Dear Parents,

Harmony Week is an annual Australian celebration of cultural diversity which runs from the 17th to 23rd March 2025, and includes the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21st. Harmony Week is a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Today we have worn orange or our traditional dress to show our support and celebrate Harmony Week where "Everyone Belongs". Thank you to our children for their involvement, celebrations and to the many families that have also supported us this week.

We always love celebrating the successes and wonderful accomplishments of the children from Bathurst Public School. This week I’d like to say a BIG well done to all of our Year 3 and Year 5 children on the outstanding way they have worked during the NAPLAN Assessments. As a school community, we should be extremely proud of our children. They are simply amazing! Well done, Year 3 and Year 5.

Thank you to the many parents who attended our school assemblies yesterday and joined us in celebrating the wonderful work our children have been doing. It’s always great for us to come together as a school community for these celebrations.

The Uniform Review Committee surveyed parents, teachers, and this week students, to seek feedback on the proposed change to our school polo shirt.

The consultation phase is now complete, with survey results showing overwhelming support for the blue and white polo displayed during interview week and more recently at the front office.

The committee will commence drafting the new policy over the upcoming weeks. Once complete, it will be presented at the P&C meeting for their endorsement.

Please note: Once the policy is finalised, there will be a three-year change-over period before all students are expected to wear the blue polo; parents will not be expected to immediately purchase new uniforms.

Survey Results:

	Blue and White Polo	White Polo
Parents	95%	5%
Students	84%	16%
Teachers	78%	22%

School Attendance

The well-being of our students is extremely important to us. One way we protect your child's well-being is by fulfilling our responsibilities as both parents/carers and school staff by reporting and monitoring student absences.

Please remember to contact us through the parent portal or by phoning the school at 63313923 if your child is going to be away or late for school. This is best done early in the morning so your child’s absence can be recorded correctly and we can provide appropriate support for you and your family.

The current attendance rate for our school is 93.3%.
71.3% of our children are attending more than 90% of the time.
18.8% below 90%, which is putting them educationally at risk.

Last week, 75% of our classes had no unexplained absences, which is a huge improvement over the past weeks. Thank you, parents!

Congratulations to 5/6B and 1/2G for having the highest attendance rate last week.

Some general reminders:

SCHOOL LIBRARY – Our School Library is open Break 1, 11.30-12.00, every day and Break 2, 1.30-2.00, every Tuesday and Wednesday. Children are able to attend the Library and read books, draw and play board games.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH CLUB – Breakfast Club operates 5 days a week from 8.30-9.00. Lunch Club also operates from 1.15-1.30 5 days a week. At Breakfast Club, children can get toast, fruit, and at times, cereal. At lunch time, we alternate what is offered. Items available are generally toast, sandwiches, cheese toasties and spaghetti toasties. We are always happy to receive donations of bread, fruit, spreads (Vegemite and jam), tins of spaghetti, cheese slices and margarine.
FOOD ALLERGIES - We do have several children at our school who have peanut allergies and have severe reactions if exposed to this food. Parents are asked to be mindful of this when packing recess and lunch and are encouraged not to send products which contain nuts in them to school.

If any parent has concerns regarding any aspect of school life, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kate White

Principal

Shining in Support