27 March 2025
Principal’s Report
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Pulse Alive 2025
I had the great honour last Thursday to attend Pulse Alive 2025. Eighteen wonderful dancers from the BSPS Performance Troupe, participated in Pulse Alive held at the Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday 20th March. This is a huge undertaking by our students and staff to be involved in this State Performing Arts Festival with three thousand students from across the state. I thank Mrs Harvey-Phillips for her enormous effort to train our students, and Mrs Price for her support on the night.
Harmony Day – Anti-Racism Day – Friday 21st March
A big thanks to all families that supported our Harmony Day to support anti- racism, by wearing something orange last Friday.
P&C Harmony Day Donuts
A huge thanks to the P&C for your fundraising efforts last Friday, with the sale of many Harmony Day Donuts. A lovely, sweet treat for the weekend.
Halogen Leaders Day
On Tuesday this week, our school leaders participated in the Halogen Leaders Day at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. The program featured a lineup of distinguished Australian role models who shared insights from their leadership journeys. Some of the speakers included Emma McKeon, Australia's most decorated Olympian and Catherine Laga'aia, the actress playing the live-action version of Moana. The day aimed to inspire and equip young leaders with the skills and motivation to make a positive impact in their school communities and beyond.
Sydney West Debating Camp
Congratulations to our eight Year 6 Premier’s Debaters who attended the Sydney West Debating Camp on Monday and Tuesday at Katoomba. They had two big days of developing their argument and rebuttal skills in preparation for the 2025 debating season which starts next term. Thank you to Mrs Sykes for attending this camp to support our students.
School Cross Country – Monday 7th April
Our School Cross Country Carnival will be held on Monday 7th April, the last week of the term, starting at 9.30am and finishing by 11.30am. As we did last year, we are extending the Carnival time to provide more students the opportunity to complete the run.
All students for Years 3-6 are encouraged to enter, and Year 2 who turn 8 in 2025 are welcome to participate. Sports Uniform should be worn on the day. Students may wear a t-shirt in their house colour. Students should wear appropriate running shoes on the day. Parents and caregivers are most welcome to attend.
Information about this activity was sent home this week.
Easter Hat Parade – Wednesday 9th April
Our annual Easter Hat Parade for Kindergarten to Year 2 Students will be held on Wednesday 9th April starting at 9.30am. Weather permitting, we will hold this event on the Ball Court Area near the Library. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.
Summer PSSA
The Blacktown PSSA runs a modified Summer and Winter Friday Interschool sport program. The summer sport competition will run during Term 2.
Permission notes for students selected for the various summer sports teams have been sent home.
Please note: We will be collecting cash on a weekly basis for the cost of the bus. No payment for this activity will be collected through School Bytes.
Harmony Day/Festival of Cultures 2025 - Thursday 15th May - Term 2
This year our Harmony Day will be having a name change. We will now be calling the day when we celebrate the many cultures we have in our school as The Blacktown South PS – Festival of Cultures.
It will be held in Term 2, on Thursday 15th May and will include our school celebrations and parade.
Attendance Update
Improving school attendance is a target of the NSW Department of Education and therefore, Blacktown South School. Starting next term Blacktown South Public School will be rolling out a number of initiatives to encourage and reward good attendance. These include:
- Student Attendance Report: Over the first two weeks of Term 2 we will be producing and sending home a report on your child’s attendance for Term 1. The purpose of the report is to clearly show to families the number of days your child has been away from school.
- Attendance Awards: From Term 2 onwards, we will be providing Student Attendance Awards to those students who achieve either 100% attendance over the term or 95% attendance for the term. These awards will be distributed early Term 3 and 4.
- Daily Notification of Student Absences: It is the Department Policy that parents should be notified of their child’s absence within 24 hours. We will be either initiating a daily text message or email to parents.
- Further information will be sent home in the coming weeks.
Before School Reminders - Playground Expectations and Rules
Students Early Arriving: There are a number of students who are being dropped at school early and students who are choosing to arrive early to meet their friends at school.
Please remember:
- No students at school before 8:45am, unless they are being delivered to
Before School Care by their parents/carers.
- Students who arrive between 8:45am and 8:55am must be seated on the silver seats, this is not playtime.
- Staff are on duty from 8:45am to supervise the silver seats area.
- The morning play bell rings at 8:55am. Students may play in the designated areas.
Designated Play Areas: Students may play in the designated areas from the 8.55 bell. These areas include the hard surface areas:
- Handball and Basketball/Netball court areas
- Silver seats area
- COLA and surrounding area
- Area 1 – Between the Junior Toilets and Block 2.
Students should not be playing in the following areas: (This also includes parents waiting with their children)
- Oval
- Top Grass and Creative Play Area
- Area 2 – the area outside the Year 2 and 6 classrooms and school admin block
- The area outside the kindergarten classrooms between Block 1 and 2
End of Term 1 and Term 2 Dates
Friday 11th April: Last day of Term 1 for students and teachers.
Saturday 12th April to Sunday 27th April: School Holidays
Monday 28th April: Staff Development Day 1- Staff only attend.
Tuesday 29th April: Staff Development Day 2- Staff only attend.
Wednesday 30th April: Students return to school.
Important Changes to Staff Development Days – Term 2
Parents/Carers, please note the change in the Department of Education’s arrangements for Staff Development Day Term 2. For next term there are two pupil free days – Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th April. Students first day will be Wednesday 30th April.
Andrew Bowmer- Principal
Cultural Calendar April
Dear Parents,
I endeavour to include as many cultural events as possible, unfortunately I do accidently miss some. If I have missed an important cultural event for your culture or religion please inform me so I can correct it in the coming newsletter. Thanks for your help.
Monday 31st - Eid Al Fitr (Muslim) also called the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
April 1st - April Fools’ Day
April 4th - Independence Day – Senegal
April 4th - Qingming or Ching Ming festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English sometimes also called Chinese Memorial Day or Ancestors' Day.
April 6th – Daylight saving time ends.
April 6th – Rama Navami* (Hindu) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Rama, one of the most popularly revered deities in Hinduism, also known as the seventh avatar of Vishnu.
April 8th - Hana Matsuri (Buddhist- Japan) is a celebration of the Buddha's birthday, observed in Buddhist temples throughout Japan, where it is known as Kambutsue.
April 12th - Orthodox Lazarus Saturday (Christian) An Orthodox celebration of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead. This day is observed eight days before the Orthodox Easter Sunday
April 13th - International Turban Day is observed annually on April 13th since 2004, is an occasion that celebrates Sikh Identity.
April 13th – Palm Sunday (Christian) is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
April 13th – Orthodox Palm Sunday (Christian) is the first day of the Holy Week — known as the last week of Lent and commemorates Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
April 13th – First day of Passover (Jewish) holiday. also called Pesach is a major, biblically derived Jewish holiday. Jews celebrate Passover as a commemoration of their liberation by God from slavery in ancient Egypt and their freedom as a nation under the leadership of Moses.
April 13th – 15th April: Songkran New Year. In Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand the new year is celebrated by cleansing images of Buddha in homes and temples, young people sprinkling water on older people, tying strings around the wrists of others and expressing good wishes for the new year. In Thailand this festival is known as Songkran.
April 14th – Hindu New Year: The Hindu New Year is based on Panchang, the lunar calendar and therefore the date changes annually. 2021 is 2078 in the lunar calendar. Different communities celebrate on different dates around the beginning of spring. Celebrations vary across India but usually people go to the temple to pay their respect and seek blessings, and gifts and sweets will be exchanged between friends and family members. The Goddess Lakshmi and the elephant-headed God Ganesha are especially venerated on this day.
April 14th - Silk New Year –Vaisahki (1 Vaisakh 551). (Sikh) This date is significant as it marks the founding of the Khalsa Panth and commencement of the Sikh Baptism (referred to as taking ‘Amrit’). It so happens that this date also coincides with a culturally significant ancient harvest festival which marks the beginning of a new solar year and harvest season.
April 17th - Maundy Thursday is the Christian Holy Day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the foot washing (Maundy) and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.
April 17th - Independence Day – Syrian Arab Republic
April 18th – Independence Day – Zimbabwe
April 18th – Good Friday (Christian) is a holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary
April 18th – Orthodox Good Friday (Orthodox Christian) also known as “Great Friday” to remember the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. The Orthodox Easter dates usually differ from the dates used by western churches because most Orthodox churches retained some version of the Julian calendar, which is older than the Gregorian calendar, commonly used today.
April 20th – Easter Sunday (Christian) or Resurrection Sunday, is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial after his crucifixion.
April 20th – Orthodox Easter Sunday (Orthodox Christian)
April 20th – First day of Ridvan (Bahá’í) is a twelve-day festival in the Bahá'í Faith, commemorating Bahá'u'lláh's declaration that he was a Manifestation of God.
April 23rd – St George’s Day (England)
April 25th – ANZAC Day
April 26th – Union Day – United Republic of Tanzania
April 27th – Independence Day – Serra Leone
April 27th – Freedom Day – South Africa
April 27th – National Day – Togo
April 30th – National Day - Israel
Important Australian Milestones
April 3rd - UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People endorsed by Australia 2009
April 25th - The ANZACs landed at Gallipoli 1915
April 29th - Captain Cook landed at Botany Bay 1770
Attendance Matters
Parents of children from Kindergarten to Year 12 must ensure their children attend school every day. On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:
- being sick or having an infectious disease
- having an unavoidable medical appointment (Dr Certificate should be provided)
- being required to attend a recognised religious holiday (the day that is marked on the calendar)
- exceptional or urgent family circumstances e.g. attending a funeral.
Parents must provide an explanation for absences to the school within 7 days from the first day of any period of absence. Where an explanation has not been received within the 7-day timeframe, the school will record the absence as unexplained on the student's record. Please help us to maintain attendance accurately by contacting the school at times of absence and putting in leave forms for extended leave periods. Leave forms are available from the school office or on the school's website in the notes section. Let's work together to improve school attendance at Blacktown South Public School.
#AttendanceMatters
Medical/Illness Information
Is or has your child been unwell – we have attached for your use a flyer from Healthdirect outlining exclusion periods from school for childhood illnesses. It’s a handy leaflet for you to refer to.
PBL
Greetings readers,
Welcome to Week 9 and the PBL Team’s final newsletter article for Term 1.
Over the past two weeks, students at Blacktown South Public School have been focusing on being a learner in the classroom by asking questions and having a go. It was great to see many students being Safe Respectful Learners in the classroom. A special congratulations to Year 2 for showcasing our PBL focus by asking questions and having a go. Well-done!
This fortnight, we are focusing on Being a learner in the classroom by being ready for school each day!
Being prepared for the school day helps us start our learning with confidence and focus. When we are organised and ready, we can make the most of our lessons and actively participate in classroom activities.
What does being prepared for the school day look like in our classroom?
Being prepared means:
- Arriving on time.
- Having a positive mindset, ready to engage in learning.
- Following classroom routines to start the day smoothly.
- Listening to teacher instructions and settling quickly into tasks.
What does our class need to do each morning to be prepared for the school day?
Developing a strong morning routine helps us feel ready to learn. Some steps include:
- Unpacking our bags and organising our desks.
- Checking the daily timetable and knowing what to expect.
- Completing morning warm-up activities or quiet reading.
- Asking questions to clarify tasks and setting learning goals for the day.
By fostering these habits, we will become more independent and responsible learners.
So, let’s work together to create a positive and organised learning environment where everyone feels ready to succeed in school!
Have a wonderful fortnight,
The PBL Team.
Year 6
Year 6 have had a great, and busy, start to the year. From working hard in classrooms to practising hard in Fitness for Cross Country, Year 6 have been putting in a fantastic effort this term. We have all been very excited to meet our Kindergarten buddies and have had a few sessions already to help our youngest students adapt to being at school. The Year 6’s have gotten to know their buddies and helped the students with their writing and playing learning games.
A reminder that High School Transition Expression of Interest for Year 7 2026 closes this Friday, March 28th, 2025.
We look forward to another successful year with many Year 6 events coming up later in the year.
P&C and Uniform Shop
Our Parent and Community organisation is managed by a dedicated team of parent volunteers. Our objective is to engage with the school community and secure funding to enhance school facilities, equipment, and student support.
Term 1 fundraisers and key dates to put in your calendars:
- Our Harmony Day Donuts were a great success. We sold over 600 donuts. Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who helped distribute these on the day.
- Easter Hat Parents Busy Bee Thursday 27th March 2025 9:30am in the Club Hub. Please come along and help us make Easter hats. Donations are welcome.
- Easter Hat Parade, Wednesday 9th April 2025.
Should you wish to volunteer your assistance at these events or throughout the year, please contact us. We are always seeking volunteers, and it's an excellent opportunity to build community connections.
Uniform Shop
Our uniform shop's new opening hours and days are:
Mondays and Thursdays, from 9:20am to 10:20am weekly.
Our caps have arrived!
Winter stock is readily available in all sizes and styles so please come and see us as Autumn is just around the corner.
We also offer a second-hand rack with prices starting at just $2. We gratefully accept uniform donations, and all proceeds benefit the P&C.
Alternatively, you can order online via the link provided, these will be placed in your child's teacher's pigeon hole for distribution. We will endeavour to complete these purchases on Mondays and Thursdays.
Click here to purchase school uniforms online
Please like our P&C/Uniform shop Facebook page for updates.
Click here to view the P&C Facebook page:
Business donations are very much welcome.
On our P&C website we have added the option "P&C contribution" (link below).
This is optional but it would be a great help if each family of our school could help with a donation. Thank you.
Digital Entertainment book
This fundraiser is available to be purchased all year. The digital entertainment book is conveniently available through an app. It is full of savings on entertainment, dining, travel, activities and much more. By purchasing through our link, the P&C receive a percentage of the total, contributing towards our fundraising goals. Please purchase through the link below:
Click here to purchase:
If you too would like to join our team of volunteers, please contact us at:
pc.bsps@outlook.com.au or Renee on 0415859158
Notes
Please click below for any notes that have gone home in the past that you might have missed:
Community News
At Blacktown South Public School, we support our local community. Click on the links for further information.
School Contacts
Blacktown South Public School
183 Flushcombe Road
Blacktown NSW 2148
Ph: 9622 6034, 9622 2449
Fax: 9831 2379
Email: blacktowns-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Principal: Mr Andrew Bowmer
Deputy Principals: Mrs Kathy Price, Mrs Renee Radecki (Monday to Wednesday) and Mrs Sathiya Segaram (Thursday to Friday)
Assistant Principals - APCI: Miss Raelene Rillera, Ms Amanda Sheaves and Mrs Sathiya Segaram.
Assistant Principals: Kindergarten Miss Krystal Evangelou
Year 1 Miss Matilda Lee
Year 2 Miss Fiona Pearce
Year 3 Mrs Hannah Casley
Year 4 Mrs Amy Charlesworth
Year 5 Miss Alyce Rogers
Year 6 Mr Patrick Lee-Eyles
Specialist Teachers Mrs Panayiota Zouriakas
Senior Administration Manager: Mrs Claire Dobbie
School Administration Officers: Mrs Robyn Taylor, Ms Doris Mifsud,
Miss Daphne Manivong, Ms Tara Shipway and Mrs Melinda Cooper
School Counsellor: Ms Lisa Harvey, Ms Olivia Parrott and Ms Josephine Cali
P&C Association
President: Renee Tsingolis
Vice President: Mandi Ashraf
Treasurer: Sarah Noor
Secretary: Hayley Hutchison
Assistant Secretary: Position Vacant
Assistant Treasurer: Position Vacant
Uniform Shop Committee:
Manager: Hayley Hutchison
Sarah Noor, Melissa Wilson, Effie Browne, Renee Tsingolis and Mandi Ashraf.
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