Byron Bay Public School Newsletter TERM 1 | WEEK 11 | 2025

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Dear Families,

We are delighted to share some updates and highlights from our vibrant school community. Your involvement and support make all the difference, and we are excited to celebrate our recent achievements together.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

We are thrilled to report that our recent Parent-Teacher interviews were a wonderful success, with many families taking the time to connect with our dedicated teachers. These meetings are invaluable for fostering a strong partnership between home and school and can be scheduled at anytime during the term by parents, should you wish to enquire about your child/ren's progress. We kindly ask all parents to continue respecting the time and expertise of our teachers by attending scheduled appointments, whether during designated interview weeks or a requested chat about your child’s learning. Your engagement is crucial in supporting your child's growth and development, and together we can celebrate their successes and address any challenges they may face.

School Photos

A huge thank you to our amazing office staff for their meticulous planning and coordination of our school photo day. The smiles captured on camera are sure to become cherished keepsakes for families. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in making the day run smoothly. It’s always a joy to see our students looking their best and feeling proud as they pose for their photos!

Late Arrival to School

We have an increasing number of students arriving to school late without a parent/carer. This is a reminder to parents that it is a requirement when students arrive to school late that parents/carers accompany their child/ren to the front office and provide an explanation/reason for being late. Thank you to those parents/carers that are abiding by the procedure.

OSHC - Before School Care - Expression of Interest

Thank you for your interest in before school care at BBPS. In moving this forward, we ask you to please email the school with your interest and frequency of care needed, this will enable us to develop a formal 'Expression of Interest' to the care provider.

Cross Country Carnival

This week we enjoyed a fantastic Cross Country Carnival, where our students showed their determination, athleticism, and sportsmanship. The sense of community was palpable as families came out to cheer on the runners, creating such an exciting supportive atmosphere. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our dedicated staff and volunteers who organised this wonderful event, making it a memorable experience for all involved. We are so proud of all our participants, wonderful P&C and school canteen for much needed yummy sustenance!

Look out for our feature on the Cross Country Carnival in our next newsletter publication in Term 2.

Harmony Day Celebrations

In celebration of Australia’s rich cultural diversity, our students came together in the school hall for a joyful Harmony Day celebration. The day was filled with creative activities, including crafting beautiful projects inspired by flags from around the world. Working alongside their buddies, students wound colourful wool around sticks gathered from our school grounds, creating stunning collaborative art pieces now proudly displayed in our library.

The theme for Harmony Week in 2025 is ‘Harmony – we all have a role to play.’ Throughout the week, we organised various activities to promote inclusivity, respect, and a true sense of belonging. It was heartwarming to witness our students embracing and celebrating their differences, reinforcing the importance of unity in our diverse community.

Rap ‘n’ Rhyme Concert

The excitement in the air was infectious as nursery rhyme characters made their grand entrance for the Rap ‘n’ Rhyme concert! Our Kindergarten students, who had been practicing with enthusiasm, shined brightly in front of an audience filled with proud parents, carers, grandparents and friends.

Students entertained everyone with a delightful mix of beloved classics like 'Incy Wincy Spider' and 'Humpty Dumpty,' alongside lesser-known treasures such as 'Shoofly' and 'Skidamarink.' It was truly inspiring to see how much confidence they have gained since the beginning of the year. Following the concert, families enjoyed lunch with students. It was a day full of joy and celebration, reminding us all of the wonderful community we are a part of!

Focus Groups

Using a focus group format, parent and student conversations were held during Weeks 9 and 10, with each group having the opportunity to discuss thoughts and suggestions around several topics. Whilst each were presented with different questions and statements, the underlying themes of belonging, wellbeing and communication were targeted, aimed at helping us understand how, as a school we can improve our ways of working. Student groups were honest and candid in their responses, with parents highlighting a number of positives and some suggested areas for improvement. We appreciate the time parents took in responding to our request for input and the thoughtful, respectful nature of the discussion.

School Grounds

We are excited to share that our school is embarking on an extensive project to enhance our grounds. While this will be a lengthy process, we are committed to ensuring it is carried out safely and inclusively, engaging students, staff, and the community whenever possible. We appreciate your understanding that our workplace health and safety requirements, as a NSW Department of Education School, are of the highest standards, which may differ from typical backyard or community garden projects. Thank you for your support as we work together towards creating a more beautiful and functional school environment for everyone.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We are looking forward to more exciting events and activities in the weeks ahead, and we encourage all families to stay engaged with everything happening at Byron Bay Public School. Have a safe and happy holiday and we look forward to seeing you in Term 2.

Sport News

NSW PSSA Swimming Championships

Good luck to Mattia B, Orlando B, Ned T and Onni M, who will travel to Sydney this week to compete at the NSW State Swimming Championships. The 4 boys will compete in the Senior Boys Relay, and Mattia and Orlando will swim in individual events. Congratulations on this wonderful achievement, BBPS will be cheering you on and wish you all the very best.