The Wrap @Appin

Term 4, Week 6

📅 Dates to Remember

Upcoming Events

The next assembly is Friday, 28 November 2025 in the School hall at 2.15pm. All welcome.

Cromer class will host this assembly.

Ambarvale High Schools' Orientation Day for Year 6 to 7

Ambarvale High School will be conducting an Orientation Day for students attending Ambarvale High School next year, on Tuesday, 2 December 2025.

Parents with students attending Ambarvale High, should have received information from the High School about the Orientation session. Please contact the High School for further information on Ph: 46271800. The day will run from 9:00am to 1:50pm. Parents are required to transport their own child to and from Ambarvale High.

📝Mrs Collins - Principal's Desk

Week 5 & 6 of Term 4

Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s hard to believe we are already at the Week 5/6 newsletter of Term 4, the weeks are racing by, and our school has been buzzing with activity. This time of year is always one of the busiest, and the energy across the classrooms, playground and events has been incredible. For our Year 6 students, the countdown has well and truly begun, with only four weeks of primary school remaining before they move on to the next exciting chapter of their learning journey. We are so proud of them and look forward to celebrating their final weeks at Appin PS.

Showcasing Excellence in HPGE

A huge thank you to Mrs Thomson and Mrs Earnshaw. This week we had the privilege of showcasing our Appin PS HPGE opportunities at the Campbelltown Performing Arts High School event. Both teachers generously gave up their own time after school, joining colleagues from within and beyond our network to celebrate quality High Potential & Gifted programs. They represented Appin PS with such pride, highlighting the creativity, collaboration, problem-solving and high-level thinking taking place in our STEM and Sphero groups. Their commitment to our students and their learning is deeply appreciated. Thank you both for everything you do.

Kindy 2026: Building Connections & Confidence

Our second Kindy Transition session was another great success. A big thank you to Mrs Mathers and the wonderful Kindergarten team for creating such a welcoming and calm environment for our newest learners. It was so lovely to meet our new parents, as well as many of our current families returning with younger siblings who will be joining us next year. The children enjoyed meeting their buddies, exploring the classrooms, and taking part in lots of fun activities. We’re already looking forward to our final transition session and the much-anticipated Teddy Bears’ Picnic!

Behaviour Expectations

As we move towards the end of the year, we are noticing that some students’ behaviour is beginning to slip. This is a busy and tiring time for many children, and it’s understandable that they may be feeling the impact of a long school year. We will continue to uphold our high expectations around being safe, respectful learners, and we kindly ask for your support at home in reinforcing these messages. Working together helps ensure all students can finish the year positively, calmly, and on a high.

School Upgrades: Carpet & ANZAC Garden

Many of our classroom carpets are beginning to look old and worn, and I’m pleased to share that I have met with our Assets Officer to plan upgrades. A number of classrooms will receive new carpet installations during the summer holidays, freshening up learning spaces ready for 2026. We are also hoping to upgrade our ANZAC Garden to create a more vibrant and respectful space for students and our community. I will keep you updated as this project progresses.

Organisation for 2026

In our next newsletter, we will share the teachers allocated to each stage for 2026. In partnership with the P&C, we will not be announcing individual class lists until the beginning of next year. This allows us to manage any unexpected enrolment changes over the summer break, which may require class reorganisation.

In Weeks 9 and 10, we will run Stage Opportunity Transitions, where students will spend time working with all the teachers on their stage in their stage groupings. This helps build familiarity, confidence and a sense of connection before formal classes are finalised. All 2026 classes will be organised as stage-based groupings.

If you know your child will not be returning to Appin PS in 2026, please inform the office as soon as possible, as this information is vital for planning. Likewise, if you know a family who is joining us next year, please encourage them to complete the online enrolment through the NSW DoE website.

NSW Public Schools Student Survey Results

This term, our students completed the NSW Public Schools Student Survey, and I am delighted to share our school’s results. As you can see from the graph, Appin PS scored above state averages in every area surveyed. I am particularly proud of our outstanding results in Sense of Belonging (92%) and Connectedness (90%). These scores reflect our students’ own perceptions and experiences at school, making the results especially meaningful. It is wonderful to see our learners reporting such positive feelings about being part of our Appin community.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Mrs Collins

NSW Public Schools Survey

Student voice at Appin Public School

🗂️ From the Executive Desks

🌟Ms Martin

Assistant Principal Curriculum & Instruction (Literacy & Numeracy)

Mrs. Partridge presented at the Kindergarten Transition program, giving our newest families a glimpse into how we teach early literacy and numeracy at Appin Public School. We explored the hands-on, talk-rich routines that build strong foundations in reading, writing and number sense, and shared a range of fantastic parent resources available on the NSW Department of Education website for families who would like to support learning at home.

Across the school, our teachers have also begun professional learning in a new assessment platform called Essential Assessment. This tool supports a consistent and aligned approach to assessing student growth over time. By using the same high-quality assessment system from Kindergarten to Year 6, we can track what students know, where they need to go next, and how to personalise teaching to support progress for every learner.

Parent Resource Spotlight

📖 Reading With Your Child (K–6)
Short videos and simple tips to support reading at home.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/translated-documents/reading-with-your-child-at-home

🧠 Helping Your Child With Literacy and Numeracy at Home
A practical guide full of activities, conversation prompts and everyday learning ideas.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/literacy-and-numeracy/resources-for-parents-and-carers/helping-your-child-with-literacy-and-numeracy-at-home

🔢 Numeracy – K–6 Teaching Strategies & Resources
Useful explanations and examples to support number sense, problem-solving and mathematical thinking.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/literacy-and-numeracy/teaching-and-learning-resources/numeracy

🐨 Mrs Hawkins

Assistant Principal Stage 3

Stage 3 (Year 5 & 6): The Countdown is On!

This fortnight, Stage 3 students are finalising their unit on The One and Only Ivan and are looking forward to a special session where we’ll watch the movie adaptation together. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect class discussions about the book’s themes with the film.

In mathematics, we’ve been exploring volume and were excited by a challenge to construct a 1 cubic metre cube out of newspaper—quite a big task! Students also had a fantastic time during STEMtastic Day, where they worked collaboratively to design and build propeller-fuelled cars. This activity really highlighted the importance of teamwork, communication, and determination.

Year 6 students are eagerly anticipating their upcoming Jamberoo excursion, farewell celebrations, and the public school orientation day as they prepare for high school. Meanwhile, Year 5 students continue to engage in the leadership process for 2026, with speech presentations just around the corner. They have also met their 2026 Kindergarten buddies and have been busy writing heartfelt letters to welcome them.

Keep an eye out for a sneak peek of something special that will be shared very soon!

Hart

Pike

Edwards

🐨Mrs Muntz

Assistant Principal Stage 2

Stage 2 (Year 2, 3 & 4)

This week in Stage 2 has been filled with fun, fabulous learning and exciting opportunities for students to build their skills across English and Mathematics.

English

In English, our focus has been on strengthening reading and comprehension skills. Students have been learning how to unpack a text, identify new vocabulary, and apply these new words in their own writing. We have also been working on responding to questions using evidence from the text, helping students become confident, thoughtful readers.

Our writing lessons have explored the features of Narrative and Persuasive texts.

In Narrative writing, students have practiced planning and structuring stories that truly engage an audience. They’ve been experimenting with exciting story starters, creating compelling complications, and crafting endings that either leave the reader wanting more or feeling wonderfully satisfied.
In Persuasive writing, students are learning how to express their opinions clearly by developing strong arguments supported by thoughtful reasoning to influence their audience.

Mathematics

In Mathematics, students have been exploring data collection and data displays. We have investigated a range of graphs, including column graphs, picture graphs, pie graphs, and line graphs. Students have enjoyed identifying how data is used in our everyday lives and understanding why it is important.

We have also begun learning about chance, discovering how probability influences outcomes in real-world situations. Students have had fun predicting and testing outcomes through hands-on activities.

Australian Museum Excursion

This week, our Year 3 and 4 students enjoyed an exciting and educational excursion to the Australian Museum. The day began with a wonderful learning session focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, where students discovered the significance of weaving and its role within community life. During the workshop, students had the opportunity to practice one of the weaving techniques and created their own woven bracelets to take home.

Following the session, students explored a variety of fascinating exhibits throughout the museum. We learned about animals from around the world, as well as the incredible dinosaurs that once roamed the Earth. A highlight for many was the captivating minerals gallery, where students observed a stunning collection of minerals found across Australia and learned about how they are formed and where they are discovered.

The excursion was a valuable and memorable experience that enriched students’ learning across multiple curriculum areas.

Rural Fire Services volunteers visit

What a fabulous community we have! This Friday, we were fortunate to welcome the Appin Rural Fire Service Volunteers to our school, along with their impressive fire truck. Students learned about the important role these volunteers play in keeping our community safe and discovered how the hose system and handheld water cans are used to put out fires.

Every student had the exciting opportunity to handle the hoses and experience firsthand some of the tasks our brave volunteers perform each day. It was a memorable and meaningful visit that helped students appreciate the dedication and hard work of our local RFS team.

We are incredibly grateful to the Appin RFS for giving their time to educate and inspire our students.

Learning in Mulga

Learning in Darling

Learning in Eva

Learning in Hall

🐨Mr Sylwestrzak

Assistant Principal Stage 1

STEM Challenge: Building a House

Students participated in a hands-on STEM challenge inspired by The Three Little Pigs. Using a variety of materials, they were tasked with designing and constructing a house that could withstand strong wind. This activity encouraged problem-solving, teamwork, and creative thinking, as students tested different designs and materials to find the most effective solution. Through trial and error, they explored engineering concepts such as stability, structure, and resilience, linking storytelling to practical STEM learning in a fun and engaging way.

Developing Narrative Skills

Students have been exploring the structure of a narrative by reading The Imaginer and The Magnificent Thing. Through these texts, they have been identifying key elements such as orientation, problem, events, and resolution. Activities encouraged students to think critically about how stories are built and to apply these ideas in their own writing. This focus is helping students develop stronger storytelling skills while fostering creativity and imagination.

Math in Action

Students have been exploring data collection and graph creation through hands-on activities. They collected information about fruit and food waste in the classroom, organized their findings, and represented the results in a variety of graphs, including pictographs and bar charts. This practical approach helped students visualise data, identify patterns, and develop problem-solving skills, while also promoting awareness about healthy eating and sustainability.

Learning in Smart

Learning in Sims

Learning in Kingston

Learning in Magee

🐨Mrs Mathers

Assistant Principal Early Stage 1

What's coming up for Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) this term?

In Creative Arts, our students have been enjoying drama lessons, exploring different characters and stories while developing their confidence and communication skills. In PDHPE, the focus has been on learning about making choices that help keep themselves safe. These important conversations are helping students understand how to make good decisions in everyday situations.

At the same time, our classrooms are buzzing with excitement as we busily prepare for the upcoming Appin Carols and Grand Friends Day. We are looking forward to sharing these special celebrations with our community and hope to see all our families and friends there to join in the fun and festivities.

Our Mathematics program has been focused on building a strong understanding of data and the days of the week while extending on their understanding of numbers. Students have been learning how to collect and interpret simple data, practise sequencing and recognising the days of the week, and develop their number knowledge through fun and hands-on activities.

We have had a focus on improving writing and drawing skills as part of our preparations for Year 1. We are thrilled to report tremendous growth in our students’ abilities, with many demonstrating increased confidence and creativity. To build on this progress, over the next four weeks, we will be concentrating on intensive handwriting lessons to further develop fine motor skills and letter formation.

We would like to let our families know that the preservice teachers have now completed their time in the Kindergarten classrooms. We appreciate all the support and enthusiasm they brought, which has greatly benefited our students’ learning experiences.

Recently, we welcomed our 2026 Kindergarten students for their second orientation day. It was wonderful to see them getting familiar with the school environment and routines. Our current Kindergarten students also enjoyed spending time once again with their Stage 3 buddies, building connections and friendships across the stages.

Thank you again to everyone for your continued support. Together, we are nurturing a love of learning and creativity in our Kindergarten students!

Learning in Cromer

Learning in McRae

Learning in Lacey

🖤❤️💛Aboriginal Education

PLP Goals and Celebration!

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have been working incredibly hard this term, continuing their academic goals while also deepening their cultural knowledge and pride. Each week, students have been engaging in meaningful learning experiences that strengthen their identity, confidence, and connection to culture.

We are excited to share that in Week 7, students will participate in a cultural dance workshop, providing them with an opportunity to learn traditional movements and stories alongside their peers. Later in the term, in Week 9, we will hold our Personalised Learning Pathway (PLP) celebrations. This special afternoon will showcase each student’s growth and achievements, both academically and culturally, with families invited to join us in recognising their progress.

We look forward to celebrating the hard work, leadership, and cultural journey of our students as we move through the term.

Eco Committee 🌿

The Eco Committee and SRC students were excited to welcome back Damion Stirling from Wollondilly Shire Council to help complete our remaining vegetable patches. It was fantastic to have the SRC join in, as they continue exploring ways to beautify our school and make it more sustainable. We had a lot more soil to lug around this time and it was great to see everyone working as a team. We have already had great success with our first vegetable patch. The tomato vines and lettuce bunches are growing at a rapid rate and it's only been a few weeks!

Damion was once again a wealth of knowledge and took time to teach our students effective methods for creating and maintaining a thriving vegetable garden at school or at home. We can’t wait to see what our refreshed garden beds produce!

🐨 Positive Behaviour for Learning

PBL Focus

(Week 7 & 8)

PBL Focus - SAFE

For Week 7 & 8, our PBL focus is “Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.” We are revisiting this school expectation due to a recent increase in incidents both in the classroom and the playground.

Classes will be reminded what safe and respectful behaviour looks like in different settings, including sharing spaces, moving around the school and playing fairly in the playground.

We encourage families to continue these important conversations at home. Discussing topics such as personal space, solving problems with words and seeking help from a trusted adult can support students to make positive choices at school.

PBL VIP Week 5

It is always wonderful to celebrate students who consistently go above and beyond to uphold our school values. In Week 5, Ella M was recognised with our K–2 PBL VIP Award. Ella always demonstrates a warm disposition and a positive attitude. She is respectful to both her peers and teachers across the school and always tries her best. She received multiple nominations from staff for this award, a true testament to her good nature. Congratulations Ella — you deserve it!

We look forward to announcing our 3–6 PBL VIP at the Week 8 Assembly.

Our PBL Students of the Week

From the Office

📌 Don't Forget

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. 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 child’s 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. If dropping off or picking up from OOSH, please use the OOSH gate provided. Thank you.

Lost Property

With our recent crisp cool mornings developing into warm sunny days, many students are taking off their jackets and discarding them wherever they are around our school and either forgetting to collect them or forgetting where they have left them. Please clearly label your child’s clothing or items they bring to school and replace these names when they wear off. 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. If you have any questions, or suggestions, please contact Mel on Mb: 0456 815160.

2026 Kindergarten Enrolments

Applications are now due for Kindergarten 2026. If your child turns 5 before July 31, 2026 they are eligible to start school next year. We would appreciate if our local area enrolments would submit their applications online as soon as possible. Please let your firends and neighbours know that the process for enrolment for next year is underway. To apply online, just go to the Appin Public School website:

https://appin-p.schools.nsw.gov.au and go to the Enrolment tab. Please find our list of 100 points of Residential ID required for all enrolments to be provided or emailed to our school office. Thank you.

🤝 P&C Power @ Appin

P & C Meeting

The next P & C Meeting is being held on Tuesday,

25th November at 6:30pm

in the School Staffroom.

All welcome!

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.

📬 Contact Us

appin-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/

Follow Appin Public School on Facebook for regular updates. While we encourage families to 'like' and engage with our posts, comments and direct messaging will be restricted.

Page updated

Report abuse