Term 3 Week 1

Principal's Report

Welcome back everyone.

We are hoping the break gave you time to spend with your family and friends.

The two weeks certainly gave the kids a circuit- breaker for their health. With so much sickness at the end of last term, hopefully most of us are returning with a clean bill of health.

With events such as 100 Days of Kindergarten celebrations, Orienteering, Book Fairs, Education Week (Open Day is on Tuesday 5^th August), Book Week, Camp and Support Unit Swim Scheme all fast approaching... we need us all to be fit and healthy.

Playgroup

The playgroup will finally open its doors once again in Week 4.

Parents/Carers who have expressed an interest in attending will be contacted shortly with details and those interested in signing up can do so by clicking the following link.

Attendance

Not only does good attendance improve learning, but allows the children to learn some all-important life skills.

So remember, that while a day off here and there or arriving late to school appears to be harmless, the next infographic clearly paints a different picture.

While we always need the kids to be home when they are sick (especially in the current ebbs and flows of RSV, whooping cough and influenza), the aim is always around 95% days at school.

Learning and behaviour are routines... and routines are best learnt when at school, with their peers and part of meticulously planned lessons.

Education Week

As mentioned above, our Open Day will be happening on Tuesday August 5 and will consist of an assembly showcasing performances by some of our extra-curricular groups, a visit to the Book Fair, classroom visits with your child and the opportunity to share in a picnic morning tea with your child in our beautiful school grounds.

Date: Tuesday 5th August 2025

Schedule of events:

Assembly: 9:15am-10:15am in the Hall

Classroom Visits: 10:20am-11:00am

Picnic recess: 11:00am-11:30am

Please bring a picnic blanket and morning tea for yourself and your child

Book Fair: in the library, opening times:

Monday - 8:30am-9:00am and 3:00pm-3:30pm

Tuesday - 8:30am-9:00am, directly after the Open Day Assembly and 3:00pm-3:30pm

Wednesday - 8:30am-9:00am and 3:00pm-3:30pm

Book Fair Information:

This year we are using Larrikin House to supply our Book Fair. We have listened to feedback from previous Book Fairs and believe this company will provide a cheaper and wider range of interesting books.

Payment options include: cash, EFTPOS or online. Prices range from $5-$30. Students will not be able to use the EFTPOS machine to pay if the card has someone else’s name on it.

Online orders can be shipped directly to your home. However, you need to type in our school name on your order so that the company knows it is part of the Book Fair. Please check our school Facebook page for a video explaining how to do an online order. All purchases help our school raise money for the library.

Blacktown Festival of Performing Arts

Every year, we send a large contingent of students to the Blacktown Festival of Performing Arts to showcase their talents and shine a light on the product of all their efforts at rehearsals and practises over the year.

This year we will be sending students from our Stage 2 Choir, Band, Stage 3 Dance and Senior Drama.

If you have received a note about this opportunity, can I remind you that tickets will go on sale next week... more information can be found below.

Behaviour Management Plan - Anti Racism Procedures

Another string in our behaviour management bow involves the ways we respond to the occasional racist issue.

As in our community as a whole, occasionally we see or hear of racist behaviour at school.

Vardys Road, like any public school, has staff trained as Anti Racism Contact Officers (ARCOs) who take a consistent approach to responding to racist behaviour and guiding the related conversations with sensitivity and compassion.

As with most behaviour interventions, Vardys takes a tiered approach, with the most impactful layer being how we manage our universal practises i.e. what we do every day in every class.

When required our ARCOs teach whole class lessons that cover:

• The history of racism
• The language related to racism
• The different types of racist behaviour and language and
• What is appropriate in a multicultural and inclusive society.

Taking such a consistent approach aims at providing clear expectations, predictable responses and a culture that embraces diversity.

Over the next few weeks, one of our Anti-Racism Officers, Mr. Bromhead, will be visiting Stage 1 and 2 classes to conduct these very important discussions.

Have a happy and safe week,

Ian Short 
Principal

SRC FUNDRAISER 'Trackies and Hoodies Day'

A big thank you to everyone who took part in ‘Trackies and Hoodies Day’ on Thursday, 3rd July. Your support helped raise over $550 for The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. What an amazing effort for a great cause.

THANK YOU to the SRC and the whole school community for making it happen!

TERM 3 K-6 ASSEMBLIES AND CLASS ITEMS

During Semester 1, we welcomed back class assembly items with fantastic performances from several of our Stage 1 and Stage 3 classes. These engaging presentations will continue in Term 3 as part of our K–6 Assemblies, held at 2:10pm on Wednesday in Week 4 and Mondays in Weeks 7 and 10.

Our Term 3 Program:

Week 4 – 1 Shamrock and 5 Indigo

Week 7 – 1 Mint and 4 Waratah

Week 10 – K Daisy and 4 Scarlet 

Prescribed Medication

The Department recognises that all medications, including over-the-counter (OTC) medications, e.g. paracetamol or alternative medicines, may be drugs or poisons and may cause side effects. As such, schools are required to receive medical authorisation from a prescribing health practitioner (e.g. doctor, dentist, optometrist, but not a pharmacist) to administer any medication to students, including those bought over-the-counter.

If your child requires medication at school there are Departmental policies and procedures that need to be followed:

• An adult must deliver the medication to the school office
  For any on-going medication these need to be in a webster-pak (see below photo) packaging with a pharmacy label stating the child’s name, dosage, expiry date, batch number and practitioner’s name. 
• For any incidental medication  e.g antibiotics these need to be in its original packaging with a pharmacy label stating the child’s name, dosage, expiry date, batch number and practitioner’s name. (Pharmacies will print a label for off-the-shelf medications if you tell them that it is for school purposes.)
• You will need to complete and sign the school's 'Administering Prescribed Medication at School' consent form that states your child’s name, the medication, dosage, time and dates that the medication needs to be administered

You can find this form in the School Bytes Parent Portal by navigating to Forms > Health > Administering Prescribed Medication at School, or by clicking this link.

• You will need to submit a letter from the medical practitioner stating the child’s name, the medication, dosage, time and dates that the medication needs to be administered 
• Please note that the information (chemist label) on the prescribed medication and the two forms submitted must all match i.e. name, dose and time need to correspond with each other 
• If your child attends Jigsaw OOSH in the morning, please ask them for assistance with the delivery of any medication, consent form and medical practitioner letter, to our office on your behalf.

Thank you for your understanding while we endeavour to follow these departmental policies and audit requirements.

Webster-paks

Given the current climate, for students who require daily medication, the best practise would involve the use of Webster-paks.

Webster-paks have already proven to be efficient in schools and have helped improve medication adherence and safety in a way that will help your family feel at ease. Pills are safely and securely sealed within each blister compartment of the medication pack, based on the prescribed dosage and time.

From The Office

Welcome back! We hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable break after a busy and rewarding Term 2.

As we began Term 3 yesterday, Tuesday 22nd July, we look forward to another term filled with exciting learning opportunities, new challenges, and continued growth for all our students.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support. Let’s make Term 3 another fantastic chapter in our school year!

Warm regards,
Mrs Catalanotto, Mrs Anderson, Mrs Alonso and Miss Costa

Do you know someone eligible for Kindergarten in 2026?

Apply on-line now (through our website) for 2026!

P&C News

Uniform Shop:

This term, the shop will be open during the following days and times:

• Mondays: 8:30am - 9:30am
• Tuesdays: 2:15pm - 3:15pm
• Thursdays: 9:00am - 10:00am
• Fridays: 2:20pm - 3:20pm (Closed until week 4)

The Fleecy Zips & jumper have arrived early. 

Online ordering is always available, and orders should be delivered to your child’s classroom within the next day or two (be sure to include your child’s name and class in the Notes section at checkout):
https://www.vrpspc.org.au/s/shop  

Events/Fundraising:

SAVE  THE DATE!

Spring Twilight markets are coming to Vardys Road Public School on Friday 12th September 2025!

As the golden hour rolls in and spring scents dance in the air, the Spring Twilight Market springs to life on Friday, 12th September! Join us from late afternoon into the evening for a vibrant gathering of food trucks, handcrafted market stalls, and that one-of-a-kind twilight charm. 

Bring your friends, your appetite, and your sense of wonder—you’ll find everything from food stalls and sweet treats to handmade treasures by local creatives. Whether you're hunting for the perfect gift or just craving a delicious bite under the stars, don’t miss your chance to experience this one-night-only spring celebration — because moments like these only come once. 

✨ Entry is free. Joy is guaranteed. 

Applications are now open for stallholders interested in joining our vibrant Spring Twilight Market. If you have something unique to showcase, we'd love to hear from you. 

Contact fundraising@vrpspc.org.au for any enquiries.

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. 

P&C Role Vacancies:

We still have 1 volunteer role vacancy, which is a crucial one for keeping the P&C running, so currently the elected members are sharing the responsibilities on top of their elected roles, which is difficult to sustain.

Please consider whether you'd have the time and organisational skills to make this important contribution to our school community. See the Roles & Responsibilities document for more details, but here's a summary of what's involved:

       P&C Secretary – Responsible for the day-to-day organisation of the P&C, including: 

• checking the Team email account
• following the meeting schedule for requesting agenda items, preparing meeting papers, and recording the minutes 
• maintaining the member register and volunteer register
• assisting other P&C roles with documentation if needed, e.g. to notify our insurance company in preparation for P&C events. Note: there are templates and processes set up to help streamline these tasks. 

Please contact team@vrpspc.org.au to express interest in, or to ask questions about this role. 

Recipe of the Week

Baked Chicken Quesadillas 

Ingredients

• chicken breast - you can also use cubed chicken thighs, but the texture of the quesadillas may change slightly.
• fajita seasoning - if you don’t have a fajita blend on hand, taco seasoning will work in a pinch! You can adjust the taste using garlic powder, onion powder, and other similar spices. You can also make your own fajita seasoning at home. See the recipe tips below for instructions.
• avocado oil - you can also use vegetable oil or even olive oil — anything neutral with a high smoke point.
• onion - yellow or white onion are best, but you can use whatever kind of onion you like.
• red bell pepper - yellow or orange bell pepper would work if you don’t have red bell pepper on hand.
• green bell pepper - green bell peppers have their own distinct flavor, but you can swap them for whatever color bell pepper you have available.
• cooking oil spray - use your favorite kind or replace it with vegetable oil for a similar effect.
• flour tortillas - corn tortillas will also work, but may fall apart more easily. You can try making your own homemade flour tortillas from scratch too. They are easier to make than you think!
• cheddar cheese - Asiago or another hard cheese will work. Get it pre-shredded for convenience or grate it yourself at home!

Optional Condiments

• guacamole - homemade guacamole or store-bought are both great for serving these baked chicken quesadillas.
• pico de gallo - make your pico de gallo from scratch or buy a premade pico de gallo from your local grocery store’s produce section.
• sour cream - greek yogurt is a perfect substitute for sour cream.

Method

Step 1
Prep. Preheat oven to 425F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper with cooking oil spray or brush with vegetable oil

Step 2
Season the chicken. In a large mixing bowl, add the cubed chicken and fajita seasoning. Toss to coat chicken completely in seasoning. Set aside while oven preheats

Step 3
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add cubed chicken and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside

Step 4
Sauté veggies. In the same skillet, add onion, red pepper, and green pepper. Sauté until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir to combine with the veggies. Remove from heat and set aside

Step 5
Fill tortillas. Take one tortilla at a time and spread one-quarter of the filling into one side of the tortilla. Sprinkle with a ¼ cup of cheddar cheese. Fold the tortilla wrap in half and place on the lined baking sheet. Use the back of a flat spatula to gently press the tortilla down so that the top sticks to the mixture. Repeat with the 3 remaining tortillas

Step 6
Bake. Spray the top of the folded tortillas with more cooking spray oil or brush oil on top to help crisp up the tortillas. Place the baking sheet in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 15 minutes until golden brown and crispy and the cheese is melted. If during baking you notice that the tortilla tops and flipping up, carefully press them back down using the back of a spatula or spoon

Step 7
Serve. Cut each tortilla into 4 slices and serve with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.

Thought of the Week