Term 3 Week 6
Principal's Report
Blacktown Festival of Performing Arts
Last night Ms Rankine, Mrs Kelly, Mrs Sachdev and Mrs Mayfield accompanied our Stage 3 Dance group, the Stage 3 Drama group, our Choir and our Band to the Blacktown Festival of Performing Arts.
It was an extraordinary showcase of the Blacktown Public School’s talents and the strength of the Creative and Performing Arts programs across our network.
Our students shone with the band combining with three other school bands to cover the entire stage to start the night’s program, while the drama group certainly captured the interest and hearts of the capacity crowd.
Our dancers dazzled and the Choir has never sounded better.
A very proud moment!
Many thanks to the many parents/carers who supported this important program... our Creative and Performing Arts programs are well and truly alive and thriving!!
SASS Appreciation Week
Next week we will give a well-deserved shout out to our School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS), whose tireless efforts have become the cornerstone of our school culture and practices.
Whether it be our office staff, our General Assistant, Vardys’ Community Wellbeing Officer (Mr Sterland), our School Learning Support Officers, the school cleaners, Mrs Vella in the canteen or Roger and Helen, we are truly blessed with our SASS team, with their magic making people’s days and changing the lives of all those who walk through our gates.
Take a bow team... we are so lucky to have you.
NAPLAN Results
By now all of Year 3 and 5 would have received their NAPLAN results.
These examinations provide a useful, point in time, snapshot of student progress for parents and carers, while also giving the school useful feedback on the impact of our evidence-based practices.
I am pleased to report that our explicit instruction programs are continuing to have the desired effect with our results above state average and statistically similar schools, in most areas, with Year 3 writing being the one area of exception; already an area of focus.
These results are testament to the hard work of the teachers in developing aligned school-wide programs and adopting evidence based explicit instruction practices as well as the support of our community as we reformed our practices and embedded a new curriculum... Thank you!
Smooth Walking Program
Many thanks to Mr Salekin and Mrs Sachdev who last week accompanied Year 5 to the annual Smooth Walking Program at Seven Hills High School.
This initiative introduces Year 5 to a High School setting and familiarises them with the secondary school timetables, lessons and activities.
Irrespective of which High School the children will be attending in 2027, these activities remove the mystique and anxiety that all children feel as they approach the all-important Year 6-7 transition.
Public Speaking
Over the last two weeks, representatives from Stages 2 and 3, participated in the annual Blacktown Learning Community Public Speaking competition.
The delivery of these speeches by our 4 participants was the culmination of months of work as all of our Year 3 to 6 students participated in school and class-based competitions to assist in the selection of our 4 representatives.
Congratulations to our champion speakers and many thanks to Mr Bromhead and Mrs To for coordinating this initiative.
Spelling Bee
Once again, we participated in the Premiers Spelling Bee competition.
This is an opportunity for classes to focus on this important skill while shining a light on some of our talented spellers.
Congratulations to Elise who achieved a First Place in her section and to Charlie who was the Regional Runner-Up... huge achievements.
Thanks as always to Mrs O’Brien who coordinated this program.
Have a happy and safe week,
Ian Short
Principal
Year 5 Smooth Walking
On Tuesday, 19 August, our Year 5 students visited Seven Hills High School for an exciting taste of high school life.
They took part in a range of engaging lessons, including Food Technology, Science, and PDHPE, and even had the opportunity to help lay drainage in the new Vocational Innovation Building.
It was especially heartwarming to see some former Vardys Road students now attending Seven Hills High, who were helping out with the activities!
Overall, it was a fantastic day filled with learning and new experiences — a great introduction to high school for our Year 5 students.
Year 5 Teachers
Book Character Parade
On Monday 25th August, our school came alive with a vibrant and colourful Book Character Parade!
It was fantastic to see so many students dressed as their favourite characters, celebrating the magic and joy that books bring into our lives. What a fabulous way to start the day and to kick off Book Week!
A heartfelt thank you to all the families who sewed, crafted, painted faces, and styled hair to help bring these characters to life. Your creativity and effort made the morning truly memorable.
We absolutely loved seeing everyone’s costumes—it was the perfect way to launch this year’s Book Week theme: 'Book an Adventure.'
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 Mondays in Weeks 7 and 10.
Our Term 3 Program:
Week 7 – 1 Mint and 4 Waratah
Week 10 – K Buttercup and 4 Scarlet
SAVE THE DATE
VARDYS ROAD PUBLIC SCHOOL, ARE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE
DADS/GRANDADS, UNCLES, BROTHERS OR ANY OTHER SPECIAL PERSON IN OUR STUDENTS' LIVES
Friday 5th SEPTEMBER 2025 AT 8:00AM TO 8:45AM
DONUT & JUICE PACKS: $8.00 PER EACH PERSON ATTENDING - CASH ONLY
Orders Due by Friday 29th August
WHERE: VARDYS ROAD PUBLIC SCHOOL-SCHOOL FIELDS/HALL COLA
2026 Kindergarten Information Evening
Monday, 1st September at 6:00 PM in the school hall.
We look forward to welcoming you!
From The Office
Late Arrivals – A Gentle Reminder
We kindly ask that parents/carers accompany their child to the office if they arrive late to school.
This step is important to ensure that we are aware the parent/carer knows their child is arriving after the bell, and it also allows us to update our records accurately and maintain a safe and accountable environment for all students.
Your support in helping us follow this procedure is greatly appreciated.
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
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:
Calling All Heroes: Volunteers Needed for Our Epic Events This Term! 🚀
We have a jam-packed term full of amazing fundraising events, and we need YOU to help make them unforgettable! Whether you're a seasoned event pro or new to the scene, we’ve got a spot for you.
Bunnings BBQ – Sunday 31st August
We will be running another Bunning BBQ Fundraiser on Sunday 31st August 2025.
Timing will be 7am-5pm (BBQ sales 8am-4pm). We are looking for volunteers to work 1.5 hour shifts over the course of the day. Any help you can provide is very much appreciated. If you're unable to donate time, but would like to donate items to assist with the bbq (e.g. napkins, sauce), please contact us on team@vrpspc.org.au and we can advise you of our list of required items.
Sign up for a shift here.
Father’s Day Stall – Tuesday 2nd September
Father's Day this year is celebrated on Sunday September 7th and our traditional P&C Father's Day stall will again be providing your children with an opportunity to shop for a gift.
We have pre-purchased a range of suitable options from various sources that students can choose from. The children are always excited and have a feeling of independence when choosing something special for their loved one(s).
Date: Tuesday 2nd September
Note: there will be an opportunity for students to purchase gifts on Thursday 4th September 8.30am to 9.30am if they were absent or were unable to on the Tuesday.
Cost: $5 per gift, $1 for cards, $1 for gift bag
We are also looking for volunteers to help run the store on Tuesday 2nd September 2025. Sign up here.
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.
End of Term 3 BBQ and School Disco – Wednesday 24th September
This fun filled event is back again for another year.
We will be organising a BBQ dinner in between the two discos. Parents will have the opportunity to also purchase for themselves as well as their children. Call out for volunteers will occur soon.
P&C Meetings
All members of our school community are welcome to attend our upcoming P&C Meeting.Our next meeting will be:
Date: Monday 8th September 2025
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Library and online via Microsoft Teams.
This meeting link will also be available on the P&C Facebook page and website.
Agenda Items: If you’d like to include an item on our agenda, please email team@vrpspc.org.au
by Monday 1st September 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.
Recipe of the Week
Ingredients
- 4 carrots
- 2 large handfuls of spinach
- 100g frozen peas
- 2 cooked beetroots
- 150g cream cheese or soft goat cheese
- 4 slices wholemeal bread (pick a good quality bread with minimal added ingredients)
Method
Peel the carrot and slice into discs. Steam for approx. 20 minutes until tender. Add the spinach leaves and peas to the steamer for another 2 minutes (you can boil the vegetables instead if you prefer)
Drain the veg and allow to cool
Step 3
Create 3 different coloured spreads. Blend one third of the soft cheese with the carrots for an orange spread, then place into a storage pot. Blend a third with the spinach and peas for a green spread, then finally a third with the cooked beetroot. Place them straight into the fridge to firm up. Use either a high speed blender or stick blender, whichever you prefer.
Once firm, spread 3 slices of bread, one with each colour spread. Place the slices on top of each other with the spread face up, creating a sandwich, adding the plain slice on top. Carefully cut the sandwich into little squares, triangles or any shape you like, great for your little one to grab hold of.
Serving suggestions
These vegetable spreads can be made in advance and kept in the fridge for a couple of days, or frozen for a month. You can also remove the crusts to see the colours all the way around the edge. Great for parties, lunchboxes and picnics.
You can also add fresh herbs to the green spread, such as basil to add an interesting flavour, and some grated parmesan for a more cheesy flavour. Why not experiment with other vegetables, using roasted carrots rather than steamed gives a different flavour to the orange spread.
Thought of the Week
