Principal's Report

Regional Cross Country

Last Tuesday I was lucky to watch three of our students competing at the regional cross-country event in Warrnambool, those being Evie Griffiths, Milla Hendley and Jack Bennett.  All 3 did an excellent job, pushing themselves to the limit and enjoying the whole experience. 

Special congratulations to Milla, who finished 4th and has qualified to compete at the state cross country event.

Buildings and Grounds Priorities

Yesterday the Buildings and Grounds Sub-Committee of School Council met to consider our current position in terms of maintenance and other improvement projects. 

Apart from day-to-day repairs, we have actually achieved a lot in the past 6 months, which has included the following:

• Installed new carpet in the library
• Installed new shelving for the strong room
• Added new doorways in the quad building to improve access to each of the 4 classrooms

• Undertaken a number of painting projects, including:

• -Strong Room

  -Library

  -Internal walls of 6 classrooms

            -The eaves at Scotsburn

• Replaced a timber fence at Scotsburn and spread additional crushed stone around buildings as bushfire prevention measures
• Completed a range of repairs to the Admin Building roof
• Updated the old cabinetry in the foyer of the original building at Scotsburn

• Replaced the shade sail over the P-2 playground 
• Installed a basketball ring for the 1-2s on the soccer pitch
• Upgraded our CCTV to provide improved security

• Installed barriers behind the soccer goals on the west side of the Buninyong oval to stop balls flying over the boundary fence

   

Given the size and age of our facilities, keeping everything maintained is constant challenge.  The big-ticket maintenance priorities we identified for the coming 12 months (and a little beyond) include:

• Replacing retaining walls outside the quad building.  We are ready to apply for a department Capital Works Grant to potentially fund this project.  The attached photos give an indication of the current state of these retaining walls and what the area will look once new retaining walls are in place.

• Painting the internal walls of as many classrooms as we can manage.
• Installing an irrigation System for the front of the Buninyong Campus to enable us to keep this area in good condition all year round.
• The installation of a concrete pad and basketball ring at Scotsburn. 
• Replace lighting in the old building at Scotsburn.
• Connecting power to the bus shed, EBT Shed & Scotsburn Sustainability Shed.
• Replacing a damaged concrete path at Scotsburn.
• Pressure washing a number of hard surfaces at the Buninyong Campus that are covered with years of grime and are becoming slippery in places.
• Repairs to window furnishings in a number of classrooms.

• The installation of a gathering Area / Outdoor Classroom in the area between the P-2 Playground and the EBT Shed.  We’ll be seeking funding from external sources to help fund this project. 
• Extension of the fence at the north boundary of the Buninyong footy oval to prevent balls ending up in Yuille St.
• Replacing the Buninyong PS sign at the front of the school.

• The installation of insulation in the walls of the gym.  This will be stage 1 of a project to control the temperature in the gym.  Stages 2 and 3 include the installation of solar panels and then a heating and cooling system.  We’re also aware that the timber floor in the gym will need to be replaced in the next 5-7 years.  All of this work will be funded by Base 1270, with support from the department if we can source it.

   

Overall, it’s good to know we have a strong sense of where we are at and that we have a plan going forward.