Term 3 Week 8

Principal's Report

Twilight Markets

Congratulations to the P&C for organising our inaugural Twilight Markets.

The P&C have always worked tirelessly to support the school and to continue to build a connected community... Friday’s Twilight Markets epitomise that pursuit.

On Friday night we will be holding a Twilight Market, with multiple stalls, entertainment, food outlets and much, much more.

While it is an opportunity to raise funds for our kids, it is so much more... being another community program, bringing our Vardys Road Public School family together once again.

We are looking forward to seeing you there between 5:00pm and 8:00pm this Friday.

Two Big Weeks

The past fortnight has been a time of success and celebration.

The Vardys Road Public School Zone Athletics Team competed last week, with our contingent of parents/carers and competing students cheering for our kids all day, creating a special memory for all our competitors... Thank you to all the parents/carers who took time from their busy days to be part of such an important celebration.

Making the day even more special, we have a number of children who are progressing to the Regional Sydney West carnival.

Congratulations to Oscar, Jaxon, Amelia, Seiala, Nathan, Liam, Tye, Eli, Leo and Parker- the largest Regional team we have sent for may years... a very proud moment.

These children will be rubbing shoulders with the best athletes in Sydney... quite the honour. Ironically competitors from other schools will be thinking the same thing about our kids.

We also saw our Year 4 students attend their first school-based sleep over... what a big couple of weeks.

School Spectacular

Once again, we are being badged as a Spectacular School, with 15 of our students preparing for the enormous extravaganza that is the School Spectacular.

Tickets for the 2025 Schools Spectacular are available through Ticketek.

This year’s theme, Remarkable, celebrates the extraordinary talent and creativity of students from public schools across New South Wales.

Enjoy a dynamic program of music, dance and drama, featuring traditional and contemporary performances, original compositions and innovative choreography.

Before the show, explore SpecFest, an outdoor entertainment hub with food, activations and chill-out zones for the whole family. SpecFest is free and offers the perfect preshow experience to make your day unforgettable.

Tickets for this iconic event sell fast. Book early to secure your seats.

Apologies

We always endeavour to provide plenty of notice for our parents and carers to prepare for upcoming events, so families can ensure their children are ready and make any necessary adjustments to work commitments.

Recently, we fell short of this promise when the note for the K-2 Athletics Carnival was sent out much later than intended. We sincerely apologise for this oversight.

Of course, the inconvenience was compounded by yesterday’s weather, which led to the unavoidable postponement.

The new date is Tuesday September 23rd — same time, same place.

On the bright side, I hope this rescheduling gives more parents/carers the opportunity to organise their time and join us for what is always a very enjoyable day!

We hope to see you there!

Ian Short 
Principal

TERM 3 K-6 ASSEMBLIES AND CLASS ITEMS

During Semester 2, we were excited to welcome back class assembly items, featuring fantastic performances from several of our Stage 1 and Stage 3 classes.

Our next engaging presentation will be included in our upcoming K–6 Assembly, which will take place at 2:10 pm on Monday, 22nd September, in Week 10.

Our Term 3 Program:

Week 10 – K Buttercup and 4 Scarlet

Donuts for Dad

On Friday, 5th September, we celebrated our amazing Dads and Father-Figures with a special event.

A big thank you to everyone who came along, it was a fantastic morning filled with laughter, connection and fun. The children and their dads/father-figures had a wonderful time making memories together!

Purple Team Athletics Carnival 2025

The Purple Team (Lavender, Violet, and Iris classes) hosted their inaugural Inclusive Athletics Carnival on  Wednesday, 3rd September, and what a wonderful day it was!

Parents/carers and families were invited to attend, and the atmosphere was filled with pride and encouragement as children ran, jumped, and played their way through the program. The smiles on students’ faces said it all. They  were proud, excited, and having a great time.

The event was not only a celebration of physical activity but also a shining example of what inclusive education looks like in action, every child supported, every effort celebrated, and every student given the opportunity to shine.

A big thank you to the Purple Team staff for their thoughtful planning and to all the families who came along to cheer. We’re already looking forward to next year!

Year 4 Sleepover

On Friday, 5th September, our Year 4 students enjoyed a fun-filled sleepover in the School Hall.

The sleepover was a great opportunity to help students build confidence and prepare for their upcoming Stage 3 camp. The night was packed with excitement, including a variety of games, a movie session, and of course, popcorn for all!

Students arrived well-fed and ready for a night of fun with their friends. Laughter filled the hall as students bonded, played, and settled in for a cosy night.

The following morning, a light breakfast was served before families arrived to collect their happy and slightly sleepy children.

A big thank you to our staff for making this event possible, and to our students for making it such a joyful and memorable night!

Smiles & Tasty Treats - A Wonderful Cooking Class Experience!

Each week, our students have swapped their pencils for utensils as they stepped into the kitchen for a hands-on cooking class experience — and what a deliciously fun time it is!

Beyond the fun of cooking, the class offers valuable lessons in following procedures, practicing patience, and developing fine motor skills. It also sparks plenty of conversation about food, nutrition, and the importance of trying new things.

A big thank you to our staff  who helped make the experience such a success. They can’t wait for our next cooking adventure!

Zone Athletics Carnival

On Thursday 28^th August over 50 of our students competed at the Wentworthville/Seven Hills Zone Athletics Carnival. Students participated in events requiring them to either run, jump or throw and they did so to the best of their abilities and with great sportsman/sportswomanship. Congratulations to all those who attended and participated and to the families who transported their own and others children a big thank you - we couldn't do it without you. A special congratulations to the following students who have qualified for Sydney West Athletics: Amelia, Lala, Eli, Leo, Parker, Tye, Oscar, Jaxon, Nate & Zayn.

MRS KELLY'S NEWS

Book of the Week:

Afloat by Kirli Saunders is an uplifting and inspiring picture book that uses the practise of weaving as a powerful metaphor for the honouring and teaching of First Nations wisdom, and the coming together of all people to survive, thrive and create a more hopeful future. Students in grades 1 through to 6 learnt about other cultures through the lens of this book last week.

Book Character Parade

During Book Week we celebrated with a very enjoyable Book Character Parade. It was wonderful to see all the costumes and celebrate reading together.

Colouring in and Bookmark Competition:

The overall winner of our book mark competition was Eli and Lexie from 4 Scarlet. Congratulations everyone for your creativity in designing bookmarks for this competition and colouring in too!

Author Visit:

Mick Elliott came to visit our school and he got to meet all our students and talk about his writing process as well as his illustrating too. Students were entranced by his presentation and all enjoyed watching him illustrate people from our Vardys Road community.

Premier’s Reading Challenge:

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is coming to a close on 19th September. All students in grades K-2 will have their reading records updated by Mrs Kelly. All students in grades 3-6 will have the opportunity to update their own reading records with the support of Mrs Kelly, during their library lesson, before the due date.

If you would like to work on updating the reading record yourself you are welcome to go to the Premier’s Reading Challenge website and use your school username and password to gain access to the student section of the website.

All certificates for the PRC will be given out in Term 4. Gold Awards (4 years of PRC) will be handed out at our recess assemblies. Platinum Awards (7 years of PRC) will be handed out at the end of year Assembly.

This is a rewarding opportunity for all our students to demonstrate their reading journey over the year.

From The Office

As we move further to the end of term, the amount of lost property at the school office continues to grow. We kindly ask all parents and carers to regularly check for any missing items your child may have left behind.

Our lost property collection includes everything from jumpers, to lunchboxes to water bottles. These items are unnamed, which makes it difficult to return them to their owners.

To help us reunite belongings with your child, please ensure all items brought to school are clearly labelled with your child’s name. This simple step greatly increases the chances of lost items finding their way back home quickly.

Lost property is kept in the office and is available for collection during school hours. At the end of each term, any unclaimed items will be donated or recycled.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep track of your child’s belongings!

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.

Spring Twilight Markets

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. 

Stay Updated – Twilight Market Event 🌙

Want to know what exciting stalls are coming and keep up with the latest event updates?
 👉 Check out our Facebook event page for Twilight Market!

https://facebook.com/events/s/spring-twilight-markets/1298055425002534/

End of Term 3 BBQ and School Disco – Wednesday 24^th 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. Orders are now open to preorder Sausage Sizzle via http://www.vrpspc.org.au and will close Friday 19^th September at 4pm. No BBQ sales will be available for purchase on the night.

Glow Stick Packs – Preorders Now Open! 🌟

We’re excited to announce that preorders for Glow Stick Packs are now open for the disco night! ✨ Place your order at http://www.vrpspc.org.au

A limited number of packs will also be available for purchase on the night — but to avoid missing out, preordering is highly recommended.

Light up the night with us! 🔦💫

Looking for Superhero Volunteers

In order to make the disco bbq event a success, we need the help of many volunteers.

If you are able to assist, please sign up on the link below: https://signup.zone/2ts8PFSdH7sQR65cH

P&C Meetings

The P&C met this week on Monday 8th September. Thank you to all who attended in person or online – we had a particularly good turn-out for this meeting! 

At the meeting we discussed:

• Positions vacant:
  • Secretary – Maria Mihas has put her hand up for this role. Welcome to the elected members team Maria, and thank you!
• We are busy preparing for our first Twilight Markets event and are looking forward to seeing lots of people from the school and local community there. A big thanks to the organising committee for all of the work you’re putting in.
• Our recent events, the Bunnings BBQ and Father’s Day Stall, went really well thanks to the support of our fabulous volunteers – we really appreciate your time and effort.
• Succession planning – David and Peta have given notice that they will be stepping back from their roles in the Uniform Shop team, plus the Website & Communications role, in early 2026. If anyone is interested in training to take on one of these roles, please send an email expressing your interest to team@vrpspc.org.au, or feel free to chat to Karen, David or Peta.
• Members voted to donate lighting equipment to the school, which will be used at the Twilight Markets and for future school and P&C events.
• Mr Short gave updates about what has been happening at the school and what is coming up.
• Questions and issues discussed included Allied Health appointments during school time, NAPLAN results, the school planning process, and high potential and gifted education offerings being made more visible once the school’s website is updated.

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. 

Community Services Hub

Recipe of the Week

Gluten-free ham and corn fritters

(Shout out to our gluten free staff and families)

Ingredients

• 100g sliced gluten-free ham, chopped
• 125g can corn kernels, drained
• 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup (35g) gluten-free 
self-raising flour
• 1 Coles Australian Free Range Egg, lightly whisked
• 2 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp olive oil
  

Method

Step 1

Place the ham, corn, spring onion, flour, egg and milk in a medium bowl. Stir until well combined. Season.

Step 2

Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add four 1/4-cup (60ml) portions of the egg mixture to pan. Use a spatula to flatten slightly. Cook for 2-3 mins each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Set aside to cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Thought of the Week