Newsletter | Term 2 Week 6

Principal Message

Thank you

As we continue to navigate through an exciting and eventful term, I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for our school community's understanding and support as we make ongoing adjustments to our normal programs and routines. Whilst not all changes affect everyone, these changes are essential in enabling our students to engage in remarkable learning experiences.

This week, our Year 5 students embarked on a camp adventure, braving some chilly weather to immerse themselves in a variety of enriching activities. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to learn and grow outside the classroom, and I appreciate your flexibility during this time.

Looking ahead to next week, we will once again experience a shift in our routines as we participate in Star Struck show week. With rehearsals and performances taking place, we are committed to maintaining as much consistency as possible by ensuring a familiar teacher is present in classes. However, there might be occasions where this is not feasible, and I sincerely thank you for your understanding and patience.

I would also like to acknowledge our dedicated teachers, who invest countless hours beyond their regular schedules to provide these significant opportunities for our students, and students beyond our school! Their commitment makes a tremendous difference in our school community.

We are indeed privileged to be part of such a supportive and engaged school community. Thank you once again for your ongoing support.

Get ready for Kindergarten 2026

Our Kindergarten information evening and comprehensive orientation program for Kindergarten 2026 will be here before you know it, and now is the perfect time to start planning. We invite you to enrol at Floraville Public School for Kindergarten 2026.

This is an exciting milestone for you and your little one, and we can’t wait to embark on this journey together. To ensure that we appropriately plan for all our incoming students, we encourage you to complete the enrolment process as soon as possible.

Don’t forget to spread the word to friends and family so they can also prepare for this important step. Together, let’s ensure a smooth and successful beginning of school.

Stay tuned for more details about our information evening and orientation program. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to Floraville Public School.

Kirstie Yeo
Principal

Celebrating Success

In a world where kindness and empathy are essential, we are pleased to share a story from our Year 1 class that highlights the impressive social-emotional awareness of one of our students, Reggie.

As students were arriving at school, Reggie noticed a peer who seemed upset. Recognising the importance of friendship and support, he took the initiative to reach out. Reggie approached the other student with genuine concern, asking if he was okay. He then offered to walk in to school together, ensuring that his peer felt comfortable and supported.

This simple, yet meaningful act of kindness, not only brightened the other child's day but also demonstrated Reggie's emotional insight and maturity, especially for someone in Year 1. His ability to recognise when others are in need is commendable, and his willingness to take action is impressive.

While we know that these stories happen at Floraville PS each and every day, it is great to shine a light on such kindness. Thank you, Reggie.

Nick Garner

Awabakal Word of the Week

Early Stage 1

Kaayi!

What are we learning in Kindergarten?

Literacy

Over the next few weeks, we are learning about the wonderful world of bugs! What do bugs look like, how do they move, where do they live, how are they the same and how are they different? When we think about bugs we are usually thinking about insects. Most bugs belong to the insect group because they have body parts that are similar. I wonder if a spider is an insect?

We are looking for the characters in “The Very Busy Spider” By Eric Carle and enjoying the verbs- or doing words- in “Some Bugs” by Angela DiTerlizzi.

Kindergarten is beginning to use their sound knowledge to write sentences. So far, we have written recounts of our weekends and a description of our dream birthday cake. You can write lists, and instructions, make treasure hunt clues, or even your own stories at home.

Numeracy

We are learning to combine, separate and compare groups. This means we can compare the total of two groups, count on to find out ‘how many more’. You can compare groups of items at home including cutlery, toys or collected objects.

Which groups has more? How do you know?

We are also comparing the area of two surfaces. In Kindergarten, we predict which of two surfaces will have the largest area. How many Lego bricks will it take to cover a book? Do the Lego bricks need to be the same size? What else can you use to measure area?

Nginuwa! (See you later!)

Kirrilly Katen
Early Stage 1 Assistant Principal

Stage 1

It has been wonderful visiting Stage 1 classrooms and witnessing students actively engaged in their learning. Their enthusiasm and quality of work being produced is impressive! We have captured some mathematical moments where students have been developing their knowledge of number sense, measurement and graphing. In class we utilise manipulatives (hands-on-tools) to help students visualise and understand mathematical concepts. From counting blocks to geometric shapes, these resources make learning more interactive and engaging. By working with manipulatives, students can explore patterns, develop problem-solving skills, and enhance their understanding of numbers and operations. Encouraging the use of these tools in the classroom fosters a deeper comprehension of mathematics and helps students build a strong foundation.

English phonic focus

Mathematics

Year 1
Students will be exploring the big idea that 'Collections of objects can be changed by adding more (combining) or taking some away (separating)'. Students are provided with opportunities to:

• represent combining situations in different ways through the use of gesture, enactment, drawings, numbers, and words
• use symbols to describe mathematical quantities, actions, and relationships in efficient ways
• understand that the order in which 2 quantities are combined does not change the result.

Year 2
This two-week unit develops student knowledge, understanding and skills in forming groups and combining and separating. Students are provided opportunities to:

• understand that the order in which 2 quantities are combined does not change the result
• represent combining situations in different ways
• use different strategies, such as counting on and counting back.

Geography

It is quite timely for our current geography unit with all the changes in weather these past few weeks. Students are exploring how to make weather charts, compare the daily and seasonal weather patterns of familiar places, predicting what the weather is going to do without and how weather can affect places and activities. An in depth study of Kakadu and understanding of the Awabakal Country seasons will be explored.

Elleina Martinez
Stage 1 Assistant Prinicpal

Stage 2

This fortnight, I was thoroughly impressed when I visited the Stage 2 classrooms. There were plenty of students proud of their work, wanting to show me their learning. Engagement, creativity, and collaboration was very easy to see in each class.

In 4/5D, Willow spoke about a pamphlet she created in mathematics. To create it, she surveyed the class about their favourite season. Willow then recorded the information and displayed it in a column graph. She had a copy of the success criteria on the back of the task to remind her of the success criteria. Well done Willow.

During the visit to 2/3K, Hudson, Harrison and Lucas impressed me with their confident and expressive reading of the book Wandi, a true story about a dingo. Each of the boys read aloud with great fluency and used expression to bring the characters and events to life. They demonstrated excellent reading strategies by self-correcting when errors occurred and re-reading from the beginning of the sentence to ensure clarity and understanding. The boys are now even more excited for the upcoming excursion to the Reptile Park in Week 9, where they’ll have the chance to observe a real-life dingo just like Wandi.

3/4O have been exploring the Podcast Kit to create engaging recordings on topics of interest. This hands-on experience allows them to plan, script, and record their own mini podcasts. The program encourages clear speaking and attentive listening, important skills for everyday conversations. Students are enjoying the creative process and building confidence in sharing their ideas through voice.

3A are exploring the features of persuasive writing. Bryson, Hudson and Willow explained how to use high modality words to strengthen their arguments and convince their audience. I was impressed by their ability to identify persuasive language and apply it to their writing. It was clear that they are developing confidence in expressing strong opinions through carefully chosen words.

4L were in the middle of completing their mid-year English and mathematics assessments. One of the tools we use at Floraville PS is an online program called Essential Assessment. This platform provides feedback, allowing teachers to track student progress and identify areas for improvement. Teachers use the data to plan targeted learning experiences that meet individual student needs. The process will also assist teachers they start preparing their half-yearly reports.

Adam O’Shannessy
Stage 2 Assistant Principal 

Stage 3

This week, I have witnessed students eager to showcase the incredible work they and their teachers have developed this fortnight. Students were excited to present their achievements that reflect their hard work. It’s wonderful to help them celebrate their creativity and pride in what they have accomplished.

6C has been experimenting with giving peer feedback on their mathematics and writing tasks. This collaborative approach not only helps students focus on the learning intention and success criteria but also fosters a supportive learning environment, encouraging them to engage more deeply with the content. Peer feedback helps students develop critical thinking skills as they analyse their classmates' work and provide constructive suggestions. It promotes a sense of ownership over their learning, allowing them to reflect on their own understanding and identify areas for improvement. By participating in this process, 6C students are learning to communicate their thoughts effectively while also gaining valuable insights from their peers. We are excited to see how this practice enhances their learning experience and builds stronger relationships.

During my recent visit to 6N, I entered the classroom and was immediately struck by the energy and enthusiasm of our students as they engaged in small groups while completing their character analysis tasks. Each student was immersed in their work, exploring the motivations and challenges faced by the characters they were studying. The discussions among peers were positive and collaborative, with students sharing their insights and supporting their analyses with thoughtful examples from the texts. Their creativity and critical thinking skills were on full display. Well done 6N.

In 5/6F, students have been expressing their creativity during PE dance lessons and making connections between these skills and the area of sculpture in art. Using a dance pose captured during PE lessons, students sketched their pose, displaying form and shape. They then used a variety of materials, including metal wire, popsticks, and air-drying clay, to transform their two-dimensional sketches into three-dimensional sculptures.

Our Year 5 students are currently embarking on their annual camp to Sydney for an enriching 3-day, 2-night excursion. During this adventure, they will be visiting a range of incredible sites, including Taronga Zoo, the Sydney Ferry, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Rocks Walking Tour, Hyde Park Barracks, the Australian Museum, the Sydney Aquarium, and the Sydney Aquatic Centre. This excursion provides a wonderful opportunity for students to deepen their knowledge of Sydney’s beautiful landscape and rich history. Excursions like this enhance learning by connecting classroom knowledge to real-world experiences. Students will gain valuable insights into the environment, culture, and history of our vibrant city while creating lasting memories with their peers and our wonderful teachers, Mr Garner, Mrs Newton, Mr Dimmers, and Miss Mellon. We look forward to hearing all about their adventures in Sydney! Be sure to keep an eye on the Floraville PS Facebook page.

Ryan Cox
Stage 3 Assistant Principal 

Interest Group - Canva

Stage 2 and 3 students are diving into "Learning Canva," an exciting program designed to help them master essential design skills using Canva. Over five engaging sessions, they are familiarising themselves with the Canva interface, exploring templates, creating fun graphics, and adding animations to their designs. Through hands-on activities like designing personalised name tags, event posters, and birthday invitations, students have the opportunity to express their creativity while learning important design principles. The program creates a digital portfolio that showcases their best work, accompanied by reflections on their learning journey. Through collaboration, feedback, and presentations, students will not only enhance their design skills but also build confidence in sharing their creative ideas with others.

School News

Premier's Spelling Bee

Our annual Premier’s Spelling Bee will take place in the school hall on Wednesday, 18 June. This much-anticipated event provides an opportunity for students to showcase their spelling skills and confidence in front of an audience.

The Stage 2 competition will begin at 9:30am, followed by the Stage 3 competition at 12:00pm. Both sessions promise to be full of enthusiasm, focus, and friendly competition as students represent their classes and strive for success.

If your child has been selected as one of the class representatives, you will receive a notification via School Bytes early next week.

Pre-Service Teachers

We are thrilled to welcome four pre-service teachers to our school for weeks 7-10 this term. Hannah Saperas will be collaborating with Mr Myers and KM, while Emma Rooney will join Mrs Newton and 6N. Millie Robbs will work alongside Miss Katen in KK, and Sophie Kirchner will team up with Mrs Stanbridge in 2S. This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our relationships with the University of Newcastle.

Kirrilly Katen
Professional Experience Coordinator

SRC Message

NAIDOC Week Ceremony

Sports News

Hunter Touch Football

We wish Mila and Sophie the very best as they represent Eastlake PSSA at the Hunter touch football trials next Wednesday at the Tomaree Sporting Complex. The girls will showcase their talent and teamwork playing for a position on the Hunter PSSA Girls Touch football team. Good luck girls!

Hunter Rugby Union

Last week, the school was notified that Isaiah had been chosen to play for the Hunter Rugby Union Team at the NSWPSSA Championships. This exciting event will happen in Newcastle from August 5-7, and Isaiah will get the opportunity to showcase his skills in rugby. Congratulations Isaiah! We’re all eager to see you shine on the field and do both yourself and Floraville PS proud. Good luck!

Netball News

Netball is in full swing at Floraville PS this term. The excitement is obvious as the Macquarie Cup competition continues, the PSSA Netball Knockout Competition is underway, and we are thrilled to announce that some of our students have been selected to represent both the Eastlakes and Hunter PSSA Netball teams.

Macquarie Cup

This year, we have five enthusiastic teams competing at Charlestown Netball Courts every Friday against other schools in our local area. The spirit of teamwork is evident as all five teams are gelling beautifully, showcasing strong results while demonstrating great sportsmanship both on and off the court. A special mention goes to our senior girls, who have shown exceptional leadership by assisting the junior teams. Their involvement includes leading warm-ups, umpiring matches, and providing words of encouragement, which has significantly boosted the confidence of our younger players.

PSSA Netball

Our PSSA Netball team is making waves this season, having advanced to Round 3 with impressive victories over Belmont Public School and Caves Beach Public School. Despite challenges with scheduling matches due to weather, the team remains enthusiastic and ready for their next game against Redhead Public School. We are currently managing a few injuries within the squad, but we are optimistic about having our full team back on the court soon, ready to showcase skills and determination.

Hunter PSSA Netball

Last week, we proudly sent three of our talented students—Indi, Mila, and Sophie—to the Hunter PSSA Netball trials. They faced the challenge of playing nine intense games against some of the best netball players in the Hunter region. Congratulations to Indi and Mila for their selection in the Hunter Team! They will represent the Hunter region at the upcoming state carnival next term, and we are all eager to see how they perform on this larger stage.

As the term progresses, we look forward to more thrilling matches and celebrating the achievements of our netball teams. Go Floraville PS.

Mrs Morley-Davies, Mrs Lindsay and Mrs Newton

P&C News

📣 P&C Meeting Reminder! 📣

Our next P&C meeting is coming up next week – Tuesday, 10 June from 6:30 PM in the school library. 📚✨

We’ll be chatting about some more details for our upcoming disco (get excited! 🎉) and Colour Run later this year, as well as the other great events we have planned. Lots of fun to come! 🎈 Uniforms and canteen are also on the agenda.

Coming to a P&C meeting is a great way to have a voice, be part of the school community, get involved in decision-making at school, and make a positive difference for our kids. 💪❤️ Parent engagement also contributes to improved student academic outcomes, attendance, and overall wellbeing. 🌟

So, make this month the time to get involved and come along! We look forward to seeing you there! 🙌

🌳 Enrichment Tree Update! 🌳

Our Enrichment Tree continues, and we are aiming to finish the contributions by the end of the term so we can make the purchases and get them into the classrooms ASAP! 🛒🏫 If you have been waiting to make your contribution, please take the time in the next few weeks to select items for your children’s classrooms. 🎉

There's something for everyone, from a few dollars to larger contributions! 💰 Head to our website for more information and to make your contributions – individual class links are below:

🌟Kindergarten | Floraville P S P&C Association

🌟Year 1 | Floraville P S P&C Association

🌟Year 2 | Floraville P S P&C Association

🌟Year 3 | Floraville P S P&C Association

🌟Year 4 | Floraville P S P&C Association

🌟Year 5 | Floraville P S P&C Association

🌟Year 6 | Floraville P S P&C Association

📚Library Enrichment Tree | Floraville P S P&C Association

🌍Aboriginal Culture Hub Enrichment Tree | Floraville P S P&C Association

🎁Enrichment Tree General Donation 2025 | Floraville P S P&C Association

It’s a great idea to share the link for your child's year group with your family and friends to help get our whole community behind supporting our students! 🤝❤️ If every family can contribute something, big or small, all of our children will reap the benefits of this. 🌈

Thank you so much to those families who have already made wonderful contributions! 🙏 If you are having any technical difficulties with the website, please let us know so we can help—either reach out to us on our Facebook page or email fpspresident@gmail.com.

🌟 Volunteer of the Month! 🌟

It is well established that volunteering creates lasting relationships that enrich lives and strengthen communities. 🤝💖 We celebrate our dedicated volunteers at school every day, and this year the P&C would like to acknowledge our wonderful volunteers even more! 🎉

Every month, we will be celebrating a Volunteer of the Month! 🏆 With thanks from Zarraffa’s Coffee and Cake Cake Baby, our volunteer of the month will receive a coffee voucher and some delicious cupcakes! ☕🧁

If you have a nomination for the month of May, for someone’s volunteering efforts big or small, please send us a message on our Facebook page or email fpsfundraising1@gmail.com. 📩

Let’s continue to shine a light on our extraordinary volunteers who make a difference every day! 🌈✨

🗓️ Important P&C Dates for Your Calendar!

Don't forget to mark these important P&C events coming up this year:

📅 Term 2 P&C Meeting: 10 June
🪩 P&C Disco: 3 July
📅 Term 3 P&C Meetings: 12 August and 9 September
👨‍👧 Father’s Day Stall: Friday, 29 August
🏃‍♀️ Colour Run: Thursday, 25 September
📅 Term 4 P&C Meetings: 14 October and 11 November

P&C Communication

Stay up to date with the latest P&C information and events.

📨Email us: fpspresident@gmail.com
🌍Visit our website: https://floravillepublicschoolpc.square.site/
📘 Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/p.c.floraville

Amanda Bailey  
P&C President on behalf of the P&C Committee

Community Newsletter

Please see Community Newsletter - Term 2 for upcoming holiday and vacation care information, and other community news and events.