Dear Parents,

The children have settled into their classrooms and are establishing new routines and commencing lots of exciting learning. Thank you to all of our parents for your ongoing support and such a smooth transition to the new school year. If at anytime you have any queries about your child's learning, please contact your child's classroom teacher. Lots of information is included in this newsletter - Swimming Carnival results, information about our school photos, parent/teacher interview dates and a run down on all of the extra curricular activities offered in Term 1 at Bathurst PS.

Yesterday we welcomed Mrs Melissa Scully, Relieving Director of Educational Leadership Bathurst Principals Network, to Bathurst Public School. Mrs Scully was welcomed to our school by our school leaders and then went on a tour of our school, visiting all classrooms. Mrs Scully was extremely impressed with the warm welcome she received from the children and staff, the quality of the work they were engaged in and the respectful way children greeted and responded to her. Well done to all our children and staff on an impressive start to the school year.

Our annual swimming carnival was held on Thursday 5th February. It was an incredibly successful day, and the students are to be congratulated on their participation, effort and sportsmanship. Our house captains did an amazing job leading their houses at their first carnival for the year. Below is a list of results from the day, including our age champions. Congratulations to our House Champions, Hargraves, and a special mention to Addison Jones, who broke 4 records on the day. An incredible effort, Addison!

The results of the carnival are set out below;

Well done to all our competitors, supporters and house captains. Our Swimming Champions for 2026 were;

• Junior Girl – Natalia Heiner
• Joint Junior Boys – Ashwin Buttsworth
• 11 Years Girl – Jasmyn Ferrier
• 11 Years Boy – Ethan Jones
• Senior Girl – Addison Jones
• Senior Boy – Frankie Shoemark

Congratulations to our 2026 Library Monitors - Alli Theobald, Alisha Hossain, Amelia Wells, Asha Melo, Benji Chamberlain, Billie Aveiro, Charlie Seager, Dante Ross, Ebony Clancey, Elisabeth Holland, Evie Hunter, Harper Rowlands, James Hooper, Jemimah Lyle, Lexie McGrath, Lilly Coffey, Oscar Naylor, Ruby Solomon, Samuel McPhee, Sienna Phillips, Sophia Simpson and Vincent Spicer. These children will support the Library and its smooth operations throughout the year. 

Attendance - We have had a really great start to 2026 and it is wonderful to see the children engaged in the classrooms.  Every morning, classes commence their day with a 'Welcome Circle', which promotes connectedness and sets the day's expectations and overview. If children are late to school, they miss precious learning time, and we often see children worried that they don't know what they are doing when arriving after 9 am. We ask all parents to please ensure your child is at school by 9 am so they can have the best start to the new learning day possible. If your child is absent from school, please contact the school by Sentral or phone to inform us.

Our School Photos will be taken on Thursday 19th February. We will be using Advanced School Photography. Envelopes for school photos have been sent home with instructions on how to pay for photos before the day online. Alternatively, money can be sent to the photographers on the day of the photos, but please note, no change can be given, so exact money will need to be placed in the envelopes. A reminder that if your child has 'no media permission', Advanced Photography will take an individual portrait only. They are legally unable to include any child with no media permission in the class group photo.

Parent/Teacher Interviews have been organised for Wednesday 25th February and Thursday 26th February for the Support Unit classes and Tuesday 3rd March - Thursday 5th March for all other classes. These meetings will allow parents to meet teachers, talk about what is to be taught this year and how your child has settled into the 2026 school year, plans for the school year, class expectations and parent expectations. Interviews can be booked on the Sentral Parent Portal from 3pm today. Please contact the school office if you require support in booking an interview with your child's teacher. 

The timetable for Parent/Teacher Interviews in Week 5 and 6 is as follows:

                  Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th February – K-2R, K-6R, 2-4B, 3-6J and 3-6N

                  Tuesday 4th March – KMc, KM, 1/2M, 1/2G, 1/2W and 1/2SP

                  Wednesday 5th March – 2/3F, 3/4M 3/4GW and 3/4W

                  Thursday 6th March – 5/6D, 5/6C, 5/6B and 5/6T

EXTRA CURRICULAR 

Parents will see Sentral messages, Facebook posts and dedicated parts of the Newsletter advertising upcoming extracurricular activities (such as Recorder, Dance, Choir, Drumming, Craft Club, Sketching Club, Circus, Multicultural Public Speaking and sporting team and representative sports trials). We are doing this in response to requests for parents to be kept informed of when things are occurring so you can encourage your child to attend, trial and participate. If at any time you require additional information and clarification, or would like to know when something is occurring on the calendar, please contact the office. A list of extra curricular activities and relevant information for Term 1 is below;

Primary Choir – Coordinating staff – Mrs Sharon Cafe and Mrs Alana Datt in the McMullen Hall every Thursday during Break 2.

Circus Skills – Coordinating staff – Ms Sam Hall. Held on the grass area between the Main Building and Lambert Street building (near flag pole garden) during Break 1 every Monday and Tuesday. Children need to bring their hats, please.

Mindful Mornings is a calm and welcoming space available each morning in the library from 8.30am to 9.00am, coordinated by Ms. Lloyd. Students are welcome to drop in and start their day in a peaceful way with quiet reading and gentle activities that help them feel settled and ready for learning. Children do not need to bring anything to attend.

Library Monitors are student leaders coordinated by Ms. Lloyd who support the smooth running of the library each day. This leadership role takes place in the library from 8.30am to 9.00am and during Break 2 daily, helping with organising resources, supporting all students, and keeping the library a welcoming space for everyone. 

Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) Drumming - Coordinator - Ms Amanda Nelson

When: Tuesday- Break 2 

Time: 1:30 - 2:00pm

Where: McMullen Hall

Introduction to drumming- come and have fun finding out about drums and how to play them. 

Primary (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6) drumming - Coordinator – Ms Fernanda Puebla

When: Wednesday- Break 2, commencing Week 4, Term 1 2026

Time: 1:30pm-2:00pm

Where: McMullen Hall 

Organisation: 

There are approximately 20 positions for the drumming group. Due to this, there will be auditions for Year 3 and Year 4 on Break 1 Week 4 Wednesday, and for Year 5 and Year 6 Break 2 Week 4. 

Audition criteria will be:

1. To be able to echo/copy 3 rhythms on a djembe drum (a. Slow, b. Fast, c. Broken)
2. To be able to play and maintain a simple rhythm on a djembe drum

Students who are interested in auditioning for the Primary drumming group will need to write their names down during Week 3. Lists will be outside the executive office. Auditions will be held Wednesday 18th at Break 1 and Break 2 as mentioned above.

Expectations for students who meet the criteria:

- To attend each drumming session promptly (an attendance record will be kept weekly).

- To be respectful, responsible and safe to those around them and to the instruments.

Once a term, the Primary drumming session will be open to Primary students who are not part of the drumming group - a fun creative session! All these announcements will be clear on Sentral messages for students to read before the day begins.

Chess Club is a fun and strategic extracurricular activity held in the Library during Tuesday- Break 1, coordinated by Ms. Lloyd. Students can utilise the school chess boards to play and practise their strategies, and on some weeks the club will venture into the playground to enjoy games on the giant outdoor chess set. Children do not need to bring anything to attend.

Student Representative Council (SRC) is a student leadership extracurricular activity coordinated by Ms. Lloyd and held in the 5/6B classroom during Wednesday- Break 2. Student representatives change each term, giving many students the opportunity to be involved. The SRC fosters leadership, responsibility, and a strong sense of community by giving students a voice in school matters.

Book club – Coordinator – Mrs Woolfe – Book Club are book catalogues sent out twice a term where parents and children can purchase books through Scholastic. All orders are completed on Online LOOP. The first Book Club orders for 2026 are due by Thursday 12th February. Books are then sent directly to the school and we then hand them out to children once they have arrived.

Craft club - Coordinator - Ms Roberts - Craft Club is a fun activity designed to make friendships and build a community of makers in our school. We meet on Wednesdays- Break 1 in the library. This term we are learning to weave with recycled materials. Materials are supplied. Towards the end of the term we discuss what we are interested in making next term, so that each term we try something new -possibly a sewing project next term.

Sketch club -  Coordinator - Ms Roberts - Sketch Club is for those students who just love to draw. We will be meeting on Fridays at Break 1 in the Library. Sometimes we will draw inside but it would be nice to draw outside occasionally, weather permitting. Students are welcome to bring their sketch books and drawing supplies if they would like to, however paper and pencils are supplied. Drawing club is for anyone who likes to spend time developing their drawing skills.

Band - Band lessons have commenced for 2026. It is not too late to enrol your child in the band program for the year. Band lessons are taught by teachers from the Mitchell Conservatorium, will be 30 minutes in duration and occur each week. The school has many instruments we can loan children so they can participate in the band program and to assist in reducing the cost. If any parent is interested in having their child taught an instrument and having lessons, please contact the office at school.

School Library – Our School Library is open Break 2, 1.30-2.00 each day. Children are able to attend the Library and read books, draw and play board games.

An exciting new year is kicking off in our school library!

All classes will be visiting the library each week. Students will need a library bag to be able to borrow books.

Kindergarten students are permitted to borrow one book and students in grades 1-6 are permitted to borrow two books. 

This term, the library will be open before school each day from 8.30am (weather permitting), as well as at Break 2. 

Students may return and borrow any day as long as they bring their library bag.

Library bags are important because they:

• Provide a place for your child to store their library book where it will be easy to find on library day
• Protect the library books and keep them clean
• Serve as a visual cue to your child that they will be going to the library today
• Allow lost books to be returned easily, if your child’s name is on the bag.

To help keep library books safe and in good condition, students are required to have a library bag with the following features:

• Made from durable fabric or waterproof material such as nylon, canvas, or plastic-coated fabric

• Large enough to fit A4-sized books

• Lightweight and easy for students to open and carry independently

• Clearly labelled on the outside with the student’s name and class

• In clean condition and in good repair, with no holes or broken fastenings

Plastic or paper shopping bags are not suitable as they tear easily and do not protect books. 

Families can also start signing students up to the Premier's Reading Challenge, which is starting on 23rd February 2026. 

Bathurst Public School families are also encouraged to join the Bathurst Library located on Keppel Street for more literary fun and holiday activities. This service is free for all Bathurst residents.

Happy reading, everyone! 

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, children can get a sandwich (vegemite, jam, honey). In Term 1, Lunch Club will operate from the executive office. We are always happy to receive donations of bread, fruit, spreads (vegemite and jam), cheese slices and margarine. 

BATHURST PUBLIC SCHOOL FAIR - Ourfair will be held on Saturday 14th March on the Bathurst Public School grounds. Come young and all, this is bound to be a sensational event. Unlimited ride bands are available. Please see the School Fair page of this Newsletter to purchase one at the early bird rate. Tickets for the sensational raffle are also available. Once again, please see the School Fair page in the Newsletter and use the QR code tyo secure your tickets in the enormous raffle. We are now asking for donations of several items which are listed below. We thank you in advacnce for any support you can offer in making our Fair a fantastic event.

General Reminders:-

• 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. 
• All items of clothing and personal belongings should be clearly marked with your child’s name.
• All children require a broad brimmed hat each day as our school has a “No Hat, No Play” policy.
• All gates around our school are kept closed during the day. This is a to ensure our children and staff are able to learn and play in a safe and happy environment. When parents and friends come to the school during the day, please come to the gate in George street and press the buzzer. The office staff will then open the gate. Please ensure you QR code in (QR code on the gate area). All parents and visitors should present to the front office on arrival.  This is a Legal and Workplace Safety requirement and is followed for the safety and security of all children and staff.
• We continue to encourage parents to make appointments to come and talk about your child’s progress, problems that may arise, ideas etc. It is reminded that the education of your child is a team effort with teachers and parents being the main stakeholders. It takes a village to raise a child! With this in mind, it is an important reminder that parent/teacher relationships always need to be cohesive and supportive and one of mutual respect. I am sure we will all continue to work with one another in a positive and productive manner.

• All notes are sent out through the Sentral Parent portal. Permission and payments for activities occurs through the portal as well. If at any time you need support with the Sentral Parent portal, please contact the school.

   

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

Kate White

Principal