Avalon Public School eNewsletter

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this finds you reading this somewhere warm and dry. Despite the rain, we are excited to remind you that during Book Week next week, we will be offering two new opportunities for our students and parent/carer community:

Book Character Costume Day

Tuesday 19 August: this will be our traditional Book Character Costume Day. However, this year, ALL classes will parade north from school, in costume, along the west side of Old Barrenjoey Road down to the crossing at Avalon Parade. We will then cross over and return to school on the eastern side of Old Barrenjoey Road.

This provides a wonderful opportunity for our entire Avalon community to see our students. Parents and carers are invited to line the streets to support our students as they parade.

Alternatively, at the end of this informal parade, all students will make a loop of the playing fields opposite the school on Old Barrenjoey Road for any parents who would prefer to see us there before students cross back into the main school entrance.

The parade is subject to good weather and may be cancelled if it is raining or adjusted if the grounds across the road are too boggy. We will update next week.

Parade Time: 10.50am-11.20am

Donate a Book Day/Open Classrooms

On the afternoon of Thursday 21 August parents, carers and family members are invited to visit their child’s class from 2.10pm and look through schoolwork, chat casually with the teacher, and mingle with other families. Parents and carers will be invited into the classroom once the students have returned to their rooms after lunch finishes. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

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 (Please see the attached message from our librarian Ms Christie with full details of Donate a Book).

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. BYO picnic lunch. Due to a significant number of students with allergies, we ask that you do not share food.

The Picnic Lunch is subject to good weather and may be cancelled if it is raining or the grounds are too wet. We will update next week.

Please note, this is a regular school day so students are expected to remain at school until 3.25pm.

to the performance for proof of reservation.

Avalon in Wonderland Tickets on Sale Wednesday 20 August

The wait is nearly over….initial tickets go on sale this coming Wednesday 20 August at 11.30am.

Please see the flyer below for how to access the booking link.

Please note – to ensure all parents and carers get tickets, the initial launch is restricted to a purchase of up to 4 tickets.

On Wednesday 27 August at 11.30am, we will open tickets to an unlimited number of purchases for as many shows as you would like.

We have a capacity of 345 seats for each of the 8 shows for a total number of 2,760 tickets!

All seats are reserved and numbered, so please ensure you bring your ticket along

Tickets_Poster_2_.pdf

Enrolments for 2026/staffing matters

We are now enrolling for Kindy 2026 and I urge you to enrol promptly this term, as in late September we will be issuing invitations for our Term 4 Kindy Transition program.

This year, it’s particularly important for us to confirm enrolments in ALL grades for 2026 as student numbers directly impact our staffing.

At the end of the year, we will farewell around 105 Year 6 students but we anticipate welcoming only around 80 Kindy students. This net loss of up to 45 students will translate into the loss of two classroom teacher positions and possibly three teachers if students leave in other grades.

This drop in student numbers is being experienced in almost all schools across the Northern Beaches, as families move out of the city to find cheaper and/or different lifestyle options, often in quieter, more affordable rural and coastal areas.

If you know that you will be leaving Avalon at the end of the year, please let us know by emailing the school at avalon-p.chool@det.nsw.edu.au Conversely, if you know your child will be attending Avalon but is not yet enrolled, we look forward to hearing from you this term.

Please see our website for details or call our office on 9973 1439 and ask for our Enrolment Officers, the amazing Mrs Cathy Crutcher and Mrs Jodi Newton.

P&C meeting

Our next P&C meeting will take place in the school library at 7.00pm on Monday 18 August (Week 5). Everyone is welcome!

School Tour

Our next school tour takes place on Thursday 21 August. If you know someone who is still ‘deciding’ about Kindy 2026, this is the perfect opportunity to help them clarify thinking about starting ‘big school’, or perhaps switching from another school if they are moving into the area.

Please see our website or contact the school office to book in!

Science Symposium

Congratulations to our award-winning scientists who represented Avalon PS at the Barrenjoey High School Science Symposium this week. A great time was had by all.

Thanks to BHS for hosting us and organizing the day. Big thanks to Miss Dunbar for leading our team of 3/4MD students, to Mrs Simonetti for lots of lead-up preparation and to Mr Hopley for helping out on the day.

A shining example of cross-school collaboration and NSW public school excellence.

Congratulations to our choir who performed at the Festival of Choral Music at the Opera House last week. By all accounts, it was a truly amazing evening of music, and our students, staff and parents walked away feeling very inspired and motivated.

Thanks to Mrs Stitt and Mrs Ginty for preparing for the event so well and for taking great care of our talented singers on the day.

Have a great weekend.

Andy Rankin

Principal

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Focus Area: Canteen

This fortnight, our PBL focus is on how we can demonstrate our school values of Respect, Responsibility, and Personal Best when visiting the canteen.

We have been learning that:

Respect means using good manners by saying please and thank you, listening to canteen staff, and keeping our hands and feet to ourselves while waiting.
Responsibility means lining up quietly, joining the end of the line, and making sure we allow enough time to eat before the bell.
Personal Best means being patient, following the rules for lunch order monitors, and making safe and sensible choices when it’s our turn.

Students have been discussing real-life scenarios, such as what to do if they find money, how to respond if a friend asks them to buy food, and how to wait patiently if the canteen isn’t open yet. These conversations help our students think ahead and make positive choices that reflect our school expectations.

Over the next two weeks, staff will be on the lookout for students showing excellent canteen behaviour, and tokens will be awarded to those demonstrating our school values.

You can help at home by talking with your child about:

Why manners are important when ordering food.
How to wait patiently and respectfully in a line.
Why we don’t share money or food at school.

Together, we can ensure the canteen is a positive, safe, and friendly place for everyone.

2025 Avalon WriteOn Competition Winners

Last week we celebrated the incredible writing talent of the students who entered the 2025 WriteOn competition. Congratulations to our three Stage finalists, whose stories stood out for their powerful language and imagination and will go onto the next stage of the competition against other children from NSW schools.

Our Stage 1 winner, Blake Pak Poy, painted a vivid picture of a magical world, writing: “They walked through the magical forest with big blue lanterns that shone on the small, beautiful pond.” His use of imagery transported us into a world of wonder and adventure.

Our Stage 2 winner, Noah Baker, built suspense and atmosphere with lines like: “I felt my breath quicken as I saw a dark shadow silhouetted against the stormy night sky.” A masterclass in tension and mood-setting.

And our Stage 3 winner, Tadhg Ridley, moved us with his lyrical and haunting description of loss: “The scorched earth seemed as if it was screaming.” A powerful use of personification that speaks volumes.

These are just a few examples of the exceptional writing we received. To everyone who entered, we thank you for your creativity, your courage, and your words. You made it incredibly hard to choose the winners for your stage.

Congratulations again to our winners:

Blake Pak Poy from Year 2

Noah Baker from Year 3

Tadhg Ridley from Year 5

Canteen Book Week Specials

Book_Week_Specials_2025.pdf

Sport

Regional Swimming Carnival Report

The recent Regional Swimming Carnival was an exciting event where our swimmers displayed their talent and hard work.

Raffie Roberts (3/4MD) did a great job by reaching the finals in the 50m Freestyle, where she finished in 7th place. An amazing effort from our youngest competitor!

Alyssa Elliot (6CW) also shone at the carnival. She made it to the finals in the 50m Backstroke and came 8th. Alyssa competed in several events, finishing 13th in the 50m Breaststroke, 20th in the 50m Freestyle, and 16th in the 100m Freestyle. Her efforts in all these races show her skill and commitment.

Josie Wellings (3/4MD) put in a solid performance, finishing 17th in the 50m Freestyle. Another promising swimmer with a bright future ahead!

The senior girls relay team, made up of Alina Drain (5JH), Alyssa Elliot, Evie Roberts (6LF), and Lucy Turner (6JS), finished 14th overall. Their teamwork and encouragement for each other were impressive and showed great sportsmanship despite personnel changes in the lead up.

Overall, the Regional Swimming Carnival was a wonderful chance for our swimmers to show what they can do. Everyone at Avalon is proud of their efforts and achievements.

Zone Rugby League/Union

We are thrilled to announce that Archie Jones Hughes (6LC) and Henry Killman (6LC) have been selected in the Open Combined Zones Rugby League team! Their hard work, dedication, and exceptional talent have truly shone through, allowing them to represent our school with pride.

Not only did they showcase their skills on the field, but they also exemplified great sportsmanship and teamwork, making us all proud. Congratulations to both boys on this fantastic achievement! We look forward to cheering you on in the upcoming Sydney North Tournament.

Zone AFL

Once again Harry Nosworthy from 6LF has made the combined Manly/Pittwater zone AFL team! This is a fantastic achievement and shows how hard Harry has worked in the sport.
As he joins his teammates to represent our zone, we believe Harry will keep doing great things on the field. We can't wait to hear how he performs in the upcoming games.

Congratulations again, Harry!

Henry Killman - Sydney North Rugby Union
Bowie Acevedo & Evie Roberts Pittwater Netball

Congratulations to Bowie Acevedo (6CW) and Evie Roberts (6LF) from Avalon Public School, who recently trialled for the Sydney North Netball team. Both girls showcased tremendous skill, effort and sportsmanship during the trials, competing against some of the best young players in the region.

The level of competition was incredibly strong, and we are proud to announce that Bowie Acevedo was successful in gaining selection into the Sydney North team. Bowie will now go on to represent Sydney North at the NSWPSSA Primary Girls Netball Championship in Coffs Harbour this August – an exciting and well-deserved achievement!

A huge congratulations to both Bowie and Evie for representing Avalon Public School with such pride and determination.

Bowie Acevedo - Sydney North Netball
Luka Dixon - Pittwater Manly Touch Football & Sydney North
Luka Dixon - Sydney North 11s Rugby League
Well done to Luka Dixon from 5TH for his outstanding performance at the recent NSW Under 11s Rugby League tournament. Representing Sydney North, Luka displayed incredible versatility by playing a range of positions — many of which he hadn’t trained for — and did so with confidence and commitment. His adaptability and strong team-first attitude were widely recognised and applauded throughout the tournament. Although Sydney North fell just short in the grand final against a strong Sydney West side, Luka’s efforts were a standout. Congratulations, Luka!

Sofia Macallister - Pittwater 12s Soccer
Archie Jones Hughes - Basketball & Rugby Union Pittwater

Lucy Turner - AFL

A huge congratulations to Lucy Turner from 6JS, who has been selected for the NSW AFL team! Lucy’s team put on an outstanding performance in the grand final, with all players showing great determination and strength. Although Mid North pulled ahead in the final quarter, it was an exciting match that showcased the girls' impressive skills. Lucy played a key role in the midfield across three big games on the day — an incredible effort! Well done, Lucy!

Congratulations Lucy Turner! 🎉🏉

All of us here at Avalon Public School are so proud of your incredible achievement representing NSW at the National AFL School Girls Tournament! Your team’s 2nd place finish is extraordinary — especially knowing it’s only the second U12 AFL medal in 101 years. That’s history-making! 🙌

The silver medal battle against WA yesterday sounded epic — muddy, windy, wet, and fiercely competitive. To come away with a 17–15 win in such challenging conditions shows your skill, determination, and team spirit.

Well done, Lucy — you’ve done yourself, your team, and Avalon Public proud!