Newsletter | Term 3 Week 2
Principal Message
Public Education - Ignite your potential
Public Education Week is just around the corner! Officially celebrated in Week 3 of Term 3, we take this opportunity to recognise the incredible impact of public education in our lives.
Celebrating our Alumni: Can you help?
As we prepare to celebrate Public Education Week, we want to honour the incredible achievements of our alumni who have gone on to make a difference in various fields. Their stories inspire our current students and remind us of the lasting impact of a strong public education.
We invite all families to help us reconnect with our alumni. If you know former students who have remarkable accomplishments or who would be willing to share their experiences, please reach out to us. We would love to feature their stories for Public Education Week.
Let’s come together to celebrate the legacy of our school and the bright futures of our students.
Amelia - Jeans for Genes - We're wearing Double Denim!
Thank you to our amazing students and families for getting behind Amelia! So far our school has raised an incredible $759 to support the Children's Medical Research Institute, who are working today to change lives tomorrow.
And the double denim continues when all students are invited to wear their jeans to school again next Thursday 7 August, the official 'Jeans for Genes' day. Everyone is encouraged to wear their jeans, bring their gold coins, and complete our donations to Amelia's Jeans for Genes page. You can also donate directly via our Floraville Public School Team Amelia page.
https://fundraise.jeansforgenes.org.au/fundraisers/FloravillePublicSchool1/wear-your-jeans-2025
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.
New School Website
We're thrilled to announce that our school's website is undergoing an important update as part of the NSW Department of Education's initiative to help schools maintain modern websites that effectively engage parents and carers and inform our school community.
Why the change?
With a focus on modern design and improved functionality, the new platform will support a more user-friendly experience. The upgrade responds to feedback from schools about the need for a simpler, easier-to-use platform, as well as research on what families want to see when choosing a school. The department’s website team is currently working with our school to upgrade our website.
When will it change?
Our new website will be up and running by the end of Week 5 this term.
Kirstie Yeo
Principal
Celebrating Success: Oscar’s creative achievement
We're excited to celebrate the achievement of one of our talented students, Oscar, who has taken his classroom learning to new heights. Inspired by our recent studies on natural disasters, Oscar channelled his creativity into a project that not only showcases his understanding but also highlights a potential career in journalism.
Oscar created his very own newspaper, dedicating an entire article to the devastating Cyclone Tracy, which struck Darwin in 1974. Through this project, he demonstrated not only his grasp of the historical context of natural disasters but also his ability to communicate complex information in an engaging and accessible manner.
His newspaper article featured detailed accounts of the cyclone, its impact on the community, personal stories of resilience, and a thoughtful reflection on the lessons learned from such a catastrophic event.
This project exemplifies the creativity and critical thinking skills we strive to cultivate in our classrooms. Oscar’s initiative to create a pseudo newspaper demonstrates how students can creatively express their understanding of important topics while developing their writing and research skills.
Well done Oscar.
Nick Garner
Early Stage 1
What are we learning in Kindergarten?
Literacy
We are learning that two letters work together to make one sound. This is called a digraph.
English Language Arts- ‘Being a Maker’
Human beings are very good at making things, amazing things. This requires people to use their imaginations. But not all makers make big, amazing things that the whole world knows about. Makers can be gardeners or mechanics, cooks, artists, or even Lego creators. Makers are everyday people like you and me. Over the next few weeks, we are going to be learning about building and making things.
Writing
We have been learning about sentences. A sentence always has a naming part and a telling part. We are learning to identify verbs - or doing words – in a sentence. You can play a game of “Simon Says” at home and talk about the verbs in the game.
Numeracy
We are learning to form equal groups by sharing and counting collections of objects. At home, you can make equal groups of objects from items (cutlery, toys, found objects).
Ask the questions:
- How many objects are in each group?
- How many equal groups are there?
- How many objects are there altogether?
- Are the groups equal?
- How can we prove it?
100 Days of School
We loved celebrating 100 Days of School with our Year 6 buddies! Check out our amazing costumes!
Kirrilly Katen
Early Stage 1 Assistant Principal
Stage 1
Stage 1 Curriculum Update
Literacy
In literacy sessions, Stage 1 teachers will continue to deliver The Literacy Collective program.
The theme for both Year 1 and Year 2 this term is ‘We Are Investigators’. Students will explore inventors and scientific methods, different cultures and culinary arts, as well as use their senses to investigate the world around them.
Some of the quality texts Stage 1 are exploring include:
Year 1
- What do you do with an idea? by Kobi Yamada, Mae Besom
- The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring by Gilbert Ford
- Going Places by Paul & Peter Reynolds
- Inventors by Robert Winston & Jessamy Hawke
- The World in My Kitchen by Sally Brown & Kate Morris
Year 2
- The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kambwamba
- Mr Ferris and His Wheel by Katherine Gibbs Davis & Gilbert Ford
- Marvelous Mattie by Emily Arnold McCully
- The First Scientists by Corey Tutt
Home Reading
Home Reading will continue this term. If your child has completed their blue reading register, another card will be issued. Please continue with the Premier’s Reading Challenge, which exposes students to a broad range of quality literature. Students are encouraged to read daily and are welcome to read any book of interest, whether it be from home or school.
Mathematics
This term in mathematics, Stage 1 will be further developing their knowledge, skills, and understanding of numbers, data, and measurement. Some mathematical skills being focused on throughout the term include:
Year 1
- Explore place value through partitioning
- Represent data with objects and drawings and describe the displays
- Model and use equal groups of objects to represent multiplication
- Measure and compare length, volume, area and mass
Year 2
- Form, regroup, and rename three-digit numbers
- Develop appropriate methods to display and interpret data
- Use arrays to solve multiplication and division problems
- Measure, record, compare, and estimate length, volume, area, and mass
PDHPE
Personal Development and Health
Child Protection – Staying Safe
This term, students will explore and practise a range of protective strategies that can be used to help themselves and others to stay safe when responding to various situations.
Topics include:
- Emotions and body reactions
- Relationships and how we care for one another
- Understanding bullying and group dynamics
- Strategies for seeking help and staying safe
- Communicating and cooperating in respectful ways
Physical Education
Students will be participating in a range of games and activities aimed at further developing confidence and ability in performing fundamental movement skills, including running and jumping. They will also respond to challenges within games through teamwork and skill selection, including throwing and passing.
Science
In science, students will be exploring the ‘Material World’ unit. They will be introduced to the term ‘material’ as a scientific term to mean matter or substance from which an object is made. Students will investigate how materials can be changed, manipulated, and combined.
History
This term, students will develop historical inquiry skills as they investigate the changes that have occurred within our school over time. They will examine historical images and artifacts found within the school, as well as compare natural and built environments of the past and present to further their understanding of change and continuity.
Creative Arts
In creative arts this term, Stage 1 students will explore a variety of Aboriginal artworks, their meanings, and the traditional techniques used. They will experiment with different colours, techniques, and media to produce artworks that depict weather, scenery, mood, and action. Students will also take a virtual tour of the National Gallery of Australia.
Weekly Organisation
There have been some changes to class library borrowing and PE times this term. Please see the table below. Additionally, the School Bytes Parent calendar has been updated to reflect these changes.
Sam Tassell
Stage 1 Assistant Principal (Rel.)
Stage 2
English
This term, classes will be studying several texts in English.
2/3K and 3A
3/4O and 4L
4/5D
In the texts ‘Rowan of Rin’, ‘The Callers’, and ‘Deltora Quest’, students will gain a deeper understanding of the textual concepts of 'characterisation’ and ‘narrative’. They will explore how authors use dialogue to convey what characters say and think. This knowledge will be used when composing their own narrative.
In ‘Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes’ and ‘The Little Refugee’, students will identify ways in which perspective is represented in texts and how it informs the setting. Inspired by ‘The Little Wave’, students will create imaginative texts including free verse poetry and persuasive writing.
Mathematics
Concepts covered in Stage 2 classes this term include:
* Geometric measure: angles
* Non-spatial measure: time
* Representing numbers using place value
* Multiplicative relations
* Two-dimensional spatial structure
Special Events
Week 3 – Primary Assembly - showcasing Senior Star Struck Dance and Choir, and Majors Band
Week 4 – Public Speaking Finals
Week 6 - Father's Day Celebrations - Thursday 28 August, Father's Day Stall - Friday 29 August
Week 6- 9 – Check-In assessment (English and mathematics)
Week 7 – Year 4 Camp: Great Aussie Bush Camp: 1-3 September
Week 10 - Colour Run
Adam O’Shannessy
Stage 2 Assistant Principal
Stage 3
Stage 3 Curriculum Overview Term 2
English
Year 6
This term, Year 6 classes will be studying Weeks 1-5: Argument and Authority – Fake News.
During the first part of the term, students will learn about "fake news." They will explore what makes information trustworthy and how to tell the difference between real news and false information. This unit encourages them to ask questions about sources and understand the importance of checking facts. Weeks 6-10: Perspective and Context – Worse Things
In the second part of the term, students will focus on "Perspective and Context" through the theme of "Worse Things." They will examine different viewpoints on various topics and learn how the context can change the way we understand stories. This helps them appreciate that there are often multiple sides to every issue.
5/6F
Students will be reading the students will engage in an exciting exploration of characterisation through the beloved novel "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio. In Units 5 and 6, students will delve into the lives of the characters, focusing on how their traits, feelings, and experiences shape the story. Throughout this unit, students will learn how to describe and analyse characters, discussing their motivations and how they interact with one another. They will also explore themes of kindness, empathy, and acceptance, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of being compassionate towards others.
Year 5
Students will dive into an engaging study of characterisation through the delightful story of "August & Jones." In Units 5 and 6, students will explore the main characters and learn how their traits and actions contribute to the overall story. Throughout these weeks, students will focus on describing the characters, understanding their feelings, and discussing how they relate to one another. They will discover the importance of friendship, kindness, and understanding, which are central themes in "August & Jones."
Mathematics
Concepts covered in Stage 3 classes this term include:
- The number system extends infinitely to very large and very small numbers
- Understanding relationships between the properties of 2D shapes helps visualise and organise spaces in the world
- Multiplicative thinking involves flexible use of multiplication and division concepts, strategies and representations
- What needs to be measured determines the unit of measurement
- Addition and subtraction problems can be solved using a variety of strategies
Other Curriculum Areas
Weekly Organisation
Ryan Cox
Stage 3 Assistant Principal
Celebrating NAIDOC Week
Floraville Public School proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week with a vibrant whole school assembly. We were honoured to welcome special guests, including community leaders and families, who joined us in recognising the significance of this year’s theme. Our students from the Aboriginal Culture Hub took centre stage, presenting Aunty Laurel's captivating story, "Karabang the Water Spirit." Additionally, we were thrilled to have dancers from Star Struck perform, bringing energy and cultural expression to the event. Together, these performances showcased the richness of Aboriginal culture. It was a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together, learn, and appreciate the invaluable contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this celebration a memorable one.
Early Stage 1
Kindergarten hosted exciting NAIDOC rotations, where students immersed themselves in a variety of enriching activities. They explored the story of the Bitangabee Tribe through engaging lessons, created stunning Bogong moth artwork, enjoyed didgeridoo music, and participated in lively animal dances. Additionally, the children learned about symbol drawing and storytelling through symbols, as well as the Awabakal language, playing fun snap games to reinforce their learning. It was a wonderful celebration of culture and creativity.
Stage 1
Stage 1 came together to celebrate NAIDOC Week. It was fantastic to see the students choose the activities they wanted to engage with. These included getting physically active and participating in Indigenous games on the flat, singing, listening to music, playing clapsticks, and dancing. Some students chose to share a book, make a bookmark or bracelet, create stories in sand using Aboriginal symbols, or work on their pronunciation of Awabakal words.
Stage 2
This week was a wonderful celebration of NAIDOC, packed with activities that helped us learn more about Aboriginal culture. Students used Google Earth to explore Belmont Lagoon, discovering its importance to the local Indigenous community. We also recreated the Tibins page of Isaac Peachey's drawing, expressing our creativity and connection to nature. During our reading sessions, we enjoyed various Aboriginal story books, which allowed us to dive into rich stories and traditions. We also listened to the Little Yarns podcast, which deepened our appreciation for Aboriginal stories and perspectives. Overall, it was an enriching week of learning and celebration.
Stage 3
Our students had a fantastic time participating in a variety of culturally enriching activities to celebrate NAIDOC week. Under the guidance of our dedicated Stage 3 teachers and Mrs Blake, students engaged in traditional Aboriginal games on the flat, experiencing teamwork and physical activity. They also expressed their creativity through dot painting, representing native Australian animals, and crafted unique soundtracks using clapping sticks, drums, and body percussion to accompany a traditional Dreaming story narrated by their peers. In addition, students tested their knowledge with trivia titled "The Deadliest NAIDOC Questions," deepening their understanding of Aboriginal culture and history. The day was beautifully rounded off with a reading of "Welcome to Country" by Aunty Joy Murphy, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy, which helped foster a greater appreciation for the significance of this important cultural practice. All activities celebrated the rich heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It was a day of learning, connection, and respect.
School News
Public Speaking
Distance Education
From The Office
Visiting during school hours
To maintain a focused learning environment and ensure the safety of our students, we kindly ask that visitors proceed directly to the school office instead of heading directly to your child's classroom. The office staff will assist with any questions or needs you may have. If your child needs to come to the office, we will call the classroom to arrange it. This approach helps us keep our classrooms focused and demonstrates our commitment to protecting everyone in our school community.
Lost Property
To help keep track of your child’s clothing and belongings, we kindly ask that you label all items with your child's name. With so many similar-looking hats, jackets, and lunchboxes, having names on them makes it much easier for us to return anything that gets misplaced!
Sports News
NSWPSSA Cross Country Championships
We are honoured to share the wonderful achievements of our talented athletes who represented Floraville PS at the NSWPSSA Cross Country Championships held in Sydney on 23 July. A special shoutout goes to Jeremy W, who made history as our first multiclass athlete to compete in this major sporting event, finishing in an impressive 15th place. This remarkable accomplishment showcases not only his dedication but also the spirit of inclusivity that we cherish at our school. Remi displayed incredible determination, crossing the finish line in 48th place, while Zahra finished strong in 32nd. Each of our athletes faced a challenging course and fierce competition from the best runners in the state, and they should all be incredibly proud of their performances.
Paul Kelly Cup Regional Final
What an impressive performance from our senior boys' team at the Paul Kelly Cup Regional Final, which took place on Monday at Warners Bay! The team showcased their skills and teamwork across three challenging games. They kicked off the day with a fantastic victory against Charlestown East PS, winning 32 to 13. In a nail-biting second game, they narrowly missed out on a win, falling to their opponents in the final moments with a score of 22 to 21. Despite this setback, the boys kept their spirits high and fought hard in their final game, showing resilience and determination, finishing with a score of 42 to 32. It was a wonderful day filled with sportsmanship and camaraderie, and we are immensely proud of how our team represented Floraville PS. A big thank you goes out to the parents and supporters who provided transport and encouragement throughout the day. Your support is invaluable! We look forward to returning next year, bigger and stronger. Let's keep the momentum going!
NSW PSSA Primary Girls Netball Championships
Mila and Indi will represent the Hunter Team at the NSW PSSA Primary Girls Netball Championships! Taking place from Monday,11 August to Wednesday 13 August in Coffs Harbour. This is a wonderful opportunity for our talented athletes to showcase their skills and sportsmanship. The entire school community is exceptionally proud of their commitment and dedication to the sport. We wish them the best of luck in this exciting competition!
NSW PSSA Primary Girls Touch Football Championships
Sophie will be representing our school at the NSW PSSA Primary Girls Touch Football Championships as part of the Hunter Team! This prestigious event will be held from Tuesday 19 August to Thursday 20 August in Dubbo. We are incredibly proud of Sophie’s achievements and her dedication to the sport. This experience is sure to be unforgettable, and we wish her all the best as she competes at this high level!
Girls PSSA Touch Football
This week, the Girls PSSA Touch Football team faced off against Shortland Public School in the State Knockout Competition. Both teams featured a representative from the Hunter team. Floraville PS showcased their strength, with several players scoring multiple tries. The girls secured a decisive victory, defeating Shortland PS 8 tries to 1. With this win, Floraville PS advances to the quarter-finals and will be versing Singleton at home. Congratulations to the girls, and best of luck in the next round!
PSSA Netball News
This week, the Floraville PS PSSA Netball team played against Kahibah PS in Round 4 of the State Knockout competition. Right from the beginning, it was obvious our girls were going to be a formidable force. We won the game with a score of 36 to 11. Many of our players took on different positions, showing their strength and adaptability. The girls will now be heading to the quarter-finals, where they will face Coal Point PS. We’re looking forward to this upcoming match. Go Floraville PS!
Aerobics
This weekend, our talented students will be participating in the Future Champions Cup at NEX in Newcastle. This exciting one-day event, similar to the Super Series, promises to be a fantastic opportunity for our teams to showcase their skills and dedication.
While not all schools have chosen to compete, our teams are eager to represent our school and engage in this competition. For some of our teams, this will mark their final performance of the year, making it an especially meaningful occasion.
Best of luck to all our teams as they embark on this exciting weekend of competition.
K-2 Athletics Carnival - Save the Date
P&C News
📅 P&C Meeting Announcement
The next P&C meeting will be held on Tuesday, 12 August, from 6:30 PM in the school library. The Student Representative Council will be attending and sharing their ideas regarding items the students would like to see around the school. If you’ve never been to a P&C meeting, this is a great one to attend, as we love hearing directly from the students about what resources are needed at school.
🎨 Colour Run is Coming!
Get ready for the Monty’s Monstar Colour Run on Thursday, 25 September! We are excited to host this vibrant event at our school! Information has been sent home with students and via School Bytes on how to sign up, and you can share this with family and friends to sponsor your child! Register today at www.myprofilepage.com.au.
There will be incentives for the 3 highest fundraising classes:
1st Place 🍕 Opportunity to slime Ms. Yeo & their class teacher and enjoy a class pizza party lunch!
2nd Place 🧁 Get to slime Mr. Garnier & their class teacher, plus enjoy some yummy cupcakes for the class!
3rd Place 🍦 Get to slime their class teacher and have ice blocks for the class!
Do you or someone you know own a business and would like to sponsor our P&C for this event? For information regarding sponsorship, please reach out to our Vice President (Fundraising), Cheryl, via email: fpsfundraising1@gmail.com.
🌈🏃 Colour Run Volunteers Needed!
Volunteers, we need your help! Book in a roster day or annual leave day and come have some fun with the kids at the end of another fantastic term!
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at the P&C meeting and the Colour Run!
🎉P&C Father’s Day Stall
Mark your calendars for the Father’s Day Stall on Friday, 29 August 2025, celebrating all the superhero dads, step-dads, granddads, uncles, and role models in our kids' lives. We require volunteers from 8 AM to 2 PM to assist with setting up the stall, selling items to students, and packing items away at the end of the day. We appreciate any time you can offer, whether it’s for an hour or all day.
Please sign up to volunteer via our online link: Father’s Day Stall Volunteer Sign-Up and indicate the time you will be available to help. We can’t run this event without our volunteers, and it’s very rewarding to help the students choose those very special gifts.
🍽️ Canteen Update
Book Week: We have some exciting canteen plans for Term 3, including new Book Week-inspired ideas and prizes for students. We will share this information with you in the coming newsletters, so stay tuned!
Volunteering: Thank you to those who have stepped up to fill some of the dates on our canteen roster for Term 3. We still have a few vacancies to fill. If we cannot fill these spots, we will be required to close the canteen or limit the number of orders. If you can help for a few hours in the morning, it would be a huge help. Here are the dates needing assistance:
- Thursdays: 7 August, 14 August, 21 August
- Fridays: 8 August, 29 August, 5 September, 26 September
Flexischools: When placing lunch orders via Flexischools, we ask that everyone double-check that you have finalised your order each time. We have had an increase in students presenting to the canteen looking for their lunch orders, but the orders have not been finalised correctly in Flexischools. The easiest way to check this is to go to the “Orders” tab in Flexischools to find your order history and/or check that you have received an order confirmation email.
👕 2nd Hand Uniform Shop
Survey: The shop has now been open for 2 terms, and we are asking our school community to complete a quick survey to see what’s working well with the uniform shop and what could be improved. Even if you haven’t utilised the uniform shop, we’d still like to hear your thoughts! The survey takes less than 2 minutes to complete: 2nd Hand Uniform Shop Survey
Bargain Blitz: The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop will be having a $3 Bargain Blitz for the next 2 weeks only. We will be open on Monday, 4 August and Monday, 11 August from 2:45-3:15 PM. All items will be available for just $3 each! This includes winter and summer items, as well as selected old-style (brand new) hats. Pop in to see us after assembly or at school pickup time, and grab some great bargains ready for the next school season! You’ll find us in the building between the office and the bottom playground.
Thank you for your continued support in making our school community vibrant and engaged!
🗓️ Upcoming P&C Dates for Your Calendar! 📅
📅Term 3 P&C Meetings: 12 August (SRC attending) 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
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details on these exciting events! 🎊
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
LOWES
Community Newsletter
Please see Community Newsletter - Term 3 for upcoming holiday and vacation care information, and other community news and events.