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

P&C News – Welcome to Our New Executive Team

Following our AGM on March 17, we are pleased to welcome the new executive members of the Glendore P&C. Congratulations to Belinda Konik (President), Mika Campbell (Vice President), Jackie Brunkhorst (Secretary), and Tara Davison (Uniform Shop Coordinator). We sincerely thank them for volunteering their time to support our school community.

The P&C is in great hands, and we appreciate the ongoing commitment of all members in making a positive impact on our students and school. We also extend our gratitude to the outgoing team for their dedication and contributions.

We encourage all families to get involved in P&C activities and meetings. Your participation helps strengthen our school community, and we look forward to another successful year ahead!

Anti-bullying lessons at GPS

Explicitly teaching students about diversity and respectful relationships can help to prevent bullying in the classroom and playground.

All classes at Glendore have participated in Anti-bullying units of work this term.

Early Stage 1 - Diversity

This unit of work emphasises belonging, respect for and appreciation of difference and empathy for others. Students learn about and practice being a good friend and the behaviours that protect both themselves and others from bullying.

1. What does my world look like
2. What makes us unique
3. How do we make friends

Stage 1 – Diversity

This unit of work promotes respect and appreciation of difference through increased understanding and empathy for others. Students learn about and practice behaviours that protect both themselves and others from bullying.

1. What is a family

2. What groups do I belong to

3. How can I care for others

Stage 2 – Diversity

This unit of work emphasises belonging, respect for and appreciation of difference and empathy for others.

Students learn about and practice being a good friend and behaviours that protect both themselves and others from bullying.

1. Why it is important to belong
2. What is diversity
3. What is bullying

Stage 3 – Diversity and difference

This unit emphasises shared values, belonging, acceptance and tolerance. Critical thinking is developed as students evaluate and challenge perspectives including negative stereotypes and cultural and social bias.

1. Why factors influence or shape identity
2. Group and individual contribution to Australia
3. What common values unite people

The lessons taught during our Anti-Bullying unit are just the beginning of an ongoing conversation about respect, empathy, and kindness. After these important themes and key ideas are explicitly taught, we continue to revisit and reinforce them throughout the year.

These concepts are integrated into our Child Protection lessons, health and Personal Development (PD) classes, and are incorporated into discussions during Morning Circles as the need arises. Additionally, relevant literature is selected to further support and highlight these themes, ensuring that students are continually engaged in meaningful discussions about their importance.

By embedding these ideas into various aspects of our curriculum and school culture, we aim to create a safe and supportive environment where all students feel valued and empowered to stand against bullying.

Student behaviour travelling to and from school

As we continue to prioritise the safety and well-being of our students, we would like to remind everyone about the importance of safe and responsible travel to and from school. It is essential that our children understand the value of respecting not only their surroundings but also the properties of our neighbours.

We encourage you to have conversations with your children about the appropriate behaviours expected while travelling in our community. Simple reminders about staying on pathways, avoiding trespassing, and treating all properties with respect can make a significant difference in maintaining a positive relationship with our neighbours.

We are fortunate to have a supportive and vigilant neighbourhood watch in place. They are committed to ensuring the safety of our area and will report any inappropriate behaviour. This partnership helps create a secure environment for our children as they make their way home.

Thank you for your cooperation and for reinforcing these important messages with your children.

2024 Annual Report Now Available

Our 2024 Annual Report is now complete and has been published on our school website. The preparation of the annual report involves reflecting on our progress and assessing our achievements against the strategic directions outlined in our School Excellence Plan (SEP).

This process includes the results of our School Excellence Framework Self-assessment Survey (SEF S-aS), which helps us evaluate our ongoing improvement. The annual report provides a comprehensive overview of our school's performance and progress, ensuring transparency and accountability to our community.

We invite families to read the report to gain insights into our achievements and future directions.

Updated School Reports from Term 2

From Term 2, we will be introducing updated school reports for students from Kindergarten to Year 6. These changes have been developed by the NSW Department of Education in response to feedback from parents and educators, ensuring reports are clearer and easier to understand.

Your child’s report will continue to show their progress across all subject areas. Teacher comments will be included in English, mathematics, and the general comment section, in line with department policy. For Kindergarten students, the general comment will also cover all key learning areas, including creative arts, HSIE, PDHPE, and science and technology.

A new achievement scale and descriptions have been introduced to provide a clearer picture of your child’s progress. Parent–teacher interviews will remain an important opportunity to discuss your child’s learning in more detail.

We welcome any feedback or questions you may have about the new report format.

Have a wonderful week everyone,

Annette Van Egmond

It has been a wonderful start to the year for our Stage Two students and their teachers. Our classrooms are filled with vibrant learning experiences as students engage in meaningful projects and collaborative activities across all Key Learning Areas. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching History in most Stage Two classrooms this term. The students have been highly engaged and have demonstrated critical thinking skills.

The Reading Pairs initiative has been a highlight for our students, where they read daily with a partner to build their fluency and comprehension skills. We are also continuing to implement daily reading and maths reviews to consolidate knowledge and skills used by students across English and Mathematics. Daily reviews are whole-class, teacher-directed learning activities during which students recite, recall, and apply previously taught content.

Our Year 3 students recently completed their NAPLAN assessments, and we are proud of their efforts. Teachers will be analysing the results later in the year to gain insights into individual and group achievements in literacy and numeracy. This information will guide our instruction as we continue to support each student's learning journey.

We had a wonderful time celebrating Harmony Day last week with various activities that fostered inclusiveness and respect for cultural diversity. Students engaged in art projects, shared stories from their cultures, and participated in group discussions that highlighted the importance of unity and acceptance.

Our recent Athletics Carnival was a fantastic success! Students showcased their athletic skills in various events, demonstrating teamwork and sportsmanship. It was heartwarming to see so many families in attendance, cheering on our students and celebrating their achievements. A big thank you to our staff and volunteers who helped organise this event!

We are looking forward to a great end to the term with our assembly in Week 10, and our Grandfriends Day and Easter Hat Parade in Week 11. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We look forward to sharing more exciting updates as we move forward into Term 2!

Warm regards,
Ms McDowell
Stage Two Assistant Principal

KB have had a brilliant start to the year with a bunch of excited and eager students who have just started school. We have been very busy learning our phonics chants and love all the actions that go with them. Mr Cousins has visited our room and told interesting stories for us all to enjoy. We love school and all the fun things we get to do.

3A is a vibrant, hardworking group of students. They are curious, creative, and eager to learn. This term, they’ve been exploring exciting new topics, In science, writing recounts and exploring many different creative art styles. With their positive attitude and teamwork, 3A is making great strides and having fun along the way.

Our annual Cross Country Carnival will take place on Thursday 3rd April, at Glendore Public School. Students will compete in races based on the age they are turning this year.

Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Glendore Public School would like to invite our community to our Easter Hat Parade and Grandfriends Day celebrations.

Grandfriends Day classroom visits will be occurring from 9:45am, with the Easter Hat Parade beginning at 10am.

All students will be making their Easter hats at school.

Year 6 students will be running a cake stall fundraiser so please bring cash if you would like to buy some delicious treats. Prices will range from $1-$5.

Year 6 would like to extend an invitation to our school community for our Year 6 Bake Sale being held on Friday 11th May. Year 6 Students from 5/6L and 5/6Q will be selling a collection of home made cupcakes, slices and treats at the conclusion of the Easter Hat Parade.

SAVE THE DATE!

Mother’s Day afternoon Wednesday 7th May

1:30pm Recess – Drink and Muffin combinations can be ordered through FlexiSchools or BYO afternoon tea welcome

2:00-2:45pm Classroom Activities

More information to come

‘Read with me’ reading support:

Parents/Caregivers are able to assist with reading from 8.45am to 9.30am on set days. The ‘Read with Me’ program will involve reading High Frequency Words and reading decodable readers with individual students. This program will commence in Term 2 and will occur outside your child’s classroom on set days. Please contact your child’s teacher via email to the Office to express your interest in this program. In the event of wet weather, the program will be cancelled. Before volunteering, please fill in the form below and return it to the office with your identification.

Declaration for non-child-related workers

Volunteering in the canteen:

Parents are able to volunteer their time in our canteen daily. Any amount of time is appreciated! Things you may do during your day in the Canteen:

• Making easy lunches for our children

• Placing food items into ovens and warmer

• Serving at lunch

• Come along with your friends and have a good laugh, lots of fun and a chat

• For your valued time a snack and cold drink or tea/coffee is provided

For further information about volunteering in our canteen, please visit Volunteering in the canteen

P&C support:

Our P&C plays an important role in supporting the school’s teaching and learning activities and is the forum for parents, caregivers and citizens who have an interest in their children’s education. The P&C meets Mondays, twice a term (Weeks 3 and 8) in the school library. Our meetings start at 6:30pm and dates are posted on the school website, Facebook page and Newsletter. A spread of parents from throughout the school helps ensure decisions made encompass and benefit all. The more people involved, the easier it is to enhance our wonderful school community. It’s also a great way to meet other parents.

Any students that were absent for school photo day and would like to have their photo taken, Advanced life photography have a Studio day in Toronto and are available to take your child's photo in the holidays on Monday 14th April.

For any parents/caregivers that would like to book in a time for this day, they can simply contact the Parent Team via https://www.advancedlife.com.au/contact.php

Portrait photographs can still be purchased by following the link below for 7 days from the day photos are taken, after which late fees/additional charges will be incurred.

Glendore Public School - School Photography Date: 27/03/2025

www.advancedlife.com.au
And enter online order code: BEW G6Q Y2J

School photography information:

• Online orders - do not require an envelope returned to your school
• Late fees - a late fee will be applied to each package purchased more than 7 days after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately
• Package delivery - School photographs will be returned approximately 6 weeks after the day of photography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.
• Previous Years’ photos - Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available to order under the 'previous years or group photo' tabs at your school’s advancedorder site when you click on the 'Order School Photos Here' button above. You can also order past packages, portrait images and gifts from your child’s unique, individual and secure advancedyou image archive site using the unique 9 digit image code found on packages you have ordered in the past

advancedlife would like to express our appreciation to Glendore Public School for placing your trust in us. Please remember we offer a 100% money back guarantee on our products to ensure your peace of mind. We would also love to receive your feedback or resolve any issues you may experience as fast as possible, to ensure your satisfaction. If you have any questions, comments or feedback relating to your advancedlife experience please contact us at: www.advancedlife.com.au/contact

What a successful week! We would like to thank all students, teachers and community members for participating and sharing their culture throughout this week. As a school we enjoy the diversity we get to explore through our families and students but also knowing when we walk through the school gates, we all have a sense of belonging and inclusivity at Glendore.

On Friday we all looked amazing in our orange and cultural dress. Students also got to enjoy Harmony Week themed activities in their classrooms, listening to daily announcements from our students and of course contributing to our wishing tree. When passing the school be sure to look out for our beautiful wishing tree!

On the 26th of March, our K-2 students participated in a fun-filled Athletics Carnival. The day was packed with exciting events, from running races to archery, and the children demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and enthusiasm. It was heartwarming to see their determination and joy, with each event bringing smiles and cheers from both participants and spectators. A big thank you to our staff for making this day possible. We look forward to more wonderful events like this in the future!

Congratulations to all the students who participated in this year's 3-6 Athletics Carnival. Despite the hot and busy conditions, it was a day filled with enthusiasm and determination. Our teachers did an exceptional job ensuring that every student had the opportunity to engage in activities they may not have experienced before. We are incredibly impressed by the effort, participation, and sportsmanship displayed by our students, as well as the outstanding team spirit and encouragement shown throughout the day. Well done, Glendore!

Applications for Year 7 2026 are now open. Please see the links below for information about both the Aspire and CAPA Programs and instructions and links to apply. APPLICATIONS CLOSE MONDAY 7 APRIL 2025.

Year 6 Transition to Year 7 - Aspire and CAPA Programs - Callaghan College Wallsend Campus

Aspire Program: High Potential and Gifted Education

CAPA Program: Creative and Performing Arts

• A 3-day (2 night) excursion to Canberra has been organised for Year 6 students to consolidate their Semester One History unit of study involving Australian democracy.

• The dates for this excursion are Wednesday 13th August to Friday 15th August, 2025 (Week 4, Term 3). During this excursion students will experience hands on activities and participate in tours at the Museum of Australian Democracy, National Gallery, the War Memorial, Electoral Education Centre, Parliament House, Australian Institute of Sport and Royal Australian Mint.

• The cost is yet to be confirmed due confirmation of numbers and to ongoing changes. We are asking parents and caregivers to pay a deposit of $120.00 by Wednesday, 9th April (Term 1, Week 11) to allow us to determine our expected number of students attending the excursion. Minimum numbers are required to keep the cost at approximately $460.00. However this is an estimate until numbers are confirmed, a small additional fee may be charged at a later date to cover costs.

• Should we not meet the minimum number of students required to attend, the excursion will not be able to go ahead and your deposit will be refunded to you during Term Two.

• We will advise once minimum numbers have been met and the excursion will be proceeding.

• PLEASE NOTE: Funds paid will not be refunded once numbers are reached and the excursion proceeds.

• If we do not receive the Permission and Deposit by Friday, 11th April, 2025, we will assume your child will not be attending the excursion.

• If you do not wish for your child to attend the excursion, please indicate this by selecting 'no'.

• Please contact your child's class teacher if you have any questions.

• Deposit: $120.00 due Friday, 11th April 2025 (Term 1, Week 11)