Principal Report
Our school is located on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.
Traffic Safety
We all have a role to play in keeping our students safe as they arrive and depart from school.
Being road aware is something you can do to support your child, making sure they know where and how to cross the street. Using the school crossings at all times is a great example for our students. If you are running late for school, it is more important than ever to be road aware, often if we are rushing, we can miss things. Students should enter the school via the pedestrian footpaths; they should never walk down the carpark - this should be a people free zone.
There are many things our school has been involved in to support safe travel to school and safe movement of traffic around school.
This has included being part of the City of Boroondara Active and Safe School program. As part of this work our community was surveyed and where we all live was reviewed. We were provided with a Tracks to School brochure with suggested routes to school, areas where there was longer parking and routes to walk to school.
As part of our ongoing work to keep our students safe when they come and go from school, we have included this brochure for your information below.
Many years ago, the school also developed Driving safely around our school brochures. These asked parents to move in an anti- clockwise direction around the school to ensure traffic was able to flow in the streets. We have included the brochure below as a reminder to everyone. By moving in the same direction cars should not be held up as others pass and try to get around parked cars.
If you arrive at school and the pedestrian gates are closed, be sure to close gates behind you when you come and go. We keep pedestrian gates closed during the day, thank you for playing your part with the gates.
Budget allocation - refurbishment and capital works plan
On Friday last week you will have received a notification via COMPASS about a survey to support the development of future facilities plans for Boroondara Park PS.
We are inviting all families to complete this survey by Friday June 13th.
The school is tasked with putting together an initial plan based on educational needs to provide to the Victorian School Building Authority. We will use survey responses to support the development of the Asset Management Plan - as announced in the State Budget.
There is no guarantee of future funding for capital works, but the current work will ensure if funding is allocated the school is ready with a plan for refurbishment of the main building of the school.
When filling in this survey please keep in mind the focus in on what education will look like in 10 years' time.
Future facilities plan - ideas development for BPPS
Anxious Child
At the State Principal conference last week, I was able to attend a session with Dr Jodi Richardson on the Anxious Child. The session resonated with me; having spent 40 years in education I have supported many students with anxiety.
Her clear explanations and strategies to support students can be used by all of us when supporting children.
Anxiety is a normal emotion, and we can support children by talking about it. The more we speak to children about emotions and words to describe them the more this becomes normal practice. In the anxious child the smoke alarm has been triggered, and they are scanning for safety, looking for warning signs, getting ready to react.
We can work with children to help them to read safety messages, to tune into their body. By understanding the thoughts, feelings, sensations and behaviours they can be assisted to recognize anxiety, and we can work together with them to use strategies to recognize and reduce anxiety.
Dr Richardson has a podcast which might be of interest called Well Hello Anxiety.
How do I find out what my child does at school?
Our staff are available for conversations about your child, their learning and wellbeing formally and informally throughout the year. Parents often make time to catch up in person or on the phone before and after school. There are lots of catch ups that occur in the yard as students are collected for the day.
The fortnightly newsletter will give you an insight into life in the classroom.
From the Foundation news you will see Echi on another adventure with students. You will also find out about the games you can play at home with dominoes. They have been learning about making numbers and addition, using the dominoes to assist their learning.
From the 1/2 Classrooms you will learn about their writing - exploring information texts and creating their own texts.
This week in the from the 3/4 Classrooms you will learn about the work they have been doing to build team strengths. They also share more about the zones of regulation and provide some information on how you can support your child at home.
From Team 5/6 you get a snapshot of their wildlife warrior work and preparation for the Conservation Conference Expo.
And don't forget the specialist pages which will share the learning in French, Performing Arts, Sport & PE and Visual Arts each fortnight.
Parent Teacher Interviews
On Wednesday July 2nd we have a pupil free day for Parent Teacher Interviews. All parents will have received a notification via COMPASS to book in for an interview.
Keep an eye out for the notification and be sure to book a time to talk to your child's teacher about their progress. Specialist teachers will be available for interview.
Please note interviews for 3/4T interviews are after school on Monday June 30th and Tuesday July 1st.
Attendance
This coming week we are meeting with a member of the Attendance team from the Department of Education to explore our student attendance.
We will be developing our Attendance Action Plan and will be sharing more with the community about school attendance. For students at our school this is specifically related to family holidays, when many of our families take 2-8 weeks annually in school time for holidays.
Industrial action disrupting bus services
We are aware of planned industrial action on Monday 16 June and Tuesday 17 June that will disrupt public bus services.
Students and families should check the PTV website (https://ptv.vic.gov.au/industrialaction) or mobile app for the most up-to-date transport advice.
Please plan ahead and consider alternative transport arrangements to and from school if your usual travel route is impacted.
Where do we come from?
Don't forget to fill in this form, it will only take a few minutes. Thank you to those who have already told us where they are from.
Volunteer induction and registration
Thank you to those parents who have completed the induction and registration so they can volunteer at BPPS in 2025.
A reminder - All volunteers must undertake the induction and register to be involved in school activities.
Volunteer induction and registration
BPPS Facebook and Instagram
Don't forget to follow our social media accounts and see what is happening at school each day. Boroondara Park Primary School Facebook
Search @BoroondaraPark on Instagram to follow the school.