From The Principals Desk

Happy end of Term 3! It would be an understate-

ment to say that 2020 has been a strange year. The

bushfires at the beginning of the year, while not too

close to us in Orange, still affected us either through

friends and family living in or near the fires or

through the smoke that blanketed our region. Then

came COVID-19. This brought about some massive

changes for us in the way we interact with each

other, live and work. For schools, we moved very

quickly to remote learning and the level of technology that we have available to us

today, allowed for that. We could email, Skype and Zoom both live and pre-recorded

lessons. It’s easy to forget that we were still doing this early this term!

We have and are, moving on! The sun is beginning to shine and there is a sense of

normality returning, even if it’s a little different to the ‘normal’ that was 12 months

ago.

Next term, will bring some exciting developments at Bletchington. We anticipate

having a new bike track ready to go for our students early next term. Students will be

able to ride their own bike to school and use it during playtimes to cruise the new

track. We will provide a limited number of bikes for students unable to bring their

own bike to school. There will, of course, be some strict rules around the use of the

track; wearing a helmet for example would be both sensible and compulsory. The

track will have road signs that will need to be obeyed (good for teaching road sense

and rules!) and most of all, we should have lots of fun riding around together. More

information will be available next term.

The school received a lovely email this week from a private citizen who thanked two

of our students for the caring and citizenship they demonstrated on the way to school

on Monday morning. Claire and Jackson Hawkins made us all very proud with their

kind deed and we presented them with a small award as a token of our appreciation

for the way they represented themselves and the school. Congratulations Claire and

Jackson! There is a copy of the email attached.

Please be reminded that there is no staff development day at the beginning of this

term so we all start back together on Monday 12th October.

Mr Rob McPherson || Principal

BUZZ

TERM 3 2020 —WHATS ON

Week 10

Monday 21st September

Hot Dog Day—Aqua and Yr 6

Tuesday 22nd September

SistaSpeak

BroSpeak

Wednesday 23rd September

Yr 6 Enrichment/Extension

Thursday 24th September

Band - Individual Tutorial

Friday 25th September

Last day of Term 3

4D Class Party

Kindy Teddy Bears Picnic

Gymnastics Yr 6

Enjoy the Holidays!

Term 4 2020—Week 1

Monday 12th October

Students return for Term 4

Summer Uniforms and Hats to be

worn.

2021 Kindergarten enrolments are being taken.

Please contact our school office to pick up an

enrolment pack.

Book Week 2020 Week 2 Term 4, 19th—23rd October, 2020 Theme—Curious Creatures, Wild Minds

This year, Book Week will be a little different, as unfortunately we are not able to have our community physically come into the school. We will still be having our book fair, dress up day and many activities around our love of books, all with a twist.

• Wish Lists—Students will be making a wish list during Week 10 Term 3.

• Purchasing – Payment can be made online (Receipt number must be recorded). Cash payments are also available (correct money is requested please). Order form to be returned to the office. • Donating books– You are able to donate a book to our school library , your child’s and/or family name will be placed on the inside.

•Dress up day – Thursday 22nd October. Photos and videos will be shared online. •Extras – On Thursday 22nd October there will be posters, wacky packs, pens, pencils and other knickknacks for sale. CASH only, on the day. We only have a limited number of these, and we cannot reorder.

Claire and Jackson Hawkins—Citizenship Recognition

Excerpt of public citizen appreciation email, dated 21/9/2020. I wanted to pass a message onto the principal regarding two of your students, Jackson and Claire Hawkins. This morning around 8am there were two large dogs that had escaped their yard and were running around Anson Street and were nearly hit by multiple cars. I stopped my car and tried to get these dogs off the road. I knocked on two doors asking people to help me, and was told no. At least 20 cars slowed down to avoid hitting the dogs, but then kept driving. An elderly woman came out of her house and told me that she could keep the dogs in her backyard until the ranger arrived, but couldn’t assist in helping to catch them. Claire and Jackson were walking to Bletchington school and stopped to help me coax the dogs into the women’s yard. Young Claire took the packet of chips out of her lunchbox to feed the dogs, and we successfully got the dogs safely into the yard, and the ranger was called. Claire and Jackson were the only people to stop and help me this morning, and both showed such compassion and empathy to these poor scared dogs. Their parents and their school should be so very proud of what amazing young people they are. Claire and Jackson, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and please know that today you saved two dogs lives.

Congratulations to our

wonderful office

member, Carmel on

gaining the Schools

Administration Manager

position at Borenore

Public School.

Carmel will commence

her new role day 1 of

Term 4.

However, this does not

mean goodbye! We are

happy that Carmel will

be here at Bletchington

every Friday.

Well done Carmel!

6 Weeks Left To Get Involved! Ending 31st October 2020

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR BLOOD DONORS! Progress Report Bletchington—Public School Lifeblood Team

As at 23/09/2020 our BPS Lifeblood Team are sitting in 3rd place on the Orange Schools leader board, with a total of 51 donations

(27 whole blood, 24 Plasma), potentially 153 lives saved!

It’s easy to get involved:

Step 1: Check your eligibility to donate blood online at www.donateblood.com.au Or call 13 14 95

Step 2: Make an appointment to donate blood online at www.donateblood.com.au Or call 13 14 95

Step 3: ‘Join’ Bletchington Public Schools Lifeblood Team online at www.donateblood.com.au Or at the Donor Centre

Life Skills GO: is transforming 21st century learning by delivering measurable social, emotional and physical skills through education technology. It is fun and engaging for students in years K-6 and it provides hundreds of curriculum-aligned resources for educators to confidently teach the skills of social, emotional and physical learning.

*Week 10—Considering Perspectives

PBL FOCUS:

Term 4

Week 1 & 2

‘I wear my school hat

when we are outside’

(Positive Behaviour for Learning)

Working Together—Respectful,

Responsible and Safe.

•

Young Archies 2020 ‘Virtual’ Exhibition

Three student works have been selected to represent Bletchington Public School as entries into

this years Young Archies.

The theme this year: Local Heroes.

Hanna Gross 6K—’In my opinion my best friend Carmen, is one of my heroes because she is caring,

motivating and an encouraging person. She is able to stand up to bullies and is always considerate

of others, no matter what, can defend your answers or is able to help you whenever you’re in a time

of need. Carmen also appreciates you no matter what colour skin you have, race or your personality.

Carmen never judges you for who you are’.

Darcy Berndt 2B— ‘My hero is a nurse because nurses save lives everyday’.

Kynli Higgins 2W—’The Lollypop lady is a hero to me because she helps me cross the road safely’.