Week 8 Term 4 Newsletter 2024

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach the end of the term, I want to take a moment to remind you to stay informed by reading our weekly newsletter. It is an essential source of information regarding our school activities and important announcements.

I am thrilled to announce that our Before and After School Care (BASC) program will officially commence on Monday, February 3rd, 2025. We are partnering with Live Better, a highly reputable NGO committed to supporting our local community. If you are interested in this program, please scan the QR code below to register. I have complete confidence in Live Better's ability to provide a safe and enriching environment for our students.

As preparations for the upcoming school year are underway, I would like to invite parents to share any special requests for class placements. If you have specific considerations, please reach out to the school as soon as possible. Given the logistical and administrative challenges involved, it is essential to gather input before classes are allocated at the beginning of the year.

This week, our Swim School program continues, and we anticipate warm and possibly stormy weather. I encourage everyone to remember their sunscreen, rashies, and water bottles. It has been a pleasure to accompany students to and from the pool over the past couple of weeks, and I am proud to see the remarkable progress they have made. Well done to our students and teachers! I hope everyone continues to enjoy swimming even after the program concludes.

Lastly, a friendly reminder to our Year 6 parents to finalise payment for the upcoming excursion by next Monday, December 9th. If you encounter any issues, please do not hesitate to contact the school. This excursion is a wonderful opportunity for our Year 6 students and serves as a meaningful conclusion to their time at Canowindra Public School.

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we are creating a positive and nurturing environment for our students to thrive.

Have a great week!

Kind regards

Sharon Hawker
Principal

100% Attendance Gallery

Congratulations to Georjia Webb, Mark Leeson-Woolley and Jack Trengove on 100% attendance in Week 7. Keep up the great work!

If you require Before and After School Care for school aged children in a safe and enriching environment at our school please register via the QR code above. 

Upcoming Events

Term 4 

Week 8 - 10 day Swim School Program continues

             - ALL Library books are due to be returned

             - Primary Swimming for Sport each Friday (Don't forget swimmers) 

Week 9 - Year 6 Burrendong Excursion 11th - 13th December

Week 10 - Presentation Day Tuesday 17th December 9.30am - 11am

               - Last day of term 18th December

Library News

• Week 8 - All library books are due to be returned. 
• Week 9 - Overdue notices will be printed in. 

2025 School Leader Nominees

On Monday morning our 2025 School Leader nominees made their speeches to the whole school. They overcame their nerves and did a great job at convincing others to vote for them. Well done to all!

Nominees Gallery

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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 : 4/5

Buddy Reading Session

Last Friday, students from the 3/4 class had the opportunity to visit Miss Rinaldo’s 1/2 A class for a  buddy reading session. The 3/4 students selected two picture books to share with their buddies, while the 1/2 A students practiced their reading skills by reading their own books to the older students. It was a wonderful experience, with all students fully engaged and enjoying their time together during this enriching activity.

My New Gallery

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.

PBL Focus - CPS Wellbeing Program

Our Learner Qualities

The Resilience Project - Empathy and Kindness

This next presentation from The Resilience Project is all about Empathy and Kindness.

Empathy is our ability to put ourselves in the shoes of others to feel and see what they do. We practice this through being kind and compassionate towards other people.

Brain imaging data shows that being kind to others registers in the brain as more like eating chocolate than like fulfilling an obligation to do what’s right (e.g. eating brussel sprouts)!

Research shows that practicing empathy, such as performing acts of kindness, taps into our brain’s ‘mirror neurons’, builds compassion and our behaviour becomes more social and community-based.

View Part 3 of the series here

Part 3 - Empathy: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/2023-parent-carer-hub-inspire-martin/

Here’s an activity to practise empathy and kindness:

1. Reflect on someone in your life who could benefit from an act of kindness today. It could be a friend who would love some affirmation about their work, your pet who deserves an extra treat, or a family member who would love a phone call or text message.
2. Make a plan for who you are going to gift an act of kindness to, and what you are going to do.
3. If you want to add accountability to your plan, share it with someone else and encourage them to do the same thing.
4. Follow up with each other in a few days' time, to ask how it went!

Sources: Psychology Today, UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science

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. 

Community Notices

Live Better will be delivering Before and After School Care at Canowindra Public School at the beginning the 2025 school year. They are in the process of seeking applicants for the positions.

Complete the application process via the links below:

• Canowindra Educators: https://career10.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=5776&company=livebetter
• Canowindra Coordinator: https://career10.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=5778&company=livebetter