The Principal's Report
Cultural understanding and sensitivity training
Last week we commenced our Cultural Understanding and Sensitivity Training, with Colleen Garner (Koori Engagement Support Officer - KESO) and Aunty Irene from the Mullum Mullum gathering place. Our staff were introduced to the Marrung: Aborginal Education Plan 2016-2026 and we spent time in respectful conversations building our knowledge. One of the goals of Marung is ensuring that the rich and thriving culture, knowledge and experience of our First Nations people are celebrated by all Victorians.
Aunty Irene led an Acknowledgement of Country and shared the difference between that and a Welcome to Country - which would have been performed by an elder from the Wurundjeri (the traditional owners of the land on which our school stands). We gained an understanding of the five Kulun nations who formed much of the area of Victoria.
We learnt about history - both pre- and post colonization, including the depth of language that was spoken across the country. We gained an understanding of the policies that impacted Aboriginal people and post colonization civil rights.
We explored important dates and local groups and organisations who can assist Koori and Torres Strait Island students and families. They can also assist us with our work in delivering Aboriginal content in the curriculum.
Colleen also shared information about Koori student achievement in Victoria, vulnerable students, including those in Out of Home Care and the need for a Cultural Plan if an indigenous child is in Out of Home Care.
We participated in a great Koori Quiz.
We will complete our training next Thursday afternoon from 3.45-5.45pm.
Online Parent Library
This week Kristen Schultz and I attended another day of our Partnering with Learning program - focusing on Parent engagement. When exploring the resources we came across a school which has an extensive parent library of articles. Next term we will be sending out a Google Form to ask if a resource like this would be helpful to our families and asking for suggestions to put together our own online article library for parents.
Thank you and farewell Emma
We wish Emma Chiera farewell at the end of this term. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her dedication to Boroondara Park PS for the last 21 years. Emma has undertaken many roles in her time at Boroondara Park PS, with a huge focus on the development of the outstanding teaching and learning program we have in place.
On visiting other schools we are reminded how comprehensive our learning program is at BPPS. We return understanding that we are at this point in our journey as a school due to the dedication of all of our staff. Emma has played a key role in the development of our staff, providing ongoing professional learning, challenging our thinking and always researching what would work best for our students in their learning.
We will miss Emma's careful consideration, her way of asking questions that get us all thinking and her wealth of knowledge.
We wish her well at Carey Grammar.
Canteen Update
At School Council this week we finalized the Expression of Interest for Canteen services at Boroondara Park PS. Council is confident that this is the next step in having our canteen offering a service to our community. The Expression of Interest will go out at the end of next week, with shortlisting taking place in August, a decision being made before the end of Term 3 and the service commencing in Term 4. Thank you to the dedicated council members who have worked with me to get this far along in the process - Lisa, David, Theresa and Joanne.
Reports
Next week you will receive your child's half year report. Thanks to our staff for their hard work in preparing these documents.
At BPPS we approach our learning with a strengths based lens, you will know what your child can do and also how they can improve. We hope that you enjoy reading about your child's efforts this half year.
Staffing Update
From the start of Term 3 Shannon Reeve will be returning from sick leave and taking up the Acting Assistant Principal role vacated by Emma Chiera. Shannon will be the key contact for our Year 5/6 teachers and families. She is excited to be taking on this role.