We are posting an extra newsletter this week to let you know about important activities that we are holding at BHPS in the coming weeks.

Thank you to the Hubsters

We are so fortunate to have an energetic and talented group of people working to make our school a better place. We certainly thank them for their amazing Mother’s Day stall that all students thoroughly enjoyed, choosing something special for mum or grandma. They are now stepping up to raise money for the school on Election Day. With a BBQ and Cake Stall. The only good thing about lining up to vote, apart from having your say, is grabbing a sausage in bread whilst you wait and then again on the way out! So don’t forget to bring some cash for a sausage, cake and drink when you come to vote. We would still love to see some help on the stalls, so if you can help on the day, please fill in the google form. We understand that parents are busy on Saturday's with children’s sporting commitments, but if you can lend an hour that would be great. The more people that put their hand up, the less time you need to stay.

National Simultaneous Storytime - Wednesday 25th May

We have registered our school again this year to participate in National Simultaneous Storytime. This year’s book is Family Tree by Josh Pyke. What is National Simultaneous Storytime?

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 22nd successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

By facilitating NSS we aim to:

promote the value of reading and literacy,
promote the value and fun of books,
promote an Australian writer and publisher,
promote story time activities in libraries and communities around the country
A BIG thank you to our Librarian Leanne Bentley for organising this wonderful event.

A big thank you to Leanne Bentley our Librarian for the organisation around this event.

UPDATE on Rapid Antigen Tests (RATS) for the remainder of Term 2

RATs will continue to be distributed to you as they have been throughout this school year for the remainder of this term. However, from Monday 23 May 2022, students will no longer be recommended to undertake either twice weekly RATs in mainstream schools or 5 days a week in specialist schools. Rats however will continue to be required by students who are household contacts to attend school (5 negative tests over a 7-day period) or who have symptoms. The ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers will have them should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms. Families must continue to notify the Department of Health and the school if their child returns a positive RAT result. Additionally, you should inform us if any of your children are household contacts. Thank you again for your ongoing cooperation and support during this time.

NAPLAN Update

Congratulations to all our students for an outstanding 2 weeks of NAPLAN Testing. I was incredibly proud of all our students and their positive, calm attitude towards the testing fortnight. Thank you to parents and staff that made a positive contribution to our students in making sure that the students had everything that they needed to get through the fortnight.

Online assessment is now required by all schools. We had no connectivity issues which was fabulous. 2022 signals the last year that NAPLAN will be held in May, with future assessment being undertaken in late March, from 2023 onwards.

Working Bee

Our wonderful Grounds committee are having a one hour working bee on Thursday 26th May from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. We would love to see as many parents and students to help us move mulch so some weeding and add to our fabulous gabion wall at the front of the school. Bring your gloves and walking shoes and help keep our gardens looking great!

Children not feeling well

We are seeing many children attend school that are feeling unwell. Please be aware that COVID is still with us, and we have had many staff and students with Influenza A which is very contagious. Please keep your children home if they are not feeling well, this enables a healthy environment for everyone.

Assembly 27th May

We will be holding a whole school assembly in the gym on Friday 27th May at 2:50pm. Jackson Taylor will be a guest at the assembly to talk about the writing competition that he is once again holding for all the Bayswater schools. We were one of the winners last year and received a fabulous collection of books for our school with the winners received a certificate and prizes as well. If you would like to join us in the gym you are most welcome. Please make sure that you are seated by 2:30pm, as it can be distracting for our student leaders running and leading the assembly.

Book Fair

Thank you to all of our students, parents and staff for celebrating Book Fair with us. The students have had a fabulous time during Library lessons and during lunchtime to immerse themselves with great literature. Thank you to those parents that supported our librarian Leanne Bentley with the selling of the books. It has been wonderful to be able to celebrate our book fair this year having missed it over the past two years. By being generous and supporting both your children and the school we have a massive just under $2000.00 dollars to spend on wonderful books that students have had a say in to continue to build our wonderful library. A very big thankyou to Leanne Bentley for organising and helping our students embrace the wonderful books on display.

Education Week 2022

2022 marks 150 years of public education in Victoria.

Why is the anniversary important?

The Education Act of 1872 was the first of its kind in the world.
The first in the Australian colonies.
Education was free and compulsory, so the whole community would benefit.
All children aged 6-15 years had to attend school unless they had a reasonable excuse.
Education was secular. That meant there was no control by any church.
In the last 150 years, a lot has changed. But public education remains a vital part of the Victorian community. This includes our schools, TAFES, kindergartens, libraries and archives.
Victoria's oldest school - which is still in operation today - is Bacchus Marsh Primary School. It was built on the traditional Country of the Wada Wurrung people and opened in 1850. Europeans first arrived on the Country of the Wurundjeri Wurrung and Bunurong peoples 15 years earlier in 1835. This area is now known as greater Melbourne.

Education Week 2022 is an opportunity for all our community to celebrate with their child on the morning of 24th May with a school tour with your child and special morning tea. At 6pm visit your child’s classroom and indeed take a stroll through all classrooms to view your child’s classroom and work, view our video made by our student leaders and embrace our art show that is happening in every classroom and around the school and finally join us in the hall for a celebration of our choirs, band and individual performances. Buskers will be showing off their skills and talents around the school and would love you to be there to watch, congratulate and encourage our budding musicians. We will be holding a Prep Expo in the Library as well, starting at 5pm. If you have a child attending our school next year, come along and let your child experience some activities, while talking to our specialists’ teachers, Prep teachers and leadership. If you know anyone that would be interested, please invite them to take part in our special night.

Enjoy our special activities over the next two weeks, we would love to see you.

Take care, see you at the BBQ and cake stall on Saturday!!!

Leanne Jennings

Heights Happenings

Issue 8 · 20 May 2022

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