Pennant Hills Public School eNewsletter

Meet the Teacher Night 2021

Meet the teacher takes place tonight. Your child would have brought home a note with the class login details yesterday and I sent out an SZ app message with a link to the login details for all our classes. This is a great opportunity to meet and hear from your child’s teacher. They will talk about the content that is going to be covered this term, the structure of groups for learning, times for specific activities and many more things related to the classroom. I encourage all parents to join in this evening. Please remember to place yourself on mute so the presentation is not interrupted for everyone else.

School Times

Learning at our school begins at 9:15am every morning. It is vitally important that all students are at school by this time, not after it. Arriving late at school impacts the classroom learning environment when a student arrives late and places stress on the student that is arriving late. Please ensure that you have your children at school before 9:15am every morning.

If you do arrive late to school with your child you are to accompany your child to the office and sign them in to school. You will also need to complete the Covid-19 requirements for all visitors to the school. Lately, we have seen a rise in children bringing themselves to the office if they are late without a parent accompanying them. I understand that this may be inconvenient for the parent or carer, however, it ensures that the child has been supervised during this time.

Car Parks

The car parks on both sites are for staff only between 8am and 4pm. Too many parents are using the car parks for their convenience when they are running late in the morning. I completely understand that the parking around the school can be problematic in the morning, however, parking in the car park poses a safety risk for all students and staff. Hence the decision to limit the times parents can access the carpark. Thank you for your support with this matter.

Staffing Update

Congratulations to Ms Melissa Schmidt on her permanent appointment to Pennant Hills Public School through the merit selection process. Ms Schmidt has continually demonstrated her outstanding knowledge and passion in the area of learning and support over the last 2 years and she will certainly be an asset to our school. We congratulate her on her permanency. Thank you to Mrs Wasson (panel convenor), Mrs Sally Nicholson (P&C representative) and Mrs Amy van der Wal (staff representative) for their time conducting this panel, we believe it is a great result for the school.

Mrs Kim Holdway who is well-known to our school community joined us from yesterday as a Learning and Support Teacher three days a week for the remainder of the year. Mrs Holdway is a very experienced teacher who is thrilled to be working in this role to support the learning of children who find it more challenging than others.

Principal’s Awards

3-6 = Madeleine W, Karina C, Eden K

Kind Regards

Mr Matt Pinchbeck
Principal

Intermediate Band

Last week the Intermediate band took advantage of the beautiful weather and conducted their rehearsal outside of the music room – what a treat for the teachers in the morning!

Literacy Sessions

Literacy sessions take on many shapes and forms, however they always revolve around engaging students in reading, listening to students read and targeting areas for development. During 2021 PHPS is analysing the way we approach reading across the school and ensuring that our direction aligns with the Department of Education’s policies, current research and best practice. Below are some photos of different literacy sessions for our 3-6 students. You will see combinations of teacher led explicit instruction, students working in pairs and small group activities.

Kind Regards

Mrs Kate Wasson

Deputy Principal

3H - Madeline W, Shion R, Stephen D

3R - Devin J, Amity G, Zachary C

4B - Katelyn G, Logan S, Atticus P

4F - Kris G, Dana C, Sabrina W

4M - Kelsey C

5B - Sophie S, James W, Tahlia C

5M - Lilly M, Annabelle R, Raymond W, Kanj P

5W - Asha B, Josh C, Seb J

6M - Kate A, Richard Q, Clementine I

6R - Matthew M, Rhia D

6S - Oscar L, Darcy P, Renee C

Library - Monica L (4B), Anthony T (5B), Alexander P (5W), Jacqui M (6R)

Hi everyone. It is great to be back making music again!

This term we will be concentrating on playing various instruments.

Have you seen our new instruments? At the end of last year, we bought some Boomwhackers and some new Chime Bars. They are wonderful! And colour coded.

We have enough so that everyone in the class can get their own note to play. We can use them to play melodies and chords. We will be having a lot of fun using these instruments this year.

Watch this space for information about Choir!

Ms Julie Anne Stevens

Music and Choir Teacher

President’s Message

I can’t believe we’re into Week 4 already! Hopefully you’re all settling in to 2021 as the holidays seem a distant memory now.

Just a reminder that the P&C Annual General Meeting is coming up in a couple of weeks on Tuesday 2nd March via Zoom and we’d love to see as many of you there as possibly.

Hope you have a great week.

Class List Details

Thanks to all the parents who have already provided us with details for each of their children at PHPS. If you haven’t already done so, please follow the links below so your class lists can be established and shared as soon as possible.

We are very grateful for the many offers to volunteer for P&C activities including Class Parents and Canteen. We will be in contact in the next few weeks.

Please complete one for each child at PHPS today (if you haven’t already done so)

Kinder link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BZ2CL2R

Year 1 link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HKTM73L

Year 2 link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H8S2DSC

Year 3 link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H8ZLK3G

Year 4 link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HLQSF6G

Year 5 link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HLZH8HS

Year 6 link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HVGCFKP

Business Directory

Our 2021 Business Directory is OUT NOW.

Read now: https://tinyurl.com/y3hsf7pp

If you would like your business to be included in the next edition please contact phpsdirectory@gmail.com

Bottled water and soft drinks are popular in Australia but they generate significant amounts of waste. If your child uses PHPS water refill stations to top up their own bottles they will help the environment and save you money.

Maybe this practice can be adopted in other community settings such as parks and parties etc...remember it’s a win - win!

Keep the Green Team posted with your water stories and we can share them with others through this newsletter. Contact phpsgreenteam@gmail.com

If you would like to subscribe to our P&C meeting emails (minutes and agendas),

please subscribe at the following link: http://eepurl.com/dlK3PD

Andrew Passé-de Silva

President, PHPS P&C

pandcpresident@gmail.com

0410 653 878

HARMONY DAY is coming up in week 9 of this term.

The P&C will be offering a delicious range of dishes from around the world for a wonderful celebration lunch. Ordering will be through Flexischools only and there will be a strict cut-off date in week 8. This will allow for ordering of food and smooth running on the day.

More information is coming soon.

Ordering

Please place Friday lunch orders prior to Friday morning to avoid having troubles due to congestion on Flexischools. Thank you.

This Week’s Roster

K-2 site

Friday 19 February - Bec S and Sally B.

3-6 Site

Wednesday 17 February - Claire S.

Thursday 18 February - Shilpa - labels.

Friday 19 February - Narelle and Kate K.

If you have any questions, or would like to be involved with the canteen, please contact me.

Heather Tyler

0425 274 681

canteenphps@gmail.com

The uniform shop has now reopened for all sales and service with the following procedures put in place:

Covid-19 Operating Protocols

The Uniform Shop has reopened for over the counter sales and service.
However all parents are required to make an appointment before attending the Uniform Shop. This is to ensure that there is no overlapping of families or crowding and queuing at the shop.
All parents will be required to sign in and register at the 3-6 office before coming to the shop for their appointment. As a result of the sign in requirements, the Uniform Shop has had to adjust its operating hours and for the remainder of the term the shop will now open on Thursday mornings instead of Thursday afternoons.
To make an appointment at the Uniform Shop please use the following link:

https://calendly.com/phpsuniformshop/15minutes?month=2021-02

Uniform Shop Committee

We are currently seeking new members for the Uniform Shop Committee. The committee meets just once a term to discuss and monitor the supply, quality and price of the school uniform. The committee members also provide assistance to new families at the Kinderlinks program. If you are interested in joining the committee please contact me on the below email address.

Girls Size 16 Summer Uniform

Please note the size 16 girl's Peter Pan collared short sleeve shirt and summer dresses have sold out. Due to the lengthy manufacturing time, these will not be available until September.

Second Hand Uniforms

If you have any size 14 and size 16 uniforms in good condition that you no longer require please consider donating them to the Uniform Shop.

PSSA Socks

The navy PSSA football / softball socks in sizes 2-7 and 7-11 are available for sale at the Uniform Shop for $8.50. The socks can also be purchased online through Felxischools, but prices will include the Flexischools' surcharge.

Ordering Uniforms

Uniforms can be ordered by making an appointment at the Uniform Shop during opening hours, or alternatively an order form can be completed and together with payment of cash, cheque or card details handed in at either office. Orders will be filled and then delivered to the children’s classes. A combined pricelist and order form can be downloaded from the school website by following the links to Our School and What We Offer. Uniforms can also be ordered online through Flexischools, however prices will include the Flexischools’ surcharge.

Please note that uniform orders cannot be paid via the school online payment service

Order forms are available on the school website by following the link to Our School.

https://pennanthil-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/p/pennanthil-p/about-our-school/uniform-shop/Term_1_2021_Order_Form_and_Price_List.pdf

Hours

Monday and Tuesday 8:45am – 10:45am

Thursday revised to 8:45am – 10:45am

Alison Parker

Uniform Shop Manager

phpsuniformshop@gmail.com

Training Band

Blue folders will be issued once the students start receiving sheet music. Please talk to your child's tutors and ensure they're working with the books and worksheets and encourage your child as they practice. The more they practice, the faster they will progress.

Intermediate Band

We have 4 rehearsals in March which do not yet have a parent helper. Can we please get these filled in ASAP. The link is below in the Parent Helper section.

Senior Band

Ideally we would like to have 2 parent helpers on Thursday mornings, especially now that Jazz band will be starting up. Can we please get some additional helpers into the doodle poll schedule. The full rehearsal went pretty well last Thursday morning.

This Thursday morning, even if the weather is fine, will only be Woodwind from 7:30-8:15am, as we'll be doing the Jazz band open rehearsal from 8:15am.

If your child is attending Monday afternoon rehearsals, please encourage them to get to the music room as soon as possible after the bell goes. It's a short rehearsal and if we need to move gear outside, rehearsal time becomes very limited.

Jazz Band

Jazz band will have their first open rehearsal during Thursday morning's rehearsal this week. It will be an open rehearsal, not auditions. Everyone is welcome this week at 8:15am.

Piano Players - Jazz band auditions are open to piano players who are not currently in the band program. Playing standard needs to be around AMEB grade 5-6.

Rehearsals

Like last year, due to COVID we have social distancing requirements at rehearsals. All bands have been placed into 2 groups. On fine and sunny days band members from both groups would attend the rehearsal which will be done on the grass outside the band room. On days where it is raining or the ground is too wet, only the group assigned to rehearse that day would attend.

Senior Concert Band

Group 1: Brass, Bass guitar & Percussion - Monday afternoons 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Group 2: Woodwind - Thursday mornings - 7:30am - 8:15am

Jazz Band

Thursday mornings: 8:15am - 9am

Intermediate Concert Band

Wednesday: 7:30am – 9:00am

Group 1: Brass, Bass guitar, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax & Percussion - Odd weeks

Group 2: Clarinets, Flutes, Alto Saxs and Percussion - Even weeks

Training Band

Friday: 8:00am – 9:00am

Group 1: Woodwind & Percussion - Odd weeks

Group 2: Brass, bass guitars & Percussion - Even weeks

Your conductors will make the decision on wet weather via the band's WhatsApp group. If you have a question about a rehearsal the WhatsApp group is the best place to ask it.

Worksheets

Please make sure you print off the new set of worksheets for your child to work on. They can be found on the Band webpages here. We are also working on a new way to submit these so keep an eye on your email inbox for these details when we have it finalised. In the meantime, if you have one ready to submit, please take photos of them and send through all completed worksheets (or AMEB results) to phpsband+worksheets@gmail.com

Parent Helpers

Doodle polls are now open to fill in for Parent Helper slots. Please remember the band doesn't function without parent helpers. If we don't have a parent helper for a rehearsal it will not go ahead.

At time of writing we still need a parent helper for ICB.

Just a reminder, if we do not have a parent helper for a rehearsal it will be cancelled.

A big thank you to this week's helpers: Carol H, Jade C, Olivia F and Jen W.

BASC

If your child attends BASC on a rehearsal afternoon or morning, please let them know so they can make arrangements to ensure your child is in the right place at the right time.

We have received confirmation from a parent that BASC will allow students to leave their instruments at BASC during the day if they have a morning band rehearsal and are attending BASC in the afternoon.

Future Committee Members

We have sorted out our committee members for this year, but would still love to get some interest from parents of current year 2 students who are looking to join the band program next year.

We have a number of people in key positions who will be leaving the school at the end of the year. If you think your child is going to be in the band next year, and you are keen to help out with the band program, we would love to hear from you.

Remember the band program doesn't run without a well functioning band committee and volunteers. If we can't get enough help there is always the possibility that the band program could disappear.

Pennant Hills Public School Band Committee

phpsband@gmail.com

Website: http://www.phpspandc.org.au/band/

Welcome back to a new year...of String Ensemble!

Conductor Update

A new development for the Main Ensemble this year is we have a new director/conductor, Lorraine Chai, who will be taking over from James Gastineau Hills. James continues to teach locally and has taken on the directorship of the West Pennant Hills String ensemble.

Over the past 6 years James has led the PHPS String Ensemble with great skill and dedication and we are deeply appreciative for all he has done in his time with us.

Parents and students over this time will remember a few notable performances, including the “Covid split-screen” video performance from last year, our in-costume performance of the Star Wars theme in 2019, going back to the energetic performance of Beat It in 2015. James organised and arranged joint performances with the school choir and band, including at the annual carols night since 2014.

Also we are grateful for James’ generosity of spirit in arranging and adapting specifically for the ensemble and the time he donated at our annual Christmas busking for charity events.

We sincerely wish him all the best for the future and hope to keep in touch.

Next week we will introduce you to our new conductor Lorraine Chai who we are very excited to have onboard.

Main Ensemble

K-2 Hall: Tuesday, 3:30pm - 4:30pm

If you can assist as a parent helper, please enter your name using the following link

https://doodle.com/poll/m6xqssp8wnpu8yp7?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

Junior Ensemble

K-2 Hall: Monday, 7:50am - 9:00am

If you can assist as a parent helper, please enter your name using the following link

https://doodle.com/poll/m6xqssp8wnpu8yp7?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

Just a reminder that the string ensemble can't run without help from the parents so please click on the link below and sign up to be a parent helper this term.