Principal Team Report

Hello BRPS Community,

As we draw near to the end of Term 1, it feels surreal that 10 weeks of school have gone by already in 2025.  

We are proud of our students' involvement in learning and extracurricular activities, from camps, to sports, to the arts and beyond. Their enthusiasm and passion have shone through in every endeavor, whether on the field, stage, or in the classroom. 

Foundation students have successfully completed their first ever school term and settled in wonderfully.  

Congratulations to our dedicated staff, supportive parents, and enthusiastic students - your contributions make Black Rock Primary School the vibrant and nurturing community that it is.

Final Day of Term One - 2.30pm Dismissal

Friday 4th April is the final day  of Term One. Students will be dismissed at 2.30pm  - please ensure that suitable arrangements are in place for the earlier than usual pick-up time. 

Easter Hat Parade and Raffle

Our world famous Easter Hat Parade and raffle will take on Friday afternoon to end the term.  An adjusted daily schedule will allow a 1.45pm start time on the sports courts in front of the stage. All community members are invited to attend this favourite event on the school calendar. Thank you to Catherine Brand and the Year 4 team for organising!

Swimming - Southern Metropolitan Region

Congratulations to Year 4 & 5 students Ewan T, Nate C, James B and Fletcher W who competed as the 9/10 boys Freestyle relay team at the Southern Metropolitan Region Carnival on April 2nd. This carnival is the final stage before the State Championships. The team put in a stirling effort to claim a podium finish in 3rd place. The team beat their previous personal best by 3 seconds, a time that would have advanced them to the State Championships in any of the past 5 years. Other swimming results can be found on the Physical Education page. 

Staffing News

Congratulations to PE teacher Rowan Doyle and wife Alicia, who were thrilled to welcome Ottilie Doyle-Cook into the world last week. Everyone is doing well and Ottie is taking all the new experiences in her stride. 

PE Term 2 & 3

Rowan will be taking extended leave through to the end of Term 3 to settle in and support his new family. We're pleased to announce that Cassie Kingston, an experienced teacher familiar with our school, has been appointed to the role for Terms 2 & 3. 

Business Manager

Next term we welcome back Business Manager Tanya Gundry, who has taken leave to travel in Term 1. 

I would like to sincerely thank Tanya's replacement, Corrine Humphrey, for stepping into all aspects of the role seamlessly. Best of luck on your next adventure Corrine!

Celebrating Achievements

This term has been filled with achievements both big and small. From academic accomplishments to personal growth, our students have continuously impressed us. We've seen fantastic progress in literacy and numeracy, with students embracing new challenges and expanding their knowledge each day.

The Student of the Week Awards have highlighted the students' commitment to learning and the exemplary attitude and values demonstrated at our school every day. Please take the time to read through and celebrate our SOTW recipients for March in this newsletter. 

Wellbeing Dog - Maple

Many of you may see 'Maple' our new wellbeing dog around the school. Maple's owner and staff member, Lu McCullagh, has had Maple trained and accredited as an official wellbeing dog who will be available on occasion to provide  a friendly face and help promote a postive environment for students right across the school. 

Already a hit with the students, we're looking forward to Maple's adventures. 

NAPLAN

Congratulations to our Year Three and Year Five students who recently completed the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). They were expertly supported by our Year Three and Year Five teachers. We're very proud of the efforts of all involved and look forward to receiving our results to build on our strengths and understand our areas for improvement. A big thank you to Jacqui Hutchinson for co-ordinating our NAPLAN for 2025.

Intensive Swimming Programs 

From 2017, the Victorian Curriculum F–10 has required swimming and water safety education to be taught as part of the Health and Physical Education learning area.

By the end of Year 6, schools are required to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills identified in the Victorian Water Safety Certificate. 

Our school schedules an 8-day intensive swimming program for all students throughout the year. We have exclusive use of the Mentone Girls Grammar School pool, experienced instructors and small group sizes. The benefits of an intensive program are:

• Improved muscle memory of swim skills due to repetition.
• Increased swim confidence as a result of better recall and repetition.
• Improved swim strokes as a result of daily practice.
• Faster progression of swim ability as skills are built on daily.
• Boosts enjoyment in swimming
• Great introduction to swimming for all ages if they haven’t had swimming lessons previously.

The first intensive program for the year is for Year 3/4 and will take place over the first weeks of Term Two. 

2025 Student-Free Days

Each year, School Council approves the dates of our student-free days: four curriculum days and a Professional Practice Day. Our next student-free curriculum day will be held on Friday 6th June, immediately prior to the King's Birthday Long Weekend in June. Our 2025 Student-Free Days are:

• Mon 29 Jan - Curric 1 (Statewide) 
• Fri 7 Mar - Curric 2 (Curriculum Focus - Writing) 
• Fri 6 June - Curric 3 (Report Writing) 
• Mon 10 Nov - PPD (common - student free) 
• Fri 19 Dec - Curric 4 (End Year Handover and Preparation) 

2026 Foundation Enrolments

Our 2026 Foundation Information night was held on Tuesday evening this week and was followed up by a school tour yesterday. Both were very well attended by prospective families to our school.  School tours and classroom open mornings are scheduled trhoughout Term 2. If you are aware of any families that are seeking a school for next year please direct them to our website for information about these events and the enrolment process. Sibling enrolments for Foundation 2026 will open on Tuesday 22nd April.

We wish everyone a safe and relaxed Easter holiday break and look forward to an exciting Term Two ahead!

Sam Tyndall

PRINCIPAL

Emily Harvey

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL