SPPS P&C Mid-year Activity Update 2021
Dear SPPS families,
Well, in spite of COVID19 ambushing many of our grand plans last year, we’re starting to get back into a more familiar rhythm of P&C activities now. I’m pleased that we’re still managing to move forward and get plenty done. I hope that you find the following update of interest.
Sincerely, Kate Hafey, President, St Peters Public School P&C Association.
ABOUT US: Our P&C Association is a not-for-profit organisation, established to promote the interests of the school by bringing parents, citizens, students and teaching staff into close co-operation. We facilitate change, progress and community engagement where we see the need. We help to shape the school to cater to the needs of its community, and to make a real difference for students and their future.
Your P&C team for 2021:
Office bearers: Kate Hafey (President), Julie Thomas (Vice President), Belinda Doley and Deena Ramadan, (shared Secretary role), Emily Davis (Treasurer).
Additional executive members: Alli Crawford, Alana Freeburn, Vanessa Freiinger, Nathalie Garcia, Kelly Howson.
Subcommittees:
• Canteen: Belinda Doley, Ben O’Donnell
• Community Safety: NEW subcommittee, members sought
– please email stpeterspandc@gmail.com if you are interested in joining.
• Fundraising: Belinda Doley, Vanessa Freiinger, Nathalie Garcia, Kate Hafey, Kelly Johansen Howson, Belinda McLean, Deena Ramadan, Trish Rowling
• Grants: Yolanda Beatson, Alana Freeburn, Kate Hafey
• Music: Belinda Doley, Ben O’Donnell
Working parties:
• Reconciliation: Alana Freeburn, Kate Hafey, Deena Ramadan, Belinda Rickerby.
• School uniform: NEW working party, members sought
– please email stpeterspandc@gmail.com if you are interested in joining.
As the school continues to grow, new and 2nd hand uniform sales need to be streamlined. We are looking for fresh ideas about to manage uniform purchasing, storage and sales.
WHAT'S ON – UPCOMING 2021:
• Tue 20th July: P&C Meeting
• Thu 22nd July: Athletics BBQ
• Sun 25th July: Working Bee
• Wed 28th July: Open day BBQ
• Sat 31st July: Comedy Night
• Fri 3rd Sept: Father’s Day gift stall & raffle
• Sat 4th Sept: Local Government Election BBQ & cake stall
[School holidays: 20th September – 1st October]
• date tba: Book sale
• Fri 29th Oct: Art Show
• Nov-Dec: Xmas tree sale
• date tba: 140th Anniversary
• date tba: Fun Day BBQ
COMPLETED 2021:
• Wed 23rd June: 2nd-hand uniform sale
• Fri 7th May: Mother's Day stall and raffle
• Wed 12th May: Cross Country BBQ
• Fri 14th May: Welcome BBQ breakfast
• Sun 28th March: Working Bee
Some examples of funds granted to school during 2021:
• Student bursary
• Smart Board replacement
• 20 Chromebooks
• Art equipment
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
CANTEEN
Lunch orders:
Botany Bites is now providing lunch service five days per week.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Icy poles:
Friday icy poles remain popular and will continue through winter, remember your dollar coins* to avoid disappointment...
*Australian coins only please – we can't accept overseas currency, bank will not honour foreign coins, which means less money goes into P&C account, waaah! (If anyone wants to swap real Aussie money for some cool coins from other countries, let me know. There's even a timezone token in the rejects bag).
Soon, you'll also be able pre-pay for icy poles via our Square on-line shop...
Thank you to all the volunteers who take turns each week to dispense icy poles – you turn to their Friday into Friyay!
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
FUNDRAISING
Comedy Night:
Book the baby sitter and get some friends together for a great night out
– buy your tickets now @ https://comedyforacause.net/tc-events/sp/
WHAT: Comedy For A Cause presents a showcase of some of the best comedians from the Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festival in support of St Peters Public School.
Plus great food, wine and beer.
WHEN: Saturday 31st July, 2021
Doors: 6:00pm, Showtime: 7:30pm, Conclusion: 9:45pm (approx')
WHERE: St Peters Public School – School Hall
St Peters Street, St Peters NSW 2044
WHO: Tommy Dean, David Smiedt, Stephanie Broadbridge and Andrew Paskin (subject to change)
HOW: Book now @ https://comedyforacause.net/tc-events/sp/
• Tickets: $30 + booking fee
• 18+ event – MAY CONTAIN COARSE LANGUAGE AND ADULT CONCEPTS.
Presented by Comedy for a Cause on behalf of St Peters Public School P&C Association. Proceeds go to making St Peters Public School a better place to learn and grow.
• Seeking volunteers – please email stpeterspandc@gmail.com or contact Kate on 0421 33 7170 if you are available to help.
• Seeking donations: alcohol (bottles, cans, wine, beer, cider...), wine glasses
– please email stpeterspandc@gmail.com or contact Kate on 0421 33 7170 if you have items to donate.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Second-hand uniform sale:
WHEN: Wed 23rd June, after school assembly
WHERE: Central courtyard, outside school hall
HOW: Cash and eftpos
Donations welcome: If you have items to donate, please leave at the School Office, remember to mark your bag or box clearly (eg. "uniforms for P&C") to avoid confusion. All donations welcome and any proceeds go back into supporting the school.
Thank you very much to Julie Thomas for all your hard work co-ordinating the sale of second-hand uniforms.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
140th Year Anniversary of St Peters Public School:
An event will be held later in the year, plans are still under way.
When we have a date for this event, we'll be seeking volunteers to assist.
• Seeking school memorabilia: if you have relevant photo's, documents, records of oral history, etc. that you believe might be of interest for the anniversary and you are happy for them to be copied and displayed at the school, please email stpeterspandc@gmail.com or contact Kate on 0421 33 7170.
• Seeking alumni: if you are a past student or staff member, or know someone who is, please email stpeterspandc@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list, so that you can receive updates about reunion activities.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Art Show 2021 Fundraiser:
P&C will provide a bar, the amazing grazing table, BBQ, etc. again.
• Seeking volunteers + donations: alcohol (bottles, cans, wine, beer, cider...), wine glasses
– please email stpeterspandc@gmail.com if you are available to help or have items to donate.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Book Sale:
Postponed 2020 due to COVID19, pending re-scheduled date.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Hillview Farms Fundraiser:
Hillview Farms is an Australian owned family business dedicated to sustainable farming. Located in Leichhardt providing home delivery of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, charcuterie and many more fine foods free of synthetic chemicals direct from their farms to your table.
They have now set us up as a donation option in their on-line checkout, You simply place your grocery order online at hillviewfarms.com.au, then select 'St Peters Public School' from the drop-down list at check-out.
5% of the sale will be allocated as a donation for our school. Each time those donations from sales reach a balance of $250, the funds will be transferred to our account.
Please share with your family and friends and ask them to support St Peters Public School too!
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Container fundraising:
Envirobank is no longer running at SPPS. We will soon distribute a QR code, so that money will go into P&C account when you deposit containers at Return & Earn machines.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
COMPLETED FUNDRAISING EVENTS:
Cross Country carnival:
We enjoyed fine weather on the day, and P&C provided a BBQ lunch for students, staff and volunteers, in the central courtyard.
Our on-line pre-ordering system worked well, reducing cash-handling and paperwork, and kept queues moving fast.
Thank you to the volunteers who helped out with cooking, setting up, packing down and washing up – you helped the day run smoothly.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Mother’s Day Gift Stall:
Lots of great donations were received, which meant that the kids had lots to choose from for their special big people. Thank you so much to all the families who contributed items.
Someone left a bag of beautiful earrings for the stall – there was no name on the bag, so I don't know who to thank. Whoever you are, thank you so much, they were perfect.
Thank you to Leticia Lasala and Meri Aleksovski for your wonderful wrapping and assistance with the gift stall Friday.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Mother's Day Gift Stall IOU's:
Some students didn't have cash on the day and were issued with an IOU form.
IOU's are now due – you can pay:
a) on-line at our Square shop;
b) or via direct deposit to:
Account name: St Peters Public School PandC
BSB#112879
Account# 431971141
Reference: '[Your Surname] mum2021'
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Mother's Day Gifts FOR SALE:
Some gift items are still available for purchase and you can buy them on-line now at www.sppspandc.org.au/store
We have a range of beautiful earrings, necklaces and bracelets available. There are some sets with earrings + necklace, and earrings + bracelet.
Plus, some cute coin purses and warm scarves in a selection of colours.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Our new Raffelink account enabled families to purchase tickets online and saved P&C a whole lot of work.
Thank you to all who supported us by buying tickets.
A massive THANK YOU! to the wonderful prize donors:
• Priceline Marrickville Metro
Our SPPS community is invited to please support our generous donors, who have kindly supported the school, by patronising their businesses and organisations where possible
– please drop in for a visit and check out their products and services.
Kitchen Queen stock a great range of homewares and gifts for every occasion. We can help you find the perfect gifts for loved ones, or products you can love yourself. We stock products that make kitchen chores a pleasure and entertaining a breeze.
Eco-conscious personalised gifts and decorations – ready-made or customisable, handmade items and more. Plus, unique function planning to make your special day outstanding and memorable. https://www.facebook.com/LoveforDetailCreations Shop 1 / 60 Earlwood Avenue, Earlwood"
Stocking a great range of magazines, greeting cards and gift ideas too. Stationery, paper products and packaging for all of your office needs. Large range of toys, games and souvenirs. Come on in and be surprised by our range.
For the woman who values beauty, individuality and fine workmanship. Each creation is a bespoke, unique and timeless piece that reflects the spirit of the wearer and their personal style – Nicole Winkler can create your future family heirloom.
Priceline is dedicated to helping women look good, live well and feel great. We have a vision to be Australia's leading health, beauty and wellbeing retailer, and we're on the right track. Why is Priceline a cut above the rest? Because in our 400+ stores nationwide, we're dedicated to being first with beauty trends, specialist advice and the best prices
Ladies' clothing, shoes, handbags, scarves and ponchos
One of the nicest ways to express a personal message is to "SAY IT WITH FLOWERS". So whether you are looking for a birthday, anniversary, congratulations, sympathy or romance gift, give the gift of fresh flowers from Sunset Flowers – your specialised accredited florist.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Teatowel fundraiser 2020 remainders for sale:
A small number of 2020 aprons still available and can be purchased online via our Square shop.
Our limited-edition design is made up of self-portraits drawn by our 2020 students & staff. The pictures and names are arranged together in a commemorative design then screen printed onto premium 100% aprons.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
OTHER COMPLETED EVENTS:
‘Walk to School Day’ / Welcome BBQ:
P&C provided a free BBQ during combined ‘Walk to School Day’ / Welcome for families / meet Helping Hands OSHC event on Friday 14th May (our previously scheduled Welcome BBQ had been postponed in Term 1, due to stormy weather).
Thank you to our great volunteers for cooking, setting up, packing down, and washing up. A big thanks to Kelly Howson for helping with both this event and the Cross Country BBQ in the same week.
The lovely Helping Hands OSHC team provided healthy fruit, cereal & milk options and were on hand to talk to families interested in the Helping Hands OSHC service.
While the morning was a bit chilly, we enjoyed clear weather and it was so great to see families back at school again.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Working bee:
P&C held a Working Bee on Sunday 28th March. We had pleasant conditions for getting stuff done outdoors.
Thank you to all who gave their time to improve our beautiful school campus.
Our next Working Bee is on Sunday 25th July, to make the school campus tidy and presentable for visitors attending our Open Day the following week
– please click here to RSVP and get involved.
You can choose from the list of jobs or opt to be assigned a task on the day. Attend briefly or stay for the duration, according to your available time, skill or interest – any input is welcome.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
GRANTS
We were very pleased to be successful in the 2019 and 2020 NSW Government ‘Community Building Partnership’ grant rounds to fund fencing to safely separate the carpark from the playing field (CBP2019), and a multipurpose sports court (CBP2020).
In the past, we won the CBP2018 grant to fund the shade structure in the central courtyard.
THANK YOU to our State Member for Heffron Mr Ron Hoenig for your most kind support for our CBP grant applications.
THANK YOU to the NSW Government for funding these projects.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
CBP2019 Grant – Car park Fence Works:
This grant is to fund the installation of a fence to separate the playing field from car park, including lockable vehicle gates and lockable pedestrian gate, to improve user safety.
The Department of Education Assets Management Unit Works advises that works are pending.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
CBP2020 Grant – Sports Court Works:
The multipurpose sports court project is costed at $211,395. It will have reversible netball / basketball goals and multiple markings so that different games can be played on it.
We were granted $80,000 from the NSW Govt CBP2020 Grant. P&C’s commitment is $1,000 and the school has committed $26,000.
The NSW Department of Education Metro Renewal grant has awarded the school $106,000 in matching funds – so, we now have enough money to purchase the court in full.
The NSW Department of Education Assets Management Unit will co-ordinate the works, which will commence soon...
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Volunteers Grant:
Our $5,000 nomination for the DSS Volunteers Grant has been approved by our Federal Member (Grayndler) Anthony Albanese. Our submission now goes to DSS to final approval.
The grant is to be used to fund resources that help volunteers. We have won this grant twice previously, and the funds have been very useful for replacing obsolete and unsafe equipment and acquiring many great resources such as pop-up gazebos for our fundraising events.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
MUSIC
Our music student numbers are growing and they're sounding great.
Instrument pool:
P&C has recently purchased a number of instruments for hire to students. Greg Shapley will manage the hire process, details to be provided soon.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
COMMUNITY SAFETY:
40km/hr zone:
St Peters Public School P&C have requested a 40km/hr zone on Campbell St, to allow safe crossing to and from school for our students.
Transport for NSW have advised that this crossing doesn't meet criteria for approval of a 40km/hr zone, due to Campbell Street not being directly next to a school entrance. To support our case for TfNSW to reconsider our request, we need to gather information about how our school families travel to and from school
– WE INVITE YOU TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SURVEY:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdneY9fJQOfKRnm2y_tY5WwQzhK3quZlblmpYzhUT6fpAXyaA/viewform
For NSW Govt information on school zones, please see:
• roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/schools/
• roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/schools/flashinglights/faqs
• roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/schools/authorities
Questions?: Contact 0421 33 7170 or stpeterspandc@gmail.com
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
OTHER P&C INITIATIVES
Did you know that the P&C was the driver of the following initiatives at SPPS?
Ethics classes (since 2016):
Thank you so much to our volunteer ethics teachers, recruited and co-ordinated by Julie Thomas.
New volunteers are always welcome – no experience is necessary, and training and lesson plans are provided.
Training is a mixture of online modules and a 2-day course – all previous volunteers have found this training to be beneficial in many other life areas.
Ethics classes are on Tuesday mornings for 30 minutes per class, between 9–11am.
For more information about the programme, visit https://primaryethics.com.au/volunteer/
Please email stpeterspandc@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining the SPPS Ethics team.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
OSHC (since 2014):
Capacity increase: Helping Hands have lodged an application to increase their daily student capacity from 45 to 60, approval is pending.
This is great news and will give HH greater flexibility to accommodate the out of school hours care needs of our growing SPPS community.
Gate security: To improve security and safety, Helping Hands are currently investigating modifications for the gate that opens from St Peters Street to the school hall entrance.
Questions?: Contact Clara Alzate, Helping Hands, 0409915708, stpeters@helpinghandsnetwork.com.au
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Native bee hive (installed 2016):
Our native bee hive is adjacent to the kitchen garden. We host a hive because bees are key to the success of any garden, especially one focused on food production.
There are over 1,500 species of Australian native bees, some are solitary and some are social (meaning that they live co-operatively in hives). The particular species of our hive is Tetragonula carbonaria (or ‘TC’) – a small, sting-less, social bee.
The hive is periodically "split". Splitting involves separating an established hive into two parts, so that a new hive can be established independently from the first. During the split, the health of the hive can be checked and some of the honey can be harvested.
Our next hive split is anticipated to be in November 2021 and we’ll be inviting the community once again to join in.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
SAKG Curriculum resources:
P&C donated Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation curriculum books to the school in 2017. These great resource books contain Department-approved curriculum plans and more.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Kitchen Garden (installed 2017):
The long-term goal of the kitchen garden was originally a paddock-to-plate programme – with kids harvesting, cooking and sharing the produce.
Luckily, Kate Hafey won a $7,500 Toyota/National Tree Day prize in 2016 which paid for the installation of the kitchen garden (completed early 2017), with funds left over for ongoing maintenance, consumables, resources, etc.:
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
SAKG Membership:
P&C has funded annual 'Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation' membership for the school since 2017.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Garden shed (installed 2018):
This shed and the shelving inside it was funded by the DSS Volunteers Grant 2016. We also gathered garden tools and other resources for class use and maintenance, all stored in the shed.
.jpg)
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Worm composting (installed 2020):
Kate also won a Subpod worm composting unit, which was installed in one of the kitchen garden beds in late 2020.
Each class has a container for collecting daily scraps, and food scraps from the student lunches and Helping Hands are being composted weekly.
The beautiful compost produced by the worms in the subpod can be used to help improve the soil in the garden beds.
A big THANK YOU! to Subpod for offering this great prize.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sustainable School Network Membership (since 2016):
We are a member of the Inner West Sustainable School Network (facilitated by Inner West Council Environment Office).
The IWSSN is a forum for school sustainability leaders to connect, share skills and learning resources, find opportunities, and inspire ideas for growing individual and collective action.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Green Team (coming soon...):
A number of parents are keen to help support it with maintenance and assisting with class sessions and a Green team (friends of the garden) sign-up form will be available soon for families interested in joining.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Seeking donations:
Large pots, tall wooden and bamboo stakes, garden tools, potting mix, etc.
– please email stpeterspandc@gmail.com or contact Kate on 0421 33 7170 if you have items to pass on.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Student bursary (since 2017):
This annual bursary is $1,500 to assist disadvantaged or in-crisis families to support their schooling needs; consisting of a $500 bursary for one student in need and $1,000 pool for ad-hoc support of students in need.
The bursary is not tied to any conditions/requirements of academic performance, aptitude or achievement. It is to be allocated quietly and discretely by the Principal, and the P&C does not need visibility of who is funded.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Student Injury Insurance (since 2019):
P&C funds Student Injury Insurance for all students enrolled at SPPS
.
Benefits and cover include: dental expenses, emergency transport, ambulance cover, bed care cover, clothing allowance, broken bones, non-medicare medical expenses, death benefit.
Please see https://www.sppspandc.org.au/studentinjuryinsurance for the policy PDS (Product Disclosure Statement), general information, FAQs, etc.
The policy is brokered through the P&C Federation's insurer Andrews Insurance Services.
Claims are to be lodged with the insurer, not to the school or SPPS P&C.
Please read the PDS carefully to understand what is and isn't covered. The policy does have limitations and there are different conditions and coverage regarding where the injury took place. Questions should be referred to the insurer.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Second-hand uniform pool (since 2015):
P&C operates a second-hand uniform pool. Most items are just $5 each.
To keep abreast of what's on offer, please
• subscribe to the 'St Peters Public School Families' facebook page,
• or send requests for any items and specific sizes you're seeking to stpeterspandc@gmail.com.
Inspections of items are by appointment and we hold some ad-hoc second-hand uniform sales on site during relevant school events.
Our next uniform sale:
WHEN: Wed 23rd June, after school assembly
WHERE: Central courtyard, outside school hall
HOW: Cash and eftpos
Donations welcome:
What to do with uniforms that no longer fit?
– please consider donating to our P&C second-hand uniform pool.
If you have items to donate, please leave at the School Office, remember to mark your bag or box clearly (eg. "uniforms for P&C") to avoid confusion.
All donations welcome and any proceeds go back into supporting the school.
Thank you very much to Julie Thomas for all your hard work co-ordinating the sale of second-hand uniforms.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
MEMBERSHIP: Want to participate in decision-making that affects the quality of your child’s school experience?
Annual membership is $1 and you are recognised as a financial member after paying membership and attending one meeting.
Members agree to follow the P&C Constitution, by-laws, Code of Conduct and sub-committee rules.
You must be a member to vote at meetings, including the AGM, or to nominate yourself and others for Office Bearer positions.
Please click here to complete the membership form.
Your participation and contribution will be greatly appreciated, we look forward to welcoming you as a new member!
