13 March 2025

Principal’s Report – Term 1 Week 7

This week saw the start of the NAPLAN testing for our year 3 & 5 students. It is always important to put these tests into perspective. It is one test on one day. Students should not be worried or concerned about these assessments as they are just a way to collect data and allocate funding for schools to support students in various areas.

Congratulations to all our students in the way they have approached these online assessments especially our year 3 students who are only just beginning to use computers for learning. The NAPLAN testing concludes on Friday 21 March.  If a student misses one of the tests due to sickness, they can catch up on the test on the Fridays for the next 2 weeks.

Harmony Day- Wednesday 19 March -“ Splash of Orange or Cultural dress”

Next week we will celebrate our cultural diversity in our classrooms and families for Harmony Week. We invite all students to come dressed in cultural dress or a “Splash of Orange” on Wednesday 19 March.  We have had to change the date of Harmony Day due to the NAPLAN testing timetable.

Zone Swimming Carnival- Wednesday 19 March

Our competitive swimmers will represent our school at the Zone swimming carnival next Wednesday 19 March.  Congratulations to all our swimmers on this wonderful achievement. We wish them every success next week. Thank you to Mrs Birrell and Mrs Ward for their organisation of the team and event. Good luck to all our competitors.

Class Coordinator Meeting- Thursday 13 March

Thank you to all the parents who have volunteered to be the class coordinators for their class. We had a meeting today for all the coordinators, to explain their role and hand over all the information, to set up the class email list. The class coordinators are the communication link between the P&C, school and class teachers. The email lists are used to communicate school and P&C events and assist parents with class organisation. If you did not attend the parent teacher evenings, please make sure that you have completed the email permission note so that you become a part of the class email list. Thanks Amy Hansen, for volunteering to be the class coordinator liaison for 2025.

P&C AGM- Tuesday 18 March 7.00pm

Next Tuesday we will have our P&C AGM. If you wish to vote or stand for election for any of the following P&C executive positions, please make sure you have paid your gold coin donation to the office before Tuesday. The following positions are up for re-election:

1. President- Runs meeting and guides the directions of the P & C. Liaises with school principal to support the directions of the school.
2. Vice Presidents (2) – able to stand in when President is absent and assist with meetings and organisation.
3. Treasurer- Manages the finance of the P & C.
4. Secretary- takes meeting minutes and handles all P & C correspondence

We look forward to the outcome of these elections next Tuesday evening 7.00pm in the staffroom.

Band Meeting- Tuesday 11 March

Last Tuesday we had a very productive band meeting. The band tour is in the process of being booked and organised for the senior band. Information regarding the tour will come out later this term.

Welcome to all our new parents who have joined the band program. With Ruimei Zhang our current treasurer leaving the band at the end of the year, we are looking for someone with a business or accounting background, to shadow her this year to transition into the treasurer role next year. If you are interested in this position, please contact the school office or your band contact:

Junior Band- Kaisa Nieminen
Intermediate band- Emma Joseph
Senior Band- Maura Magee

Tutors - If your child is still without a tutor for this year, please email the conductors Ben Dickson or Surrey Hodges to assist you in finding a tutor. A new tutor list will be emailed out this week.

Band Fees - Band fees will be sent out later this term. The band fees cover the conductors’ salaries and expenses related to the operation of the Band program. This program is an extra-curricular activity and not funded by government funding. Please make sure that band fees are paid promptly each term.

Canteen

Students are increasingly coming to the office/canteen for lunch vouchers for forgotten lunches. As we continue to grow these requests are becoming very time consuming for staff.

Please be more vigilant in ensuring your child has morning tea and lunch. If your child is issued with morning tea/lunch, please ensure you reimburse the canteen via IOU in flexischools. This will enable this service to continue.

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.

Surf Ed Excursion- Year 6

On Monday, our year 6 students had a blast learning essential water safety skills at Manly! We were so lucky to have the weather on our side. With a mix of fun drills and hands-on practice, they explored key safety techniques while enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. They learned how to recognise rips and strong currents, as well as mastering swimming survival skills like floating and treading water. A big thank you to the wonderful year 6 teachers for organising this excursion and providing such a memorable experience for the students!

Kindergarten Science

This term in kindergarten science we have been exploring different materials. In this lesson, we investigated waterproof and absorbent materials through engaging hands-on experiments. First, we built shelters for our LEGO animals and tested which materials kept them dry. Then we explored how absorbent materials soak up water by dipping sponges into water, watching them fill up and then squeezing them to release the liquid. We also used water to reveal hidden pictures we drew on paper towels, seeing how absorbent materials absorb water while waterproof ones repel it. It was an exciting way to learn through investigation and discovery.

Mrs Sorensen, ES1 Science Teacher

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Class Managers 2025

Congratulations to the Year 6 students who will be SRC Class Managers for 2025 assisting the K-2 students during SRC meetings this year. Badges were handed out at the first SRC meeting last Friday.

Harmony Day - Everyone Belongs

This Harmony Week we are coming together to support the Asylum Seekers Centre with the gift of digital connection. If you have an old device at home that is still in working order, but you are not using anymore, you may like to give it a new life with the Asylum Seekers Centre.

From their website: https://asylumseekerscentre.org.au/how-you-can-help/donate-a-device/ 

People seeking asylum in Sydney do not receive government income support, and can struggle to access mobile phones and computers. You can help by donating your second-hand laptops, tablets and phones. Your donation can help someone to study, look for work, contact family and deal with government agencies and organisations.

We accept the following devices in working condition:

• Laptops: up to 7 years old
• Macbooks: up to 9 years old
• Tablets: up to 7 years old
• Phones: up to 7 years old
• iPhones – iPhone 6 or newer, reset (how to check your iPhone model)
• iPads – iPad 5 or newer, reset (how to check your iPad model + here is a list of iPads we accept)
• Mice, headphones, webcams and chargers (spare chargers are always welcome)

We don’t need:

• Printers
• Desktop computers
• Screens (under 27 inch)
• Keyboards, calculators, Kindles, cameras, TVs, cables, software, modems
• Software CDs
• Manuals or boxes

Devices must be erased and reset and find my iPhone disabled. For more information on how to do this please see the link above.

We will organise to complete the forms and drop your devices into the centre. If you would like to donate an old device in working order please drop it off to the school office. Please note that any devices that the centre will not accept will be recycled appropriately for you. If you do not wish for this to happen, please label your old device with your child’s name and class and we will organise for it to be returned to you.

Your Chance to Make Magic Happen at Manly Vale Public School!

Ever wondered how to make a difference at our school while having an absolute blast? We have cracked the code! Through years of trial and error, we have discovered the perfect recipe for successful fundraisers: maximum fun for kids, fantastic social opportunities for parents, and brilliant returns with minimal volunteer effort. How good is that?

P&C Events for 2025

We know you are juggling a million things (we are too!), so we have made it super simple. Each grade is delegated one fundraiser event they are responsible for running during the year. Here's what's coming up:

• Mother's Day Stall (allocated to kindy!)
  Friday 9 May - Help make mums feel extra special!
• Skip-a-thon (allocated to Yr 6)
  Watch our champions skip their way to fundraising success!
• Athletics Carnival Cupcake Stall (allocated to Yr 5)
  Because who doesn't love cupcakes with their sport?
• Father's Day Breakfast (Yrs 1 & 2 Team Up!)
  Friday 5 September - Start Father’s Day with a smile!
• The Legendary Parent Social Night (Yrs 3 & 4 Join Forces!)
  Our famous Trivia Night held late term 3 or early term 4 - where parents become stars!

Trivia Night Dream Team Needed!

Calling all year 3 & 4 parents! We are on the hunt for a Trivia Night leader (or dynamic duo) to lead this beloved event. Do not worry if you're not Australia's Next Top Event Planner - if you can wrangle a team and keep things running smoothly, you're perfect for the role!

Why You'll Love Being Involved:

• Make new friends (the best kind - they help at school events!)
• Create amazing memories
• Be part of something bigger than yourself
• Show your kids what community spirit looks like

 Want to Help?

Got the leadership bug? Email us about heading up the Trivia Night

• Want to do more than your year's event? We'd love to hear from you!
• Every little bit helps - there's no contribution too small

Ready to jump in? Drop us a line at mvpspandccommunication@gmail.com

Together, we can make this year incredible for our kids!

MVPS P&C Committee

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.

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! 🌟

Library News

Crafty March – Wool/ Yarn Needed

This month in the library we are holding Crafty March. During lunchtimes students in Years 1 – 6 are welcome to visit the library during the second half of lunch on their usual nominated days.

For the next 2 weeks we will be making pom poms. We will provide a limited amount of 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.

Ali Webster – Teacher Librarian

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 NSW Buses 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.

School Travel Passes

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.
Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use .

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

Canteen

New Menu Items

The Canteen will be trialling some new menu items over the next few weeks (our first trial item is an extra mild butter chicken). If you would like to provide a review to us of the new items, please have your kids hand write a review and hand it in to the canteen at recess or lunch. Please include the date you tried the item and the name of the item.

You may be lucky enough to receive a free item from the canteen for providing a review.

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

School Information