Hamilton North Public School
Chalkboard Term 3 Week 2, 27th July 2022
Principal Message
Welcome back to another exciting and and fun-filled term! I hope you enjoyed your winter break and that the rainy weather gave you an opportunity to bunker down with loved ones and relax.
It was wonderful to see our students smiling faces return to school last week and they have been very busy in their classrooms. There are so many wonderful events planned for Term 3 including NAIDOC Week, Upcycle - Art Exhibition, Kindergarten Orientation, Gardening and SISA Sport. Please find more detailed information below.
With a rise in COVID-19 case numbers, NSW Health have provided updated information which went home yesterday with additional RATs for each family. As we continue to prioritise student and staff learning and wellbeing while at school, our layered COVID-smart measures will continue for Term 3. These ‘baseline measures’ are aligned to the NSW Government’s general community settings and include:
- staying home and getting tested if unwell, and only attending school when symptom free
- strongly encouraging mask-wearing for all staff and students, particularly in the first 4 weeks of term
- rapid antigen testing for symptomatic students and staff, and close contacts attending school to learn and work
- strongly encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations for students, staff and their families, including a booster shot (when eligible)
- strongly encouraging students, staff and their families to get a flu vaccination
- strict requirements for close contacts attending school
- good hygiene practices
- maximising natural ventilation
- boosted cleaning during the day, with particular attention given to high touch surface areas
- responding to local COVID-19 conditions when necessary, by working with the department’s Health, Safety and Staff Wellbeing team.
Thank you to families for your ongoing support and resilience as we continue to work together to support our students. If you have any questions regarding the information sent home, please contact the school office or talk to your child's class teacher.
We look forward to working with you this term.
Kind Regards
Irene Kuba
Assistant Principal
classroom photos
Difference, Diversity and Inclusion
6L Beehive of Goals
6L created an in-class Beehive with our goals for Term 3. This consolidates our school focus of ‘Be the best that you can be’, and ties in with our new school signage.
Some of the 6L students focused on more mature goals, such as transitioning to highschool and making more grown up social decisions.
NAIDOC ACTIVITIES
NAIDOC Week is a time to reflect and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, recognising them as the ongoing Custodians of the land. This official NAIDOC Week celebrations will be held from 3-10 July 2022. As this will be during the school holidays, Hamilton North Public School will reflect on and celebrate NAIDOC Week during Week 4 in the classroom with the theme ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ This theme encourages all of us to champion change, while celebrating those who have already driven and led change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over generations. We need to move beyond just acknowledgement, good intentions, empty words and promises, and hollow commitments. Enough is enough. The relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non‑Indigenous Australians needs to be based on justice, equity, and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights.
On Wednesday 10th August, (Term 3 Week 4) HNPS will celebrate NAIDOC Week with rotational activities celebrating and highlighting the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This year students will have the opportunity to taste bush tucker with our Aboriginal education teacher Mrs Price from the Hunter Wetlands, paint with Aboriginal artist Kristy Cameron, cook johnny cakes, read quality texts that embed Aboriginal perspectives, create nature prints, learn about Aboriginal symbols and learn an Aboriginal song. Thank you to Kristy Cameron who is generously donating her time to run a painting workshop and to the team of dedicated staff who have worked together with our local community to host an exciting day for students.
Upcycle - Art Exhibition
Together with the P&C, staff are organising an art exhibition called Upcycle. The theme was selected as we felt it best represented our school culture and the Hamilton North community. Upcycling creatively reuses old products, waste materials and unwanted objects and transforms them by giving them a new purpose. Each student will create an individual minor artwork and classes will work together to make a major work. Minor artworks will be available to parents/carers for sale and major artworks will be sold to community members during an exciting auction. Local artists will also be displaying their artworks for sale on the evening, with school community member Kristy Cameron donating a piece of work, Birabahn Flyover to the P&C for auction. The art piece represents Awabakal Country and the nations that surround us. A huge thank you to Kristy Cameron for this generous donation and also to Amy Wynn and Nicole Cameron who are helping staff organise this exciting event.
GARDENING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB
All students from years 2 - 6 are welcome to join the Environment / Gardening Club. Students meet in the garden on Tuesdays 2nd Lunch and in the 4/5M room on Wednesdays 2nd lunch. They will participate in a range of environmental and gardening activities run by our beautiful Annie who takes such good care of our gardens.
Last week Annie picked a range of beautiful native flowers from our garden and taught the students how to make flower posies. We really are so grateful to have Annie to teach and guide us. We also have lots of fun!
Quality Intervention and Extension Programs
Exciting program offered to Hamilton North Families
We have been offered an incredible opportunity to partner with LIVEfree Project to provide an in school hours dental service . LIVEfree Project has received a grant from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation to provide free dental check ups and follow up appointments to students at Hamilton North Public School. Staff at LIVEfree Project will collect students from school, transport them to the dentist where they will provide advocacy and support for the student during the appointment. After the appointment as a part of the program they also provide an Individualised mentoring session at Grill’d Kotara, where students receive a free Kids Mini Me pack with chicken bites or burger, chips and a drink. These mentoring sessions include interactive discussions around resilience, safe communication and emotional regulation. This program has been highly successful in other schools and is now available here at Hamilton North Public School. This program is designed to remove fear from going to the dentist. Students will go with another friend and have an exciting time going to the dentist. The feedback from students at other school has been positive.
The criteria is very simple:
- You possess a Current Medicare card
- Your child is eligible for the “Child Dental Benefits Scheme”
We would love your child to be able to participate in this incredible early intervention program that is a unique health initiative not just supporting children’s dental care, but reshaping their experience of going to the dentist.
Enrolment forms are available at school office and will be sent out via our skoolbag app.
Many many events
Week 5: Stage 2 Excursion to Upcycle - note to come out soon.
Week 5: Our P&C Comedy Night for parents, 20th August
Week 7: Father's Day Breakfast - Planning underway.
Week 8: Upcycle - Art Exhibition.
Week 9: We will hold our annual Book Fair, with our lovely Mrs Evans organising this event.
Weeks 9 and 10: Parent Teacher Interviews.
Week 10: Our Kindergarten 2023 Transition Program commences.
Week 10: Our annual School Photos.
Have your Say - Survey Monkey Link
Survey Feedback from our Parents and Community
We are seeking feedback from our Parents and Community. Feedback from our community is valuable to inform our four-year School Improvement Plan which is currently being updated following our External Validation in 2021.
The survey is easy to complete and provides opportunities for Parents and Community to comment on any aspect they would like to discuss.
Your feedback is valuable and appreciated. We encourage all of our families to please complete the survey.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdNCLAFRAaCmO671u8tWE990yDjEH8gXksBjyu61tvzLuPNw/viewform
For those families that have had difficulty accessing Google forms, the survey can also be filled out using the link below on Survey Monkey.
Week 2 -Values 1/2D
1/2D show heart by using friendly words in the classroom, playground and at events.
Throughout the week, we have discussed the difference between friendly and unfriendly words and how our word choices affect others. We remember to think before we act and treat others how we would like to be treated.
We revisited a heart-warming activity where students wrote a compliment to a classmate. It was lovely to hear everyone read their compliment and see the smile on their faces.
Week 1 - Merit Awards
Week 1 - Sportsmanship Awards
Major Award - Nakita J
ICAS assessments
What is ICAS?
ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.
Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.
We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year.
Learn more about ICAS here. (https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas)
How to participate in ICAS
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:
- read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas)
- go to Parent Portal here: (https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps)
- enter our school’s access code – YHA742
- enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.
After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records.
2022 ICAS Dates
Digital technologies - 8 August 2022- 12 August 2022
Science - 22 August 2022 - 26 August 2022
Spelling - 22 August 2022 - 26 August 2022
Writing - 8 August 2022- 12 August 2022
English - 15 August 2022 - 19 August 2022
Mathematics - 29 August 2022 - 2 September 2022
Enrol now for Kindergarten 2023
We are currently taking enrolments for Kindergarten 2023. If you have a child of school age for 2023 or know of any children who is due to enrol in Kindergarten next year please contact the school office.
We have facilities for online enrolment for families as well. Links below:
Online in-zone enrolment application:
https://enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/#/?schoolCode=3897
Online out-of-zone enrolment application:
https://ooa.enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/?schoolCode=3897&catchmentLevel=primary
Our enrolment procedures can be found at:
https://hamiltonn-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/enrolment.html
Transition is Fun
Already having fun at 'Big School'
Gardening at Big School
Bread Bags
P & C News
General Meeting
General Meeting 5 is being held this coming Monday 1st August, 6pm at the Sunnyside Tavern.
All parents, carers and community are welcome, so please come along if you are interested.
Fundraising
We have set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for this year.
As seen opposite, we are well placed to achieve this goal, so thank you to all who have contributed.
All of the money raised goes towards a donation to the school so please continue to support our fundraising activities.
Current fundraising events
Comedy night - Buy your tickets now (details below)
Entertainment Book
Comedy Night
We have been very lucky to book "Comedy for a Cause" for an evening of entertainment and laughter. The night will feature 3 comedians (including 1 headline act) currently performing for the Sydney & Melbourne International Comedy Festivals. This is an 18+ event, so book in a baby sitter, invite family and friends and join us for a fantastic night. Stay on after the show, where we will turn up the music to keep the night going.
Date: Saturday, 20 August 2022
Location: Hamilton North Bowling Club
Details: Doors 7pm / Show 8pm / Music 10pm - close
Tickets: $35 (+booking fee) visit www.comedyforacause.net/HNPS. Get your tickets now!
Entertainment Book
This year the HNPS P&C have partnered with Entertainment Membership (previously Entertainment Book) to help raise funds for the school.
For $69.99, the value of the Entertainment Membership is fantastic, there are 100's of deals across local dining, take away, gift cards, shopping and travel. Valid for a full 12 months from activation, so plenty of time to use the huge range of vouchers and save.
To purchase, join via the link https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/3426j1.
This fundraiser is open to the public so please share with family and friends to help raise money for HNPS.
Art in September and Father’s Day
Term 3 - Planning currently underway
Uniforms
There are plenty of uniform shirts available in all sizes. Uniform shirt purchase can be made by selecting the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_Vf4vofFKKwLwNkAztTPRCcyOCJIeosvJ-e2MYyl7AkZ0UQ/viewform
Once the P&C receives both your completed form (via automated email) and payment, the shirts will be given to your children to bring home.
We would prefer to utilise online purchasing, however, if you do not wish to purchase online, you can pay by cash at the school office.
Thanks,
P&C Committee and Members
TERM CALENDAR 2022
August
Wednesday 10th August NAIDOC celebration day
15th-17th August Stage 3 Great Aussie Bush Camp
August 20th - P&C Comedy Night
September
Wednesday 7th September - 8-9 am Volunteer Morning Tea
Week 7: Art is September and Education Week
Monday 12th- 16th September Book Fair
Monday 12th - 23rd September Parent Teacher Interviews
Monday 19th September School Photos
Wednesday 21st September Kindergarten Transition Session 1: Family connect
Hamilton North Public School
Email: hamiltonn-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: www.hamiltonn-p.schools.nsw.edu.au
Location: 30 Jackson Street, Broadmeadow NSW, Australia
Phone: 02 4969 3695
Facebook: facebook.com/hamiltonnorthpublicschool