Term 3 Highlights: A Busy Term of Learning and Celebrations

Dear Families,

Term 3 was a busy and exciting time for our school, full of great learning and fun celebrations.

Book Week Celebrations

To celebrate Book Week, our students had a fantastic visit to the Arncliffe Library. They were thrilled to see their artwork displayed, enjoyed listening to a story, and took part in a fun activity. A big thank you to Ms Paschal for organising this special trip.

Back at school, the children participated in our annual Book Parade. This year, we made great use of the grass area and our new outdoor stage for the event. We were delighted to welcome special guests from Integricare Turrella, who joined us for the parade. All the children looked fantastic in their creative costumes—thank you to the parents for helping your child choose or make their outfit!

Our teachers also got involved by dressing up as their favourite sheep characters from the book Where is the Green Sheep? A big thank you to Mrs James for organising this fun and memorable day.

Waste Workshops

We were also excited to offer Waste Workshops organised by Ms Engles and presented by Cleanaway and Bayside Council.

Our Kindergarten to Year 2 students explored the what, why, and where of household waste through hands-on problem-solving activities and discussions. They learned what goes in each bin, where the waste goes, what happens to it there, and the impact on our environment if waste isn’t managed properly.

Our preschool program children learned all about the three standard bins used in Australia—the red, yellow, and green-lidded bins—sparking their curiosity to discover more about the environment and litter.

Stage 1 Excursion to Royal National Park

Students in Year 1 and Year 2 enjoyed a special excursion to the Royal National Park where they participated in a variety of cultural and environmental activities. They examined Aboriginal artefacts and preserved animals, learning about their uses and the materials they are made from. The children played traditional Aboriginal games using natural materials, explored plant uses on a guided bushwalk, and used their senses to observe natural features connected to the Dharawal seasonal calendars.

The excursion also included creative experiences such as painting with ochres and using natural fibres for plaiting or weaving. Students listened to a Dreaming story relevant to the site, deepening their understanding of Aboriginal culture and connection to the land.

Thank you to Mr Ikin for organising this memorable and enriching excursion.

Father’s Day Stall

Our students had the wonderful opportunity to purchase gifts for their dads or father figures at our annual Father’s Day Stall. The children enjoyed selecting presents they thought their dads would love. We are pleased to share that the stall raised $423 to support our school programs. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this event.

Staff Professional Learning

We continued to commit to developing our professional growth as a staff. In Term 3:

All our teachers have took part in research into a phonics-based reading program, guided by two of our dedicated Assistant Principals, helping to enhance our literacy teaching.
Five staff members are actively involved in a research team partnering with Western Sydney University, focusing on embracing and incorporating our students’ diverse cultural backgrounds and knowledge into their learning.
To support student safety, staff participated in professional learning related to road safety aligned with the new PDHPE syllabus. Our office team attended their annual conference, gaining valuable insights into new administration processes and best practices that help our school run smoothly.
In the arts, two teachers benefited from a music mentoring program led by our music teacher, who is a trained facilitator, strengthening our music education offerings.
Every week, all teachers meet to discuss student progress and collaboratively plan effective teaching and learning programs tailored to our students’ needs.
On a personal note, I have joined the ‘Growing Great Leaders’ program for principals to further develop my leadership skills.

All staff are committed to continuous improvement, ensuring the best possible learning experiences for our students. I look forward to sharing more about our ongoing professional learning journey in future newsletters.

Important Information Regarding Future School Events and Excursions

For all upcoming school events and excursions, please note that cut-off dates for permission notes and payments will be strictly adhered to. This allows the school to prepare in advance for safety measures and payment requirements. Please be aware that after the cut-off date, no money will be refunded to parents as the school uses these funds to cover transport, entry costs, and other related expenses. Reminders about deadlines and events are sent via School Bytes to parent email addresses. If you are not receiving these reminders, please ensure your email address is up to date by contacting the school office.

Enrolment for Kindergarten 2026

If you have a child or know of a child who will turn 5 by 31 July 2026, or will turn 6 in 2026, please visit our office staff for an enrolment form. We are continuing our successful school tours for families of students starting Kindergarten in 2026. Our orientation program begins in 4 weeks, so please get in before then to ensure your child can be a part of this valuable program.

Looking Ahead to Term 4

We are looking forward to welcoming all our students back for Term 4. We will be posting important dates soon for our end-of-year assemblies and presentations. Please keep an eye out for these announcements.

We appreciate everyone’s support in making Term 3 such a rewarding and joyful term for our students.

Kind regards,

Bryce Hageman

Principal

Possums