Term 1 Week 2

Principal's Report

Welcome back Vardys Road... and welcome to another exciting year!

We hope that you had an enjoyable festive season and were gifted some valuable time with your family.

Vardys has certainly had a busy holiday with a new veranda being built in the lower playground, our field being rejuvenated, fencing being installed, a new pathway to the back gate constructed and some trees removed (one by a storm).

...and all the rooms are prepared for the kids moving into their new classes.

The teachers have also worked hard in the holidays and on the School Development Days, spending many, many hours, preparing comprehensive and explicit units of work to deliver an engaging curriculum that maximises student involvement and success... we thank you for your patience during the last four days to allow this to happen.

Our Staff

This afternoon your kids will race home, full of excitement, brimming with news of their new friends, class and teacher.

Of course, there will be some who will view these changes with trepidation.

Parents and carers are asked to guide these conversations with their kids to encourage them to embrace these transitions. Obviously concerns can be discussed with the class teachers or Assistant Principals, but a slow and reasoned approach to the occasional tears, can often allow children the time to see the logic behind a specific class placement.

For more details of the Vardys team in 2025, please peruse the staff list below.

VARDYS ROAD PUBLIC SCHOOL – Staff List 2025 (Term 1)

2025 CLASSES

Some Important Dates, Days and Routines

With the new year we are running some different programs that necessitate some changes to some traditional routines.

Please find some important snippets of information that may get you over the line while we wait for 'Meet The Teacher Night' in Week 5, where the school and class structures will be unpacked in more detail.

• Homework will start in:
  • Week 3 for Stage 1
  • Week 4 for Stages 2 and 3
  • Week 6 for Kindergarten
  • Week 4 for Support Unit
    
• Sports uniform will need to be worn on Fridays for Kindergarten, the Support Unit, Stage 2 and Stage 3, Stage 1 will be wearing their sport uniform on Wednesdays.
• Special Religious Education and Special Ethics in Education programs will commence in Week 5 for Stages 1-3 and in Term 2 for Kindergarten
• Interschool Sport will take the form of two gala days in Term 1, focusing on the sports of Cricket, League Tag, Netball and AFL. Weekly interschool sport will recommence in Term 2
• Information will soon be sent home re the Zone Team Sporting Trials
• Some of the Extra Curricula activities being explored for this year include:
  • Band
  • Kindergarten Dance (Semester 2)
  • Stage 1 Dance
  • Stage 2 Dance
  • Stage 3 Dance
  • Stage 1 Choir (Semester 2)
  • Stage 2 Choir
  • Stage 3 Choir
  • Stage 3 Drama
  • Craft Group

• NAPLAN will once again be administered in Term 1

Morning Farewells

For a number of years we have followed the policy that parents/carers are welcome on school grounds in the afternoon to pick up their children, but in the morning children are farewelled at the school gates.

This routine has vastly improved separation anxiety related issues and has given the teachers uninterrupted lesson preparation time.

Of course there are times that parents/carers need to visit the office or specific children have an individualised transition plan, that require parents/carers to come on site, but the quick hug and kiss at the morning  gate  has significantly improved the start of the day for many and we thank the community for continuing to honour this routine.

Selective High School and Opportunity Class Applications Reminders

The application process for Selective High Schools and Opportunity Classes has changed. Applications will soon be closed, so please read the emails sent home outlining the process and the summaries below:

Selective High Schools

Selective High Schools cater for high-achieving, academically gifted students. These schools help gifted and talented students learn by grouping them together and teaching them in specialised ways. Offers for placement at Selective High Schools in 2027 will be determined by the Selective High School Placement Test, which students sit in Year 6. The test will be held between 2nd - 4th May 2025.

Applications open on 7th November 2024. Registration is essential and must be completed online by 21st February 2025 here.

Further information regarding Selective High Schools is available online here:

Opportunity Class

Opportunity Classes are for high potential and gifted students in Years 5 and 6. They are offered in a number of public primary schools across NSW.

How do I know if it is the right fit for my child?

Does your child:

• enjoy learning
• have intense curiosity
• display a good memory
• ask complex questions
• require fewer repetitions when learning new things
• display creative ways of thinking
• become intensely focused in their area of interest or passion?

If some of these sound like your child, an opportunity class or selective high school might be a good fit.

How do I apply?

Parents apply during the application period online here.

The application period for 2026 entry is from 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025.

We look forward to a great 2025!

Ian Short 
Principal

From the Office

We are ready for another PHENOMENAL school year at Vardys Road Public School!

We look forward to seeing you all in the near future!

Mrs Catalanotto, Mrs Anderson, Miss Costa & Mrs Alonso

2025 Canteen Menu

Flexischools

Welcome back to another exciting school year!  

The team at Flexischools hopes the school holidays have given you a chance to rest and recharge, and we’d love to see 2025 be the year you take advantage of your Flexischools account to help bring some time-saving convenience to your family’s school routine. 

Whether it's ordering lunch, replacing a(nother) lost hat, or taking part in a school fundraiser, Flexischools is here to simplify the everyday tasks and help keep your school days running smoothly. 

Tips for a smooth start: 

• Update Your Child’s Details: it looks like you haven’t used your Flexischools account for a while, so once you know your child’s new class for 2025, take a moment to update their details in your Flexischools account. This will ensure that any orders go to the right place.  While you’re updating their details, make sure your payment details are current too, so you don’t have to worry about this when you’re trying to place an order on a busy school morning. 
• Order in Advance: You can use Flexischools to help you plan ahead, by ordering lunch or making payments for upcoming events or fundraisers (without having to hunt around for cash) helping you save time and hassle during the busy school mornings. 
• Explore Our Features: Flexischools offers plenty of great features designed to save you time. From automatic topping up of your parent wallet, to placing multiple orders in one go, we’d love you to take full advantage of everything Flexischools has to offer this year. 

We look forward to supporting you and your family in 2025, and we’re here to help if you have any questions. 

You can contact our parent support team on 1300 361 769 Monday to Friday from 7am to 12pm, via live-chat or submit a support ticket here and the team will get back to you. 

Here’s to a wonderful 2025 school year!

Australian Girls Choir Open Day

Look no further than the Australian Girls Choir (AGC) because we encourage, challenge and inspire girls as they learn to sing, dance and perform. School aged girls are invited to come along to our February Open Day to try our fun and inclusive classes and learn more about being part of the AGC! Please visit our website to register to attend our free Open Day: ausgirlschoir.com.au/joinagc

P&C News

Uniform Shop

Super Saturday afternoon session - Saturday 8^th February 2025 from  2:00pm – 4:00pm

Starting 6th February 2025 the Uniform Shop will be open at the following times:

• Monday mornings between 8:30am -9:30am
• Tuesdays afternoons between 2:15 – 3:15pm
  
• Thursday mornings between 9:00am - 10:00am
• Friday afternoons between 2:20pm and 3:20pm

Extra Summer Term 1 evening session- Tuesday 11^th February 2025 from  3:00pm – 6:00pm

P&C Meetings

Our next meeting will be held in Week 4 of Term 1 in 2025, and you are most welcome to attend, whether or not you are a member. Our AGM will be held in Week 8 of Term 1, 2025.

We love welcoming new members, or welcoming back old ones, so if you’ve been meaning to join or rejoin we’d love to have you! Send through your membership form or get in touch with any questions via email: team@vrpspc.org.au , or check out our website: https://www.vrpspc.org.au for further information. 

Lunch Box Ideas

Thought of the Week