TERM 1 WEEK 4

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Welcome Back Greenacre PS Community 

I hope everyone had a restful break and is ready to dive into another exciting and enriching school year! Whether you're returning to familiar faces or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to have you back. This year promises new opportunities for growth, creativity, and connection. Together, we will continue to build a vibrant and supportive community where every student, teacher, and staff member can thrive.

Staffing 

We are excited to introduce some wonderful new additions to our staff this year, as well as welcome back some familiar faces! Please join us in extending a warm welcome to:

• Jason Ou – Year 2 Classroom Teacher    
• Heidi Ceccato –Year 6 Classroom Teacher 
• Hala Khrais – EALD Teacher 
• Alex Cox – Release from Face to Face Classroom Teacher 

Additionally, we are thrilled to welcome back two outstanding members of our community:

• Margaret Fasulo - Year 3 Classroom Teacher 
• Rheanna Franjieh - Kindergarten Classroom Teacher 

We are also excited to announce that Ulfat Ullah has joined us as a new school counselor to work alongside Cara Chillari. With her expertise and dedication, we look forward to the invaluable support she will provide to our students and families.

We are confident that these new staff members will bring fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and talent to our school community. Please join us in giving them a warm welcome as they settle into their roles. Together, we look forward to another fantastic year of growth, collaboration, and success.

Security Cameras 

We would like to inform you that we are in the process of installing CCTV cameras across key areas of our school to enhance the safety and security of our students and staff. The cameras will be placed in the playgrounds and hallways, but not in classrooms or toilets, to ensure privacy while maintaining a secure environment.

As you may know, our school faced a number of break-ins last year, along with ongoing incidents of property damage and instances of physical violence. In light of these challenges, the decision to install CCTV is a proactive measure to protect everyone within our school community. This initiative will help deter harmful behaviour, support the safety of all individuals, and provide a safer learning environment.

We believe this action is necessary to ensure the well-being of our students, staff, and visitors, and we appreciate your understanding and support as we implement these important security improvements.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Anti - Bullying and Anti - Racism Lessons

This term, we will begin implementing targeted lessons on anti-bullying and anti-racism across all classrooms from Kindergarten through Grade 6. These lessons are part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive school environment.

Over the past year, we have seen a concerning rise in incidents related to bullying and racism. As a school, we believe it is crucial to take proactive steps to address these behaviours and ensure that all students feel safe, valued, and supported.

All classrooms will be expected to teach explicit lessons focused on bullying and racism, which will help our students recognize these behaviours, understand why they are unacceptable, and develop the skills necessary to prevent them.

Through these lessons, students will also learn the importance of respecting differences, cooperating, sharing, and understanding each other’s feelings. These social skills play a critical role in reducing bullying behaviours now and in the future. Teaching students to respect themselves and others at an early age greatly decreases the likelihood of them becoming involved in bullying.

We are confident that these activities will empower students to recognize and address bullying while helping them understand the importance of treating everyone with kindness and respect. We also encourage you to talk with your child about these topics to reinforce the lessons they’ll be learning in class.

Thank you for your continued support in creating a positive school culture where all students feel safe and valued. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to reach out.

Community Information Book 

Please take a moment to read our community information book that outlines how we operate as a school. 

Melissa Proctor,
Principal

OUR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Welcome back to School Everyone!

We have had a great start to the year. Teachers and students are taking the time to get to know each other and build strong relationships. All teachers are focused on establishing classroom routines, planning lessons, and setting high expectations for student learning and behaviour. We appreciate your patience and support during class formation. Please take a moment to read the “11 Tips for a Great Start to School.” It's normal for students to feel some nerves at the beginning of the year, but these simple tips can help reduce stress each day. Remember, sticking to a routine with early bedtimes can significantly improve their learning the following day.

2025 Kindergarten 

Congratulations to our Kindergarten students, teachers and families. 

 Everyone has settled in and been very excited about coming to school and talking about their day. They have started to form friendships and interact with others during playtime. Daily routines have been established and everyone is ready to learn. Great start Kindergarten.  

NAPLAN information

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3 and 5 sit each year. As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards.

NAPLAN will occur in Term 1

12 March- 24 March 2025 for Year 3 & 5. 

What can I do to support my child in NAPLAN? 

Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. You can support your child by letting them know that NAPLAN is a part of their school program and reminding them to simply do their best. Some explanation of NAPLAN is useful to help students understand and be comfortable with the format of the tests; however, it is not necessary for parents/carers to do this. Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the types of questions in the tests and will provide appropriate support and guidance. 

 Parents can access the Public demonstration site to show examples of Online NAPLAN questions-

https://nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site

Moving into Year 7- 2026

If you would like your child to attend a government school in 2026, you will need to complete an expression of interest for the Year 6 to 7 transition. The expression of interest lets you indicate which school(s) you would like your child to attend in Year 7. After you submit this form and it has been assessed, your child will be offered a place at a government school.

Most NSW Government schools have designated intake areas so that all school-age children will be eligible to attend a government school – their local school. Your child’s permanent residential address determines which school is your child’s local school.

This year online high school applications will be available and open Monday 3 March 2025 via the Greenacre Public School website. More information about how to apply online will be sent through by the classroom teacher in the next 2 weeks.If there are any issues completing the online Expression of Interest, please contact the school and Mrs Markovski or Mrs Nancy Karouche can arrange a time to sit with you and complete the application.

All high school applications are due online no later than Friday 28 March 2025.

Year 6 Leadership Team

Congratulations to the Year 6 students who were voted by their peers and teachers to be this year's School captains, Vice-captains and Leaders. They are very excited to lead the school and be good role models by demonstrating Greenacre PS  two rules- Listen to the teachers and Allow others to learn.

Student leadership in Year 6 is an important aspect of primary school that helps develop essential skills and qualities. Through the leadership program, Year 6 students learn to work collaboratively, make decisions, and inspire their peers to contribute positively to the school community. 

Participating in leadership activities allows Year 6 students to develop important skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. The Student leaders are involved in organising events, such as fundraising activities, ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day  and Special assemblies encouraging other students to get involved.

School Captains: 

Shaima & Zakaria

School Vice Captains:

Malekai & Zahra

School Leaders:

Musa, Mark, Zulfe, Khoder, Adam, Ahlam, Taha, Razan & Adrita

Pick Ups and Drop Offs

Arriving at school on time gives our children a calmer start to their day, they do not miss valuable instruction time and it helps them develop good habits and time management skills. If for some reason you are running late, this means any time after 9am, it is really important that an adult escorts your child directly to the office. Please do not drop your child off at the gate for safety reasons and assume they have entered the school through the locked gates. 

Pick up at 3pm is just as important. K-2 students need to be picked up at their designated area by either a 3-6 sibling or older family member. 3-6 are dismissed by their classroom teacher and are required to leave promptly. If you are picking up your child, please keep in mind that during school hours traffic is very congested. Either organise a place to meet your child or you may have to leave earlier if you are parking and coming onsite. If you are running late, please ensure you call the school office and provide an estimated time of arrival and who is picking them up. After the school day ends, supervision responsibility shifts to parents or guardians as teachers are meeting with families, planning or attending professional development.

Student Toilets

It has come to our attention that a number of parents and carers are going into the toilets, especially the K-2 before and after school to assist their children. Parents and carers are not allowed into the toilets due to privacy and safety concerns. Essentially, the rule is in place to protect the interests of both students and staff, ensuring that everyone’s privacy, safety, and comfort are respected. If you have a concern about your child in the toilets, please contact the office and arrange an appointment with one of the senior executive. No parent or carer is permitted to enter the Greenacre PS student toilets at any time. Thank you for your understanding and support.

School Assemblies

Grade assemblies will take place Thursday afternoon, please take note of the following times:

Week 5: Stage 3 @ 2pm-3pm

Week 6: Stage 2 @ 2:15-3pm

Week 7: K-2 @2:15-3pm

Week 8: Stage 3 @ 2pm-3pm

Week 9: Stage 2 @ 2:15-3pm

Week 10: K-2 @2:15-3pm

It is a special time for students to be recognised for their hard work throughout the term.

We look forward to seeing parents and friends attending these assemblies.

Ines Matanovic,  Deputy Principal K-2 & Support Unit                                                                                                          Slavica Markovski, Deputy Principal 3-6

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 3

Connection and Belonging

This year, one of the key initiatives in our School Excellence Plan is to develop and establish an updated wellbeing framework, specifically designed to meet the wellbeing needs of our school community. We are excited to announce that Justin Robinson, Director of The Wellbeing Distillery, will work alongside our school community to help develop this tailored wellbeing plan.

To ensure that our framework truly reflects the needs and perspectives of everyone at Greenacre PS, we have, this week, conducted a series of focus groups with students, staff and parents. These sessions provided an opportunity for all key community stakeholders to share their insights, experiences, and suggestions regarding wellbeing in our school community.

The information and data from these focus groups will inform the framework's development. In the coming weeks and months, members of the school’s Wellbeing Team and Executive Team will come together to work on analysing the data and engaging in rigorous conversations to begin the process of creating our evidence based framework. 

We believe that by engaging with all stakeholders, we can create a comprehensive approach that fosters all key elements of wellbeing that we aim to nurture for everyone at Greenacre PS. We are committed to enhancing the sense of self-worth, belonging and overall wellbeing for our entire community through a wellbeing framework that wholeheartedly supports and empowers every member of Greenacre PS!

Andrea Gavrielatos

A MESSAGE FROM OUR WELLBEING TEAM

A key part of our Recognition System is students wearing FULL school uniform. Students need to wear their uniform consistently.

This is something that teachers and students track everyday.

If you have any questions about what is or isn’t uniform please speak to your child's classroom teacher.

Check out our uniform posters to ensure your child doesn’t miss out on receiving their White, Navy and Sky Awards at the next assembly.

LEARNING IN KINDERGARTEN

Our kindergarten students have settled in beautifully and are off to a wonderful start! They're diving into their new routines, making friends, and exploring their classroom with enthusiasm and curiosity. With engaging activities that promote teamwork and hands-on learning, it's been amazing to see their confidence soar. We can't wait to watch them continue to grow into independent, creative thinkers throughout the year. Stay tuned for more updates on their exciting journey ahead!

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LEARNING IN YEARS 1 AND 2

Learning in Stage 1

Years 1 and 2 have made a wonderful start to the year. We have begun building new friendships, setting up routines and diving head first into learning. Students have started their English learning around the text “Jetty Jumping’.

They are enjoying participating in phonics lessons and reading warm ups. All classes have commenced sport on Tuesday afternoons. Students have shown some creative flair through their artworks and in class crafts.

Maths has been a key part of their day, building their number sense skills and confidence when completing learning in this area.

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LEARNING IN THE LIBRARY

Kindergarten's first Library lesson

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Lunch Time in the Library 

Book Club Orders

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.

Or 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

Play group

Exciting start to the year with playgroup!

We're kicking off playgroup for the siblings of our students, ranging from 6 months to prekindergarten. Playgroup helps little ones ease into the school community in a fun and supportive way. It’s a great opportunity to build friendships, get familiar with school routines, and prepare for their upcoming journey. Here’s to new beginnings and happy learning! 

Information about our playgroup is below, we hope to see you at our next play date!

School-Based Education Support Class

We're kicking off the year in a positive and productive way, and we'd love for you to be part of it! Our School-Based Education Support Class offers a fantastic opportunity for parents/ carers in our community to learn and grow, with support from both our dedicated teacher and fellow students.

If you'd like to join us, we still have a few spots available. Please contact Nancy Kourouche, our Community Liaison Officer, as soon as possible to enrol;.

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

PLEASE SCAN OUR QR CODE AT THE FRONT GATE BEFORE ENTERING OUR SCHOOL

The Department of Education has requested that any person entering school grounds for meetings, courses, uniform purchases or anything else through the office is required to use the NSW Health App (school check in) to register your visit for COVID-19 contact tracing purposes.

Please take a moment to use your mobile phone to scan the QR code located on the front gate or office door before entering our office area.

Our EFTPOS transactions can only be taken up until 2pm each day. If you wish to pay for something after 2pm, please ensure you bring cash.

Our school office accepts cash and EFTPOS transactions, but EFTPOS is preferred at the moment.

Please understand that we are unable to give change so we ask that you bring correct money when dealing with us as we cannot give change immediately.

As always, we appreciate your cooperation.

Diane Richardson
School Administration Manager

PARKING SAFELY AROUND SCHOOLS – IMPORTANT

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY

CANCER COUNCIL NUTRITION TIPS

A healthy lunch box is crucial for students as it provides the essential nutrients they need to stay focused, energized, and ready to learn throughout the day. Balanced meals that include protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains help improve concentration, memory, and overall academic performance. Proper nutrition also supports growth and strengthens the immune system, reducing the likelihood of illness. By choosing healthy options, students establish positive eating habits that can benefit their long-term health and well-being.