Principal's News
Jingiwallah and welcome back for the start of our 2026 school year! Welcome to our new and returning students and families. We know that you will love our beautiful school as much as we do. On that note, we are excited to welcome families to our Meet the Teacher afternoon on Tuesday 10 February 2026 from 3:15-4:00pm.
Australia Day Awards
Congratulations to two year 6 students who were recognised at the Pottsville Lions Club Australia Day Awards Ceremony during the holidays: Nia was awarded the Most Improved Award and Luca received the Aussie Mateship Award.
Good News Stories
During our Friday morning student assembly, we were excited to share with students the lovely news story from the Pottsville Community Facebook page about a young boy on a scooter from our school who stopped to check on an eldery man on a mobility scooter and who offered him some water. This is just one wonderful example of the outstanding behaviours of our students who consistently display our safe, respectful, learner values. Congratulations to this student who we have recognised at school. Congratulations to Sophie McG in Year 6 who has achieved a position in the Lead Cast for the NSW Arts Unit 2026 Combined schools musical - Mary Poppins. Sophie travelled to Sydney on Friday 6 February with her family... This is a fantastic achievement and we congratulate Sophie on following her high potential and gifted goals.
School Excellence Plan
In 2026, our School Excellence Plan focuses on the following strategic directions (SD) - SD1: Student growth and attainment and SD2: Collaboration and engagement. Our team are committed to working in positive partnerships with parents and carers to support all students to achieve their learning and wellbeing goals.
New School Website
Have you visited our new school website? Use this link - https://pottsville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ - to explore relevant information about our wonderful school and keep up-to-date with all of the awesome activities and events on offer for your child. The calendar, which can also be found in the School Bytes Parent Portal is a great tool to use in planning ahead.
Assemblies
Our assemblies will again be held on Fridays during weeks 3, 6 and 9 during Terms 1-3, with our Term 4 assemblies being held in weeks 3, 6 and 8. Please visit our calendar to keep up to date with all of the wonderful things our school has on offer for your child.
Allergy Aware School
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening. The most common causes of anaphylaxis in schools are food and insect allergies. The only way to prevent allergic reactions is to avoid being exposed to the allergen. It is important that you are aware that there are students and staff in our school, who have anaphylaxis if they are exposed to tree nuts, shellfish, sesame seeds, cows milk, egg or kiwi fruit. Please be mindful when packing your child’s lunchbox each day. Our school is supporting students at risk of anaphylaxis in the following ways:
- training staff,
- encouraging students with food allergy to wash their hands before and after eating,
- encouraging students to wash their hands after eating something their classmate/friend is allergic to,
- teaching students not to share food with friends who have food allergy,
- teaching students the importance of getting help immediately if their friend with allergy looks sick,
- educating students about allergies and anaphylaxis, and
- teaching students that teasing someone with an allergy is not acceptable behaviour.
Food allergy is now common in school aged children. Children can be allergic to any food, and it is not possible to completely remove all foods from our school. To help manage food allergies, our school is following the National Allergy Council Best Practice Guidelines (2023) which do not recommend banning foods as this is difficult to enforce and can bring a false sense of safety. Instead, we have chosen not to stock nuts and nut products in our canteen as these foods are not staple foods in the diet. We request that parents also consider not sending nuts to school, especially for younger students. As we educate our school community to help with the management of food allergy and anaphylaxis, the parents of the student with food allergy will continue to educate their child on self-management at a developmentally appropriate level. We ask you to support the school’s risk minimisation strategies outlined so that we can increase safety and provide an environment that meets the needs of all our students.
Mobile Phones and Smart Watches
All NSW Public Schools have a current ban in place for mobile phones, smart watches and other devices. At our school, any devices, including smart watches, mobile phones or other devices must be taken to the office in the morning upon arrival and collected in the afternoon prior to going home. We thank you for your support.
Uniforms - School Dress Code Guidelines
Rationale: School uniforms promote a sense of belonging for students and create a positive identity for the school community. School uniforms also contribute to the personal safety of students by allowing easier recognition of students inside the school and in the community. NSW Department of Education School Uniform Policy Aims:
- To promote equality amongst all students.
- To further develop a sense of pride in, and identification with our school.
- To provide durable clothing that is cost effective and practical for our school environment.
- To maintain and enhance the positive image of the school in the community.
Wellbeing factors considered:
- The diversity of the school population (options are available within the agreed school uniform).
- Uniform items encourage physical activity.
- Shorts and pants options are available, including specific options for girls.
- Items are affordable, comfortable for all body shapes and appropriate for a variety of learning and break-time activities.
- Appropriate, fair and consistent responses for students not following school uniform requirements.
Health & Safety factors considered:
- Sun safe uniform items, including hats that protect the head, neck and ears.
- Uniform items necessary for particular activities, eg safe footwear.
- Availability of uniform items for cold and hot weather.
- Road safety/visibility of uniforms.
North Coast PSSA Uniform: Students who represent our school through the North Coast Primary School Sports Association have the opportunity to purchase the team uniform for that sport. These students are invited to wear this uniform for the week following their event. After this time, students are expected to wear our regular, full school uniform.
Please visit our school webiste for information and images of our school uniform - https://pottsville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/school-life/uniform
Communication Strategy
As a parent or carer, you are an important part of our school community. We know that you play a crucial role in helping your child become a motivated learner. Communication between our school and our community is critical for us to partner together. To give our teachers the opportunity to recharge, spend time with their families and bring their best creative selves to work, we are setting clear expectations for when and how they respond to communication outside school operating hours. This means teachers may not reply to non-emergency messages or emails outside of school operating hours. We are committed to working in positive partnerships with parents and carers to support the learning and wellbeing of all students in line with the School Community Charter. The School Community Charter outlines the responsibilities of parents, carers, educators and school staff in NSW public schools to ensure our learning environments are collaborative, supportive and cohesive. At Pottsville Beach PS, we use School Bytes to communicate information about excursions, upcoming events, our calendar, student reports, for parents to give permission for excursions and events, newsletters, applications for health needs or extended leave applications, and to communicate regarding absences. Our staff provide both half-yearly and yearly academic reports for parents. Reports are distributed to parents via School Bytes and provide information on students’ academic achievement, areas for improvement and attendance. Seesaw is used to share information, photos and work samples about what our students are learning in the classroom and is a way to communicate non-urgent information directly with your child's teacher. Communication between staff and parents is considered private, as such, it is not appropriate to share content or screenshots without the permission of those involved. Newsletters are sent out during weeks 3, 6 and 9 and celebrate the success and achievements of our students from Kindergarten to Year 6. Our newsletters include information and dates of important events that are coming up and deliver specific news sections for K-2, 3-6, P&C, Positive Behaviour for Learning, First Nations News and more. Our newsletters are created on Microsoft Sway / Adobe Express and provide the option of including both photos and videos. Our PBPS Website can be accessed via https://pottsville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ and includes information: About our school, Supporting our students, Learning at our school, Transition to school, Newsletters and General school information. Our dedicated PBPS Facebook page is a social media platform to celebrate our students and staff, and can be used as an additional reminder for school events, or to communicate in the unlikely event of emergency situations. Our teachers normal working hours are from 8:30am to 3:30pm, however, our staff also meet for communication, stage, professional learning and other areas of responsibility meetings either before or after school teaching hours, as well as covering playground supervision duties. After school operating hours, the remainder of the day is prioritised for teachers to manage their rest and family time. If parents and carers send communication after this time, it will not be looked at immediately. Our dedicated and hard-working staff will respond to emails or messages within 2 business days, under normal circumstances. In an emergency or a change of normal routine, we encourage parents/carers to contact our office on 0266761161, and our office staff can assist with your inquiry. We thank all Pottsville Beach PS Parents, Carers and our wider school community for working with us in support of all students and staff. Regards, Mrs Trisha Parker, Principal
NAPLAN parent and carer information - Year 3 and 5
Each year the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is sat by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students will participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. NAPLAN will take place from Wednesday 11 March to Monday 23 March 2026. NAPLAN is just one part of our school’s learning assessment program. The tests assess literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school, so the best preparation is their everyday classroom learning. Our school will also undertake activities to help students become familiar with the types of questions and tools available in the online tests. The public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) is available for you to see the format of the online tests. Further information about NAPLAN is available on the NESA website (https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/naplan) and the NAP website (https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers). If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.
Table of contents
- Principal's News
- Australia Day Awards
- Good News Stories
- School Excellence Plan
- New School Website
- Assemblies
- Allergy Aware School
- Mobile Phones and Smart Watches
- Uniforms - School Dress Code Guidelines
- Communication Strategy
- NAPLAN parent and carer information - Year 3 and 5
- Deputy Principal's News
- Our safe, respectful, learners in our safe and inclusive educational environment!
- Kindergarten -Year 2 News
- Welcome back
- K-2 Sport
- Story Dogs
- Stage 1 Intensive Swimming
- Stage 1 Home Reading
- Term Overviews
- GREAT WORK Year 6 BUDDIES
- BEST START ASSESSMENT
- AFTERNOON PICK UP
- Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Awards
- Years 3-6 News
- First Nations News
- P&C News
- Introducing our first ever P&C Logo
- P&C Student Representation Support – 2026 Initiative
- Uniform Shop Reminders
- Join the community for your child’s year group!
- Music with Yodelay in 2026
- Supporting your child's transition to Kingscliff High School.
- Community News
- HOGS Tour - NRL
- Contact us
Deputy Principal's News
Jingiwalla and welcome back to another exciting school year! It has been wonderful to see the happy faces of our students, parents, and carers as we begin this new chapter together. I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break. I’ve loved hearing about the incredible adventures and experiences many of our students had over the holidays. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead filled with learning, growth, and memorable moments! Keeping our Students Safe Student safety and wellbeing is our highest priority. Please note that there are some new arrangements that we have put in place for the safety and wellbeing of all students. Each afternoon from 2:45pm, the front main entrance gates will be locked, as buses arrive at this time. We encourage any parents and carers who are walking in to pick up their children to please use the southern pedestrian carpark entrance on Tweed Coast Road and the northern pedestrian carpark entrance on Cudgera Avenue to enter the school. If you are driving to collect your child/ren, we strongly encourage families to use the Parent Pick up on Cudgera Avenue. This allows you to stay in your car, whilst your child is supported to enter your car by our staff. Please refer to the image for further details. Please remember that as you drive through this area, that you are required to stay in your car. We also ask that parents and carers of students in Kindergarten to Year 2 arrive from 2:50pm, with those with students in Years 3 to 6 arrive from 3:00pm. This supports a smooth traffic flow and safety by reducing congestion on Cudgera Avenue and out to the round about on Tweed Coast Road. Please note that Parking Rangers have fined individuals who are not following the road signs along Cudgera Avenue and we encourage you to follow the road rules. Thank you for your support. Parking along the front of the school, and in front of the buses, has resulted in some unsafe instances and we would strongly encourage families to use the Parent Pick up option. Please note, if your child does come to the front of the school for collection, they will be supported to wait inside the school gate and near our bus exit. No students are to be waiting outside the school gate. No students are to enter cars unless they are properly parked next to the curb. Please note that cars are not to be parked and left unattended in the drop off parking section at the front of our school along Tweed Coast Road, during the morning or afternoon. If you are looking at parking and walking into school, you may consider parking near the preschool or Pottsville Bowls and Sports Club. Catching the bus – if you wish for your child to catch the bus to and from school, please apply online through https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/ transaction/apply-for-a-school-travel-pass A Big Thank You to Our School Crossing Supervisor, Lucy The School Crossing Supervisor program operates across New South Wales to help keep our youngest students safe, especially infants and primary school children. Our dedicated School Crossing Supervisors are employed by the NSW Government to assist all students in using road crossings near schools safely. We are very fortunate to have Lucy as our School Crossing Supervisor. Lucy is extremely committed to ensuring the safety of all students, parents, and community members when crossing the road. Please remember to wait for Lucy’s signal before crossing and always cross in front of her. By following these simple steps, we can all help maintain a safe environment around our school. Thank you for your cooperation! Miss Dee Stephenson Deputy Principal
Our safe, respectful, learners in our safe and inclusive educational environment!
Did you know that we offer a variety of extra-curricular activities for your child to reach their highest potential? From choir to dance, Jarjums and YULI programs for our First Nations students, to Spelling, Debating, Write a book in a day, Talent Quest and Open Mic, there is something for everyone at Pottsville Beach Public School.
Our Eco Warriors Garden Program is available for all students to enjoy during our lunch breaks. During Term 1, students can access the garden on Mondays and Thursdays at lunch play time.
Our Dance Troupe trials have commenced for 2026, with thanks to Mrs Burgess, Mrs Morley and Mrs Ross.
Kindergarten -Year 2 News
Welcome back
A big welcome to our 2026 Kindergarten students and new Year 1 and Year 2 students. We are so pleased you are joining our PBPS community. And to our returning students and families, welcome back! We hope you enjoyed a wonderful break and are ready for another fantastic year of learning and growth.
K-2 Sport
Our Kinders, Year 1 and Year 2 students sport sessions will take place on Thursdays. Students are encouraged to wear their sport shirt and appropriate footwear on this day.
Story Dogs
Pam, Jim and the Story Dogs team will be visiting our school again this year. Our Year 1 and Year 2 students will have the opportunity to participate in this program. Further information and consent has been sent to families of Stage 1 students via School Bytes. If you have any questions regarding Story Dogs, please reach out to your child's teacher.
Stage 1 Intensive Swimming
Our Stage 1 Intensive Swimming program will take place later this term at the Village Gym, Pottsville. The program caters for the full range of swimmers, non-swimmers to advanced, and lessons are conducted by a qualified instructor. Students attending the Intensive Swimming Program will participate in eight days of 30 minute swimming lessons over four weeks on the days outlined below. Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 March (Week 7) Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 March (Weeks 8) Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 March (Week 9) Tuesday 31 March and Wednesday 1 April (Week 10) Detailed information and consent will be shared with families via School Bytes in the coming week. Please reach out to class teachers if you have any questions.
Stage 1 Home Reading
In the coming week, Year 1 and Year 2 students will begin to bring home decodable readers to reinforce their phonics, decoding and fluency skills. We value the collaborative partnership between school and home and are committed to providing the best resources to support improved student learning outcomes. As our decodable texts are expensive to replace, it is essential that all home readers are cared for, used respectfully and returned in the same condition they were loaned.
Term Overviews
This week, K-2 term overviews were shared with families at our Meet the Teacher afternoon and via Seesaw. Our term overview provides families with a brief look at the content we are covering throughout the term in key learning areas. We encourage parents to use this as a guide to support consolidation and revision of learning at home if they would like to.
GREAT WORK Year 6 BUDDIES
Congratulations to our Kindergarten 2026 students for a fabulous first week. We are so thankful to our Year 6 buddies for making our first week of school an enjoyable one. In coming weeks Kindergarten are going to be working on developing new friendships across Kindergarten.
BEST START ASSESSMENT
Kindergarten will complete Best Start Assessments in Week 5. Staff will share the analysis of these assessments with families in Week 9.
AFTERNOON PICK UP
A huge thank you to all of our Kindergarten parents for sharing pick up information. We will have displays in classrooms to assist teachers with ensuring students arrive at their correct location. Parcel Pick Up - Koala Beach Parent Collection - under the Canteen COLA Bus - line up under Big COLA If collection changes, please contact the school office.
Years 3-6 News
Stage 3 Welcome back to all students in Years 5 and 6. We had a wonderful first week of school. There is so much to look forward to this year, starting with our swimming carnival on Thursday 12 February. We can't wait to see all students putting in their best effort and cheering each other on! It was a fabulous turn out for our 'Meet the Teacher' afternoon. If you were unable to make it, please contact your child's teacher to arrange an alternate time to meet. There are plenty of sporting opportunities coming up this year. We remind students regularly that their behaviour needs to align with our school values so they can continue to participate in these events.
Aurora College Opportunity Classes and Selective High Schools Placement Test - Applications Closing Soon The deadline for applications is 20 February, please refer to the Selective Education website for further information and key dates: Application process
Parent/Carer webinar links:
- Aurora and the virtual OC 2027: https://bcove.video/4a9M4wp
- Aurora and the virtual SHS 2027: https://bcove.video/4kmqw4E
Any parent questions not answered in the webinar can be lodged here: Parent / Carer Aurora College Webinar questions – Fill out form
First Nations News
Jarjums Group In 2026, we will continue running the Jarjums Group for our First Nations students at Pottsville Beach Public School. Jarjums Group provides an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Kindergarten to Year 6 to come together, connect with peers and strengthen their cultural identity through meaningful shared experiences. Students will engage in a range of cultural activities, which may include Aboriginal art, traditional Indigenous games, bush tucker experiences and sessions with external providers such as Aboriginal Elders and Gold Coast sporting teams. Jarjums Group will be held twice per term and will be facilitated by Miss Jade Finselbach. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Permission for your child to participate in Jarjums Group sessions in 2026 is required via School Bytes.
P&C News
Welcome back to all PBPS families for 2026! We hope everyone had a wonderful break and are ready for a year of learning and connection. Introducing our PBPS P&C Executive team for 2026, elected following our AGM last year. President - Jess Cullen Vice Presidents - Jasmine Gambin and Amber Cameron Treasurer - Victoria Furber Secretary - Rebecca Dunstan Fundraising Coordinator - Corina Pitt Uniform Shop Coordinator - Kelly Daniel The P&C had our first meeting on 3 February 2026 and we kicked off our discussions in preparation for the following events:
- Mothers and Special Others Day Stall
- Grandparent’s Day and Book Week Parade
Next Meeting: We’d love to see you at our next meeting on Tuesday 3 March at 5.30pm in the Library. Everyone is welcome and we especially wish to invite parents and caregivers of our new students. Come along, share your ideas and get involved in supporting our wonderful school community. If you can’t make it in person, join us online via the link below and be part of the conversation from wherever you are. Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 485 770 948 450 9 Passcode: 4Dy9pV2s Welcoming our new Kindergarten parents and caregivers The P&C met with lots of new parents and caregivers on the first day of school, providing information on what the P&C does and how families can get involved. Over coffee and biscuits, we had some engaging conversations and shared stories with those that were a bit teary after farewelling their children on their first day of big school. The P&C wishes all new families to PBPS a wonderful first term. Welcome!
Introducing our first ever P&C Logo
We are excited to share our first P&C logo designed by our talented P&C member Sarah Capel. Keep a look for our logo as it starts appearing on P&C supported events, flyers and activities (see above).
P&C Student Representation Support – 2026 Initiative
As part of the 2026 P&C Initiative, the P&C is proud to support students who are representing our school in a variety of capacities. This initiative aims to assist families with costs associated with participation and travel when students are representing our school beyond the local level. Support may include (but is not limited to):
- Sporting representation (Regional PSSA level or above)
- Spelling Bee participation
- Music performances
- Leadership representation
- Other similar events requiring travel of more than 100 km
If an individual student or team would like to request support, families are invited to complete the application form linked below. All requests will be reviewed at the next scheduled P&C meeting, which is held on the first Tuesday of each month during school terms. Applicants will be notified of the outcome following that meeting. https://forms.gle/FuE5LZacPfCXNdto7 The P&C is proud to support our students as they represent our school and community, and we encourage families to apply where eligible.
Uniform Shop Reminders
A Big Start at the Uniform Shop! A massive thank you to our wonderful volunteers who helped us navigate the busy first week! We truly appreciate your time and energy. We also want to thank our parents and caregivers for their incredible patience and smiles while picking up new uniforms. 2026 Uniform Shop Opening Hours
- Tuesdays 8.15 am - 10am
- Fridays: 8:15 am - 10am (1st and 3rd Friday of the month only)
Online Orders: Skip the queue! Orders placed via Qkr! Before 8:00 am on shop days will be delivered directly to your child's classroom. Got uniforms in good condition? We’d love your donations! Please drop to our Uniform Shop on our open days or you can drop them at the School Office, marked Uniform Shop donations and we will take care of the rest. Every donation or purchase helps support our school community. Thank you for your continued support.
Join the community for your child’s year group!
Did you know there are active WhatsApp groups to help families stay connected, share ideas and keep up with school news? Join your child’s year level group chat using these links: Kinder Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 6 We are looking for any parents in year 4 or 5 who would like to set up and lead groups for these year levels. Please reach out to our fantastic P&C Secretary Bec Dunstan at📧 pandc.pottsville@gmail.com to get the ball rolling, to be added to a group or for other support. Let’s stay connected and keep building our supportive school community.
Music with Yodelay in 2026
Music program is kicking off this week with Band rehearsal on tuesdays and choir rehearsal on thursdays, both held in the music room at 8am. These programs are generously funded by the Pottsville Beach Sports Club. If your child would like to join either program please contact Michael from Yodelay music on 0425 738 752. New for 2026 is the recorder ensemble for students in K-2 which will be held during lunchtime, day TBA. Cost is $5.50 per lesson. If you would like to sign your child up or find out more information follow the link below. https://www.yodelaymusic.com/pottsvillerecorder If your child is interested in learning an instrument but your are not ready to commit to purchasing, the school has a range of instruments available for loan at no cost. For more information on group and private lessons please contact Michael from Yodelay Music on 0425 738 752. Kind Regards Amber Cameron Vice President
Supporting your child's transition to Kingscliff High School.
Want to learn more about the exciting opportunities available for your child as they transition to our local high school? Check out Kingscliff High School's website - https://kingscliff-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Or visit Kingscliff High School's Official Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/kingscliffhighschool/
Community News
HOGS Tour - NRL
Is your child interested in attending, please email tweedheads@pcycnsw.org.au to confirm their attendance.Parents are welcome. Tweed Heads get ready! NRL HOGS are rolling into PCYC Tweed Heads Meet Brad Fittler, Greg Inglis, Yasmin Clydsdale and Olivia Higgins for an action-packed morning celebrating footy, fitness and community. Don’t miss it Monday 16th February 7:15am - 8:15am PCYC Tweed Heads
Contact us
Pottsville Beach Public School 85 Tweed Coast Road Pottsville NSW 2489 Phone: 02 6676 1161 Email: pottsville-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: https://pottsville-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Get directions