Castle Hill Public School

NEWSLETTER Les Shore Place, Castle Hill NSW 2154 Phone: 9634 3777 Fax: 9899 6845

Email: castlehill-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Webpage: castlehill-p.schools.nsw.gov.au

June 24, 2020

Staff News Mrs McCarthy commences maternity leave at the end of this week. We wish her the very best for the exciting times ahead! We welcome Mrs Sluiter back to CHPS as she takes KM for the remainder of the year.

Tomorrow, we also welcome back Mrs Kirkby and Miss Jones from their respective maternity leave blocks. Both teachers will return part-time, working Thursdays and Fridays. Mrs Kirkby will remain off-class for the remainder of the year and Miss Jones will take some RFF classes of a Thursday and work in the library of a Friday.

Parent/Teacher interviews Parent/teacher interviews will be held throughout Week 2 Term 3 (commencing Monday 27 July) with the exception of KM who have already had their interviews.

Given the restrictions on parents entering the school, all interviews will be phone interviews.

Parents will be able to book an interview time online at www.schoolinterviews.com.au once bookings are opened. Bookings will open at 3.00pm next Wednesday, 1 July.

The event code will be hsydn A Skoolbag notification will also be sent prior to the opening of bookings.

Parents will be asked to include the phone number on which they wish to be contacted for their interview.

Student reports will be issued Friday Week 1 Term 3 (24 July) to all students.

Health Check Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell and/or exhibiting any flu-like symptoms. Parents will be asked to collect their child immediately if they become unwell during the day.

Year 5 Opportunity Class (OC) placement in 2021 Thank you to Mrs Kohary and Miss McKey for hosting the Zoom parent presentation on the OC application process for 2021 recently. A reminder that applications for Year 5 OC placement in 2021 close this Friday.

All applications must be made online at https://hpsuplacement.org.au/ . No late applications will be accepted.

Monday June 29 Platinum Lunch Term 1 recipients

Tuesday June 30 Platinum Lunch Term 2 recipients

Friday July 3 Last day of Term 2

Monday July 20 Staff development day

Tuesday July 21 First day of Term 3 for Students

WHAT’S ON

PBL Fortnightly Expectation Focus

Term 2 Weeks 9 & 10 Aspire Be reflective and resilient.

Kindergarten Enrolment for 2021 Applications to enrol for Kindergarten at Castle Hill Public School in 2021 are now open. If you, or someone that you know, is looking to enrol a child into Kindergarten next year, enrolment forms can be lodged online by following the link to our school website at http://www.castlehill-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/our-school/enrolment . If possible, parents are asked to use the online enrolment system. At this stage, the online system will only accept enrolment applications from ‘in-area’ families and Australian citizens. Paper applications are also available, and can be lodged, at the front office. Any out-of-area applications and enrolment applications for students currently holding visas will need to be made by paper application.

Please note that as part of the application process, proof of residential address is required. In cases where a lease agreement that expires before February 2021 is offered as proof of address, we will ask for details of a new lease agreement to be provided before enrolment will be confirmed.

Dates for our 2021 Kindergarten Orientation program are as follows:

Parent information evening: Thursday 3 September 6.00pm Orientation Session 1: Thursday 22 October 9.30am – 10.30am Orientation Session 2: Thursday 29 October 9.30am – 10.30am Orientation Session 3: Thursday 12 November 9.30am – 10.30am Orientation Session 4: Thursday 19 November 9.30am – 10.30am

At this stage, we are working on the assumption that we will be able to invite parents into our school for our orientation sessions.

Parents are strongly advised to ensure that their child attends all of the orientation sessions.

Notes Home: Year 5 permission to watch PG movies

Craig Oliver – Principal Craig.oliver@det.nsw.edu.au

Platinum Lunch and presentation Notes were distributed last week to students who have earnt a Platinum Award during Terms 1 and 2. A presentation and lunch with parents will be held for Term 1 recipients on Monday 29 June and for Term 2 recipients on Tuesday 30 June.

Need an interpreter? Interpreters are being organised to support families during parent-teacher interviews, next term. Interpreters will only be available (by phone) on Wednesday 29 July, to translate details provided by class teachers, ask questions or share any concerns. If you would like an interpreter during your parent-teacher interview (or know of families who may benefit from this), please access or share this link: http://bit.ly/PTint2020 Opportunity Class Placement for Year 5, 2021 A reminder to parents of Year 4 students who are intending to apply for an opportunity class placement on behalf of their child, to please return the note to your child’s class teacher, as soon as possible. Significant changes have been made to the OC process this year due to the delay caused by COVID-19. There is now a new date for online applications. Parents must apply between Tuesday 9 June 2020 and Friday 26 June 2020. Late applications cannot be accepted. The new test date is Wednesday 16 September 2020. Placement in an opportunity class will be based on the results of the Opportunity Class Placement Test, not a combination of school assessment scores and the placement test. There will not be an opportunity to lodge illness/misadventure requests or appeals. Placement outcome information will be despatched to parents overnight on 1 December 2020. To apply on behalf of your child, you will need to access the online application at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5. Opportunity classes can provide intellectual stimulation by grouping together high potential and gifted students who may otherwise be isolated from a suitable peer group. These classes help students learn by using specialised teaching methods and materials. Year 5 enrolments are available at 76 primary schools including a virtual opportunity class, at Aurora College, for students in rural and remote areas (not applicable to students residing in or near Castle Hill). Parents apply when their children are in Year 4. Successful students then attend the opportunity class full time in Years 5 and 6 at the opportunity class primary school at which they are placed. This is a two-year placement program and parents are not able to apply for Year 6 entry only. In the majority of cases, students who accept a place in an opportunity class will leave their current school to attend the school with the opportunity class. For translated information about opportunity class placement go to https://education.nsw.gov.au/public- schools/going-to-a-public-school/translated-documents/ opportunity-class-and-selective-high-school-fact-sheet

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on school students with Disability is an annual collection that counts the number of school students with a disability and the level of reasonable educational adjustments they are provided with. The national data collection will count students who have been identified as receiving an adjustment to address a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA). The DDA can be accessed from the ComLaw website at www.comlaw.gov.au Please take the time to read further information about this data collection on the following page. If you have any questions regarding this data collection, please see Miss Machuca.

Uniform A reminder that all students should now be wearing full Winter School Uniform (including the school tie) or appropriate sports uniform to school, each day. Girls have the choice of wearing white socks or navy tights (not other coloured leggings or tights). Please ensure your child’s name and class is clearly marked in their school jumper or jacket, so there is a greater chance of the item being returned to them, if it is lost.

School tracksuit pants or school sport shorts

(no leggings under shorts) Navy tights or white socks for girls

Wearing ties as part of Winter uniform

School Photos

Our school usually has school photo days in early June. Due to current restrictions around COVID-19 our school photos days have been re-scheduled to mid-Term 3, when authorised visitors will be allowed onto our school site.

Mobile devices and smart watches at school A reminder to all families that students must have their mobile devices switched to off during the hours of 9.00am-3.00pm. A number of students are also wearing smart watches to school and we ask that these be disabled during school hours as they are currently posing a distraction during learning time. We thank you for your support with this. SRE and SEE Approved providers of SRE (Special Religious Education) and SEE (Special Education in Ethics) have made online learning programs available, to support students through the period where external SRE and SEE volunteers were not allowed on school sites. SRE and SEE volunteers will resume at Castle Hill Public School, early in Term 3.

Online learning options have been provided by both SRE and SEE proviers, through the links below, if families wish to access these.

Mrs Alex Kohary and Miss Danielle Machuca Deputy Principals

National Parents/Carers Fact Sheet Version No. 4 as at March 2016

Information for parents and carers WHAT IS THE NATIONAL DATA COLLECTION?

The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (the national data collection) is an annual collection that counts the number of school students with disability and the level of reasonable educational adjustment they are provided with.

The national data collection counts students who have been identified by a school team as receiving an adjustment to address a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (the DDA). The DDA can be accessed from the ComLaw website at www.comlaw.gov.au.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR MY CHILD?

The aim of the national data collection is to collect quality information about school students with disability in Australia.

This information will help teachers, principals, education authorities and families to better support students with disability to take part in school on the same basis as students without disability.

The national data collection is an opportunity for schools to review their learning and support systems and processes to continually improve education outcomes for their students with disability.

WHY IS THIS DATA BEING COLLECTED?

All schools across Australia collect information about students with disability. But the type of information currently collected varies between each state and territory and across government, Catholic and independent school sectors.

When undertaking the national data collection, every school in Australia will use the same method to collect information. Therefore, a government school in suburban Sydney will collect and submit data in the same way as a Catholic school in country Victoria and an independent school in the Northern Territory.

The information provided through the national data collection will enable all Australian governments to

improve target support and resources to benefit students with disability.

WHAT ARE SCHOOLS REQUIRED TO DO FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY?

All students are entitled to a quality learning experience at school.

Schools are required to make reasonable adjustments, where needed, to assist students with disability to access and participate in education free from discrimination and on the same basis as other students.

These responsibilities are outlined in the DDA and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards). The Standards require educators, students, parents and others (e.g. allied health professionals) to work together so that students with disability can participate in education. The Standards can be accessed via the ComLaw website at www.comlaw.gov.au.

WHAT IS A REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT?

A reasonable adjustment is a measure or action taken to help a student with disability access and participate in education on the same basis as students without disability. Reasonable adjustments reflect the assessed individual needs of the student, and are provided in consultation with the student and/or their parents and carers. Reasonable adjustments can be made across the whole school setting (e.g. ramps into school buildings), in the classroom (such as adapting class lessons) and at an individual student level (e.g. extra tuition for a student with learning difficulties).

WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE COLLECTED?

Every year your child’s school will collect the following information for each student with a disability:

• the student’s level of education (i.e. primary or secondary)

• the student’s level of adjustment • the student’s broad type of disability.

The information collected by schools will be provided to all governments to inform policy and

National Parents/Carers Fact Sheet Version No. 4 as at March 2016

programme improvement for students with disability.

WHO WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL DATA COLLECTION?

The definition of disability for the national data collection is based on the broad definition under the DDA.

For the purposes of the national data collection, students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia or auditory processing disorder as well as chronic health conditions like epilepsy, diabetes or asthma, that require active monitoring by the school, may be included.

WHO WILL COLLECT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL DATA COLLECTION?

Teachers and school staff will count the number of students with disability in their school and the level of reasonable adjustment they are provided based on:

• consultation with parents and carers in the course of determining and providing reasonable adjustments

• the school team’s observations and professional judgments

• any medical or other professional diagnosis • other relevant information.

School principals are responsible for ensuring the information identified about each student is accurate.

HOW WILL MY CHILD’S PRIVACY BE PROTECTED? Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all students and their families is essential. Personal details such as student names or other identifying information will not be provided to local or federal education authorities.

Further information about privacy is available from www.education.gov.au/notices.

IS THE NATIONAL DATA COLLECTION COMPULSORY?

All education ministers agreed to full implementation of the national data collection from 2015. This means that all schools must now collect and submit information annually on the number of students with disability in their care and the level of adjustment provided to them.

Information about the arrangements that may apply to your school in relation to this data collection is available from your child’s school principal and the relevant education authority.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact your child’s school if you have further questions about the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability.

You can also visit www.education.gov.au/nationally-consistent-collection-data-school-students-disability.

An e-learning resource about the Disability Standards for Education 2005 is freely available for the use of individuals, families and communities at http://resource.dse.theeducationinstitute.edu.au/.

NSW Department of Education

Changes to the opportunity class placement process for Year 5 entry in 2021

The department is committed to the continued education of all students across NSW, including advanced learning programs for high potential and gifted students.

The 2021 Year 5 opportunity class placement process was put on hold in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation.

We have now rescheduled and streamlined the application process. Please note the details of the changes below and assist parents and carers to understand these changes.

Why have changes been made to the 2020 opportunity class placement process?Due to the shorter time frame available for the OC placement process, changes have been made to the process for this year. The department is committed to supporting the continuity of learning and transitions for each child, and the revised application and placement process will ensure students are placed in 2021 Year 5 opportunity classes as soon as possible.

What changes have been made?

The 2020 opportunity class placement process has been revised to accommodate the shorter timeline due to the postponement of the test.

To ensure the fair and consistent assessment of students across all schools and regions of NSW, this year students will be placed on test results only. Taking this approach reduces the effect of the disrupted start to the school year, which could compromise school assessment scores, and ensures that all students are placed using the same test performed under the same conditions. The test is created by an independent educational assessment provider and measures academic ability, not achievement, giving a reliable method for identifying highly gifted applicants which is not subject to the variable classroom conditions experienced this year.

Information for parents/carers and students

education.nsw.gov.au

education.nsw.gov.au

What are the key dates I should be aware of?The revised dates are listed below. Parents are advised to review the new dates carefully and ensure an application is submitted by the closing date for their child to be eligible to sit the placement test as, owing to the shorter timeline, late applications will not be accepted.

A visual timeline showing the key dates is printed on the next page.

Action Date

Applications open 9 June 2020

Applications close 26 June 2020

Opportunity Class Placement Test date

16 September 2020

Parents and schools advised of placement outcome information

From 1 December 2020

Parents accept or decline first round placement

By 15 December 2020

Principals arrange orientation day for successful candidates

December 2020

Reserve places offered From mid-December 2020

Authority to attend an opportunity class letter sent to parents

Late January 2021

Successful candidates enrol in Year 5 at a school with an opportunity class

Late January 2021

Further information

Visit the department’s website

Opportunity classes – Year 5 updates available on the website at https://education.nsw.gov. au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/updates

Opportunity classes – key dates on the website at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/general-information

Parents are encouraged to speak to the principal of their child’s primary school for further information about the changes made to the opportunity class placement process this year.

ContactFor further information or assistance contact: High Performing Students Team ssu@det.nsw.edu.au 1300 880 367

Follow us on Facebook for updates on the current and opportunity class placement process.

Opportunity class placement

education.nsw.gov.au

2020 Opportunity class placement process - key dates

9-26 June 2020Application window

Notification of placement outcome

Reserve places offered

Students enrol in opportunity classes

Opportunity Class Placement Test

Parents accept or decline first round placement

Authority to attend notice sent to parents of successful candidates

16 September 2020

1 December 2020

From mid-December 2020

By 15 December 2020

Late January 2021

Day 1, Term 1 2021

Student magazine Our Stage 3 editors have begun the planning process for your school magazine.

They will begin accepting submissions in early Term 3 and each stage will have some specific types of texts that they may submit.

Each grade will be eligible to submit artwork for the cover, so you can start designing now.

Cover artwork criteria - Digital or hand-drawn - A4 size - No title or words required (we will add them) - Neat and colourful - Related to school in some way

Please also keep submitting your suggestions for our CHPS Magazine. https://tinyurl.com/y9y4485y Junior Science Academy School Holiday Programs – Macquarie University Macquarie University runs a Junior Science Academy from July 6 to July 17. It is open to students K-6, with various daily workshops being run across all aspects of the Science syllabus. There are limited vacancies for all ages groups. “At the Macquarie Junior Science Academy, primary-school age children can explore the world in a new light through engaging and interactive experiences. Think space, dinosaurs, explosions, medicine, rocks and more!”

More information can be found via the link below.

https://www.mq.edu.au/about/campus-services-and-facilities/childcare-centres/junior-science-academy#robo

Weekly Problem Solving Last week I decided to cycle to my Grandmother's house. On the first day, I cycled half of the distance. On day 2, I cycled one half of the remaining distance. On day 3, I cycled three quarters of the remaining distance. On day 4, I cycled 10 miles. On day 5 I cycled two thirds of the remaining distance and on the final day I cycled the remaining 5 miles.

How far is it to my Grandmother’s house?

Week 8 Problem Solving Solution Name Age Draughts Chess Dale 15 1 3 Emery 16 4 1 Frankie 18 2 2 Glen 19 3 4

Mrs Amanda Hobbs

Robotics Unfortunately, all Robotics sessions have been cancelled for the remainder of the year. Families that have already paid the robotics fee of $40, will have it credited to their account for other school fees.

Thank you for your understanding.

Miss Brown

Ballroom competition Ballroom competition has been cancelled this year. We understand that many sports are returning, although social distancing cannot be adhered to whilst ballroom dancing.

Lisa Macfarlane and Rachel Allen.

Years 3-6 Assembly

SILVER AWARDS – Please note that these awards will be presented next week in class by Mr Oliver and Mrs Kohary

YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 YEAR 6 Angelo 3C Tristan 4G Rowan 5A Hope 6E Evie 3C Hana 5A Dnya 3C Jacob 4M Charlie 5A Lila 6P Annie 6P Ellie 3D Lara 4T Lily 5B Ryan 3D Wanika 4T Madeleine 5B Sofia 6T Lucas 3D Daksh 4T Japjot 5B Nyle 6T Jamila 3D John 4T Hiya 6T Zac 3D Isabel 4T Chelsea 5C Raymond L 6T Sehajvir 3D Omar 4T Alice 5C Kyran 6T Beau 3D Alan 5C Raymond C 6T Arya 4W Bryan 5C Sean 6T Jasmine 3E Ina 4W Dennis 5C Martwan 6T Derrick 3E Cheska 4W Adrean 5C Vivaan 3E Jasmine 5C Clara 3M Zac 5H Jacobo 3M Tina 3M Leon 5K Valerie 3M Isabella 5W Taiyu 3V Ryan 3V Amy 5/6R Veda 5/6R Violet 3/4H Marisa 5/6R Annabel 3/4H

GOLD AWARDS – Please note that these awards will be presented next week in class by Mr Oliver and Mrs Kohary

YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 YEAR 6 Olivia 3D Aurora 3/4H Daniel 5A Anthony 5/6R Rhea 3E Catherine 4A Jeremy 5B Mia 6E Joshua 3M Maria 4W Kai 5/6R Daniel 6M Ronit 3M Chris 6T David 3M Youlin 3V

PLATINUM AWARDS – Please note that these awards will be presented next Tuesday June 30, 2020 in the Hall at 2.00pm

YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 YEAR 6 Hannah 3M Ashwin 3/4H Haadi 6P Jasmin 3V Elizabeth 3/4H Christopher 4G Sebastian 4T

NEW ENROLMENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN 2021 If you have a child ready to start school in 2021, please complete the form below and return it to the school office. We will then send you an enrolment form for the new student. When you have completed the enrolment form please bring it to the front office with the following documentation.

To process your enrolment application, we require the following documentation: • Your child’s birth certificate and passport (if they have one)

• Your child’s immunisation records – Medicare document must be provided

• Four proof of address documents (eg: residential property purchase agreement, a current rates notice, lease agreement, electricity bill, phone bill etc)

• If both parents were born overseas, your passports (with visas) or Australian Citizenship documents.

• All documents MUST be in the name of the enrolling parent/carer

• Original documents must be provided (documents printed off the internet are not acceptable)

• All documents must be current (dated within the last 3 months) If you have any questions please contact the school on 9634 3777.

KINDERGARTEN 2021 ENROLMENTS Does your child currently attending Castle Hill Public School have a brother or sister born between August 1 2015 and July 31 2016?

They are eligible to start Kindergarten next year. Please fill in the details below, then return to the school office, and we will send home an enrolment form to be completed to enrol them for Kindergarten 2021.

Name of student currently at school __________________________________

Class _______ Date of birth _______________________

Name of sibling starting school in 2021 _________________________________________________

Date of birth _______________________ ⃝ Boy ⃝ Girl

Parent’s name ______________________________ Contact number _____________________