THE UPSIDE

31st July 2024 - ISSUE 11

News and updates from

Welcome Back to Term 3

I am  delighted to welcome families and students back to school for Term 3! As we gear up for an exciting term, I imagine we’re all looking forward to cheering on Team Australia at the 2024 Olympic Games. I hope the incredible performances and sportspersonship inspire our students to strive for their personal best in all their endeavors. Let’s embrace this school term with enthusiasm and determination as we work together to achieve our goals.

Education Week Breakfast

Next week, we’re excited to celebrate Public Education Week, and we warmly invite families to join us for a special event on Thursday August 8th 2024. Starting at 8:30 am, come along to share breakfast with your child and enjoy a whole school assembly that highlights the outstanding effort and achievements of our students. The assembly will feature a variety of student performances, making it a truly exciting day.

Please remember to place your breakfast orders through Flexischools. You can choose from:

• Yoghurt and granola cups 

• Croissant and jam

• Bacon and egg rolls 

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating together!

Staffing Update

It is with mixed emotions that we announce Doreen Lee, a cherished member of our school administration team, has made the difficult decision to retire. Doreen has been an integral part of our community, and her presence will be greatly missed.

To honor her contributions and celebrate this significant milestone, I invite all community members to join us for a special assembly on Monday 19th August 2024 at 9.00am. Let’s come together to express our gratitude and wish Doreen a happy and fulfilling retirement.

I look forward to celebrating with you and paying tribute to Doreen’s remarkable service.

Expectations for Digital Communication Procedure

As a parent or carer, you are an important part of our school community. We know that you play a crucial role in helping your child become a motivated learner. Communication between our school and our community is critical for us to partner together.

To give our teachers the opportunity to recharge, spend time with their families and bring their best creative selves to work, we are setting clear expectations for when and how they respond to communication outside school operating hours. This means teachers may not reply to non-emergency messages or emails outside of school operating hours.

Please use the school’s email address for all communication. Our staff will respond to your queries within 2 school days under normal circumstances.

For longer discussions or complex matters, we ask parents and carers to make an appointment to speak to teachers directly, at a time that works best for everyone.

Our staff will always stay in touch because open communication is what’s best for your child and their education. We don't want you to stop communicating with your teachers – we still want to hear from you if you have any questions or need to discuss a matter about your child. We know it’s often easier to send emails or messages after work. We will make sure we read and respond in school operating hours.

Our dedicated teachers want to help our students achieve their best – we’re on the same team.

Thank you for treating our staff with kindness and respect.

Reminder: Arrival Times and Supervision

I would like to remind all parents and carers that students should not arrive at school before 8:30 am, as there is no supervision available prior to this time. School gates will open promptly at 8:30 am each morning (except for Thursday when they will open at 8.20 am). For those whose children are attending before-school activities, please ensure they arrive no earlier than the specified start time of the activity and promptly meet at the designated meeting spot. 

These guidelines help us ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students. Thank you for your cooperation.

Reminder: Ensure Daily Preparedness

I kindly remind all families to ensure that their child is fully prepared for school each day. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of lunch boxes, drink bottles, and jumpers being delivered to school throughout the day. Please be aware that the admin team is unable to disturb classes during learning time or leave the admin area to deliver these items. There is no guarantee that items will reach your child in a timely manner. To avoid any disruptions and ensure your child has everything they need, please check that all necessary items are packed before leaving home each morning. Thank you for your cooperation.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (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).

In the last week of term 2 we celebrated NAIDOC Week with the theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud. "Keep the Fire Burning" symbolises the continuing spirit and rich traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. 

At our school we have a proud group of students with connections to Nations across Australia, like Biripi, Wiradjuri, Yiman, Ngamba and Bundjalung. On the last day of the term these students attended the NAIDOC Community Day at Glebe Public School, where they enjoyed local dance performances by Glebe students. Billy from K Olympia was particularly excited and  proud to watch as his brother Beau (pictured) performed with his Glebe classmates. 

Throughout the week classes engaged in a journey of discovery learning about the significance and importance of plants in Aboriginal culture, culminating in a whole school race to name and identify each class's chosen plant. 

During the week our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families also enjoyed our first Yarn and Cuppa event, with teachers in the library. It was truly a delightful and meaningful gathering where we had the opportunity to share conversations and ideas. 

Ms Barbagallo

Welcome back to an exciting term. This term we are busy in the Library preparing for many engaging activities for book week as well as two author visits!

This is a friendly reminder to please ensure you have given permission for your child to attend this incursion. This is a compulsory school event. We are very excited to welcome Kate & Jol Temple to our school.

Join us for Ultimo Public School Book Week Celebrations in Week 5. This year's theme is Reading is Magic. All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 are invited to dress up as a character from their favourite book and participate in our Book Week parade on Friday 23rd August at 9:15am in the cola. Families and carers are welcome to attend!

Students will also be participating in Book Week activities throughout the week including reading sessions with their buddies, listening to virtual author talks, workshops and the opportunity to enter multiple competitions to win prizes at the Scholastic Book Fair.

Once again, we will be having the Scholastic Book Fair at Ultimo Public School during Book Week. Parents and carers will be able to purchase books for their child during Book Week. This will replace the usual Book Club catalogue. The Scholastic Book Fair will run again this year in the Library before and after school.

Scholastic Book Fair

Location: Ultimo Public School Library

Dates: Tuesday 20th August to Friday 23rd August 2024

Time: 8:30-9:00am and 3:00-3:30pm.

Parents and carers will also be able to purchase books directly after the Book Week Parade on Friday 23rd August 2024.

Each issue, students will read selected new quality literature from the Library and provide their Book Review to get published in the School Newsletter. This week’s review is a Notable book from the CBCA Book Of The Year: Younger Readers 2024.

Our school actively participates in Book Club. Book Club will be distributed throughout the year to your child via a brochure and orders can be placed online. The books will then be delivered to your child’s teacher for your child to take home. Families can purchase books at a discounted rate through scholastic book club. The best part is 15% of your order value is given back to our school. It is easy to order. Just go to scholastic.com.au/loop or by using the LOOP app which you can download from the App Store or Google Play. Once you select your books, use the drop-down menu to find your class and the books will be delivered to your child’s classroom. Please note the school does not take cash for Book Club orders.

Some helpful resources to Introduce NEW families to Book Club

Book Club Parent Guide

Other resources for parents available online 

 We do not accept cash orders. Please note orders will not be dispatched prior to the closing date of whole school orders.

Orders are due by Friday 9th August.

Stage 1 had a busy start to the term with a ‘Connection to Country’ excursion to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Aboriginal Education Officers shared their deep knowledge and personal insights about how the First Nations people of the Sydney area utilised native plants for food, medicine, tools and weapons. Students got to examine a range of artefacts and identify a range of natural materials used by Aboriginal peoples.Through the interactive experience the students gained a greater understanding of what life was like for Gadigal people. This fun day out will support our integrated writing and geography unit about local people and places. We cannot wait to write all about it.

Showing wisdom beyond their years, the Ultimo Public School Debating teams triumphed with flying colours in Rounds 2 and 3 of the Premier’s Debating Challenge.

Round 2, hosted at Nicholson Street Public School on the penultimate day of Term 2, saw both Ultimo teams emerge victorious. With arguments as sharp as freshly sharpened pencils, our debaters tackled the following topics successfully: “That we should never use computers or devices in primary school classrooms” and “That Years 5 and 6 classes should set aside 20 minutes each day to watch and discuss the news”.

Round 3, held on home turf at Ultimo on the second day back at school, was another success despite a bittersweet twist. Visiting teams from Newtown North Public School were not only amazed by our school grounds but also impressed with the debating competition they encountered here. Team B clinched victory with arguments so compelling, they could have convinced a fish to climb a tree. Congratulations to Alex, Namira, Edrea and Scott for successfully arguing against the topic that “That kids in Year 5 and above should get to vote in elections”. Team A fell just short of triumph against Newtown North, arguing against the topic “That parents should have to provide pets for their kids”, however every defeat is but a stepping stone to greater heights.

As we reflect on these victories and near-victories, one thing is clear: Ultimo Public School's Debating teams are a force to be reckoned with. They have not only honed their rhetorical skills but have also bravely conquered fear to speak confidently in front of an audience. Here's to more triumphs, more debates, and more moments where words wielded wisely can move mountains—or at the very least, sway a few adjudicators!

This term, the students will have the opportunity to conduct two projects. For the first project, the students will take inspiration from stained glass windows to create their own illustrations. They will use various colour mediums to highlight geometric shapes and then create a front door design reminiscent of an old federation house to frame their detailed work. The second project will be a hands-on experience that involves using clay and stenciling tools. The students will have the opportunity to create their own animal sculpture and then use paint to colour it. Both projects aim to inspire the students' creativity and imagination while also helping them develop their social skills and confidence in the classroom.

The Environmental Guardians and 5/6 Paris participated in our yearly 'National Tree Day Planting Session' with the Pyrmont/Ultimo Landcare group. Students had a great time planting seedlings and looking after our local environment. We would like to thank Landcare for facilitating this excursion. 

A.C.E. Sherlock's Taekwon-Do Australia, would like to announce over the 2 week break.

We have gained x4 new Black Belts students.

Mr Martin 1st Degree,

Miss Cut 1st Degree,

Mr Morgan 1st Degree,

Mr Kona 1st Degree.

Our whole school athletics carnival was held on Tuesday 30th July. Congratulations to all the students who participated and who cheered on their peers from the side. It was a cold day for our carnival, however, all the students enjoyed themselves. Congratulations to Kindy for their very first athletics carnival, we hope they all enjoyed themselves. 

A huge thank you to all the staff involved in making the day happen and for all the organisation on the day. 

The Zone athletics carnival will be in week 4, Friday 16th August at ES Marks Athletics Field. We wish those students attending the best of luck. 

Our 2-6 ribbons assembly will be held in the hall on Monday 5th August at 2:30pm. Parents and carers are welcome to attend. 

Ultimo Public School is participating in Jump Rope for Heart this year!

It is a five week program that encourages students to have a positive attitude towards exercise, healthy eating and heart health.

If you would like to raise money to fight heart disease, please register via this  link 

Ultimo Public School will not be involved with prizes as 100% of profits goes directly to the Heart Foundation.  

General Expectations

Classroom Expectations

TERM 3

Monday 22 July - Staff Development Day 

Tuesday 23 July - First Back Day for Students 

Wednesday 24 July - Year 1 Excursion - Connection & Country

Wednesday 24 July - Premier's Debating Challenge Round 3

Tuesday 30 July - Athletics Carnival

Thursday 1 August  - 1 Lillehammer Assembly

Friday 2 August - K-6 Author Visit-Kate & Jol Temple

Monday 5 August to Friday 9 August -  Education Week

Wednesday 14 Ausgust - Festival of Choral Music - Senior Choir Evening Performance Sydney Opera House

Monday 19 August to Friday 23 August - Book Week theme "Reading is Magic" & Scholastic Book Fair

Friday 23 August Book Week Parade

 Updated (July 2024) Parking safely in school zones - Road rules reminder brochure. Digital Accessible.pdf

City of Sydney Library Branch at the Ultimo Community Centre

Ultimo Village Voice is asking for your help in understanding what you think about the City of Sydney Library Branch at the Ultimo Community Centre – what you like, what you don’t and what you think might make it better. Please complete this short Questionnaire. Responses close 22 June, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your participation. 

Program Information SEMESTER 2