The Principal's Report
Whole School Information Night
We were so excited to see so many parents attending the Whole School Information Night last week. Thank you to those who have provided feedback to us about the new format and who provided questions via the app during the evening.
I would like to take time to thank our staff for their commitment and presentations on the night. At Boroondara Park we have expert staff, willing to share their passions and give time to their students and the community.
It was evident that we all had a great sense of pride in our school.
A number of questions were asked that we had time to answer on the night, below are answers to more questions. Be sure to check the From the Classroom page for more questions and answers.
Questions - some information provided from the Department of Education and Training website.
Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships
The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships learning materials have been designed for teachers in primary and secondary schools to develop students’ social, emotional and positive relationship skills. Efforts to promote social and emotional skills and positive gender norms in children and young people has been shown to improve health related outcomes and subjective well being. It also reduces antisocial behaviours including engagement in gender-related violence. We will have an article about the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships materials in our next newsletter.
The difference between Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships and the Safe Schools program.
Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships is learning material that promotes social and emotion skills and positive relationship skills (as set out above).
In 2010, the Victorian Government established Safe Schools to ensure schools are safe places for all students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) students, and are free of discrimination.
It was born out of the need identified by school communities, parents and teachers for greater support for LGBTI students, who are at higher risks of bullying and suicide, and to ensure that schools create safe and inclusive environments.
A key part of the program is to provide professional development and training for secondary school teachers so that they are equipped to support LGBTI students. The link below will take you to the section of the Department of Education and Training website related to Safe Schools. It also includes a Myths and Facts section that could assist you in clarifying what the program is.
Does our school have a bus service and have we considered one?
No our school does not have a bus service, nor have we considered arranging for one. The majority of our students live in the neighbourhood and we have public bus and tram services close by. A good deal of time would need to go into researching if we are able to provide such a service and I do not know of any state schools who have such a service. If a significant number of our families wanted us to look into this service they should contact the school via the inbox - boroondara.park.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Is Sexuality Education taught at school?
Yes sexuality education is taught, it is undertaken by an outside organisation with a great deal of experience in providing a program that matches the needs of the Victorian Curriculum. The program is called Family Life - Moving into the teen years and is conducted by health educators from Interrelate (which was Family Life Victoria but is now a nationwide organization). The program takes place with our Year 6 students for a 90 minute session for three weeks.
Our focus for 2019
The year in each classroom is well underway. By exploring the 'From the Classroom' page of the newsletter you will gain an understanding of our learning programs. Our specialist team are focusing on providing more information about their programs this year and presenting at the Information Night was the start of this process. Their pages in each newsletter will give you a window into the programs that they run at Boroondara Park.
This is the final year of our school's Strategic Plan and we are working towards further improvement in our literacy and numeracy outcomes. As part of professional learning this year our staff will spend time further developing their understanding of:
- a balanced reading program
- using assessment as feedback
- Cultural Understanding and Safety Training (around Koorie and Torres Strait Islander)
- personal inquiry
- peer observation, feedback and reflection
- inclusion
We want to further develop our working relationship with you, our parent community. We want to provide you with the information you require, we want to know how you want to be involved in the school and how we can further develop our home school partnership.
School Council Elections
On Wednesday we declared our School Council Election and look forward to welcoming our new members at our first meeting on March 27th. As we received the number of nominations for the number of vacant positions the parents who nominated were duly elected to School Council.
We look forward to welcoming Abbas Kudrati, David Lloyd and Lisa DiCenso to Council and we are thrilled to be continuing to work with Greg Campbell and Jacquie White who have both renominated for Council.
Thank you to outgoing Council members Sandra Bell, Phil Smith and Melissa Macrae. Your contributions to our school through School Council has been greatly appreciated.
I would also like to thank Cameron Batt for his contributions to School Council. The staff representatives on School Council will be Tracey Cronin (a new member) Randal Symons and Emma Chiera.
Our next School Council meeting is our Annual General Meeting, this is the time to submit our Annual Report for School Council consideration and ratification.
Canteen update
At our School Council meeting last week we discussed the Canteen at Boroondara Park Primary School. The decision was made to investigate tendering the service out. We will be spending time reviewing the Department requirements and providing the community with information as the process unfolds. Thanks to all of those parents who have contacted us and indicated a willingness to get involved.
Parent Teacher Interviews
A reminder - this year our Parent Teacher Interviews will take place on Wednesday March 20th. This will be a Pupil Free Day and interviews will commence at 2pm. You will receive information via Sentral today that will enable you to book a time to discuss your child with their teacher.
Volunteers - Class Reps
Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to be Class Reps for 2019. We still have some vacancies and messages were sent via Sentral yesterday to each of the grades still to have a Class Rep for this year. If you have any questions about the Class Rep role or want to find out more information before volunteering please contact Nicky O’Keefe at nokeefe@unimelb.edu.au
Holiday Program OSHClub
Do your children attend a holiday program? Did you know that OSHClub now run a program at Boroondara Park Primary School? The bookings are now open and all of the details about the exciting program are on the OSHClub page of this newsletter.