Covid Update 

Currently the school is experiencing an absence rate of between 10-15% of students away on a daily basis. The reasons are varied, but not all absences are students with Covid. Many are close contacts, unwell with other conditions or away. Over the last week or so we have seen an increase in staff being away. There are a couple who are Covid positive and thankfully doing well. There are a few more who are close contacts and are required to isolate due to the Public Health Orders and a few who are either away due to Leave, other illnesses, or approved Leave.  

Each day the school’s executive is doing an amazing job planning for each day to ensure each class has a teacher. Currently this is proving to be extremely challenging, especially as casual teachers are not easy to source. To date we have managed to ensure each class has a teacher each day that has continued with the class teacher’s program to ensure continuity of learning. It may get to the stage where we will need to split a class if we are unable to place a teacher on every class. This would mean placing students from the same grade or stage into another class for the day based on the number of students away from that class on that day. This will only take place if we are unable to secure enough teachers for day. 

I thank you for your patience and understanding. I can assure you everything is being done, on a daily basis, to secure casual teachers when staff are unable to attend the workplace. 

Wisemans Ferry Flood Appeal 

Today I received a lovely email from the Wisemans Ferry community. Thank you to everyone who was able to assist. 

Wisemans Ferry- Flood 2022 

Dear Pennant Hills Public School- staff and parents 

The March 2022 flood was one of the biggest we have seen in many, many years. 

The entire Eastern Seaboard was hit particularly hard. Many lost everything. 

The Wisemans Ferry community was saddened and shocked at the damage to property and livelihoods. We were also aware of the very personal trauma felt by many in our area and surrounds as the water rose.  

Our community and those from far afield stepped up and helped as they saw the urgent need unfold.  

Thank you for the many products you assisted us with. The food and other items were distributed to those in serious need. Many recipients were tearful. 

We are truly grateful and humbled by your kindness. 

Once again “THANK YOU"

Sincerely 

For and on behalf of all the volunteers that helped with the food/ supply distribution 

Margie Pratt 

The picture was taken at the local Bowling Club. 

Canteen 

The refurbishment has finished. Yesterday Heather was able to begin setting up the new Canteen in preparation for resuming normal operating processes. Which is fabulous! Thank you to the P&C and specifically Heather and Peta Powrie from the Canteen Committee for all their work, knowledge and patience as this project came to fruition. There is lots more room for staff and volunteers to work, plus new appliances to make the day more manageable as the school continues to grow. We thank the community for their patience as these works took place. It is a great improvement on what we had previously. 

Rapid Antigen Tests 

Last week the NSW Government announced that schools will be handing out a pack of Rapid Antigen Tests to every child. These tests are for when your child is displaying symptoms. We are currently waiting for our delivery to arrive and as soon as that happens the tests will be distributed to the students. The school will send out an SZapp message notifying you that this has occurred. 

Kind Regards

Mr Matt Pinchbeck

Principal

Around the School

Check-in Assessments

Year 4 and Year 6 students participated in Check-In Assessments this week. These assessments give the school follow-on data from NAPLAN and are one of many toold for teachers to use to gauge their students' understanding.

                    

2M have had a marvellous time creating their own 1 metre rulers and using them to compare the length of objects around the playground and classifying these objects as ‘more than/less than’ 1 metre.

4F had a great time learning some gymnastics movements during Moving Bodies and measuring their stride in Mathematics. They were working out how far they would travel in 10 000 steps. 

Patterns seems to be the theme of the week!  

Year One were looking at colour, shape and number patterns this week, both repeating patterns and growing patterns – nice work Year One! Below are some photos from 1P and 1M. They seem happy with their investigations. 

  

3B expanding their brains working on hailstone number patterns. Hailstone sequences are when the pattern rises and falls, just like hailstones do before they exit a cloud. As an example, the rule may be that if the number is even, then it is halved or divided by 2. If the number is odd then we multiply by 3 and add 1. Let’s start with the number 5.  

5 (odd, so x 3 + 1), 16 (even, so divide by 2), 8 (even, so divide by 2), 4 (even, so divide by 2), 2 (even so divide by 2) 1 (odd, so x 3 + 1) 4 etc. = 5, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 4. 

Great exploration 3B! 

               

Now that Covid restrictions have eased at school, our cross-site buddy classes have been able to undertake some activities together! Below are some photos of the 6M and 2M buddies. It truly is a valued relationship. 

             

6M have also been involved in some project-based homework activities. Below you can see Dearnna presenting the class with her baking project – how lucky 6M are to be treated to morning tea! One student commented “It’s not the dog who ate Dearnna’s homework – all of 6M did!” 

         

Moving Bodies allows our students to develop gross motor skills in gymnastics. Students learn about the importance of stretching to prevent injury when performing gymnastic skills. 4D learnt different balancing skills on the beam, developed a gymnastic cartwheel sequence on the mat and challenged their gross motor skills with activities at the end of their course.  

        

Kind Regards

Mrs Kate Wasson

Deputy Principal

Selective High School Placement Test 2022 for Entry to Year 7 in 2023 

Test Information for Parents 

The test will be held on

• Thursday 31 March 2022
• 9:00am
• Students are to be dropped at the school hall. 

There will be a rest break

• After the first test
• A longer break after the second test - students can eat the snack they bring
• A short rest break after the third test

Student’s will be walked back to the 3-6 site after the final test. 

What to Bring to the Test 

Students must bring the following items as they are not provided

• Two 2B pencils
• An eraser
• Sharpener
• A printed copy of their Test authority letter that shows their application number.
• Students may bring a wristwatch that does not make a noise, calculate, communicate or photograph

Kind Regards

Mrs Melissa Griffith

Relieving Deputy Principal

3B - Partiv V, Parker P, Rina B, Pippa C, William P, Kira B

3D - Jack V, Blake K, Joey C, Kayden C, Spencer C, Sunnee G, Dan H, Selena R, Olivia Y

3H - Olivia G, Aroon M, Amelie M, Emily H, Sanidhu H, Arya B, Sid D

4B - Zoe C, Devin J, Gabi M, Madeleine W, Isaac L, Kay M

4D - Ava N, Owen S, Jacqui Z, Yumo Z, Willow H, Liam C, Christian S

4F - Angus M, Austin D, Mia M, Lachlan P, Eugene L, Angela C

5B - Monica L, Tommy T, Flynn K

5G - Kiric C, Evie C, Anya H, Roshini K, Ali P, Raiyan A, Josie A

5M - Abbie R, Sophia J, Rueben T, Kenzie W, Tom S

6M - Megan C, Preston G, Kate H, Rishita S, Lachlan C, Marni H

6S - Annabelle K, Liam C, Seth P, James W, Lucas P, Anie A

Computers - Katherine W (3B), Quintin L (4B), Ezekiel M (4D), Onadi P (5G)

A big thank you to all those students who wore a touch of orange last Wednesday to celebrate Harmony Week. With all that has been happening in our world at the moment the message that "everyone belongs" is ever so important. 

Throughout the week a variety of activities took place ranging from students reflecting and writing about their cultural background to viewing books with a multicultural theme. 

Once again, this celebrations highighted Australia's cultural diversity and the importance of being inclusive. 

The Harmony Week Committee

Mrs Callegaro, Ms Davis and Mrs Krivohlavy

We are finally in the new canteen!!!

Starting tomorrow we will be easing back into the full lunchtime menu. 

Birthday Buckets are back!!!

Sushi will still be available on Wednesdays as well as Fridays for the remainder of this term.

The canteen is open for lunch orders at both sites Monday to Friday. Recess is available for ordering Wednesday to Friday, at the 3-6 site only.

On Friday, ice blocks will be available to order for lunchtime. We will also have over the counter sales at lunchtime for 3-6 on Fridays.

We have had to make a small price increase on many items due to recent increases from our suppliers and at the supermarket. We are sorry to do this, but unfortunately the canteen cannot absorb all of these increases.

As always, ordering is through Flexischools. Please call 1300 361 769 if you are having any difficulties with ordering.

Orders close at 9am.

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

Heather Tyler

0425 274 681

canteenphps@gmail.com

The Uniform Shop is currently closed for over the counter sales and operating hours for Term 2 are currently under review.  

Appointments

• For the remainder of Term 1 we have opened up appointments specifically for exchange and return of items.
• These can be booked on Eventbrite using the following link: https://phps-uniform-shop.eventbrite.com
• If the available times are not suitable please contact us via email at phpsuniformshop@gmail.com to organise alternative arrangements.

Uniform Orders

As Term 1 is coming to a close, our Winter uniform items are now available for purchase and can be ordered through Flexischools: https://flexischools.com.au.  

• All orders will be processed and delivered to your child's classroom.
• Currently orders are being delivered twice a week
• Flexischools cut off times are 5pm on Sunday and Tuesday for next day processing.

For all enquiries, feel free to contact me via email. 

Janine Sherlock

PHPS Uniform Shop Manager

phpsuniformshop@gmail.com

• 31 March
• Starting 7:30am (arrive 7:20am for setup)

We'll also be having a 2nd tryout on Thursday morning next week, 7 April.

PHPS Band Committee

phpsband@gmail.com

www.phpspandc.org.au/band/

Main Ensemble

Rehearsals: K-2 Hall, Tuesdays 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Exciting news! With the end of cohorting at school, next term we'll be welcoming back our younger players from K-2 to the ensemble. Our conductor Sarah will be so happy to see your faces and hear you play. We have a few students already registered and waiting in the wings however if you have been holding back on registering your K-2 child then please jump on and register them for the Main Ensemble now using this link.

Parent Helper

• Today's parent helper is Christine
• The parent helper next week is Sonya

BIG thanks to these two committee members for going above and beyond to make sure all the students benefit from the ensemble experience.

Could all parent helpers please email their proof of vaccination to the school- subject line: Attn Mrs Griffith- strings vaccination.

Here is a LINK to the parent helper responsibilities

Intro to Strings Program

For those who have registered for Intro to Strings we will be contacting you shortly to arrange times for you to have your child fitted for a violin during the holidays. If you have registered but are no longer interested please let us know via email as there are others on the waiting list.

Save the Date!!

Music Camp is to be held Sunday June 19 - Tuesday June 21. 

Kids love Music Camp so put it in your diaries now please. Years 3-6 students sleep over two nights  and the younger students can attend as day students with parents to drop off and pick up each day. Only Main Ensemble students will be eligible to attend. There will be more information about it next term. 

If you need any further information, you can reach out via email.

PHPS String Ensemble

Email: phpsstrings@gmail.com

Website: www.phpspandc.org.au/string-ensemble

Feedback: www.phpspandc.org.au/string-ensemble/contact-us