BPS Newsletter 2025 Term 1 Week 10
Principal's Report
Changes to the School Canteen
There will be some exciting changes to the operation of the canteen over the next few months as we transition from a school run canteen to a privately run canteen.
Why are the changes necessary?
The canteen is not financially viable in its current form and has been subsidised heavily by the school for some time. The school was looking at having to increase prices by around 15-20 percent from Term 2 to break even. The canteen also creates an additional workload for our office staff and does not generate enough income to support additional administration staff. Canteens at other schools are largely run by the P&C or a private operator. Unfortunately our incredibly hardworking P&C does not currently have the capacity to take on the school canteen.
Changes for Term 2
The canteen will operate in Term 2 as it always has with a small change to its days of operation.
During Term 2, the canteen will be open for recess and lunch on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The canteen will be closed during Term 2 on Mondays and Tuesdays, including for lunch orders.
Parents will continue to order lunches in the regular fashion through Flexi-schools.
Changes for Term 3
From the beginning of Term 3, the school will engage local company Local Lunches to operate our school canteen. While we are still finalising the details, it is planned that the canteen will be open 4-5 days per week for recess and lunch service. We currently have very few lunch orders on a Monday so it may be that we do not open the canteen on a Monday.
Parents will still be able to order lunches online, using the Spriggy app system.
Changes to the canteen menu
Our students, through the SRC have requested more variety through the canteen. This has not been easy to achieve within the current operating environment. Under the new arrangement with Local Lunches students will have access to a much greater range of foods at a fair price. A sample Local Lunches menu and some information about the the company is included below.
Thank your Katharina
I would like to recognise the outstanding contribution made by our Canteen Coordinator Katharina Krohn over the last few years. Katharina has been a wonderful asset to the school. She knows every student and has prepared delicious meals on their behalf for a long time. She is also a dedicated member of our P&C, running the uniform stall for the past two years. Katharina will continue in the role of Canteen Coordinator until the end of Term 2. We thank her for her continued contribution to school life at Brookvale.
Congratulations Thomas M - What a Swimmer!
Congratulations Thomas M! Thomas had a wonderful Sydney North Swimming Carnival this week. Representing Manly Zone, Thomas came 3rd in the 8-10yrs 200m Individual Medley and 3rd in the 50m Freestyle with a personal best time. He also made the finals in the Butterfly. Thomas will now progress to the State Carnival in both the IM and the 50m free. Well done Thomas. We wish you all the best for the upcoming State Carnival.
Learning About Ramadan and Eid
At Brookvale, we love learning about the many special celebrations and traditions that are important to our school community.
On Wednesday morning, Katharina, Farinah and Nabila shared their experiences with Ramadan and Eid for our teachers and students. Ramadan is a very special month for many Muslim families. During Ramadan, people fast - this means they don’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. It’s a time to be kind, help others, and spend time with family and community. Many Muslims also pray and reflect more during this peaceful time.
At the end of Ramadan, there’s a big celebration called Eid. This is a joyful time where families come together to share food, give gifts, and celebrate with love and gratitude.
We hope all our families who were observing Ramadan and Eid had a peaceful and happy time. Thank you for sharing your traditions with us - we all grow by learning from each other.
A huge thank you to Katharina, Nabilla and Farinah for an amazing morning.
Student Leaders at State Parliament
Our Student Leaders Thomas, Jasmine, Kean, Isla, Josh and Clio were invited by our local member Mr Michael Regan along with leaders from other local schools to State Parliament on Wednesday. The leadership group enjoyed a tour of Parliament House, including learning about the functions of both the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly. Mr Reagan was a very generous host and we thank him for his hospitality.
Join us for the P&C Working Bee this Saturday 12-3pm
If you can spare a few hours this weekend, we need everybody we can get tomorrow for the P&C Working Bee. Our school always looks great and a lot of that comes down to our fabulous families who come and support us at our annual working bee. There will be a sausage sizzle provided for all volunteers. It's not too late to sign up!
Saturday 5th April from 12pm to 3pm.
Tasks for the day include:
- Gardening: Weeding and tending to flower beds.
- Landscaping: Enhancing outdoor areas, planting new greenery, etc.
- Cooking: Preparing a delicious sausage sizzle for all volunteers.
No prior experience needed; instructions provided on-site. All ages and skill levels welcome.
Please confirm attendance by signing up via this link.
Easter Hat Parade and Grandparents' Day - Friday 11 April, 9.15am
A reminder that the Brookvale Public School Easter Hat Parade and Grandparents' Day event will take place next Friday 11 April. The day will begin with a parade featuring our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students at 9.15am, followed by classroom visits. There will also be an opportunity to visit our Book Fair in the library and donate a book to the school.
After the classroom visits and bookfair, grandparents and friend are invited to join our students for a picnic recess on the oval. Our Year 6 students will be raising money for their end of year activities by running a cake stall under the hall COLA. We can't wait to see as many of our grandparents and grandfriends as possible on the day.
Kindergarten students have been making their Easter bonnets at school this week with their big buddies. We kindly ask that parent of students in Year 1 and Year 2 assist their child to make a bonnet at home in preparation for the parade.
Cake donations are greatly appreciated!
Please bring your cake donations for the Year 6 Cake Stall to the staff room on Friday morning, 11 April. Thank you!
Dance Sport Gala Performance - Get Your Tickets
The excitement is building for the DanceSport Confidence Gala Evening is on this Tuesday 8 April, at the Dee Why RSL Club. Students have been working incredibly hard to learn their partner dances and are excited to show off their skills. It is always so amazing to see how far these students come with their dancing. It's one not to be missed.
Students need to arrive at Dee Why RSL at 5.45pm.
If you have not already done so please purchase your tickets here.
Please note you do not need to purchase a ticket for your child.
We are looking forward to sharing your child’s wonderful achievements throughout this well-being program at this magical evening!
Before and After School Arrangements
A reminder that staff supervision begins at 8.30am and students should not arrive at school prior to this time. School equipment is out of bounds before and after school. It is a Department of Education requirement that a teacher supervisors play any play on school equipment. Bikes and scooters are not to be ridden in school grounds at any time and dogs are also not permitted on school grounds at any time. Thank you for your assistance in ensuring the safety of all of our students by respecting these long standing school rules.
What's been happening in our classrooms?
Kindergarten students have been using rekenreks this week to represent numbers in the 0-10 range in a variety of ways. The rekenrek allows students to more easily see numbers as being made up of smaller amounts and helps students understand the importance of number bonds.
Our Stage 1 students have continued to refine their understanding of the basic clause in grammar. Students this week have been working on adding adverbial phrases to provide more information about when and where something happened.
Project Penguin has launched for Stage 2. On Wednesday students welcomed Alex from Taronga Zoo, who gave a exciting introduction to what's in store for Term 2. Next term students will be heading out to Little Manly and Taronga Zoo, while working alongside mentors from Cromer High School as they plan their strategies to help conserve Manly's little penguin population.
In English, Stage 2 students began a new English unit on Kicking Goals by Anita Heiss which is about the Aussie Rules footballer, Adam Goodes. Students kicked off the unit by exploring key vocabulary such as 'resilience', 'role model' and 'perseverance'.
Stage 3 students have been exploring different additive strategies to solve multistep word problems while working on their ability to record and reflect on their mathematical thinking. Students were challenged to choose the most efficient strategy to solve each step and show their working using different models. While developing their additive reasoning, students also learnt to keep track of their reasoning and review their thinking if a mistake had been made.
6L also had a great time this week developing their understanding of the constant difference strategy for subtraction, practising it through playing the game Race Car Rumble. In writing, students analysed and described narrative conventions and worked on applying these conventions to their own texts.
Worker of the Week
Emmie Represents Brooky Student Voice
Earlier this week, Emmeline K in Year 6 represented our school as a member of the The Beaches Network Student Voice Council at Manly Vale Public School. Emmie spoke about how Brookvale helps students transition to high school, providing the Council with the perspectives of her peers. Councils from across NSW will provide feedback to the Department of Education on how to improve different aspects of school life. Well done Emmie - a well deserved Worker of the Week. Thanks for representing Brooky and making our students' voices heard.
Other School News
PSSA Trials
PSSA Try outs for the winter sports will take place on Tuesday 8th April for students in Stage 2 (Year 3 and 4) and Friday 2nd May for students in Stage 3 (Year 5 & 6).
For winter teams, Brookvale offer a boys soccer team and a girls netball team. Please note that even though it is a boys soccer team, due to our small school, we do invite girls to try out for the soccer team as well. The competition is a boys competition- not a mixed competition but Brookvale offers girls the opportunity to trial with the boys team.
Unfortunately, due to limited time girls are unable to try out for both soccer and netball and will need to choose the sport they wish to trial for.
Trials for Stage 2 (Year 3 & 4) will take place on Tuesday 8th April from 1.40-2.45pm.
Students will sign up for trials prior to the day. We encourage all students to come and try out. Should we need to run an additional trial for Stage 2 students, this will be early in Term 2 and students will be notified prior.
Netball try outs will be run on the blue court by Miss Kovacs. Soccer try outs will be run on the oval by Mr Sly and Mr Panesar.
We wish all students who try out the best of luck.
Got any spare Lego lying around? Donate to our new Lego Club!
We are looking for donations of Lego for our new Lego club that will get underway in Term 2. If you are able to help, please drop off donations to the school office. Thank you!
Night of the Notables
A reminder for parents of students in 5K to come along to the Night of the Notables on Thursday evening from 5pm - 6pm, in the school Library.
Uniform Changeover
When students return to school their will be a two-week perid where either summer/winter uniform is optional. Students should all be wearing full winter uniform from Monday 12 May.
The winter uniform options are below. School hats must be worn everyday, regardless of weather.
School photos are coming soon - Wednesday 14 May
We will be hosting our School Photography day on Wednesday 14 May 2025. Orders can be placed online via this link - enter our school code DLT K3J 1 T9. Cash order envelopes will also be available from our office.
Brooky Pride Merit Awards
Congratulations to the following students who have received Brooky Pride Merit and Bronze Awards. These student's achievement were acknowledged in the week's Stage Assembly.
| Kindergarten | Evie K, Ava JHB, Joshua L, Yuvi B, Lani D, Ozzie W |
| Stage 1 | Bobbie F, Zara-June M, Jason N, Finn W, rennie D, Tayden S, Alex D, Georgie F, Tenzin C, Sachinn S, Alaina F, Elsie P |
| Stage 2 | Filip O, Andy K, Aria M, Julian DJ, Emilija J, Zavier C, Percy H, Scarlett W, Luelle W, Toby N, Scarlett W, Archie W |
| Stage 3 | Evelyn R, Alfred J, Alwin Y, Tenzin S, Ava S, Duke M, Taya M, Etha H, Jia R, Alice P, Eva M, Theo V |
Respect, Responsibility, Personal Best and Bronze Awards
P&C News
Welcome to the 2025 P&C Team!
On Tuesday 1st April 2025, Brookvale Public School Parents and Citizens (P&C) Association had their Annual General Meeting and, on this occasion, a new P&C team was elected for the year 2025:
- President: Hina Osmany
- Vice Presidents: Sarah Lakeman and Eric Hoy
- Treasurer: Rachita Bhatia
- Secretary: Perrine Leung
- Fundraising & Events Committee: Sarah Lakeman, Eric Hoy, Becc Page, Katharina Krohn, Rob Abrahams, Kylie Furci and Sammy Allom
- Uniform Shop Committee: Katharina Krohn and Loic Lacombe
- Grants & Sponsorships Officer: Carol-Ann Krohn
- Communications & Marketing Coordinator: Maria Radunovic
- Cultural Reference Group Representatives: Rachita Bhatia and Kylie Furci
- Environmental & Sustainability Coordinators: Julia Hoy, Eric Hoy and Kylie Furci
- Library Helpers: Bec Seelinger and Lemin Luu
- General Committee Members: Raj Saini, Bec Seelinger, Kat Krohn, Sammy Allom, Jo Cross, Sofia Kulchycki and Kylie Furci
There are still lots of opportunities to get involved in the P&C. If you are interested in volunteering on an ad hoc basis, simply register as a General Committee Member using this link.
Fundraising goal for 2025:
This year, our goal is to build a sheltered area in the car park, buy House flags for sports carnivals, and invest in a new sick bay bed.
Reminder – the P&C isn’t just about fundraising and events. We’re also the voice of the parents community. We act as a bridge between parents and the school. If you have ideas, concerns, or want to see something improved, we can advocate on your behalf and work together with the school to make it happen. Please feel free to email us anytime.
Join us for a Working Bee Day on Saturday 5 April
It is not too late to sign up to the school Working Bee scheduled tomorrow, Saturday 5th April from 12pm to 3pm.
Tasks for the day include:
- Gardening: Weeding and tending to flower beds.
- Landscaping: Enhancing outdoor areas, planting new greenery, etc.
- Cooking: Preparing a delicious sausage sizzle for all volunteers.
No prior experience needed; instructions provided on-site. All ages and skill levels welcome.
Please confirm attendance by signing up via this link.
Football Parking Volunteering
We are fortunate to be in close proximity to Brookvale Oval. During the Manly Sea Eagles home games, the P&C utilises the school car park for fundraising by charging the general public for parking spots. This stands as a significant fundraising initiative for the school and is an easily accessible volunteering opportunity.
Each parking event requires 3 to 4 parent volunteers for 1h30 hours max (the car park is usually full within 45 minutes!). Tasks include collecting entry fees and directing cars to how and where to park. All instructions will be sent by text message prior to your shift (it’s all very easy!).
It is a valuable way for all parents to help the school and meet fellow parents at the same time.
To thank you for your time, you will get a free entry (general admission) to a Manly Sea Eagles home game of your choice.
Please visit our website to sign up to your preferred date.
The next date we need volunteers for is Thursday 17 April from 6pm to 7.30pm
Uniform Shop Information
There will be no more openings of the uniform shop in Term 1. If you need uniform items, please email us with what you are after (size, quantity, etc.) and if available, we will leave your order at the school office for you to pick up and we will send you a link to pay online.
Donations to the uniform shop are also greatly appreciated. We encourage parents who have good quality uniforms their children have outgrown to drop off their items anytime at the school office or directly at the shop during opening hours.
Save the date: Mother’s Day Breakfast on Friday 9 May
Mark your calendars and join us for a heartwarming celebration dedicated to honouring the incredible mothers, grandmas, nonnas, nannas and other cherished female figures in our children's lives!
- Date: Friday 9th May
- Time: From 7am to 8.30am
- Location: Brookvale Public School
Tickets for this special event will be available for purchase by the end of Term 1. More details on ticket sales will be shared via class parents and on the P&C Facebook page.
Birthday Shout Out!
Wishing a happy birthday to all our students celebrating next week!