1 August 2025

Principal’s Report

Enrolling Now - Kindergarten Students for 2026

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome Back to Term 3

Welcome back to Blacktown South Public School for Term 3. This term we have a number of special events and activities planned. These include Education Week, the K-2 Athletics Carnival, Kindergarten Farm Excursion and the BSPS Fun Day at the end of the term.

Please make the effort to regularly read the school newsletter and notes so that you are well-informed about all activities that are planned.

Term 3 Calendar

Attached to this newsletter is the Term 3 School Calendar. It was correct at the time of printing. Please keep it in a safe and convenient location at home for a quick reference of school activities for this term. A hard copy was sent home last week.

NAIDOC Week at Blacktown South Public School

The 2025 NAIDOC Theme was: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy

NAIDOC celebrations at Blacktown South PS were held this week over three days. All grades participated in workshops presented by Dalmarri. Our students participated in a great variety of activities to learn about and experience Aboriginal culture and history. These included learning about artifacts and history, boomerang throwing, Aboriginal games, an ochre experience and collaboration of a group mural.

A huge thanks to Miss Rogers and Mr Lee-Eyles for their organisation of the week.

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Kindergarten 100 Days Celebration

A huge congratulations to our wonderful Kindergarten students and teachers, who celebrated Kindergarten’s first 100 Days at School on Wednesday with lots of fun and special activities.

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Parent-Teacher Interviews

Thank you, Parents and Caregivers, who supported our rescheduled Parent Teacher Interviews. It was great to see so many families attending on Tuesday this week.

Thank you again for your support.

P&C Colour Fun Run – Fundraiser - Thursday 7^th August (Week 3 – Education Week)

Information was sent home last term promoting the big P&C Fundraiser for this year, a Colour Fun Run.

We are encouraging families to get behind this great event through registering online and collecting sponsorship. Students who raise money will qualify for a great range of prizes.

Permission notes about this event have been sent home and are due back at school ASAP. They can be completed either online or as a paper copy and sent back to the office.

Education Week – Week 3, Term 3 - Monday 4/8/25 - Friday 8/8/25

Parents and Carers, please mark in your calendars the dates for Education week 2025.

1. Open Classrooms Morning - Monday 4^th

We invite Parents, Carers and family members to come and visit your child/ren’s classrooms, and look at their great work and efforts, learning at Blacktown South PS. 

Time: 9:30 – 10:30am

2. School Art Show

The school hall will host the 2025 K-6 Art Show.  Parents are welcome to visit on Monday 4^th August during open classrooms or before school or at the end of the day for the entire week.

Venue:         School Hall
Times:         9:00am to 9:15am & 3:00pm to 3:20pm

Art Show Arrangements - Monday 4th August: Parents and Caregivers are encouraged to take time to visit the Art Show while at Monday morning’s Open Classrooms. Parents and Caregivers are welcome to collect their children from all K-6 classes and visit the hall as a family.

3. School Performance Day - Performing Arts Groups - Wednesday 6^th

We invite Parents and Carers of our various Performing Arts Groups – Performance Troupe, Kindergarten Dance, Stage 1 Dance, Stage 2 Fun Dancers, Pulse Alive, Shrek the Musical, Beginner and Intermediate Recorder, 3-6 Choir and 2G – to attend a morning performance.

Venue:  School COLA
Time: 9:45am – 10:30am

4. P&C Colour Fun Run – to be held on Thursday 7^th

Venue:  School Oval
Time: 1:25pm – 3:00pm

Gates: All school gates will be open for these events.

We look forward to seeing you at Open Day, the Performance Day or Colour Fun Run during Education Week

Little Library - Friday, 15^th August

Ms Griffiths and Mrs Tinker will be running ‘Little Library’ for our Pre-schoolers’ and their families on Friday, 15^th August. A flyer will be sent home next week. Come and enjoy a story and some craft in our School Library.

NAPLAN results

NAPLAN results for Year 3 and 5 were sent home last week.

We wish everyone well in their results. Please remember NAPLAN tests are one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting. We encourage any parent or carer who is concerned about their child’s NAPLAN results to contact the school.

Lastly, I would like to provide you with an update on Mr Bowmer. Last week he had knee surgery, which went well, however the injury was a little worse than expected. As a result, the recovery timeframe has been extended. Mr Bowmer will likely return to school towards the end of the term.

Renee Radecki - Relieving Principal

Cultural Calendar for July

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.

August 1st – Confederation Day – Switzerland

August 4th – National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, Constitution Day – Cook Islands

August 6th – Hiroshima Peace Day- Japan, is held each year on August 6th, the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

August 6th – Independence Day - Bolivia, National Day- Jamaica

August 7th - National Day- Cote d’Ivoire

August 9th – National Day – Singapore

August 9th - Raksha Bandhan (Hindu) Raksha Bandhan is a popular and traditionally Hindu annual rite or ceremony that is central to a festival of the same name celebrated in South Asia. It celebrates brotherhood and love.

August 10th - National Day – Ecuador

August 11th – National Day – Chad

August 13th – 15th August –Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honour the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist-Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves.

August 14th – Independence Day – Pakistan

August 15th – Independence Day – India

August 15th – Independence Day – Republic of Congo, National Day – Liechtenstein

August 16th - Krishna Janmashtami* (Hindu) also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

August 17th - Independence Day – Indonesia, National Day – Gabon

August 18th – Vietnam Veteran’s Day – Battle of Long Tan

August 19th - Independence Day – Afghanistan

August 19th - Independence Day – Afghanistan

August 20th - Day of the Foundation of the State of Hungary and St Stephen’s Day – Hungary

August 24th - National Day – Ukraine

August 25th - Independence Day – Uruguay

August 27th - Independence Day – Republic of Moldova

August 27th - Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesh and is considered the most important day to worship him.

August 31st - National Day – Malaysia, National Day – Trinidad and Tobago, National Day – Kyrgyz Republic

Important Australian Milestones

August 1st – First sitting of the NSW Legislative Council 1843

August 23rd - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition (UNESCO).

August 27th 1902 - Women's Franchise Act (voting) The Women's Franchise Act gave women the right to vote in state elections in New South Wales. Sir Henry Parkes had introduced electoral reform bills in 1890 and 1891 which included provisions for women to vote but both bills were defeated.

Principal’s Reading Awards

Congratulations to the following students from Kindergarten – Year 6 who have been awarded the Principal’s Reading award for 100 nights of home reading.

Congratulations to the following students from Kindergarten – Year 6 who have been awarded the Principal’s Reading award for 200 nights of home reading.

Attendance Matters

Welcome back to another term at BSPS. We are so excited to see everyone back. Last week we had a few classes with every single student at school on the first day. While we understand that there are times when children are sick, we are looking to ensure every student is at school every day the school is open for learning. Remember one day absent is a day of learning lost. 

When returning to school, please make sure that your child returns with an explanation for absences on the day of return or prior to return through the school app sZapp (our preferred option). You could also email the school or call the office after 8.30am each morning your child is absent to avoid receiving the email notification that is sent each day for unexplained absences. 

Communication between home and school is important. Please note that if your child is absent for multiple days and the school has not heard from you, the class teacher or Assistant Principal will call you to confirm all is well. This may come through on a private number. If you receive a message, please respond at your earliest convenience.

Working together, we can ensure successful attendance patterns for all students.

Remember
#Attendance Matters.
Kathy Price – Deputy Principal

PBL

Greetings readers,

Welcome to Week 2 and the PBL Team’s first newsletter article for Term 3.

This fortnight, students at Blacktown South Public School have been learning about an important skill - The “High Five” problem-solving technique. This strategy empowers students to address conflicts or issues they may encounter in a positive and constructive way, whether in the classroom or on the playground. To maintain a safe and respectful environment for all students, the PBL team would like to remind the importance of the “High Five”.

What is the High Five?

The High Five is a simple, five-step approach designed to help students handle conflicts with their peers. Each step encourages thoughtful and respectful communication, promoting a peaceful school environment.

Why Do We Use High Five?

We use the High Five to:

1. Encourage Self-Resolution - Teach students to resolve conflicts independently before seeking teacher intervention.
2. Promote Respect and Empathy - Foster a culture of understanding and respect among students.
3. Build Confidence - Equip students with the tools they need to manage their emotions and confront situations calmly.

How Do We Use High Five?

Here are the five steps of the High Five approach:

Step 1: Talk Friendly

Start by approaching your friend or classmate in a friendly manner. Use kind words to express how you feel or how their actions have affected you. A friendly approach can set a positive tone for the conversation.

Step 2: Ignore:

If the friendly talk does not change the situation, try to ignore the behaviour that is bothering you. Sometimes, not giving attention to negative behaviour can help it to stop.

Step 3: Walk Away

If ignoring doesn’t work, it’s best to walk away from the situation. Taking a break can help you cool down and think clearly about how to handle the issue.

Step 4: Talk Firmly

If the problem persists, return and calmly explain your feelings again, using a firmer tone. It’s important to be assertive while remaining respectful. Let your classmate know that their behaviour is not acceptable.

Step 5: Report to the Teacher

If the issue still isn’t resolved, it’s time to seek help from a teacher. Reporting the situation allows teachers to step in and support you in finding a solution.

By practicing the High Five steps, students will learn valuable conflict resolution skills that they can carry with them throughout their lives. We encourage families to discuss these steps at home, reinforcing the importance of respectful communication and problem-solving.

Thank you for your continued commitment to helping our students become safe, respectful learners!

Have a wonderful fortnight,
The PBL Team.

Library

Term 3 is always an interesting time in the library with Book Week the focus of activities.

The theme for Book Week this year is Book an Adventure and we hope students have an adventure as they read the books nominated for Book of the Year.

The SRC is running our annual Book Week Dress Up day in Week 5 and everyone is encouraged to dress up as their favourite character from a book they have read.

Students also get to select the book they think will win Book of the Year and everyone who selects the winning book goes into a draw to win a copy of that book. Years K to 2 select books from the Early Childhood Picture Books and Years 3 to 6 from the Younger Reader section which are novels or graphic novels.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge concludes in Term 3. The challenge has been extended for an additional month this year and will close to students on Friday September 19 (Week 9). Students in Years K to 2 do not have to enter the books themselves. The school takes care of the challenge for these grades. Students in Years 3 to 6 must enter the books they have read on the PRC website on their personal reading log. Any questions about the PRC can be directed to Mr Arundel in the library.

Finally, if your child has lost a library book, the most helpful way to fix that issue is to replace the missing book with either a book from home that is in good condition or a new book that is similar to the one that was lost.

“Outside of a dog, a book is a person’s best friend. Inside a dog it’s too dark to read.”

Groucho Marx

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.

BSPS Colour Fun Run – Let’s Reach Our Goal! 

We’ve raised $3,052 — help us reach $25,000 by Wednesday 7th August!
Funds go towards Stage 2 of our weather structure project, creating more sheltered spaces for learning, play and community use.

The Colour Fun Run is back — bigger and better! Featuring foam, bubbles, water play, coloured powder, tunnels & obstacles. Every student gets a wristband and sunglasses!

Prizes:
Raise $10 to earn your first prize
More raised = more prizes
The Top 10 fundraisers by Monday 4th August get to pick from our Lucky Dip Prize Box.

Fathers' Day Stall

Our Fathers' Day stall is coming up on Tuesday 2nd September. 
Vouchers are available to purchase now. 

Uniform Shop

Opening Hours:
📅 Mondays & Thursdays
🕘 9:20 am – 10:20 am (weekly)

What's in Stock:
Winter uniforms are available in all sizes and styles – come see us and stay warm this season!
Sport shirts arriving soon – we’ll post on Facebook once they’re in.
A wide range of hats available, including Legionnaires, caps, and microfibre bucket hats.

Secondhand Rack:
Great bargains starting from just $2.
We welcome donations – all proceeds go to the P&C. Drop off during shop hours.

Prefer to Order Online?
Use the link provided. Orders will be placed in your child’s teacher’s pigeonhole for distribution.
We aim to process all orders on Mondays and Thursdays.

Click here to purchase school uniforms online

Please like our P&C/Uniform shop Facebook page for updates.

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

When you buy an Entertainment Membership this month, you’ll get a FREE upgrade to a Multi City Membership (valued at $120!).

That means for just $70 (save $50!), you’ll score access to up to 50% off dining, activities, shopping, and travel across Australia, NZ, and Bali.

It’s a total win-win:

You save big on everyday spending.
We receive 20% back to support our cause.
Together, we’ll kickstart our fundraising goals this financial year.

With over $20,000 in savings – from groceries at Woolworths, Big W, and Priceline, to fuel at Shell, plus amazing dining deals – you’ll make that money back in no time. You might even use those savings to book your next holiday (yep, your Membership can help with that too!).

💛 Every 25 Memberships sold raises $350 for our cause.

Entertainment Memberships really do help us help each other – you save on the things you love, and we keep supporting our community with the funds raised.

I can’t wait to thank you personally and hear all about your Entertainment adventures!

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, Mrs Melinda Cooper and Ms Tara Shipway

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.