8 May
Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to Term 2! I hope that you all enjoyed happy and rejuvenating family time together over the school holidays.
As I write, the School Cross-Country has had to be postponed due to the sodden nature of our school grounds. Sadly, the forecast is on-going showers for the next few days but a new date will be sent out soon.
However, we had much more luck with perfect weather earlier this morning and what a Mother's Day breakfast we had!
Thank you so much to our wonderful P&C team and volunteers, especially to the main organisers Holly Barton, Tash O'Sullivan and Morgan Webster who went above and beyond to create such a beautiful morning for our Avalon mums.
We had huge and very generous community support, particularly from Bar Elvina (catering), and The Palms, Candle Kiosk and Freshwater Farms (gifts). Thank you!
Shout out to all the Avalon dads who gave up their time to 'man' the stalls today - you are legends too!
Our canteen team, led by Kirsty van der Wallen, went above and beyond as they always do too.
Thank you also to all Avalon staff who helped contribute to the success of this event.
The weather 'gods' smiled upon us today and I hope they do again for Avalon mums on Mother's Day this Sunday. We hope you have a great day and are thoroughly spoiled - you deserve it!
National Walk Safely to School Day
Next Friday 16 May is the perfect time to leave the car at home and walk to school with friends or family.
Our younger students will be offered tattoos for the event, so feel free to ‘rock them’ on the day!
Thank you to Mrs Castaing, Mrs Conn and to Mr Harold Scruby for their big support of this day.
BIG NEWS – A School Musical!
Yes, that’s right, we’re doing a school musical. “Who?”, “What?”, “When?”, “Where?”, “Why?” I hear you ask!
WHO: ALL students will be involved from Kindy to Year 6 – acting singing, dancing, performing, helping backstage or in the production crew
WHAT: A musical called “The Fairy Tale Mashup Adventure”
WHEN: dress rehearsals in Week 8 of Term 3, Performances in Weeks 9 and 10 of Term 3 (Dates TBC).
WHERE: The school hall at Avalon Public School
WHY: To provide opportunities for our students beyond the academic sphere. This ties in perfectly with our High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) focus and will enable students with talents in the performing and creative arts to shine
More details to come in the next couple of weeks….suffice to say, we’re excited!
Open Classrooms/Donate A Book/Picnic Lunch
For the last few years, we have held the Avalon Learning Expo – our special open day for students to display their learning and real-world problem-solving skills.
This year, we are changing things up!
In Week 5 of Term 3, during Book Week, parents, carers and family members are invited to visit their child’s class from 2.05pm on the afternoon of Thursday 21 August and look through schoolwork, chat causally with the teacher, and mingle with other families.
In addition, on the same day, Donate A Book in the library will be open before school and from lunch time onwards so parents and students can browse, select and buy a book for the library.
To make the event even more enjoyable, parents, carers and family members are welcome to join their child for a picnic lunch in the playground from 1.10pm onwards.
Does this mean that real world problem solving and children demonstrating their learning has stopped at Avalon? No, not at all. Children will still be given opportunities to engage in solving problems that matter to them, but for the time being, we will be pausing the Expo Day idea.
School Uniform
As the leader of our wonderful school, it is one of my priorities to ensure that standards are kept high across the school. Of course, it is always a challenge to keep an eye on everything. The word priority is defined as: “a thing that is regarded as more important than others.”
As I mentioned at the start of Term One, I understand that some families may have different perspectives on the importance of school uniforms. However, I believe that wearing the correct uniform fosters a sense of belonging and helps minimise peer pressure among students.
In the next few weeks, we will be conducting a survey about school uniform requirements and expectations as, according to the NSW Department of Education uniform policy procedures, this must be conducted “at least every 5 years or as necessary.” This purpose of the survey is to seek your feedback on the wearing of school uniform, although please note that this is not about changing the uniform.
I appreciate your support in this initiative, as we work together to create a positive and united school community.
In the meantime, thank you in advance for ensuring that your children are always dressed in the correct school uniform, equipped for class activities, and punctual to school. This commitment ensures that every child is a role model for one another and that teaching and learning remain our top priority.
Pictured below are students in summer and winter uniform, and below that are pictured the sports uniform.
It also illustrates that, despite our best efforts, we can sometimes ‘mix and match’ inadvertently. The girls summer uniform should be worn with white socks not red socks. The boys’ sports uniform should be worn with grey socks, not black socks!
As always, please remember to label all clothing and equipment with the name of your child. Please ensure your child comes wearing the correct full school uniform, including the school hat, grey socks for boys and white socks for girls, and black shoes (Velcro options are often best for the little ones).
As the NSW Department of Education notes, “school uniforms promote a sense of belonging for students and contribute to a positive identity for the school community. School uniforms also contribute to the personal safety of students by allowing for easier recognition of students, both at school and in the wider community.”
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Staff Development Day
I want to share some exciting information about the learning our staff engaged with on Day One of our two staff development days this term. We focused specifically on how Avalon Public School supports our high potential and gifted (HPG) students, how we can better identify these students, and how we can better support them in their learning journey. We believe that all students have unique strengths, and we are committed to helping each child reach their full potential. You may recall that I ‘flagged’ this focus on HPG in my introductory talks on Meet the Teacher nights early last term.
What does "High Potential and Gifted" mean?
At our school, we understand that high potential and giftedness can be seen in different ways. Your child may show exceptional abilities in intellectual, creative, physical, or social-emotional areas. It's important to remember that children develop at their own pace and may excel in one area more than others. Our focus is to become better at talent development, which means we aim to identify your child's specific learning needs and provide the right opportunities and support to help their potential grow into high achievement.
Challenging Some Common Ideas:
It's sometimes thought that HPG students will succeed on their own, but the truth is, they benefit greatly from targeted teaching and support. Like all students, they need quality instruction and strategies tailored to their needs. Also, HPG students are not all the same. Their talents and learning styles are diverse, which is why we strive for individualized approaches. We recognize that we need to get even better at this and was a key driver for holding this particular professional learning for staff. It’s also important to know that a child can have high potential even if they have a disability.
How We Support Your Child's Learning:
To help your child develop their potential, we use several evidence-informed practices. Again, these are also areas in which we are seeking to become even more effective and more proficient as teachers and as a school:
- Differentiation: We seek to tailor our lessons and activities to meet the specific learning needs of HPG students, making sure the work is challenging and engaging. This might involve adjusting the complexity, pace, or the types of activities they do.
- Formative Assessment: We regularly check your child's understanding to see what they have already mastered and what their next learning steps should be. This helps us avoid unnecessary repetition and keep their learning focused.
- Advanced Learning Pathways: For some students, this may include acceleration (working beyond grade level in an area where potential or talent has been identified), which research shows can be a very effective way for them to grow academically. In some cases, this may mean our students working in a more senior class for specific subjects (for example, a Year 2 student working in a Year 3 class for reading) or even engaging in lessons with Barrenjoey High School. Last term, we commenced a program linking talented Avalon mathematicians with student mentors and teachers at Barrenjoey High School.
- Purposeful Grouping: We sometimes group students together based on their learning needs and progress for specific activities.
Enrichment and Extension Activities:
We offer programs and activities outside of regular lessons that provide more in-depth learning and challenge, often with other students who have similar interests and abilities. These might include things like Maths Olympiads, debating, band, dance, chess, or leadership programs.
These strategies, along with explicit teaching (clear and structured lessons), help us to create a learning environment where your child can thrive. We also have high expectations for all our students, as this encourages them to aim high and build resilience.
Understanding Talent Development:
Think of talent development as a journey. It starts with your child's high potential, and with the right support, challenge, and their own commitment, it can lead to high achievement. Factors like high expectations, challenging learning, clear teaching, practice, and opportunities all play a role in this development. We also recognize that things like family circumstances or lack of role models can sometimes make it harder for potential to be realized.
What if We Don't See Their Full Potential Right Away? (Unrecognised Potential and Underachievement):
Sometimes, a student's potential might not be immediately obvious, or they may not be performing to the best of their abilities. Underachievement happens when there is a significant gap between a child's potential and their actual performance. This can happen for various reasons, such as a lack of challenge at school or a child trying to fit in with their peers.
We are committed to recognizing and addressing underachievement. We look for signs of hidden potential and try to understand the reasons why a child might not be reaching their full capacity. We aim to create a supportive learning environment where all students feel a sense of success and belonging. Strategies to help students re-engage and achieve include focusing on their strengths, building positive relationships, having high expectations, and making learning relevant and engaging.
Working Together:
Your insights into your child's strengths, interests, and how they learn are invaluable. We encourage you to communicate with their teachers if you have any observations or concerns about their learning. By working together, we can ensure that all our high potential and gifted students at Avalon Public School have the opportunity to shine.
For more information, you can also explore NSW Department of Education's High Potential and Gifted Education policy, and its web page, which aims to provide quality learning opportunities for all HPG students.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/high-potential-and-gifted-education
In concluding, let me reassure parents who might be concerned that we are shifting our focus away from students with learning difficulties or those students who are working and achieving soundly at grade level. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our staff pride themselves on catering for these students and we will ALWAYS continue to do so. Our focus on HPG came about because our data showed that this was a particular area in which we could better serve our students, as ALL students are entitled to an education that challenges and engages them at their particular level, regard less of chronological age.
We look forward to going on this journey with you!
School Uniform Seasonal Change
As we move deeper into autumn, the temperature is becoming distinctly cooler particularly in the early mornings and evenings. Please keep an eye on the weather forecast and choose either winter or summer uniform to best suit your child’s needs for the temperature that day. However, we do ask that students do not mix and match elements of winter and summer uniforms. You are always welcome to pop into the office or call if you need uniform advice.
School Tours
A reminder that school tours are on. It's a great opportunity to learn about our school, see a classroom in action, and ask any questions that you may have.
All tours are usually conducted by the principal and will commence at 9.45am on the following dates:
Thursday 5 June
Monday 16 June
Tuesday 29 July
Thursday 21 August
Friday 5 September
Please phone the school office to advise attendance on 9973 1439 or email avalon-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
P&C Meeting
Our next P&C meeting is at 7pm on Monday 26 May in the library. All are welcome to attend.
ANZAC Service
I would like to thank our school captains for their exceptional leadership during the school ANZAC service last Thursday. They displayed a high level of maturity and respect, and their efforts were truly commendable. The choir performance was exemplary – they sang so beautifully and are a credit to our choir teacher Mrs Cincotta.
The band provided musical accompaniment throughout, including noteworthy renditions of the Last Post and Reveille by Khaleesi McBryde
I would also like to extend my thanks to Mrs Shlager for her significant contribution to the ANZAC service. She worked tirelessly to organize a beautiful and moving tribute to the brave men and women who have served our country. Her efforts were greatly appreciated by all who attended.
Thank to our students, parents and teachers marched proudly in the Avalon Beach RSL Anzac parade through the village on ANZAC Day itself. Thank you to Mrs Bateson for leading our students alongside Ms Balt, Ms Geary, Mrs Lhuede and Mrs Shlager.
Simultaneously, our school band represented Avalon Public School at the Palm Beach RSL Sub Branch ANZAC Day 2025 Commemoration. The sun was shining as the band played superbly under the baton of our Band Conductor, Colden Anderson.
Our two Band Captains (Khaleesi McBryde and Taj Mangleson) lay books for our school library on the cenotaph. Ex-student Adi joined the Band and proudly sang the National Anthem to the crowd.
Big thanks to all the Band parents who assisted and the many families who were there for this special community event. It was such a fabulous ceremony!
Early drop off/Late pick up
A reminder that students should not be dropped off in to the playground before 8.55am, as teachers are not on supervision duty until that time.
Similarly, students are not supervised after school at 3.25pm and are expected to go directly home unless collected by a parent or relative. Students not collected by 3.35pm will be taken to the office and a phone call made to parents/carers. If you are running late (which happens to us all from time to time), please call the office to let them know.
If you need to drop off early, or pick up late on a regular basis, please make use of our Out Of School Hours Care, provided by the P&C.
Students playing in any area of the school after 3.25pm should be under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian. We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation in keeping all our students safe.
Enrolments now open for 2026
We have already received our first enrolments for 2026. If your child is of school age for 2026, please visit our website and complete the online enrolment application. Alternatively, you are welcome to collect a paper form from our front office.
If you have any questions about the enrolment process, Mrs Crutcher in the office will be only too happy to answer your enquiries.
As always, our school is committed to providing a well-rounded education that supports the academic, social, and emotional growth of our students. I encourage all parents and carers to stay engaged with our school community and to take an active role in their child's education.
Thank you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to another successful term at Avalon Public School.
Andy Rankin
Principal
Kindy 2026
We’re excited to welcome our 2026 Kindergarten families to Avalon Public School and have a number of upcoming events to help you get to know our school community.
Kindergarten 2026 Open Morning
📅 Tuesday 27 May 2025
🕤 9:45am – 10:45am
📍 Avalon Public School Hall
School Readiness Information Evening
📅 Wednesday 30 July 2025
🕕 6:00pm
📍 Avalon Public School Library
Starting school can be both exciting and a little daunting for young children and their families. Our Kindergarten teachers will be hosting a School Readiness Information Night to help parents and carers prepare their child for school and set them up for success.
Mentoring Maths Minds through ABLE: Inspiring Growth in Gifted Learners with Barrenjoey High School
We’re proud to introduce the Avalon Barrenjoey Links Enrichment (ABLE) program—an exciting new initiative making a remarkable difference for our high potential and gifted (HPG) students in mathematics. Through a unique mentoring partnership with talented Year 10 mathematicians from Barrenjoey High School, our gifted learners are receiving targeted enrichment and extension in mathematical problem-solving.
This initiative aligns with the NSW High Potential and Gifted Education policy, particularly its focus on advanced learning pathways. Mentoring is a powerful strategy to extend, challenge and inspire students who are ready to explore content beyond the scope of the classroom. Mentoring benefits both the mentee and mentor. For our high school mentors, the program builds leadership and communication skills and offers the opportunity to deepen their own understanding through teaching others. For our gifted learners, it provides the depth, pace, and complexity they need to thrive.
Each week, our primary students work alongside their high school mentors to explore rich mathematical tasks, often similar to those seen in the Maths Olympiad. These peer-based mentoring sessions strengthen students’ reasoning and strategy development, while encouraging metacognitive thinking—reflecting on how they solve problems and adapt their strategies.
In addition to enriching student learning, ABLE showcases the strength of cross-school collaboration. By connecting Avalon Public School and Barrenjoey High School, the program fosters shared expertise and creates meaningful learning opportunities that support the development of high potential in both settings.
The ABLE program has been led collaboratively by Bianca Howarth (Deputy Principal) and Tamar Stewart (Learning and Support Teacher) at our school, along with Sarah James (Deputy Principal, Barrenjoey High School) and Michelle McKay (Learning and Support Teacher, Barrenjoey High School).
Sustainability Stars
As we embrace our commitment to sustainability, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful Year 5 students who have taken on the responsibility of running the K-2 and 3-6 sauce stations during lunchtimes.
Each day, these dedicated students serve delicious sauces for our much-loved sushi, pies and sausage rolls purchased from the canteen. By our canteen providing these sauces in bulk rather than using individual packets, they are playing a crucial role in reducing plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfill. The efforts of the Sauce Station monitors not only contribute to a cleaner environment but also align with our school motto, "Happiness through Helping."
Thank you, Year 5, for your hard work and dedication. We are proud of you!
NSW Public Schools Student Survery
In Week 4 and 5 of this term, we are offering our students the opportunity to participate in the NSW Public Schools Student Survey. The survey gives students the chance to share their thoughts and feelings about life at school, including questions about their engagement, learning experiences and wellbeing at school.
Hearing directly from our students will help us understand what’s working well and where improvements can be made to our school. The survey is confidential, takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and will be conducted online during school hours.
Participation is voluntary. If you prefer your child not to participate, please complete the opt-out consent form, which will be sent home in Week 2, and return it to the school by the end of Week 3. Further information about the survey is available at https://education.nsw.gov.au/npss
Garden Club
We're back! Welcome to Term 2 of Garden Club. This term we are focusing on SOIL. We have had classes out with magnifying glasses this week, looking at different types of soils that are around the school. Looking for worms, insects and other microbial things that might be going on. What makes a healthy soil?, was one of the questions we asked students. Why is it important? The easy breakdown of that is: Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants = Healthy People. So a little bit of science and worm fun has been a great start to our term.
Things that we are planting now are beetroot, chard, carrots, radishes, an assortment of brassicas, broad beans, kale, peas, onions and of course plenty of flowers for the pollinators.
We took the last of the summer sweet basil out that the caterpillars had found and have replaced it with cos lettuce for the Canteen... don't be fooled by the cool change, there's still a lot going on in the Garden (even if a little boggy underfoot!)
Sue and I are excited about our new little Crop Sharing Shelf, just outside of our Bellevue Ave Garden. Have you noticed it yet? It will be a little spot where we will put our produce and other exciting things from time to time.
This week we have had the first bits of rainbow chard, chillies, capsicum which are continuing to fruit, some shiso that is going to seed and some bits of sugar cane if anyone is keen to propagate it, it's super easy. All of our fruit and our veggies are organically grown, Enjoy.
We would like to say thankyou Mr Seaton for kindly donating to the School some beautiful Pandanus plants, which we have already planted in the Mindfulness garden. Mr Seaton has also donated some amazing pots which will be perfect for our Blueberries, thanks Joel! If anyone ever has any pavers, pots or plants that they would like to move on, Garden Club is always keen. You can contact the front office or you can email Garden Club at gardenclubavps@gmail.
Which reminds me... we are ALWAYS especially happy to take your food scraps! Drop them into the Compost bins anytime, that is absolute gold for us.
Keep on Growing
Sue and Fiona
Garden Club
Band
Young Musicians of the Month – Celebrating Student Excellence
A huge congratulations to the following students for their outstanding dedication and progress in band! More certificates are on their way!
Training Band
• February – Olivia Cutler
• March – Ziggy McCormack
Concert Band
• February – Oxley Grayson
• March – Louis Lee
Performance Band
• February – Frankie Rouhan
• March – Roy Laurich
We’re so proud of all our young musicians – keep up the great work!
🎺 ANZAC Day Performances – A Tribute to Remember
This year, our talented Performance Band played a key role in the Palm Beach RSL Anzac Service and the school ANZAC Assembly on Thursday, 1st May. They performed heartfelt renditions of Remember the ANZACs, the Australian and New Zealand National Anthems, and Abide With Me.
Special mention to Khaleesi McBryde for a respectful and moving performance of The Last Post and The Reveille.
Concert Band gave a wonderful performance on 6th May at the Year 3–6 assembly, playing Beethoven's Ninth and Bunyip Blues. Many in the audience could be seen dancing along to Bunyip Blues’ infectious jazzy beat. Special recognition was given to our newest members Louis, Lukas, Salvador, and Flynn, who have only started playing this year..
Mufti Day – Thank You, Legends!
A huge shoutout to all our wonderful students on Mufti Day! It was amazing to see everyone dressed as their favourite music legends!
You all looked incredible, and more importantly, helped raise much-needed funds for our Band Program. Thank you for the enthusiasm, creativity, and support – what a hit!
Upcoming Events!
Band Camp – Two Weeks to Go!
We're on the countdown to Band Camp and we have a lot of very excited musicians, ready for a weekend full of music, activities, and fun!
Our wonderful Band Camp Committee has been putting their hearts and souls into planning a weekend that’s sure to be full of unforgettable moments for everyone!
Weekend Highlights
A weekend of music: Our young musicians will engage in a weekend full of enriching musical experiences – tutorials, sectionals, and rehearsals, culminating in a performance on Sunday afternoon for families and teachers.
Activities: From archery tag and damper-making for the younger kids, to chariot building and archery tag for the older ones – there’s no shortage of fun!
Disco Theme Night – Dress as your favourite character: Musician, pop star, composer – or get your inspiration from elsewhere! Re-use your Mufti Day outfit or have a trial run for Book Week!
Northern Beaches Instrumental Festival
As we move into June, get ready for more music as our bands participate in this exciting local festival. Details to follow!
Join Our Band!
Our band program is open to students from Year 3 upwards. It's a fantastic opportunity for children to develop their musical talents, engage in creative expression, and form lasting friendships.
Interested in enrolling your child or need more information? Please reach out to us at avbandrocks@gmail.com.
Strings
Avalon Strings had a productive term one attending the Northern Beaches String workshop at Pittwater High and performing for parents in the school hall in the last week of term. Musicians truly enjoyed playing the repertoire they've been practicing and parents were suitably impressed! As we have several new year 2 players the part playing and intonation was very commendable. Below are some pictures showcasing our school talent.
Term two will also be a very musically productive one with performances at Pittwater Palms, Palm Beach Kindy and school assembly and advanced students undertaking their AMEB examinations. Rehearsals are Tuesday mornings with strings instrumentalists playing at the Sydney opera house attending additional rehearsals.
For enquiries please contact Emma Wake 0417 455 598.
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