Monday 22 June 2020

Newsletter Week 9 Term 2

Updated Guidelines for Parents

The Department of Education has released ‘A guide to NSW school students retuning to face-to-face learning.’

Unless there are changes to health advice, I anticipate that most of our extra-curricular activities will be able to recommence from the beginning of Term 3.

We are now able to plan for restarting:

• School assemblies (limited to 15 minutes and no external visitors)

• Choirs and performing arts at school, with safety protocols in place

• All school sport and activities aligned with current health advice

• Special Religious Education and Ethics lessons

We look forward to updating you about what activities we can resume. However, for now, we ask that parents and students continue to follow the current procedures in place.

Health Reminders and School Attendance

My sincere thanks to our whole school community for the way in which you have all adhered to the current health guidelines. A couple of reminders:

• Please remember that while social distancing requirements do not apply to children, they still do for adults. It is important that we minimise parent visits to the school site and that everyone is mindful of social distancing requirements during afternoon pick up.

• It is important to keep your children at home if they are unwell. If you are unsure about whether they are ready to return to school, please seek advice from your doctor.

• Current NSW Health advice is that anyone with respiratory symptoms or unexplained fever should be tested for COVID 19. This includes children.

Non-essential adults are still not permitted on school grounds, this includes parents and carers, unless specifically approved by the principal.

All students should be at school unless:

• they have a medical certificate which states that they are unable to return to school due to an ongoing medical condition and the expected timeframe or

• they are currently unwell.

Attendance concerns are being followed up by staff and where required the Home School Liaison Officers.

School Holidays and Term 3

Friday 3 July - Last day of Term 2 for students and staff.

Monday 20 July - Staff Development Day. Teachers only at school today.

Tuesday 21 July - Students will return to school for Term 3.

Wellbeing Week

We will hold Wellbeing Week in week 10 this term with the focus being ‘Bee Kind…”

This year has seen many upheavals for us all and we need to make sure that we continue to support one another and work together. Stay tuned to see some beautiful art work from our students!

Enrol now for Kindergarten 2021

We are now taking enrolments for our Kindergarten students commencing in 2021. It is very important that families start lodging enrolment forms with the school, either this term or early in Term Three. Enrolment forms can be downloaded from our school's website https://botany-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/

Unfortunately, the school is unable to conduct school tours due to COVID restrictions, however we hope to have a school tour in Term Three. Please share this important information with your friends who may not currently have a child enrolled at our school.

Opportunity Class Applications for 2021 Year 5 Placement

The NSW Department of Education High Performing Students Unit have notified us of the revised process for 2021 Opportunity Class placement. The details are below:

The 2021 Year 5 opportunity class placement process was put on hold in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation.

We now have a revised and simplified timeline for the OC placement process to ensure that students and families can have certainty about their placement as soon as possible. The changes include:

• A new date for online applications. Parents must apply between 9 June 2020 and 26 June 2020. Late applications cannot be accepted. You will need to access the online application at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5

• A new test date - Wednesday 16 September 2020.

To ensure fair and consistent assessment of students across New South Wales, students will be offered places based only on their test results this year – there will be no school assessment scores. There will also be no opportunity for appeals given the tight timeframes.

Please don't hesitate to contact the school if you have questions or need advice.

TeamKids – ECEC Relief Package

The Australian Government has extended the ECEC Relief Package to OSHC providers until 12 July 2020.

This means FREE CARE will be offered to families up to 12 July 2020.

TeamKids fees for care beyond 13 July 2020 are included on their website and booking system: https://teamkids.com.au/venues/botany-public-school-oshc/

P&C News

The P&C have a great website with lots of information supporting our school. Please follow the link for more information https://botanypandc.org.au/

For more P&C news please check the back of this newsletter.

Thank you again for your ongoing support.

Kind regards

Kate Holmes

Principal

BOTANY TEAMKIDS week 9

NEWSLETTER

School holidays – Vacation care begins

Monday 6th July

Service Mobile: Service Email:0428 015 517 Botanyps@teamkids.com.auOffice Phone: Office Email:1300 035 000 info@teamkids.com.au

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONWelcome to week 9!! We cant believe our school term isalmost over….. It’s true what they say “time flies when youare having fun!”.Last week at TeamKids it was a remarkable week and thechildren showed so much innovation by using theirimaginations and got creative with their 100 Hrs termchallenge. The children were really focused on this duringthe week and were persistent in spending as much timeoutside as they could. On Tuesday morning they evendecked out the outdoor area to create a fantastic and veryinviting picnic area. Don’t forget to colour your sheets in athome whenever you as a family are completing these hrsafter school or during the weekends!

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING

Important dates

COOKING CLUB:Miss Mika and the childrenhave been very busy over thelast two weeks creatingdelicious blueberry muffins,healthy pizzas and greensmoothies YUM!!

ART ATTACK CLUB:The children have been flat outpiecing together our igloo withMiss Eliza.

MINDFULNESS CLUB:The children have reallyenjoyed participating in manymindfulness activities. Theyhave really enjoyed theirmorning meditation sessionsand they love blowing theirworries away with bubbles.They have learnt many greatstrategies to help them remaincalm and become more aware.

P&C NEWSContact the P&C by email: botanypublicpandc@gmail.com or

on FB: Botany Public School P&C

P&C WEBSITE

BPS COOKBOOK

LUNCHBOX IDEAS

We have been working really hardupdating our P&C website! Make sureyou go and have a look around, it isa great way to see what is happeningand get involved with the P&C. The

link is botanypandc.org.au

Don't forget to turn in your yummy,favourite recipes! You can submit

your recipe on our website @botanypandc.org.au. We are very

excited to see a great variety of foodsfrom everyone!

Crunch: Strawberries.Recess: Banana Bread with cream cheese andstrawberry jam.Lunch: Grain bread butter sandwich, with acheese stick, and a side of low- fat beefsausage, snow-peas and capsicum. Who doesn't love a easy lunchbox idea?! Wewould love to know any easy hacks or ideasyou use for your lunchbox! No need to feel shyabout your lunchbox because you can submitthem anonymously @ botanypandc.org.au