15 August 2025
Principal's Report
Enrolling Now - Kindergarten Students for 2026
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Education Week at Blacktown South Public School
Blacktown South Public School had a fantastic time celebrating Education Week last week.
A very big thanks to the many parents, caregivers, grandparents and family members who attended our open classrooms on Monday morning. Our teachers and students were thrilled to share the great learning and work that has been happening in our classrooms over the year.
Thanks to the many families that have visited our School Art Show on Monday or over the remainder of last week. It was wonderful to have our students’ creativity on display.
On Wednesday, our Performing Arts Groups showcased their talents at our Education Week Concert. I am incredibly proud of our Performance Troupe, Kindergarten Dance, Stage 1 Dance, Stage 2 Fun Dancers, 3-6 Choir, Pulse Alive, Shrek the Musical, Beginner and Intermediate Recorder and 2G. Thanks to the many families that attended, and a special acknowledgement to our amazing student performers and their teachers who have dedicated so many recess and lunch times to learn and rehearse their items. A special thank you to Ms Harvey-Phillips for the coordination of this spectacular event!
P&C Colour Fun Run
What a fabulous way to wrap up Education Week with our P&C Colour Fun Run held Thursday last week. Students, staff and family members enjoyed an afternoon of fun at the P&C Colour Fun Run. Our students gathered around the school oval and each grade took their turn to walk, jog or dance a few laps of the oval through a haze of coloured powder, bubbles and foam whilst working their way under and through inflatable characters.
It was a wonderful, fun-filled event for the entire school community. Thank you to all families for your support of this P&C fundraiser.
A huge thanks to the P&C and staff for your efforts coordinating this big school event.
Writing Workshop
On the 13th August 5H and 6D participated in the first of two Writing Workshops. Our students had the opportunity to work with Bernard Cohen – a published author – to further develop their writing abilities through practical and hands on learning experiences.
Blacktown Learning Community – Stage 2 Public Speaking Competition
On Wednesday the 13th August two students represented Blacktown South at the Blacktown Learning Community Public Speaking Competition. Bhumi – Year 3, presented her speech on ‘The Power of Positivity’ and Noah – Year 4, presented his speech on ‘Crazy Inventions’. Both students delivered engaging speeches on their chosen topics.
Attendance
In Week 2, we sent home attendance reports to provide families with a clear overview of the number of whole days their child has been absent from school. The goal of these reports is to encourage families to reduce absenteeism and promote consistent school attendance.
Alongside the reports, we initiated a trial of Student Attendance Awards to recognise excellent attendance at school (part-day absences are not included in these calculations). 203 students received a 100% attendance award, while 256 students achieved a 95% attendance award.
National Day of Action Against Bullying
On Friday the 15th August students were encouraged to wear a ‘splash of the colour purple’. We asked students, schools, families and communities to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone, and be proud to take a stand against bullying.
Little Library - Friday, 15th August
Ms Griffiths and Mrs Tinker held ‘Little Library’ for our Pre-schoolers’ and their families today. It was a lovely morning of stories and craft.
Upcoming Events:
SRC Book Week
Our annual SRC Book Week Dress-Up Day will be held next week on Tuesday 19th August. We encourage students to dress up as their favourite book character. It is always a great fun day with many staff also dressing up and joining in the fun. This years theme is ‘Book an Adventure’!
A note with details about this day was sent home last week.
Blacktown Festival of Performing Arts
The Bad Boys Dance Group and members of our Choir will be performing at the Blacktown Festival of Performing Arts at Wyndham College Hall, Eastern Rd, Quakers Hill on Tuesday 26th August in the evening show. This is a great night of entertainment showcasing performing arts groups from schools across Blacktown. I wish our performers all the very best for this festival.
Festival of Instrumental Music- Mass Strings Orchestra
Three students will represent Blacktown South Public School at the Festival of Instrumental Music held in the Opera House on Tuesday 26th August. Mark, James and Pratha will be a part of the massed string ensemble. We congratulate these students, what an exciting opportunity to perform at the Sydney Opera House.
Premier’s Reading Challenge
Students have been given an additional four weeks to complete the reading challenge this year. The new student deadline is Friday, 19 September 2025 (Week 9, Term 3).
K-2 Sports Carnival
The K-2 Sports Carnival for Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2 students will be held on Monday 25th August. Students will rotate through a variety of races, novelty events and modified field events. Parents are welcome to attend. Information has been sent home and is attached to this newsletter
Fathers’ Day Stall
Our Fathers’ Day Stall will be held on the 2nd September. A note will be coming out this week.
Kindergarten Farm Excursion
Kindergarten will be going on their first excursion to Golden Ridge Animal Farm on Wednesday 3rd September. A note has been sent home and is attached to this newsletter.
BSPS Fun Day
Blacktown South Public School will be holding our BSPS Fun Day (previously known as ‘Token Fun Day) in Week 10 of Term 3 this year.
Date: Wednesday 24th September
Year 6 Coordinating Activities & Stalls: Our Year 6 students will be coordinating and running many of the stalls, games and activities. This is a wonderful leadership opportunity for our Year 6 students and an opportunity for them to give something back to their fellow students.
Two Parts of the Day: The BSPS Fun Day will be run in two parts, Kindergarten to Year 2 before recess and Years 3 to Year 5 after recess. This will reduce the numbers of students involved and reduce wait times queuing for an activity.
Wrist Bands: The prepurchase of a wrist band for $10.00 will entitle students to unlimited goes at ‘game stalls’ run by the Year 6 students and one face-paint and one hair spray if desired.
For younger Preschool siblings – a $5.00 wrist band is available to be purchased on the day.
Please note: The wrist band does not include food stalls- Fairy Floss and Cans of Drink.
Food Vouchers: A limit of 2 at a cost of $4.00 can be pre-purchased with the wrist band. They will allow a student to collect two items – either two cans of drink, or two fairy floss or one fairy floss and one can of drink.
Additional food vouchers can be purchased on the day.
Sausage Sizzle Lunch: Is all so available but must be pre-ordered by students.
Parents and Caregivers are most welcome to join us for the day.
Information notes and order forms will be sent home in the coming weeks.
Enrolling Now- Kindergarten Students for 2026
If you have a pre-schooler or have neighbours or friends with pre-schoolers in our drawing area who are turning 5 years of age before the 31st July 2026 please start the enrolment process NOW. If your child is turning 6 in 2026 they must attend school next year.
Information and links about Enrolments can be found here on our School Website, where you can check your address, to see if it is within BSPS local intake area.
Options for Enrolments:
- Complete an Online Enrolment application.
https://ehub.enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/schoolenrolment/?schoolCode=4193 - Download, print and complete a paper copy Enrolment application. It then can be posted to the school or scanned and emailed.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/media/documents/enrol-k12.pdf - If you require a paper Enrolment application, please visit the school office.
If you are not within our local intake area, an Online Out of Area Application form needs to be completed.
https://ehub.enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/ooainfo?schoolCode=4193
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the office by phone or email.
Renee Radecki - Relieving Principal
Cultural Calendar for August
Cultural Calendar for August
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 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.
Japgunn Arora | Vivaan Chopra | Fahad Faisal |
Jodh Kaur | Ashwinth Majurathan | Hrishwin Majurathan |
Janeya Marasigan | Jaxen Neri | Tirth Patel |
Stephanie Rowan | Jhanvi Saroha | Alex Wang |
Lakshya Kumar | Noor Sadruddin | Austin Black |
Jireh Tarvina | Ella Tierney | Renee Whitehouse |
Gabrielle Custodio | Zana Davila |
Attendance Matters
It’s always wonderful to have our students in classrooms, ready to engage and learn. Our teachers and school staff are committed to fostering growth and opportunity, and we are here to work with you to support your child to reach their full potential.
Consistently going to school has countless benefits – from learning, to creating social connections and improving wellbeing through access to support and quality education.
Students are required to attend school every day, whether it’s the first or last day of the term, Mondays, Fridays or days dedicated to sports carnivals, school excursions and incursions.
As we look ahead to the remainder of the school year, I’d like to remind our school community that we are here to work with you to support your child to thrive. We know that families experience a variety of challenging circumstances, and we are committed to working with you to address any barriers to regular attendance.
If your child is absent from school, please let us know why as soon as possible, even if it’s just a few minutes at the start or end of the school day. Of course, there will be times when your child is unable to be at school, like when they are unwell. Medical appointments should take place outside school hours where possible, and family holidays should be taken in term breaks.
We are committed to ensuring all of our students achieve the very best they can and attendance is an area we can continue to strengthen together. We have worked hard this year so far, let's continue to work together to maximise the remaining learning time of the school year together. Remember every day counts!
#AttendanceMatters
PBL
Greetings readers,
Welcome to Week 4 and the PBL Team’s second newsletter article for Term 3.
Over the past two weeks, students at Blacktown South Public School have been focusing on learning the “High Five” problem-solving technique. It was great to see many students being Safe Respectful Learners by handling conflicts in a positive way. A special congratulations to 2G and 3M for showcasing their ideas and creating these fantastic posters.
Well-done!
This newsletter is focused on the National Week of Action Against Bullying. Over the next two weeks, students at Blacktown South Public School will work to raise awareness about bullying and create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. To help keep our school respectful and safe, the PBL team wants to remind everyone of this year’s theme for Bullying No Way Week: “Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.” This theme reminds us that each of us can make a positive impact.
What is Bullying?
Bullying is when someone hurts another person on purpose, and it happens more than once. It can be done in different ways, like saying mean things, hitting, leaving someone out, or being hurtful online. Knowing what bullying is helps us see it and stop it.
What Can Bullying Look and Feel Like?
Bullying can look different for everyone. It might be name-calling, spreading lies, pushing someone, or not letting someone play with others. When someone is bullied, they may feel scared, sad, or alone. It’s important for everyone to know that being bullied is not okay, and there is help available.
Why Do You Think People Bully Others?
People bully others for different reasons. Sometimes, they may feel insecure or have been bullied themselves. Others might want to feel more powerful or in control. It’s important for us to understand that bullying often comes from problems in the bully’s life, not because of the victim.
As we celebrate Antibullying Week, let’s work together to create a safe and respectful learning environment. Talk about bullying at home and encourage our students to be brave and stand up against it. Together, we can make our school a better place!
Thank you for your continued commitment to helping our students become safe, respectful learners!
Have a wonderful fortnight,
The PBL Team.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten had a blast celebrating 100 Days of School with a day full of fun and learning! The students looked fantastic dressed up! We made special crowns and took part in exciting activities like building with 100 blocks, creating structures with 100 marshmallows and a 100 cup tower! Kindergarten enjoyed a disco and finished off the day with a visit to our very own classroom movie theatre! It was a joyful milestone filled with laughter, learning, and lots of proud smiles!
P&C and Uniform Shop
Our Parent and Community organization 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.
🎉 Colour Fun Run – Thank You! 🎉
Our Colour Fun Run was held last week, and wow! What a day it was!
From colourful powder to inflatables, obstacles, and the foam machine, the fun never stopped.
A big thank you to the 136 students from our school who created a fundraising profile, and an extra shout-out to the 89 students who actively fundraised, helping us get closer to our goal.
🏆 Top Fundraisers
- 1st – Zana (KE)
- 2nd – Ashnoor (KE)
- 3rd – Sarisha (3/4S)
These three superstars will get to slime a teacher and receive extra gifts! 🎁
👏 Class Winners
- 1G – for creating the most online profiles. Every student in 1G will receive a handball as a reward.
🎯 Special Lucky Dip Winners
Last week, our top 10 fundraisers (at that point) were invited to choose from our lucky dip prizes – their smiles said it all!
- Zana (KE)
- Sarisha (3/4S)
- Gerard (3M)
- Broden (KOS)
- Austin (1G)
- Pia (4C)
- Cohen (2G)
- Safiyya (KT)
- Hayden (KH)
- Lumi (1G)
💰 Total Raised
While we didn’t quite reach our $25,000 target, we still raised an amazing $10,314.28!
Please note: 35% + GST will go back to the company for all products and event supplies.
A huge thank you again to our wonderful BSPS community. We couldn’t have done it without you!
💙 Fathers' Day Stall 💙
📅 Tuesday 2nd September (Main Stall)
📅 Wednesday 3rd September (Backup Stall)
All gifts are $5, available via our online store or by sending money with your child on the day.
We would love for parents to come and join us by helping our students choose gifts or pack them into bags. If you’d like to volunteer, please complete the slip below and return it to the office.
Loose Change Drive
3/4S had their pizza party on Thursday - Congratulations to the winners of Loose Change Drive!!!
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 have arrived. Feel free to order as you need✅️
A wide range of hats available, including Legionnaires, and microfibre bucket hats.
🚫Please note we are currently out of stock in our Blue Caps. We anticipate about a 3 week wait on these.
We appreciate your understanding.
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.
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!
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.
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