Newsletter: Term 3 - Week 2

A Message from the Principal

We have had another good week here at Neville Bonner Primary School. Aside from the small amount of rain today, the weather has been glorious and unseasonably warm. I read that July has seen the warmest average day time temperature on record. Monday will be the last day that students have the option of not wearing a hat during break time. The Cancer Council recommends a return to the wearing of SunSmart hats in August. We will give some leeway next week, as students become reacquainted with wearing them, however from week 4 onwards we will again require students without them to play in the shade.

 

Pick Up and Drop Off Times – I’d like to remind all families that the school gates open at 8:30am where supervision is provided on the river and basketball courts only. We have noticed some children arriving at the gates as early as 7:45am. As no supervision is provided, this presents a safety issue and we ask families to ensure that students are not dropped off before 8:30am. The school day ends at 3pm, and unless students are attending after school care with communities at work, no supervision is provided on school grounds. The school is sympathetic to occasional lateness at pick up time – unexpected issues do occur and naturally this can impact on pick-up time. A problem arises when we see this regularly – at least a few times each week. In this case we suggest contacting communities at work and organising after school care or sourcing alternative pick-up arrangements.

 

PBL Reward – As our students managed to fill the tubes in the front office with tokens for demonstrating our PBL expectations (Safe, Respectful, Learner), we will be proceeding with a whole school reward on Friday of Week 4. Our learning groups were given options of reward, and it was determined that a pyjama was the popular choice. This will occur on Friday of Week 4 (11th  August). We will send out an email reminder closer to the date,

 

Teacher Professional Learning – I mentioned in the last newsletter that Sylvia and Brittany represented the school sharing literacy practice at a National conference. This work links very closely to our school improvement plan, where for 2023, Reading continues to be our main focus. Our teacher have received regularly professional learning throughout the year, notably around the Reader’s Workshop model, which ensure we are seeing effective differentiated instruction of reading in our classrooms. At our PL this week, three of our teachers (Maree, Maddie H and Jo P) presented to their peers, furthering our collective knowledge of the quality teaching of reading. Learning how to read is no small feat, and it is important that parents are supporting the school through reading regularly with their child/ren at home. You may have noticed on the information sign as you drive by I have selected a quote “Reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body”. It truly is of great importance and the more regularly children are exposed to books, the more likely it is they’ll flourish.

 

Student News –

As you know I am very happy for families to share the significant achievements of their children for our school to celebrate. This week we have two students whose achievements we’d like to share.

Lilly in Year 6 competed at the Australian Dance Crew Competition National event. Here she managed to take out first place in the Junior Solo division of the National competition. An amazing result of which we are very proud. I am hoping to convince Lilly to perform at one of our upcoming assemblies!

Many of you will be aware that Australia is co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup at the moment.  One of our Year 6 students, Zach, was a flag bearer for the Columbia v South Korea game earlier this week. It was a wonderful opportunity for Zach, and definitely one I think he’ll remember for the rest of his life. Well done Zach.

Dates to Remember



Communications Sent Home This Week

Notes and Emails Home

SMS Texts Home


Student Wellbeing at NBPS

Kindness-Tenacity-Resilience-Empathy-Equity

Safe - Respectful - Learner 

PBL Celebration

The students have picked that they would like another PJ day for our PBL celebration. Look out in your email inboxes for details of the next PJ day. 

PBL Mascot Competition 

We held a competition for our PBL Mascots. I am excited to announce the winner in this newsletter. Emma of the Unified Minds mascot design was chosen. We chose this mascot as it best represented the school. These mascots have been sent to a designer who is creating them and will be shared with you once the designs have been finalised. 

                      


Fortnightly Focus Week 3 & 4:  We follow directions. 

Science Week Innovation Challenge

Innovations Challenge Poster.pdf

Book Week

Australian Dance Crew Champion

Congratulations to Lilly in Year 6 for taking first place in the junior solo division at the 2023 Australian Dance Crew Championships competition held in Sydney last weekend.

Lilly trains 2 times a week at Passion and Purpose dance Academy in Harrison and she has been dancing there for 3 years now.

 

She has qualified for another National comp which will take place in Sydney in September. 

FIFA World Cup

Zach from Year 6 was flag bearer at the FIFA's women's world cup - Colombia V South Korea during the week at Moore Park in Sydney. Zach was selected for this opportunity through a ballot run by his local soccer club - Gungahlin United Football Club - where he plays in the Under 12s Division 2. It was a great day and a great match! 

Lost Property

Above is a picture of non uniform and valuable lost property. See something that's yours? These items can be collected from reception. If not claimed in the next few weeks these items will be disposed of. It is important to label your child's belongings so they can be returned if they are misplaced.


Amaroo Apollo Testing

Invoices for Web Based Subscriptions

A reminder that subscription invoices are now overdue. Families who did not order book packs with WINC were emailed invoices for web based subscriptions last term. (If you require another copy please contact the front office) These include seesaw, reading eggs and Mathletics. Please promptly pay these invoices so your child/ren can be given access to these platforms. Preferred payment is via Quickweb: Payment - Neville Bonner Primary School (nevillebonnerps.act.edu.au) 

The Smith Family Saver Plus Program

The Smith Family (ACT) offers a range of programs to help families and individuals to stay engaged with education. Saver Plus is a program with a specific focus on supporting families and individuals with low incomes to meet their education expenses.

Saver Plus is a matched savings and financial education program that aims to help people on lower incomes to strengthen their financial skills and to develop a savings habit. The program provides financial skills education and motivates participants to save by matching their savings dollar for dollar, up to $500. These savings can be used to pay for education costs such as computers, books, uniforms, extracurricular activities and school excursions. To fill in the online enquiry form; Saver Plus enquiry form | Brotherhood of St. Laurence (bsl.org.au) 

Contact Saver Plus on 1300 610 355 or saverplus@bsl.org.au. 

Equity Fund 2023

Do you need help covering the costs associated with your child’s education? You may be eligible for financial support.

The Future of Education Equity Fund provides a one-off, annual payment to low-income families living in the ACT to help cover the costs of education expenses such as school uniforms, school excursions, sport equipment and activities and music lessons. The Equity Fund is open to eligible families with students in years P-12. 

Applications for the 2023 school year can be made online. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3SH0cUr

Playgroup Expresion of Interest

We are seeking interest from families about attending a playgroup for children who do not yet attend preschool. If you are interested, please click this link (Playgroup Survey) to fill in the following survey.

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 and over the counter sales, and 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.


Book Fair!

We will be hosting our amazing second hand book fair again on Saturday, 5th of August! 

Volunteers: We really need your help to make the day feasible, if you are able to help out, even just for a couple of hours, please email us at nevillebonnerps.pandc@gmail.com.

Donations: We are seeking book donations, there's a donation station this Saturday 22 July between 10am and 1pm, in the carpark facing the Bonner shop.

Please keep a look out for more information on donation station days through the Neville Bonner Primary School P&C Association Facebook page and/or on the Bonner Residents - Private Facebook page too.

Disco

Our school disco will be held on Friday, 15th September. Save the date!

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 5 catalogues are being stamped for return by the end of this week. Orders for this issue close on Sunday 6 August 2023.

Unfortunately, we can NOT accept cash orders through the front office, please place orders through the Scholastic Book Club LOOP website.
 There is an option to select 'gift', during the order process, if you do not want your child to receive the order. If you select this option you will receive a phone call to collect your order at a different time.

FREE Book Giveaway on Book Club Issue 5, 2023

* Spend $30 on your order and receive an opportunity to choose one FREE book with your Issue 5 order. Maximum of one (1) FREE Book per customer for this offer. 

* Spend $50 on your order and receive an opportunity to choose two FREE books with your Issue 5 order. Maximum of books (2) FREE Book per customer for this offer.

* Spend $70 on your order and receive an opportunity to choose three FREE books with your Issue 5 order. Maximum of three (3) FREE Books per customer for this offer.

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

Neville Bonner Primary School P&C Second Hand Uniform Stall is hosted under the school hall covered area.

** Term 3 - Week 3 - Wednesday 2nd August, from 2.45pm to 3.15pm.

** Term 3 - Week 4 - Wednesday 9th August, from 8.45am to 9.45am.

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).

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