Byron Bay Public School Newsletter TERM 4 | WEEK 5 | 2024

3M are enjoying Science lessons exploring the material world and the different states of matter. We are also visiting the STEM room and learning to colour-code and block-base code the Ozobots.

In 3P and 3H we have been exploring numbers in our Number Sense sessions. We had to roll a nine-sided dice 4 times to create a 4-digit number. Then we joined a small group to order our numbers in ascending and descending order. Once we completed that, we collaborated with half the class to order ALL our numbers in ascending order. It was a LONG line.

We also studied Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes in our English lessons where we read and learned about her inspiring story. In art, we created Sadako-inspired pieces with cherry blossoms and sunsets. It took A LOT of steps and patience! We hope you like them!

For National Sorry Day, we made clay Aboriginal Art symbols which we added to an Aboriginal Flag art we made using a yellow hand cut out as the sun. They also took LOTS of steps and patience (aren’t we lucky Mrs Holmes is so clever!) and we think they look great!

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Important Pedestrian Count

On Thursday 14 November, weather permitting, council are conducting a pedestrian count on the school crossing in Tennyson St to see if we meet the threshold for a proper, much safer pedestrian/zebra crossing. If you normally cross over Tennyson St, please do so at the crossing on this particular day. I urge all students to cross at the school crossing to further ensure their safety.

Students Selected for Junior State Woodwind Band

Ximmi G and Louis MB recently attended the North Coast Music Camp and Maddie M recently attended the North Coast Creative Arts Camp. Through their involvement in these camps, the students were nominated for selection for the State Junior Wind Band. This band provides the opportunity for high potential and gifted music students in NSW public schools to perform under the direction of professional conductors at the Sydney Opera House. Ximmi was selected for percussion and Louis and Maddie were both selected for the alto saxophone. We are very proud of their hard work and dedication.

Child Safety Handbook

Together with their partners, NSW Police Legacy has been producing the Child Safety Handbook for over 10 years. The handbook aims to raise awareness about risks to children and steps that can be taken to protect and keep them safe. The handbook has the support of the NSW Government and is now available to view online or download as an app.

Their intent is for the family of all primary school students in NSW aged from 5 to 7 years old to receive a digital copy of the handbook. All costs associated with the production of the handbook have been met entirely through sponsorship and as such will be at no cost to families or the school.

It is a comprehensive resource to assist parents & carers on a range of topics essential to child safety.

The updated digital edition (link below) includes important content updates from: NSW Rural Fire, NSW Ministry of Health, NSW Police Force, Fire and Rescue NSW, Transport NSW, State Emergency Services, NSW Department of Family & Community Services, the eSafety Commissioner and NSW Office of the Children's Guardian.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is commemorated on 11 November each year, marking the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914 - 1918). It is held in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts. On Monday, we marked the occasion with a special Remembrance Day Ceremony for our students. We laid wreaths, sang songs, read poetry and spoke about why Remembrance Day is important to us. Thank you to Mr McIntyre and staff for organising the ceremony and to the students who did a fantastic job leading the assembly.

Opportunity Classes and Selective High Schools

Opportunity classes and selective high schools are specialist school settings that group together high potential and gifted students.

Opportunity classes are for high potential and gifted students in Years 5 and 6. They are offered in a number of public primary schools across NSW. Aurora College provides online opportunity classes for rural and remote students in their local primary schools. Parents can apply when their child is near the end of Year 3 in 2024 or at the beginning of Year 4 in 2025.

There are 4 types of selective high schools:

• fully selective high schools – these are schools where all students have been selected based on the placement test
• partially selective high schools – these are schools that have a mix of selected students and local area students
• agricultural selective high schools – these are schools that emphasise the study of agriculture and all students are selected on their academic ability. Some of these schools also provide boarding where students live at the school
• Aurora College – these are online selective classes. They are provided at local public high schools in rural and remote areas.

Parents can apply for a selective high school when their child is near the end of Year 5 in 2024 or at the beginning of Year 6 in 2025.

How do I apply?

Parents apply during the application period online at:

The application period for 2026 entry is from 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025. After you apply, your child must sit a test. Students are then selected for placement based on their test performance. The test will be available across a 3-day period from Friday 2 May to Sunday 4 May 2025. Students attend one test day only and do not need to bring their own computer to sit the placement tests.

More information is available in this Guide to Selective High Schools and Opportunity Classes.

End of Year Celebration of our School – Save the Date

This year we are holding our 'End of Year Celebration' event on the evening of Thursday 12 December. Students will be performing along with our choirs and band. There will also be a disco. The P&C are organising delicious food for the event. Please save the date, Thursday 12 December, to come along and celebrate the end of another school year. More information will be provided in the coming weeks.

Public Speaking Finals

The finals of the Cheryl Booker Memorial Public Speaking Competition are being held today. Congratulations to all of our finalists. Results will be published in the next newsletter.

Outside School Hours Care (OSCH)

Northern Rivers Children’s Services will soon be running after school care and vacation care at Byron Bay Public School. Byron Shire Council will finish operating OSHC on the last day of Term 4 and the new provider will commence vacation care on 13 January 2025 (pending approvals).

If there is a need from families, Byron Shire Council who are the current providers, will consider operating on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 December – please advise them if you need care on these days. A BIG thank you to Rohan, Jane and the team for their dedication and amazing support of our school over the years.

Planning for 2025

We have commenced our planning and organisation for 2025. If you know that your child/children won’t be attending our school in 2025, with the exception of Year 6 students, could you please inform the office. Similarly, if you are aware of any students moving into our area who will be attending our school in 2025, please ask the families to make contact with the school. This is particularly important if they are Kindergarten students as their Orientation Program has already finished. We need information about students who will and won’t be with us next year in order to work out staffing and classes which are dependent on student numbers. Also, if you are having an extended holiday and your child/children will not be back at school on the first school day in 2025, please let us know on the 'Intention to Return' form that was emailed home recently.

Grown Out of Your School Uniforms

If families have any Byron Bay school uniforms that your children have grown out of or no longer need, please send them into school to build our collection of second hand uniforms.

At the beginning of next year, all Department of Education schools will have four consecutive School Development Days, these will take place between Friday 31 January and Wednesday 5 February, inclusive. All students will start school on Thursday 6 February, including Kindergarten.

Leadership News

Congratulations to all the wonderful students who spent considerable time and effort completing 2025 Leadership application. Becoming a school leader is a great honor and an integral role in our school community. Mrs Trigg has now met with the 2025 School Captain nominees who have all accepted their nominations and will present a speech in week 6. Congratulations to Louis MB, Nina A, Jesse C, Jimmy B, Benjamin I, Mila W, Atticus J, Oliver A and Joshua D. Well done also to Roy A and Lydia W who will also form part of the executive.

SRC Inflatable

The SRC was responsible for an awesome inflatable fun day where all students were invited to have fun on a Ninja Warrior Inflatable Course. The weather was perfect and students of all ages enjoyed the challenges of racing through the course. A special thanks to our amazing school leaders Noah, Pia, Maddy, Melaleuca, Clancy, Flynn, Ava, Oliver, Kai, Olive, Archie, Alfie for their help on the day. Excitingly, the SRC raised $500 which has been donated to 'Doin It For Rural Aussie Kids' to provide Christmas gifts for children in need. Thanks to everyone who participated and donated.

2025 Kindergarten Orientation Days

Our 3rd Kindergarten Orientation for 2025 students was held last Friday, this now completes our extended day of orientations. This Friday, 15 November is our final session for Kindergarten students where they will attend a Fun Friday afternoon from 2:00pm - 3:00pm. Our Year 5 buddies have been exceptional with assisting these students to enjoy their experience before attending big school next year.

P&C Meeting

Our next P&C Meeting is tomorrow night, Thursday, 14 November at 6:00pm in the staffroom. We have an amazing P&C who are on the lookout for new members. Please come along and join us. All parents and carers are welcome to attend. If you require child minding during the meeting, please contact the P&C on byronbaypandc@gmail.com the day before the meeting in order for them to organise this.

BBPS Boys Soccer Team Takes 3rd Place in Sydney!

Our boys' soccer team travelled to Sydney last Monday to compete in the NSW Primary School Sports Association Boys Football Knockout competition at Kareela Sports Fields. In the semi-final, the team faced Beacon Hill Public School in a tough match. With skill and determination, our boys controlled much of the game, especially in the second half. The match ended in a 1 - 1 tie (thanks to a fantastic penalty from Max C), and after extra time, the score remained level. Unfortunately, Byron Bay was edged out by Beacon Hill on a countback of corners.

The team rallied in the consolation final, taking on Towradgi Primary School and securing an exciting 4 - 3 victory! Congratulations to our boys for their sportsmanship, effort, and incredible skill. You represented our school with pride, earning a well-deserved 3rd place!

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated coach, Ben Ahern, who generously gave his time to guide the team and travelled with them to Sydney and Tamworth. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to the parents for their unwavering support — taking the boys to training and games, organizing flights and accommodation, and cheering on both the team and supporting our Coach, Ben.

Your commitment made this journey possible! Well done, BBPS!

A big thank you to Ben Roche who organised new shirts for the team for the finals. The boys are able to keep these shirts as a momento.

Dinosaur Garden

A big thank you to Milla of 4L, Goldie of KM and father Pete for his input on a Saturday at our school to plant our 'Dinosaur Garden'. The garden looks wonderful!