NEWSLETTER

120 Barnier Drive

Quakers Hill, 2763

To subscribe email: barniernewsletter@gmail.com

16th August 2019

Welcome to the Week 4 Newsletter! We have had a fantastic first few weeks of term so far and with six weeks to go before the end of Term 3, we have many exciting events and activities to look forward to. Term 3 is always the busiest term of the year with Three Way Conferences, Education Week, Book Week, Creative Arts Festivals involving Choir and Dance Groups, ICAS, Sports Carnivals and lots more happening throughout the term. Education Week Celebration Day Wednesday 7

th August

We had the most incredible Education Week Open Day on Wednesday 7

th August. My sincere thanks

to Mrs Matheson (and her team of helpers) for their organisation of this special and highly successful event at Barnier. The day commenced with an amazing assembly that showcased some of the amazing student talent we have here at Barnier. Our Choir, our School Band, the Kindy Dance and

Wakakirri groups are absolutely sensational. Jai Pittman and our Aboriginal students opened the assembly with a smoking ceremony and traditional dances. Jai also addressed the assembly and his words were very powerful and moving. After this assembly we had open classrooms, a PBL Scavenger Hunt and Reading Rugs. My sincere thanks and congratulations to all staff and students and also to all the wonderful parents who came along to celebrate with us. We took this opportunity to have our PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) Launch Day on Wednesday. All members of our school community who attended learned more about PBL and we also introduced our new PBL mascot, Owen, the Optimistic Owl. Special thanks to Mrs Matheson and our PBL team for leading this important initiative at Barnier. P&C Meeting 5

th August

The P&C parents met on Monday 5th August, it was

a really positive and productive meeting with lots of ideas presented and voted on. The P&C will be conducting a parent survey and I strongly encourage all parents to have a say by completing the survey so that our P&C have great data to use for planning. Our next meeting is Monday 2

nd

September, please come along and enjoy the great company, as well as taking an opportunity to have your say and make a difference for our school and our students. Attendance Daily, punctual attendance at school is essential for all students to learn and succeed. The only

Principal’s Message

Email: barnier-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Phone: 9837 1600

Fax: 9837 1858

acceptable reasons for absences from school are injury, illness or infectious disease. When your child is absent from school, please send a note of absence explanation to the class teacher on his/her first day back following the absence. If you know that your child will be absent for more than three days, please let us know as soon as possible. Explanations for student absences from school can be submitted using the Skoolbag APP. Simply select E-Forms and then Absentee Form, fill out the form and submit. If an explanation note is not received in seven days the absence will be recorded as “unexplained”. Long or extended absences for the purpose of family holidays should be approved by the Principal. Please contact the office to obtain an “Application for Leave” form. Where possible, this should be done well in advance of the proposed absence, allowing one week for approval to be returned. Please note that absences due to family holidays are no longer exempt and will be recorded as absent days on your child’s attendance record. This is a DoE requirement. Head Lice We have a current problem with head lice. I ask that all parents thoroughly check their child for head lice and take immediate action to treat this problem. Please note: 1. Quick fixes do not work. 2. In order for treatments to be effective they

must continue after the first treatment. Please repeat treatments one week later and two weeks later to ensure that all head lice are gone.

3. Please also wash clothing, bedding and towels so that re-infestation does not occur.

4. Keep a good quality nit comb in the shower and help your children to use it every time they wash their hair, even if their heads are not itchy.

Continue to check your child daily and treat immediately if head lice are present. Keep your child’s hair tied back and speak with them about not sharing hats. If you have a problem with Head Lice please call the school office and make an appointment to speak directly with the Principal about it. We thank all parents for your cooperation and

support regarding this matter. Student Safety Please follow road and parking laws at all times when dropping off and collecting students. Please ensure your child crosses the road safely always using the pedestrian crossings provided. The roads surrounding Barnier are very busy, particularly in the mornings and afternoons, please keep your children safe. Thank you for your support and cooperation. The Importance of Punctuality It is very important for all students to get to school on time each day. Children who come to school late miss out on the introductory session and often find it more difficult to settle into class activities and concentrate on learning. Research shows that continued late arrival to school during primary school is linked to truancy in high school. Partial absences from school (students arriving late or leaving early) will result in lost learning time which will impact negatively on your child’s progress. Repeated partial absences will negatively impact learning significantly. I seek the support of all parents to ensure that students at school every day and on time so that they can achieve the highest possible educational outcomes. Social Media The following information is worth reading and revisiting. Technology and social media are part of everyday life for all of us and this can present challenges and issues for our children. “Technology will only ever be used as well and as honourably as the motives of those pressing the buttons. Everyone needs to acknowledge its extraordinary power. The technology is out of the bag and we should respect it, but not fear it. Any threat from social networks comes not from the technology, but from those who use it.” NZ Listener editorial August 27 The best advice is to look at the way your child manages normal everyday interactions with family and friends. If this involves constant outbursts of emotion, hostilities, accusations and tears, then their on-line relationships are likely to be similar. A child who has happy, respectful relationships will usually enjoy using social media and have few if any problems.

RISKS Fitting in with peers is an important element of growing up. The main risks to young people online today are risks from each other, risks of improper use of technology, lack of privacy, sharing too much information, or posting false information about themselves or others. These types of behaviour put their privacy at risk, often for years as they leave behind evidence of which sites they have visited. One of the biggest threats to young people on social media sites is to their digital footprint and future reputations. Youngsters who lack an awareness of privacy issues often post inappropriate messages, pictures, and videos without understanding that “what goes online stays online”. As a result, future jobs and opportunities may be put into jeopardy by rash clicks of the mouse. There’s plenty you can do to support and protect your child …. Parents are the best people to educate young people to be responsible, sensible and respectful digital citizens.

Talk to your children about their online use and the specific issues that today’s online users face.

Supervise online activities with active participation and communication, as opposed to remote monitoring with a net-nanny program.

Encourage your children to tell you if something they encounter on one of these sites makes them feel anxious, uncomfortable or threatened. Stay calm and remind your children they are not in trouble for bringing something to your attention.

Set your own house Internet rules. As soon as your children begin to use the Internet on their own, it is a good idea to come up with a list of rules for using the Internet that everyone can agree on.

Look at the sites that your child plans to use and make sure both you and your child read and understand the age restrictions, privacy policy and the code of conduct. Find out if the site monitors the content that people post.

Insist that your children never meet anyone in person that they've communicated with only online without your knowledge and permission. Because children can be in real danger, you can help protect your children by encouraging them to use these sites to communicate with their friends, but not with people they've never met in person.

It might not be enough to simply tell your child not to talk to strangers, because your child might not consider someone they've ‘met’ online to be a stranger.

Ensure your children don't use full names. Have your children use only their first names or a nickname, but not a nickname that would attract inappropriate attention. Also, do not allow your children to post the full names of their friends.

Be wary of other identifiable information in your child's profile. Many social websites allow children to join public groups that include everyone who goes to a certain school. Too much information can make your children vulnerable to cyber-bullying, Internet predators, Internet fraud, or identity theft.

Photographs can reveal a lot of personal information. Advise your children not to post photographs of themselves or their friends with clearly identifiable details.

Teach your children about cyber-bullying. As soon as your children are old enough to use social websites, talk to them about cyber-bullying. Tell them that if they think they're being cyber-bullied, they should share this information right away with you, a teacher or another adult whom they trust.

It's important to encourage children to communicate with other people online in the same polite way they would face-to-face. Reinforce the message that they must treat other people the way they want to be treated.

Have a great fortnight, everyone!

Mrs Mandy Hollis

R/Principal

Izayah W 2D

Charlotte M 3L

Bailey W 5T

Sebastian T 5/6K

Dean C 6G

Mishkka R 6G

Thomas M 6H

Miley B 1B

Kate R 1M

Liam N 2B

Dylan P 2M

Rashi P 2R

Ranveer S 2S

Dev C 3B

Aarush P 3L

Jansi K 3S

Haya P 3S

Francine G 4T

Lily S 4/5V

Stella B 5L

Rocco D 5L

Vedant P 5L

Aditya R 5L

Krisha A 5S

Ayaan K 5S

Alyssa L 5S

Gurjot S 5S

Annaliese B 5T

Marley C 5T

Mnhar L 5T

Sathyavel L 5T

Matthew N 5/6K

Thinara S 5/6K

Bailey C 6H

Jackson H 6H

Platinum Award Recipients

Gold Award Recipients

Week 5

19th August 2019

3-6 Athletics Carnival - Blacktown

International Sportspark

Sport in Schools K-2

Book Fair Open

20th August 2019

Book Fair Open

21st August 2019

Book Fair - Last Day

Book Week Parade &

Teachers Reading Relay

Kindergarten Assembly @ 2pm

Stage 3 Camp Balance - Last day

for online payment. Due by 6pm

today

22nd August 2019

Author Visit - John Heffernan 3-6

CSO Choir Workshop Penrith PS

23rd August 2019

PSSA Semi-Finals

Author Visit - John Heffernan K-2

Stage 3 Camp Balance - Last Day

for payment at the office

Week 6

26th August 2019

Sport in Schools K-2

Wakakirri Full Dress Rehearsal &

Performance Night

28th August 2019

Father’s Day Stall

Stage 1 Assembly @ 2pm

29th August 2019

Father’s Day Breakfast &

Jersey Day

30th August 2019

PSSA Finals

Stage 2 Assembly @ 2pm

Week 7

2nd September 2019

Sport in Schools K-2

P&C Meeting @ 7:30pm in the

library

3rd September 2019

Blacktown Zone Athletics Carnival

ICAS Digital Tech (Years 3-6)

4th September 2019

Kindergarten Assembly @ 2pm

5th September 2019

ICAS Science (Years 2-6)

6th September 2019

K-2 Athletics Carnival

Stage 3 Assembly @ 2pm

Week 8

9th September 2019

Sport in Schools K-2

BFoPA Performance Night @

Wyndham College

10th September 2019

ICAS Writing (Years 3-6)

Sport/Group Photos

11th September 2019

ICAS English (Years 5 & 6)

Stage 1 Assembly

12th September 2019

ICAS Spelling (Years 2-6)

13th September 2019

ICAS Maths (Years 5 & 6)

Stage 2 Assembly @ 2pm

P&C Disco

Event Reminders

Last Wednesday, the Year 6 students held their Pancake and Pyjama Fundraiser. They arrived early in the morning in their pyjamas to set up the stall and worked throughout the morning to serve staff, students and parents delicious pancakes with toppings. On behalf of all Year 6 students and

teachers, we would like to thank our amazing school community for contributing $1,859.85 to purchase pancakes and to wear their pyjamas for the day. Year 6 did an amazing job contributing pancake mix, toppings, plates and serviettes for smooth running of this event.

Pancake & Pyjama Fundraiser

This week, Barnier’s Environmental Group has researched the impact litter has on the environment.

Impact

Litter has the potential to cause harm to human health, safety, welfare, as well as the environment. The harmful impact of litter includes trapping or poisoning animals, killing aquatic life directly through choking and indirectly through its impact on water quality.

https://www.ecomena.org/littering/

We found that litter ruins our environment and ocean causing lots of chaos.

Nearly 100,000 animals have died because of litter. It is estimated that turtles only have 2

more years to live. They are endangered because of litter.

Litter also makes our school an unhealthy environment to work and play in, so

please clean after yourself!

Our litter has attracted many unwanted guests such as the

Australian White Ibis.

Also our litter and scraps of food are having a negative effect on the well-being of our native birds.

https://www.wires.org.au/wildlife-info/wildlife-factsheets/feeding-birds

Most birds eat a balanced diet; 90% eat insects and nectar, seed or fruit. People feeding birds the wrong food changes the balance of their diet and can negatively impact their health.

Feeding birds can increase aggression and stress as many try to feed together, this wouldn’t happen naturally.

Feeding can increase the quantity of non-native birds, non-native rats and cockroaches, as the more food they get the more they breed.

Artificial feeding can change the balance of species in the wild as it can increase some species, which in turn, decreases others.

Feeding can spread disease through a concentration of food and birds in large numbers in one place.

Bird seed left out in damp conditions rots, grows mould and introduces disease to the birds, and can attract rats and mice.

It can cause sickness and deformities in young as high quantities of salt are present in bread and processed foods.

Feeding can make them overweight and high quantities of fat are present in processed food and meat.

Barnier’s Environmental Group Report

Solutions

Make sure rubbish goes in bins.

Pick up all rubbish even if it’s not yours (if it is safe to do so).

Recycle.

Barnier’s Environmental Group Report

Is your child starting school in 2020?

Please ensure your enrolment is in before Friday 20th September so that you don’t miss

out on your invitation to our Parent Information

session and 4 Kindergarten Transition

sessions in Term 4!

We are now taking enrolments for Kindergarten 2020. Kindergarten at Barnier PS will give your child the opportunity to experience:

Quality teachers committed to your child’s social, emotional, physical,behavioural and intellectual development;

State of the art facilities across all grades;

Quality educational experiences

Enrolment packs for Kindy 2020 are now available from the school office

For more information about enrolling your child at Barnier PS, please contact the office on 9837 1600

Dear Families, How wonderful has term 3 been so far….Thank you to the team of dedicated volunteers, who organised the preloved uniforms and sports shirt stalls on Wednesday. A special mention goes out to Rhiannon, who makes it happen. All preloved uniforms are sorted, washed and folded by Rhiannon. Kim Hough has been managing the new sports shirts and making them available for all sports carnivals.

Our events are a community effort with contributors, supporters and our dedicated volunteers. Without the synergy of all parties our events would not be possible. We welcome new suggestions, faces to all our events and at the P&C meetings to work creatively to raise funds for the school to benefit all students.

NEXT P&C Meeting

Don’t forget if you want a say in the types of events we should run or where the funds should be spent, please come along to our P&C meetings. It costs $1 to join and you will be able to vote and receive the agenda and minutes. The next meeting is on Monday 2nd September at 7:30pm in the library.

https://www.facebook.com/barnierpandc/

email us : barnierpublicschool-pres@pandcaffiliate.org.au

Key dates to remember:

P&C Meeting – Monday 2nd

September at 7:30pm in the library

Father’s Day Breakfast BBQ -Thursday 29th of August at 7am in the COLA (notes have gone home)

Let it Glow School Disco - Friday 13th

September

Barnier P&C

Preparations are underway for the Father’s Day program and the Let it Glow school

disco. Both notes have been sent home with your child/children. If you need a copy, the

notes are available on the Barnier Public school website under Notes.

There will be vegetarian sausages available for the ‘Let it Glow’ school disco. If your preference is Vegetarian please mark it on the form. We apologise for not including the Veg option in the 1

st round of notes.

We are seeking your help on the actual day to run the upcoming events: Father's Day stall, Father's Day Morning BBQ and Let it Glow Disco. We cannot run these events without the help from our Barnier Family Community simply by donating time. THANK YOU to our dedicated volunteers who have already made themselves available to help for these events. If you would like to join our dedicated volunteers please send us your availability through our Facebook page or email us to: Barnierpublicschool-pres@pandcaffiliate.org.au

Barnier P&C