Greenacre Public School - Term 2 Week 4

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Behaviour Support and Management Plan 

I have included in this week's newsletter our school’s Behaviour Support and Management Document, which is a requirement for all NSW public schools. I often get asked about how we respond to behaviours and what our systems and processes are. Staff have developed our school plan with a focus on whole-school, prevention-focused and positive approaches to behaviour support, including the social and emotional initiatives and anti-bullying strategies across the school. 

This document outlines our approach and its purpose is to provide a clear framework for promoting positive behaviour and managing any challenges that may arise. It aims to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, where respect, responsibility, and cooperation are at the forefront of our school culture.

Our Behaviour Support and Management Document includes key components such as:

1. Expected Behaviours: Clear guidelines outlining the behaviours we expect from our students to foster a positive school environment.
2. Support Strategies: A range of proactive strategies to encourage positive behaviour and support students in their learning and social interactions.
3. Intervention Procedures: Defined processes for addressing inappropriate behaviours, ensuring that responses are fair, consistent, and focused on helping students learn from their mistakes.
4. Roles and Responsibilities: An outline of the roles of staff, students, and parents in supporting our school’s behaviour expectations.

We believe that collaboration is key to the success of our Behaviour Support and Management approach. Therefore, this document was taken to our Parents and Citizens (P&C) meeting at the beginning of the year, where we consulted with our community members. We value your insights and feedback, which help us ensure the document reflects the values and expectations of our school community.

Thank you for your continued support in fostering a positive school environment. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out.

Seesaw Platform 

I want to take a moment to highlight the importance of Seesaw, our primary communication platform with parents. Seesaw allows us to share important updates, messages, and notes regarding your child’s learning and school activities, ensuring you stay informed and engaged in their education.

During our recent Parents and Citizens (P&C) meeting, several issues were raised regarding accessibility to the Seesaw platform. I appreciate your feedback and am currently in the process of following up on these concerns to find the best solutions for our school community.

In the meantime, if you do not have access to Seesaw, please contact the school. Your child’s teacher can assist in arranging access for you. When reaching out, please let us know which class your child is in, so we can provide you with the support needed. 

Staying connected through Seesaw is vital to ensure that you are up to date with everything happening at school. Thank you for being proactive in your engagement with your child’s education. We appreciate your support!

Invitation to take part in Consultation Process 

Children’s Online Privacy Code The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), the Australian Government’s privacy regulator, is seeking input from parents and carers to assist them in its development of the Children’s Online Privacy Code (the Code). The Code will put children at the centre of privacy protections in Australia. By the time a child turns 13, it's estimated that 72 million pieces of data will have been collected about them. The aim of the Code is to strengthen privacy protections for the handling of children’s personal information. Your insights as a parent or carer are important. 

To have your say, please take a few minutes to complete the parent discussion paper here Children’s Online Privacy Code (consultation for children and parents) | OAIC. 

Your support is also important in helping your child or young person to take part too, please assist them in filling out the appropriate worksheet, provided in the link above. This consultation will be open until 30 June 2025. You can read more about the Code here Children’s Online Privacy Code | OAIC.

Melissa Proctor,
Principal

OUR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Strategic Direction 1: Student Growth and Attainment

This term during staff development day the staff engaged in professional learning about High Potential and Gifted Students.

High potential students are those who are capable of high performance in one or more of the following domains:

1. Intellectual – reasoning, problem-solving, academic learning
   
   
2. Creative – innovation, imagination, original thinking
   
   
3. Social-emotional – empathy, leadership, emotional intelligence
   
   
4. Physical – athletic ability, coordination, strength

A gifted student is one who demonstrates outstanding potential and performs or has the capacity to perform at levels significantly beyond their peers.

At Greenacre PS we use multiple methods to:

Identify students with high potential (not just test scores)                                                                                                Support them with differentiated learning programs                                                                                                        Monitor progress to ensure continued growth and engagement                                                                                          Train teachers in evidence-based strategies to recognise and support these students

Across K-2 we are currently working on building automaticity in both literacy and numeracy skills in the classroom.

What is automaticity?

It means being able to do things like read common words or solve number facts quickly and easily without having to stop and think each time. This helps free up brain space so students can focus on deeper thinking, like understanding stories or solving tricky problems.

How can you help at home?
Here are a few simple and fun ways to support your child:

Literacy

• Read and reread books.
  
  
• Practice camera words.
  
  

Numeracy

• Practice the counting cards
  
  
• Use everyday activities like cooking or shopping to talk about numbers.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about how you can help child Just a few minutes each day can make a big difference over time. Thank you for your continued support in your child’s learning!

Ines Matanovic, 

Deputy Principal K-2 & Support Unit   

OUR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Strategic Direction 2-Transparent Learning Culture

The purpose of Strategic Direction 2 is to foster a strong learning culture where teachers demonstrate a personal responsibility for improving their practice in order to drive student growth and learning.

As part of Term 2 staff development days all staff members actively engaged in professional learning focused on High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) ‘Diversity’ and ‘Explicit Teaching’ strategies within the classroom. This collaborative approach allowed educators to deepen their understanding of how to effectively address the varied needs of gifted learners. Additionally, assistant principals facilitated grade meetings that provided ongoing professional development, ensuring that staff could embed their new learning into class programs across all curriculum areas. By integrating these insights into their teaching practices, our teachers are better equipped to create inclusive and challenging learning environments that promote the growth and success of all students, particularly those with high potential.

Professional learning encompassed a comprehensive exploration of :

•  Four domains of high potential: intellectual, creative, physical, and social-emotional,
• Strategies for identifying students with high potential and gifted education (HPGE) in the classroom,
•  Utilising the Differentiation Adjustment Tool effectively in programs

Building teacher capacity is essential for fostering an environment where educators learn from one another, share best practices, and collaboratively enhance their teaching strategies. By engaging in professional development focused on high potential and gifted education, teachers can better understand the unique needs of gifted students and implement tailored approaches that promote their growth and development. Collaborative learning communities allow teachers to exchange insights and experiences, ensuring that they are equipped with the latest research and effective methodologies. This collective knowledge not only empowers teachers but ultimately leads to enriched learning experiences for students, supporting their academic and individual growth.

Slavica Markovski,

Deputy Principal 3-6

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 3

Connection and Belonging

This term, we have continued to work as a staff and community and have taken significant steps to prioritise the wellbeing of our students, staff, and families. In Week 2, our executive team participated in a dedicated planning day, where we collaborated with Justin from The Wellbeing Distillery to develop a clear vision and actionable strategies focused on enhancing wellbeing throughout our school community.

During this planning session, we engaged in meaningful discussions about what wellbeing means for our school and how we can create an environment that supports the social, emotional and cognitive wellbeing and health of everyone at Greenacre PS. Our goal is to foster a positive school culture where all members feel safe, connected and a sense of belonging.

To ensure our initiatives are inclusive and reflect the needs of our community, we conducted focus groups with parents, staff, and students. These discussions provided invaluable insights and perspectives that will guide our action plan. We appreciate everyone who took the time to share their thoughts, as your input is crucial in shaping our wellbeing strategies.

Based on the feedback received during the focus groups, the executive and school wellbeing team will continue working on refining and implementing the action plan, which will include various activities and initiatives aimed at promoting wellbeing. We are committed to working on this collectively to ensure that student, staff and community wellness are at the core so we can create a happier, more engaged school community where everyone can grow and thrive.

We look forward to providing you with more updates as our action plan for wellbeing progresses. 

Andrea Gavrielatos

Rel. Deputy Principal

A MESSAGE FROM OUR APCI TEAM

Additional Programs we Offer at GPS

At Greenacre Public School we believe that every child has the potential to thrive and succeed in their learning. To support our diverse learners, we run a variety of intervention programs tailored for specific students who may need extra assistance.

Some of the programs that we implement are:

Reading Hub focuses on supporting students one on one to build on foundational skills, fluency and automaticity in the areas of:

• Reading - phonics, camera words or reading, and/or
• Mathematics - counting or number sense.

Macqlit is an explicit and systematic reading intervention program for small groups of readers in Years 3-6, who require extra support in the area of word recognition. It provides teachers with a comprehensive sequence of lessons that includes all the key components necessary for effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Learning and Support is a tailored group based intervention that supports students to develop skills and strategies in literacy or numeracy to allow them to engage at a grade level. Sessions aim to develop and improve a variety of reading or numeracy skills, depending on the needs of individual groups of students. 

Students are selected for these programs based on their learning needs and impact of these programs is analysed regularly. The groups and students for these interventions are changed regularly to ensure that different students are accessing the programs as required.  

Success Story

We were proud to congratulate and celebrate two students this week who have graduated from the Macqlit reading program. 

These two boys attended Macqlit lessons for about 6 months to help them improve in their reading. They loved attending lessons with Ms. Slaitini everyday and have shown an incredible amount of growth in reading. 

Last Monday at assembly, they were awarded certificates to recognise their achievement in this program and in the learning. Great effort boys, we are so proud of your dedication and diligence!

A MESSAGE FROM OUR WELLBEING TEAM

Have a look at the strengths we have explored so far. Each fortnight students are introduced to a new character strength. Students participate in daily discussions and activities within their classrooms based on these. Each fortnight a new poster will be posted onto the Facebook and Seesaw pages. Each poster includes some information on what the strength is and how you can use it at home. Make sure to keep an eye out for them.

SPORTING ANNOUNCEMENTS

District Cross Country Carnival

District cross country was cancelled this week due to weather, We will let students know when a new date has been set. 

Athletics Carnival

The Athletics Carnival will be on Tuesday 17th of June at The Crest.

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Winter Gala Day

The long-awaited Winter Gala Day kicked off on Friday, bringing with it an unforgettable day of sport, spirit, and school pride!

Dressed proudly in their school jerseys, our students took to the fields and courts with energy, focus, and determination, ready to represent our school in Mixed League Tag, Soccer, Netball, and Newcombe Ball.

From the very first whistle, the day was action-packed, with back-to-back games that challenged our teams' endurance, patience, and strategic thinking. Each match showcased the incredible teamwork and sportsmanship our students are known for. Whether it was a well earned goal, a try saving tackle, or a perfectly placed serve, their passion and pride were on full display.

Congratulations to all students who gave their best on the day your efforts were inspiring!

We wish all teams the best of luck as they head into Round 2.

Let’s keep the momentum going!

Zone Rugby League and Soccer

Congratulations to our Zone Representatives!

We are incredibly proud of our talented students who have been selected to represent our school at the Zone level in rugby league and soccer. Congratulations Hussain A, Jaafar C, Taha K and Malekai P on representing our school at the Bankstown Zone PSSA Rugby League 11/12s Championships and getting to the semi finals.

Their hard work, dedication, and outstanding performance on the field have truly paid off.

Congratulations to Musa N and Ali H who will be representing our school at the Bankstown Zone PSSA Soccer Championships. Best of luck.

NRL League 

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Zeina Rizk,
Sport coordinator

LEARNING IN KINDERGARTEN

Our Kindergarten students are off to a wonderful and positive start in Term 2!

This term, they are developing important foundational skills in literacy, with a strong focus on learning how to blend phonemes to support early reading. They are also beginning to write simple sentences, applying their growing knowledge of letters and sounds.In addition to their literacy work, students are building their listening skills through engaging group activities and class discussions.

These skills are essential as they continue to grow as confident and active learners. We are so proud of their progress and look forward to a term filled with curiosity, creativity, and growth!

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LEARNING IN OUR YEAR 1 AND YEAR 2 CLASSES

1B

In 1B, we’ve been focusing on dictation during reading warm ups! Dictation in 1B looks like this… Students listen to the teacher read a sentence then write it down. This boosts students’ spelling, listening skills and focus!

With the use of our phonemic awareness and phonic knowledge we can write the sentences we hear.

1L

In 1L, we’ve been busy exploring the long vowel e sound in our phonics lessons! Students have been learning to identify the different spellings of the e sound, including ee, ea, e, and y. During our Reading Warm Ups, we’ve been coding these words by marking the vowel patterns and saying the sounds out loud. This daily practice is helping us become more confident and accurate readers.

We’re also beginning to apply our knowledge when reading texts and writing words with long e sounds in our own sentences!

1M

Students in 1M love learning through hands-on experiences! As part of our writing program, we have been exploring procedural recounts, so to make learning more fun and meaningful, the students made lemonade from scratch—measuring, mixing, and writing about each step. In Maths, we have been learning to tell the time on analogue clocks, and what better way to understand this concept than by creating our own colourful, working clocks? These activities help reinforce key skills whilst also making learning exciting and memorable for all students.

1/2H

This term, students are learning to navigate, read and understand informative texts. This requires learning about how the features of informative texts are different to the ones authors use in imaginative texts. Students showed great enthusiasm when using their detective skills to search through a range of books to find a contents page, index page, glossary, labels, maps, sub headings, captions and real images. It was great to see them working in groups and discussing features they could or couldn’t find.

2B

In Sport, 2B have been exploring the exciting world of gymnastics as part of their GOT Games program. They’ve been learning and practising key skills such as balance, coordination, strength, and flexibility. Students are developing confidence in their movements while having fun trying out different gymnastic techniques and activities.

2J

In Library, 2J class explored the history of the ANZACs and learned about their important role in Australia’s past. The students had the exciting opportunity to try on replica artefacts, such as hats and uniforms, helping them imagine what life was like for soldiers during wartime. Through stories and hands-on experiences, they developed a deeper understanding of bravery and remembrance.

2N

This week, 2N have been busy learning all about the months of the year. We’ve explored the order of the months and discovered how many days are in each one. 2N have enjoyed singing songs and using fun activities to help them remember how many days are in each month, especially the tricky ones like February!

LEARNING IN THE LIBRARY

Books in Homes Program

Our Year 4 students have a wonderful opportunity to grow their love of reading through the Books in Homes program. Three times a year, each student can choose three brand-new books to keep—purchased by the school—to build their home library and inspire a lifelong passion for reading. This initiative supports literacy development and encourages students to read for pleasure both at school and at home.

National Simultaneous Storytime 2025

Greenacre Public School proudly joined over 2 million students across Australia in celebrating the joy of reading during the 2025 National Simultaneous Storytime. This year’s featured book, “Truck Cat” by Deborah Frenkel,  Students gathered to watch the live reading, sharing in the magic of storytelling with schools, libraries, and communities nationwide.

It was a fun and inspiring event that highlighted the power of books to bring people together—one page at a time.

Up to twice a term, during the school year, we will send home the Book Club catalogue with a different selection of books offered for all ages. You will find award-winning books and bestsellers, as well as old and new favourites. Book club has a wide range of children’s reading levels and interests and are inexpensive (some books cost as little as $3). It is easy to order. The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card. Your child’s order is submitted directly to school and the books will be delivered to class. You can place your child’s order at scholastic.com.au/loop or by using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Alternatively you can return the competed order form to the office with the payment, and we can process your order. Once orders arrive, they are then sent back to the classroom teacher who will send the orders home with the student.

Valerie Rutherford and Gemma Goggins

PARENT COMMUNITY GROUP NEWS

Honouring Our Mothers and Loved Ones

Greenacre Public School had the pleasure of celebrating our mums and the important women in our lives with a heartfelt afternoon tea. Guests were welcomed with a delicious spread of sweets and pastries, and enjoyed a touching video featuring messages from students expressing their love and appreciation.

After the tea, families were invited into classrooms where children proudly shared their work and spent some quality time with their visitors. The event was filled with smiles, laughter, and meaningful moments.

We sincerely thank all of you for the love, care, and support they give every day. We hope you felt truly celebrated!

P&C Mother’s Day Stall – A Wonderful Success!

Our Mother’s Day Stall was a heartwarming highlight for 2025! Students had a lovely time selecting thoughtful gifts to celebrate the amazing women in their lives.

A special mention goes to our playgroup, who had a fantastic visit to the stall! After a fun-filled morning of learning and play, the little ones were thrilled to choose special presents for their mums and loved ones.

A big thank you to our incredible P&C for organizing such a meaningful experience. Your time, effort, and creativity are truly appreciated by the whole school community.

Mother’s Day Raffle Winners

Congratulations to our lucky Mother’s Day raffle winners! We hope you enjoyed the fun and excitement.

A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible mothers in our school community — your love, patience, and dedication never go unnoticed. We celebrate you not just on Mother’s Day, but every day!

UNIFORM SHOP

Uniforms are no longer available to be purchased from the school. Only hats and library bags are still sold from the office.

All other uniform items are available from Yagoona Uniforms and Embroidery.

MOBILE PHONES AND SMART WATCHES AT SCHOOL

All devices including smart watches are not to be brought to school.

If your child must bring a phone, tablet or smart watch to school they must report to the office and hand the device in for safe keeping until 3pm bell.

CANTEEN LUNCH ORDERS

OUR CANTEEN IS NOW ONLINE WITH FLEXISCHOOLS

Great news everyone! You can now order lunch orders from our canteen for your children online through the Flexischools app. Download the app via the QR code on the attachment, create your account and place your next order online via Flexischools. Please be aware that students and families can also still place orders in person in the morning over the canteen window or via the lunch basket in the classroom.

Lunch orders should be written out and prepared completed at home with correct money enclosed so your child can proceed directly to class even if you are running late.

We appreciate your assistance with this matter.

Should you need to contact the canteen, they are available between

8.30am-9.30am Monday-Friday

Please note: There will no longer be “credit” available at the canteen and we will no longer be accepting orders via phone calls.

Diane Richardson

School Administration Manager

PARKING SAFELY AROUND SCHOOLS – IMPORTANT

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY

Our wonderful community is hosting a range of programs for all ages—games, workshops, classes, and more!

Come connect, learn, and enjoy!

click the links below to see just a few of the many exciting programs available. 

CANCER COUNCIL NUTRITION TIPS

These school snacks are incredibly easy to make, requiring just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time—perfect for busy mornings! Packed with nutrients, they offer a wholesome boost of energy and focus, helping students stay alert and satisfied throughout the school day.