School Matters

Old Bathurst Road, East Blaxland 2774

Phone 4739 1579 Fax 4739 8300

Principal Kerry Bryan

Email Blaxlande-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Webpage www.blaxlande-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

P&C Email blaxlandeast@gmail.com

Term 1 Week 8 17 March 2017

Morning Bell 9.00am Afternoon Bell 3.00pm Office Hours 8.30am - 3.15pm

P&C Association meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7.30 p.m.

Next Meeting Wednesday 10 May 2017

CORE VALUES

Be Respectful

Excellence Always

Participate Courageously

Serve Others

Public School Blaxland East

Core Values

Year 6 Burrendong Camp

Blaxland High Feeder School Visit

P&C News

Office News

Skoolbag App

Office Payments & Notes

Principal’s Report

Principal’s Schoolwork Awards

Fete Sponsors

In this School Matters:

The Y6 camp at Burrendong was enjoyed immensely by both students and staff and Y6 in general is

congratulated for a very positive week of team building. Y6 2017 have chosen to be called ‘Team

Limitless’ with a focus on continuous reflection to make positive changes in the way they view

themselves and others.

Each night at camp, students and staff were involved in reflection sessions where they spoke about

‘making a change’ and trying to be the best person they can be with an emphasis on BEPS Core

Values.

The sayings “If you always do what you have always done, you’ll always get what you have always

got” and “The best indicator of future behaviour is your behaviour now” were referred to and also the

song by Michael Jackson “Man in the Mirror” which quickly became a favourite. If you want to make

the world a better place take a look at yourself and make that change!

(Continued on page 3)

“Life begins when your comfort zone ends” became very meaningful as the Y6 students overcame

challenges on a daily basis and were so well supported by peers.

Y6 had a focus on the tasks set, shared responsibilities, appreciated differences, cooperated,

shared ideas and opinions, and encouraged each other as they worked towards a variety of

common goals. We enjoyed lots of laughs, cooked a fine stew, got to know each other and even

experienced a degree of quality sleep!

(Continued from page 2)

(Continued on page 4)

Even a direct hit couldn’t slow our kids down!

‘Team Limitless 2017’ were a pleasure to be with and

were a credit to their school and families. Thumbs up for

a great week guys! It is now up to all of us to build on

the foundations the camp experience gave us and work

towards being the best people we can be throughout the

days ahead.

D. Reilly

‘Last week Year 6 "Team Limitless," went away FOR A

WEEK to Lake Burrendong camp. We travelled on a

train for 5 very long hours before we got on a bus for 20

mins which took us to camp .My favourite activity was

the high ropes/ low ropes. It was as high as the bunk

beds but l was still scared, same with Taleah.

Later that week 6G went to rock climbing. When we first got there it

looked pretty low but as it was my turn l looked up and, well let’s just say

it was high to me! l got about half way.

On Wednesday we went away to bivouac. It was awesome because me and Taleah got our own

tent to ourselves but the other girls Amy, Jessie, Shaely and Jessica all had to share a tent so they

were all squished. For dinner we had stew and for breakfast we had toast . We all had to cook it

above the fire but l failed. All the time it fell into the fire.

Mrs Glazebrook took lots of great photos. Thank you teachers for the lovely time and effort you put

into this trip’. Rheannon Whiteman 6G

(Continued from page 3)

(Continued on page 5)

‘Year 6 got up very early in the morning to go to

Penrith station to go to Lake Burrendong. It took 5

hours on a train to get to Wellington station then

we got on a bus for 10 minutes to get to camp.

When we got there we did a swimming test to see

if we could swim in the deep or shallow end of the

pool. If you got a blue band you could swim in both

ends. If you got a yellow band you could only swim in the shallow end of the pool.’

By Hannah 6G

‘Last week us year six went to Lake Burrendong for

five days and four nights. It was a five-hour train trip and a 10 min bus drive. When we arrived we

took each other’s bags off the bus, then we placed them down near the dining hall. Then it was

time to meet our new leaders. The first activity was the swim test. We had to swim 25 metres and

then tread water for 30 secs then get out of the pool. The people who completed all the test got a

blue band. People who didn’t got a yellow band’. By Ben Busch 6G

‘At Y6 camp Burrendong we did six amazing activities and also had breakfast, lunch, dinner and

supper. The first activity was canoeing. It was so much fun. Charlie and Ben capsized. Sam and I

rushed to help them but when we got there they got up. Overall it was the best’.

Jonah Haumu 6G

(Continued from page 4)

(Continued on page 6)

‘On the last day of camp we did grass skiing and

archery. The grass skiing was really scary and I fell

over but it was fun. After that we did archery. I was

really good at it, I got a bullseye I was really proud

of myself.’ By Caleb Fox 6G

‘During our free time swim, there was a pretty big game of water polo, Nearly every one played.

Afterwards, we went back to our cabins to get changed for dinner and games night’.

-Lachlan Baldock 6T

‘After dinner it was time for some activities in the recreation hall. We played the worlds fastest

game of tip. It was soooo fun!’

- Liam Pearce 6T

‘On Tuesday 7:30am, we met on the stairs and 6T went to participate in the high ropes course.

The first thing we learnt was how to put on a harness properly. It was pretty hard but I got it on

eventually.’

- Joseph 6T

My favourite was the slip n slide because you get VERY dirty when you come off the end of the

slide. You get covered in grass and then you walk back to the top of the hill and wait for your turn

and do it all over again.

- Claire Blewden 6T

(Continued from page 5)

On Tuesday 7th March, 12 members of the Blaxland High

Senior Voice Ensemble visited Blaxland East to showcase the

talent within the performing arts at the school. Mr Leishman led

the group with great professionalism and enthusiasm.

We were taken on a musical journey from the Beach Boys to

Michael Jackson to Ukuleles. From the first note to the last

dance move, the group entertained the years 3 to 5 with their

music. Fifteen members of our school also participated in an

accompanying percussion group.

Seven ex-students from BEPS performed to a high standard with the group. Hannah and Emma

Davison, Bailey Wootton, Riley Glen, Emma Suzuki, Hannah Saad and Luke Zoglmeyer wowed the

crowd with their vocal range and choreography.

Comments from 4/5W included:

"It was fun - like a disco." - Bella

"When I go to High School I am

going to try to get into that group."

- Larissa

"It was fun and exciting." -

Mackenzie

"To me, the boys were mind-blowing. They usually don't get involved in that sort of

thing." - Abbey

"Everyone was really good at singing." - Xyla

"Riley reminds me of what I want to be when I grow up." - Riley

"I liked the Michael Jackson section." - Anzac

"I liked seeing all my friends."

"It looked like they were having a lot of fun."

- Lucy

"Luke is so amazing." - Lara

Judging by the audience participation and

smiles on the faces in the audience, they all

enjoyed the music, the enthusiasm of the

performers and the opportunity to move

with the music and performers - including

the beach ball toss.

Working Bee

As part of the funds raised from last year's Fete, the P&C have

committed to completing the primary playground upgrade. In

order to do this, we need your help.

On Sunday 26th March from 10am, bring the family and help us clear the site

for the next stage of equipment, clear out the front garden beds outside the primary rooms and repaint

the infants area stencil games. Bring your gloves, any equipment you can spare, drink and food & join

in some outdoor fun.

Easter Raffle

Notes and Easter Raffle tickets have been sent to each family this week.

There are 5 chocolate-filled prizes to be won, with the 1st prize valued at

around $100. Another prize will be given to the family that sells the most

tickets.

We ask that each family please sell at least one book of 10 tickets to help

us raise much needed funds for our school band. More tickets are available from the canteen or office.

Please return no later than Monday 3 April 2017.

Term 2 Disco

The P&C and DJ Frith will be hosting a PJ & Onesie Disco early Term - keep your eyes peeled for a

date and note.

P&C News

Scripture

If you would like to make a change to your child’s scripture class, please come to the office to complete

and sign a note. We are unable to make changes via word of mouth.

There is a number of plastic containers,

lunchboxes and drink bottles in lost property at

the moment with no name on them.

Could you please ensure all such items are

clearly labelled with your child’s name so they can be

returned to them. If they are not collected soon they will be

disposed of.

Permission to Publish and Student/Family Information Sheet notes

If you have not yet returned your Permission to Publish note (yellow) for 2017, or your Student/Family

Information Sheet note, please do so as soon as possible.

Signing in at the Office

When visiting the school for any reason, during school hours, please come via the office to sign in and

collect a Visitor lanyard to wear during your visit. This is a legal requirement so that we are aware of who

is on school grounds, as well as for student safety.

Skoolbag App

Our School has our own free Skoolbag iPhone and Android App

to help us communicate more effectively with our Parent/Student

community.

We are asking Parents/Students to install our Skoolbag School App. To install it, just search for our

school name Blaxland East Public School in either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

For Windows users search for Skoolbag in the Windows Store and install the app and then find your

school. Please note it must be a Windows 8.1 or 10 device.

A reminder that in line with Blaxland East Public School Money Collection Policy no late payments will

be accepted without prior arrangements.

If paying by cash, please send correct money as the school does not hold a cash float.

Alternatively you may pay via EFTPOS in person at the front office, or pay online via the school

website, under the ‘Make a Payment’ link on the home page.

A reminder too that when returning permission notes for excursions, camps, and any school activities

for which a permission note is sent home, please note that a separate permission note is required for

each child. This is a departmental legal requirement.

Office Payments and Notes

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents / Caregivers,

Well as they say – wonderful weather for the ducks!

On Wednesday I went to the Sydney West Swimming

Carnival, fortunately held under cover at Homebush.

It was an excellent day for all the competitors and all the

representatives for BEPS participated courageously!

Well done. Special mention goes to Isla Puri and Hunter Kelly who are going on to the next level and

representing Sydney West at the State Swimming Carnival. Our boys relay team also needs a mention

as they missed out on third place and the State Carnival by 24 100 hundredths of a second!

Well done boys!

Next week our Parent/Teacher interviews are scheduled to take place. I know teachers have been

busily sending home interview times. As this is the first time this has taken place, please be a little

patient should there be a problem.

As the weather continues to be wet, children are becoming increasingly frustrated with not being able to

go outside. Please be aware that at times they will get damp or wet when moving around the school as

the puddles continue to rise and fall. Teachers are doing everything in their power to accommodate the

students in rooms and under verandahs, however occasionally students may go out into the rain without

a teacher seeing them. This may necessitate a phone call to you for some dry clothing and we thank

you for your co-operation in this matter.

Also next week, Year 5 heads off to Gold Camp and we are all hoping that the weather lifts so they

have a dry time. Don’t forget to pack some wet weather gear (eg a plastic poncho or two) and extra

shoes and socks, or even gumboots.

Looking forward to a wonderful end of term.

Cheers

Kerry.

1H

Ethan Hopfe

Isabella Gray

Alice Croft