Principal's Address

It has been a busy end of term with Summer PSSA Trials, K-2 Easter Hat Parade, Debating Camp and our Cross Country being held. 

As previously communicated, next term I will be taking leave from Jasper Road Public School to step into a Director Educational Leadership position. Thank you to everyone that has seen me in the playground or at the gates over the past week. I will be returning in Term 3 to Jasper Road ready to celebrate Education Week, Book Week, Hills Performing Arts and the numerous other events on the calendar. 

On Wednesday, many parents had the chance to meet Mr King who was successfully appointed, through a merit selection Expression of Interest, to the position of Relieving Principal in my absence. Mr King has a wealth of experience as a Senior Executive leader at another school and a thorough hand over will be completed to ensure the continuation of our explicit teaching programs and high expectations. 

School resumes for all students on WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL.

Muffins With Mums

One of the biggest events of the year is coming soon! Muffins with Mums is being held on Thursday 7 May. Book it in your calendar now to ensure you don’t miss out! 

International Joint Class

This year the school has continued its links with Joongdae Elementary School in South Korea to form three International Joint Classes. This program is run by the Seoul Metropolitan Board of Education and over the past three years we have built a strong partnership between our schools, offering learning and sharing opportunities. This year 2A, 3P and 6R have been involved in the program with their first joint classes being held over the last fortnight. We can’t wait to hear further about their shared experiences. 

Netball NSW

Last week we were again lucky enough to be visited by Netball NSW who ran an All-Abilities clinic with our support unit students. This program creates new opportunities for students with a disability to enjoy the game and compliments the existing suite of All Abilities programs delivered by the organisation.  

Netball NSW worked in consultation with Sport4All to design inclusive, suitable and high-quality sessions. The 45-minute program combined skills-based activities such as passing, shooting and movement with a modified game at the end. 

“We delivered a range of activities and skills, with sessions designed to be flexible to focus on what each participant could do, not what they couldn't,” Trish Crews, Executive General Manager Community at Netball NSW said. 

The activities included passing drills, where each participant had the opportunity to practice correct passing technique, with the support of additional coaches. 

“We used playful coaching cues to build a positive atmosphere where every student felt included and could enjoy a memorable experience.” 

To ensure the program was accessible to every participant, inclusive equipment from the Netball NSW All Abilities kit was used. This included balls that were lighter, soft-touch or had textured surfaces as well as bright yellow balls for students with vision impairment and balls with bells inside for those with hearing impairments. Sessions were also flexible in adapting to the facilities available, using both standard-height rings in school gymnasiums and modified, lowered netball rings where needed.  

“At the conclusion of each session, students took part in a modified netball game with relaxed rules and no fixed positions. Teams were identified by coloured bibs, and a simple ‘end zone’ format was used to encourage participation, fun and team spirit,” Ms Crews said. 

Winter Is Coming

The start of Term 2 always brings the colder weather. Can I please encourage all families to stock up on school winter uniforms including jumpers and jackets.  Remember to include your child’s name on all items. All students are asked to be in full Winter uniform for School Photos in Week 2.

School Photos

Craig Warner

Principal

From the Deputies

Kindergarten

Throughout Personal Development and Health, Kindergarten students are discovering who they are and how people grow and change, as well as identifying people and demonstrating protective strategies that help keep themselves healthy, resilient and safe. They are communicating ways to be caring, inclusive and respectful of others, and practising self-management skills in both familiar and unfamiliar situations. By learning essential safety skills and exploring personal strengths, students learn healthy hygiene routines, manage their emotions, and respond respectfully and thoughtfully to different scenarios, strengthening their interpersonal skills for lifelong wellbeing.  

Attendance Matters: Celebrating Term 1 Success and Looking Ahead to Term 2

As we conclude Term 1, we want to take a moment to recognise and celebrate the outstanding attendance of our students. We are proud to share that 83% of our students achieved an attendance rate of 90% or above this term. This is a fantastic effort, reflecting commitment and consistency in attending school.

As we look forward to Term 2, we encourage all students and families to maintain this positive trend, aiming to continue and even improve attendance rates. Regular attendance plays a crucial role in student learning and wellbeing, helping every child to thrive.

Term 2 commences on Wednesday 22 April, and we look forward to welcoming all students back ready for another successful term.

If at any time you have concerns or face challenges in ensuring your child attends school regularly, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can contact your child’s class teacher, the stage assistant principal, or one of our deputy principals. We are here to support you and your child in making attendance a priority.

Thank you for your ongoing support. 

School Stages

Early Stage 1 - Kindergarten

Stage 1 - Years 1 & 2

Stage 2 - Years 3 & 4

Stage 3 - Years 5 & 6

Student Absences

When submitting an absence for your child(ren) on School Bytes, please keep the following in mind:

• If your child will be absent for multiple school days, create a planned absence for multiple days.

• If your child is away due to illness or medical reasons, please attach a medical certificate or doctor's letter to every relevant absence.

• If your child has a partial absence (arriving late or leaving early), please do not submit a full day planned absence.

• If your child will be partially absent due to a medical appointment, please bring proof of the appointment (text/email reminder from medical centre, doctor's letter, etc.).

• If multiple days are specified on a medical certificate, your child must stay home for all days unless medical clearance has been provided and shown to the school.

• For extended leave, you do not need to contact the school prior to submitting it on School Bytes (Please ignore the automated message).

• If your child arrives late to school, your child must come to the office first to receive a late slip.

Parent Emails & Contacts

Throughout the school year, important information is sent out to all parents. To ensure that parents receive this information, it is imperative that parent email addresses, phone numbers and other contact details are correct in our system.

If you have recently changed any of your contact information (phone number, email, address, emergency contacts, etc.), you are asked to update your contact details via the School Bytes Parent Portal or to email the school. We also ask for parents to ensure your email inbox has space.

Thank you in advance for your preparation as we take the step in providing our families immediate access to digital information.

Premier's Spelling Bee

This year Stage 2 and Stage 3 students have the chance to participate in the Premier’s Spelling Bee. All students have been provided with a password to access the wordlists at home. The link for the wordlists can be accessed through the following links:

Junior wordlists:

• 2026 PSB junior annotated wordlist (PDF 1.03 MB)

• 2026 PSB junior alphabetical wordlist (PDF 484.58 KB)

• 2026 PSB junior alphabetical by category (PDF 489.36 KB)

Senior wordlists:

• 2026 PSB senior annotated wordlist (PDF 1.09 MB)

• 2026 PSB senior alphabetical wordlist (PDF 466.41 KB)

• 2026 PSB senior alphabetical by category (PDF 496.77 KB)

We look forward to stage finals being held in Term 2, with the finalists moving on to regional finals in Semester 2.

I continue to play games with students on Tuesdays on the artificial grass where we use skipping ropes, hula hoops, quoits, catching cups, walking cups, parachutes, and water games with sponges.

Last week we had Anita Fisher from Hills Community Aid at Balcombe Heights Estate, come to talk to parents at our second morning tea for the year. Anita was very informative about the courses they run , such as walking clubs, crochet, learning English, and painting. They also assist with financial aid, community food aid, youth programs and helping students with their homework club. I have some information on their services so if you missed our session but would like to know more, please drop in one morning on Mondays to Wednesdays and come and see me.

Our morning teas area a great opportunity to catch up with parents, strengthen our partnership and provide some important information in an informal way. Please watch out as we will be running 2 each term.

Information on the Family Fun Day by Hills Community Aid is below.

In ending, my hope for you is that you are able be present with each of your family members, enjoy time with them and not be distracted by the worries of the world. 

Deb Woon

Chaplain

P&C News

As Term 1 comes to a close, we wish all JRPS families a wonderful Easter and a relaxing school holiday break. We look forward to seeing everyone back for an exciting Term 2.

We’re also looking ahead to an exciting start to Term 2 — with our Mother’s Day Stall just around the corner and our next P&C meeting coming up early in the term.

Thank you to all families who have supported the P&C this term — we look forward to continuing to build a strong and connected school community together.

What’s Coming Up

As we head into Term 2, here are some of the upcoming events that create fun experiences and special memories for our students:

TERM 2

• Wednesday 6 May – Mother’s Day Stall

• Wednesday 1 July – Term 2 Disco

TERM 3

• Friday 14 August – Athletics Carnival Canteen

• Wednesday 2 September – Father’s Day Stall

TERM 4

• Thursday 29 October – Halloween Disco

• Friday 20 November – JRPS P&C Outdoor Movie Night

These events are often highlights for students throughout the year and help bring our school community together. Funds raised are an added bonus that support valuable initiatives across the school.

All events are dependent on volunteer support and may be adjusted if required.

Next P&C General Meeting

Our next P&C General Meeting will be held in Term 2.

Please note that due to the Anzac Day public holiday, the meeting normally scheduled for Week 2 has been moved to Week 3.

📅 Monday 4 May

⏰ 7.00pm (arrival from 6.45pm)

📍 JRPS Staffroom

All parents and carers are warmly invited to attend.

P&C meetings are a great opportunity to hear what’s coming up, ask questions, share ideas and understand how decisions are made to support our school and students.

If you are new to the school — or have never attended a P&C meeting before — this is a perfect time to come along.

Children are welcome if alternative arrangements can’t be made.

Mother’s Day Stall – Wednesday 6 May

Our Mother’s Day Stall will be held during school hours on Wednesday 6 May.

Students will visit the stall with their classes and will have the opportunity to purchase gifts for their mothers, grandmothers and special people in their lives.

Gifts will range from $1–$8, and students may like to bring a bag to hide their surprise gift. 

Each class will visit the stall at a time determined by the school. Students always love spotting their Mum, Dad or carers helping at school!

Volunteers Needed for Stall Day

We are also looking for parent volunteers to help run the stall on Wednesday 6 May.

Volunteers assist students with choosing gifts, help manage purchases, and support the stall so everything runs smoothly throughout the day for the students.

If you are available to help for part of the morning or afternoon, we would greatly appreciate your support. Even helping for a short shift during the day can make a big difference.

Please register your interest ASAP by scanning the volunteer QR code below or contacting the P&C via email volunteer@jasperroadpandc.org.

Stay Connected

📧 Email: info@jasperroadpandc.org

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Canteen

May we ask if you are paying cash for your child's order or sending spending money, where possible please send coins or smaller value notes. We have limited change available and struggle to change large notes of a morning.

Flexi Schools is a cashless option where canteen orders can be placed each day or even days/weeks in advance. This removes the worry of lost change or forgetting to hand in the order. Ordering can be done for any item on our menu including ice blocks.

If you have placed a recess order, please let your child/ren know to join the "Express Line" at the canteen to collect the order.

Lunch orders are delivered to the classroom, however, if you have ordered any of the following items, please ask your child/ren to collect them from the "Express Line" at the canteen:

• Noodles

• Ice Blocks

• Jelly

Changes or Enquiries for Canteen Orders

Should you need to change or cancel your child's canteen order, we kindly request that instead of contacting the canteen or school directly, please reach out to our Healthy Canteens Office, where multiple staff members are available to assist you promptly. Contacting the school or canteen can disrupt lunch preparation and experience delays in communication.

Contact Details:

• Office Phone: 02 9836 2270 or 0405 219 242

• Timing: Please make any changes before 10:30 am.

SMS Service: You may also use our SMS service to cancel an order. Simply text us with the following details:

• School Name

• Child's Name & Class

We will process the cancellation and send you a confirmation SMS.

Important Note: We regret we are unable to hold orders. Instead, cancelled orders will result in funds returning to your FlexiSchools account. This policy ensures clarity, especially in cases of delayed student returns or changes in onsite staff.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. By following these guidelines, we aim to enhance efficiency and minimise disruptions for all involved parties. Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Camp Australia

Community News