Welcome to Term 3 which has started strong with the commencement of Swim Scheme, Debating, 100 Days of Kindergarten, K-2 Zing Dance and 3-6 Jellybeans. PSSA teams have been finalised and coaches are preparing for the season ahead.

With the start of the new term we have also commenced our newly formed KM and 1G classes, responding to the increase in student enrolments in our Kindergarten and Year 1. Thank you to the parents, carers and staff for your support in transitioning the students successfully into these new class groups.

Staffing Update

PPS School Administrative Manager (SAM) / Business Manager (BM) position has been vacant since Julie Ryan took leave and then officially retired in 2023.

As per the DoE policy, a panel for Merit Selection was formed in Term 2, with interviews held in the last week of Term 2 hopeful to fill the SAM permanent position. Unfortunately the panel was unable to successfully fill the position.

Moving into Term 3, the school has chosen to release the Business Manager (BM) role from the position, and only recruit for the SAM position. Due to this change in role statement it was recommended the school engaged in the Expression of Interest (EOI) process. Through the EOI process, Kathie Chang has been successful in attaining the Acting SAM position and accepted the offer commencing Monday Week 4 (12th August) for the remainder for the year. Kathie is currently employed at Strathfield South PS, and will be visiting PPS on Thursday 8th August to engage in a handover. I encourage you to come to the office and introduce yourself on the day, welcoming Kathie to our school community on this day.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sophie Minas for her leadership and dedication to the teachers, students and community of PPS while fulfilling the SAM/BM role. She has supported PPS and strongly demonstrated her love and passion for the local community to which she was serving. Through her support we have transitioned to Schoolbytes and the Sentral Parent Portal.

On behalf of the students, parents, carers and staff of PPS, I would like to wish Sophie all the best for her future career, and once again thank her for the vital role she has fulfilled in her time at PPS. Sophie's last day with us will be Friday 9th August, returning to her substantive position at Undercliff PS in Week 4.

Public Education Week

Next Wednesday we are celebrating Public Education Day at PPS. Our morning is open for our families to come and visit and join in the love of learning with our students.

Our playground will be open at lunchtime for families to participate in a picnic, while our choir and band students will be performing. Mr McLoud will have Book Fair open for families to visit and purchase books if desired.

We hope to see many of you join us on the day.

Student Behaviour Strategy

As a school we are currently reviewing our Student Behaviour Strategy including our processes aligned to positive behaviour and responding to inappropriate behaviour. To ensure all stakeholders have a voice in this review process, I am seeking the support of the community to complete a short survey to build an understanding of what we are doing well and where we could improve from the community perspective.

The expectation is to ensure the school has a School Behaviour Support and Management Plan aligned to the Department of Education Student Behaviour Policy. This plan will be uploaded to our school website and ready for implementation at the commencement of 2025.

Community members can access the online survey through this link: Community Feedback Survey The survey window will close on Thursday 16th August.

Road Rule Reminders from Georges River Council

For Term 3, school zones will be in operation from: Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September 2024. Our new signage from Georges River Council have been installed to support safe driving and parking around our school.

Remember to:

Buckle up
Slow down to 40
Always park legally
Observe all signposting
Give way to pedestrians
Avoid illegal manoeuvres
Never queue across children’s crossings

Council parking officers and police regularly patrol school zones

Stringent penalties apply

Please see below new penalty notices amounts for 24/25.

Double parking (School zone) : $410 + 2 demerit points
Disobey no stopping sign (School zone) : $410 + 2 demerit points
Disobey No parking sign (School zone) : $227 + 2 demerit points
Stop within 10 metres of an intersection (no traffic lights) school zone : $544 + 2 demerit points
Stop within 20 metres of an intersection (traffic lights) – school zone : $544 + 2 demerit points
Stop in intersection in school zone : $544 + 2 demerit points
Stop on/across driveway etc to/from land (School zone) : $410 + 2 demerit points
Stop in bus zone (in School zone) : $410 + 2 demerit points
Stop on/near pedestrian crossing (School zone) : $544 + 2 demerit points
Stop on/near marked foot crossing (in school zone) : $544 + 2 demerit points
Stop on/near childrens crossing (in school zone) : $544 + 2 demerit points
Stop on path/strip in built-up area (School zone) : $410 + 2 demerit points
Obstruct access to ramp/path/passageway in school zone : $410 + 2 demerit points
Stop at/near bus stop (school zone) : $410 + 2 demerit points
Not parallel park direction of travel in school zone : 410 + 2 demerit points
Stop on bicycle crossing/near traffic lights in school zone : $544 + 2 demerit points

For more information, click on links below:

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/community/schools/safety-around-schools

Mrs Bentley

Principal

Canteen