Rylstone Review Term 1, Week 4, 19th February 2026

From the Principal’s desk

Welcome back to an exciting new school year at Rylstone Public school! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable break and are ready to embark on a year full of learning, growth, and new opportunities. Whether you are returning familiar faces or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to have you as part of our school community. This year promises to be full of inspiring lessons, engaging activities, and memorable moments. Our dedicated teachers and staff are eager to support every student’s journey towards success and well-being. Together, we will continue to foster a positive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement. Let’s make this year a fantastic one—full of curiosity, kindness, and achievement! So welcome back, and let’s make it a great year ahead!

MEET THE TEACHER

A big thank you to the families who joined us for our Meet the Teacher evening last week! We truly appreciate your time and engagement. While the turnout was a bit smaller than anticipated, we’re delighted that many families feel well-informed and confident with the information provided. We look forward to continuing a strong partnership with all our families throughout the year! Some things discussed on the evening:

• ABSENCES:

To help us support your child’s learning, please notify the school of any absences, preferably with the very easy to use Sentral app. Sentral will send parents of children marked absent from school without an explanation a text message at midday to remind them an explanation is required. In line with the NSW Department of Education attendance initiative, if your child is absent for more than three days without a message, their class teacher will kindly get in touch with you. Regular school attendance plays a vital role in helping your child make the most of their learning opportunities and build a strong foundation for their future. This includes attending school on rainy days, sports carnivals (whether competing or cheering), Fridays, and birthdays! Consistent attendance helps your child deepen their learning and develop positive friendships with their classmates. We also encourage families to provide clear reasons for any absences. While we understand that life happens, certain activities such as shopping for shoes or haircuts are considered ‘unjustified’ absences and will be recorded as such. Your partnership in ensuring your child’s attendance helps us support their success. Thank you for your support in keeping your child engaged and connected to their learning community! More information can be found here: Information for parents

• END OF DAY PICK UP:

To ensure a smooth and calm end to the school day, we kindly ask parents to wait near the front gates or under the COLA when collecting their children, not near the classroom block. This helps us maintain a focused and peaceful classroom environment right up until dismissal. By gathering in these designated areas, you’ll help minimise distractions like phone rings and conversations near classrooms, allowing our students to finish their day on a positive and productive note. Thank you for your support in creating the best learning environment for all our students!

• EARLY PICK UP:

If you need to collect your child early, please visit the front office to sign them out. A staff member will then bring your child to you, ensuring a smooth and calm process. To help maintain a focused classroom environment, we kindly ask that parents avoid going directly to classrooms. If you can, please let your child’s teacher know in advance. They will do their best to have your child ready and waiting in the office to make your pick-up quick and easy.

• CHANGES TO HOME ROUTINE:

To ensure your child gets home safely and smoothly, please notify the school office of any changes to their usual home time routine. Since we want to make sure everyone’s information is accurate, we rely on parents or carers to provide these updates directly. This helps us avoid any confusion and ensures your child follows the correct plan for going home. If you’re expecting a change, please let the office know as early as possible. Notifications can be via a written note, an email to the school or if a last minute change please call the office. Afternoons can be busy, and early notice helps us communicate effectively and keep your child safe. For the best service, please send all important messages and changes about home routines to the school office rather than to teachers or via Class Dojo. Our teachers are focused on teaching during the day and may not check messages or emails right away. The office team is here to help and will make sure your message is received and acted upon promptly.

• PERMISSION NOTES AND EXCURSIONS:

As our school community continues to grow, we appreciate your support in helping us stay organised with activity permissions and payments. To ensure a smooth process for everyone, we kindly ask that all notes and payments are submitted by the set cut-off dates. Please note that late notes and payments cannot be accepted after these deadlines. For your convenience, permissions and payments can be made quickly and easily through Sentral. We encourage you to stay connected and up to date by regularly checking Sentral and the Sentral calendar for important information and upcoming events.

• CONNECTING WITH YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER:

We truly value the partnership between families and our teaching staff, as open and thoughtful communication helps support your child’s learning and wellbeing. To make sure every conversation is meaningful and focused, we kindly ask that you avoid trying to catch teachers informally in the playground before or after school. These times can be very busy for teachers as they prepare for the day or supervise students. Many of our staff live locally, so this also goes for the aisles at IGA or Foodworks! Instead, the best way to connect with your child’s teacher is by arranging an appointment through the front office. Simply give the office a call, and they will help find a convenient time for you to meet with the teacher. This ensures you have dedicated time for discussion in a quiet, private setting where your questions and feedback can be fully addressed. We also encourage families to use email or the school’s messaging system for non-urgent communications. Please note that emails and messages sent outside school hours may not be answered immediately, but our staff will do their best to respond within 24 hours during school days. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. By working together and communicating effectively, we can provide the best learning journey for your child. If you have any questions about making appointments or contacting teachers, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school office for assistance.

RYLSTONE SHOW

All students are busy in class creating marvellous artworks to submit to the Rylstone Kandos Show this year. An amazing THANK YOU to the Rylstone Kandos Show committee who have very generously provided FREE entry, showbag and a ride for every child at Rylstone PS. Wrist bands will be handed out to students on Monday. Thank you to Mr James Johnson who presented them to our school on Tuesday.

THANK YOU

Another huge Thank you goes out to our amazing P&C, who, along with a grant from Moolarben Coal Community Support Program, supplied a covered eating table for our playground.

The other covered table was provided by a grant through GLENCORE Ulan Coal Community Investment program.

Not only do they provide badly needed shelter and eating space, but they also give our playground a tidy, modern new look! Our P&C also funded the re-seeding of our back oval and maintained it over the hot holidays so that it was lush and green for our first day back!

FAREWELL AND GOOD LUCK!

Tomorrow, Friday 20th February sees us farewell two fabulous staff members … Mr Ian Slapp and Mrs Debra Bush. Both lucky people are retiring, and we wish them all the very best in this exciting new chapter in their lives and would like to thank them for their hard work and dedication working here at Rylstone PS! Both of you will be missed. We also would like to congratulate Ms Sasha Gilks, who will be taking maternity leave to welcome her second baby. We wish her and her partner Josh, all the best for this exciting time! As we step into an exciting year at Rylstone Public School, we are grateful to have such a supportive and vibrant community. Working together—families, teachers, and students—we can make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. This year, our school is proud to offer a wide range of amazing programs, activities, and learning experiences designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and growth. From academic challenges to sporting events, arts, and community projects, there is something for every student to explore and enjoy. Thank you for being a valued part of the Rylstone Public School family. Together, let's make this year our best yet!

Warm regards, Jodee

First Day Back 2026!