News & updates

Welcome Koby Miller

NSW Premier's Spelling Bee

On Monday, we witnessed a fabulous display of talent and determination as our young spellers took to the stage for our school finals. These bright students showcased their hard work, dedication, and passion for words, spelling their way through challenging rounds with impressive skill.

A huge congratulations to all of our class finalists for their incredible efforts! Your commitment to excellence inspires us all and reflects the core values we uphold within our school community. This event was not only a competition but an opportunity for students to demonstrate respect for their peers and resilience in the face of challenges.

We are especially proud to announce our two school champions, Sophie and Elliot, who will go on to represent Tarrawanna in the regional finals next term. We wish them the very best of luck and continued success! Their achievement is a testament to their hard work and determination!

A big thank you to all of the Years 3 to 6 class teachers for their time and effort during the class heats. Without your dedication and commitment to nurturing our students, the spelling bee would not be possible.

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that the Stage One (K to 2) Spelling Bee will be held next term—stay tuned for details! We encourage our younger students to embrace this opportunity to engage with words and enjoy the process of learning and growing together. Katherine LoCastro

K-2 simplified logins

During the winter school holidays, the usernames of students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 will be set to the department’s new shortened format (student initials and the last four digits of their student reference number, such as JS1234 for example). Your child’s teacher will be able to print off a login credentials card if you need it. Chris Hopkins

Yangga Garaba Southern Stars Aboriginal Ensemble

Ten of our students proudly attended the first mass rehearsal for the Yangga Garaba Southern Stars Aboriginal Ensemble on the 18th of June. They joined over 300 students from across the region to begin learning the powerful dance they will perform as part of the Southern Stars Arena Spectacular. It was a fantastic day of culture, connection and collaboration We can’t wait to see them shine on stage later this year! Luke Bray

School choir update

Our talented Tarrawanna Public School Choir has been working extremely hard in preparation for the upcoming Choral Festival Concert! Recently, we had the honour of hosting the Wollongong Choral Festival cluster rehearsal, where choirs from five other schools joined us for an unforgettable musical experience. Our little choir shone brightly as they sang and danced alongside 200 students, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with harmony and joy. The dedication and impressive behaviour of our students truly stood out during this event. 

A special shout-out goes to Ivy, who will be performing a solo during the Choral Festival concert and to all of the brave students who auditioned for soloist parts. We are so proud of each of you and all want to wish Ivy the best of luck when she takes the stage! Mark your calendars for the Choral Festival Concert on 4th August—more information will be coming soon! Katherine LoCastro

Preschool visits

In Weeks 5 and 6, Ms. Mac and Ms. Deacon had the pleasure of visiting 20 local preschools, where they excitedly engaged with the children as they met a "big school" teacher for the first time. During their visits, the children enjoyed a story time session, participated in fun maths games, and had the opportunity to ask questions about what to expect when they transition to school. This enriching experience allowed the young students to interact with a kindergarten teacher, helping to alleviate any mystery or anxiety they may have had about school and the teachers they will encounter. It was a wonderful opportunity to foster excitement and curiosity about their upcoming educational journey! Delphine McLachlan

STEM lesson

This week, 5/6 Burri Burri took part in an inspiring student-led STEM lesson, where they utilised recycled materials to create impressive marble run towers. Before diving into the activity, the class viewed videos showcasing examples and engaged in a thoughtful discussion about the key factors to consider when constructing their towers. This open-ended task offered endless possibilities for creativity and innovation.

Once the activity began, students worked in collaborative groups, gathering resources, sharing ideas, and engaging in problem-solving through trial and error. The classroom buzzed with enthusiasm as students not only showcased their critical thinking skills but also supported one another throughout the process.

Student feedback highlighted their enjoyment, with comments like, "This is a fun lesson!" and "Can we do another lesson like this?" It was clear that they were highly engaged in this hands-on learning task, showing pride in their work and appreciation for their peers’ creativity.

A special thank you to the families who donated recycled materials, making it possible for us to conduct this lesson. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Well done, 5/6 Burri Burri! Keep up the fantastic work! Brooke Weise

NSW Premier's Debating Challenge continues

The Tenacious T's have been continuing their debating quest through the Premier's Debating Challenge. Lara, Benji, Avalon and Nevaeh competed against Stanwell Park PS in week 8 and came away with their first win! The topic was "That schools should give every Year 6 student a turn in student leadership instead of appointing a few kids for the whole year" and our school was negative. An independent adjudicator judged the debate and awarded us the win after our opening points and continuous rebuttal convinced her we were the stronger team. Our next round will be in early term 3 where we will travel to Helensburgh PS for a topic about Health and Fitness. Kate Woloch

K/1 Gugara’s wonderful term of learning!

This term, K/1 Gugara has been buzzing with creativity, curiosity and celebration! We’ve been very lucky to have a fantastic prac student, Miss O’Brien, join our classroom. She quickly became a valued part of our learning community, and we’ve loved learning alongside her.

In English, we’ve been diving into the world of poetry, exploring how poems can help us express our thoughts and feelings. From acrostic poems to cinquains and even some cheeky limericks, our students have experimented with language in creative and meaningful ways. Check out some of the photos of our poems!

In Mathematics, we’ve been investigating symmetry and transformations. We created symmetrical designs using shapes and explored how we can reflect and slide (translate) shapes to make patterns. It’s been exciting to see students challenge themselves and develop their spatial reasoning skills.

To celebrate our hard work and achievement of learning goals, and to say a big thank you and farewell to Miss O’Brien, we finished the term with a Pyjama Party! It was a fun and cozy way to end a term full of growth, laughter, and learning.

Well done, K/1 Gugara! Toree Deacon

World Refugee Day

Kindergarten have been immersed in their learning and proudly sharing their growing reading skills with their buddies in 5/6 Burri Burri, as well as families through our home reading program. They've been discovering how maths is all around us, even exploring how many different mathematical concepts can be learned from a small box of Smarties! To celebrate World Refugee Day, students read a story by Anh Do and then followed a recipe to make delicious Banh Mi rolls, connecting literacy and cultural learning in a fun, hands-on way. With music lessons, tennis, and rich cultural experiences through our Gawungal Marring sessions, our little 'sweaty brains' have been working hard. They're now more than ready for a well-earned break to rest, recharge, and gear up for another exciting term ahead.

Delphine McLachlan