Education Week

Thank you to all our community for joining in with your children to help celebrate the work that all of our students and teachers are doing at BHPS, during Education Week. It was an absolute delight to see so many parents, grandparents and special friends here to support their children and enjoy and embrace the work of their children. During the day we also held multi age lessons where students were given a challenge and problem to solve collaboratively. Our turn out for the Prep Expo that night was terrific with leadership, Prep staff and our wonderful Specialist group ready to answer questions and talk through what we offer at Boronia Heights PS. Students were able to showcase their work in the evening and families could take part in our open challenge…. The displays of children’s work were wonderful and demonstrated our children’s knowledge and talents well. Our buskers around the school were able to showcase their talents, they continue to inspire me.

A wonderful showcase of talents were on display at our concert in the gym, what a talented group of students we have.

Reading Comprehension

Thank you to all those families that have responded to my call to read every night with their children. It has been exhilarating to speak to students and teachers this week and note the pick-up in students reading at home every night, although we still have a way to go to get everyone on board. If you haven’t begun to change habits and rituals of reading every night, it is not too late.

We often take reading comprehension for granted. But can you imagine how disheartening and boring it must be to read fluently – that is to know how to sound out words and say them to sound like you know what you’re reading – but not to have any real understanding of what it is that you are reading?

Extensive studies have shown that the major way “good” readers differ from “struggling” readers” is in how they think about text before, after and as they read it. Good readers are often strategic readers. Comprehension strategies are procedures that are under the control of the reader, who makes decisions about which strategies to use and when to use them.

Please make it happen for your children and support the push to read every night and make sure your child fills in their log books and returns them to school so teachers can share in the celebrations of reading achievement with each and every child.

District Athletics

More than 60 students were invited to attend District Athletics last Friday. This is an opportunity for students who have athletic talent to compete amongst the best in the District. Well done to all of our students who represented our school with distinction. Thank you to our staff and parents who supported the students on the day.

Year 6 Camp

Well done to staff and students for braving the cold weather and not letting the cold and rain disrupt their camp experience. As this newsletter goes out they are arriving back at school with stories of their adventures, laughs, challenges and above all big smiles on their faces. Year 6 camp is a camp that relies on teamwork, collaboration, communication, stepping out of your comfort zone and, above all, cementing friendships and making new ones. Thank you to all staff and parents who attended and helped make our year 6 camping experience one to remember.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) involves students in Years 3 and 5 from all states and territories in Australia. NAPLAN testing will take place over the next two weeks. Students’ skills in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, punctuation and grammar) and numeracy will be assessed. These national test results provide information on how your child is progressing and performing in the key areas of literacy and numeracy and provides information for students, parents/carers, teachers and principals which can be used to improve student achievement. Student’s personal NAPLAN reports will be sent home to parents/carers later in the year, usually around September.

Parents can support their children to be ready to participate in these assessment tasks by facilitating a smooth, calm start to each day. We wish our Grade 3 and 5 students all the very best this and next week.

Each year it is of concern for teachers as we notice that some children become highly anxious about these tests. We work hard to ensure that children are well prepared for these tests and that every child does their best, however we know that the results of this test do not define them as a learner and certainly don’t define them as worthwhile individuals. The NAPLAN test is just a snapshot of their learning. We certainly do not over-emphasise the importance of these tests and we certainly don’t believe that NAPLAN results are the most important measure of success of our school.

Mother’s Day thank you

A special thank you to Tracy Vervoort and our wonderful parent volunteers who ran a very successful Mother’s Day stall last week. The students had a great time shopping at the stalls for the wonderful variety of gifts to choose from for their special person. I hope all the mums had a wonderful MOTHER'S DAY enjoying the special attention and gifts from your adoring children.

Prep Enrolments 2022

We are encouraging all current parents to enrol any siblings, as soon as possible, to allow us to effectively plan for the next school year. If you have a child that will be attending Boronia Heights in 2022, we ask that you complete an enrolment form at your earliest convenience.

Parking across Driveways

Please can I appeal to all our community to not park their cars in neighbour’s driveways? It is not fair that neighbours are unable to enter or exit their own driveways when they are blocked and there isn’t anyone in the car to move it. I understand that school pick up and drop off can be frustrating, however if everyone does the right thing and keeps calm we can get through even this. I appreciate everyone doing the right thing during these busy times of the day.

Oval News

We are getting closer to the finalising of our school oval project. I am hoping that we will have access to the ovals and kitchen garden areas (if the weather is kind to us), mid-way through June. The bottom oval is near completion with the top oval well on its way. We have not had the weather on our side but it will be an absolute joy to see kids running around our oval, enjoying themselves and being able to practise their chosen sport with friends. We look forward to being able to celebrate our fabulous new grounds with our community very soon….stay tuned!!!

Whole School Production

Thank you to all those families that have ordered a production t-shirt, by wearing the t-shirt you are supporting the school and gives our community a wonderful sense of pride with such an amazing school event, I am certainly looking forward to wearing mine. Students are able to wear these t'shirts as school uniform. Congratulations to Brianna Miriyagalla 5G for having her designed selected.

Tickets for our production will go on sale from 9am on Monday 31st May. More details of what you will need to do will go home soon. This is a major school event so log on to get your tickets! The production will be held at George Wood Performing Arts Centre at Yarra Valley Grammar in Ringwood. BHPS takes great pride in the whole school being able to showcase their talents on stage over two nights. The production dates are Wednesday the 28th July and Thursday the 29th July. I am so proud of our students in the way they have embraced their roles and the support they have given each other. A huge thank you to staff and especially Mr. Fox for the creativity and passion that surrounds these special nights. Mark the dates in your diary and we look forward to sending out more detailed information on booking tickets and the nights that your children will be performing in soon. Stay Tuned!!!

Cross-Country Years 3-6

On Monday the 17th May we will be holding our year 3-6 Cross Country. Thank you to all parents who have volunteered their time to support this event. Due to results being needed for the District Cross Country we unfortunately cannot wait until the ovals are completed. However Prep-Year 2 will enjoy their cross country on our new ovals, we will let you know the date soon!

Have a great weekend

Leanne Jennings

Principal

Heights Happenings

Issue 7 · 13 May 2021

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