Buninyong PS Newsletter

Engagement & Wellbeing

Children’s Week Reminder – Share Your Voice & Creativity!

As sent via Compass over the break, the City of Ballarat is celebrating Children’s Week 2025, and Buninyong students are invited to get involved in two great ways:

🎨 1. Create Some Artwork

Students can design an artwork showing an important Right of the Child with a short written description.  Selected pieces will be displayed around Ballarat during Children’s Week (18–26 Oct).

Submit artwork by this Friday 10 Oct (please note date has been extended) to the school office or local drop-off sites.  Templates are attached to the Compass message or available from the office.

🎥 2. Be Part of a Video

City of Ballarat will film a short video at school, asking students what children’s rights mean to them.

Two permission forms (City of Ballarat + Department of Education) are required. Return forms by 4:00pm, Thurs 9 Oct to the office or email narelle.sullivan@education.vic.gov.au 

Let’s celebrate Children’s Week by showcasing the voices and creativity of our Buninyong kids!

 

THANK YOU BUNINYONG!

A huge thank you, yet again, for your amazing support for Mphatso Children’s Foundation on our Footy Day! 

 

You raised an incredible amount of approximately $1,400.00 for the children in Malawi! That’s about 14,000 bowls of porridge for hungry kids! What a difference you have made in their lives.

 

And for those interested… the Western Bulldogs had the largest volume of coins on the day, taking out the Buninyong Cup for the first time! There were some very happy Bulldogs supporters. 

As many of you may know, we have had an ongoing relationship with Mphatso Children’s Foundation in Malawi for many years. A former parent of Buninyong PS, Robyn Casey, established the Mphatso Children’s Foundation back in 2004. Their mission is to FEED THE CHILDREN, GROW THE COMMUNITY & IMPACT THE FUTURE. 

 

Thank you for your ongoing support. 

 

For more information about Mphatso, please visit their website https://www.mphatso.org/ or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/mphatsochildrensorg 

 

 

Thunderstorm Asthma & Grass Pollen Season - Important Reminders

Dear families,

 

Buninyong Primary School reminds our wider community that grass pollen season brings an increased risk of asthma and hay fever.  

 

Thunderstorm asthma is thought to be triggered by a unique combination of high amounts of grass pollen in the air and a certain type of thunderstorm (typically between October and end December). It can result in people wheezing, feeling short of breath, and tight in the chest with coughing. This can be sudden, serious, and even life threatening. 

 

Anyone can be affected, even if they don’t have a history of asthma.  

 

If your child has current, past or undiagnosed asthma or seasonal hay fever they are at risk of thunderstorm asthma. Don't ignore symptoms like wheezing or shortness of breath.

   

We encourages families to communicate any updated asthma action plans with staff. Our staff will monitor the Vic Emergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings, and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify a greater level of risk. 

 

Protect your family this pollen season 

For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who wheeze and sneeze during spring, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening. 

There are things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and those in your care: 

  • It’s important for everyone in the community to know the four steps of asthma first aid so they know what to do if they or someone is having an asthma attack.  
  • Avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October through December – especially in the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. Turn off any air conditioner that brings outside air in (e.g. evaporative air conditioners).  
  • If your child has ever had asthma – talk to your doctor about what you can do to help protect them from the risk of thunderstorm asthma this pollen season, including updating their asthma action plan. Remember, taking an asthma preventer as prescribed is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma.  
  • If your child has ever had hay fever – see your GP to make sure they don’t also have asthma and discuss how to stay safe during grass pollen season.   
  • Asthma reliever medication is available over the counter at pharmacies. Ideally, this should be used with a spacer, for both children and adults. If your child is needing to use their reliever medication more than usual, this may mean that their asthma management plan needs updating – see your GP and make sure that you communicate updated asthma action plans with your child’s school.  
  • Monitor the epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast on the Vic Emergency thunderstorm asthma forecast webpage or download the VicEmergency app (App Store or Google Play) – you can set up a 'watch zone' for your location to receive advice and warnings about potential epidemic thunderstorm asthma events during the grass pollen season. 

 

Protect yourself and those in your care this pollen season – preventing and managing asthma matters. There are a range of videos for caregivers on the Asthma Australia website https://asthma.org.au/resources/videos 

 

 

 

BUNJIL AWARDS

Congratulations to the following students who received a Bunjil Award at last week’s assembly. 

 

Isla S, Xavier S, Harley S, Annabelle C, Leo S, Henry E, Adeline P, Dash O, Brayden S, Milla E, Grace F, Jack L, Cooper J, Sophia G, Abigail V, Flynn G

 

Bunjil awards recognise student achievement and those who display our school values of being respectful, responsible and kind.

 

Well done! All of our recipients enjoyed a hot chocolate or zooper dooper with a principal.