Buzz

Principal's Report 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

As we head towards the end of term, internally we are excited to showcase our specialist area with our ‘Specialist Fair’ planned for September 12th. The event allows parents to move through their child/ren’s classroom and discuss their bookwork. A number of performances will occur in the COLA and across the school. We are committed to fostering a learning environment where specialist areas are celebrated and embraced. At BEPS all students have the opportunity to explore their creative potential and to experience success through a multitude of mediums. I encourage all families to come out and support our students’ work in these areas.

 

Recently, Taara in Year 6 organised a competition for students to enter an art design for a school sports banner. We had a number of students who entered the competition with the main design selected form Akira Year 5 and Felicia Year 5 whilst colour themes, pictures, font size, etc was a combination of all the artwork entered. To fund the purchasing of the flag Taara still requires the community to contribute recyclable plastic bottles and cans to the school office asap. Let’s get behind this great initiative by Taara and support it by bringing in recyclables this week.

A very successful special someone/Father’s Day stall was held last Thursday and Friday. The stall was overwhelmingly supported by the students, with many special gifts being sold. Thank you to the parent helpers: Cindy, Fiona, Kat, Penny, Joanna, Slyvie, Joyce, Linda and Manisha who organised and ran the stall. We appreciate the amount of effort put into an event like this. I am sure all dads or special someone loved the gift they received. Thank you to Louise for organising the event and gifts.

 

Planning for 2025 – Are you leaving BEPS? 

We ask that you let us know if you are moving or have enrolled to another school in 2025. We require this information as soon as possible to establish classroom structures for the start of the new school year. If your child is currently in F-5 and will not be at BEPS in 2025, please notify the school office or email darren.mcdonald@education.vic.gov.au as soon as possible.

 

ICAS

Over the last few weeks our Year 2-6 students have been involved in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS).  ICAS is a historic academic competition that has been sat by over 10 million school students from 16,000 schools across 41 countries since 1981. It recognises academic performance in a way similar to sports or the arts, with engaging, fun questions designed to test students’ higher-order thinking skills. Every student who participated will receive a printed certificate and an online results report available now. Well done to all those who participated and to big thanks to Ally for organising ICAS and to the staff who helped administer the assessments throughout this period.

 

Right to Disconnect

As you would be aware, recent amendments to the Fair Work Legislation came into effect on Monday, the Department of Education provided its response to this, noting the rights of all staff to disconnect. These new provisions will be adopted alongside the department’s existing industrial and employment obligations, including occupational health and safety commitments. The legislation makes it explicit that all employees have the right to refuse contact from their employer or a third party (such as a parent or a family) outside of their normal working hours unless that refusal is unreasonable. This means an employee can refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact that occurs outside their normal working hours.

 

As you are aware, our staff work incredibly hard with many staff working after hours to prepare and preplan work for Monday – Friday teaching commitments. I welcome and appreciate your support when communicating with staff and as we look to support and implement the amendments to Fair Work Legislation. 

 

School Saving Bonus

In Term 4, 2024, families with a child enrolled in a government school from Prep to Year 12 in 2025 will receive the one-off $400 School Saving Bonus.

 

The $400 School Saving Bonus provides families with support for education-related costs, such as school activities and/or school uniforms and textbooks.

 

The School Saving Bonus is not available for full-fee international students, home schooled students, TAFE students and students attending kindergarten in 2025.   

 

Actions for parents and carers

Before 18 October 2024, the Department of Education is asking parents and carers to:

  • Complete enrolment: If your child, or children are changing government school for Term 1 2025, or starting Foundation or Year 7 in 2025. For more information, read about Enrolling in School. 
  • Check your contact information: Ensure your email address and phone number is up to date with us. You can check this information by contacting us directly.

We need to ensure your contact information is up to date as the Department of Education will email you twice:

  • in October, to verify your email address
  • in November, with your $400 School Saving Bonus.

Please check your junk mail regularly to make sure you do not miss an important email.

 

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, download the School Saving Bonus Information sheet for government school parents and carers or visit vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus. 

 

 

 

Yours in Partnership,

Darren.