I cannot believe we are almost at the end of November already, the year seems to have gone incredibly quickly and the last few weeks at school have been extremely busy with a lot happening on top of the normal teaching and learning! I wrote to the staff on Sunday evening and referenced the three weeks remaining (after this week!) and almost fell off my chair.

Last Friday the children enjoyed the first session of our new Stepping Up program, as part of our transition into their 2025 year level. The students very positively and excitedly enjoyed the opportunity to step into the new year level. We have an outstanding teaching team and all children will be very well supported by their current and future teachers.

The staff spend much time and effort developing the best class structures and student placement possible - taking into account the children's requested five learning partners, spread of abilities, genders, social and emotional needs, friendships and parent requests (which were due in mid-October).

As teachers, we ask that you support your child at this time by speaking positively about the new school experiences and wonderful opportunities that 2025 will bring.

You can support your child through the transition process by asking positive questions such as:

What are you looking forward to the most next year?
What things are you really good at?
How can you make new friends?
What would you like me to tell your new teacher about you?

Evening of Music

Thanks to Lisa, Ken and Alwaynne and the other instrumental teachers for the most amazing Evening of Music. Our children are amazing and we should be so proud of them. It was a concert, not a “school concert”! As I said on the night we absolutely have THE BEST MUSIC PROGRAM IN THE STATE! Recruitment night this week was another very successful event and great to see so many students and families wanting to be part of our band program. I believe that there were over 50 applications to join the program received on the night!

FAREWELLS

Michael Pitinga

I am delighted to announce Michael will take up a position at Hampton Primary School for 2025. This will mean a much shorter trip to school each day for him! Michael has been at BPS for the last three years and been a dedicated and active member of our school community. Michael has been an integral part of our Junior School Council and he is to be congratulated on the wonderful work he has done and everything he has achieved at BPS. We wish him all the best in 2025.

Kate Ferguson

Kate has been an integral part of our 3/4 team this year since joining to share with Amanda Chetcuti for 2024. She has supported the team and assisting our year 4 students. We thank her for the enormous role she has taken on and her passion towards her students. We wish her well for 2025 as she returns to her host school of Hughesdale Primary School.

BREAKFAST CLUB

A huge thank you to the One. Church and their volunteers for supplying breakfast every morning for the past two years. Sadly the program will come to a conclusion at the end of this year and we will look at how we may offer this into the future.

Reflecting on the program's impact, they have been able to feed and connect with so many children. On average, about 30-40 children joined us each week, with numbers starting around five regulars and then gradually building throughout the morning to reach a peak between 8:30 and 8:40 am. The program’s popularity is evident from the amount of food consumed: each week, we went through approximately four loaves of bread, one packet of crumpets, and around five litres of hot chocolate. I won't even begin to guess how much butter and jam they've used!

We are incredibly thankful for the connection with One. Church and their volunteers and thank them for their involvement at BPS.

REPORTS

Teachers have been working on your children's reports, BPS provides comprehensive reports that detail students’ achievements and progress, along with the next steps for educational development. The report aims to provide consistent, clear and concise information to parents about your child’s achievement against state-wide standards.

Taking on board feedback from families, we have designed a simplified report that includes a general comment about a student’s social and emotional development, work habits and overall performance. Reporting about the curriculum areas is in checklist form and uses jargon-free language and provides clear personalised areas for future learning (goals) looking at the students next stages in the learning progression.

Helpers Morning Tea

The staff warmly invite all parents and friends who have helped throughout the year to a Special Morning Tea on Thursday 5th December 2024 from 10.40am – 11.20am in the Gym Foyer.

Parents and friends help in many, many ways across the school e.g. band committee, book club, icypoles, Patch cooking & working bees, classroom helpers, excursions, camps, sports days, PE/sports committees, Chinese day, graduation, running club, literacy helpers (book sorting etc), sickbay washing, second-hand uniform sales, Parents and Friends committee, classroom reps, Kids Hope mentors etc.

Everybody’s help and support is valued and appreciated and we would like to celebrate another great year with you all. We look forward to seeing you all there.

STUDENT-FREE DAYS 2025

The following dates for approval for the student free days for 2025, we are awaiting confirmation of further dates and will communicate these ASAP.

28th January (Statewide)
6th June (Backing onto King’s Birthday PH)
3rd November (Before Melbourne Cup PH)
19th December (Last day of the school year)

Working Bee

Thanks to members of our School Council for taking the lead on running a working bee this term. Please see the attached information.

STUDENTS LEAVING BPS

As much as this would sadden us, we know that many families might have a change in circumstances in 2025. To support our forward planning, we would really appreciate knowledge of any student/s that might be leaving BPS at the end of 2024. This does not include our Year 6 students, who we know will be graduating. Please email the school office on blackburn.ps@education.vic.gov.au to inform us.

Helpers Needed