Dear Parents,

Last week we were represented by 51 children at the Bathurst District Athletics Carnival. We had a terrific day and the competition was strong. Our children had an excellent day on the track, at the field events and in the support they offered one another. Well done, BPS, on a super day. Thank you to Mrs Francis, Mr Thackray and Miss Hourigan for your work and support at the carnival and to the many family and friends that attended to cheer us on.

A special congratulations to Poppy Holman who was announced Junior Girls District Champion and Addison Jones who was the Senior Girls Champion. An outstanding day for both Poppy and Addi.

The results from the District Athletics Carnival are set out below;

Poppy Holman

🥇 1st – 8 Years Girls 100m

🥇 1st – Junior Girls 200m

🥇 1st – Junior Girls 800m

🥇 1st – Junior Girls 1500m

Charlie Seager

🥈 2nd – 9 Years Girls 100m

🥈 2nd – Junior Girls 200m

🥇 1st – Junior Girls Long Jump

Lilly Turnbull

🥉 3rd – 11 Years Girls 100m

🥈 2nd – 11 Years Girls 200m

Addison Jones

🥇 1st – 12 Years Girls 100m

🥇 1st – Senior Girls 200m

🥉 3rd – Senior Girls 800m

🥈 2nd – Senior Girls 1500m

🥉 3rd – Senior Girls Shot Put

🥈 2nd – Senior Girls Long Jump

Mia Walker

🥉 3rd – 12 Years Girls 100m

🥈 2nd – Senior Girls 200m

Adelaide Redman

🥈 2nd – 11 Years Girls Long Jump

🥈 2nd – 11 Years Girls Shot Put

Sethina Addo

🥉 3rd – 11 Years Girls Discus

Lilly Guihot

🥉 3rd – Senior Girls Discus

James Hollier

🥈 2nd – 10 Years Boys 100m

🥇 1st – Junior Boys 200m

🥉 3rd – Junior Boys 800m

Kaelen Wheeler

🥉 3rd – 11 Years Boys 100m

Leo Shoemark

🥉 3rd – Junior Boys Discus

Relay Results

🥇 Junior Girls Relay – 1st

Poppy Holman, Charlie Seager, Debonika Datta and Jemimah Lyle

🥇 Junior Boys Relay – 1st

James Hollier, Logan Davis, Patrick Muldoon and Boston Hurditch

🥉 Senior Girls Relay – 3rd

Addison Jones, Mia Walker, Sethina Addo and Mia Higgins

This week, children in Year 3-6 have participated in the Check-in assessment. The Check-in assessment is a NSW Department of Education online literacy and numeracy assessment available to support schools to assess and monitor student learning. The assessment can supplement existing school practices to identify how students are performing in literacy and numeracy and to help teachers tailor their teaching more specifically to student needs. Students with disability may receive the same level of support during the assessment they would normally receive in the classroom. All students completed a reading assessment and a numeracy assessment this week. Year 6 students also completed a writing assessment. The results for all assessments will be available to staff in the coming days.

Congratulations to our Support Unit and Primary Choir who attended the Bathurst Eisteddfod this week. Our Support children all received a medal of participation for their performance of 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'. Well done to our Support classes and Miss Reedy, Mrs Ranzetta, Mrs Burns, Mrs Benson, Mr Jablonskis, Mrs Dive, Mrs Culham, Mrs White, Mr Coombes and Mrs Mitchell on this wonderful performance. 

Our Choir performed magnificently on Wednesday and were rewarded with 1st place in the K-6 Choral Championship Section. Congratulations and well done to our Choir, Mrs Cafe and Mrs Datt.

Next week we have Kindergarten and our Stage 1, 2 and 3 Dance Troupes attending the Bathurst Eisteddfod. We wish them well on Monday.

• Kindergarten – Monday 31st August
• Stage 1 Dance Troupe – Monday 31st August
• Stage 2 Dance Troupe – Monday 31st August
• Stage 3 Dance Troupe – Monday 31st August

Term 3 Parent Teacher Interviews 

The remaining Parent/Teacher Interviews are scheduled for Monday 31st August - Friday 4th September (held in the Annexe). These meetings will allow parents to meet with teachers, discuss your child's progress during Semester 1, learn what will be taught during Semester 2, and raise any issues or concerns. You can book interviews through the Sentral Parent Portal. Interviews will be face-to-face or via phone. If you have any issues, please contact the school office.

The timetable for Parent/Teacher Interviews in Week 7 is as follows:

Monday 31st August - 1/2G, 1/2W and 1/2SP  

Monday 31st August - 5/6D Parent Teacher Interviews 

Tuesday 1st Sept - 5/6C, 5/6T and 5/6B Parent Teacher Interviews   

Tuesday 1st Sept - 1/2M Parent Teacher Interviews

Wednesday 2nd Sept - 2/3F, 3/4W, 3/4GW and 3/4M Parent Teacher Interviews  

Friday 4th Sept - KM and KMc Parent Teacher Interviews 

Our P&C Father's Day breakfast will be held on Friday 4th September from 7.00am. We invite all our fathers, grandfathers and significant men in our lives to come along and enjoy breakfast at school. We look forward to seeing you there.

On Friday 4th September, we will take part in Jersey Day. BPS students (and any visiting families joining us for the Father’s Day Breakfast) are invited to wear their favourite jersey to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation. No donation is required- just your jersey and your support. Jersey Day is a truly meaningful event for our school, as we also take time to remember our dear sweet friend, Cathy Kassis, three years since her passing.

Our Kinder Transition to School program for children commencing in 2027 commences next week. The dates and times for the Kinder Transition program are set out below. If you have a child or know of a child coming  to school in 2027, please contact the school so we can enrol them for school and in the transition program

Term 3 

Thursday 3rd September from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Friday 4th September from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Thursday 10th September from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Friday 11th September from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Thursday 17th September from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Friday 18th September from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Term 4 

Thursday 22nd  October from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Friday 23rd October from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Thursday 29th October from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Friday 30th October from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Thursday 5th November from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

Friday 6th November from 1.00 to 2:45pm 

In Week 8, on Thursday 10th September, we will hold R U OK? day at school. R U OK? Day  is a National Day of Action dedicated to reminding everyone that every day is the day to ask, 'are you OK?' and support those struggling with life's ups and downs. 

All children and staff will be involved in a free BBQ provided by RRT (a nationwide charity). This day will contribute to a positive wellbeing experience for our students.

Children can wear yellow to school on this day.

R U OK? inspires and empowers everyone to meaningfully connect with the  people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life. You don't need to be an expert to reach out - just a good friend and a great listener. Use these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life: 

Ask R U OK?

Listen

Encourage action

Check in  

Spotlight on Attendance

Our attendance data for this term remains stable, with an unexplained absence rate of 9%. We kindly appreciate your help in explaining absences through the parent portal, as this significantly reduces the workload for our dedicated office staff.

Our 10 Day Term 4 Intensive Swimming Program will occur from Monday 23rd November - Friday 4th December at the Manning Aquatic Centre. This program will be open to all children from Kindergarten to Year 6. Qualified swimming instructors employed by the Manning Aquatic Centre will teach the children. Sessions will be 45 minutes long and will run for 10 days between 9.15am. and 2.00 pm. School staff will accompany children to and from the pool. The cost will be $105.00 for the 10-day program, including bus travel, facility entry, and professional instruction. You can pay through our Sentral Parent Portal or at the front office by cash or EFTPOS. We are not accepting Active Kids and First Lap vouchers this year. If you would like your child to attend, please answer the questions through the Sentral Parent Portal. The Portal does not provide or update medical information. Please contact the front office with any medical updates. Please pay a $50 deposit to secure your child's position in the program by Thursday, 24th September. Please pay the final balance by Friday, 6th November. After this date, no refunds will be available. Parents will be informed of their child's class details before the program begins. Parents are asked to contact the school and update their child's medical information closer to the start of the program if necessary. If parents have any further questions regarding this Intensive Swimming Program, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Mitchell, Miss Reedy or Mrs White.

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

Kate White

Principal