Term 2 Week 4

19th May 2025

Information has been distributed at the start of the term regarding our annual public speaking competition. Students will present their speeches in their classrooms, with representatives chosen to represent their stage. Stage winners will then be chosen and have the opportunity to travel to Woonona Primary, Woonona East Primary or Woonona High School next term to deliver their speeches to members of our Community of Schools’ student bodies. 

Over the recent holidays, the bitumen under our front COLA has been replaced. Unfortunately, some required remedy works which, along with the weather, has delayed the painting of our handball courts. This was supposed to happen a couple of times and the painters have showed up to do the work, but the ground was too wet. In the very near future, this work will be completed and followed up with other markings, such as hop-scotch and others.

Walk Safely to School Day was last Friday and we were fortunate enough to have Constable Paul greet our students in the morning. We always have a large number of students walking or riding bikes on a daily basis and this day was a great opportunity to have conversations about road safety.

Unfortunately, I have had multiple reports in the past week of students having their bikes either tampered or damaged at school. I have reminded students this morning that under no circumstance is any student to touch or move another bike that is not theirs. Further to that, I have reminded students that there is a lot of trust given towards students to walk their bike to the racks and not to hang out in this space. If students are caught doing something that they should not be doing they will not be allowed back there at all to store their bike or scooter and would either have to walk to school or lock their bike outside of the school gates. I have also asked all students to report directly to me if they see anyone touching another students’ bike.

Our Athletics Carnival is fast approaching – Thursday 22nd May. This event is weather-permitting and the back-up date is set for Thursday 5th June. We are still looking for a few more parent volunteers to help with time-keeping and the raking of pits. If you are available to help on the day and want to do so, but haven’t filled out the form via School Bytes, please see Mr Batley or email the school.

Best of luck to our Girls’ and Boys’ Soccer Knockout Teams as they are scheduled to complete their matches against Austinmer PS today. A reminder that this is a school event and that students are still expected to attend school prior to the matches. 

To add to our busy schedule ahead, I am sure that our Stage 2 and 3 students will have a fantastic time at the excursions booked for the near future:

• Tuesday 20th May – Stage 3 – Blue Scope Steel
• Wednesday 28th May – Year 6 – Woonona High School Community of Schools Day
• Thursday 29th May – Walk for Reconciliation
• Monday 2nd  June – Stage 2 – Kamay Botany Bay National Park Excursion (new date)

Please note that the Stage 2 Kamay Botany Bay National Park Excursion scheduled for this Wednesday 21st May has been POSTPONED to Monday 2nd June. A new permission note has been sent out to reflect this change which needs to be completed for all students attending. No further payment is required.

On Friday 30th May we will be hosting our mid-term assembly to hand out our ribbons from our Cross-Country Carnival. All students who placed in the top 3 in the various categories will be presented with a ribbon.

A big thank you goes to Sharyn and the team at Bunnings Bellambi. Last week we received a rather large donation totaling $1,400 for our school farm. If you haven’t found it yet, updates from the farm can be found on our school farm Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/russellvalefarm and also on Instagram.

Often when students are getting picked up early from school, we receive phone calls in advance to have the student ready at the office upon parent or carer arrival. This is not a problem, however I ask that parents and carers also ensure that the student they are picking up is sighted with that parent or carer and the student officially signed out by our office staff. Often students will wait for pickup on the lounge chairs in the office or may be walking to the office as the parent or carer arrives and intercepted at that time. If there is not a staff member immediately present at the window, they will be with you as soon as possible to ensure that your child is signed out upon your arrival.  

Paul Cuthbertson
Principal

Statements of accounts will be sent out this week. Please finalise overdue amounts by Friday 27th June (week 9). Thank you.

Sushi Day will be held on Wednesday 18th June for International Sushi Day - order via Flexischools.

• 20th   Port Kembla Educational Tour - Stage 3
• 21st   POSTPONED to Monday 2nd June Kamay Botany Bay National Park Excursion - Stage 2 
• 22nd  Athletics Carnival
• 28th   CoS Day 2 - Woonona High School
• 29th   Walk for Reconciliation - Stage 2 & 3

• 2nd    Kamay Botany Bay National Park Excursion - Stage 2 (new date)
• 5th     Backup Athletics Carnival
• 13th   South Coast Cross Country 
• 18th   Sushi Day 

Jeremy E, Alani A, Molly W, Will N, Amelia C-F, Airlie N, Penny J, Evie S, Hayes E, Lenna L

Anika D, Kade M

Millie M, Mia B, Amelia C-F, James J, Imogen S, Callum T, Verity L

Beau F, Lucas B, Killian A, Olivia C, Billy K, Mathew K, Malikai F, Archer B, Lani B, Dylan B, Rex N, Marlie E, Amelia C, Jime-Paul K, Jasper K, Noah S

Eden-Rose G, Keira F, Piper S, Millie M, Verity L, Murphy E, Eleanor F, Angus M, Audrey A

Archie P, Jack B, Minnie C, Ky A, Poppy G

Disclaimer: Russell Vale Public School advertises in this column as a service to parents. Russell Vale Public School does not endorse, sponsor or accept responsibility for the management or organisation of the advertised events or services.