The Grapevine

The Newsletter of Glendore Public School

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land.

We pay our respect to Elders past, present and future.

We recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of the Awabakal People.

We celebrate with and respect members of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations.

Where Everyone Can Succeed

We are thrilled to congratulate all students and staff on a wonderful start to the 2025 school year! It has been fantastic to see classrooms buzzing with learning, students settling into new routines, and friendships forming across the school.

A special thank you to our parents and carers for your ongoing support as students adjust to their new teachers, classrooms, and classmates. Your encouragement and partnership play a vital role in ensuring a smooth transition for all.

I have included below some information previously shared regarding communication with our school and some changes to our school meeting structures.

We look forward to a year filled with learning, growth, and success for every student. Let’s make 2025 a great year at our school!

Morning Routines

School opens at 8:15 am. Families needing supervision earlier can utilise OOSH (Out of School Hours Care).

Parents and carers are welcome to accompany children into the school each morning. Here’s where students should go:

· Kindergarten: Drop bags at the classroom, then join the Walking Club or sit on the silver seats. For the first few weeks, a Kinder classroom will be open for children needing extra support with the transition.

· Stage 1: Drop bags at the Stage 1 COLA, then join the Walking Club or sit on the silver seats.

· Stage 2: Drop bags at the canteen COLA, then join the Walking Club or sit on the silver seats.

· Stage 3: Drop bags at the Stage 3 COLA, then join the Walking Club or sit on the silver seats.

Parents are welcome to join the Walking Club in the morning.

All visitors must exit by 8:45 am when the internal gate (next to the office) is locked.

Afternoon Routines

Parents and carers are welcome to wait in ‘Malang’ (our grassy area) for children at the end of the school day.

· The internal school gate (next to the office) will open at 2:45 pm. For safety reasons, it cannot be unlocked earlier.

· Parents and carers may enter the internal school grounds from 2:45 pm.

· Existing student groups (bus, bridge, bikes, and pick-up) will continue exiting as per the current plans.

· OOSH is available for families needing after-school care.

Afternoon Pick-Ups

To ensure safe and efficient movement at the end of the school day, we kindly ask parents and community members to keep pathways outside the office area clear. Several large student groups exit here with staff supervision.

Please familiarise yourself with the rules of the ‘Pick Up’ zone in Garawon Pl. You can find these below.

Please arrange to meet your children in ‘Malang,’ our shaded grassy area beside the main pathway. There is plenty of space and seating available.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school safe and organised!

Reminder About Bus Behaviour

We kindly ask parents and carers to speak with their children about appropriate behaviour when travelling on the bus. We have already received a complaint from a bus driver regarding the conduct of some Glendore students.

As a gentle reminder, the Student Behaviour Code applies not only at school but also during travel to and from school. Students are expected to be respectful, follow bus rules, and ensure a safe and pleasant journey for all passengers.

Your support in reinforcing these expectations at home is greatly appreciated. Together, we can ensure that all students represent our school with pride and respect in the wider community.

Behaviour Code for Students

P&C News

We will kick off our first P&C meeting for 2025 on Monday and are delighted to welcome both new and familiar faces! Being part of the P&C is a fantastic way to connect with other families and stay informed about school happenings.

Getting involved in the P&C is a wonderful opportunity to support our school and students. Our P&C is made up of dedicated, friendly, and motivated parents who are committed to making a difference. However, they need more hands to lighten the load!

At the AGM meeting (Monday March 17), all executive positions will be declared vacant, and new nominations are warmly welcomed. Volunteers are essential to ensure the P&C continues its valuable work.

If you’ve ever thought about joining, now is the perfect time! Your involvement, big or small, will help make our great school even better. Everyone is welcome!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Annette Van Egmond

Welcome back to another exciting year at Glendore.

• Winston and I have loved greeting the happy smiling students as the arrive at school each morning.
• I will be emailing out next week requests for meetings so we can support students achieve goals who are on individual plans.
• I will also be emailing out a booking system for Parent teacher interviews that will be held over three weeks from the 17th March to 4th April. This year each teacher will be assigned a day off class to meet with parents. They may also have some availability before and after school ( these days and times are to be advised). These meetings can take place either in person or over the phone.
• We ask that ALL parents have the SENTRAL PARENT PORTAL APP and notifications are on. We rely upon this tool to communicate with families, send reports, plans, messages, calendar and absent requests.
• Please be mindful of parking around the school it is very busy in the mornings and afternoons. Please be careful of all parking signs and private driveways. The area near the creek in Garawon is a no stopping zone even if you park on the grass. The rangers are active around schools and the fine for parking illegally is about $400 and 3 demerit points.
• We are in discussions concerning the buses. Unfortunately, the number of registered Opal bus passes are very low compared to the students who use the bus. This is part of the data that the bus company uses.
• All K-2 students are entitled to free travel on the bus.
• Students in 3-6 can also apply for special circumstances: the pedestrian infrastructure between the student’s home and school is unsuitable for safe walking or the student has a medical condition which prevents them from walking. Request a review of school travel pass application | transportnsw.info
• If your child catches the bus or will be catching the bus soon please apply for an opal card- Apply for a school travel pass or School Opal card | transportnsw.info

Parents and Carers of Year 4 and Year 6 students need to apply now for opportunity class and selective high school placement in 2026.

Applications for 2026 entry into an opportunity class (OC) or selective high school (SHS) are currently open and close for both on 21 February 2025.

Due to the longer application period (from November to February), parents and carers must apply during the application period as late applications will no longer be accepted.

Apply here - https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/parents-and-carers/choosing-a-school-setting/selective-high-schools

We will be holding our 2025 Meet and Greet on Wednesday 19th February from 3pm to 4pm. All Parents/Caregivers are invited to visit their child's new room, meet their new teacher and hear about the exciting year ahead!

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Glendore Public School’s Year Five and Six students may nominate in Term 1 to stand for election as a Sport House Captain. Students prepare a 1-2 minute speech at home to present to Years 3-6 students and staff for their house group. Students are encouraged to practice their speech at home and can include how you will be a positive and responsible sporting role model, how you can motivate, support and inspire others in sporting events. Students present an election speech (2-minute maximum) at a student and staff only assembly on Friday 14th February.

We are very excited to be once again offering some wonderful and exciting opportunities for our students to participate in Creative and Performing Arts throughout 2025!

During Weeks 4, 5 of and 6 of Term 1, students will be able to attend rehearsals to see if they are interested in joining one or more of our CAPA Clubs. From Week 7 onwards, students will need to decide if they would like to become a regular member of one or several of the clubs. A permission note will be sent home via School Bytes to all interested students. There will be a small $30 fee for resources and costumes. Students will only be required to make one payment of $30 regardless of how many clubs they are participating in.

All groups will run in the small hall at lunchtime between 10:50am and 11:30am. Participating students are asked to please bring their lunch and a water bottle with them to the hall. If students have a lunch order, they need to see Mrs Chambers in the canteen before school and request that their order be ready for them to collect from the canteen at 10:45am.

Monday Lunchtime: Senior Drama (Years 5 & 6) led by Miss Catherine Cook

Tuesday Lunchtime: Musical Theatre (Years 3 & 6) led by Ms Armstrong

Wednesday Lunchtime: Junior Drama (Years 3 & 4) led by Miss Catherine Cook

Thursday Lunchtime: Senior Dance (Years 5 & 6) led by Mrs Matilda Goode

Friday Lunchtime: Junior Dance (Years 3 & 4) led by Mrs Sophie Walsh

Choir

We will also be running some choir groups before school.

These groups involve an audition process, cluster rehearsals and performance excursions to Sydney. More information has been provided via School Bytes.

Choirs

Stage 2 Choir: led by Ms McDowell

Stage 3 Choir: led by Miss Newling

Who can attend: Years 1-6

When: Thursday lunchtime (10:50am – 11:30am)

Where: DEM 3

During the year, students will be able to engage in a variety of art projects led by Mrs Patterson. They will learn skills in drawing, painting, jewellery making, Aboriginal art and much more.

Students are asked to bring along their own painting shirt to wear over their uniform during art making.

There will be no fee for joining the art club, however, students need to attend regularly to complete, and exhibit works.

Please see below list of due dates for current permission notes & payments. You can see all outstanding notes/payments relevant to your child by logging into your School Bytes portal.

If you do not have a School Bytes Portal set up please visit this link to register - https://portal.schoolbytes.education/auth/register

We are seeking your help to support the students in our school with severe allergies.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening. The most common causes of anaphylaxis in schools are allergies to food and insects (bees). To help manage allergies, our school is following the National Allergy Council’s Best Practice Guidelines for Anaphylaxis Prevention and Management in Schools.

The Best Practice Guidelines recommend an Allergy Aware approach, which means we are supporting students at risk of anaphylaxis in the following ways:

• training staff

• educating students about allergies and anaphylaxis

• teaching students that we all have different needs and to be respectful of others

• teaching students the importance of getting help immediately if their friend with allergy looks sick.

For food allergies, we are also:

• encouraging students with food allergies to wash their hands before and after eating

• encouraging students to wash their hands after eating something their classmate or friend is allergic to

• teaching students not to share food with friends who have food allergy.

Food allergies are common in school aged children and avoiding the food is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction. Therefore, we have put a range of different things in place to help keep these students safe. In younger primary classes, we may send letters home to suggest ways to support a child with food allergies that are additional to those listed above.

• Students must have a library bag to borrow books for home.

• An old pillowcase makes a great library bag.

• It is students' responsibility to return books on time.

• The Premiers Reading Challenge will be running again this year.

• Last year we had over 400 students complete the challenge.

• K-2 will complete in class

• 3-6 will complete independently.

• Any books read since the end of the challenge 2024 can be included in 2025.

• More information to come.

• Students from year 5 and 6 can apply for this leadership position

• Forms have been handed out this week and are due Friday 14th February 2025.

• Library Monitors will be announced at the assembly in Week 5

This term our Behaviour Focus is RESPECT with a whole school focus on ‘Lining Up’ and ‘Moving around the School’

Students will be receiving GOTCHAS for displaying RESPECT in all settings within the school. These GOTCHAS will contribute to our Whole School Reward later in the Term.

This year, teachers will be handing out 3 Values Awards each week to students who are consistently displaying our school Values of Respect, Safety, Engagement. Please keep these awards in a safe place as there will be a system to come later in the year.

With the development of our School Values, we have created a Behaviour Continuum and Behaviour Flow Chart to ensure consistency school wide, when staff are dealing with behaviour concerns in the classroom and playground. These documents outline the levels of behaviour and the steps taken to manage the behaviour concerns. It outlines the steps taken at a teacher level and executive level.

To match our Behaviour Continuum and Flowchart we have changed the name of Pitstop/Workshop to Reflection Room. The aim of Reflection Room is to have a restorative conversation around the behaviour of concern and put strategies in place to prevent it from occurring again. Executive staff will use Reflection Room to investigate incidents and decide on follow up steps. Reflection Room will also be used to revise our School Values and the expectations around the behaviour of concern.

In line with DOE policies, we have created a School Behaviour and Support Management Plan which is available on our website. This plan outlines how we support our students here at GPS.

Glendore_PS_Behaviour_Support_and_Management_Plan.pdf

• Please see the website listed below for details about applying to move from primary school to high school for your child.

• Moving to high school

• The first step is to complete a Moving to high school expression of interest. When completing this form, you will be able to indicate which school(s) you would like your child to attend in Year 7.

• The expression of interest is completed online and will open on 3rd March 2025 until 28th March 2025. You WILL NOT be able to submit any EOIs after this date.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 who are enrolled at a school are expected to participate in 4 NAPLAN tests:

• writing
• reading
• conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
• numeracy.

All schools in NSW complete NAPLAN online. However, Year 3 students do the writing test on paper. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the format of the tests before the NAPLAN test window.

Supporting your child

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school.

It is important to remember that NAPLAN is not about passing or failing. It is about assessing learning progress.

The best approach for preparing your child for NAPLAN is to encourage your child to do the best they can on the day.

Excessive preparation or the use of coaching providers is not recommended.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher in the first instance.

Students’ digital skills

The digital skills needed to complete NAPLAN are skills students use in everyday classroom activities.

Students do not need to be able to touch type. The online test is not about keyboard skills.

Public demonstration site

The public demonstration site is available for students, teachers and parents to get familiar with the types of questions, tools and functions used in the NAPLAN tests. It includes demonstration tests for each NAPLAN year level, test domain (writing, reading, conventions of language, and numeracy), and alternative tests for students with disability.

Disability adjustments

Adjustments are available for students with disability. The adjustments should reflect the normal support a student receives in classroom assessments.

Contact your child’s school to discuss possible adjustments. If adjustments are available for your child, you will need to sign a parent or carer consent form.

Withdrawals and exemptions

You can withdraw your child from NAPLAN tests.

Your child may be exempt from NAPLAN tests if they have:

significant disabilities that severely limit their capacity to participate in the tests

a language background other than English and have recently arrived in Australia (less than a year before the tests).

Contact your child’s school for further information about withdrawals and exemptions and to sign a parent or carer consent form.

Please join us for our first assemblies for the year on Monday 24th February.

The 2025 Ministers, Junior AECG, Sport House Captains and Library Monitors will be introduced at these assemblies.

Sentral parent portal is used to communicate with families throughout the year. This includes our school calendar, absences, attendance & reports. If you don't have access to the Sentral Parent portal please contact the school via email on Glendore-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or via phone 49556644 to get an access key ready for the 2025 year.

• Download the Flexischools App to order Uniforms (not tunics, these are available at Lowes Glendale).
• Use Flexischools to order school lunches.