Newsletter: Term 2 - Week 5
A Message from the Principal
Semester One Reports –
In preparation for the sending out of student reports at the end of week 9 we ask families to let the front office know as soon as possible of any changes to your email addresses that we have on record. Reports will be emailed out and it is important we have up to date addresses to ensure all families receive these. Should you need to update your email address please contact the front office through nevillebonnerps@ed.act.edu.au or on 61421201.
Entrance Points –
I have been made aware that the gate intended for our upper primary students to enter on Mabo Boulevard hasn’t been opened regularly causing issues for some of our families. I have communicated this to staff who have this responsibility and believe that this should no longer be an issue.
Assembly –
It was great to welcome parents back to our junior assembly on Wednesday. Kevin’s Kindergarten class provided excellent entertainment with an energetic dance about the seasons. We handed out a Learner Award for each class and it was great to see the excitement of students who were awarded these. Tayla’s Year 3 class will be hosting next week’s Year 3 and Year 4 assembly and Gen’s Year 6 class will be hosting the Year 5 and Year 6 assembly.
Reconciliation Day –
As you will be aware, Monday the 30th of May is a public holiday in the ACT where we observe reconciliation day. The day is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
Information Session –
We held an information session for prospective enrolments to the school on Tuesday afternoon. Thank you to the staff who supported this session and our P and C who shared the role they play in our community. Dedicated sessions will be held later in the year for preschool enrolments and Kindergarten enrolments giving a lot of information on the start of the year and the routines associated with these year groups. We will communicate dates closer to the time.
A Message from the School Psychologist
Hi, my name is Natalie Taylor, and I’m the new School Psychologist at Neville Bonner.
I started in Term 2, and I’ll be working here three days a week - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (I work at another school on Monday and Tuesday).
What does a School Psychologist do? We help students to participate in school by providing tools to support learning and mental health. We do this best when working as a team with teachers and parents/caregivers. The type of work we do depends on the difficulty experienced by the student – we do:
· assessments (class observations, formal testing, reviewing other records) to recommend particular support;
· psychological support and intervention (directly with the student or family) individually or in a group, with recommendations for support at school; or
· consultation with teachers and parents/caregivers on ways to support the student at school and home (including suggesting other supports or explaining recommendations made by other professionals).
If you have a concern about your child’s behaviour, please speak to their teacher in the first instance. Often adjustments made for one student in the class can benefit other students too! I will become involved when reasonable classroom adjustments don’t seem to be working – your child will be ‘referred’ to me.
When a student is referred to me, I will call the primary contact listed on enrolment records to outline what type of work I think will be needed and seek their informed consent. I am required to keep confidential any of our conversations or my records, unless you consent to me sharing with the school, or where I’m required to disclose by law, or in the event of a serious risk to safety. With your consent, I then work together with you and the school as a team to support your child.
Thanks for the privilege of working with you, and I look forward to getting to know the students and families of Neville Bonner over the year ahead.
Dates to Remember
Monday 16 to Friday 27 May - Kenny Koala visits
Monday 30 May - Reconciliation day public holiday
Wednesday 1 June - Second hand uniform shop open (morning)
Friday 3 June - Round 1 enrolments close
Friday 3 June - District cross country - Stromlo park
Wednesday 8 June - Second hand uniform shop open (afternoon)
Monday 13 June - Queens birthday public holiday
Monday 20 June - P & C meeting
Wednesday 22 to Friday 24 June - Year 5 camp 'The Tops'
Friday 24 June - Pupil free day
Friday 1 July - Last day of term 2
Saturday 30 July - P & C second hand book fair
Communications Sent Home This Week
Notes and Emails Home
COVID-19 exposure letters
District cross country note
SMS Texts Home
Absences
Year 7 2023 Enrolments
Attention families with a student in Year 6.
Now is the time to enrol your child for High School next year.
Enrolments open 6am Tuesday 26 April (first day back for term 2)
Round one closes Friday 3 June.
Apply through the ACT education website: Enrolling in a Public School - Education (act.gov.au)
Preschool 2023 Enrolments
Enrol your child for preschool 2023
Enrolments open 6am Tuesday 26 April (first day back for term 2)
Round one closes Friday 3 June.
Apply through the ACT education website: Enrolling in a Public School - Education (act.gov.au)
School Board Expression of Interest
Do you know someone that would be a suitable addition to our school board or another school board in the ACT?
The Education Directorate is seeking expressions of interest from people to fill the position of “Appointed Member” on ACT public school boards. Expressions of interest will be used to fill vacant positions in schools across the ACT.
All ACT public schools have a school board. The school board is responsible for the school’s strategic direction, its budget, policy implementation and related issues. Generally, school boards consist of:
• the school’s principal;
• three parents and citizens members;
• two staff members;
• two student members (at high schools and colleges);
• one Appointed Member; and
• up to two Board Appointed Members (if any).
The appointed member is usually someone from outside the immediate school community, who is interested in and committed to public education. They bring an independent voice to board decisions. Appointments extend for periods up to two years and an appointed member may also be re-appointed after the conclusion of their term.
People interested in becoming an appointed member on a school board, should complete the expression of interest form and return it to the school boards team in the Education Directorate Email: EDUSchoolBoards@act.gov.au
Expressions of interest for this recruitment round will be open until COB Monday 20 June 2022 (week 9, term 2).
Parents' and Citizens' Association
2022 NBPS P&C Committee
Keep an eye on the School Newsletter and the Facebook group for the event notices.
Democracy Sausage sizzle - Election BBQ ‘Thank you!’
A huge thank you to everyone who supported the Election BBQ and Cake Stall last Saturday.
From the committee who planned and purchased supplies (especially Kylie, our event coordinator and BBQ slogan extraordinaire!, which appeared on Canberra Reddit), to the volunteers and school staff who printed, prepped, baked, cooked, sold and helped set-up/pack down, I give my biggest thank you!
To everyone who came along and indulged in a democracy sausage, bacon and egg roll or drool-worthy cake or slice, your patronage was very much appreciated.
It was so wonderful to be able to provide our support to the broader Bonner community, and to fundraise for the school, after what seems like a lifetime of lockdowns and restrictions. All of your kind words and support really means a lot. We had a very successful day, and I can’t wait until we can do it all again (maybe not for another federal election just yet though!).
Thank you from your P&C President!
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 - Planning is underway for Saturday 30th July. We are getting closer to looking for donations, very soon, but not yet.
P&C Constitution Review - Special Resolution
We are proposing a new constitution be adopted for our P&C. A Special Resolution, "for the Neville Bonner Primary School P&C Association to adopt a whole new constitution to align with current best practice" is proposed. In order to adopt a new constitution, the Special Resolution must be passed at a Special General Meeting. This meeting will be held, just before our next Committee Meeting, at 6.30pm on Monday 20th June 2022 in the staff lounge. To obtain a copy of the proposed constitution for review, please email nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com.
Parent ACTion magazine
The Term 2 edition of the ACT Council of P&C Associations ''Parent ACTion'' magazine is now out. You can view it here!
Canteen
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 still on!
Every Thursday and Friday during break two for snack time.
Our canteen will have some delicious snacks available for the children to buy during the afternoon. 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.
Second Hand Uniform Shop
For the rest of Term Two, the Uniform shop will be open on EVEN Wednesdays in the morning and ODD Wednesdays in the afternoon.
Come and visit on -
Week 6 - Wednesday, 1st June from 8:45am to 9:45am outside the school hall; and
Week 7 - Wednesday, 8th June from 2:30pm to 3:30pm in the Mabo Bvd car park.
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.
We would like to be able to open the Second Hand Uniform Shop on more days of the week, but we desperately need volunteers to help. Please send us an email, if you would have spare time in the mornings (8:30am to 9:30am) or afternoons (2:30pm to 3:30pm) to help set up (10 mins before), run and pack up the shop.
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 attached to the newsletter.
The process is:
- Place your bags of cans or bottles into a semi-see-through bag.
- Scan the QR code at the return point, follow instructions and attach the printed sticker to the bag.
- Deposit the bag(s) into the hopper.
- You'll receive a deposit notice and the P&C will too - Thank you!!!
There are two, close to school, return points located at:
- Gungahlin - O'Brien Place - near the carwash, 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.
Contact Information
Principal:
Will Johnston
william.johnston@ed.act.edu.au
Deputy Principals:
Haeley Simms (P-2) haeley.simms@ed.act.edu.au
Sylvia Headon (3-6) sylvia.headon@ed.act.edu.au
P&C President:
Jayne Trustum nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com
Board Chair:
Amani Kerr
Community Information
