24 October 2025

Welcome Back to Term 4!

Welcome back to our returning students and families, and a special welcome to those who have joined our school recently! Our school has committed, purposeful, and challenging learning programs and environments that develop the skills needed for the students to become independent life-long learners. We look forward to a very busy and exciting term!

Stage 3 Leadership 2026

Students in Year 5 will receive a note outlining the selection process for the Stage 3 Leadership Program 2026. It is a great honour to be considered for such a role.  The note outlines the leadership opportunities, criteria and expectations for your child to be considered. Students will be required to complete a nomination form and provide a short statement explaining why they are a suitable candidate. This needs to be signed by the student and their parent/caregiver.

Year 6 BECOME Flipped Expo

Stage 3 have been hard at work during Term 3 to get their BECOME Flipped Expo presentation ready for this term!

Year 6 parents and carers are invited to come along to the school hall on Wednesday 29 October to celebrate the student’s hard work!

The event will have two components:

1:00 – 2:00pm: Parent workshop- with Joyce Choucair Head Teacher Careers; Educational Pathways Program and Iman Al Arab from the University of Wollongong Liverpool. A catered lunch will be provided.

2:00pm - 2:45pm: BECOME Flipped Expo- Year 6 Parents and carers will have the opportunity to walk around and view students’ presentations, ask questions and celebrate students’ hard work.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

‘Pitching in for Flynn’ Update

Flynn had an awesome experience representing Australia in two Baseball Tournaments held in America, where he played 12 games against strong international competition across 2 weeks.

While the first game was challenging, having to adjust to the new conditions and nerves, Flynn quickly settled in and began playing some outstanding baseball, playing as shortstop and catcher. He made several great plays and showed great awareness and teamwork throughout the tournaments.

Flynn received coaching not only from the Australian coaching staff but also from the American coaches. He took it all in, making the most of every opportunity to learn and improve his game. It was a fantastic learning experience and helped him grow as a player and a teammate.

Flynn's efforts didn't go unnoticed, he was named Player of the Match twice by the umpires, receiving the Match Ball on both occasions. To top of an amazing two weeks, Flynn was awarded the Most Consistent Player at the end of the tournament, recognising his steady performance, positive attitude and team spirit throughout the competition.

While the team didn't bring home a medal, Flynn brought home a lifetime of memories! Thank you to everyone who helped 'Pitch in for Flynn!'

Message from Flynn;

I want to say a big thank you to everyone at Busby West Public School and the community for helping me get to America. Thank you for your donations and for all of your support. A special thank you to Mrs Bourke, Mrs Huckstepp, Mrs Selby, and Mr Marsland for all the effort they put into making this experience possible. I really appreciate it. I played hard and I had so much fun. I hope I made you all proud!

Jellybeans Music Term 4

This year we have continued to provide expert tuition in music by employing specialist teachers. In Term 4, Stage 2 will participate in music on Thursdays. The costs for these programs are covered by the school to ensure all students can attend. This year we request families contribute $10 each time your child participates in a program.

Personal Items

We kindly ask that students leave personal items and equipment at home. This will ensure that student belongings are not lost or become damaged while at school. This includes basketball, soccer balls, footballs, dolls and toys. The school will be providing balls and equipment for students to play with during recess and lunch.

We thank you for your support and understanding with this.

Preschool 2026

We are now taking preschool enrolments for 2026. Children who turn four years of age before 31 July 2026 and intend to start school in 2026 are eligible to enrol. Please contact the school office for information.

Kindergarten 2026

Our school is taking enrolments for Kindergarten students for 2026. A child is eligible to start school if they turn five years old by 31 July 2026. All children must be attending school by their sixth birthday. We will be having Kindergarten Orientation meetings early in Term 4. This is an opportunity for our 2026 Kindergarten students to become familiar with school and a chance for us to get to know them. Parents are required to stay at school during these times and participate in information sessions to assist a smooth transition into school. Please contact the school office for an enrolment form.

Kindergarten Orientation

Our Kindergarten Orientation program commences on Friday 31 October with a Teddys Bears’ Picnic. This is a great way for our Kinder 2026 children to meet their teachers, some new friends and get to know about the school. We look forward to welcoming our Kinder 2026 children and families.

Students arriving late

We have noticed an increasing number of students arriving at school after the 9:00 am bell.

As a reminder, our school operates from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and it is crucial for students to be present at school by 8:55 am to ensure they are settled and ready for the day ahead.

Here are some steps that families can use to ensure they arrive at school before 8:55am;

Students who arrive late are missing out on essential morning routines to set them up for a successful day of learning.

Students who arrive after the 9am school bell will need to be bought to the office by a parent to obtain a late note. This ensures that they have arrived at school safely.

Thank you for supporting us to ensure all students have the opportunity to reach their maximum learning potential and be an attendance HERO.

Communicating with you

We need to be able to connect with all families. Please use the Busby West Facebook page or the Sentral Parent Portal to keep up to date with notes, information and provide reasons for your child’s absences. Classes are also using ClassDojo.

Attendance

It is very important for children to develop habits of arriving on time at an early age, beginning from the time they start school. School starts promptly at 9:00am. All students are expected to be at school and in class from 9:00am to 3:00pm each day.

Please remind your child that they must go straight to their designated area when they arrive. Gates open at 8:30am each day. A couple of minutes here and there doesn’t seem like much but every minute counts!

All students are required to provide an explanation for absences on the day they return to school. Alternatively, you can send your child’s teacher a message on Class Dojo, or lodge an absent form via the SENTRAL Parent Portal App. If your child is absent for more than three days, they will require a medical certificate upon their return.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance, please contact the office.

Indigenous Shirts - Now Available!

In 2023 we introduced our new Indigenous Shirts which were voted for by our school community. If you would like an additional shirt they are now available to purchase from the front office for $27.00 each. 

School Gates

To ensure the safety of our students and visitors attending the school, we keep our school grounds secure outside of supervised hours and during learning time.

Our school gates open from 8:30am in the morning for students to arrive to school. Our gates open again at 2:45pm for you to collect your child in the afternoon.

Preschool families can collect their children prior to the gates opening in the afternoon, but they will be required to ring the bell at the gate.

If you wish to pick your child up prior to 3:00pm, please speak with the office staff and they will arrange for your child to meet you at the office.

Community Noticeboard

Dates to keep in mind