It was a different school experience earlier in the week for students in Kindy to Year 4. Missing were the Stage 3 students on camp in Canberra. Our Years 5 & 6 students spent three days in Canberra learning more about federal parliament, democracy, electoral system and High Court. They also visited the Australian War Memorial, Australian Institute of Sport, Cockington Green, Mount Ainslie, and a favourite Questacon. The opportunity for students to spend three days together in a new environment provided many positive memories. Apart from the chilly conditions everyone was kept safe by the diligent school staff who free of charge generously offered their time away from their family. Thank you to Mrs Spears and Mrs Khakh for organising a successful camp.

With enthusiasm last week our Kindergarten and Year 1 students engaged in the Annual K-1 Spring Carnival. A variety of novelty activities complemented the running races. The event was a success largely due to the coordination by Mrs Lye. Thank you to the families available to cheer on our promising junior athletes.

Congratulations to Mrs Fedczyna. We wish her and her husband many long and happy years together.

This term we have been fortunate to have interns and student teachers join our staff. Ms Johns (4W), Ms Tong (6K), Ms McAdam (3M) and Ms Fung (3O) have diligently assisted with learning opportunities for our students. Thank you to the host teacher and their class for accommodating these early career teachers.

Many thanks to those parents who have already notified the office about their child starting Kindergarten in 2026. If any current SGPS parent has a child who will be starting school next year or if any of our families have neighbours in that position, please inform them Samuel Gilbert PS is now taking enrolments for next year. It is important to get enrolments in as soon as possible as this assists our planning for 2026. Enrolment forms are available online https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/enrolment/primary-school-enrolment

The school executive is currently planning for 2026. If any family with children currently in Kindergarten to Year 5 intends to leave Samuel Gilbert PS at the end of the school year please notify the school office.

Thank you to all families who have paid their term 3 invoice over the last week. All outstanding monies are now due to be paid to facilitate the continuation of quality learning programs at the school. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please commit to contacting the office to arrange an appointment to see me to discuss how we can help.

Today Thursday 11 September, is R U OK? Day. At Samuel Gilbert PS, we continue to focus on promoting and supporting kindness, mental health and wellbeing for everyone in our school community and beyond so please take the opportunity to check in with and look after someone. If you have a worrying feeling that someone you know or care about is not behaving as they normally would, trust your instinct and act on it. Four simple steps can make a difference to someone in need: 

Ask R U OK?          Listen             Encourage action             Check in

As this is the last newsletter for term 3, when the school holidays arrive in two weeks, I wish a safe and enjoyable break for your child and hopefully for our parents/carers if you do not have other commitments.  Students return to school for Term 4 on Tuesday, 14 October. Staff will be engaged in a School Development Day on the Monday hence it is a pupil free day.

Parents are reminded that students are required to wear their summer uniform from Day 1, Term 4 (14 October). At times, children may misplace their belongings so please name/label all items.

Greg McLaren
PRINCIPAL

What a lovely event. A huge thanks to the P&C for coordinating both the Fathers’ Day stall and the Friday Morning Breakfast. Students delighted in picking out their gifts for dad at the stall throughout the week and having dads at school for breakfast was a real treat. Our sincere thanks to the many volunteers who made the two events possible. Also to the OOSH staff who assisted on the BBQ bright and early on Friday morning.  

It was great to see many of our dads and students wearing their jerseys in recognition of Nathan Gremmo’s organ donation awareness campaign. Certainly a conversation which is important for all families to have.

A huge congratulations to our incredible Tournament of Minds team who showcased their creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills last Sunday! These students went above and beyond, giving up every lunch, and later even recess and mornings, to prepare for the big day. Their dedication and enthusiasm truly shone through in their performance. We are so proud of the way they supported one another and represented our school with such positivity and determination. A heartfelt thank you also to the parents who cheered them on and made the trip to Penrith possible. Well done, team – you should be extremely proud of yourselves! A big thank you also to Mrs Spears and Mrs Foscholo for the enormous amount of time spent at school and on the day of the event to provide students with this wonderful opportunity. Also to Mr Lau who gave up his Sunday to help judge on the day.

Over the past three days Stage 3 has had a fabulous opportunity to learn about our nation’s capital and our democracy by visiting most of the significant landmarks in Canberra. Every day was jam packed with fantastic learning opportunities. which contributed to helping our students develop a deeper understanding of our history and the foundations of democracy. 

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. Our families were assisted in meeting the cost of the excursion with the Australian Government contribution of $30.00 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program. The rebate was factored into the cost of the camp paid by families and has now been paid to the school on completion of the excursion.

A huge thank you to the staff who attended this excursion, giving up their personal time to care for our students and to ensure they had a memorable experience.

 Girls and boys in Years 4 or 5 who play cricket at a club or representative level should see me for paperwork providing information about the upcoming trials. 

Only 6 boys from the Castle Hill Zone will be sent through to the Sydney West trial so should be players of a high standard. 

Best wishes to our Athletics team who will be representing us at the Sydney West Athletics Carnival on Thursday 25^th September. If you have not already done so please return your paperwork to Mr Whybrow tomorrow as this is the final day for entries to be submitted to the carnival convenor. 

Students in Years 3-6 who compete at Level 3 – 10 are invited to register for the Sydney West Gymnastics Competition Day which will be held at Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday 6 November. Entries close on 24 October. Information Flyer is attached to this newsletter. Please let the school know if your child will be competing.

Best Wishes to Keaton (3G), Zaria (4N), Blake (5P) and Jiya (6W) at the Hills Public Speaking Competition to be held on Tuesday 23 September at Dural PS. 

Cathie Barclay and Gilliane Appave
DEPUTY PRINCIPALS

There are patterns all around us every day. We are constantly seeing them everywhere we look, and we might not even know it! You can find them in music, art, nature, maths and even sports! A pattern is a repeated set. It can be made from shapes, sounds, numbers or objects. Children can learn to recognise, identify, create, copy and continue patterns through daily activities.

Recognise and identify patterns

• Identify patterns such as on wrapping paper, bathroom tiles and driveways.
• Talk about the different patterns and what makes it a pattern.
• Talk about patterns. Ask questions such as "Why is it a pattern?" "Can you continue this pattern?"  
• Play games with cards, dominoes or dice to help your child recognise patterns.

Copying patterns

• Play clapping games where you clap a pattern, and your child repeats the pattern. Ask your child to clap a pattern that you repeat.
•  Set the table together for a meal using a pattern such as plate and spoon, plate and spoon, plate and spoon.

Creating patterns

• Create patterns with everyday items like toys and fruit.
• Start with simple patterns and then create harder patterns such as one apple, two bananas, one apple, two bananas, one apple, two bananas.
• For older children, they can explore their algebraic thinking and build problem-solving skills. It supports flexibility and creativity in thinking when faced with more complex patterns. When watching sporting games, have children calculate scores or investigate combinations of scoring possibilities. You can also look around the house and outside at fences and paved areas. Have your child investigate these patterns.

Language to use at home when helping your child creating patterns:

• repeat
• continue
• create
• identify
• describe
• pattern
• same
• different

Amanda Keane
Relieving Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction

Last week we acknowledged the NSW DoE SASS Appreciation Week— an opportunity to recognise the dedication of our School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS). From the wonderful office staff who support our students and families, to the ground staff who maintain our beautiful school, and the incredible School Learning and Support Officers (SLSOs) who support students in so many vital ways — we appreciate and value the difference our SASS make to learning at SGPS. The P&C will celebrate our SASS staff alongside our other school staff in Term 4. 

On behalf of our parents and carers, the P&C would also like to acknowledge our hardworking teachers who continue to demonstrate their commitment to providing our students with wonderful opportunities. There have been a number of extracurricular activities for our students in Terms 2 & 3, made possible by the support of staff before school, during lunch times, in the evenings and on weekends. Thank you also to our Stage 3 school staff who took time away from their own family to attend camp this week. Your support and encouragement of our students is very much appreciated.  

A big thank you to Kye Francis who helped lead a team of volunteers to make the Father's Day stall possible this year. Our students love attending the stall. We appreciate all our parents and carers who assisted our students with their special purchases:- Kye F. Brooke E, Candyce H, Cathy D-P, Christina X, Delisha E, Jacqueline I, Jaydee L, Jesmine Y, Kally M, Kiarn E, Laresa M, Lauren D, Leslie F, Lian L, Lynn F, Michelle L, Rebekah W, Samantha C, Sarah K, Shamin R. 

Thank you to all our Dad’s, Grandpa’s and special father figures who attended our recent Father’s Day/Jersey Day Breakfast. A special thank you to Matt & Fiona Young who coordinated this event. No event is possible without volunteers, so thank you also to all those who helped on the day: Cathy D-P, Christina X, Elizabeth P, Jaimy M, Kally M, Kiarn E, Kim D, Levania L, Lynn F, Margit H, Mirca S and to our OOSH volunteers including Angela F, and Lesley S. 

A special thank you to our Great Fete Principal Sponsor, Manor Real Estate for providing free coffees for our Dads, Grandpa’s and Father Figures!

Please note these events for your calendar:
- P&C October Meeting: Tuesday 14^th October 7:30pm School Library
- P&C SGPS Band Information Evening Tuesday 28 October 6pm (New Hall)
- P&C AGM: Tuesday 11^th November 7:30pm (General Meeting followed by AGM)

More information: For more information on events and news please check out the following: 

• Website: www.sgpspc.org.au 
• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SGPSPC
• School website: www.samuelgilbertnsw.edu.au 
• School app: You can find the link to the school app on our front page of the www.sgpspc.org.au website 

Kind regards,
Elizabeth Tye
SGPS P&C

Over the past few weeks, there have been many extracurricular activities happening, and we truly appreciate the effort of the students who have been able to attend rehearsals, even if they need to leave a little early. The Training Band is currently practising pieces to perform at the upcoming K-2 Assembly in Week 9. They are very excited, and we warmly invite all parents and carers to join us in the New Hall to watch your child perform.

On Thursday, 23 October, the Performance Band will put on a Band demonstration for all Year 2 students in the morning. This is a wonderful opportunity to spark interest in joining the school’s Band and to showcase all the different instruments.

We are pleased to announce an Information Evening for parents and children from Years 2 to 5 on Tuesday, 28 October at 6:00 pm in the New School Hall. This session is designed to help families make informed decisions about joining the band program and selecting an instrument that your child will enjoy and that suits your family. Attendees will have the chance to hear about the different instruments and learn important information about participating in the Band Program.

We look forward to seeing many of you there!

Bandforte is our main communication tool throughout the year, so we encourage you to stay connected through it for the latest news and updates. If you do not have access to Bandforte, kindly email me at sgpsbandcoordinator@gmail.com or for any questions you may have.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our band program

Kind Regards,
Band Co-ordinator Samuel Gilbert Public School Band

As we come to the end of the term some of the products will be reduced or become unavailable. Please check munch monitor for food available. 

We still have many children coming to school with no lunch. Please check your children have lunch everyday.

Thanks,
Jenelle, Sue and Kiarn

Book Week was a huge success, so many wonderful costumes were on show on parade day, it was especially good to see so many younger siblings joining in and parading around. It was great to have so many families and teachers getting involved. The Stage 3 teachers certainly showed some great thinking, each coming dressed as a different Pig the Pug book. Matt Rankin was a very interesting presentation on Wednesday, his journey to becoming an author was certainly different from most traditional career stories. Congratulations to Sophie in Year 4 for winning the Sapphire Millie Colouring Competition. Matt was impressed with all the entries into the colouring competition; we had a tough time selecting a final winner. Sophie has already been enjoying her personally signed copy of Sapphire Millie and the Quest for the Unknown Destiny and is looking forward to having a character in the next book named after her. Thank you to everyone involved in Book Week, without your support we cannot have such a wonderful week celebrating reading and literacy – all that is left now is to start planning for next year!

Adam Blade is in his late twenties, and was born in Kent, England. His parents were both history teachers and amateur artists, and Adam grew up surrounded by his father's paintings of historic English battles -- which left a lifelong mark on his imagination.
 
 He was also fascinated by the ancient sword and shield that hung in his father's office. Adam's father said they were a Blade family heirloom. As a boy, Adam would spend days imagining who could have first owned the sword and shield. Eventually, he created a character -- Tom, the bravest boy warrior of them all. The idea for Beast Quest was born.
 
 When Adam grew up and decided that he wanted to be a writer, he was stuck for ideas -- until he remembered the old sword and shield, and the imaginary boy he had created when he was young. Adam decided to bring Tom fully to life so that readers could go on the kind of adventures that he always wanted to when he was that age... And still does, even though he's grown up!
 
 When he's not writing Beast Quest or Chronicles of Avantia books, Adam enjoys visiting museums and ancient battle sites. His main hobbies are fencing and football. He also spends a lot of time at home running around after his two exotic pets -- a tarantula named Ziggy, and a capuchin monkey named Omar. These little rascals were the inspiration for two of the Beasts that Tom faces on his Quest -- Arachnid and Claw. Sadly, Adam does not have his own Fire-Dragon or Horse-Man. But he really wishes he did!

The Thursday Morning Read has been growing in popularity with more new faces appearing each week, it is on Thursday Morning at 8:20 am in the tiered Learning Space in the Library. All are welcome, students, siblings, parents, and grandparents, come along and listen to two fun stories before school. 

The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge closes to student entries on Friday 19 September! 

Yours in reading,
Adam Hands
Librarian.
 

On Monday 1st September, our Kindergarten and Year 1 students enjoyed a wonderful Spring Carnival under the warm sunshine. The children had a fantastic time taking part in running races, hurdles, the egg and spoon race, parachute games and many other fun activities. Smiles, laughter and great sportsmanship filled the day, making it a joyful celebration of spring and community.
 

What an amazing term it has been in 1L! We have been busy being mathematicians, authors, artists, investigators, athletes and so much more. Our class loves hands-on activities, moving our bodies, and challenging ourselves with new learning experiences. Each week we continue to expand our knowledge and deepen our understanding of our community and the world around us. We are so proud of the effort, curiosity and creativity that shines through in 1L every day! 

Week 10
Tuesday, 23 September
Hills Public Speaking Competition - Dural Public School
Primary Proms at Sydney Town Hall
Kindergarten Readiness Evening 6:30-7:30pm
Friday, 26 September
Last Day of Term 3 

Term 3, Week 1
Monday, 13 October
Staff Development Day
Tuesday, 14 October
First Day of Term 4
P&C Meeting 7:30pm School Library