Swimming Carnival 2026 - Tuesday 17th February
Our swimming carnival for 2026 is being held on Tuesday, 17th February. Students from Yrs 3-6 are expected to attend on the buses that have been organised.
If your child is in Year 2, but turning 8 years old in 2026 and is a competitive swimmer they are invited to attend the carnival. If you would like your Yr 2 child to attend, please contact the office in Week 1 to ensure a permission note is sent to you.
Online permission notes with all the details will be emailed home in Week 1 next year.Ā Please assist us by returning these notes as soon as possible so that numbers can be confirmed. Payments will be added to your statement of accounts in 2026.
There is no need to do anything at this stage. This is just to give you notice of the date of the carnival. Parents are welcome to attend.
Week 10 - Presentation Day Principal's Address
Before we begin today, I would like to acknowledge the recent tragedy in Bondi. Our thoughts are with the families, friends and communities affected. Moments like these remind us how deeply connected we all are, and how important it is that our schools remain places of safety, care and belonging for every child and family.
In that same spirit, I would like to share that our school has been successful in obtaining a grant to embark on an Anti-Racism Action Project in 2026. As our school continues to grow and welcome new families, this work will support us to strengthen understanding, celebrate diversity and ensure Appin Public School remains a safe, inclusive and respectful place for everyone.
I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge what a truly wonderful, supportive and inclusive community Appin Public School is. As we grow and diversify, we embrace change and value the richness that diversity brings to our school community.
This year has been such an adventure for me, and I genuinely mean that. It is the first of what I hope will be many years here at Appin Public School. From my very first day, I have been made to feel welcomed, supported and included by our students, staff and families. It has been an incredible year filled with achievements, opportunities and moments I am incredibly proud of.
One of our key focuses this year has been strengthening student voice and leadership. We established our Student Representative Council and expanded our student leadership profile through minister portfolios. This work has been so successful that it has led to the introduction of an additional portfolio for our 2026 student leadership cabinet.
We relaunched our school newsletter to better showcase student voice and celebrate achievements in a more interactive way, while also sharing our leadership vision and the important work of our executive team in line with our School Excellence Plan. We also launched our Instagram page and have worked collaboratively to raise the profile of Appin Public School. This work will continue into 2026, including plans to modernise our signage and enhance the overall look and feel of our school.
Our students have excelled across so many areas this year. In sport, academics, debating, chess, public speaking, visual arts, dance, drama, science and STEM, they have embraced opportunities and challenged themselves. We opened our Ninja course and became part of the summer PSSA competition. Our students achieved success at zone, regional and state levels, and even placed within the top five on the world stage in Sphero robotics, an outstanding achievement.
Alongside this, we have shared so many special moments together through incursions, excursions, camp, Hoopla Day, discos, Carols, special assemblies and the Appin Wheels Festival. These experiences are what build connection and create lasting memories for our students.
We have also continued to strengthen transitions across all stages of schooling. We have worked closely with Ambarvale High School to support our Year 6 students as they prepare for high school, and we have built strong partnerships with our local preschools to ensure our youngest learners experience a smooth and positive start to school. Our Kindergarten students have now completed their very first year of school, a wonderful milestone for them and their families.
At the same time, we say goodbye to our Year 6 students as they embark on their next adventure. We are so proud of the young people they have become and wish them every success as they move into the next chapter of their learning.
I would like to sincerely acknowledge our P&C. While small, they are certainly mighty. The work they do to ensure opportunities are funded and costs are kept to a minimum for families is extraordinary. We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated group who work so closely with the school and always have the best interests of our students at heart.
Our Aboriginal program has continued to go from strength to strength. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have proudly shared their cultural learning and growth and celebrated their heritage through their portfolios. This remains a priority for our school, and we look forward to continuing this important work in 2026.
None of this would be possible without our teachers. I can honestly say I have never worked with such a wonderful, committed, caring and fun group of educators. I would also like to acknowledge our executive team, who support me and work tirelessly to drive the school forward. Every member of our staff shares a clear vision and a genuine commitment to improving our school each and every day.
I also want to recognise our support staff and administrative team, who are an absolutely crucial part of everything we do here.
At this point, I would like to ask all of our staff to please stand, and I ask everyone to join me in giving them a well-deserved round of applause. I truly love coming to work, I love working with our students, and I value what every staff member brings to make Appin Public School the success that it is.
To our families and students, thank you for such a wonderful year. Enjoy this precious time together, take care of one another, and I look forward to doing it all again in 2026.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and thank you . Ā
Mrs Collins
We would like to share some important information about our class structures for the upcoming school year, particularly the use of composite classes.Ā
This familiar and well-established model in the primary years allows us to thoughtfully balance enrolment numbers, make optimal use of our experienced teaching staff and resources, and create dynamic classrooms that effectively support the diverse learning styles, strengths, and abilities of every student.
Our classes are structured using a stage-based model (Year 1/2, Year 3/4 and Year 5/6), which aligns with how the NSW syllabus is designed.Ā
There are a number of benefits to stage classes, including:Ā
NSW curriculum syllabus outcomes are designed to be taught and achieved over two-years, not a single year level. Stage-based classes align directly with how the curriculum is written and assessed.
Teaching within a stage allows teachers to differentiate learning effectively, extending students who are ready while providing targeted support where needed, without limiting students to year-level expectations.
Stage classes provide greater flexibility for academic extension, particularly for high-potential and gifted students, while also supporting strong foundations for all learners.
Students benefit socially from learning within a broader peer group, supporting leadership opportunities, collaboration, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.
Teachers use a range of strategies, including flexible grouping, targeted instruction, and enrichment tasks, to ensure each student is both supported and challenged.
Class structures are formed thoughtfully, with careful consideration given to student wellbeing, friendships, learning needs, and social development.
This approach supports consistency across the school and allows us to avoid cross-stage classes, ensuring clear learning pathways for all students.
We are confident that, through this approach, every child will receive a high-quality, enriched educational experience tailored to their strengths and needs.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.Ā
š«What we loved in 2025 Stage 3š«
HartĀ
Pike
Edwards
š«What we loved in 2025 Stage 2š«
MulgaĀ
DarlingĀ
EvaĀ
Hall
š«What we loved in 2025 Stage 1š«
SmartĀ
Sims
Kingston
Magee
š«What we loved in 2025 Kindergartenš«
Cromer
McRae
Lacey
Our PBL Students of the Week
From the Office
Student Numbers for 2026
If your child/ren are not returning to Appin School next year, can you please advise the office as soon as possible. If you are aware of any families that have not yet enrolled their children, please ask them to contact the school as soon as possible. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
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.Ā 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 childās attendance, please contact the school on 46 311 220.
Just a reminder that there is absolutely no parking or pedestrian access through our staff car park at any time.Ā If dropping off or picking up from OOSH, please use the OOSH gate provided.Ā Thank you.
Lost Property
Please clearly label your childās clothing or items they bring to school and replace these names when they wear off. Ā 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.
Canteen Online Ordering
Mel's Lunchbox provides lunch orders with Spriggy Schools Online Ordering App.Ā If you have any questions, or suggestions, please contact Mel onĀ Ā Ā Mb: 0456 815160.Ā
Applications are now due for Kindergarten 2026.Ā If your child turns 5 before July 31, 2026 they are eligible to start school next year.Ā We would appreciate if our local area enrolments would submit their applications online as soon as possible.Ā Please let your firends and neighbours know that the process for enrolment for next year is underway.Ā To apply online, just go to the Appin Public School website:
https://appin-p.schools.nsw.gov.au and go to the Enrolment tab.Ā Please find our list of 100 points of Residential ID required for all enrolments to be provided or emailed to our school office.Ā Thank you.
P & C Uniform Shop New Year Open Days
The P&C will be opening the Uniform Shop on the following days:
Ā Thursday, 29th January, 2026 - 8:30am-10:00am
Ā Friday, 30th January, 2026 - 3:00pm-5:00pm
P & C Annual General MeetingĀ
10 February at 6:30pm in the School Staff Room (Demountable beside carpark)
All positions on the P & C Committee will be declared vacant and it would be great to have all positions filled on the night. The positions to be filled are: President, Secretary, Treasurer, Fundraising & Uniform Shop. Everyone is welcome to come even if you donāt want to fill a position, you just may want to become a voting member for $1.00. 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. The P & C meet on aĀ Tuesday of Week 3 and Week 8 at 6:30 pm in the school staffroom. 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!
P & C Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop is open every Monday, from 8:30am to 9:30am.Ā The Uniform Shop has Eftpos available for payments, as well as cash.Ā 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.Ā Full cash payment must accompany orders left at the office, or pay cash on pickup of online order.Ā Prices subject to change, depending upon suppliers.Ā
Follow Appin Public School on Facebook for regular updates.Ā While we encourage families to 'like' and engage with our posts, comments and direct messaging will be restricted.Ā