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Newsletter | Term 2 Week 10

Principal Message

Kindergarten 2026 - Get Ready!

We are excited to invite families to our Kindergarten 2026 - Parent Information Evening. We hope you will be able to join us for an engaging and informative evening. Our dedicated team will discuss everything Kindergarten, the curriculum, daily routines, and more. You'll have the opportunity to meet fellow parents, ask questions, and get to know our school community. If you have a little one starting Kindergarten next year, there is still time to enrol at the link below. Don’t forget to spread the word to friends and family who may also be interested in joining our school community.

Online Enrolment - Floraville Public School

NAIDOC Celebrations

The theme for NAIDOC 2025 is 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy'.

We are delighted to invite you to our NAIDOC assembly where we will celebrate the achievements and contributions of our Aboriginal students. The special event will feature a performance bringing Aunty Laurel's book, Wakul Karagang: The Water Spirit, to life through storytelling and performances.

Join us in honouring the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Aboriginal community as we come together to learn, share and celebrate.

Staffing Updates

We would like to keep our school community informed about some recent staffing updates, including temporary changes due to staff leave. Our dedicated team remains committed to providing a supportive and effective learning environment for our students, even during these adjustments.

From the commencement of Term 3, we are pleased to announce that Keeley Mason will return to our school, working with 5A on Mondays and Tuesdays. Jo Connolly will also be returning to the APC&I role at the beginning of Term 3. Additionally, Elleina Martinez will be taking three weeks of leave at the start of Term 3. During this time, Amy Smith will be teaching 2M, and Sam Tassell will serve as the Assistant Principal (Relieving).

Thank you for your understanding and support during this period.

Safe and happy holidays!

Wishing all of our families a safe and happy holiday. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday 22 July.

Kirstie Yeo
Principal

Celebrating Success – Kingston and Nina – 4L

We are proud to honour two remarkable students who have exemplified outstanding social-emotional awareness recently in 4L: Nina and Kingston. Their actions not only reflect their personal values and responsibility but also contribute to creating a kind and respectful school community.

Nina has demonstrated a deep sense of empathy and compassion. Recently, she noticed another student who was feeling upset as they entered school. Without hesitation, Nina took the initiative to offer her support and comfort. Her thoughtful approach not only helped her friend feel valued and understood but also showcased the importance of kindness and friendship in our daily lives. Nina's ability to recognise and respond to the emotions of others is a wonderful example for all of us.

Kingston, too, has shown great maturity and insight in his interactions with peers. During a moment when emotions ran high among peers, Kingston stepped up to help diffuse the situation. He calmly attempted to redirect the students, encouraging them to express their feelings in a positive way.

Both Nina and Kingston embody the values of Floraville PS, reminding us that each of us has the ability to support each other.

Nick Garner

Early Stage 1

Have you checked out the NSW Department of Education Student Learning Hub?

Follow the prompts for English and mathematics activities you can do at home.

If you are looking for more home readers over the break, they are available on the SPELD website.

Why not borrow some books from your local library?

Literacy

In the holidays, continue to read, draw, and write. Keep your body and brain active!

You can write a journal, a list or some instructions. Read books, websites, newspapers, recipes and menus.

ABC Kids Listen has a range of short podcasts about topics from science to story time.

Numeracy

Share your mathematical thinking with your family through puzzles or card games. Look for numbers on signs and letterboxes. Build with Lego or blocks. Count and sort collections or play a board game.

Looking forward to Term 3, here is what we will be learning about:

We are excited about NAIDOC Celebrations, the Infants' Sports Carnival, 100 Days of School, and an excursion next term.

Have a safe and restful break.

Nginuwa!

Kirrilly Katen
Early Stage 1 Assistant Principal

Stage 1

This term has been a fantastic one filled with rich learning experiences and great achievements. Our students have worked hard, shown growth in their learning, and challenged themselves academically. They certainly deserve a well-earned break to rest and recharge.

Next term promises to be just as exciting. We have many events to look forward to, including our NAIDOC Week celebrations, an excursion to Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, the Infants' Sports Carnival, and of course plenty of new learning opportunities across all areas of the curriculum.

As students enjoy their holidays, we encourage them to read daily. This is a great opportunity to finish books for the Premier’s Reading Challenge and engage with quality texts.

Mathematics plays an important role in our everyday lives, using mathematics in daily activities helps students understand its real-world value. Some great examples of incidental mathematical activities include measuring ingredients while cooking or baking, telling the time, and calculating how long until an event starts or finishes, or just adding and comparing prices when shopping to make smart choices. By pointing out these practical uses, we help students connect what they learn in the classroom to their own experiences, building confidence and making maths more meaningful and fun.

We hope everyone enjoys a safe and relaxing break and we look forward to welcoming our students back, ready for another busy and rewarding term ahead.

Elleina Martinez
Stage 1 Assistant Principal

Stage 2

Last week, Year 3 had a fantastic time at their excursion to The Reptile Park, where they explored and learned about various reptiles and their habitats. The students engaged with interactive exhibits and had the opportunity to observe fascinating creatures, including baby dingos, up close. It was a pleasure to take the group who represented themselves and the school exceptionally well.

3/4O

Class 3/4O have been learning how to play invasion games during PE lessons. They have been focusing on developing their strategic thinking and understanding the importance of body position during play. Learning how to work effectively as a team, create space, and anticipate opponents' moves are useful skills that can be applied to many sports and games.

3A

3A has been buzzing with creativity and exploration during 'Shape Week'. These young mathematicians have delved into the world of 2D shapes and 3D objects, learning about their properties and discovering where these shapes can be found in the real world around them. To bring their learning to life, students completed some vibrant cubism artwork, showcasing their understanding of shapes in a fun and artistic way.

4L

4L are honing their persuasive skills and learning how to write an extended piece of writing. Effectively organising thoughts and using various scaffolds, such as mind maps, assists during the planning phase. I could clearly see students outlining compelling reasons for why someone deserves a hero's medal.

4/5D

This week, Class 4/5D were sharpening their note-taking and summarising skills while watching an episode of Behind the News that explored the history of the Australian Institute of Sport. As they engaged with the digital presentation, students practised identifying key points and essential details. When I visited the class, Zac, Caius and Jacob shared some very interesting facts about why the AIS was created and how it has helped Australia become more competitive in a number of sports.

2/3K

Tobias, Indi and Joy from 2/3K were very keen to show off their mathematics work involving inverse operations. Inverse operations are pairs of mathematical processes that work against each other, such as multiplication and division. For example, if students learn that 4 x 3 =12, they can use division to understand that 12 ÷ 4 = 3. In real-world applications, students can see inverse operations in action when sharing items equally, like dividing a pizza among friends or calculating how many small groups can be made from a large group of students.

All students have been planning and drafting a speech that will be presented to the class early next term. Students from each class will be nominated to present their speech at the Stage Finals to be held in Term 3, Week 4.

Next term, Year 4 will be off to The Great Aussie Bush Camp in Week 7 (Monday, 1 - Wednesday, 3 September).

Adam O’Shannessy
Stage 2 Assistant Principal

Stage 3

It has been another busy and productive two weeks for our Stage 3 students and staff, despite the wet weather.

6N and 6C

Classes 6N and 6C have been diligently developing their speeches on their selected topics, focusing on key elements that make a speech entertaining and engaging. An effective speech should include a strong opening to capture the audience's attention, clear organisation to convey ideas logically, and a compelling conclusion to reinforce the main message. Incorporating storytelling, humour, and personal anecdotes can also enhance the speech's appeal, making it more relatable and memorable for listeners.

As part of their research on bushfire adaptations of Australian animals, students have been using KWL charts to organise their ideas and findings. KWL charts help students identify what they already know about a topic, what they want to learn, and what they have learned through their research. This structured approach not only aids in information retention but also encourages critical thinking as students explore their chosen subjects. In addition to their speeches and research, both classes came together to perform their final PE dance routines, with a special thanks to DJ Allen for his support with the music and organisation of groups.

5/6F

5/6F have been focused on putting the final touches on their narratives connected to the short animated video, ‘Migration’. The tasks are focused on creating imagery and symbolism by including figurative language. Through this creative writing process, students are developing their narrative skills, enhancing their ability to convey emotion and detail in their stories. Miss Mitchell has been working closely with 5/6F and Mr Faulkner over the past five weeks, focusing on developing explicit teaching strategies. Her guidance has been instrumental in helping students improve their English and mathematical skills through targeted activities and personalised support. By fostering a collaborative learning environment, she has encouraged students to engage deeply with the material, ask questions, and further develop their love for learning.

5A

5A have been delving into the world of poetry! In this unit, they have explored how writers intentionally use various techniques, known as literary devices, to engage our senses and evoke emotional reactions. Through poetry, students are discovering the power of imagery, symbolism, and connotation. These elements help create vivid pictures in our minds and stir our feelings, allowing us to connect with the text on a deeper level. Exploration of poetry will not only enhance students' appreciation for the art of writing but also encourage them to express their own thoughts and feelings creatively. In mathematics, they have been actively comparing and ordering fractions using number lines and bar models, which is deepening their understanding of fractions. They are exploring what happens when a fraction exceeds a whole and are solving problems involving the addition and subtraction of fractions with the same denominator.

Other exciting activities Stage 3 has undertaken include Cooper and Crystal G performing for the stage in preparation for their high school transition auditions. Their performance was outstanding, and we commend them for their hard work and talent!

In another exciting learning activity, Mrs Wells visited our school with her firefighter colleagues to deliver an engaging presentation on how our local firefighters use their equipment during fires. She provided valuable insights into the strategies they employ to prevent bushfires and the methods they use to extinguish them when they do occur. It was great to see local community and parents come into the school.

Ryan Cox
Stage 3 Assistant Principal

School News

What is the NCCD?

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

year of schooling
category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please do not hesitate to contact us at school. Further information can be accessed below:

NCCD - Fact Sheet for Parents

Professional Experience

We welcome James Bunt and Caitlin Fenton to Floraville Public School for Term 3. Mr Bunt will be teaching and learning with KK and Miss Katen. Miss Fenton will work alongside Mr Myers in KM. Both Professional Experience Students are completing their final university placement.

Public Speaking

Students have been busy planning and writing their speeches as part of our public speaking program. This valuable learning experience helps students build confidence, develop their oral language skills, and learn to express their ideas clearly.

Students will continue to work on drafting, editing, and refining their speeches. By the end of Week 10, speeches will be sent home so students can begin practising with their families over the holidays. This additional practice will help them feel more confident and prepared when it's time to present.

Students will present their speeches in class during the first three weeks of Term 3. Following the class presentations, representatives from each class will be selected to present at the school finals, which will be held in Week 4, Tuesday 12 August.

We encourage all families to support their child by listening to their speech at home and offering positive feedback as they rehearse. We look forward to seeing our students shine as they develop and showcase their public speaking skills!

Sports News

Hunter Cross Country Carnival

Last Friday, Floraville PS was represented at the Hunter Cross Country Carnival at Avondale College. Phoenix, Archie, and Billie gave it their all on the course, demonstrating not only their athletic skills but also their resilience and team spirit. We also want to extend our congratulations to Zahra, Remi, and Jeremy, who have earned their spots to represent us at the State Carnival in July at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. This is a remarkable achievement, and we can’t wait to see you shine on that larger stage.

Athletics Carnival and Cross Country Age Champions

After a full and busy term, we have finally been able to present the remaining ribbons and medals to the respective Cross Country and Athletics Carnival age champions. Congratulations to both Mila and Jeremy for their fantastic achievements as the age champions for both cross country and athletics.

Bunnings Cake Stall fundraiser - Aerobics Team

P&C News

🎉 Disco Fever 🎉

A massive thank you to the school community for the tremendous support shown at our first P&C Disco last night! It was a fantastic event full of music and fun, and we hope both students and parents enjoyed finishing the term on a high note. 🎶✨ We had 320 students purchase tickets, and 50 volunteers generously offered their time to help throughout the evening. 🙌 We will share some photos and information on the funds raised in early Term 3.

🌳 Last Chance for the Enrichment Tree 🌳

Our Enrichment Tree is almost complete, and we are aiming to make the purchases of contributions during the school holidays so they are ready for the classrooms next term. 🛒📚 If you have been waiting to make your contribution, now is the time to select items to enrich your children’s classrooms. The P&C will fund as many items as possible, but we would love to finalise the remaining items on the website.

Please see the images below for your child's year, detailing which items are still available, and consider making a contribution. Visit our website at Enrichment Tree 2025 | Floraville P S P&C Association.

We encourage you to share the link for your child's year with family and friends to rally community support for our students! 🤝❤️ If every family can contribute something, big or small, all of our children will benefit. We have had contributions from 13% of families in our school so far.

Thank you for your continued support! 🌟