Relieving Principal's Message
Dear Parents, Carers and Students,
As we welcome the start of Spring tomorrow, it’s wonderful to see warm weather already forecast for the week ahead. With the change in season, please remember to ensure your child brings a water bottle and wears their school hat each day. We hope everyone enjoys the brighter days and stays refreshed and sun-safe as we begin this new term together.
Celebrating SASS Recognition Week
This week we celebrate the vital role performed by our School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS). Recognition Week is an opportunity for our school community to acknowledge their efforts and say thank you.
It is an event that acknowledges the professionalism, dedication, and expertise of school support staff, including School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS), General Assistants, Farm Assistants, School Psychologists, Student Support Officers, and Aboriginal Education Officers.
The 2026 theme, "Thriving Schools Start With Us," highlights the essential role these staff members play in delivering a world-class public education system.
Our SASS team play a vital role in helping schools and students thrive! Whether working behind the scenes or directly alongside students, our school support staff are essential for every school community. SASS Recognition Week provides an opportunity for parents, students, and the broader school community to acknowledge and thank these dedicated professionals for their commitment, expertise, and service.
To our incredible SASS team – you are the heart of our school community. From the first hello in the morning to the last task at the end of the day, your hard work and care make a world of difference.
Your dedication, kindness, and behind-the-scenes magic keep our school running smoothly every single day. We see you, we appreciate you, and we are so grateful for everything you do.
On behalf of the Carlingford West Public School community, thank you to our school support staff for all you do! Happy SASS Recognition Week!
Selective High School Results
Last week, I shared the wonderful news that several of our Year 6 students have been offered a place at a Selective High School for 2027. Following a request for more information, and in line with a previous update shared by Mr. Williamson in the 2025 newsletter, I am pleased to share that a total of 104 of our students have earned either a place or a reserve place in selective high schools for 2027.
This is a remarkable achievement that reflects their hard work, dedication, and perseverance. We congratulate each of these students and wish them every success as they embark on this exciting new chapter in their education.
Tournament of Minds
On the weekend, Mr Nelson and Miss Wilkinson and students represented CWPS at the 2026 Tournament of Minds competition held at University of NSW.
Tournament of Minds is a problem-solving program for teams of students from both primary and secondary years. Tournament's aim is to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management, and the discipline to work collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment.
They are required to solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following disciplines:
- The Arts The Arts challenges will involve research before developing a creative interpretation in response to the Challenge. Plenty of opportunities for artistic expression in the form of dance, song, musical instruments, theatre and all forms of the Visual Arts.
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) The combination of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics principles provides an integrated approach for students to deepen their conceptual understanding and use their creative and critical thinking skills to solve the challenges within an authentic context.
- Language Literature Language Literature Challenges will involve in-depth analysis and research of texts from a variety of fields.
- Social Sciences The Social Sciences Challenges are a journey through the moral and ethical issues confronting society in the 21st Century.
Tournament of Minds is an opportunity for students with a passion for learning and problem solving to demonstrate their skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant and public way.
HOT OFF THE PRESS!
"Congratulations Carlingford West Public School on receiving Honours for Social Sciences at NSW Sydney North Tournament”.
Congratulations to both teams on your efforts, and a job well done to team Thunder!
We congratulate all those who dedicated lots of time and effort preparing for the competition and a special thanks must go to Mr Nelson and Miss Wilkinson who guided the students, committed many hours preparing the students, and attended in their own time over the weekend. We sincerely acknowledge and appreciate the dedication of our teachers who have generously committed their personal time to attend this event.
NPSS parent data summary
We are pleased to share that the results from the recent NSW Public Schools Parent Survey, completed by 210 parents and carers (approximately 14% of our school community), have now been received and shared with Carlingford West Public School.
The survey data provides valuable insights by comparing Carlingford West Public School responses with the State average for each question. Below, you will find an overview of some key findings from the survey, which will help guide our ongoing efforts to support and improve our school community.
2026 Check-In Assessment Yrs 3-6
Over the coming weeks, students in Years 3-6 will be completing the Check-In Assessment.The Check-in assessment is an annual online assessment for students in Years 3 to 9 in NSW Public Schools. All students complete a reading test and a numeracy test. Year 6 students also complete a writing task.
The reading and numeracy tests are designed to take up to 60 minutes each.
The Year 6 task is designed to take 40 minutes (includes 5 minutes planning at the start, 30 minutes writing and 5 minutes to check and edit work at the end).
The Check-in assessment supports the identification of students’ performance in literacy and numeracy and informs next steps in teaching and learning.
Safety concern – sharing food
We would like to remind all families that students at Carlingford West Public School are not to share food with each other. Some of our students have food allergies, including severe anaphylactic allergies, which can pose serious health risks.
Teachers have been asked to remind students to only eat the food provided by their own family or the treats they personally purchase from the canteen. We kindly ask that families also take a moment to reinforce this important message with their children. Your support and cooperation in keeping all our students safe is greatly appreciated.
Safety concern - bike riding on school grounds
We would like to remind our parent community that for the safety of everyone, children and parents are not permitted to ride bicycles on school grounds at any time, especially during the busy afternoon dismissal period. With over 1,500 students moving around the school, riding bikes on the grounds creates unnecessary risks for both students and staff. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe environment for all.
School wayfaring signs
We are pleased to inform our parent community that wayfinding signage has now been installed throughout the school to assist parents, guests, and visitors in navigating our campus with ease and confidence. These clear and helpful signs will guide you to various areas around the school, making your visits more comfortable and convenient.
As a friendly reminder, a detailed school map is also available on our school website. This map features the locations of each grade, identified by a colour key, to help you find your way quickly. We encourage you to refer to the map before and during your visits to enhance your experience at our school. A link to the school map on our website is here.
Ready to enrol?
As Carlingford West Public School begins planning for our 2027 school organisation, we encourage families to enrol their child or children as soon as possible. Early enrolments help us ensure that classes, staffing, and resources are appropriately organised to best support every student.
If you have a child starting school in 2027, or know a family in our community who does, please email our school office at carlingfow-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au and attention the email to Mrs Adams, our Enrolment Officer. We look forward to welcoming new students and families to our school next year.
Updated criteria for non-local enrolment NSW public schools have specific local enrolment areas. The designated intake areas are determined by the department. These schools ensure that there are enough places for students who reside in their local enrolment area.
You may apply to enrol your child outside your designated area as a ‘non-local enrolment’, if places are available. Carlingford West Public School currently has non-local enrolment availability as indicated on the School Finder website.
Have a wonderful week!
Lee Shipley,
Relieving Principal.