6 March 2025

Principal’s Report – Term 1 Week 6

Another busy week this week with a wonderful parent workshop on Monday evening followed by the band welcome afternoon on Tuesday. Thank you, Mrs Abrahams, for presenting to kindergarten parents on how to assist your child with reading at home. Thank you to all the parents that attended the session. We hope you found it valuable.

The Best Start assessment results will be emailed to all Kindergarten parents next Monday 10 March.

P&C – AGM Tuesday 18 March

Our current executives are standing down for their positions until the AGM.

These positions will be all declared vacant at the AGM and members are able to nominate and elect new people to fill these positions. If you wish to become a member of the P&C, please fill in an application at the front office and pay a gold coin donation. The descriptions for the various roles are also available in the office.

Thank you to our outgoing committee:
President- Mr Chris Nicholls
Vice President- Mr John Gillings and Mr Matt Lutze
Treasurer- Mr Peter Weatherston and Mr Ian Warren
Secretary: Ms Xara Roznerski

Band 2025

Last Tuesday we had a welcome afternoon tea for our band students and parents. Thank you to all who attending. Our new committee has been elected and are looking forward to an exciting year ahead. Our first band meeting for the year is next Tuesday 11 March at 6.00pm in the school staffroom. All welcome.

Band Committee 2025

President - Beth Fitzgerald
Secretary - May Delaney
Treasurer - Ruimei Zhang
Senior Band Liaison - Maura McGee
Intermediate Band Liaison - Emma Joseph
Junior Band Liaison - Kaisa Nieminen
Band Camp Organiser - Kaisa Nieminen
Fundraising Organiser – Sara Helm
Instrument Custodian - Cath Adelbert 
Junior Band Teacher – Ms Alisha Tamone
Intermediate and Senior Band Teacher- Mrs Hannah Taylor

SRC Meeting- Friday 7 March – 9.10am- Hall

This Friday we will have our first SRC meeting for the year. Classes 6T, 4W and 2S are guest classes this week. Parents are welcome to attend the meeting. There are no assemblies this Friday.

Class Coordinators 2025

Thank you to all the parents who volunteered to be the Class Coordinator for their child’s class this year. We had a great response from all parents. This is such a vital role in our school community as it is the main communication link between teachers, P&C and parents. Thank you to following parents who will be our Class Coordinators for this year. We will have an induction and information afternoon next Thursday 13 March at 2.30pm, in the staffroom. Teachers will be in contact with their coordinators this week.

Canteen Closures

Becky in our canteen does an amazing job in ensuring our canteen runs efficiently and smoothly. We really appreciate all she does in providing such a valuable service to our community. Unfortunately, we have been unable to find a replacement person to step in when Becky is unable to attend the canteen. The P & C will be looking into reviewing and advertising this position next term, for future succession planning.

In the meantime, if Becky is absent, we will have to close the canteen and it may be at short notice. Please make sure you have your notifications turned on and read emails and the school newsletter, so you are aware when the canteen must close.

If you are interested in finding out more about the role or volunteering to assist in the canteen please email, Becky on:
manlyvalepscanteen@gmail.com

Harmony Week- 17 March – 21 March- Everyone Belongs

In week 8 of this term all students in Manly Vale Public School will take part in lessons that encourage us all to appreciate our differences and similarities, promote inclusiveness, and show mutual respect, regardless of race, colour, religion, or background.

Harmony Day - Thursday 20 March- “Splash of Orange” or Cultural Dress

Our students will celebrate the variety of cultural backgrounds we all have and will be encouraged to come dressed in traditional cultural costume representing their family heritage on Thursday 20 March. A “Splash of Orange” representing Harmony Day is an alternative to coming fully dressed in cultural costume.

Surf Education - Years 5 and 6

Next week our senior students will go to the beach to attend surf education lessons with qualified surf lifesavers. Year 6 will attend on Monday 10 March and year 5 on Thursday 13 March. This excursion does require a payment for buses and coaches. Permission notes have been emailed this week.

 Neurodiverse Community Group

At Manly Vale Public School, we believe in the power of inclusion and the strength that comes from embracing diversity in all its forms. Creating an inclusive environment for our neurodiverse community is not just important — it is essential for the success of every student.

Neurodiversity enriches our school community by bringing a wide range of perspectives, talents, and strengths. Each child, regardless of how they experience the world, has unique abilities that contribute to the vibrant and dynamic environment we strive to foster. It is our responsibility to ensure that all students feel valued, understood, and supported in their learning journey.

Established in 2023, the P&C established a Neurodiverse Support Group for our parents and carers which is a thriving community of live experiences, valuable sharing and resources. The founder and coordinator of this group is Skye Abernethy. If you wish to join the group, email Skye on teamabernethy@gmail.com 

Please see the flyer below for more information.

Parent resources:

Tina Lee – Principal

Dates for your Diary

PSSA Training & Games

Please be ready to meet your coach at the below time and venue. Hats and drink bottles are compulsory.

High School Information for Year 6 Parents

As mentioned at the Stage 3 Parent Information Evening earlier this week, all Year 6 parents are required to complete an online enrolment form by Friday 28 March (week 9).

This indicates your preference of NSW Government High School. If you intend to send your child to a Catholic or Private school, there is a section on the form to indicate this decision.

Information regarding Academic and Gifted and Talented placement applications at local high schools such as Mackellar Girls, Balgowlah Boys and The Forest High school can be found on the school’s websites.

MACKELLAR GIRLS

BALGOWLAH BOYS

THE FOREST HIGH

NSW Government High School’s Year 6 Orientation Day takes place on Tuesday 2 December 2025.

Parents are advised to regularly check the local high school’s websites throughout the year.

School Photo Day

School Photo Day – Wednesday 9 April

A friendly reminder that School Photo Day is coming up in Week 11 on Wednesday, 9 April.

Photo order envelopes have been sent home with students this week.

Parents can place orders online via Advancedlife.com.au using our unique school code, P2B 27Y HEW. Online ordering is the easiest way to ensure a smooth process on the day, however envelopes can be returned to the office prior to the day. 

Thank you for your support! 🌟

School Bus Service – Data Collection

Manly Vale Public School has been selected to take part in a data collection campaign for Transport NSW Buses. The campaign has been created to collect a more accurate account of the number of students who use the school bus service.  Student Opal Card usage does not always reflect the number of opal cards allocated to each school.  This campaign is a trial to see whether an advertising campaign in conjunction with bus drivers manually counting students who board the bus, will provide more accurate data to inform planning, funding requirements and efficient processes.

During the campaign there will be a representative from Transport at our school who will have a small number of flyers to distribute where appropriate. Their main function will be to manually count students.  Collecting accurate data and supporting students to use their Opal Card, will inform future planning for bus service allocations. 

The campaign will start on Monday 23 February and conclude at the end of March.  During this time Transport will waive the $10.00 Opal Card replacement fee for lost or damaged cards.

Catchment for High Schools 2026/2027

Following comprehensive community consultation, changes to school offerings and school intake areas are being implemented in the Northern Beaches from 2026/2027.

Under the revised intake area boundaries, all families will have guaranteed access to a co-educational high school.

The updates provide improved alignment between primary schools and high schools, enabling more students to move from primary school to high school with their peers.

The alignment of intake areas is a high priority for the Department because it promotes student and community cohesion through the transition to secondary schooling.

From 2026, all students living within the 2026 Manly Vale Public School intake area will be designated to The Forest High School as their guaranteed co-educational option. These students will have an additional guaranteed option to enrol at either Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls or Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys campuses, if single-sex schooling is preferred.

However, some families who enrolled at Manly Vale Public School under the existing 2025 intake area, may find themselves zoned to a different high school intake area (Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer or Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater campuses) from 2026/2027.

To support all students at Manly Vale Public School to transition to high school with their peers, the department is implementing a temporary out-of-area allowance for these families.

The allowance applies to families of Manly Vale Public School students whose address has been designated to NBSC Cromer or NBSC Freshwater, under the 2026/2027 intake area plan.

These families will be able to make an out-of-area application to one of the Manly Vale Public School aligned high schools (NBSC Balgowlah Boys, NBSC Mackellar Girls or The Forest High School) which will be accepted.

The allowance will be in place from 2026 until all the Manly Vale Public School 2025 kindergarten cohort transitions to Year 7 (expected to be in 2032).

These measures ensure all students who enrolled locally at Manly Vale Public School, as per the current intake area, can transition to high school with their peers.

Library News

Crafty March

This month in the library we are holding Crafty March. During lunchtimes over the next 2 weeks, we will be getting crafty and making friendship bracelets. Students are welcome to visit the library during the second half of lunch on their nominated days:

If you are interested in completing some crafty projects at home, you can find craft books located at the 745 Dewey area in the non-fiction section of our library.

After we have mastered friendship bracelets we will be making pom poms. We will provide some basic yarn/ wool but would welcome any donations of unused yarn that you have at home. Alternatively, your child might like to bring in a special wool or yarn to be used on their own pom pom.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is an annual initiative that aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.

All students at Manly Vale Public School will be encouraged and supported to complete the challenge. It’s fun, free and inspires students to read a wide variety of quality books.

Infants Students (K-2) will be completing the challenge entirely at school. Students will read 30 quality PRC books during library lessons throughout the year. They will receive a participation certificate at the end of the year. 

Primary Students (3-6) wishing to complete the challenge are expected to do so independently, with support available from library staff as needed. Students need to read 20 PRC books and enter them into the PRC website by the closing date, Friday 22 August, to qualify for a certificate at the end of the year.

Reading lists and general rules can be found on the PRC website at 

Please see the information note sent home this week for further information.

Happy reading!

Ali Webster - Teacher Librarian

Canteen

PSSA Orders on Fridays

Please only order through the RECESS section if your child attends PSSA. They are not at school to collect their orders at lunch. We have made lots of the hot foods available to order so there is a great selection to choose from.

Placing a flexischools lunch order

Please make sure you select the correct date for your lunch order and check that you get a confirmation email that the order has been placed. Remember to order by 8.50am or use the late order section up until 10.00am

Got an allergy?

If your child has an allergy, please make sure to let the canteen know ahead of time so we have a record of it. Do not forget to tick the allergy alert button when making an order so that we can take extra care when preparing your child's food.

Sign up to help at the canteen

Volunteering at the canteen is a great opportunity to see your kids. Please sign up for a shift to help out. 

Please consider completing this short food safety course if you will be making sandwiches and toasties with us. Once you have completed the course don't forget to send us a copy of your certificate. 

Birthday orders

Order your birthday frozen treats through the birthday treats section on Flexischools by 1.00pm the day before. 

Flexischools Ordering

If you are having trouble ordering or need help with your account you can call Flexischools on 1300 361 769 or submit a question online.

Got a question? or need to get in touch

Feel free to contact the canteen on email manlyvalepscanteen@gmail.com

Becky McGowan – Canteen Manager

Community Notices

Mosman Youth Awards in Literature

School Information