Note from the Treasurer 2025

Why We Need Voluntary Contributions

Without parent donations towards our Voluntary Contributions at BBPS, we would not be able to cover the shortfall in funding received from the Government.

All these Contributions are Voluntary, but they are also essential for the school to continue to meet the high standards of education and nurturing that we are all the beneficiaries of in the community.

But how is our contribution used?

Computers, Technology and Support Contribution

ICT is an important part of the P-6 curriculum, and as such this contribution is integral in ensuring our children have access to the best possible equipment and information within a safe and secure environment. Funds raised go towards:

Network and internet subscriptions
Maintenance and replacement of school sets of mobile devices used across the school
Purchase and update of learning apps, as part of the whole school and 3-6 1:1 BYOD Program
Purchase and maintenance of robotic kits for student use.

First aid and health and wellbeing

When you have active children running around, playing and having fun – there can be accidents and injuries. Sometimes, your child might just not be feeling their best. To ensure your child receives the best care, we have trained first aid officers available between 10.30am and 3pm to attend to injuries or illness. The first aid and health and wellbeing contribution includes:

Qualified first-aid staff
Purchasing of first aid supplies and equipment (epipens, asthma pumps, icepacks, thermometers, heat bags, defibrillator upgrade, etc.)
Ensuring compliance in administration and prevention procedures, including certification and staff training for anaphylaxis, asthma, allergies, CPR, Level 2 first aid training, etc.
Love and care, emotional and mental support for your child's well-being and you the parents from time to time.

All of our kids end up in sick bay and need a band aid or reassurance, I know my kids do. The provision of this service relies on all parents contributing. Thanks for your understanding.

School Grounds Maintenance and Improvements

This contribution maintains our attractive school grounds and outdoor learning areas. It ensures compliance with OH&S standards for a safe and secure environment for our community, including

Provision of a handy-person one day per week to attend to a range of jobs requiring attention. These include – fixing lights, maintaining gardens, attending to grounds and thoroughfares, maintenance of bathroom facilities, outdoor play-equipment, fences and all internal classroom maintenance.
Administration of external services, such as arborists, horticulturalists, plumbers and electricians on a needs basis.

Our School Council and PA endorse this contribution as it replaces the school having to rely on parent working bees.

Building Fund Donation – Tax-Deductable Donation

Your building fund contribution allows us to enhance your child’s learning environment and educational experience at school by planning and providing constant upgrades to facilities. This donation supports the School Council and Parent Association, for the goal of raising money to fund the planned stages in our building refurbishment.

Some examples of our achievements as a result of donations raised from the Building Fund Donation include:

-Building the undercover area outside the canteen

-Purchase and installation of air-conditioners across the school-Repair and upgrade of our heritage listed main building (Stages 1 and 2)

-Provision of decking areas as outdoor extensions of learning spaces

-Refurbishment of the administration area in our heritage listed building (Stage 3).

-Library refurbishment and upgrade

-Conversion of front classroom to a permanent facility for our afterschool program

-Modification of gallery corridor linking School Hall to Theircare facilities

-Installation of glass entry doors to the CLC classroom

-Updated student toilets in the CLC

-Replacing oven and rangehood in canteen

Library Fund Donation – Tax-Deductable Donation

Our well-stocked library is the hub of the school and is resourced to ensure a full range of texts geared to building a love of reading for all our students. We do not receive any government funding for this most valuable and highly regarded resource.

The weekly visit to the library nurtures curiosity and builds the habits for life-long self-regulated learning. All our students relish the opportunity to borrow books of their choice and to have the daily lunchtime option of some chill out relaxing time. This important tax-deductable donation enables us to provide and maintain this dedicated space for all children to enjoy.

I know the importance of having new books each week for our children to read in our house.

Voluntary Contribution

Your contributions together with additional funds raised by our Parents’ Association and DET contributions support all the improvements and refurbishment stages that we progressively plan and carry out to modernise and upkeep our heritage listed school facilities. Since 2016 each substantive stage of the upgrade project/s has been funded by locally raised funds from the school and the BBPS Community.

Kitchen Garden

-Maintaining and improving our school garden.

-Providing our children with hands-on learning opportunities about nature, sustainability, and responsibility.

-Gardening tools and resources

Thank you in advance for your ongoing support towards our school community.

Simon Birch

Treasurer

BBPS School Council

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November 2024 Parent and carer School Saving Bonus

The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus – a one-off $400 support for government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025.

From Tuesday 26 November 2024, you will receive an email from the Department of Education with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code. The School Saving Bonus will help families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions, activities and more. If you have multiple children enrolled in Victorian government schools for 2025, you will receive one School Saving Bonus code email per child. These emails might arrive on different days. Please make sure to check your spam/junk email folder.

Parents and carers can use the School Saving Bonus code in store at school-nominated suppliers. Parents and carers can also choose to access the School Saving Bonus online system, where they can allocate part or all the $400 bonus to use at school nominated-online suppliers or for school activities. 

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, visit School Saving Bonus | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au). A step-by-step user guide will be available on the webpage on 26 November.  If you have not received your School Saving Bonus code via email by Friday 29 November, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au

Library - Annual Book Fair

Our Library Captain