Byron Bay Public School Newsletter TERM 2 | WEEK 1 | 2024

RELIEVING PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

A big warm welcome to our new families who have joined our school community this term.

Staff Development Day

On Monday 29 April, all our staff were involved in professional learning. This professional learning included learning modules provided by the NSW Department of Education on Mathematics, Disability, English and Assessment. The professional learning undertaken will enhance teacher’s ability to cater for all students in their classrooms.

Play Cubbies

Thank you to our wonderful P&C who purchased three play cubbies for our students. These play cubbies will allow our students to create imaginative play spaces during set play times. We are looking forward to seeing the play cubbies in action. Thank you to Jeff, our General Assistant, for finishing off the painting and positioning of the play cubbies.

ANZAC Day March and Byron Bay PS ANZAC Day Service

On Thursday 25 April, 23 students proudly represented Byron Bay PS at the community ANZAC Day Service and March. Our 2 captains, Fynn B and Reece H both spoke eloquently and with confidence at the service and are to be congratulated on this outstanding achievement.

Thank you to Mrs Spry, Mrs Hogan and Mrs Miller who also attended the ANZAC commemoration.

ANZAC Day Assembly

On Tuesday 30 April, Byron Bay PS held their ANZAC Day Service. Thank you to Mr Payne for organising a very respectful and informative service that was led by our very capable Captains and Vice Captains. They should be very proud of the way they led this service.

Thank you to our students who displayed respectful behaviour throughout the service.

Showcasing BBPS Virtual Tour

BBPS goes virtual! In conjunction with the 'School Photographer' BBPS can now be seen virtually on line. Take a tour from the comfort of your own home. See what our Kinder, Year 1, 4 and 6 classrooms looks like. Visit the Music Room, STEM Room and Library. Visit our Yarning Circle, the School Hall and COLA (Covered Outdoor Learning Area). Be welcomed by Mrs Trigg and members of the P&C Committee. We are so proud of our school and learning environment. Please click the button below to see our wonderful school.

Online Safety

What all parents need to know about online apps, programs, security, social media, AI and much more. Byron Bay PS is excited to once again offer parents and carers the opportunity to come and listen to world renowned online expert, Kirra Pendergast. Kirra is the founder of Safe on Social and renowned for her straightforward, non-sensationalist approach. Kirra is praised for integrating her journey with a compassionate and pragmatic methodology. She empowers individuals to navigate technology with confidence and awareness, advocating for a mindful consumption of technology that enhances rather than dominates their lives. Kirra will be here in person on Wednesday, 15 of May. The student sessions will occur during the school day. The parent session will run from 5:00 - 6:00pm in the school hall. The Byron Bay Public School P&C will be providing light refreshments on the evening.

Safe on Social writes: “Diving headfirst into the swirling vortex of smartphones and all the social media platforms that seem to change daily, the sprawling world of the internet, the Metaverse, AI, AR, VR, and the madcap merry-go-round of online gaming as a parent might feel akin to solving a Rubik's Cube blindfolded while also mastering the art of moonwalking. It's quite an exhilarating ride, but hang tight. We are here to help!

Safe on Social prioritizes cyber safety outcomes by providing unbiased expert speakers and online learning. Safe on Social research indicates that these methods significantly impact keeping people safe online when used together. We offer a variety of tailored packages to meet the needs of schools, sports clubs, organizations, and businesses globally.

We teach you "what you need to know now" to navigate the online world with human well-being front and centre. Our diverse team of presenters comes from a range of expert backgrounds. We work with your organisation to cover the most critical and current topics in a relatable and non-fear-mongering manner.

We are a privately owned and operated group of companies, and therefore we can offer unbiased advice based on over 30 yrs of industry experience.

Some of the topics we cover are:

• The impact of social media on mental health and wellbeing
• AI Text and Images Generators and cyber safety
• Digital identity and reputation management
• Fake news and misinformation online
• Safe online gaming and eSports
• Cybersecurity and online fraud prevention
• The role of artificial intelligence in online privacy and security
• Safe and responsible use of emerging technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality
• The importance of Social media policies and guidelines for businesses and organisations
• Online ethics
• Online safety and privacy for children and teens
• Legal responsibilities
• Group chat management
• Respectful online relationships
• Managing cyberbullying and online hate and support for victims
• How to create a positive online presence
• Image-based abuse and online sexual harassment
• Online safety in the workplace, including remote work and bring your own device (BYOD) policies
• Cyberstalking and online harassment prevention
• Strategies for managing screen time and digital addiction
• Data privacy and protection, including the role of cookies and targeted advertising
• Best practices for password security and two-factor authentication
• Safe online dating and avoiding romance scams
• The impact of social media algorithms on personalisation and filter bubbles
• Ethical considerations in social media marketing and influencer culture
• Online activism and digital citizenship in the age of social media
• Vaping and social media

We design our Safe on Social presentations to be inclusive, empowering, and informative, leaving audiences feeling confident and capable of making better choices for positive online experiences. Sessions run for approximately 50-90 minutes with time for Q&A and are available via Zoom or face-to-face. For educators or business owners seeking individualised learning, we also offer one-on-one professional learning sessions tailored to suit your needs within core subject areas.”

School Visitor Check-in

Many parents and carers are already familiar with the process of using their phone to scan our school’s QR code and sign-in as a visitor. All visitors (parents/carers and volunteers) must use School Visitor Check-in located at the front office for security and to comply with school sign-in procedures.

A QR code may temporarily be placed in an alternative location ie for assemblies or special events where lots of visitors are expected on-site.

Hours of Use: The School Visitor Check-in code should be used during school hours and outside of school hours if on-site for school related reasons (such as P&C meetings, parent teacher interviews).

Visitors who do not have access to a phone can use the webform on a school device at the front office to check-in.

Parents/carers who are dropping off or picking up students only, are not required to check-in.

We thank you for your support with complying with our security and work, health and safety procedures.

Whooping Cough

There have been numerous cases of Whooping Cough reported to the school. Please keep your child at home and seek further medical advice if your child displays cold-like symptoms and/or bouts of coughing.

For further information please click on the following link. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/whoopingcough/Pages/facts-and-figures.aspx

Year 5 Opportunity Class for 2025

If your child is currently in Year 4 and you wish to apply for them to attend an Opportunity Class or attend Aurora College (an online platform) in Year 5 and Year 6, please click the following link for more information. Opportunity classes cater for high potential and intellectually gifted students.

They help students learn by:

• Grouping them with other gifted students;
• Using specialised teaching methods so students can learn concepts in more detail and more quickly; and
• Supporting their wellbeing needs.

Most students in opportunity classes enjoy learning more when their classmates have similar abilities and interests. Opportunity classes are unzoned so you can apply no matter where you live.

Applications for Year 5 opportunity class placement in 2025 are now open and close 20 May 2024. Please click the button below for more information.

Author Visit - Frane' Lessac

On Wednesday 8 May, Stage 1 and 2 students will be having an Author/Illustrator visit by Frane' Lessac. The students will be studying or have studied texts in their Year Literature Units. We would also like to thank the P&C for their generous contribution enabling this visit to be made possible.

P&C News

The P&C next monthly meeting will be held on Thursday 9 May at 6:00pm in the staffroom. We look forward to seeing some new faces.

Band News

New Beginner Band has started – there are still a few spots still available

The new BBPS Beginner Band kicked off this week, with the band’s first rehearsal bringing lots of fun and excitement.

With the addition of the new band, there are now three bands playing at the school – led by Nic Campbell from the Northern Rivers Conservatorium of Music – with a public performance coming up soon in June, at the Byron Bay Farmers Market.

If your child is in Year 3 or older, right now there are a few spots left for the new Beginner Band – especially saxophone – but also potentially trumpet, trombone, flute, or clarinet. If interested please contact me via the office, as soon as is convenient.

Ray Moynihan | BBPS Bands Coordinator

AWARDS

CANTEEN

Please remember - Flexischools cut off time for canteen lunch orders is 8:30am

If you have any questions regarding your Flexischool Account, please phone Flexischools directly on 1300 361 769 as we do not have access to your information.

Roster | Term 2 Week 2

• Mon 6 May | Cross Country & Odd Sock Fun Run
• Tue 7 May | Kyla Egan-Hirst
• Wed 8 May | Tanya Dingle
• Thu 9 May | Helpers needed please
• Fri 10 May | Lindy Simms and Lisa-Mae Riley Burden

Roster | Term 2 Week 3

• Mon 13 May | Jess Best
• Tue 14 May | Samantha Paton
• Wed 15 May | Brita Sundberg and Tanya Morgan
• Thu 16 May | Val Johnson and Cilla Howard
• Fri 17 May | Jodie Isaacson and Monika Konstantynowicz

This term we have available on the lunch menu:

• Warm milo
• Chicken nuggets
• Bananas and mandarins will be available for Munch & Crunch.