project to bring life back to our kitchen garden space.
 Keep an eye on the P&C Facebook Page for Gardening Bees coming up throughout the year.
 P&C Committee Meeting

Our first 2024 meeting will be in Week 3 – Monday 12th February @ 7pm.

And the AGM meeting will be in Week 7 – Monday 11th March @ 6:30pm.

New members, volunteers and ideas, for the P&C to support the school, are always welcome.

Canteen

The P&C Canteen has commenced operations already. See menu and price list attached. 

Over the counter sales first break Mon, Tues and Thurs, second break Wed and Fri. Ice cream, icy poles, frozen oranges and cold drinks to enjoy in the hot weather!

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Neville Bonner Primary School P&C Second Hand Uniform Stall is open again ...

Week 2 - Wednesday 7th February - 8.40am to 9.20am

We are looking for stall volunteers for 2024. The best day can be up to you, previously Wednesday's have been either:

- 8.45am to 9.45am (usually around Junior Assembly timing); or
 - 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

Training on the use of the tablet and EFTPOS Square will be provided.

Scholastic Book Club

The Scholastic Book Club will return in 2024, with two issues per Term, and a great range of books, puzzles, and other items available in each catalogue.

Don’t forget 20% of every sale is given to the P&C in ‘rewards’ that the school can use to purchase resources from the catalogues.

This year the P&C has been able to contribute over $2000 towards books for the school library, thanks to purchases throughout the year. 

Contact Information

Principal:

Sylvia Headon

sylvia.headon@ed.act.edu.au


Deputy Principals:

Haeley Simms (P-2) haeley.simms@ed.act.edu.au

Stacey Naden (3-6) stacey.naden@ed.act.edu.au

P&C President:

Jayne Trustum nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com


Board Chair:

Amani Kerr

Community Information