14 March 2025

Zooper Dooper Friday!

Each Friday this term the P&C will be holding a fund-raising event. Zooper Doopers will be on sale at the end of the day from 3pm to 3:15pm for $1 each. This will take place on the basketball court.

Cross Country

Our Cross Country Carnival will be held on Wednesday, 2 April 2025 for students from Year 2 (turning 8 years old this year) to Year 6.  This is a normal school day, and all students are expected to attend. All children will participate unless they have a medical certificate.

Parents are asked to complete the permission slip on the note and return to your child’s class teacher before Wednesday, 26 March 2025.

Children will be walking with their class to the venue.

Please wear school sports uniform and appropriate footwear or House colours.

Meehan- Blue
Macquarie- Red
Moore- Yellow
Thompson- Green

If you child has asthma, please ensure they bring their medication with them on the day. Also bring a hat, water and sunscreen.

Animals on the school ground

We understand that many of our families are animal lovers. However, please note that under the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW, Section 14), animals are prohibited on school grounds unless the principal grants permission.

We thank you for your understanding with this.

Mufti Day & P&C Easter Raffle

This term we are supporting the P&C Easter raffle to raise funds to purchase additional resources for classroom use.

We will be holding a mufti day on Monday 17 March to support this event. Students are asked to come out of uniform and bring a chocolate Easter Egg or rabbit and/or GOLD COIN donation. The Easter Eggs and gold coin will be put towards the Easter Raffle.

Attached to this note is a sheet of 20 Easter raffle tickets. These can be purchased by families and friends for $1 each ticket. Completed tickets and money collected to be returned to the school office by Tuesday 8 April.

The raffle will be drawn on Thursday 10 April at the P-2 Easter Hat Parade.

Cultural Group

Last week, students in the cultural group had the chance to learn about rainsticks, a traditional instrument used by Aboriginal people to call for rain. These instruments mimic the sound of rain and were historically used in ceremonies to encourage rainfall. Students also had the opportunity to make their own rainsticks, connecting with the tradition in a fun and hands-on way. It was a great way for students to engage with Indigenous culture and experience the art and symbolism behind this tradition.

Harmony Day & World Down Syndrome Day

This year Busby West Public School will celebrate Harmony Day and World Down Syndrome Day on Friday, 21st March 2025. Students will be participating in a photography competition taking photos to represent the idea of diversity and Harmony Week / World Down Syndrome Day activities. The photographs will be on display during Harmony Day in the hall for a gallery walk. Parents and families are welcome to attend the gallery walk from 2:30pm. Students are encouraged to wear orange or cultural dress and silly colourful socks. 

Jellybeans Music

This year we have continued to provide expert tuition in music by employing specialist teachers. This term Year 1 and 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.

NAPLAN

As children progress through their school years, it is very important that checks are made along the way to see how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and mathematics – skills that will set them upon the path to success as adults.

NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment that allows parents and carers to see how their child is progressing in literacy and numeracy against the national standard and compared with their peers throughout Australia. At the classroom level, NAPLAN provides additional information to support teachers’ professional judgement about student progress.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are tested on the fundamental literacy and numeracy skills that every child needs to succeed in school and beyond. NAPLAN is a national, consistent measure to determine whether or not students are meeting important educational outcomes.

Students in Year 3 and Year 5 will sit their NAPLAN assessments from Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March. These assessments will be completed online.

The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure your child that NAPLAN tests are just one part of their school program:

• Encourage your child to simply do the best they can on the day
• Ensure your child arrives to school on time, that is before 9am each day
• Avoid excessive cramming or coaching in the lead-up to NAPLAN
• Speak to your child’s teacher if you have questions about how you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN.

Moving into Year 7 Expression of Interest

The Moving into Year 7 in a NSW Government school expression of interest process has started and must be completed by Friday the 28^th of March, 2025.

Expressions of interest can be completed online by visiting the Busby West Public School Website and clicking on the ENROLMENT tab, scrolling down to the Moving to high school section and clicking on moving to high school, then scrolling down to Apply for Year 7 placement in a NSW Government high school in 2026, then clicking on Start expression of interest to complete the expression of interest process.

If you do not have access to a device or the internet and require a paper copy, please come to the office and collect the Moving into Year 7 booklet form.

If you require assistance complete the expression of interest form, please contact the front office.

K-2 Home Reading Program

This week our K-2 ‘Home Reading’ program will be commencing.

This program aims to strengthen students’ confidence and enjoyment in reading. For this reason, you will notice a range of texts sent home across the year. These texts should be appropriate for your child to read independently, to successfully practise their reading skills.

‘Home Reading’ folders will be handed out each week on a Friday. They are to be returned each Thursday for the next few weeks and then we will move to returning on a Friday. Teachers will inform you on Class Dojo when this happens.

Please read with your child and keep track of their reading at home, by filling in and signing the reading log each week.

If you would like more information on how to help your child further with their home reading – please speak to your child’s teacher.

Thank you for supporting our ‘Home Reading’ program and helping your child to develop a lifelong love of reading!

ANZAC DAY

Busby West Public School Anzac Day assembly will be held on Friday 11th April at 10:30am in the school hall. Families and community members are welcome to attend this assembly.

Western Sydney Wanderers Soccer Program

We are lucky to have The Western Sydney Wanderers running football clinics for students in Stage 2 and Stage 3 throughout term 1. The clinic is at no charge to the school or students. The aim of the clinics is to increase student participation in sport and encouraging them to have a healthy and active lifestyle. What a wonderful opportunity for our students!

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.

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.

2025 Canteen Menu

This year we welcomed our new canteen providers Fresh 4 Kids. Please click for the new canteen menu for 2025. Orders can be placed at the canteen each morning from 8:30am. Please note that they only accept cash and eftpos payments at the canteen on the day of order. Lunch orders need to be placed by 9:10am.

Dates to keep in mind