Keep free: Saturday 29 November (3pm-8.30pm) for the SGPS Great Fete!

A huge thank you to our P&C who very generously offered a morning tea and a personalised card to all staff to say thank you and celebrate the teaching profession and support staff on World Teachers’ Day, extended and known as Staff Appreciation Day at our school.

Thank you, parents, for sending gifts and correspondence, handwritten or email to convey your appreciation to our staff.

We all very much appreciated the celebration and recognition of the school staff and the dedication, care and professionalism shown by them each day.

Today our Year 5 students voted to select the 2026 student leadership team who will become the student prefects. From that group two students will become the captains which will be announced at the presentation assembly.

Year 6 and staff are currently contributing to the Year 6 2026 yearbook. It is always a great read but also a time to reflect on our senior students’ experiences at the school. 

Each year schools are invited to participate in Operation Art organised by the Education Department’s Arts unit. Congratulations to Parnia N (5C) artwork titled ‘Out of the Ordinary’ which has been selected by NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian to feature on their Christmas card this year. Parnia’s work was selected from almost 700 artworks. From the overall entries a team of judges will select 50 artworks to be gifted to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and these works will continue to be displayed at the Art Gallery of NSW, as well as being displayed at local galleries. Thank you to Mrs Kim and Ms Barclay for assisting with this opportunity for our students.

Over the last fortnight we have been fortunate to have student teachers join our staff. Miss Como, Mr Turner, Miss Sakr, Miss Lazzaroni, Miss Milo and Miss Bovey have assisted with learning opportunities for our students. Thank you to the host teacher and their class for accommodating these early career teachers. We wish them well with long and rewarding careers in the teaching profession.

We understand that family holidays are essential for creating lasting memories and bonding with family. However, we encourage our families to plan vacations outside of normal school days whenever possible. If you are considering an early holiday, please remember to contact the school administration office beforehand to complete the necessary paperwork. It is important that we are informed of any absences to help us plan accordingly and provide your child with the best possible support.

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

Are you moving away or transferring from Samuel Gilbert PS area at the end of the year? Later this school term we begin the process of drafting class lists for the ensuing school year. In doing so it is important that we have the latest information regarding the potential movement of students and families. If your family is likely to be moving away from the district towards/at the end of the school year and is unlikely to be returning to the school, could I ask that you kindly advise our school office in writing/email as soon as possible? This will significantly assist our preparations for the 2026 school year.

Parents are welcome to join students and staff Tuesday, 11 November for a short but respectful commemorative service from 10.30 at the ANZAC Memorial Garden on the school oval. Remembrance Day marks a significant date in world peace. The war to end all wars exercised a cease fire on this date to bring to a close the devastating carnage of World War I. At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month ‘we will remember’ and observe a minute’s silence.

Our P&C will hold their AGM at the next P&C meeting to be held in the school library at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 11 November. Under the capable leadership of Mrs Katie Pike, the school appreciates the considerate input of our P&C to add value to our students’ school experience and through coordinating whole community initiatives.  

The current members of the P&C and school staff look forward to seeing many parents at the next meeting to support and vote for the incoming SGPS P&C executive.

Greg McLaren
PRINCIPAL

Our annual Presentation Assembly will be held on Wednesday 10 December. If you have not yet done so please complete the permission note sent via School Bytes so that we can determine the number of buses required on the day as well as seating availability for students and guests. 

Tickets for the allocated seating area will be sold to Year 6 and Kindergarten families from 8:00am next Wednesday, 12 November. Please note that only two tickets per family are available and if buying for another family a note from that family must be provided. 

Tickets in the general seating area will be sold from the front office from Thursday 13^th November. 

Cash or card will be accepted for ticket sales.

Selective school and opportunity class applications for classes in Year 7 and Year 5 2027 open today, Thursday 6 November, and close on Friday 20th February. The testing will be held in local public schools – Selective Test Friday 1^st May and Saturday 2 May and Opportunity Class Test Friday 8 May and Saturday 9 May. A link to the application site will be sent via the school app when it becomes available.

The NSW Government is addressing a growing gender imbalance in coeducational selective schools. From the 2027 intake onwards, there will be an equal number of selective places available for girls and boys at all selective and partially selective high schools, as well as opportunity classes in public primary schools. Girls are encouraged to apply.

Miss Stacey will be holding a second audition for students who auditioned last week for her Before School Dance Groups. The students called back should have been notified by School Bytes. This call back will be held next Tuesday, 11 November. 

If any families would like to donate jazz shoes and/or past dance costumes that their children no longer use we would be very appreciative.  These often help students in school groups who forget, lose or can’t afford shoes.

Next Thursday, 13 November we are holding a mufti day in support of the P&C’s Great Fete and the Principal Sponsor of the fete, Manor’s Toy Drive, for Ronald McDonald House. 

The theme is Christmas Fun and children are encouraged to bring in a toy or a gold coin donation for Ronald McDonald House.  

Cathie Barclay and Gilliane Appave
DEPUTY PRINCIPALS

Feedback is a vital part of student learning and when given effectively, it enables students to think and act in ways that will help them bridge the gap between their current learning and the intended learning.

At Samuel Gilbert Public School, effective feedback assists children to reflect on their learning so they can make adjustments and progress. Feedback needs to be timely, specific and on-going and include teacher to student, student to teacher, peer and self-assessment. It is a deliberate practice that has been planned.

In your child’s classroom, effective feedback can be verbal or written and peer and self-feedback can be in the form of many ways including ‘two stars and a wish’, exit slips and whiteboard show-me boards, just to name a few. 

It’s important to know, effective feedback isn’t just grades or marks given to your child from their teacher. Research has shown that as soon as a student receives a grade from their teacher, the learning stops. Students’ improvements are not made, as adjustments and feedback have not been clear or relevant to the student’s work. 

Praise is also regarded as ineffective feedback. While this is relevant at times, it needs to be alongside how a student can improve their work and make progress so that the student has a clear intention of how to improve.

Effective feedback also isn’t just sharing all possible areas for improvement in student work. It’s important for students to have learning goals and learning intentions aligned to the feedback. Having too many areas of improvement becomes ineffective for student learning.

If you are looking for ways to give useful feedback to your child’s learning when working with them at home, try a few of the above strategies to encourage your child to reflect on their learning to improve and progress in their schoolwork or talk to your child about the various types of feedback used in class.

Amanda Keane
Relieving Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction

We have a wonderful community of parents and carers at SGPS. Have you considered how you can make a lasting difference to your child and to their school? 

A great place to start is by attending the SGPS P&C General Meeting and AGM, to be held on Tuesday 11 November at 7:30pm in the Library. This will be an in person meeting only and all parents and carers are invited to attend. 

We need you! As students and their families move on to high school, we are always looking for parents and carers who are willing to step in and continue their legacy of service to our community. The P&C run a number of businesses including the Uniform Shop, Canteen and Band Program which provide much valued services to our school community. If you are looking to be more involved in our school next year, please join us. 

What can you expect from a P&C General Meeting & AGM?

• Reports from the School Principal, P&C President & Treasurer & Band
• Event Updates & Planned events for 2026
• An opportunity to ask questions
• Voting of P&C Executive for 2026

If you have any questions or would like more about how you can use your time or skills to support our school community please do not hesitate to send an email to our P&C President, Katie at president@sgpspc.org.au. 

General Meeting: The General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 11 November at 7:30pm in the Library.

AGM: Immediately following the General Meeting, the AGM will commence where all P&C Executive roles will be declared vacant and nominations are invited for 2025/2026. 

All forms will be available via the School App.

Have you?

• Completed a P&C Membership Form for 2025? (You must complete the form return it before the Meeting on Tuesday with the membership fee of $1 for voting rights in 2025/2026). Forms can be emailed to secretary@sgpspc.org.au. If you don’t have a gold coin, feel free to transfer $1 to the General P&C Account (Acct No: 385804, BSB 032-164) – please include your name. 
• Nominated for a SGPS P&C Executive role for 2026? (Forms are due prior to the P&C Meeting).

All relevant forms will be posted on the School App. If you have any questions or would like more information about any of the above, please email Katie Pike (SGPS P&C President) on president@sgpspc.org.au or Jason Atkins (SGPS P&C Secretary) at secretary@sgpspc.org.au. 

Last Thursday, the SGPS P&C on behalf of our parents, carers and students celebrated World Teachers’ Day with a morning tea, thank you cards and a coffee voucher. This was an opportunity to thank our Executive, teaching and SASS and support staff on behalf of the school community for their commitment and support of our students and families throughout the year. We are so fortunate to have such dedicated staff at SGPS and we appreciate the difference they make to our school community.

As the Great Fete draws closer, we are holding a mufti day to promote the Great Fete.  It is also a chance for the whole school community to continue to support the Ronald McDonald House charity by helping to kick-start the Manor Toy Drive, run by our Great Fete Principal Sponsors, Manor Real Estate. 

• The theme is CHRISTMAS FUN.  
• Bring: an unwrapped present for the toy drive (see the note on the school app for suggestions based on Year Group) or a gold coin donation (which will be used to purchase presents for the Toy Drive).

The P&C recently advised that we are switching from MunchMonitor to Flexischools commencing 2026. This means that Munch Monitor will conclude at the end of Term 4, 2025 and all remaining funds should be used prior to the end of the school year. 

The decision to transition to Flexischools was made at a P&C meeting this year, and was based on a number of factors:

• The benefits and additional functionality Flexischools would provide to assist in the operational efficiency of both the canteen and uniform shops (which were not provided by Munch Monitor);
• The ease of use of the Flexischools app for parents and the community;
• The reduced fees charged to the P&C for the use of Flexischools compared to Munch Monitor, enabling us to keep prices lower for longer;
• The fee structure provided for parents under Flexischools, based on a fee per order rather than a flat fee per term under Munch Monitor.  This works out as a reduction in fees for most families in the school (based on current usage); and
• Flexischools is the most commonly used online ordering platform in schools in Australia, including Castle Hill Public School and Castle Hill High School.

If you would like to know more, please come and join us at our next P&C Meeting. 

All our community is invited to the Twilight Fete  - just over 3 weeks away!

• Rides: You can pre-purchase ride armbands, which allow unlimited access to the rides. Pre-purchased armbands are $40 each and are sold until Friday 28 November. Armbands are $45 on Fete Day and individual tickets for rides are $10 each. You can purchase your unlimited ride bands here:  https://www.trybooking.com/DDXYL. 

Please note, carnival games are not included with the unlimited armbands, and tickets must be purchased separately on the day of the Great Fete for these attractions.

• The Giant Raffle: will be drawn at the Great Fete on the new date. All your sold tickets are in the barrel and are being kept safely. You can still purchase raffle tickets online here: https://www.trybooking.com/DENET
• The Upcycle Staff: need to do a pre-Christmas clean-up of your place? Start getting all your unwanted pre-loved items ready for donation cause we’re doing the Upcycle Stall again!!!All items donated need to be in excellent condition/like new/in working order. We are accepting toys, games, crockery/cutlery, books, DVD’s, CD’s, vinyl records, household items, home décor, linen, small appliances, outdoor games, clothes & shoes (no underwear). We will provide collection times closer to the date!
• Cake Donations: We are looking for donations for the cake stall at the Fete – if you are able to make some home-baked goodies, please complete this form:

  Great Fete 2025 Twilight Event - Cake Stall  – Fill out form

Please connect with our Great Fete socials for more information (and to help get the news out to the community): https://facebook.com/sgpsgreatfete https://instagram.com/greatfete

Who doesn’t love inflatables, a colour run AND a Christmas Theme?! The P&C are returning again this year with the Fun Run on Thursday, 11 December 2025. A note with all the information will be coming home shortly together with a sign up for volunteers.

Our Gingerbread Evening has been a much-loved community event for many years. We are looking for a new co-ordinator for this event. We will support you and provide you with all the information you need to make the event a success. If you are interested in making this event possible before the end of the school year, please reach out to Katie at president@sgpspc.org.au.

• November P&C General & AGM: Tuesday 11^th November 7:30pm Library
• Twilight Fete: Saturday 29^th November 3pm-8:30pm  
• Fun Run – 11^th December
• Interrelate for Years 3-4 & Years 5-6: Thursday 19 March 2026

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

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

Kind regards,
Elizabeth Tye
SGPS P&C

• In Week 2, we hosted our Band Demonstration, which saw a fantastic response from many Year 2 students eager to join the band. Then on Friday of Week 2, the Concert Band performed for the Year 3–6 Assembly, showcasing three pieces, culminating in an energetic rendition of “Ghostbusters”!
• In Week 3, on Tuesday evening, we held our Training Band Information Night, which was well-supported by both parents and students from Years 2–5. For those who have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) form, we will be conducting a series of instrument testing sessions to find the best fit for each student and to help create a well-balanced band.
• Thursday 20th & Thursday 27th November - Rehearsal for all students playing at the Fete - 8 - 8.30am
   Regular rehearsals for Performance Band from 7.30 on these dates.

If you have not yet completed the EOI form, there is still time! Please do so as soon as possible to ensure your child doesn't miss out. You can access the form here: https://www.bandforte.com.au/bin/bf.dll?portal&pkey=ODLL-EKPO-LPDG-JFDG 

• Week 5: Instrument testing for new Band members for 2026
• Week 6: Email offers to new Band members for 2026
• Week 7: The Fete Performance – a combined Concert and Performance Band will play at 3:15 pm on Saturday, 29 November.
• Week 8: Band Breakfast Party – Thursday, 4 December, from 7:30 am to 9:00 am all three bands will play.
• Week 9: Performance Band will perform at the Presentation Day on Wednesday, 10 December

The Band Program at SGPS has been running at SGPS for many years. The program depends on parents and carers who volunteer. Without them, the program cannot run.  

This year, a few members of the Band Committee have children in Year 6 who are moving on to high school, which has left some roles to fill. We are looking for 5 parents with students in Years 3 and 4 in 2026 to join our committee. We meet online once a Term and are looking to grow our Band Program. You do not have to be musical to join us! If you are a parent who values the Band Program, we would welcome you.  Please send an email to the SGPS Band Coordinator sgpsbandcoordinator@gmail.com   We can provide more details about the available roles.

Your support makes a big difference in helping our band continue to thrive!

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

The last few weeks we have had children coming with no lunch or not enough lunch. Please make sure you order correctly or your children have enough food.

We have also had some unusual orders on munch monitor recently, please make sure your orders are made correctly.

Thanks,
Jenelle, Sue and Kiarn

As we reach the middle of the term I would like to take this opportunity to ask all families to please check around their house, under beds and on shelves for any books that need to be returned to the school library. I shall soon be sending home overdue notices, if you have any questions or need any clarifications please contact me to discuss next steps to resolve any issues.

Have you tried the Term 4 Treasure Hunt in the library? 19 different book characters are hiding around the Library, all you have to do is match the character to the author who created them on the Treasure Hunt list, collect the letters to solve the riddle and then collect your prize.

Have a try with these examples:

• Which author created Trevor the sausage dog?
• Which author created Bertha the Blubberer?
• Which author created Highway Rat?
• Which author created Wizz?
• Which author created Tom?

If you have the time, there are some new books that need covering, please come and see me to collect a bag of books for covering.

Last week for borrowing will be Week 6, this will allow time for lost or misplaced books to be located and returned, it will also afford me time to organise the books and prepare the library for 2026. Lessons will continue as normal through to the end of the year and the Library will also remain open at lunchtimes Monday to Thursday each week.

If any parents have any questions about book recommendations or reading suggestions, please feel free to pop in to see me for a friendly chat, I am available each morning from 8:15am until the bell rings and most afternoons (except Tuesday) from 3:00pm until 3:30pm.

Jeannie Baker is an English-born Australian children's picture book author and artist, she uses a variety of textures in her works. "When I can, I like to use textures from the actual materials portrayed, such as bark, feathers, cracked paint, earth, knitted wool and rusty tin… so that their natural textures become an integral part of the work". Baker’s collages illustrate her picture books, but also stand individually as works of art. 

Baker is the author-artist of a number of award-winning picture books. Among them is Where The Forest Meets the Sea (about the Daintree Rainforest). Window was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in Great Britain and both Window and Mirror won the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award.

Her work focuses on a diverse range of issues including family, society, sustainability, the environment, car-free urban spaces, urban sprawl, land degradation, a sense of wonder, nature deficit disorder, introduced pests, Australian outback and wildlife.

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. 

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.

Recently I have been approached by some parents wishing to donate books to the library, I am happy to accept donations for evaluation, and I follow the following procedure:

1. Books are checked for their health, any that are damaged or defaced are usually recycled.
2. Books that are of good quality but not suitable for addition due to already existing in the collection, are not age appropriate or are too old are saved for donation to a community library.
3. Books that are of good quality and fulfil a niche within the collection are then accessioned and added to the library collection.

A big reminder to everyone, please make sure you keep your books safe in your library bag and remember to bring them back to school on your library day.

The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge closed to student entries on Friday 19 September.

All student records have been confirmed and approved. 

Certificates will be sent out to schools sometime in Term 4, they will be handed out to students at an appropriate time.

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

Term 4 - Important Library Dates
Week 6            17-21 November – Final week for Borrowing

Book Club:
Week 5            Monday 10^th November Issue 7 orders close
Week 6            Issue 8 handed out
Week 8            Monday 1^st December Issue 8 orders close

Yours in reading,
Adam Hands
Librarian.
 

Term four began with students sharing holiday stories. It was wonderful to hear about 1Bs adventures and to see them returning to school eager to learn. 

In Music, we are using our recorders and have already mastered three notes to play "Hot Cross Buns." 

Our Literacy Unit focused on different text types and the impact of ocean pollution, with students suggesting solutions like reducing plastic use and recycling to help save our oceans. They have demonstrated their understanding through discussions in class, their actions, and in their writing. 

In Maths, we have explored Number concepts and arrays. As you can see in our photos, we discovered how arrays can help us understand multiplication. 

We hope everyone who celebrates Diwali had a wonderful time. The class learned about Diwali and enjoyed making their own colourful Diya lamps to mark the occasion.

Week 5
Tuesday, 11 November
P&C General Meeting Tuesday, 11 November at 7:30pm in the Library
Wednesday, 12 November
Tickets on sale at 8am for allocated seating area for Year 6 and Kindergarten families
Stage 2 Geography showcase
CHHS Transition meetings with year 6 teachers 
Thursday, 13 November
P&C Mufti Day

Week 6
Monday, 17 November
Mock High School Day
Tuesday, 18 November 
Mock High School Day
Wednesday, 19 November
Captain speeches and election 9:15-10:15am
Friday, 21 November
ES1 Ceramic plate painting