News

Coronavirus - Department of Education statement

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 19:09:42 AEDT

The department is working with the Ministry of Health to monitor and respond to the unfolding international novel coronavirus situation.

Get up-to-date information about the department's response to novel coronavirus.

#Ready2020 – a great year starts here

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 13:37:02 AEDT

Starting school is a big moment in a child’s life. Here’s how to make the most of it.

We can’t wait for you to join us for a great year – the first step towards a lifelong love of learning.

Visit the department’s primary school resources for hints, tips and checklists to make a great start to the new school year, whether your child is starting Kindergarten or Year 6.

You’ll find:

Getting ready for primary school booklet – everything you need to be #Ready2020
Daisy’s First Day – the story of Daisy the koala’s first adventure at Kindergarten
advice from teachers – they’ve been through this before.

Video – #Ready2020: First day of Kindy

Duration – 1:00

Staying healthy into the new school year

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 17:03:03 AEDT

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way to protect your family from harmful diseases this holiday season and into 2020. Visit your doctor for general health and vaccination advice.

Immunisation not only protects you and your family but also others in your community, by reducing the spread of preventable diseases.

Children starting school in 2020 must have up-to-date immunisations to enrol.

These vaccinations help protect children from highly infectious and severe diseases including whooping cough and measles.

Travel health

If you’re travelling overseas during the school holidays, you may need vaccinations or medication – both for general health protection and for region-specific diseases.

If you’re travelling to the Northern Hemisphere, you may even need a flu shot.

Find out more about staying healthy while travelling.

NSW schools respond to bushfires

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:22:02 AEDT

Many schools are responding to the catastrophic fire rating that is affecting communities across the state this week.

We are continuously updating the School safety page with a list of government and non-government schools, as well as TAFE NSW campuses that are currently non-operational.

While some schools are temporarily non-operational due to localised fires, many others in high-risk areas are non-operational as a precautionary measure.

Schools in some areas are being used as emergency evacuation centres at the direction of the Rural Fire Service.

For schools that are currently operational, school pickups and dropoffs will continue as usual. If your school is currently non-operational, it will likely remain so tomorrow.

Large scale distressing events affect our school communities in many ways. Headspace’s mental health support resource (PDF 100.52KB) is available to help students, teachers and school staff respond to the bushfires.

Visit the School safety page for updates. The department’s Facebook and Twitter accounts will also provide updates during this period.

Grab a ticket to Schools Spectacular 2019

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 17:21:13 AEDT

Will you be joining us at Schools Spectacular 2019? Tickets are on sale now. Experience our live show featuring a cast of thousands of public school students from across metropolitan, rural and remote regions of NSW.

Students from different ages, cultures and backgrounds will share the spotlight as they dance, play and sing for you. Choose from one of our four massive performances at Qudos Bank Arena on Friday 22 November and Saturday 23 November.

This year's events will feature:

more than 380 schools
5,500 performers
a 3000-strong choir
2,300 dancers
an 80-piece symphony orchestra
a world-class stage band.

Group bookings

Need to make a group booking for over 10 people? Complete the Schools Preview Order Form 2019 (PDF 110KB) to attend the discounted 11am Friday matinee. The Friday matinee is discounted for school students and accompanying teachers.

If you’d like to grab a spot at one of the other three remaining shows complete the Group Booking Form 2019 (PDF 110KB).

Tickets for you and your family and friends

Save you and your family a spot online or by phone on 132 849.

Video – Schools Spectacular 2019

Duration: 0:26

Have your say on before and after school care

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 13:39:32 AEST

We want to better understand your needs for before and after school care in NSW.

Have your say today on before and after school care.

Fill out the survey by Service NSW to share your specific care needs and to register interest to stay informed of new developments.

Your input will provide insights into where there are gaps in service availability and help us to deliver extra places where they are needed.

You can also contact the team responsible for rolling out the before and after school care commitment at BASCreform@det.nsw.edu.au.

Book yourself in for Reading Hour

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 11:25:58 AEST

This Australian Reading Hour, encourage your child to discover or rekindle their love of a good book. Take the time to learn, escape and relax on Thursday 19 September and read for one hour.

Get involved at home

Join in at home and read your child a bedtime story. Studies show that reading a bedtime story six days a week can give kids almost a year’s head start when they begin school. Reading has also been shown to develop empathy, promote critical thinking and help children find a sense of self.

Join in from the classroom

Bestselling children’s author and illustrator Matt Stanton will broadcast live to primary school children across the country from the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday 17 September. We invite schools to register for the livestream of this free event.

Stanton’s author talk is among more than 140 events happening across the country involving more than 50 authors.

Take the Book Swap Challenge

We all have favourite books that we come back to again and again.

To help celebrate Reading Hour take our Book Swap Challenge. We want students, teachers, staff and parents to try reading something new on the day. To get involved, simply pair up with someone and swap your favourite books.

Take a photo and tag it with #ReadingHour so we can see how you got involved.

Video – #ReadingHour authors talk about their favourite place to read

Duration: 0:38

Looking for a good spot to open a book? We asked authors Benjamin Law, Morris Gleitzman, Jacqueline Harvey and Mick Elliott about their favourite place to read.

How to be smart and safe on social media

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 11:47:00 AEST

Use our new Digital Citizenship toolkit to empower your child to understand how their online behaviour affects themselves and others.

You and your child can find information on:

how to ‘be positive’ by understanding online behaviour and its effect
'be smart’ by thinking critically and being digitally aware
'be safe’ by protecting your security, privacy and wellbeing.

A toolkit to empower you and your child

You can find articles and videos to equip and empower your child to minimise the risks and maximise the opportunities in our digital future.

We’ve partnered with leading researchers to produce a curated toolkit – aligned to the curriculum – which teachers and you can share with the young people in your lives.

Guide your child through important concepts such as:

managing privacy settings in social media
collaborating online
avoiding scams and hoaxes
understanding the law when it comes to online speech
Internet banking, shopping online and much more.

Keep your child safe and happy online

Visit and bookmark the Digital Citizenship website. We’ll continue to add articles and resources to ensure the best possible tools are available to help you guide your child to be positive, smart and safe online.

Education Week – Every student, every voice

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 14:12:22 AEST

We are celebrating our students and their powerful voices this Education Week Monday 5 August to Friday 9 August. Every year Education Week celebrates the achievements of public schools, our students and the value of public education.

This year, the theme is Every student, every voice.

Join us for #EdWeek19 as we celebrate our students and their power to shape the world.

Video – #EdWeek19 – Every student, every voice

Duration: 0:34

Skoolbag Update

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 12:57:42 AEST

2020 Enrolments

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 09:20:20 AEST

We welcome 2020 kindergarten students to our Orientation Day on Wednesday 14th August.

You can find more information on our enrolment page.

Creative and Active Kids vouchers now available

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 11:41:49 AEST

Creative kids can now put a $100 voucher towards extra-curricular creative activities outside of school.

Together with Active Kids, this program aims to encourage more NSW children to participate in a range of extra-curricular activities such as coding, languages, circus, performing arts and visual arts.

Parents can apply for one $100 voucher for each child enrolled in school on the Creative Kids website and use it towards the cost of registration, participation or tuition. You just redeem the voucher with a registered provider in your area when making your payment.

This is a great opportunity for your child to become involved in a range of activities that will build on their education, growth and development.

Service NSW is working with industry bodies to deliver the program.

For more information, contact Service NSW on 137 788 or creativekids@service.nsw.gov.au.

P&C Meetings

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 12:34:22 AEST

Dear Parents,

An active P&C Association is essential to ensure a healthy school community where parents and community members are involved as active partners in the educational process.

The P&C Association is not only a fundraising body as it takes an active involvement in the management of school affairs. The committee has a close working relationship with the Principal and staff and ensures that the school reflects the needs of our school community.

It is vital that we attract new members to the P&C to bring in fresh ideas to support continuous school improvement and include representation of all sectors of our school community.

We are currently seeking candidates for the position of President and Fundraising Coordinator. I warmly encourage any interested members of our school community to attend our meeting and consider whether or not involvement in the P&C could be for you.

The P&C could be for you if:

You believe that outside of family life, schooling is the biggest and most important part of all of our children’s lives.
You are new to the school – or have been in the school community for years but haven’t yet been to a P&C meeting.
You have specialised skills to share in finance, business, events, design, creative services, parties, fundraising, maintenance, trades, gardening, food handling, project management or any other area
You want to meet new families and extend your school network.
You’ve ever had ideas about events or fundraising.
You want to have fun AND make a real difference to your children’s school!

I invite you to join our association, have your say and help us to provide the very best educational experience for our children.

Tonight’s P&C meeting will commence at 7pm in Mrs Deacon’s classroom. Parents are welcome to bring their children who can access computers and activities in the adjoining classroom during the meeting.

You can find out more about our P&C Meetings here.

The Game Changer Challenge is back

Fri, 31 May 2019 12:26:57 AEST

It’s not too late to become a Game Changer with applications for the Education Week challenge due by 7 June.

The Game Changer Challenge brings 16 teams from public schools across NSW – eight from primary and eight from secondary – to Sydney during Education Week in August for a three-day, intensive design-thinking workshop.

The Game Changer workshops, which start on Tuesday 6 August, includes teacher training in the use of design thinking as a teaching methodology and its application for school planning.

It also includes a team competition where schools will work under the guidance of experts from industry and academia to develop a solution to this year’s critical question: How might we humanise technology?

Department of Education Secretary Mark Scott has encouraged students and teachers to get behind the event as it highlights the critical thinking students will need to develop to succeed in the future.

“The Game Changer Challenge is an exciting initiative that helps educate and inform our students and teachers on how to integrate the problem-solving methodology of design thinking into the classroom,” Mr Scott says.

“It embraces the 21^st century skills our students will need to thrive in a globalised world such as collaboration, creative thinking and communication.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students at all levels to be involved in discussing and addressing a real-world issue that will affect their future lives. I encourage every school to get involved.”

The challenge is designed to make strong learning and teaching connections to the NSW syllabus specifically in the area of developing general capabilities such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication and problem-solving.

The challenge also provides teachers with an opportunity to gain exposure to the design thinking process and includes teacher resources to introduce this creative problem-solving methodology into the classroom.

Finalists will be selected based on a 60-second video that showcases your team’s vision around the question of humanising technology.

For more information email edweek@det.nsw.edu.au or visit the Game Changer Challenge page.

Your NAPLAN questions answered

Thu, 09 May 2019 15:21:56 AEST

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. The tests assess the foundational skills in reading, writing, spelling and numeracy that are essential for every child to progress through school and life.

This year NAPLAN takes place between 14 and 16 May for paper tests and between 14 and 24 May for schools participating in NAPLAN Online.

NAPLAN data is used to help monitor student progress over time against a national measure and to identify areas of strength and improvement. It is used in combination with other school assessments to guide and support student learning.

Watch students ask an expert the tough questions about NAPLAN.

Video – Kids ask the hard questions

Duration – 3:45

Apply now for My Community Project funding

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 15:13:38 AEST

Do you have a great idea to improve your area?

My Community Project is a new NSW Government funding program that is all about local ideas, local projects and local decisions.

You can apply now for grants from $20,000 - $200,000 for projects that will make a difference to your community. Projects could include new playground equipment, sports facilities, paths or ramps to improve access, public art or a community service.

The local community can vote for their favourite projects in July and successful projects will be announced in September.

Project applications close 15 May 2019.

Apply for My Community Project funding

Bring back memories, not measles

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:25:25 AEST

With school holidays just around the corner, it’s time to visit your doctor to check that you and your family are fully protected against measles, before you travel overseas.

Measles is a serious, highly contagious, viral illness that is easily spread through the air when an infectious person coughs, sneezes or breathes. If you and your family are not fully vaccinated, or have never been vaccinated, you are at risk of contracting measles.

Not sure if you’re fully protected?

In Australia, the measles vaccine (MMR) consists of 2 doses. If you’re not sure whether you’ve had 2 doses of the measles vaccine, visit your doctor. It’s safe to receive another dose.

Children born in Australia

If your children were born in Australia, they may have received the measles vaccine at 12 months old and the second dose at 18 months, in accordance with the National Immunisation Program.
If you have a baby under 12 months old, consult your doctor about getting their measles vaccination.

Adults born in Australia

Born before 1966 – you were most likely exposed to measles as a child and are generally considered to be immune. If in doubt, ask your GP.
Born between 1966 and 1994 – you may not have received 2 doses. Talk to your doctor about the free vaccine if you’re unsure.
Born after 1994 – the National Immunisation Program offers 2 doses, and you can check your vaccination status using the Australian Immunisation Register.

For more information about the measles vaccination, visit NSW Health or consult your local doctor.

Sutton School Fair

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 13:16:39 AEDT

Come along and enjoy our school fair on Saturday.

Cross Country

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 10:18:15 AEDT

Congratulations to all our Cross Country runners. It was fantastic to see all our runners there and competing from Kindergarten to Year 6! Mrs Campbell was very impressed with how well everyone ran. She looks forward to announcing our district representative team and the winning sports house at assembly next.

Keeping Up To Date

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 09:13:21 AEDT

To stay up to date on everything that is happening at Sutton Public School, you can check our Official Facebook Page, Newsletter or Skoolbag.

Our Facebook Page has lots of fun photos https://www.facebook.com/suttonpublic/

Our Newsletters can be found at https://sutton-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/newsletter.html

Any missed notes can be found at https://sutton-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/notes.html

Download Skoolbag by going to your app store. Make a login and choose Sutton Public from the list of schools. Make sure you choose the groups relevant to you so you recieve all the notifications you need. Instructions can be found here https://www.moqproducts.com.au/skoolbag/installation-instructions/

Bullying. No way!

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 13:30:16 AEDT

All schools are aware of the potential harmful effects of bullying, including online bullying (cyberbullying) on young people and take reports of bullying seriously. Itis also important to recognise that as adults, we can also experience bullying in many areas of our lives including the workplace or in the community. Being the victim of a bully can be a devastating experience, and can affect every aspect of a person’s life at any stage of life, long after the bully has moved on to another victim. As adults, we need to model respectful relationships for our children and support every child to understand how to deal with bullying behaviours they may experience or observe. As a school and community, when we have a shared understanding of bullying is and how it differs from other types of conflict or aggression, we are able to respond appropriately.

Remember that there is strength in numbers! Every school and community has more kids who care than kids who bully. Becoming an upstander and actively speaking out against bullying takes courage, assertiveness, compassion and leadership. A confident, positive and resilient attitude can help to stop bullying from continuing.

To be an upstander, you must take action to:

Tell the bully to stop

Get others to stand up to the bully with you

Help the victim

Shift the focus and redirect the bully away from the victim

Learning Support and Wellbeing Self-Evaluation

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 08:55:50 AEDT

Our school has opted to participate in a self-evaluation of our learning support and wellbeing processes. This evaluation will provide the school with findings and recommendations to enhance our learning support, behaviour management and wellbeing practices.

These processes will be evaluated by conducting a document analysis of policies, procedures and records, and by interviewing staff, students and parents. Our school self-evaluation team will be supported by an educational consultant, a learning and wellbeing advisor from the Queanbeyan District Office, and a visiting primary school principal.

The report will provide our school with guidance in:

· Enhancing the quality of the learning experience for all students

· Building each teacher’s capability to recognise, respect and respond to the needs of all students

· Developing, implementing and monitoring whole school planning and support mechanisms

· Working collaboratively and engaging positively with parents

The evaluation will take place on the 18th and 19th March. Focus group discussions with students from every year will be led by school staff. Teachers, support staff and parents will be interviewed by the visiting members of our evaluation team.

Parents will be interviewed by phone. If you would like to be contacted, please fill in the nomination eform on Skoolbag or contact the office. A random sampling of parents will also be contacted. A written survey eform can also be completed on Skoolbag and submitted by Friday 15th March.

We know that wellbeing is a key contributor to our students’ ability to live rewarding lives as engaged citizens in a complex and dynamic society. It is essential that every child is known, valued and cared for in our school. You can help us achieve this by taking part in this important evaluation process. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Clare Pritchard

Pupil free day

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 14:02:51 AEDT

In 2019, all teaching and executive staff in Primary Schools across the Queanbeyan Network of Schools will be part of the MathBurst Spatial Reasoning Program trial. MathsBURST is an inquiry-based teacher professional learning and student enrichment program that:

¨ develops students’ mathematics understandings through the spatial reasoning component of the general numeracy capability; and

¨ promotes STEM practices through units of work that integrate STEM across all curriculum areas with digital tools.

ALL teaching and executive staff are instructed to attend a professional learning day on Monday March 11th, 2019. To enable this training to take place, a variation of Staff Development Day from Thursday 19 December 2019 to Monday March 11 2019 for all Queanbeyan Network Primary Schools has been approved by the Deputy Secretary – Murat Dizdar.

This means Monday 11th March (Canberra Day) is a pupil free day as ALL staff will attend the professional learning event at the University of Canberra.

5 road safety tips for parents and carers

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 13:39:21 AEDT

Now that students are back to school after a break it’s a good time to chat with your child about safe behaviours when you walk or commute to school.

Here are our top tips to help our students make a safe trip:

1. Be alert and aware

Take note of the dangers you come across on your walk and bring them to your child’s attention. Point out dangers, such as vehicles coming out of driveways. Talk to your child about being alert in a road environment.

2. Hold hands

When on the footpath, at a crossing or in a car park always hold your child's hand. It is advised to do this up to the age of at least 8 years old and closely supervise until at least the age of 10.

3. Choose a safe crossing

Lead by example and choose a safe place to cross the road. Explain why it is the safest place to cross.

4. Set a good example

Your child watches everything you do, so if you cross at the crossing they will too. It is also important to share these messages with other carers who may walk with your child to school.

5. Stop, Look, Listen, Think every time you cross the road

Discuss this important road safety message. STOP! one step back from the kerb. LOOK! continuously both ways. LISTEN! for the sounds of approaching traffic. THINK! whether it is safe to cross.

Practise makes perfect

The more supervised practice your child can get the better, so why not make Term 1 the start of a new routine to walk with your child to school more often.

Older children may be ready to make the journey to school independently. Before they take this step, observe if they are road safe and reinforce the road safety messages.

For more information, check out the department’s pedestrian safety advice for students, parents and carers.

2019 Swimming Carnival

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 14:20:43 AEDT

Skoolbag Update

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 10:39:58 AEDT

Back to school

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 15:04:53 AEDT

The first day of Kindergarten and the return to school in the new year are busy times for your child – and for the entire family. To help you make the most of this time and enjoy the experience, we’ve compiled some useful tips and checklists. We want every student to be known, valued and cared for in our schools.

Our film #FirstDay2019 captures the excitement – and the nerves – of the rite of passage that is the first day of Kindergarten.

Video – Back to School 2019: First Day at Kindy

Duration – 1:00

Supplies for 2019

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 14:50:11 AEDT

Getting ready for a great start in 2019!

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 14:03:14 AEDT

Sutton Public School is making sure all students have the chance to make a great start to 2019, whether they are new to the school or coming back.

We want every student to make a strong start in education by being fully engaged in their learning and challenged to do their best, in a safe, supportive environment.

The information families need about how to prepare for the new school year is included in this letter. You will also find this information on our website, it includes starting dates, school hours, uniform information, advice about books and other supplies, voluntary contributions and student health.

Sutton Public School is part of the local community, and has always appreciated the support it receives from the community.

We strongly encourage parents and carers to find out about what their children are learning and how they are learning, and to know how we support our students through our wellbeing programs including anti-bullying, cyber-safety and behaviour policies. A “Meet the Teacher” evening will be held early in Term 1, 2019. Watch out for key dates on our website and Skoolbag app.

Starting school is a big event in any Kindergarten child’s life, and a good start will influence the rest of their school career. There is sound and practical advice on the Department of Education’s Back to School hub at education.nsw.gov.au/backtoschool.

Our school will close for the summer break at 4:00pm on Friday 21st December 2018 and reopen on Tuesday 29th January 2019. Our teachers and support staff at Sutton Public School return to school on Tuesday 29th January. New and existing students in Years 1 to 6 return on Wednesday 30th January 2019. Kindergarten students attend their Best Start Interviews by appointment between Wednesday the 30thJanuary and Thursday 1st February 2019. They have their first full day of school on Friday 2nd February 2019.

You are able to contact staff through the front office by phone or email. Our office staff will forward any digital or written correspondence to the relevant staff member to respond.

Yours sincerely,

Ms C. Pritchard

Principal

19th December 2018

Parent Satisfaction Survey

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 14:35:22 AEDT

The parent consultation meeting held this week was well supported by families representing members of all grades across the school. Topics discussed included: Term Dates, Anticipated Enrolments, Class Structures, Staff Changes 2019, Syllabus Changes 2019, School Programs, Extra Curricula Opportunities, Key Events for 2019 and School Focus Areas for 2019.

Parents were asked to respond to 3 question prompts: What should we keep doing? What should we stop doing? What should we think about doing? Specific questions unable to be addressed during the meeting were taken by the staff who will forward a response prior to the end of term. Parents are able to respond until December 17th.

The Parent Satisfaction Survey can be completed by following the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/83YBC2C

Bushfire Management Plan

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 14:23:13 AEDT

An extremely dry winter prompted authorities in New South Wales to bring forward the start of the bushfire season for much of the state this year. As worsening drought conditions across NSW continue, and a long stretch of below average rainfall, the state’s rural fire service is encouraging us all to review our fire safety plans and be prepared.

The School Safety Website provides parents and community with up to date information on all adverse weather conditions and school closures across the state. This includes a dedicated bush fire search mechanism to identify whether a school is in a bush fire prone area and/or included on the department’s Bush Fire Register.

Our own school policy contains background information, contact details and response procedures. It can be seen here Bushfire Management Plan.

Fires Near Me is the official New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) app for emergency warnings and incident information. This app provides information on incidents across NSW attended by the NSW RFS and other agencies. You can download it from the iTunes Store or Google Play .

2019 school budget allocations

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 16:27:10 AEDT

Like all NSW public schools, this week we will receive a School Budget Allocation Report with our funding for 2019. The report will help us manage our total budget delivered through the Resource Allocation Model (RAM).

The RAM supports schools through needs-based funding to ensure a fair, efficient and transparent allocation of funds. Our school has the flexibility to make local decisions based on the specific needs of our students.

We will use our 2019 funding to support students and improve educational outcomes. The school executive will continue to work with the school community as we implement the school plan using this needs-based funding.

Learn more about the 2019 RAM funding.

Illustrator's Workshop

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:34:00 AEST

On Tuesday the school hosted Danielle McDonald, a very experienced local illustrator and graphic designer. Her presentation included planning out pages before working on final drawings, how to make a character look similar on each page, and be sure to have fun.

Southern Stars

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:12:59 AEST

Eight of our Year 6 students: Holly, Bec, Charlotte, Zara, Josh, Simeon, Tom and Liam participated in Southern Stars. It was a long busy week which culminated in four performances on Friday and Saturday. We stayed in cabins and had a wonderful time. They were placed in the front row of the mass choir because they were well behaved and were excellent ambassadors for our school. I was told by the choir manager that our students were phenomenal. We should all be extremely proud of them.

Mrs Frame

New uniform policy for NSW public schools

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 12:11:45 AEST

A new uniform policy has been introduced for NSW public schools, which for the first time include the option for girls to wear shorts and pants.

The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, and the Minister for Education, Rob Stokes, announced the new "clear and concise" policy today at Condell Park Public School in Sydney.

Ms Berejiklian said the "modern makeover" would ensure that uniforms were practical and comfortable for students and affordable for parents.

The new policy says all students should have the opportunity to access the full range of school activities while wearing a school uniform, including physical activities, and girls must have the option to wear shorts and pants.

For more information, read the media release by the Premier and Minister. The new policy and implementation guidelines (PDF 116.83KB) are available on the department's website.

The Department of Education supports the wearing of school uniform to promote a sense of belonging for students and create a positive identity for the school community.

Each public school decides on its school uniform in formal consultation with students, school staff, parents and the school community.

Public schools building great Australian lives

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 12:11:45 AEST

The Public Education Foundation has launched a new campaign promoting the importance of public schools to the community.

The online campaign helps raise awareness and instil confidence in parents and the community that our public schools provide a vibrant, inclusive and high quality education to all Australians.

The videos feature three famous Australians who credit their public education for equipping them with the skills and values that have enabled them to go on and make great contributions to society.

David Hetherington, executive director of the Public Education Foundation, said the campaign aims to highlight the impact of public schools to society.

"We believe that public schools are an essential pillar of Australian society. Tens of millions of Australians have benefited from public education as a springboard to happy and successful lives," Mr Hetherington said.

"We wanted to shine a light on this great national institution so we've asked a few famous Australians to share their stories."

Mark Scott, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, said the campaign represents our commitment to supporting our students.

"We want every student in public education to be known, valued and cared for and the Public Education Foundation campaign highlights our commitment to providing opportunities for all our young people to succeed," he said.

Television personality Craig Reucassel, a writer, comedian, and host of ABC TV's War on Waste, spoke about the impact of attending a public school on his career and life.

"One particular teacher established this debating and public speaking class, and it really changed how I saw a lot of things," he said.

"I think they instilled in me a lot of the interest in social justice that I have now."

The videos also feature Professor Larissa Behrendt, the first Aboriginal Harvard Law graduate, who spoke about the teacher who had the most impact on her at school.

"My English teacher, Miss O'Sullivan, was somebody who really shaped my confidence," she said. "I was encouraged to have a voice and be passionate about what's right and wrong."

The Hon. Michael Kirby, former Justice of the High Court of Australia, recalls the encouragement he received at school to strive for excellence.

"We were a public school, encouraging people to do what they want to do and with excellence."

"Excellence was the motto of my school," Mr Kirby said.

The three students featured in the videos attend Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts, Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus and Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School.

The Public Education Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing life-changing scholarships to young people in public education and enhancing the value and reputation of public schools.

More information on the foundation is available on their website.

More new classrooms, preschool places and teachers in $17.3 billion education budget

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 12:11:45 AEST

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, Education Minister Rob Stokes and Early Childhood Minister Sarah Mitchell outlined a range of new initiatives funded by the $17.3 billion education budget in 2018 to 2019.

The government will be investing $6 billion over the next four years to deliver more than 170 new and upgraded schools, including planning for more than 20 new projects.

"We are proud to be making this unprecedented investment into the future of our children," Mr Perrottet said.

"This year's NSW Budget takes our already record school building program to another level – a massive 170 schools new and upgraded schools over the next four years.

"That brings our total schools building program to 230 new and upgraded schools since 2011."

"The NSW Liberals and Nationals Government's strong financial management has allowed us to invest so heavily in our schools and education system."

Mr Stokes said communities right across NSW will benefit from this record investment into education.

"NSW is experiencing an increase in school enrolments and we have in place an unprecedented program of investment in new and upgraded schools to meet this demand," Mr Stokes said.

A staged investment of $500 million is being allocated to provide cooling for schools, while improving the indoor environmental quality, through the installation of smart and sustainable air conditioning systems powered by solar energy.

In another landmark initiative, NSW will become the first Australian state to provide universal access to community preschool for 3 year olds under a $197.8 million program.

"Because of this historic investment, average daily fees will decrease significantly and the savings will go directly back into the pockets of hard working families," Mrs Mitchell said.

This brings total spending on early childhood education to $474.3 million in 2018 to 2019.

Other education investment in the 2018 to 2019 NSW budget includes:

$160 million to be spent in 2018-19 to continue its blitz on planned school maintenance, part of a record $747 million investment over four years.
$71.8 million to implement the literacy and numeracy strategy in NSW schools.
$50 million in additional flexible funding will be provided to government schools to implement the school leadership strategy - freeing up principals and school leaders from administrative work.
$3 million for the first comprehensive review of the entire school curriculum since 1989.
$2.8 million to encourage the preservation and study of Aboriginal languages.
$30 million to continue to deliver greater access to green space and sports facilities in public school playgrounds through the 'share our space' program.
Funding for around 900 extra full-time equivalent teaching positions in NSW government schools.

The NSW Government will also invest $1.3 billion on non-government schools, an increase of 7.5% on 2017 to 2018. This includes a $32 million increase in the building grants assistance scheme over four years for capital works projects to support enrolment growth in non-government schools.

The record $17.3 billion investment in education allocates $15.7 billion for recurrent expenses and $1.6 billion for capital investment in 2018 to 2019.

Athletics Carnival

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 11:09:48 AEST

Our Athletics Carnival was held on Tuesday 6th June at Wright Park.

Kitchen garden lesson

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 11:02:52 AEST

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Think U Know Presentation

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:59 AEST

A ThinkUKnow cyber safety and security presentation will take place at the school on

Thursday 24th May 6:30pm. For more information contact the school or visit :

http://www.thinkuknow.org.au/what-we-see-say-do-online

Skoolbag Upgrade - Important Information

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:58 AEST

SkoolBag is being updated with some improvements to give you more control over the content and notifications you receive.

You do not need to download an update, however, you will notice some changes when using the app.

You will be invited to set up a username and password when opening the app. These details will be saved to allow for quick access in the future. Your account details allow you to log into the SkoolBag app on different devices and see the same groups and subscription settings. After logging in, you will be prompted to subscribe to groups.

The upgrade will happen tomorrow afternoon, Friday 18th May.

The app will look like this upon opening.

Groups Menu

The Groups icon at the bottom of the screen will now show information that only relates to the specific groups to which you've subscribed. You can modify these group settings at any time if you decide to change your group preferences.

Open Morning 2018

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:57 AEST

Snowsports 2018

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:58 AEST

Sutton Public School Snow Interschools Team 2018

Attention all snow kids. SPS is looking to enter a team in the ACT/SNSW Interschools SnowSports competitions to be held at Perisher in July and looking for any interested Sutton Families that might be interested in some social racing for the kids.

Important Dates:

Wednesday 25^th July – Snowboard GS and Snowboard X – all divisions
Thursday 26^th July – Alpine Ski (Div 6,5,4) and Moguls ski (Div 5,4)
Friday 27^th July – Skier X (Div 6,5,4)
Entries close 27^th June

The kids are placed into Divisions based on their current Year at School.

Div 6 for K-Yr2 for the Alpine ski race only,
Div 5 Years 3 & 4 for the Alpine ski and K – Year 4 for all other events, and
Div 4 for Years 5 & 6.

The focus is on having a fun and enjoyable day and experiencing snow sports at a social level.

If you are interested and would like further information, please contact Russell Broadbent on

0407 263 720 or email Russell.Broadbent511@Gmail.com or visit www.nswinterschools.com.au

Happy Mother's Day!

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:57 AEST

P&C News

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:58 AEST

The next meeting of the P&C will be held on Thursday 17th May. The AGM has been re- scheduled for Thursday 21st June, when all current Executive will step down and nominations will be taken for the new Exec. Anyone who has been to a P&C meeting so far this year (and is a member of the P&C) is eligible to nominate for a position. If you are not a current member of the P&C, please come to the meeting next Thursday and join the association so you will be able to vote at the AGM.

At our meeting next Thursday we will begin to discuss our funding priorities for this year. The P&C have over $70 000. Please come and have a say on what we do with that money, or just check that we're acting in the best interests of the kids & the school!

Final numbers are in for this year's fete. We have put $17,000 in the kitty. Join P&C to help us decide how to spend it!

Intensive Swimming Survey

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:57 AEST

Respond to our online survey to help us evaluate our annual Intensive School Swimming Program.

Click on the link below to find our online survey. Responses close Friday 18th May.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=muagBYpBwUecJZOHJhv5kR3fFDTde_NHjEcA0mFkxLRUN1FSTVA3NlZYWTM5OE9WQzhZRzgxR01QMS4u

EOI Forms for Students in Year 6 Moving into Year 7 Due Friday 16th March

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:57 AEST

EOI forms for students in Year 6 moving into Year 7 in a NSW Government School in 2019 are due by Friday 16th March.

If we do not receive a completed EOI form we will assume your child will not be enrolling in a NSW Government High School and therefore will not be offered a placement. Please contact the school urgently if you require further information.

P&C Meeting - All Welcome!

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:57 AEST

The P&C will meet on Thursday evening, 15th February, in the Staffroom from 7pm.

The first meeting of the year is important for a couple of reasons. Firstly, P&C membership lapses at the end of the Calendar year, so everyone needs to come to a meeting to join or renew their membership.

Secondly, our AGM will be our first meeting in Term 2. All positions are spilled at the AGM. Only P&C members can nominate for positions, or vote at the AGM, so it is important that as many people as possible attend two P&C meetings in Term 1 so they are members by the AGM.

We would love to see you all there for the start of 2018.

Parent Information Night - Thursday 22nd February

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:58 AEST

Our teachers are looking forward to meeting with you to share aspects of their programs and class structures for the year. Whilst each term class organisation and programs will change, this overview will build your understanding about homework, class activities and behaviour expectations.

This information evening is open to all parents. Each stage team will give a presentation in the hall. Individual teachers will then be available to answer questions.

6:00pm - 6.30pm Stage 3 (5/6C, 5/6 D, 5/6M)

6.30pm – 7:00pm Stage 2 (3/4 B, 3/4 F, 3/4 R)

7.00pm – 7:30pm Stage 1 (1/2 A, 1/2 C, 1/2 D)

There is no need to make a booking to attend. Light refreshments will be available in the courtyard.

Class teachers will not be able to hold individual interviews at this time, but formal Parent and Teacher Interviews are scheduled to be held during Weeks 6 and 7 of this term. Information on how to make a booking will be available from Week 5.

Further information for Kindergarten parents will be provided by the teachers during Weeks 6 and 7 when families receive feedback on our Best Start Assessments.

We look forward to seeing you.

P&C Meeting

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:57 AEST

The first P&C Meeting for 2018 will take place on Thursday 15th February at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to come along to the staff room for the meeting.

Check out our P&C page for more information.

Welcome Back!

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 20:13:59 AEST

We look forward to seeing our new and returning students for a wonderful year of learning in 2018.

Students in Years 1 to 6 resume school on Tuesday 30th January.

Following their Best Start interviews our Kindergarten students begin classes on Thursday 1st February.

Please see the attached Welcome Back Note (pdf 62 KB) outlining key dates and times for Week 1.