Dear Parents

The 2024 school year is coming to an end. What a wonderfully successful year we have had! Our planning for 2025 is well underway and we are anticipating an enrolment of around 430 children.

Congratulations to Raiyan Mohammad who was selected in the Western Region Cricket last week in Dubbo. An outstanding effort. Raiyan will compete at the NSW PSSA Cricket Championships early in 2025.

We had a lovely celebration of the 2024 school year at Presentation Day yesterday. Thankyou to our special guests, staff, children and parents for their attendance. Thank you to Ken Barwick and the Bathurst High Campus staff for their support in allowing us to utilise the facility. Congratulations to all of our award winners and our elected 2025 leadership team. We are extremely proud of every child at Bathurst Public School and their improvements and contributions this year. Well done, everyone.

We held our Term 4 Green Award Morning Tea this morning. Congratulations to all of the children who attended as their class green award winners. You have had an outstanding term. It was a pleasure having morning tea with you today. The Term 4 Green Award winners are;

KD – Cooper Bayliss and Astrid Markwort
KM – Nikeeta Khati and Tilly Barnes-Roberts
K/1K – Sehaj Singh and Amelia McIntosh
K-3H – Dante Ross and Neil Hooper
1G – Ivy Connell and Phoenix Daniels
1C – Boston Hurditch and Neveah Thew
2S – Isabella Wootton, Jett Brennan and Ebony Clancey
2I – Imran Said and Jemimah Lyle
2/3F - Phoebe Nyugen and Sophia Simpson
3-6B - Thomas Callan and Hannah Bowker
3-6J – Zahyne Simpson and Trey Forrest
3-6R – Liam Roberts, Iydian Rue and Bridget Maher
3/4S – Basil Ireland and Gracie Falconer
3/4B – Nate Sommerville and Adalynn Scott
3/4W – Elodie Abbott, Iseult Merkel and Zara Spadavechia
4/5D – Fisher Merkel, Peyton McIntosh and Jasmyn Ferrier
5/6A – Cruz Fischbeck and Marin Treddinick
5/6T – Ayse-Rose Faatoga and Mia Barnett
5/6B – Isla Barnes and Beau Rogers
5/6L – Ruby Thackray and Raiyan Mohammad

Our end of year class parties will occur on Wednesday 18th December in classrooms. Children are encouraged to bring a plate of party food to share with their class. Wednesday 18th December is also a mufti/free dress day.

Some end-of-year reminders;

* Thursday 12th December - Year 6 Farewell

* Friday 13th December - Semester 2 reports home

* Friday 13th December - K-2 Assembly at 12.40pm in the McMullen Hall

* Friday 13th December - 3-6 Assembly at 2.10pm in the McMullen Hall

* Tuesday 17th December - Year 6 Farewell Assembly 12.15pm under the COLA

* Wednesday, 18th December is the last day of the 2024 school year. This will be a FREE DRESS day. It is also our class Christmas party day. Children are encouraged to bring some party food to share with their class.

* Wednesday 18th December - Year 6 tunnel will be held at 2.30 pm

* Wednesday 18th December - Last day for children and teachers

* Our School Office is open from 8.30 am-3.15 pm on Thursday, 19th December and Friday, 20th December.

The Sentral Parent Portal will be in maintenance mode from Friday, 20th December until Thursday, 6th February for upgrades to occur.

Attached to this Newsletter is a guide for parents as to what children will require in terms of equipment to start the 2025 school year successfully. This list does not contain books, as children will be given all books, pencils, rulers and pens they are required to use at school, from the school.

As this will be the last newsletter for 2024, I would like to thank of our all parents, friends, and children for a wonderful and successful year. It has been an absolute pleasure being the Principal of Bathurst Public School this year. Thank you for your ongoing support of our wonderful school and of Public Education.

I would like to thank most sincerely the volunteers that have assisted the school to provide support to our children during 2024. We have volunteers in the canteen, teaching scripture/ethics, operating the clothing pool and working with the P&C to create fantastic opportunities for our children. Without the support of all of our wonderful volunteers, many of our programs, activities and services would not operate. Thank you to all our precious volunteers, and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2025.

To the staff, I thank you for making our workplace such a positive environment and a joy to work within. I am amazed at the work and commitment you all show every single day. Your organisation and care of each and every child is always paramount. Your support of one another not only as colleagues but as friends makes our workplace special. Thank you all for your ongoing dedication to Bathurst Public School.

I would like to take this opportunity to say goodbye and good luck to all of our Year 6 children. I will look forward to watching all your endeavours in the future. It is also timely to say farewell and thank you to many families who will also leave us this year as they no longer have children at primary school. Thank you for all your work, support and commitment to Bathurst Public School and Public Education. Good luck to you all.

It would be remiss of me not to farewell some staff leaving us at the end of this school year. We will say goodbye to Mrs Kathy Bogart and Ms Giovanna Morris, who will both be taking 12 months leave in 2025. Both of these valued staff members are due to return to Bathurst PS in 2026. We wish them well next year. We are also farewelling three of our staff at the end of this year – Mrs Mel Abbott, Miss Stephanie Solinas and Miss Naomi Carr. All three staff have made valuable contributions to Bathurst Public School. They have been part of the Bathurst Public School family for between 2-5 years, and I thank them most sincerely on behalf of the staff, children, parents and wider school community for their work and dedication to Bathurst Public School, and we wish them well on their new ventures. Thank you for your friendship and support, and please know you will be all missed.

Some important dates for the commencement of the 2025 school year below:

Friday 31st January - School Development Day and School Office reopens from 8.30am
Monday 3rd February - School Development Day and School Office open from 8.30am
Tuesday 4th February – School Development Day and School Office open from 8.30am
Wednesday 5th February - School Development Day and School Office open from 8.30am
Thursday 6th February - Children in Years 1-6 commence school for the 2025 school year at 9am and Kinder children commence school at 10.30am
Friday 7th February – School Canteen reopens
Tuesday 11th February – 2025 Leadership Team Induction Ceremony at 9.30am in the McMullen Hall
Thursday 13th February – School Swimming Carnival
Wednesday 19th February – P&C Meeting at 6.30pm in the staffroom
Wednesday 19th February - K-2 Assembly 12.40pm in the McMullen Hall
Wednesday 19th February - 3-6 Assembly 2.00pm in the McMullen Hall
Thursday 20th February - School Photos
Thursday 27th February – Support Class Parent/Teacher Meetings
Friday 28th February - District Swimming Carnival
Friday 28th February – Makeup School Photo day
Monday 3rd March – Friday 7th March – K-6 Parent Teacher Interviews
Wednesday 12th March-Monday 24th March - NAPLAN for all Year 3 and Year 5 children
Wednesday 19th March - K-2 Assembly 12.40pm in the McMullen Hall
Wednesday 19th March - 3-6 Assembly 2.00pm in the McMullen Hall
Wednesday 9th April - K-2 Assembly 12.40pm in the McMullen Hall
Wednesday 9th April - 3-6 Assembly 2.00pm in the McMullen Hall
Friday 10th April – Easter Hat Parade
Friday 11th April – Last Day Term 1

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous new year. I look forward to working with you all again in 2025.

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

Kate White

Principal