As we mark the end of our third week of learning, it brings me great pleasure to express the positivity and enthusiasm that has marked the beginning of this new year at Samuel Gilbert PS. The energy is palpable and our students have kicked off the year with an infectious enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn. It fills me with exultation to see each one of them proudly dressed in their full school uniform, embodying the sense of belonging that makes our school community truly special.

Parent-Teacher interviews have commenced. A particular thanks to our staff who dedicate significant time to preparing for these meetings with parents. Equally a huge thank you to parents and carers for investing in this meeting to share more information about their child. These interviews are an essential part of maintaining effective communication and partnership between home and school.

Planning is well underway for our Year 3 and Year 5 students as they prepare for their upcoming NAPLAN assessments. At Samuel Gilbert PS School, the testing window has been set for Wednesday, 12 March to Friday, 21 March.

In the lead-up to NAPLaN, teachers will be reviewing test requirements, guiding students through key skills for navigating the online platform, and ensuring they feel confident and well-prepared. Now that the dates are confirmed, we kindly ask for your support in avoiding out-of-school appointments during this period wherever possible. We look forward to seeing our students demonstrate the skills and knowledge we are so proud of at Samuel Gilbert PS.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

At our school we have a very strong and professional Learning and Support Team (L&ST). The purpose of this team is to ensure all students are receiving the help and support they need to achieve their maximum learning potential. This includes those students needing extension programs. A key feature of the learning support team is the facilitation of collaborative planning between teachers, support staff, parents and students. The L&ST committee is chaired by Deputy Principal, Ms Appave, and includes school executive members (incl me), Learning and Support Teacher (LaST) - Mrs Noni Medcalf and School Counsellor – Ms Akira Harinath.

The L&ST team meets fortnightly during each term to review the learning programs of students who have been referred. These children are those identified as gifted and talented, needing further numeracy and literacy support as well as others in need of additional learning support. The L&ST also reviews students who are being funded through various State or Commonwealth programs. Both teachers and parents can refer a student to the L&ST. Referrals to the L&ST may be for reasons related to gifted and talented opportunities or support for learning difficulties. If a teacher refers a child, the parent is informed. Conversely, if parents would like to refer their child, I would hope that the parent would have met with the class teacher to discuss the reasons for the referral and then jointly complete the referral forms. In some circumstances, the parent does not want the teacher informed. If that is the case, referral forms can be obtained from the school office, completed and returned to me to take to the L&ST meeting.

With the implementation of Every Student, Every School a few years ago, the Department of Education has made changes to the way students can receive additional support with their learning. As part of the framework, the position of a Learning and Support Teacher (LaST) was established. We are fortunate to have as our LaST, Mrs Noni Medcalf. The role of the LaST is to improve outcomes for students with additional learning and support needs. Students require different levels of support which can be given to them in a variety of ways to suit their needs. Working collaboratively with the classroom teacher, planning teaching programs, modelling best classroom practice, providing specialist advice and assisting teachers with Professional Learning are a few strategies the LaST teacher can apply when assisting our students and staff. This week’s professional learning afternoon session led teachers to make reasonable adjustments to meet the individual needs of their students.

Scripture and Ethics classes start week 6 Thursday, 6 March. We are grateful to the volunteers available to deliver these services to our students upon parent consent.

If your child is covered by parenting (plan) agreements or consent (custody) orders can you please provide an updated copy to the school as soon as possible.

Thank you, students and parents, for endeavouring to follow the before school procedures, until teachers commence playground duty, however, I have two key reminders: 

• students should arrive at school between 8.20am and 8.50 am. If they arrive before 8.20am they are to come straight to the coloured seating outside the school office and sit until 8.20am. This does not include students attending OOSH or supervised programs e.g., dance and band practice.

• no student is to play before 8.20am regardless of whether their parent is present.

We continue to have contractors working on the school site at various times before school. 

I look forward to your support with these matters as it assists to provide a safe environment for our students and preserves that Samuel Gilbert PS community feel.

Greg McLaren
PRINCIPAL

Teachers are enjoying the opportunity to meet with parents this week and learn a little more from them about the students in their class. If you have not yet made a booking please call the office and our administration staff will be able to help you. We hope over this week and next all parents will have the opportunity to share information with their child’s 2025 class teacher. 

A reminder that Stage 3 students are encouraged to join the meeting with their parents.

We are looking forward to holding our school swimming carnival next Wednesday at Waves Pool. We hope that all our Years 3-6 children will be there to either participate in the many water activities on offer or to cheer on their friends and their house. A reminder that a tee shirt in their house colour should be worn with their sports shorts or skorts. If you do not have one they are available very cheaply from Target and K-Mart and can be worn for future carnivals. 

Allunga – Yellow     Gundaroo – Blue      Koonaka – Red         Timburra – Green 

If you are not sure of your child’s house the school office will be able to help you. Siblings will be allocated to the same house. 

The Zone Swimming Carnival will be held on Monday 10 March.

Tomorrow is the last day to submit an application for OC and Selective placement in 2026. 

The online application link for parents and carers is available at Selective high schools and opportunity classes until 21 February 2025.

A reminder that it is important that our office has a current address for your Year 6 child on our system. If you have moved since completing your original enrolment and have not notified the office of changes please do so as soon as possible.

On Monday 3 March online expressions of interest for High School placements will open. Parents and Carers will be able to use the enrolment tab on the school website to apply.

All Year 6 students need to have an application entered even if they are not seeking an enrolment in a government school and a placement is not required (PNR).

This application process will inform you of your local school on the basis of your home address and will also provide the opportunity to make an application for placement at other government schools.

Best wishes to the 41 students attending the Zone trials today. We look forward to hearing who has been selected in Zone teams over the coming weeks. Thank you to Mr Lau for supporting the students as team manager. 

Tennis – On Monday 3 March the Sydney West trials will be held at the Dural Tennis Courts. Children need to be of Yellow Ball standard or above.  Students wishing to be considered for this trial have collected notes from me and should have registered their interest on the SW Dash platform. 

 17 students have expressed an interest in being part of the Todd Woodbridge Cup competition later this year. Details can be found at this link.

https://www.tennis.com.au/nsw/players/school/todd-woodbridge-cup

If your child has not seen me and plays and enjoys tennis and would like to be included please have them come and see me.

We are pleased to be able to offer Stage 2 students the opportunity to join a lunchtime dance group. Mrs Bowes has kindly offered to take the group and will be calling for auditions next week. Lunchtime groups perform for school events with a small levy requested for costumes. There is no charge for the lesson itself. 

This year we have a number of vocal opportunities for students. 

Mrs Buckley – Years K-2 Vocal Ensemble

Mrs Spears – Festival of Choral Music Choir for Year 5 & 6

Mrs Medcalf – Hills Performing Arts Choir for Years 3-6

Mrs Spears -  School Spectacular Choir 

Mrs McLeod – Primary Proms for Years 3 & 4

Auditions will be held for these groups as for each event numbers are restricted. Further details will be provided regarding performance and rehearsal dates, costs and venues. Students may audition for more than one group and can be included in up to two choirs.

Together with the P&C, OOSH and school staff a welcome BBQ for all Kindergarten families and those new to the school will be held on Friday evening from 5:30pm. 

The barbecue will follow the Kindergarten class meetings being held between 4:30 and 5:30pm. 

We hope you will be able to attend. For Kindergarten families with siblings attending, school staff will be on hand to supervise these children during the class meeting.

Over the past week a number of our students have been involved in the NSW Junior State Cup Oz Tag tournament and the NSW Junior State Touch Football Cup. Congratulations to Ada J. and Rosie J. who represented the Hills Bulls and to Cooper S. and Rosie J. who represented the Hills Hornets.

Attached to this Newsletter (under the Community Interests heading) is a flyer put out by the Hills Council Road Safety Officer. It is a reminder of the expectations for parking in school zones.

The Council’s compliance officers will be present on occasion to enforce these expectations around the school and hefty fines and demerits will be applied for parking offences.

We also ask that all students cross at the supervised crossing. An increasing number of parents are taking their children across Ridgecrop Drive in front of the school. With the heavy traffic at the end of the school day this adds to the risk to students. Please walk the extra metres and use the pedestrian crossing.  

Attached to this newsletter is information for parents and carers on compulsory attendance from the NSW Department of Education. Regular attendance is essential for your child to achieve their educational best. Once enrolled, children are required to attend school each day that school is open for students.

Arriving at school and class on time: 

• ensures that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day

• helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine

• gives students time to greet their friends before class

• reduces classroom disruption.

Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained by parents.

On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:

• Being sick, or having an infectious disease

• having an unavoidable medical appointment

• being required to attend a recognised religious holiday

• exceptional or urgent family circumstance e.g. attending a funeral

If your child has been absent from Samuel Gilbert for 3 consecutive days with no medical certificate sent to explain and no contact made, your class teacher will make a wellbeing call to check on the reason for their absence.

Ongoing absences will be forwarded to the Deputy Principals for further support.

This year we have partnered with Zing again to extend our Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) program. All of our students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be participating in a Gymnastics program for Term 1. The program will be delivered by skilled instructors and monitored by class teachers. The instructors will bring a range of age appropriate equipment for the students to work through a range of activities including tumbling, balancing and vaulting. These lessons will be included in the Term 1 parent invoice.

Thank you to all parents who have enrolled for the Year 2 Swim Scheme program. This program will run every day next week, Monday 24.02 – Friday 28.02. More detailed information including what to bring will be coming out later this week and a reminder will be sent home on Sunday afternoon.

The NSW Department of Education provides funding for all students to receive instruction. School swimming and water safety programs give primary students of NSW the opportunity to learn vital swimming and water safety skills, catering for diverse cultural backgrounds and all socio-economic circumstances. 

 The benefits gained by students’ participation in these programs, both practical and theoretical, include:  

• shared knowledge with families and safer participation in water-based activities   
• increased fitness, resilience and well-being  
• reduced risk of drowning 

We hope to provide every Year 2 student at Samuel Gilbert Public School with these important skills. Please call and speak to Ms Appave if you have any questions or concerns. Students who are unable to participate will remain at school, supervised by Mrs Buckley in her classroom, whilst their class is swimming.

Cathie Barclay and Gilliane Appave
DEPUTY PRINCIPALS

The 2025 school year is well underway and in full swing. There’s plenty of learning to do this year and whether your child is starting school for the very first time, or returning to another school year, it’s important as parents and carers to know what your child is learning about at school.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) continues to move forward in the Curriculum Reform. At Samuel Gilbert PS in 2025, all teachers are well-equipped in delivering the English and Mathematics K-6 Syllabus. Teachers are regularly being upskilled in accessing and teaching the new syllabus content and navigating the curriculum framework through on-going high quality professional learning. The new curriculum has been designed to engage all students at a deep, purposeful and meaningful level of learning while providing greater clarity to teachers in a new streamlined syllabus structure.

For more information on accessing the NSW Syllabus, visit:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/about/who-we-are/information-for-parents-and-carers

Here, you will find information for parents and carers about schooling in NSW. You can access the NSW Syllabuses and take a look at what your child will be learning about in each subject area.

You can also access the Getting Ready for School guides which are packed with information to help families start school in 2025. The Getting Ready for Primary School guide offers a range of helpful tips and advice in preparing your child for the school year. You can download a copy at:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/parents-and-carers/going-to-school/getting-ready-for-school/starting-primary-school

Having a positive start to the school term will help your child engage in quality learning and interact with their peers and teachers ready to set them up for academic and social success.

Amanda Keane
Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction

Thank you to our School Exec and all those new and returning parents who attended our first P&C Meeting for 2025.  The P&C meets every second Tuesday of the month and all parents and carers are welcome to join us. Our P&C plays an important role in contributing to the life of our school community through our Uniform Shop, Canteen and Band Program and community events. It is a team effort and we are thankful to those who support the P&C including our School Exec who attend our meetings. We would love to see you at our next meeting to be held on Tuesday 11 March at 7:30pm in the School Library and online.

If you would like to receive information from your class parent(s) about your child’s 2025 class and important school reminders and event details, you must provide your contact details to the P&C. The P&C support the creation of individual class What’s App groups where parents can connect with their class parents and other parents in their class. Messages from the class teacher, the School and the P&C can be shared in this forum. Due to privacy guidelines, the School cannot provide the P&C with your contact details to join class contact groups. Each year parents must complete the survey to join your child’s class contact list. Joining the class contact list is optional, however you might miss out on vital class messages (e.g. changes to programs or reminders) and/or social opportunities if you are not on the contact list. The SGPS P&C values your privacy and only the contact information you consent to being shared will be disclosed to your class parent. If you have any concerns about your privacy or the way in which your contact information is used, please contact me at etye@sgpspc.org.au.

To join the 2025 class contact list, please use this form to consent to being contacted: https://forms.office.com/r/CrDFVUUWsb

Thank you to those who have volunteered to be class parents for 2025. Applications closed yesterday. The process of allocating Class parents to each class is underway, and we hope to have a full complement of Class Parents in 2025. Class parents will be confirmed shortly.

Are you a new Kindy family or a new family to SGPS? We would love to meet you this Friday at our Welcome BBQ hosted by the P&C. Bring your family and join us as we welcome you to our wonderful SGPS community. The BBQ will commence at 5:30pm in the COLA. We look forward to meeting you there.

If anyone is free to help on Friday afternoon from 3:30pm for an hour or two with cooking or set up please contact Katie at katie.pike@sgpspc.org.au.

The P&C are hiring! The P&C is currently recruiting for 2 positions:

1.            A Uniform Shop Sales Assistant – 10 hours per week across 2 days during school terms; and

2.            A P&C Business Manager managing the uniform shop and canteen businesses – 24 hours per week during school term.

If you know of anyone interested, please contact us. A copy of the position descriptions are available on the school app. Applications can be sent via email to katie.pike@sgpspc.org.au

The SGPS P&C are still in need of volunteers to help in the canteen in Term 1.  The canteen roster is live on Sign-Up, thank you to those who have already signed up. We do need more volunteers to help in the canteen for Term 1 to help us keep costs down.  If you can help to do either the first shift (9am-11:15am) or the second shift (11:30am-2pm) please sign up at this link on the day/s you can help - https://signup.com/go/jFXBxbT

The P&C Trivia Night originally scheduled last year is happening! The evening will be held on Saturday 15^th March. Details will be posted shortly. This will be a parent only event held onsite at school. The evening will have a fundraising focus on student inclusivity. We have wonderful students in our community, some with additional needs and we are raising funds to support their inclusion in all areas of the school. Stay tuned for more details!  In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding the event, please reach out to Katie at katie.pike@sgpspc.org.au. 

Stay Updated
Download the School App
Like the SGPS P&C Facebook page
Connect by signing up for the class contact page

If in the meantime you have any questions regarding the P&C, how you are get involved or how we can support you, please do not hesitate to contact our President, Katie Pike at president@sgpspc.org.au. 

Kind regards,

Elizabeth Tye
SGPS P&C

As your band coordinator for the 2025 season, I am thrilled to welcome all of you from our returning members to the new faces joining our musical family. This year, we are set to make unforgettable music together, challenge our skills, and create lasting memories that we will carry forward.

This week marked the exciting start of our 2025 band rehearsals! It was wonderful to see so many eager, excited faces ready with their new instruments, for their first raining Band session of the year. Meanwhile, our Concert and Performance Bands were ready to go and have begun working on new music for the season ahead.

If your child—or someone you know—has a passion for piano or drumming, we’d love to invite them to join our Training Band! There are still open positions for percussionists, and we’d love to fill them with talented new members.

If you’re a new student who has played in a band at your previous school, we warmly invite you to join our band family. There’s a place for you here, and we look forward to making music together!

Please contact sgpsbandcoordinator@gmail.com.

We’re thrilled to announce that the Police Band will be visiting on 4th March 2025. We are looking forward to this wonderful experience.

Students will have the unique opportunity to play alongside the Police Band members, receiving personalised coaching and expert advice on their band pieces. It’s a fantastic chance for students to refine their skills and get valuable insights into their performance.

The excitement continues as the Police Band will host an interactive School Concert for the whole school, introducing students to various instruments in the band and showcasing different music genres. It’s not only an inspiring opportunity for current students to see what they can achieve, but also a perfect way to spark a love for music in new students.

We’re looking for some wonderful parents or carers who can spare just an hour or two to help make our event a success. We’re hosting the Police Band, and we need assistance with setting up morning tea and lunch for the members.

You don’t have to have a student in the band to pitch in – if you’re free and willing to lend a hand, we’d love your support! Not only will you be helping behind the scenes, but you’ll also have the chance to enjoy the incredible workshop and concert. Please reach out to sgpsbandcoordinator@gmail.com.

Volunteers are needed during the following time slots:

• 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Your support will make a huge difference in ensuring everything runs smoothly, and you’ll also have the chance to enjoy the exciting event! Thank you in advance for your help!

Stay tuned as more dates for band events in term 1 are to come, we look forward to an exciting year ahead!

Kind Regards

Band Coordinators
Samuel Gilbert Public School Band

Welcome to 2025, I am Mr Hands, the Librarian at Samuel Gilbert Public School and I would like to invite all of you to attend our Thursday Morning Read session (see the section below for more information). I have been a school librarian for 6 years now, with this being my third year at Samuel Gilbert Public School. I believe all children should have access to quality books to read for pleasure and information, my goal is to make the library a fun, entertaining and informative location, where all students are welcome to come and interact with the books, displays and other members of Samuel Gilbert Public School in a beneficial manner.

Those of you familiar with our library space may be interested to know that our animal and character displays are currently being updated – new, more detailed information is being added to each display with the number of individual displays being reduced. Don’t worry if your favourite animal group is no longer on display, it will return later in the year with new information added to it. An author space is under development at the moment.

We have had a great start to Term 1, we currently have a small Lunar New Year display in the library, along with this year’s Lunar Zodiac animal on display in Lego. Visit the library to find out more about the Lunar New Year and the twelve zodiac animals of legend.

All students are permitted to borrow up to 4 books at a time, however they must use a book bag to carry and protect their books, this bag may be the excursion bag available from the uniform shop, a canvas shopping bag or any other suitable bag, the only requirement is the books must fit inside the bag. If you have any concerns about lost, damaged or overdue books, please come and see me in the library before or after school to discuss what actions (if any) are needed to satisfy your concerns.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is starting very soon, please register your children to participate in this wonderful program, successful completion of the challenge will earn a certificate for your child’s efforts and, if the challenge is completed consistently across a number of years, a medallion at the end of the challenge. For more information, please read the Premier’s Reading Challenge section below.

The Thursday Morning Read is back on this week and will be continuing every Thursday Morning at 8:20 am in the tiered Learning Space in the Library, BIG NEWS: our tiered learning space has had an upgrade, it has been carpeted for student comfort when sitting in this space. All are welcome, students, siblings, parents, and grandparents, come along and listen to two fun stories before school. We will be reading some fun and entertaining books as well as some other books celebrating the many different cultural events that occur throughout the year. I look forward to seeing lots of you on Thursday morning.

The Premiers Reading Challenge opens on Monday 24 February 2025. Please use this information to access the Premier’s Reading Challenge to register your child/ren for the challenge:

How to Log-on to the Premier’s Reading Challenge: On the PRC website homepage, click on the NEW STUDENT SITE image. https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/studentExperience.html#/ It will take you to the PRC student site. 

Then click on LOGIN in the top right-hand corner. This will take you to the NSW Department of Education portal login page, students need to enter their username and password here.

If you do not know your username or password for the PRC website, please see the PRC coordinator at your school, or ask your teacher to help you find out your login details. 

A link to the Premier’s Reading Challenge website can be found in the Student Portal under the Learning section.  Students are also able to add a link to the PRC in the My Link List section to make the PRC easier to find.  The URL to use is: https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/studentExperience.html#/.

Public school students can also log in directly to the PRC websiteusing their Department of Education (DoE) username and password.  These are the same details a student would use to access the Student Portaland the computer network at school.  If you are unaware of your username and/or password, please contact your class teacher and ask for your Student Portal username and/or password.

Rules: For all the rules and booklists for the Premier’s Reading Challenge, please visit the Premier’s Reading Challenge website: https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/logon.html 

Rules for the Premier’s Reading Challenge can be found here: https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/rules.html 

Booklists can be found here: https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/booklist/home.html but make sure you read from the right level of books.

If you have any questions, please, come and speak to me before or after school in the library.

We have a new challenge on offer at lunchtime in the library – how many literary characters can you name, based on their outline? Look for the “I see a little silhouette of…” activity on one of the library’s display walls. Why not have a go at naming the character silhouettes below.

An original Lego Pirate ship has been donated to Samuel Gilbert Public School by Mr Mike Riley (Mrs Nixon's Father), see below for the details on this interesting piece from Lego’s history.

6285-1 Black Seas Barracuda
Series: Pirate
Original Release: 1989
Re-Release: 2002 as 10040-1

One of four in the 1989 series, the Black Seas Barracuda was the first large pirate ship released by Lego. It had 8 minifigs (ours has many extra figures that were added) and 909 pieces. It was the only pirate ship not to feature skull and crossbones sails.

The aim of the ANZAC School Initiatives is to provide a greater understanding and awareness on the importance and respect of ANZAC Day. The initiatives are open to all primary school students (K-6). The winning students will be awarded some fantastic prizes (see entry form for details)

• K-2 – Colouring Competition
• 3-6 – Design a sticker and slogan that represents ANZAC Day, its meaning and community spirit.

The judging of entries will be adjudicated by a panel including delegates from Koori Kids, community Elders and some council delegates. Closing date is Friday 18th April 2025, and it is anticipated that the judging will take place on 21st April.

As this initiative is supported by your local club, we would encourage all students at your school to submit their creative entries. Some entries will be displayed during ANZAC Day events.

Just print the relevant attached entry form for your child/ren and let them give it their best go. Correspondence and entries should be addressed to ANZAC School Initiatives, GPO Box 454 Sydney NSW 2001. For further information contact the co-ordinator on (02) 8088-0791 or send an Email to director@koorikids.com

D. Williams
Executive Director
School Initiative Competitions

If you are interested in helping out in the library, I always have books for covering. If you have some time, please pop in and see me for a bag of books and some clear contact to cover some of our new acquisitions for the library collection. This is a great opportunity to see some of the popular books that your children may be interested in borrowing and give you the opportunity to encourage them to borrow some new books to read.

Borrowing Commences
(wk2) Monday 3 February – Years 1-6 Borrowing commences.

(wk5) Monday 24 February – Kindergarten Borrowing commences.

Book Club 
(wk3) Monday 10 February – Issue 1 will be distributed to classes.

(wk4) Monday 17 February – Orders for Issue 1 close.

(wk6) Monday 3 March – Issue 2 will be distributed to classes.

(wk9) Monday 24 March – Orders for Issue 2 close.

Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC)
(wk5) Monday 24 February – Challenge opens.

Yours in reading,

Adam Hands,
Librarian.

Week 5
Monday, 24 to Friday, 28 February
Life Education
Year 2 Swim Scheme 
Wednesday, 26 February
SGPS Swimming Carnival

Week 6
Monday, 3 March to Friday, 7 March
Life Education
Tuesday, 4 March
Police Military Band - Morning Concert

For your convenience, please see our Term 1 School Calendar below.