Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome Picnic
A heartfelt thank you to the P&C for hosting the Welcome Picnic last Friday. Special thanks to Kate H and the social team for creating such a fun night and inviting atmosphere for Canterbury families. Thanks also to all who signed up to volunteer in an official capacity as well as our talented CPS muso families for bringing extra joy and energy to the occasion. 

Driver Safety and Courtesy
Please keep all children safe and our neighboring residents happy whilst driving and parking in school zones. 

• Follow the speed limit at all times
• Give way to pedestrians on or approaching the pedestrian crossing 
• Do not stop/park across or in neighbours’ driveways 
• Do not do U-turns in a school zone (3 demerit points and $387.00 fine)
• Do not use driveways to turn around in a school zone (3 demerit points and $387.00 fine)
• If you cause a car accident and damage another vehicle or property, do not drive away. Leave your details
• Observe parking signs
• Do not double-park (2 demerit points and $387.00 fine)
• Be patient and allow extra time
• Look out for children
  

By following this advice and the law, you are protecting our community, respecting our neighbours, saving demerit points and money, and being a good example to your children. 

Parent/Carer, Student & Teacher Interviews
Save the date! Growth Goal interviews are taking place in Week 9, between Monday 24th and Thursday 27th March. You will receive an email with the booking link on Monday 10th March at 9:30am.

Parents and carers of students with a personalised learning and support plan (PLaSP) or personalised learning pathway (PLP) will receive an email this Wednesday afternoon (4pm) about booking an extended meeting time.

We are making some changes to Canterbury’s Growth Goal program this year to better align with the purpose of students having personal goals. Details will be shared with parents and carers early next week.

Meet the Teachers
Thanks to all the parents and carers who came to Meet the Teacher. Your presence made the event a great success, and we appreciate your support and involvement. We hope you benefited from attending, visiting your children’s classrooms, and found the information helpful. Your feedback is invaluable so please share any thoughts or suggestions you may have about Meet the Teacher here https://forms.gle/3jADbRgA1HoyJ93W7 

Tracy Considine
Principal

In mainstream classes last week, we looked at Growth Mindset. Intelligence can be developed, the brain is malleable, and doing challenging work is the best way to make the brain stronger and smarter. Carol S. Dweck is a leading American Psychologist whose research on Mindset and Motivation has influenced education for many decades. The article The Perils and Promises of Praise by Carol S. Dweck (link here) discusses the ways to praise students to assist their motivation.

The school will be hosting interviews with all families and students in Week 9 to discuss growth goals. It would be helpful for students to discuss their personal goal with their families. We use the SMART goals model: Goals must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound. 

In the Support unit, students continued to explore the concept of Respect including how students can show respect to all people and the positive outcomes respect produces, for example, forming friendships. Some ways students can show respect is to say thankyou, please and sorry, as well as being kind and listening to others. Please recognise when your child practices respect in their words or actions and highlight how they are being respectful.

On Monday this week, all students participated in Clean Up Australia - the Canterbury PS version. Students learned why it is important to keep our school and the broader environment clean, and what we can do to avoid environmental damage. Positive environmental messages and behaviours learnt in childhood can have long term impacts on the way children and their families interact with the environment and the choices they make. Litter is sometimes left in the playground, intentionally and accidentally. Understanding why this is not okay is important. Please have discussions with your child around what they are now doing at school to minimise rubbish and what they can do at home too.

Ways discussed with children on how we can all solve our rubbish issue at school are:

• Sitting under the dots or shapes COLA to eat.
• Put rubbish in the bin or back in our lunch box.
• Check our area is clean before leaving to play.
• Return to the dots COLA to eat snacks from the canteen.
• Close lunch boxes and bags and put them in our class lunch tub so the birds cannot open them.
• Remind our friends if they forget
• Put it in the bin NOW, not later. Often we forget or it can fall out of our pocket.
• Let the teacher know if you see someone litter.
• Reduce the amount of rubbish we bring.

Meghan Ryan
PBL Committee Member

If you would like your child to join either the Band or Strings program this year - IT IS NOT TOO LATE!. 

Please follow instructions on the School Bands Australia website https://www.schoolbands.com.au/). 

To enrol in the Strings program visit https://cpsclubs.info/registration-form/ to express your interest in joining Strings in 2025.

Meghan Ryan
Music Coordinator

The Premier’s Reading Challenge has begun! 1/2A were the first group to log into the site on Monday 24th February and begin logging books they have read. Last year we had 101 students complete the reading challenge and we are looking to improve on this for 2025. Students in K-2 need to read and log 30 books by Friday 22 August 2025. Students in year 3-6 have a goal of 20 books. 

Reading is such a valuable, lifelong learning skill. Fostering a love of learning from childhood is a home and school partnership. Please make sure you are encouraging your child to read and log books from home as well! Books that your child chooses to read can be from the school library, your local library, the bookstore, anywhere! 

Kindergarten parents, we are logging all books read at school on your child’s behalf and will complete the challenge with them this year. All students from year 1- 6 are responsible for logging their own books and have been taught how to log in to the site during library lessons. A step by step guide on how to log books towards the PRC was sent home in the information pack on the first day of school. If you have any questions that are not answered by the Premier’s Reading Challenge website, please contact me at jenny.parkes@det.nsw.edu.au.

Thanks for your support of this important learning initiative.

Jen Parkes
Teacher Librarian

Book Club magazines were distributed to classroom teachers for students to take home today. There is no pressure to purchase, but any purchases you do make help raise money for new books for the library. 

Please, no cash orders. All orders must be completed online. Books will be delivered to your child’s classroom. The last day for book club orders is Wednesday, 26th March.

Thank you for your support of the school library.

Jen Parkes
Teacher Librarian

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point-in-time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. All NSW schools will sit NAPLAN online.

Our school will be participating in NAPLAN in Term 1 between the 12-24 March. Students will need to bring working headphones by the end of the week. Students can use the public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools available in NAPLAN.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.

Ms Matar & Ms Murray
NAPLAN Coordinators

Mr Hopwood, Principal of Ashfield Boys High School, Ms Cameron, Principal of Canterbury Girls High School, and Ms Stamos from Canterbury Boys High School met with Stage 3 students this week to answer questions and teach students more about high school and Year 7. 

Canterbury alumni, Leo, Rato, Oscar, Luke and Alfie helped present the information sessions. Stage 3 students were very excited to see them again and hear about their wonderful experiences in high school. Our students asked terrific questions too!

A reminder to Year 6 families that high schools are hosting information nights and Year 7 enrichment class examinations, so please contact your local high school for all details. Please do not rely on us advertising high school information nights as we do not always receive notices.

Whether you’re working, learning, playing or scrolling, the internet is a huge part of life. It opens a world of opportunities, but also comes with risks, especially for young people and other at-risk groups. Stage 3 engaged in a webinar last week as part of Safer Internet Day 2025. Students investigated fake information and fake friendships online. They also developed critical thinking skills to identify misinformation and disinformation. https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents provides further information for parents and carers that can support you in creating a safe online environment for your child. 

Carmel Aiello
Assistant Principal Stage 3 

Starting Monday the 10th of March students can participate in a fundraiser to be in the running to win a whole jar of chocolate eggs!

Students can bring in $1 for one guess or $2 for 3 guesses They will have the opportunity to guess before school, at first lunch and at recess. All money raised assists in reducing the cost of Year 6 fun day, graduation dinner and goes towards a gift to the school. 

In the role of Sport House Leaders, students lead and encourage their teams by modelling sportsmanship, determination and teamwork at our swimming, athletics and cross country carnivals. 

Sport House Leaders also demonstrate leadership skills and responsibility every single day by organising and distributing sports equipment to students at lunch and recess. This is a task that requires dedicating a lot of their own break time to serve the school community.  

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected by their peers to be Sports House Leaders in 2025. 

Mark Healey
Sport Coordinator

On a fantastically sunny Monday, the zone swimming team headed to Roselands Aquatic Centre to participate in the zone carnival. On arrival, we could feel the nerves build as the students entered a massive venue with professional diving blocks. Our students overcame those fears and showed, once again, what Canterbury Public School is made of! You made Canterbury very proud with your efforts and despite being one of the smallest schools we had some amazing results. 

Congratulations to the following students:

An extra special congratulations to these students who will be representing our zone at the regional carnival: Vivienne, Anouk, Frankie. Harriet, Olivia, Flynn, Edwina, and Sage. A big thank you to the parents who took time out from their busy schedules to transport students to and from the pool and to Mrs Matar who spent the day timekeeping students with expert precision. 

Mark Healey
Sports Coordinator 

The Australian Government’s School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) has been extended until Friday 30 June 2028 for all new and existing qualifying families and carers.

New applications to participate in the SSBI will continue to be accepted until the program’s cap of 30,000 nbn connections is reached.

What does this mean for existing connections?
Households already connected to the nbn network through the SSBI will now have their free service automatically extended through their participating internet provider until 28 June 2028.

Is it too late for a family or carer to apply to join the SSBI?
It’s not too late for families or carers to apply to join the SSBI. If there is a school age student in the home and there is no current nbn network connection, that home may still qualify for free nbn home internet until 30 June 2028.

If you are a household with no current nbn network connection and would like to apply please follow the steps below:

1. Contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610 between Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm (AEDT) or visit School Student Broadband Initiative National Referral Centre.
2. You’ll be asked some questions to see if you qualify for the SSBI service.
3. If you qualify, you will receive a voucher.
4. You can then use the voucher to establish a free connection through your chosen participating internet provider. Please note: You will need to use your voucher before the SSBI cap of 30,000 SSBI service connections is reached.

Find more information, including a list of participating internet service providers, at SSBI.

Gaby Aitkin
Learning and Support Teacher

Our School Photo day was a great success. Thanks to all families who sent their children to school looking their very best! We will send home the photos once they are received (approximately 6-8 weeks after the photos are taken). If you have any queries or concerns about missing photos or other items please contact The School Photographer directly on (02) 9674 9824.

Gaby Aitkin
School Photo Day Coordinator

Late last year, Inner West Council held a workshop with our Student Representative Council members to help design a new playground at Yeo Park Playground.

The feedback received has now helped inform the draft concept plan and Inner West Council is asking have they got the plan right?

You can view plan online at: https://yoursay.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/yeoparkplayground

How can you provide feedback?

• Complete an online survey using the above link
• Attend a drop in session at the playground on Saturday 1 March 8.30-10.30am or Wednesday 5 March 3-5pm
• Email holly.cowdery@innerwwest.nsw.gov.au
• Mail Inner West Council PO BOX 14 Petersham NSW 2049 Att: Holly Cowdery
• Call Holly on 02 9392 5743

Last day to provide feedback is Sunday 16 March

If you have any questions, please contact Holly Cowdery on 02 9392 5743 or email holly.cowdery@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.

It was so amazing to see so many lovely CPS families brave the heat to join us at our Welcome Picnic on Friday evening. The kids thoroughly enjoyed the inflatable obstacle course and the gelato, and the fabulous music provided by Hugh, Wes and Leo was the perfect soundtrack for a lovely get together to welcome in the new school year. Thank you for all the fantastic volunteers who helped make the event a smashing success!

Join us for the first in-person Canterbury Public School P&C Trivia night since 2018! Connect with parents and carers from your school community as our P&C Trivia Night makes a triumphant return at The Polish Club Ashfield on Saturday March 29, 2025. For $40 your ticket will include trivia, dinner,  live music from local band The Moonlighters and the chance to win fabulous prizes.

Whether you're a trivia nerd or just enjoy a good night out with live music, laughter and friends, this is the event for you! All funds raised on the night will go towards an AV upgrade for the hall. If you've ever sat in the back row during a Captain Canterbury assembly or Book Week parade and struggled to hear what was going on up on stage, you'll appreciate why we're raising funds for an audiovisual upgrade in our school hall. We have some outstanding prizes and silent auction items up for grabs, so book early to secure your place as tickets will sell fast!

Click here to buy tickets

A big thanks to the following local business who have already donated prizes for the event:

If you haven’t had the chance to fill in this short 2 minute P&C survey, please do so here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjJzl6aHSByJUYPIXbo4KL-LPS6mIk-nrLUR2eNanLPi1f1g/viewform

When we asked the kids last year what they would like to spend some of the fundraising money on, a popular suggestion was a mural. A mural sub-committee made up of P&C members and teachers are working hard towards the installation of a mural on the side wall of the hall and will be meeting with artists to discuss options for the mural. Kids should be on the lookout for information about how they can contribute to the process soon.

The P&C and school executive are following up with the relevant company to try to address some of the issues we have been experiencing with the lifts on the pedestrian overpass on Canterbury Road. If you have any particular comments or concerns about the lifts please send them in an email to the P&C email address below - the more information we have the stronger a case we can make for improvements. 

                
Dates for the diary 

Week 8, Wednesday 19 March P&C meeting, details below

Week 9, Saturday 29 March Trivia Night

Week 10, Saturday 5 April gardening bee. All families are welcome and it’s a great way to get to know others. 

Next P&C meeting: Term 1, Week 8, Wednesday 19 March 2025, 7.15pm. You don’t need to be a member to be interested in what is happening across the school. Just come along in person to the staffroom or join us online through zoom here (Meeting ID: 771 292 7026; Passcode: 123456).

A message for existing members, if you haven't already please make sure you pay your $2 membership fee for the 2025 calendar year. Online bank transfer can be made to:

Acc name: Canterbury Public School P and C 

BSB 062 159 

Acc No. 1015 7240  (Please email bank confirmation of payment to canterburypublicschool.pandc@gmail.com)

If any of your details have changed or you would like to help out with a subcommittee you can fill in a membership form online here. 

If you’d like to join the P&C here is the online form with the details: https://bit.ly/4bzDSFw.

For any questions or comments, email us on canterburypublicschool.pandc@gmail.com.