Week 7 & 8 of Term 1
This edition is proudly all things 3â6⌠and what a fantastic start our primary students have made. I am so proud of the learning, leadership and growing independence I am seeing across our Stage 2 and Stage 3 classrooms. It has been wonderful visiting classes and seeing students engaged in deeper thinking, collaboration and challenge. I have particularly enjoyed seeing our students step into leadership opportunities with confidence and pride, setting a positive example for others. There is a strong sense of responsibility and ownership of learning, and it is clear that our 3â6 students are embracing every opportunity to grow and succeed.
Student Voice in Action: Reimagining Our Sport Houses
We are incredibly proud of our students and the thoughtful leadership they have shown in reimagining our sports house names. Through our Student Representative Council, students engaged in rich discussions, undertook research, and presented their ideas to their peers before a whole-school vote determined the final outcome. This process reflects our strong commitment to student voice, choice and influence, ensuring our students play an active role in shaping our school culture.
The chosen names, Eddie Mabo, Jessica Mauboy, Cathy Freeman and Adam Goodes, recognise Aboriginal people who have made a significant impact in areas of justice, sport, the arts and leadership. Eddie Maboâs advocacy led to the historic recognition of Native Title in Australia, reshaping the nationâs understanding of land ownership and Indigenous rights. Cathy Freeman united the nation through her Olympic achievements and continues to champion opportunities and education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Adam Goodes has been a powerful advocate for equality, using his platform to challenge racism and promote respect and inclusion across Australia. Jessica Mauboy continues to inspire young people through her music and her work with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, supporting access to education, storytelling and opportunities for children in remote communities.
Together, these figures represent courage, excellence and a deep commitment to culture and community, providing meaningful and inspiring role models for our students.
We acknowledge that this change has prompted conversation within our community. An email has been shared with families to provide further context and address any questions. As always, we value respectful communication and the important role we all play in modelling this for our students.
While the final selection may not reflect every individual preference, it is a decision made by our students, for our students, following a considered and inclusive process. We are excited to see the pride, ownership and sense of belonging this brings to our school community.
This is student voice in action, and something we are incredibly proud of at Appin Public School.
Celebrating Culture, Inclusion and Unity
Our recent Multicultural Assembly and Harmony Day celebrations were a truly wonderful reflection of the rich cultural diversity within our school community. It was a vibrant and meaningful day where students and staff came together to celebrate inclusion, respect and belonging. We extend our sincere thanks to Mrs Paxton and her committee for their outstanding organisation of this special event. We are also incredibly grateful to Thomas Acres Public School and Campbelltown Performing Arts High School for sharing their talented performances with us, as well as our own Aboriginal Culture Group, who performed with pride and authenticity. A special thank you to Mr Hennessey and Miss Papa for their dedication in supporting and guiding our students. The day was a powerful celebration of unity, where every student was seen, valued and celebrated, a true reflection of the inclusive culture we are so proud of at Appin Public School.
Student Voice Driving Opportunities in Sport
It has been fantastic to see the success of our new participation in the Summer Gala Days, with our Years 3â6 students thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to represent our school. This initiative is a direct result of student voice, following a motion passed last year at Student Parliament where students expressed a desire for increased sporting opportunities at Appin Public School. It has been wonderful to see this feedback translated into meaningful action, with high levels of enthusiasm, teamwork and school pride evident at each event. Importantly, we have also ensured inclusive options are available for all students, with those who choose not to participate in Gala Days remaining at school and engaging in a range of alternative activities. This approach reflects our commitment to providing opportunities that support the diverse interests and needs of all students.
Building Expectations Through Student Leadership
Our PBL Matrix Day was a great success, with our student leaders playing an active role in supporting and guiding their peers. Through a series of engaging activities, students explored the expectations across different areas of the school, building a shared understanding of what it means to be safe, respectful learners. It was wonderful to see our leaders step confidently into these roles, modelling expectations and supporting a positive and consistent approach to wellbeing across the school.
Upcoming Parent Check-In Conversations
Over the next two weeks, every parent and carer will receive a check-in phone call from their childâs class teacher. This is a valuable opportunity to celebrate your childâs achievements and discuss their learning and wellbeing, as well as raise any questions or concerns you may have. If we are unable to reach you, a message will be left where possible, inviting you to return the call at a time that suits you. If there is no option to leave a message, teachers will make further attempts to connect. We kindly ask that, if contact has not been made, you call the school before the end of term so we can arrange a suitable time to speak.
Looking Ahead and Celebrating the Term
Our final newsletter for the term will be created by our senior students and will showcase class highlights, including coverage of the Camden Show. It has been a wonderful term of learning, growth and connection. Thank you to our families for your ongoing support, we are incredibly fortunate to be part of such a strong and supportive community, working together to ensure the best outcomes for our students.
Have a wonderful week everyone.Â
Mrs Collins.Â
Harmony Day cultural dress with Mrs Collins and Ms MartinÂ
Harmony Day Cultural dress with Mrs Collins
This term has been a busy and productive one across Years 3â6, with students and teachers engaging in some wonderful learning opportunities.
A highlight of the past few weeks has been NAPLAN, with our Year 3 and Year 5 students approaching the assessments with focus and resilience. We are incredibly proud of the way students prepared themselves, showed persistence and gave their best effort during each test. While NAPLAN provides us with one snapshot of student learning, it also supports teachers in identifying strengths and areas for growth so we can continue to tailor teaching to meet the needs of every learner.
Behind the scenes, our Stage 2 and Stage 3 teachers have also been engaging in professional learning focused on mathematics, particularly developing studentsâ multiplicative thinking. This area of mathematics supports students to move from basic counting strategies to deeper understanding of groups, arrays, factors and scaling. These are the foundations for more complex concepts such as fractions, ratios and problem solving. Teachers have been working together to explore effective strategies, share classroom practices and design learning experiences that help students think flexibly about numbers.
Part of this work has included co-teaching and collaborative planning, where teachers work alongside the APCI in classrooms to trial new strategies and reflect on student learning together. These opportunities allow us to see learning in action, analyse student thinking and continually refine our teaching practices.
It has been fantastic to see students becoming more confident mathematicians as they explore different ways to solve problems, explain their thinking and make connections between ideas.
We look forward to continuing this work throughout the year as we build strong mathematical understanding and support every student to develop as a capable and confident learner.
Year 5 NAPLAN
Multiplicative Number Talks
Equal groups
Flying Fox Class has had a busy and engaging term full of learning across all areas. In English, students have been exploring the structure of narratives through our class novel Fantastic Mr Fox, developing their understanding of characters, setting, and plot. Connecting with our class name, students have also been researching the Grey-Headed Flying Fox and learning how to structure an information report, including key features such as headings, facts, and clear organisation.
NAPLAN has now concluded, and we would like to wish all students who participated the very best as they await their results. We are proud of the effort and resilience shown throughout the process.
In Mathematics, students have been strengthening their number skills with a strong focus on question comprehension. They are learning how to break down problems, identify key information, and apply appropriate strategies to develop a deeper understanding and confidence in their problem-solving abilities.
The wonderful Wallaby class have had a fantastic start to the term, engaging enthusiastically in a wide range of learning experiences.Â
In English, we have been enjoying reading Fantastic Mr Fox and exploring the structure of narratives. Students have been learning how authors use a variety of literary techniques such as sizzling starts, onomatopoeia, descriptive language and dialogue to capture the readerâs attention and build excitement. They have been applying these skills in their own writing, creating imaginative and detailed narratives that show growing confidence and creativity.
In Mathematics, Wallaby class have been marvelous mathematicians. Students have been focusing on developing strong number knowledge and efficient problem-solving skills. Students have been learning to read, write, and represent 4-digit numbers in different ways, deepening their understanding of place value. They have also been exploring a range of strategies to add and subtract numbers efficiently. In addition, students have been building their multiplicative thinking by using different strategies to solve multiplication problems and to explain their mathematical thinking.
Wallaby class has also been excelling in creative areas, particularly in Art as well as role play during English lessons. Students have embraced opportunities to express themselves through imaginative activities, bringing characters and stories to life with enthusiasm and confidence. It has been wonderful to see their teamwork, creativity, and engagement shine across all areas of learning. I am excited to continue watching all students in Wallaby class shine and grow throughout the year.Â
Dingo class has had an amazing start to the year, with everyone fully engaging and actively participating.
In Maths, we have been exploring how to think like mathematicians through our daily number sense activities, with a focus on developing multiplicative thinking. We have also been consolidating our understanding of place value and building our knowledge of measurement.
In Dingoes, we have also been studying Fantastic Mr Fox, where we have been exploring the structure and literary techniques of narratives. Students have also been writing their own sequel to the story.
We have also enjoyed Gala Days, where students have had the opportunity to showcase and further develop their skills in their chosen sport while competing against other schools.Â
It has been a truly awesome start to 2026! Our Echidnas have been busy settling in to their new classroom and routines, and getting to know their classmates.Â
The term started off with a bang, as we got straight into our learning and preparing Year 3 students for NAPLAN. We have been studying Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl, exploring the structure of a narrative and are now writing our own sequels to the text. We also created cute farm and fox artworks to complement our understanding of the book which have made our classroom look beautiful.
I have been so impressed by their skills in Maths. We have explored place value, addition and subtraction strategies, and now measurement. We have focused on 'showing our thinking' through daily problems.
Echidna class have also loved learning in the other Key Learning Areas with Mrs Earnshaw, Mr Pereira, Mrs Mathers and Mrs Thomson. A highlight has been designing and planning for a wombat sanctuary through their learning in STEM with Mrs Thomson.
We have had a fantastic start to the year in 5/6 Kangaroo, with all students settling in well and demonstrating a positive attitude towards their learning.
In literacy, students have been working hard studying our class novel Storm Boy. Throughout this unit, students have been learning how to create engaging narratives, with a particular focus on generating creative ideas by âthinking outside the boxâ. It has been wonderful to see students experimenting with their writing and developing stories that capture the readerâs attention.
In mathematics, students have been developing their understanding of large numbers by identifying, representing and manipulating numbers into the billions. We have also been exploring decimals into the thousandths and applying this knowledge to solve real-world problems involving decimals and money, with a focus on estimating and rounding to assist them in finding their answer.
Over the past two weeks, our Year 5 students have completed their NAPLAN assessments. They approached these assessments with a positive mindset and worked hard to demonstrate their learning. We look forward to receiving their results and celebrating their efforts.
Students have also had the opportunity to participate in a leadership incursion that focused on building teamwork, communication and leadership skills. In addition, we have been completing our buddy sessions once a week. Our Stage 3 students have been thriving in these sessions, showing great leadership as they support and guide the younger students.
Finally, several students have been excelling in the sporting arena, representing both the school and our zone at the recent swimming carnival. We are incredibly proud of their achievements, with a number of students being selected in zone representative sporting teams.
This term has been a rich and rewarding one in Stage 3, with students engaging in a wide range of learning experiences across all key areas. In English, our class has been immersed in descriptive writing, using Storm Boy as a mentor text to explore how powerful vocabulary can create vivid imagery, build emotion and draw a reader into the world of a story. Students have worked hard to strengthen their sentence structure, word choice and ability to âshow, not tell,â and it has been wonderful to see their confidence and creativity grow.
In Mathematics, students have been consolidating their understanding of whole number, addition and subtraction and length. Alongside explicit teaching and problem-solving tasks, students have also enjoyed a range of fun and engaging maths games that have helped reinforce key concepts in an enjoyable and practical way. Their enthusiasm and willingness to challenge themselves has been pleasing to see.
In PDHPE, students have been learning about safety, with important discussions around making responsible decisions and understanding how to keep themselves and others safe in different contexts. Beyond the classroom, students have also continued to benefit from a range of specialist programs. With Mrs Earnshaw, students have been developing their skills and creativity in Music and Art. With Mrs Mathers, they have been exploring Geography, including learning how to use digital maps to investigate places and spaces. In STEM and Science & Technology with Mrs Thomson, students have been thinking critically, solving problems and engaging with hands-on learning.
There have also been many highlights throughout the term. Our recent assembly item, centred on the power of words, was a standout moment and showcased both student talent and the important messages we have been exploring in class. Our newly elected SRC representatives have already begun leading with maturity and purpose, while Imogen has been busily carrying out her ministerial duties with great commitment. Students have also enjoyed the many sporting opportunities on offer each week, including our talented swimmers proudly representing the school at the Zone PSSA Swimming Championships.
Another highlight has been students working to elevate student voice through the development of our Parliament motion. Throughout all of these opportunities, students have been encouraged to focus on being respectful, responsible and intentional in building a strong reputation around the school and beyond. As our senior students and leaders, they are continuing to grow in maturity and set an important example for others.
5/6 Gecko have had a fantastic start to the year, engaging in a range of exciting learning experiences. In Mathematics, students have been deepening their understanding of place value and decimals. In English, we have been exploring narrative writing through our class novel Storm Boy by Colin Thiele. Students have also enjoyed connecting with their Kindergarten buddies, developing their rhythm and teamwork skills through drumming sessions and incursions. Â
In Mathematics, the Geckos have been developing their understanding of whole numbers, with a focus on addition and subtraction. Students have been working hard to justify their thinking and demonstrate a deep understanding of number concepts.Â
Over the past two weeks, our Year 5 students have completed their NAPLAN assessments. They approached these with a positive attitude and demonstrated persistence and effort throughout.Â
Students have also participated in a leadership incursion focused on developing teamwork, communication and leadership skills. Additionally, weekly buddy sessions have continued, with Stage 3 students demonstrating excellent leadership as they support and guide younger peers.
PBL Matrix DayÂ
On Tuesday 10th of March, students took part in our first PBL Matrix Day, a whole-school initiative designed to explicitly teach and reinforce our expectations across all areas of the school.
Throughout the day, students rotated through a range of key locations including the classroom, playground, COLA, library, canteen, toilets, sandpit, technology spaces and school entry points. At each station students explored what it means to be Safe, Respectful and a Learner, using real-life scenarios to identify unsafe or disrespectful behaviours, discuss possible outcomes and determine the appropriate choices they should make.
A highlight of the day was the outstanding leadership shown by our Stage 3 students. These students took on the responsibility of running each station, confidently speaking in front of groups and guiding younger students through meaningful discussions. They modelled expected behaviours, asked thoughtful questions and supported students to think critically about their actions.
We are incredibly proud of the way our Stage 3 students stepped up as leaders within our school community!Â
PBL Fortnightly Focus: During weeks 9 and 10 of this term, our whole-school PBL fortnightly focus will be staying safe in the playground, with a focus on wearing our school hats. Students will participate in explicit teaching and discussions about the importance of wearing school hats - to be safe on the playground. These lessons help students clearly understand the expectations of our school and build a positive and safe play environment for everyone. Please ensure your child has an Appin Public School hat in their bags each day.
Attendance
Attendance Matters â A Great Start to the Term
We are pleased to see a continued focus on excellent attendance across our classesâwell done to all students and families for prioritising being at school each day. Regular attendance plays a vital role in student learning, wellbeing, and overall success.
A friendly reminder to all parents and carers to please respond promptly to any communication sent via School Bytes. Ensuring that all student absences are explained in a timely manner helps us keep accurate records and meet our attendance requirements. Thank you for your ongoing support.
A huge congratulations to Kookaburra, who have recorded the best attendance this term so far, with a whopping 98.3%! We are incredibly proud of your commitment and effort.Â
From the Office
Updating School
It is very important that we have up to date and correct contact details for our students. If you have a new home address, mobile phone number or email address, please contact our school office to update these details as soon as possible.
Unexplained Absences
Please remember that the NSW Education Act requires that all student absences must be explained within 7 days of the first day of them being away from school. Please contact us promptly whenever your child is absent and let us know the reason for them being away.
A text message will be sent home each day the student has an unexplained absence. Parents have 7 days to reply on the parent portal or contact the school, otherwise unexplained absences become unjustified.
If you have any questions or if you need support with your childâs attendance, please contact the school on 46 311 220.
Canteen Online Ordering
Mel's Lunchbox provides lunch orders with Spriggy Schools Online Ordering App. If you have any questions, or suggestions, please contact Mel on   Mb: 0456 815160.Â
Just a reminder that there is absolutely no parking or pedestrian access through our staff car park at any time. If dropping off or picking up from OOSH, please use the OOSH gate provided. Thank you.
Lost Property
Please clearly label your childâs clothing or items they bring to school and replace these names when they wear off. Â Please also ask at the front office for any valuable lost items such as watches, glasses, jewellery etc. At the end of the term, we will donate any unclaimed items to the Uniform Shop or to a charity.
P & C Meeting
Our next P&C Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 5th May at 6:30pm in the School Staffroom. Everyone is welcome to come. Even if you are new to our school, or have never been before, please come along and see how the P & C contribute to our children. It is a great way to get involved in ways to help our school, meet new people and to be informed of things coming up. Hope to see you there! All welcome!
NB: Â P & C Meetings will take place in Week 3, and a change to Week 8 each term, on a Tuesday at 6:30pm in the School Staffroom.
P & C Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop is open every Monday, from 8:30am to 9:30am. The Uniform Shop has Eftpos available for payments, as well as cash. Online order form at https://form.jotform/212808469354867 - or scan the QR Code.
Orders will be filled when the shop is open on Monday mornings and left at office for pickup, or given to child if paid by credit card. Full cash payment must accompany orders left at the office, or pay cash on pickup of online order. Prices subject to change, depending upon suppliers.Â
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