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Student Achievement
Last Wednesday saw the Beecroft Zone PSSA hold its annual swimming carnival. This year the carnival was held at Sydney Olympic Park and our school had 18 students attend to represent our school and compete against the 20 other schools in our Zone. Thank you to Mrs Ford for all her organisation and Miss Maginnis and Mr Bryant for attending on the day to supervise the students. The day was an outstanding success and all our students did our school proud. There were some remarkable achievements by our students and we have several students now going to represent Beecroft Zone PSSA at the Sydney North Area PSSA carnival in a few weeks. They are:
Mathieu C – 50 m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 200m Individual Medley
Sam K – 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle
Sam K, Mathieu C, Lennox S and Christian P in the Senior Boys relay
Congratulations must also go to Sam K who was crowned 11 Years Boy Age Champion on the day in a tie with another student.
Well done to all, and good luck boys when you attend the Sydney North Area PSSA Swimming Carnival.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Today all children will be bringing home a note in regards to Parent Teacher Interviews. Please ensure you return the slip at the bottom of each note to your child’s teacher indicating whether you will be attending the meeting in person or via Zoom. The meetings will be held in your child’s classroom. The teachers require this information to ensure that they set up the correct environment for each meeting.
To book a time to meet with your child’s teacher please go to www.schoolinterviews.com.au. Once on the page click ‘Make a Booking' and enter the following code eh2j9 to access our school’s unique booking page. Please select your child’s teacher and a time that they have indicated they are available to meet that suits you and your family. The booking site will open on Wednesday 10 March at 9:30am.
Virtual School Tour
Our school now has a virtual tour. Many thanks to everyone involved for giving their time to talk about the great things that happen at PHPS. The tour can be found on our website.
https://pennanthil-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/virtual-tour.html
Covid-19 Update
A lot has changed in the last week. From yesterday parents are allowed onsite in the morning and afternoons for drop off and pick up. Please ensure that you remain physically distant when doing so. We are asking that parents do not enter corridors or classrooms unless it is for a prearranged meeting. If you are coming onsite for a meeting you are required to scan in using the QR code that is at each entrance and you need to sign in at the office. You do not need to scan in or sign in if you are dropping off or picking up. In the afternoons please do not come onsite until after 3:10pm.
There is no limit on the numbers in choir groups that can sing at the one time. The only guideline is that the audience or conductor must be at least five metres from the front of the group.
The String and Band groups have also received some changes. The organisers of these groups are aware of the changes and will be making adjustments as soon as possible. Please be patient as they work through them.
We do not need to keep stages apart for school related activities. This means the school’s buddy program can recommence. Many students and staff are looking forward to this.
Parents are able to attend sporting events. For events held offsite parents will need to follow the guidelines of that venue.
The DoE’s stance on sick students and staff has not changed. If your child displays any cold or flu like symptom they are to be kept home from school and should have a Covid test. Students can return to school once the symptoms have resolved and you have emailed a negative Covid result to the school.
For full details around this please have a look at the section we have included on our website https://pennanthil-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-updates.html
Principal’s Awards
K-2 = Ezekial S, Amy M, Ewan T, Chloe J
3-6 = Julia V, Sam K, Isabelle D, Haniya K, Sophie S, Annabelle R
Kind Regards
Mr Matt Pinchbeck
Principal
Wellbeing Week
This week is our staff wellbeing week. The executive team took on feedback regarding teacher workload, including many meetings every week. Last year we began the Wellbeing week initiative, where one week every term, all meetings before and after school are postponed. We also reduced the amount of Communication meetings that were occurring from weekly to fortnightly.
Currently, our teaching staff are involved in a whole school communication meeting Monday mornings every fortnight, weekly stage meetings, weekly Teacher Professional Learning sessions on Wednesday afternoons and often a Learning and Support Team meeting, an Action Group meeting and an Executive meeting if they are part of those teams, that is before any family meetings occur – a busy bunch!
Occupational stress is high amongst teachers and we want to make sure that we are not only effective educators but that our wellbeing is also positive as this has positive implications on our students. This year, Wellbeing Week is scheduled every term for Week 7. Today we started the day with a yoga session run by Ms Dwyer – it was so relaxing and a wonderful way to start the day!
Maths Corner (2 perpendicular edges meet at 90°)
This week is Smarties Maths Week! Already students have been exposed to engaging maths activities using a Smarties box – they are doing very well to not open their box and eat what’s inside! That time will come soon enough. Please find below some pictures of students engaging in an array of mathematical tasks involving their Smarties boxes such as comparative length, discovering numbers on the box and reordering them to make the largest/smallest number, addition and subtraction problems.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) is Smarties Day – we look forward to seeing a large assortment of colour tomorrow as students and teachers dress as their favourite Smartie! I can’t wait!
Staff Profile
We have some wonderful new staff at PHPS this year, I hope to share their staff profiles with you and possibly some updates on other staff as the year progresses. This week the staff profile is for Miss Hannah Billington. Miss Billington teaches 4B and has quickly found her groove here at PHPS. A friendly and enthusiastic new teacher, we are delighted to have Miss Billington on board with us – lucky 4B!
Kind Regards
Mrs Kate Wasson
Deputy Principal
KB - Jordan S, Eliana J, Leroy I, Jack M, Ella S, Harriet E
KC - Abigail J, Adriaen D, Ruby B, Sophie L, Sophia G, Angus C
KD - Madeleine B, Ranya K, Elliott K, Wali A, Sashenka F, Adam F
KL - Ciel Y, Maya V, Obadiah R, Emma L, Ashleigh D, Kelvin Z
1A - Toby H, Vanya M, Eva G, Edwin R, Adrian X, Eleanor P
1E - Aadhya S, Jordan H, Maggie R, Reeti G, Nathaniel C
1M - Ezekiel S, Molly M, Evie B, Kurtis M
1/2P - Esther P, Jayden W, Joanna A, Emma C, Gwen E, Reuben L
2A - Kieran H, Amy M, Hayden Y, Chloe C, Anton R, Lucy K
2B - William P, Elena F, Maddie P, Rina B, Selena, Rehan K
2W - Natalie S, Johan A, Parker P, Emily Whiting, Christian Z
Computers - Leroy I (KB), Emma K (KD), Alex C (1M), Joanna W (1M),
Reyansh S (2B), April F (2W)
EAL/D - Alex E (KC), Syd M (1/2P)
Stage 2
Auskick played Dural PS and League Tag played Westleigh PS.
Auskick
Boys: Dural defeated PH 42 - 0
Girls: PH defeated Dural 26 - 15
League Tag
Boys: PH defeated Westleigh PS 5 - 4
Girls: PH defeated Westleigh PS 6 - 5
Well done to all Stage 2 PSSA players!
Stage 3
PSSA teams played Epping West PS last Friday at Pennant Hills Park.
League Tag
Boys: PH defeated EW 14-3
Girls: PH defeated EW 11-7
Softball
Girls: PH defeated EW 12-3
Boys: EW defeated PH 1-0
This week we play Epping North PS at Pennant Hills Park - Oval Number 2 and Football field.
Mr Bryant
PSSA Coordinator
Scholastic Book Club – Issue 2
Unfortunately, due to Scholastic Australia experiencing distribution problems the Issue 2 catalogues have not been delivered to our school. Instead, the catalogue can be viewed on the Scholastic Australia website.
My apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
How do I register and order?
- Go to the Scholastic Book Club LOOP website to register your details. You will need to enter your name, email address and a password. Click on “Add new child” and using the drop-down menu locate our school and your child’s class. If you have children on both sites you may decide to register and place your entire order just with one child to save time.
- Enter your child’s first name and their surname initial. Please note that Scholastic does not share student details with third parties or use this information for marketing purposes. This information is for distribution when the order arrives at the school.
- Click on “ORDER” and enter the item number from the Book Club catalogue and follow the prompts to make payment by credit card.
- All orders are processed after the closing date and delivered to the school to be distributed.
Please note that the closing date for orders is this Friday 12 March to ensure delivery by the end of term.
Ms Davis
Teacher Librarian
Last week the PHPS P&C held our Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was a great opportunity to reflect on the last 12 months and get set for the next year in working with the School and broader community. This AGM saw a number of key P&C members step down from roles and we welcomed several new faces to the team.
I’d like to thank Andrew Passe de Silva for his hard work as P&C President over the past 4 years. The School community and the P&C has benefited significantly from Andrew’s leadership and close collaboration with Mr Pinchbeck and the PHPS teachers. Thank you also to Mick Wilkin who has been P&C Treasurer for the past 3 years. Mick was instrumental in guiding the P&C through the complexity of the COVID financials, ensuring the P&C run businesses (Canteen & Uniform Shop) remained stable during and post the various restrictions that were imposed. Thank you also to Russ Nicholson who has stepped down as P&C Secretary. This role is the glue that holds the P&C together and Russ has kept the P&C team on track through the various iterations of Zoom and face to face meetings over the last few years.
I’d like to welcome Lian Duan as P&C Treasurer and Christine Lee as P&C Secretary. Lian and Christine have been members of the school community over the past few years and thank you to both of them for joining the P&C in key roles. It was also great to see 13 new members nominate and join the various P&C committees such as Canteen, Band, Strings, Finance, Communications, Green team, Uniform Shop and Gardens & Grounds. There are always more opportunities to get involved in these committees so please let me or any of the P&C team know if you are interested.
Finally, I wanted to introduce myself as the new P&C President, stepping into Andrew’s big shoes! I’ve been a parent of the school since 2017 and now have 3 children attending, Sabrina 4F, Darcy 3D and Blake KL, and have been involved in the P&C since 2018. My wife Sally and I grew up in the area (Sally even went to PHPS) and moved back to Pennant Hills when Sabrina started Kindergarten. I’m really looking forward to continuing the relationship the P&C has established with Mr Pinchbeck and the broader school community as well as getting some great P&C run events back in the calendar as the COVID restrictions ease.
It’s been great to see so many new faces on the P&C zoom meetings over the past 2 months. We’re hoping to be able to return to in person P&C meetings for Term 2 and I’m looking forward to meeting the new families in person.
Luke
Class parents for 2021
There was an overwhelming response to the recent P&C survey, with a large number of parents and carers kindly volunteering to support the activities of the P&C. In particular, there were numerous responses from people offering to be Class Parent, and as a result we now have up to four parents who will be helping out in each class!
Huge thanks to everyone who did offer to volunteer in some capacity, no matter how large or small. Every effort makes a big difference to our children, and the PHPS community.
For anyone who has not yet passed on their contact details to the Class Parent network, you can still do so by emailing the P&C Comms Group, at phppandc@gmail.com. Please give details of your child's name and class, your name, your email address/phone number, and whether you are happy for these details to be shared with other families in your child's class.
We look forward to a wonderful 2021 with our generous PHPS volunteers!
Sustainability in practice at Before and After School Care (BASC)
The great thing about sustainability at BASC is exploring the many ways to not only reduce our footprint on the earth but to encourage and explore the environment and our need for a relationship with the rest of the natural world. We explore this with the children through the very thing they love to do most - play. Sustainability should first and foremost be viewed as a social practice before it is an educational practice. A recent example is our children looking for insects of all kinds (see photo). We assess the risks that may be involved but we also see the benefits including resilience, encouraging research and exploration (insect charts, wikipedia) and empathy and understanding of the care that needs to be taken for creatures when playing outdoors.
When you dig down into what our relationship with nature is, it’s about interconnectedness.
Contact phpsgreenteam@gmail.com
2021 Business Directory
2021 Business Directory Listings for the next edition are welcome.
If you would like your business to be included in the next edition please contact phpsdirectory@gmail.com
Find the Business Directory on the P & C website or use this link: https://tinyurl.com/y3hsf7pp
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
Luke Whenman
President, PHPS P&C
Only 6 days left to order for Harmony Day!
You must place your order by 5pm, Monday 15 March.
There will be no other lunch orders on this day.
This Week’s Roster
K-2 Site
Friday 12 March - Kate A and Bec D
3-6 Site
Wednesday 10 March - Claire P
Thursday 11 March - Soo
Friday 12 March - Narelle and Stef
If you have any questions, or would like to be involved with the canteen, please contact me.
Heather Tyler
0425 274 681
https://calendly.com/phpsuniformshop/15minutes?month=2021-02
Summer Stock Going Into Storage
Please note that the girls’ culottes and Peter Pan collared short sleeve shirts have been packed away into storage to make way for the winter stock that is due to arrive this week. The girls’ culottes and shirts will be unavailable for sale during the winter months.
Winter Uniforms
All students are required to wear winter uniform in Terms 2 and 3. In readiness for next term, winter stock is arriving throughout the week.
Boys’ Winter Uniform
- Long grey trouser
- Unisex long sleeve sky blue shirt
- Unisex tie
Girls’ Winter Uniform
- Grey and blue tunic
- Navy tights
- Unisex long sleeve sky blue shirt
- Unisex tie
Alternatively, the girls can wear a
- Navy pant
- Unisex long sleeve sky blue shirt
- Unisex tie
In addition to the compulsory winter uniform, the Uniform Shop sells optional winter uniform items:
- Optional winter weight polar fleece that can be worn in place of the summer weight zip jacket
- Navy track pant that can be worn instead of the sports shorts in the colder months
Winter uniform orders can be placed by completing an order form on the school website through the below link or placing an order online through Flexischools.
All orders will be delivered to your child’s class.
Alternatively an appointment can be made at the uniform shop, however please note that appointments are limited and are strictly 15 minutes.
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 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.
Hours
Monday and Tuesday - 8:45am – 10:45am
Thursday revised - 8:45am – 10:45am
Alison Parker
Uniform Shop Manager
Rehearsals
Late last week we finally got the good news we have been hoping for!
The DoE have further relaxed restrictions around band rehearsals in school.
As of Monday 8 March the social distancing requirements for indoor rehearsals have been removed so we no longer need to do split group rehearsals. It will be pretty much back to "normal" rehearsal schedules.
SCB: Monday 3:30-4:30pm - arrive ASAP after school
ICB: Wednesday 7:30am-9am - arrive 7:20am
SCB: Thursday 7:30am-8:15am - arrive 7:20am
Jazz Band: Thursday 8:15am-9am
TB: Friday 8am-9am: arrive 7:50am
The following rules will still be in place for rehearsals:
- All windows and doors of the music room are to be open for rehearsals (and closed after)
- Students will be spread out as much as possible inside the room
- Brass players are still under the "no towel, no play" rule (and I don't imagine this rule will ever be removed)
- Outdoor rehearsals will still take place when practical.
If last minute changes need to be made they will be put into the band's WhatsApp group. If you are not part of your band's WhatsApp group and would like to be, please let us know.
Many thanks for your patience and understanding over the last 12 months or so while restrictions were in place. Fingers crossed that nothing happens to bring any of the restrictions back.
Future Events
We are working with the school and conductors on getting the bands into a few events this year; as much as can be allowed with COVID restrictions.
Sydney Eisteddfod: Early June and will be done via video recordings
Ryde Eisteddfod: Early August and hopes to be done on location
ASBOF: November, also by video recording submission
Music Camp
The school is working on arrangements for the Music Camp. This year it is scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday 30th May to Tuesday 1st June. Please keep those dates free. Yes, this year it will be predominantly during normal school time. Further details to come in due course.
Training Band
We hope everyone is having as much fun as it looks like they are having! Ms Foster says you are all doing great. Don't forget to work on the worksheets for this term.
Intermediate Band
As at time of writing we still need a parent helper for this week and next week's rehearsal.
Can we please get these filled in ASAP. The link is below in the Parent Helper section.
Senior Band
We still need a parent helper for the Thursday 18th March rehearsal.
The link is below in the Parent Helper section.
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.
Jazz Band
Tryouts for the jazz band went well, and invitations have been sent out. Please fill these in and return to Mr Odams at the next possibile opportunity.
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. Please contact us ASAP if interested.
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 web pages here.
We are very close to unveiling the 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 all completed worksheets (or AMEB results) to phpsband+worksheets@gmail.com
Parent Helpers
Doodle polls are open to fill in for Parent Helper slots.
ICB and SCB still have a few places to fill for Term 1.
Just a reminder, if we do not have a parent helper for a rehearsal it will be cancelled.
Big thank you to this week's helpers: Jean L, TBA, Huzefa G and Shelly C.
Future Committee Members
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 band next year, and even if your child is not in a band and you're keen to help out with the band program, we would love to hear from you!
Pennant Hills Public School Band Committee
Website: http://www.phpspandc.org.au/band/
Stages Back Together!!
This week we received news that some Covid restrictions have been lifted and that all stages may now rehearse together (while still observing distancing rules). This means that from next term we will welcome some stage 1 students back into the Main Ensemble.
Lorraine is making great progress with the ensemble and they are working towards making a recording in lieu of the usual performance assembly - so keep practicing at home kids!
Interested in strings?
Would your child like to learn a string instrument in 2021?
If your child has never played before, our “Intro to Strings” program is a great way to start learning in a group setting. The Intro program caters for absolute beginners with no prior experience, as well as students that have already begun private tuition. There are intakes at the beginning of Term 2 and Term 4 each year.
For more information, get in touch via email: phpsstrings@gmail.com
We keep a list of local tutors to help you on our website:
http://www.phpspandc.org.au/string-ensemble/string-teachers/
Or register your interest online: https://forms.gle/RH1kQSCpCiMD6MkU9
Main Ensemble Rehearsals
K-2 Hall: Tuesday, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Parent Helpers
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.
https://doodle.com/poll/m6xqssp8wnpu8yp7?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link
Our parent helper this week is Sonya (Thank you Sonya!)
PHPS String Ensemble
Website: http://www.phpspandc.org.au/string-ensemble/
Feedback: http://www.phpspandc.org.au/string-ensemble/contact-us/
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