Week 5 Term 4 Newsletter 2024
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Week 5 is already upon us, which means no homework this week! Thank you to all our school leaders who attended Monday’s Remembrance Day service in Canowindra. The service was attended by all the schools and several members of the public. Well done to the Canowindra High School students who lead the service.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Peer Support excursion as a teacher to help supervise Group12. I quickly realised my services were not needed as the Year 6 leaders took control of their group, marked the roll and kept tabs on numbers throughout the day. They helped lead a myriad of activities at Mt Canobolas including disk golf, beach volleyball, soccer and the free time on the playground equipment. Then we were off to Ten Pin Bowling, where we were filed succinctly into our groups, ready to participate on 10 rounds of bowling. The leaders once again took charge of all the students in their groups to ensure they all had success and there were lots of strikes and smiling faces. A huge thank you to Mrs Pengilly for organising the excursion including the logistics of two groups alternating activities in Orange. It was a great day had by all!
Applications are open for Year 3 and Year 5 students to apply for our Aurora classes in 2026 at Canowindra PS (Year 5) and Canowindra HS (Year 7). Please see additional information in the newsletter and contact the school if you need any further assistance or clarification.
Kinder Orientation continues Thursday, and I’ll be hosting a tour and Q & A session on Thursday for any interested parents at 2pm. Year 6 will be having their first full day of orientation at Canowindra HS, please ensure students are dropped at the high school in the morning. Bus kids can get off at the high school.
Have a great week!
Kind regards
Sharon Hawker
Principal
100% Attendance Gallery
Congratulations to Ava Wythes, Toby Henry and Elyza Moreno on 100% attendance in Week 4. Keep up the great work!
Our Captains and Prefects laying a Remembrance Day wreath on Monday - Lest We Forget.
Peer Support Excursion Gallery
Our students enjoyed a day in Orange yesterday. This whole school excursion celebrates the culmination of our Peer Support Program. Year 6 students have demonstrated exceptional leaderships skills throughout the program, and one again yesterday, have proven themselves to be caring, responsible members of our school community as the led their groups during the day's activities. We enjoyed disc golf, soccer, volleyball and the playground at Lake Canobolas and ten pin bowling. All students should be very proud of the way they conducted themselves. A great day had by all!
Upcoming Events
Term 4
Week 5 - Year 6 Canowindra High School Orientation Thursday 14th November
- Year 3 Excursion to Cowra POW Camp & Visitor Centre Thursday 14th November
- Kinder 2025 Parent Info session is on tomorrow at 2pm.
Week 6 - Primary Swimming for Sport begins on Fridays (Don't forget swimmers)
Class in Focus
Each week one of our classes will be chosen to showcase the great learning that is happening in our school. This week our class is : 1/2
Aurora College Applications Open
Selective high school and opportunity class applications are open from: 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025
Selective high school Year 7 entry in 2026: Apply when your child is at the end of Year 5 or the beginning of Year 6.
Opportunity class Year 5 entry in 2026: Apply when your child is at the end of Year 3 or the beginning of Year 4.
Selective high schools and opportunity classes are 2 of the ways the NSW Department of Education supports high potential and gifted students.
What are their benefits?
- Students learn alongside, and form friendships with, other high potential and gifted classmates.
- Special teaching methods allow students to learn at a quicker pace and in more detail.
- Research shows that students benefit both academically and socially when learning with classmates who have similar abilities.
Selective high schools and opportunity classes are not zoned so you can apply to ones outside your local enrolment area.
Is a selective high school or opportunity class the right fit for my child?
A selective high school or opportunity class might be a great fit if your child. Please contact your classroom teacher for further clarification.
- learns quickly
- asks complex questions
- is highly motivated
- has a good memory
- is intensely focused in their area of interest
Where are selective high schools (Year 7-12) located?
There are 4 types of selective high schools:
- fully selective high schools, where all students attending the school have high potential or are gifted
- partially selective high schools, where there is a mix of students who have high potential or are gifted and local area students
- 4 agricultural selective high schools, including 3 boarding schools
- Aurora College, which provides online selective classes for rural and remote students in their local host schools.
Search for a selective high school near you at Find a selective high school.
Where are opportunity classes (Year 5-6) located?
There are 2 types of opportunity classes:
- full-time opportunity classes in selected primary schools
- Aurora College, which provides online opportunity classes for rural and remote students in their local authorised host schools.
Search for an opportunity class near you at Find an opportunity class.
Students successfully placed attend the opportunity class full-time in Years 5 and 6. In most cases, students who have accepted a place in an opportunity class will leave their current school to attend the school with the opportunity class.
Discuss the opportunity with your child and look through the information together on the Selective high schools and opportunity classes website and in the student resource hub:
- Applying for a selective high school: Student resource hub
- Applying for an opportunity class: Student resource hub
Fair and equitable access
The Equity Placement Model helps make access fairer for more high potential students in our community.
We know that some students may be missing out because they experience educational disadvantage.
Under the model, up to 20% of places in each selective high school and opportunity class are held for:
- students from low socio-educational advantage backgrounds
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students
- students from rural and remote locations
- students with disability.
These students still receive offers based on their performance in the placement test.
Learn more at Fair access.
The application process
Complete the online application.
Applications close on 21 February 2025.
Once your application has been submitted and processed, your child will need to sit a computer-based placement test. Learn more at Application process.
Ready to apply?
Apply online at shsoc.education.nsw.gov.au
Further information
Visit Selective high schools and opportunity classes.
Our Learner Qualities
CPS students are learning to be creative when learning!
The Resilience Project - Gratitude
This week’s presentation from The Resilience Project focuses on Gratitude.
Gratitude is paying attention to the things that we have right now, and not worrying about what we don’t have. We practise this by noticing the positives that exist around us.
Research shows that practicing gratitude rewires our brains to overcome the negativity bias (which can lead to anxiety and depression) and see the world for what we are thankful for. It is also shown to broaden thinking and increase physical health through improved sleep and attitude to exercise.
View Part 2 of the series here:
Part 2 - Gratitude: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/2023-parent-carer-hub-inspire-martin/
There are many ways in which you can practise gratitude, including starting a gratitude journal. You can simply use a notebook to list three things that went well for you each day, or use a more comprehensive Wellbeing Journal, like those created by The Resilience Project.
Source: Psychology Today
For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page.
Sentral Parents App
Please ensure you have your notifications TURNED ON (check in settings). We use this app to send push notifications for all school activities.
The HUB - Canteen Lunches
Can parents please update their child/s class or details before placing an order. Any enquiries please call Sheryn : 0402 441 263
Healthy Snippets
Healthy "Snippets" from NSW Health covering a range of topics including; healthy eating, lunchbox ideas, drinking water and food budgeting.