Principal Report
Our school is located on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.
Fete
Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and effort before, during and after our school Fete on October 14th.
It was wonderful to see so many of members of our community at the school enjoying all that was on offer.
Without a core group of helpers and parents on the day pitching in and staying longer than they had planned we would not have been able to hold such a successful Fete.
As I noted in the COMPASS message sent out on October 20th, the Fete was possible because of the hard work of our Fete subcommittee and School Council. We especially thank Maria Cahill who coordinated the entire event and is now reviewing profit and loss, thinking about what we could do differently and how we can continue to build our community engagement.
The fundraising efforts have raised $11,850 which will be put towards purchasing equipment to further enhance the outdoor play areas for our students. We will share the purchases made once ordered and delivered.
Congratulations to 4JT on winning the special lunch for sharing the most raffle tickets.
Thank you to the school community for all of your donations, purchase of raffle tickets and support on the day.
Raffle winners
Congratulations to the winners of our raffle, all prizes have been collected and it was great to see so many winners.
1st prize - Ashton (Year 5)
2nd prize - Jerry (Year 2)
3rd prize - Yuan Feng
4th prize - Brenda Stewart
5th prize - Jimmy Nguyen
6th prize - Domenico (Year 1)
7th prize - Rob McAnally
8th prize - Belinda (Foundation)
9th prize - Mary Baldwin
10th prize - Jiaxuan Liu
Silent Auction
Congratulations to our Silent Auction winner - the Koklas family!
Thank you!
Thanks to Frank (Foundation and Year 3 parent) who has done the most amazing job spreading mulch across our gardens. Frank decided it would be great to have the work done before Fete day. He has continued the work post Fete and even had some Year 6 helpers one day.
We appreciate you volunteering Frank, the gardens look so much better with the mulch spread. It will also be just in time to assist with the weeds not breaking through again.
iPad program changes
Our school has been reviewing the iPad program at BPPS. We are committed to embedding digital technologies across all learning programs. The effective use of devices is part of this commitment, with students being introduced to iPads when they start school. Our staff work to use devices to add to the learning programs, as a tool to complement the explicit teaching, small group work and paper and pen learning our students are involved in.
The school currently supports an iPad program with school owned devices in Years F-2 with an allocation of 1 device per 2 students. Students in Years 3 to 6 are supported in their learning through the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program with each student using their own iPad during school learning time.
The rationale behind the integrating of digital technology into classroom learning is that it provides students with the opportunity to develop their skills in becoming competent, discriminating, productive, creative, collaborative and ethical users of technology.
The integration of digital technologies can support a range of teaching, learning and assessment approaches that:
- enhance learning opportunities through access to a range of resources, stimulus materials and learning tools
- provide increased opportunities for student engagement and motivation
- equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to use ICT effectively
- support the development of effective student research and evaluation skills
- promote critical and creative thinking skills
- increase teacher and student efficiency
- develop awareness of the public nature of online activity and related responsibilities through eSafety
- increase opportunities to work collaboratively, locally, nationally and globally.
At BPPS we are constantly reviewing our learning programs in terms of best practice and the improvements that can support ongoing improvements in student outcomes.
Since beginning the BYOD program 12 years ago there has been a substantial shift in how individuals access, interact with and utilise online content and resources.
In focusing upon our current ICT program the school has determined that:
- The use of iPads to augment our learning programs is a valuable offering at Boroondara Park PS.
- Classroom sets of school owned devices provide appropriate access to digital learning resources and platforms, with clear and safe parameters for access and interaction
- Communication and Social Media platforms are now common place amongst our student population regardless of age restrictions on many of the platforms and applications.
- The current economic outlook may mean for many families that the purchase of a device is a substantial undertaking.
- Student activity and interaction on their devices outside of school has become significantly more pronounced with negative incidents impacting school learning time, student wellbeing and student relationships.
Through review and with School Council support the school has decided to continue with the iPad program but will be making a change from the BYOD - Bring your own device - aspect of the program. We will start to phase out the BYOD aspect of the program in 2024.
School devices will not have messages or any social media apps and no games, and apps will be controlled by the school. At present whilst students cannot access social media at school, they do not always turn off their messages.
Next year our Year 3 students (current Year 2 students) will not be required to purchase an iPad to bring to school. The school will supply iPads for them to use during class time. Our Year 4-6 students will continue to bring their iPads as part of the current program. Over the next four years we will have fully phased out the BYOD aspect of the program and have school supplied devices for use each day for learning.
Thunderstorm Asthma
Grass pollen season, which typically runs from October to December each year in Victoria, brings an increase in asthma and hay fever symptoms. It also increases the risk of thunderstorm asthma. For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.
Boroondara Park PS will implement a range of measures to keep our school community safe as the risk of thunderstorm asthma increases.
Many of our staff are trained in asthma first aid, and we will monitor the Vic Emergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings, and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify greater risk.
During the season, there are some things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and your family:
- 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 your asthma action plan. Taking an asthma preventer properly and regularly is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma.
- If your child has hay fever, see your pharmacist or doctor for a hay fever treatment plan and check if you should have an asthma reliever puffer. These are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
- If your child has hay fever and experiences wheezing and coughing, it is important to make sure they don’t also have asthma. Speak to your doctor about an asthma action plan.
- Where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October to December, especially during the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. If you have your air conditioning on, turn it to ‘recirculate’.
Protect yourself this pollen season – managing asthma and allergies matters.
Find out more information by speaking to your doctor. You can also visit the Better Health Channel website.
Protecting against mosquito-borne diseases
Victoria’s mosquito season started this month and will extend to late April 2024.
Warm and wet weather can result in greater numbers of mosquitoes and increased risk of illnesses from mosquito bites. While the overall risk is low, some mosquitoes carry diseases that make people sick.
The best protection against mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquito bites.
Families can protect against mosquito bites by:
· covering up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing
· applying insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when leaving home
· limiting outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active.
To reduce the risk of illness linked to mosquitos, such as Buruli ulcer, promptly wash any new scratches or cuts with soap and clean water and apply a topical antiseptic and dressing.
Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or phone NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours).
Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines
Japanese encephalitis virus is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes and can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain.
Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines are available to protect Victorians at higher risk of the virus.
The Victorian Department of Health encourages eligible people who live or work in high-risk local government areas to get vaccinated ahead of summer, which brings an increased mosquito presence.
For more information, including what is considered a high risk area and eligibility for a free vaccine, refer to the Department of Health’s Japanese encephalitis webpage.
Find out more
For more information on protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages:
· Mosquitoes can carry diseases
· Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease, including a handy checklist to help reduce mosquito breeding sites at home and resources translated into other languages
Dear Ms Lowe
Each year I invite parents to spend time considering their child's learning, social and emotional needs for the following school year. This is the opportunity for you to consider what you know about your child and enables you to share your thoughts about your child's specific needs so we can work together to provide the best possible learning environment.
As a parent you advocate for your child, you want what is best for them, you support and fight for their needs. It is important we clarify good advocacy.
Letting us know your child learns best in an active learning environment, with opportunities to negotiate their learning is good advocacy, whilst requesting a particular teacher for your child is not good advocacy.
All children experience different teachers throughout their education. It is important you share information about your child's needs but not tell us which class they need to be placed into. This is not an opportunity to select a teacher, this is not school policy and any requests for specific teachers will not be taken into consideration.
We are proud of our teaching staff and we work as a highly functional team, planning and working to provide the best learning environment possible at Boroondara Park PS.
Are you leaving BPPS in 2024?
Is your child leaving Boroondara Park PS in 2024? Please take the time to complete this form to let us know - Leaving Boroondara Park in 2024.
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Susanne Lowe
Principal