Newsletter: Term 2 - Week 10

A Message from the Principal

End of Term –

Today marks the last day of Semester One and it has been quite an eventful one at that. The end of the semester thankfully looks a lot different to the beginning of the school year. Relaxed restrictions have been welcomed where we are happy to have parents on site and students being able to go on excursions and interact with other year groups. From a personal point of view I have enjoyed the semester despite its challenges, and am delighted to be Principal of Neville Bonner Primary School. We have a great community here and I look forward to continuing work alongside you all. If you are travelling over the holidays, travel safe. Wishing everyone a relaxing break.

NAIDOC Week –

NAIDOC Week will be celebrated across the school holidays from the 3^rd of July to the 10^th July. There are many events that families may be interested in attending within the ACT with information found here. Students will be participating in NAIDOC activities upon their return to school. Our Cultural Integrity committee has been busy finding appropriate resources and are sharing these with our teachers to run with their learning groups.

Pupil Free Days –

You should now have received communication from the school regarding two pupil free days next term. These days will be held on;

• Friday 5 August 2022, and

• Friday 9 September 2022

Where possible, we ask that students do not attend school on these days. Students who can’t stay at home will be able to attend school and be supervised while undertaking general learning activities. Please confirm via phone on 6142 1201 or email info@nevillebonnerps.act.edu.au if your child will be attending school on these days.

Staffing News –

Today we farewell Angie Mueller who has been at the school for a number of years. She will be heading up to Brisbane, Queensland where she was successful in an application for a classroom teacher position. Miss Daniela Oddi will be replacing her on this class.

Beginning of Term 3 Arrangements -

I mentioned in my last newsletter that students will all be sharing the same break time. During this week, classes have been watching videos prepared by our PBL team outlining the certain areas each year group can play in, as well as iterating routines for leaving the classroom and returning after break time. The canteen will be open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 11:15-11:45 for over the counter sales, and both breaks on a Thursday and Friday.

We will be using the same entrance points as we have for this term, and encourage students to arrive from 8:45. A teacher or executive will be on duty on ‘the river’ (the area directly after the red gates at the front of the school which spans up to the basketball courts where early arrivals can congregate before school. School will start at 9:00am.

Defence Force Mentor

Neville Bonner Primary School has a Defence School Mentor (DSM) whose role is to support families with a serving Australian Defence Force member. This will be run by Sam who has been working as a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) across kindy and Senior LSP. Sam is excited to be extending into the role of DSM on Wednesdays as this is a topic close to her heart, being a Defence Mother herself. Feel free to say hello as she makes her way around introducing herself. There will be more details to come in Term 3 with happenings around the school.

The DSM provides social and emotional support for students to reduce the impact of parental absence, deployment, separation and relocation as well as connecting ADF families to various resources and supporting integration with their new community. Support will be provided for new and existing Defence families alike.

This is delivered through small group sessions, classroom visits, welcome tours, lunch time clubs and playground support along with corresponding with ADF families and supporting whole school activities and integration. The DSM also supports the delivery of commemorative activities such as ANZAC and Remembrance Day assemblies.

Dates to Remember

Friday 1 July - Last day of term 2
Saturday 2 July - Book fair donation station
Sunday 3 - Sunday 10 July - NAIDOC week - Get up! Stand up! Show up!
Monday 18 July - First day of term 3
Wednesday 20 July - P & C second hand uniform stall (afternoon)
Wednesday 27 July - P & C second hand uniform stall (morning)
Saturday 30 July - P & C second hand book fair

Friday 5 August - Pupil free day
Thursday 11 August - School photo day - Pre T/F, Kinder to Year 5
Monday 15 August - School photo day - Pre M/T, Year 6, siblings

Communications Sent Home This Week

Notes and Emails Home

Staff planning pupil free days term 3
Yarns - teacher absences
Preschool drop off and pick up information
Angie Year 2 class update
Senior LSP class update

SMS Texts Home

Absences

Kindergarten Learning Page

The Clever Clownfish have been learning about the weather. In Week 9 all Kindy classes visited the National Arboretum! We explored the Pod playground and visited the Bush Tucker Garden. We took photos of the different plants and trees we found and reflected on how the weather has changed them.

Our favourite parts of the excursion were:

Taking photos of the different trees - Joshua

Going on the bus - Yamen and Alexander

Visiting Acorn Park - Emilija, Esther and Ana

Seeing a stick insect - William

Going on the bus twice! - Brooklyn

Sliding down the big slide - Sienna, Aurora, Affan and Mohamed

Climbing on the spider web - Nihaal

Playing on the playground - Leah, Freya and Adam

Seeing a rainbow - Nimer

Climbing up the tall acorn in the playground - Ariz and Romeo

Year 3 Learning Page

Coding and robotics with the glowing galaxias (1).mp4

Glowing Galaxias - Year 3 Beth

During term two, students from the Glowing Galaxias have been enjoying their Digital Technology class with Amy. During these classes students have been learning the fundamentals of coding. Please take some time to watch the short video, showcasing the students at work!

Music with Petra

Kindergarten has been learning new songs and musical games that emphasise feeling the beat in their bodies. We play “Swing me over the water”, “Copy Cat” and “Ickle Okle Blue Bottle”. Each of these games encourages large gross motor movements that help the children feel the beat and experience call and answer songs.

Year One has been learning about contrasting elements of music such as high and low notes, fast and slow and sound and silence. We use movement and play to feel the difference in these musical elements. When identifying fast or slow, they walk fast or slow to a piece of music. They have also begun to understand Rhythm in music. We used drumming sticks on the floor to practise Crotchet and quaver rhythms. We also created our own rhythm composition which students have had the opportunity to play and practise.

Year Two has been focussing on composition this term. They too have had the opportunity to use drumming sticks to play crotchet, quaver, and crotchet rest rhythms. They have been working together to create a class rhythm composition. Year Two have also been playing musical games and learning new songs to encourage listening and responding to musical cues.

Photos from Year 5 Camp

We had a great time at camp!

Medical Information

Please update your child’s medical action plans (asthma, anaphylaxis and allergies) and medication at reception. If you are unsure if these have lapsed or are out of date please contact reception.

It is important to have theses up to date so we can assist your child with management, in case of an emergency and for upcoming excursions.

ACT health now offer a free asthma clinic in Gungahlin every second Tuesday between 8.30am-3.30pm. Bookings can be made by calling the community health intake line on 5124 9977

2023 Enrolments

It’s not too late to enrol for 2023

If you forgot to enrol your child or young person in an ACT public school for next year, don’t panic. Enrolments remain open throughout the year. You can find out more information and apply online. Support is also available from this school or by calling the Enrolments Telephone Service weekdays on 6205 5429.

Parents' and Citizens' Association

2022 NBPS P&C Committee

Keep an eye on the School Newsletter and the Facebook group for event notices and updates.

P&C Committee

Position Vacant - Grants Coordinator

We're seeking the assistance for a Grants Coordinator to assist in the investigation, coordination, and application for grants for the P&C to help the school.

Previously the P&C have looked at garden grants to have the school garden refreshed, notice boards with musical elements (where the students can play with the music while parents read the notices) and sustainment/recycling grants. If you are up for the challenge, please contact us through our email nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com.

Items coming up

- School Disco!! It's back. We're looking at theme ideas now and will have more information coming out about the when and how it will be organised. All year groups will be catered for, from Preschool to Year 6.

Second Hand Book Fair

We will be holding our annual Second Hand Book Fair on Saturday 30 July! With thousands of quality books for children and adults - all priced to sell! As well as a sausage sizzle and a cake stall loaded with ridiculously delicious treats, this is the perfect way to spend a winter's day in Canberra!

The book fair is being held in the school hall from 10am to 4pm - so come and join us for a fun day, and bag yourself a bargain!

If you would like to volunteer to help out on the day, please email us at nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com and we will pop you on the roster. There are lots of ways to help out, from setting up and packing away, to processing books sales, and cooking sausages on the BBQ. Whatever you can do - we’d love to have you on our team!

Book Fair Donation Station – This Saturday 2 July!

If you have good quality books you no longer want, we would love to accept your donation. There are collection tubs at reception, or you can drop them off to our donation station this Saturday 2 July from 1-3pm in the Mabo Blvd carpark (opposite the shops).

Canteen General

Our canteen is open for lunch five days a week, orders are via Flexischools website (https://flexischools.com.au/), the Flexischools App or cash direct to the canteen. Any cancellations must be advised prior to 9am on the day.

Remember, if you happened to forget to pick up some lunchbox items over the weekend, we have some great meal deals on Mondays and Tuesdays to ease the stress!

Over the counter sales are expanding!!

From Term three, the Canteen will have over the counter sales available for the following periods:

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 11.15am to 11.45am - Break One.

Thursday and Friday: 1pm to 2pm - Break Two.

Our canteen will have some delicious snacks available for the children to buy. There will be freshly baked muffins and pikelets, popcorn, crackers, potato sticks, pretzels, fruit, yoghurt, juice, flavoured milk and more! Gluten free and halal options will be available.

Prices start from $1.00, and this is a great way to learn and be responsible about handling money. Come and support your canteen and grab a yummy snack!

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.

Scholastic Book Club

Order 4 orders have been delivered!

They will be sorted and returned to the school for distribution to classes.

If your child doesn't receive their order before the holidays, it will be coming home in week 1 next term.

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Returning in Term 3.

** Week 1 - Wednesday, 20th July from 2:45pm to 3:45pm outside the school hall.

** Week 2 - Wednesday, 27th July from 8:45am to 9:45am outside the school hall.

We have loads of pre-loved uniforms for sale. Preferred payment is via EFTPOS, however cash will be accepted. The photos provide an idea of the availability of stock.

If you have good quality Winter school uniforms (tracksuit pants, jumpers, long sleeve shirts) 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).

Return-It Scheme

The P&C have registered with the Canberra Return-it scheme, you can donate to the P&C by using the QR code (or phone number) attached to the newsletter. The process is:

- Place your bags of cans or bottles into a semi-see-through bag (they need to see it's not general household rubbish), a normal kitchen tidy bag is okay.

- Scan the QR code, or enter the phone number, from the flyer, at the return point, follow the remainder of the instructions and attach the printed sticker to the bag.

- Deposit the bag(s) into the hopper.

- The bag(s) will be collected by the Return-It/CDS group and counted at one of their facilities (during a quiet period of their day).

- A notice of deposit will be received by the P&C - Thank you!!!

There are two, close to school, return points located at:

- Gungahlin: O'Brien Place - near the carwash, Gungahlin Vet and Goodyear tyres.

- Amaroo: near the school oval off Horsepark Drive.

The returns generated from the scheme will assist the P&C to support the school, from sports equipment, school discos, Year 6 end-of-year surprises, etc.

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.