Teaching and Learning 

Education week

During Education Week the Prep-2 students worked on a wide range of STEM activities. 

The Grade Preps looked at Engineering and constructed a marble run out of recycled materials. This reinforced their understanding of items that roll and slide. 

Shadow puppets were the focus of the Grade 1 students. This saw students draw a plan, create a puppet, test their puppet and make improvements.

Levers and pulleys were constructed by SC1 and Grade 2s at Buninyong. Students used a wide range of materials to create and design an item with moving parts. Check out the photos below to see all the fun we have had making things last week. 

Lunchtime club was also taken over by STEM activities. On Monday we explored physics by constructing paper aeroplanes. Well done to Cole for winning the paper aeroplane competition. Tuesday saw us go on a Biology scavenger hunt around the school looking for all kinds of living things! Wednesday was our sustainability day where some students pulled up their gloves and did some cleaning up around the school. Elephant's toothpaste was the highlight of Thursday and saw lots of students viewing a demonstration of chemical reactions. Friday saw us unveil a new and exciting application we are going to be using at school for 3D design; Makers Empire. Here’s a couple of photos of Mr Smith in action conducting one of the experiments during lunch time in the courtyard…he gathered quite a crowd!

Ballarat Young Authors’ Program 2024           

The Ballarat Young Authors’ Program is now in its ninth year and throughout that time, BPS has been proud to support many students to take part in this opportunity.

The Young Authors’ Program is aimed at high abilities students in the area of writing and provides them with an opportunity to extend their skills and work with other like-minded students from other schools within the Ballarat area.

Students are selected based on meeting the following criteria: 

·       Currently in Year 4 or 5

·       6 or more months ahead according to Victorian Curriculum in the area of Writing in               their end-of year report

Students will take part in a program launch on Thursday, 30th May and will subsequently participate in three workshop days throughout the year and an end of program celebration.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our BPS students, and we congratulate the following students who will take part this year:

We look forward to sharing details of the students’ experiences with the school community throughout the year.

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association. Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres,  bookshops and many other places around the country. 

We have registered to be involved. This year National Simultaneous Storytime takes place tomorrow, Wednesday 22 May at 12:00pm. 

Many classes across the school will get involved and some activities will also be on offer during Lunchtime Club from tomorrow for the remainder of the week.

Early Literacy Parent Information Session

Many thanks to the parents and carers who attended last Friday afternoon’s parent information session on Early Literacy.

The information presented and discussed was well-received by the attendees and sparked some terrific questions and useful advice.

We will look to offer this session again at another point throughout the year as we understand the time of the session may not have suited everyone

In the meantime, if you would like any further advice to support your children at home with literacy, please speak with your child’s teacher as the first point of contact.

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge

The Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge is in full swing. Many of our students are actively participating and are enjoying reading a wide range of books. Here are some numbers you may find interesting

• 627 students eligible to enrol
• 622 students currently enrolled
• 401 books have been started (many of the older students are reading chapter books)
• 357 books have been completed and verified
• 80 the number of days the challenge has been running for
• 110 the number of days remaining in the challenge
• 2005 the year the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge began
• 4,300,000  the number of young Victorians who have participated in the challenge
• 6,000,000 the number of books that have been read over the life of the challenge

If you want to get involved, please contact your child’s classroom teacher for log in details.

Parent/Carer Information Session - Sexual Health Victoria 

Ballarat Community Health are proud to host Sexual Health Victoria to provide parents and carers an opportunity to understand the content of any Relationships and Sexuality Education Program being delivered at their childs school and promote confident conversations at home.

• Where: Ballarat Community Health – Lucas – 12 Lilburne Street, Lucas, 3350
• When: Thursday 6th June, 5:30pm-6:15pm
• Registrations: Eventbrite
• Cost: Free

Please see the flyer below  for more information.