Welcome back and a very warm welcome to our new families!

Welcome to a new school year, an exciting time as our students start or return to their Pennant Hills Public School educational journey. I hope that all families had an enjoyable and restful Christmas break. We are very much looking forward to engaging with students and families again in another great year of fun and learning. I hope to see many families at the P&C Welcome BBQ this Friday afternoon. This event runs from 5pm-7:30pm on the K-2 campus in the hall.

Staffing

Last week the staffing structure for 2024 was sent out via SZapp. It is also included for you further down in the newsletter. A very warm welcome to the following returning or new staff:

• Miss Bridget Dwyer has returned in a part time capacity from her maternity leave. She is sharing the teaching of 1/2DT with Mrs Turnbull.
• Ms Rachel Hercus is a newly appointed school counsellor at PHPS. Rachel will work each Friday and will share the counsellor role with Ms Meghan Montefiore who will work each Thursday at our school.
• Mrs Barbara Di Veroli is a new School Administrative Officer working in the 3-6 office each Monday and Tuesday.

Executive Structure

During the year should you have a question or concern, the best person to contact is your child’s class teacher. They know your child best and most issues can be resolved at this level. If further assistance is required, please contact the appropriate Assistant Principal (listed below). The Deputy Principal or Principal are also available to assist and support in matters that may be more involved or complex.

• Early Stage 1: Kindergarten Supervisor – Mrs Melissa Coventry (Assistant Principal)
• Stage 1: Year 1 and 2 Supervisors – Ms Patricia Parras and Mrs Rebecca Rudd (Relieving Assistant Principals)
• Stage 2: Year 3 and 4 Supervisor – Mrs Melissa Griffith (Assistant Principal)
• Stage 3: Year 5 and 6 Supervisors – Mrs Anne McLaren and Miss Eliza Griggs (Relieving Assistant Principals)

Deputy Principal - Mrs Kate Wasson (Office located on K-2 site)

Principal - Mrs Alison Filipic (Office located on 3-6 site)

Welcome 2024 Kindergarten!

It was lovely to see our new Kinders starting school today. I am sure they had a wonderful first day at big school. I also very much enjoyed chatting and getting to know our new families at the Kindergarten Tea and Tissues gathering this morning. Thank you to the P&C for welcoming and bringing together our Kindergarten families.

2023 Parent/ Carer Survey

Thank you to the 121 families who completed the Parent/ Carer Survey that was distributed at the end of last year. Staff are currently unpacking responses and formulating the detail in our Strategic Improvement Plan for this year. Parent/ Carer voice is an important part of this planning. Please find a summary of the responses below: 

The following summary of long answer questions includes only those that appeared in multiple responses.

In your opinion what makes Pennant Hills Public School a great school?

Caring staff, great and dedicated teachers, great sense of community, great experiences (band, music, dance, art, sport), school events that involve the community, split site feels like 2 small schools, positive atmosphere, Teddy the dog.

Are there any things at Pennant Hills Public School that you would like changed?

Many responses said no changes needed. More frequent parent/teacher interviews, more frequent communication with teachers, more updates on child’s progress throughout the year, parent/ teacher interviews in Term 1 too early in year to get any real indication of progress, would like to know more detail regarding what children are learning each term.

Pennant Hills Public School Staff List 2024

KC - Wombats - Mrs Coventry (Kindergarten Assistant Principal)

KL - Lorikeets - Miss Lester

KM - Kookaburras - Mrs Mackay

1D - Koalas - Mrs Donoghue

1P - Penguins - Ms Parras (Relieving Stage 1 Assistant Principal)

1V - Sea horses - Mrs Van Der Wal

1/2DT - Bilbies - Mrs Turnbull (Mon-Wed), Miss Dwyer (Thurs/Fri)

2A - Dingoes - Mrs Ali

2C - Green Tree Frogs - Ms Catlin

2R- Echidnas - Mrs Rudd (Relieving Stage 1 Assistant Principal)

3C - Cockatoos - Mrs Cumming

3M - Quokkas - Mrs Mortimer

3/4R - Sugar Gliders - Mrs McNaughtan

4D - Dugongs - Miss Dy

4M - Tasmanian Tigers - Mrs McLoghry

5B - Blue Tongue Lizards - Mr Bryant

5M - Turtles - Miss Maitland

5N - Numbats - Mrs Nelson

6I - Sharks - Miss Ings

6M - Dragons - Mrs Partridge (Tues, Thurs/Fri) & Mrs McLaren (Relieving Stage 3 Assistant Principal and on class Mon, Wed)

6O - Owls - Miss Griggs (Relieving Stage 3 Assistant Principal)

Music/Drama - Lyrebirds - Ms Stevens

Library - Rainbow Serpent - Mrs Griffith (Stage 2 Assistant Principal)

STEAM - Mrs Gardener

LaST (Learning and Support Teachers)

• K-2 - Mrs Holdway
• 3-6 - Mrs Schmidt

EALD (English as an Additional Language/Dialect)

• K-2 - Miss Pinnuck
• 3-6 - Mrs Krivohlavy

RFF (Release from Face-to-Face Teaching) - Miss Lane, Miss Pinnuck, Mrs Partridge, Ms Stevens

School Counsellors – Ms Montefiore (Thurs) and Mrs Rachel Hercus (Friday)

Assistant Principal, Curriculum & Instruction - Mrs Hobbs (Mon/Tues), Mrs McLaren (Thurs/Fri)

School Learning and Support Officers (SLSOs) – Ms Wright, Mrs Bilgrami, Mrs Warnock, Mrs Zaman

School Administrative Manager – Ms Klimoski

Business Manager – Mrs McShane (Mon, Tues)

School Administrative Officers (K-2) – Ms Abela, Mrs Bunn

School Administrative Officers (3-6) – Mrs Worrell, Ms Paisley, Mrs Tucker, Mrs Di Veroli

General Assistant – Mr Scott

Deputy Principal - Mrs Wasson

Principal - Mrs Filipic

Warm Regards

Alison Filipic

Principal

Swimming Carnival

Yesterday saw students from Years 3-6 as well as capable swimmers in Year 2 compete at our annual Swimming Carnival at Hornsby pool. It was a scorcher of a day but the students were in high spirits and many gave their all in the races. Well done to everyone who competed, you all did your house teams proud! Thank you to the House Captains for leading your teams, encouraging them in their races and helping to set up and pack up the day. Thank you to our teachers and support staff who didn’t complain once about being out in the heat and sun, you are remarkable! Special thanks to Mrs McLaren and Miss Griggs for organising the carnival. And to our families who were able to spectate and support our students in their swimming endeavours, we appreciate you taking the time out of your day to join us.

Our new Kindergarten students started today! I am pleased to say that there were hardly any tears and the ones that I did see, were mainly from the parents! The students seem very settled and happy to be at school. We are looking forward to seeing them all grow and flourish at PHPS.

A big thank you to our P&C and Year 1 families who provided a morning tea for our Kindergarten 2024 families and a special thank you to Bec S, Liz F and Peta P for rallying members of the community to help out – it was a great event!

P&C Welcome BBQ

Please come along to our P&C Welcome BBQ this Friday! It is a great opportunity to meet other families at PHPS.

Kind Regards

Kate Wasson

Deputy Principal

Welcome back to 2024, I am looking forward to working in the library this year.

Many thanks to the Year 6 students who have volunteered to be library monitors this semester. They fulfil a vital role in keeping the library open before school and at lunch time for the benefit of all students on the 3-6 site. They undertake many duties such as: borrowing and returning books, presenting library reports at assemblies, assisting students with book selection and shelving.

Now they are in training and on a huge learning curve. It has been really pleasing to see how enthusiastically they have accepted their new responsibilities. 2024 is definitely going to be a great library year!

Congratulation to our Year 6 Library Monitors:

Abi, Amity, Annabelle, Arin, Ava, Dhaval, Gabriela, Georgia, Gemma, Hannah M, Isabella, Kay, Lilly, Mia, Stephanie, Zanna, Zoe.

Mrs Griffith

Teacher Librarian / Stage 2 Assistant Principal

Are You Interested in Joining The Choir in 2024??

We need students to join the choir in 2024.  The choirs rehearse in the morning before school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  We participate in school events and major state music festivals such as the Primary Proms, Festival of Choral Music and of course, the Schools Spectacular.

To join the choir, I will have to listen to you sing.  You will need to sing the first verse of Advance Australia Fair and Happy Birthday to me. (Easy!!!).  I will arrange a time for this early in 2024.

Please fill out this form to indicate your interest in joining choir in 2024.  If you filled out the form last year, you don’t need to fill it out again.  This form is open for students currently in Years 3-5.  Students who are currently in choir DO NOT need to fill out this form.

https://forms.gle/funshhBZPTmYjWWr6

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Ms Stevens
Choir Coordinator

The link below is the application for the Year 7 2025 High Potential and Gifted (HIPAG) test for entry to the Pennant Hills High School Selective Class. 

HIPAG FOR YEAR 7 2025 STUDENTS

Applications close on Friday 8 March 2024. No late submission will be accepted as tests will be ordered according to numbers received.

The test is scheduled for Thursday 4 April 2024 and will be held at Pennant Hills High School in the MPC (School Hall)  from 9.00am - 12.00pm.

Thank you for your assistance.

Mrs Antoon

Pennant Hills High School Enrolments Officer 

To help us cut down on plastic waste, please bring your keep cup or drink bottle to school events. Thank you for your cooperation!

Luke Whenman
P&C President
pandcpresident@gmail.com

Welcome back!! A special welcome to all our new students and their families.

The canteen will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday 7 February.

We are open for lunch orders every day.

Recess orders are available at the 3-6 site Wed - Fri.

All ordering is through Flexischools.com or the Flexischools App.

You will need to update your child’s class before you are able to place an order.

For over the counter sales at Lunchtime we are open:

K-2: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

3-6: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Recess on Fridays.

Our canteen is staffed, however we rely on volunteers for over the counter sales. If we had enough volunteers we could offer them every day!

Parents and Grandparents of students do not need a “Working With Children Check” to help at the canteen.     

Recess is from 11:15 - 11:35am, and Lunch is from 1-1:40pm.

If you are able to help out at either site, or would like to know more please contact Claire Phillips on 0403 810 391. It’s a fun and easy way to get involved in your child’s school life and they just love you being there. 

Heather Tyler

0425 274 681

canteenphps@gmail.com

Welcome Back! Term 1 2024

Summer Uniforms will continue to be worn in Term 1.  For Flexischools online orders, you will need to update your child’s new class for 2024.  Go to ‘Profile’ settings, select your child’s name and update their ‘Year Level’ and ‘Class’.

FLEXISCHOOLS HANDY TIP: The ‘SHOP’ icon doesn’t always appear the first time you open Flexischools.  Please try refreshing your browser or pulling down the screen on your phone app to refresh and the ‘SHOP’ icon should appear.   

Year 6 Sports Polos

The Sports Polos were ordered last year with the hope of receiving them in the first week of Term 1.  Unfortunately, due to supplier shipping issues the ETA for these items is early-mid March.  The shirts will be delivered to your child’s classroom as soon as they arrive. We apologise for any inconveniences. 

Second-hand Uniform Stall

The Uniform Shop will hold a second-hand uniform stall at the P&C Welcome Back BBQ on Friday 9 February, 5-7pm. We will be accepting second-hand uniform donations and second-hand items will also be available to purchase.  All profits help support the P&C and the school. To show our appreciation, the Uniform Shop will be holding a RAFFLE with some great prizes up for grabs, just follow the following steps! 

1. Clear out the wardrobe and find those second-hand uniforms you no longer need
2. Check that items are in good resale condition and pre-washed for donation (PHPS Uniform items only please)
3. Bring your items to the Welcome Back BBQ – you will receive ONE raffle entry per family for your donations
4. Browse the second-hand items available for purchase – you will receive ONE raffle entry per family for purchases
5. The raffle will be drawn on the 12^th Feb and winners notified via e-mail and school newsletter
   1. First Prize: New Excursion Bag (value $22)
   2. Second Prize: Two pairs of girls or boys socks (value $16-$18)
   3. Third Prize: Chair Bag (value $10)

Second-hand Uniforms

If you cannot attend the night, we continue to accept second-hand donations throughout the year. We have received many donations over the holidays and want to those families.  These are being processed into the Preloved/Second-hand system.  Keep an eye out for updated Preloved items in Flexischools this week.

The Uniform Shop gratefully accepts donations of second-hand items as all profits go towards supporting the school and provides great uniform options for other families. We kindly request items are pre-washed and in good resale condition.  Donations can be given to the 3-6 office or directly to the Uniform Shop if open.

• Preloved – are items which have been sorted and in very good condition. Only available via online Flexischools.
• Second-hand – if you cannot find what you are looking for in Flexischools, you can book an appointment to inspect unsorted/unlisted items at the Uniform Shop.

Appointments

Please click or scan the QR Code below to make an appointment, you will be redirected to our square booking site.

• Pease select the appropriate appointment type for your visit:
  • Standard appointment times are in individual 5-minute increments. (Choose this for returns, exchange is sizes and simple purchases).
  • Double appointment times are in individual 10-minute increments. (Choose this for larger orders, second-hand purchases, new enrolments).
• Appointments are at the uniform shop located on the 3-6 campus.

Nicola Lee
Uniform Shop Manager
phpsuniformshop@gmail.com

         

PHPS Band Committee

phpsband@gmail.com

www.phpspandc.org.au/band/

We are looking forward to a fulfilling year for all our string students.

Our conductor Sarah Qui is excited to be starting her third year with the PHPS String ensemble. Rehearsals will resume in Week 3, Tuesday 13th February 2024.

Calling any new string players to the Main ensemble… If you are a new student to the PHPS and play a string instrument – we would love to hear from you.  We have a string ensemble of approximately 12 players and welcome new members that have been learning from a private tutor for at least 3 months and have some competency in reading music.  Main ensemble is open to children in years 1-6.   Please contact us by registering through the registration form link below or by emailing phpsstrings@gmail.com.

REGO 2024 LINK: https://forms.gle/hQhDwQ9JdpVmhfar5

If your child is interested in learning a string instrument and would like to come along to see what is all about, please contact our friendly Committee friendly to arrange to bring your child to a rehearsal.

PHPS String Ensemble

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

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

              

  

  

     

DISCLAIMER

Advertisements placed in the School’s Newsletter do not reflect an endorsement or otherwise by Pennant Hills Public School of the product or service.

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