Guise Public School

“Educating and caring for the whole child”

Eucalyptus Drive, Macquarie Fields Telephone: (02) 9605 4397 Fax: (02) 9829 3975

Web Address: https://guise-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Email: guise-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

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School Term Dates 2020 Term 2 Monday 27 April – Friday 3 July

Term 3 Monday 20 July – Friday 25 September (Students return Tuesday 21 July)

Term 4 Monday 12 October – Friday 18 December (Students finish Wednesday 16 December)

Principal’s Report

Term 2 Week 6 2020

SCHOOL CALENDAR Monday 8 June Queen's Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday 23 June YCDI Virtual Assembly

Friday 3 July Last Day of Term 2

TERM 3

Monday 20 July School Development Day

Tuesday 21 July Students return to school

Friday 14 August Semester One Reports go home

Please report trespassing on school grounds, unlawful acts and vandalism to School Security on 1300 880 021

Principal’s Report

Welcome Back! It was wonderful to welcome all of our students back to

resume full time face-to-face learning last week. It has

been lovely to see so many smiling, happy faces getting

back into school routines and lessons here at Guise. On

behalf of the staff I would like to thank our families for

all of your support with online and remote learning. We

are aware how challenging this time has been supporting

your children with their work and I know many of you

appreciate even more now, the hard work our teaching

staff do on a daily basis.

While there is greater ‘normality’ in the classroom,

protecting the health of our students, staff and

community members remains paramount.

We will continue with the current arrangements as per

the advice of the Department of Education with regards

to visitors onsite, practicing good hand hygiene and

social distancing. As communicated in the note last week

we encourage all students to bring a refillable water

bottle to school each day, as bubblers will not be open to

be used for drinking.

School activities and events For the foreseeable future, excursions, school events,

assemblies and all offsite activities will not be conducted.

We are working on a virtual assembly format for our YCDI

Assembly in Week 9 for our students to watch in

classrooms and teachers to share on Seesaw.

Stay home if you are sick Given the presence of COVID-19 coupled with the

commencement of the influenza (flu) season, I ask that

you keep your child at home if they are unwell. In the

event your child is unwell at school the normal processes

apply: Your child will be cared for at school in the sick bay

and a parent/carer will be contacted to come and collect

your child from school.

Reports The staff are currently starting the process of writing

reports for all students for Semester One. The report will

be a modified version of our traditional school report to

reflect the learning environment across the semester,

including children’s engagement in online and remote

learning. Reports will be sent home in Week 4 next term –

Friday 14 August. We will also be offering Family

Partnership Meetings next term in Week 5. More

information on how this 3 way conversation and setting of

learning goals will be organised, will be sent home later this

term.

School Uniforms As the weather is getting colder I have noticed the

standards for school uniform have started to slip, with

some children coming to school in other clothes,

especially different jumpers and shoes.

Just a reminder that it is an expectation that all

students wear correct uniform, including the correct

polo shirt, track pants, jumper, school hat and black

shoes. Navy blue track pants are available to purchase

from the office. If you need uniform items please

contact the office to place an order or request

assistance. When buying socks the colour is white for

girls and navy blue for boys. The school sport shirt is

only to be worn on Friday sport days.

Opportunity Class Placement in 2021 This week an Intention to apply note was sent home to

Year 4 parents who are seeking opportunity class

placement for their child for Year 5 in 2021. Opportunity

classes can provide intellectual stimulation by grouping

together high potential and gifted students who may

otherwise be isolated from a suitable peer group.

Successful students will usually have to leave their

current school to enrol in a school with an opportunity

class for Years 5 and 6.

Applications for opportunity class placement are

considered on the results of the Opportunity Class

Placement Test. Students who wish to be considered for

opportunity class placement will sit the Opportunity Class

Placement Test on Wednesday 16 September 2020.

If you would like to have your child considered for Year

5 opportunity class entry in 2021, you need to apply

between Tuesday 9 June 2020 and Friday 26 June

2020. You will need to access the online application at

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-

high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5.

If you do not have internet access, you could apply at a

public library. If you have a disability that prevents you

from using a computer, you can contact the High

Performing Students Team for assistance after 9 June

2020. Contact details can be found on the web site shown

below. You must submit only ONE application for each

student.

Important – the school cannot apply on your behalf.

National SORRY Day Last week we commemorated National Sorry Day which

is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each

year. This day gives people the chance to come together

and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen

Generations, their families and communities.

Our students took part in a Sorry Day cultural

perspective lesson in classes, which were facilitated by

our wonderful Aboriginal Education Officers, Ms Bell and

Mrs Collier. The students heard information about the

significance and history of Sorry Day and participated in

various activities throughout the week.

Attendance and SMS Notification

Guise Public School recognises the obligation to comply

with all relevant NSW Department of Education

Government legislation and fulfils its duty of care

obligations to all students by keeping accurate records

of school attendance. If a child is away from school,

parents are required to notify the school to inform them

of the reason for the absence within 7 days. There are a

number of ways the school can be notified:

1. Written note on the day the student returns to

school outlining the reason for absence.

2. Using the SkoolBag app to make a notification of

absence.

3. A phone call to the school to explain the absence.

We have implemented a new SMS or email notification

for student absences and partial absences. A message

will be sent to parents of children daily if they are absent

or late. Parents are expected to contact the school to

explain the reason for the absence. A note detailing

these changes has been sent home to all families.

Playground Game Markings Last week we had some playground markings installed

that have transformed our outdoor spaces to spark

curiosity for learning, creativity and fitness. The

playground markings are made with a long lasting

thermoplastic material that is safe and also nonslip.

The playground game markings have certainly brightened

up our school playground, revitalising the asphalt and

concrete areas, making them more vibrant and colourful.

During my walks around at recess and lunch the children

and teachers seem to be loving them.

Have a wonderful fortnight and stay safe!

Megan Predl