Principal's Report
As we conclude the 2024 school year, we emerge stronger, wiser, and more resilient, shaped by the journey we have shared. Throughout the year, we never underestimated its profound impact on our students, their families, and our staff.
Our students have shown remarkable diligence, resilience, and determination, embracing the academic challenges with positivity and a strong sense of community. We take this moment to reflect on and celebrate the success, achievements, flexibility, and patience demonstrated by our staff, parents, and students, all of whom have contributed to making this year extraordinary.
WELCOME AND WELCOME BACK
We welcome a number of new staff to our school for 2024, welcome to Will Burke, Michael Ringin and Sarah Morris - I will share more information with the community about these teachers at the beginning of next year.
We also welcome back Wendy Bennett to the classroom after taking on science this year. Tanya Stansfield will take on the science role after being in 1/2 this year. We also welcome back Sarah Rohit (nee Ellis), who returns from some time working in NSW. I know our community will make these staff feel very welcome.
Staffing 2025
00C – Alannah Cole
00G – Kirsten Goss
00S - Vicky Soldatos (Team Leader)
00T – Lou Tribolet
1C – Eileen Crabb
1M – Michael Ringin
1R – Sarah Rohit (Team Leader)
2F - Michelle Fabris & Angelo Merlino
2S - Danae Sage
2W - Simone Wood
3A – Fiona Arthur
3B – Wendy Bennett
3U – Esra Uzunbay (Team Leader)
4B – Zoe Bartus
4W – Will Burke
5B - Sue Battista
5L – Daniel Liebrich
5T – Emily Tainsh
6F - Danielle Fountain (Team Leader)
6L – Molly Lawlor
6M – Sarah Morris
Art - Liz Dixon (Team Leader)
LOTE - Yi Zhang
Music - Lisa Shacklock
PE - Merissa Pickford
Science – Tanya Stansfield
Library – Kerrie Mckinlay
Patch – Trinity Parker
Farewell
One more farewell that missed the last newsletter.
Emily Chau
As we are close to finalising our 2025 staffing profile I wanted to share with you that Emily Chau will take up a position at Ivanhoe Primary School for 2025. This will mean a much shorter trip to school each day for her - as she described to Marianne and me - two corners from her house! Emily has been at BPS for the last three years and been a dedicated and active member of our school community. Emily has been an incredible part of the school, taking on a range of classes and leadership roles. She is to be congratulated on the wonderful work she has done and everything she has achieved at BPS. We wish her all the best in 2025.
New webpage to help families and students prepare for a new school year
A new school year is an exciting time for students and families, but it can be a big step – particularly for those starting Prep or moving to secondary school.
The Department of Education has published a webpage with resources and information to help you prepare for the new school year.
During the school holidays, please consider reading through the resources, which include:
- tips to help transition between kinder and Prep and primary to secondary school
- what to expect at school
- help with school costs and fees
- health and wellbeing guidance to support children’s mental health.
Please refer to the New year of learning webpage.
REPORTS
Teachers have been working on your children's reports, BPS provides comprehensive reports that detail students’ achievements and progress, along with the next steps for educational development. The report aims to provide consistent, clear and concise information to parents about your child’s achievement against state-wide standards.
Taking on board feedback from families, we have designed a simplified report that includes a general comment about a student’s social and emotional development, work habits and overall performance. Reporting about the curriculum areas is in checklist form and uses jargon-free language and provides clear personalised areas for future learning (goals) looking at the students next stages in the learning progression.
Feedback from teachers is that our new report format is clear, concise and easily understood, without losing the personalised qualities that characterise our reports.
Reports will be released on Wednesday 18th December at 4pm.
All Year 6 families are encouraged to download all copies of their children’s reports as soon as possible and definitely before the commencement of the 2025 school year. Once the school year begins, there will be no further access to the COMPASS portal for past students.
All reports can be downloaded in PDF format.
2024 END OF SCHOOL YEAR
The last day of school is next Thursday 19 December, with school finishing at 1.30pm. Parents are asked to ensure their children are picked up on time or booked into after school care which will commence at 1.30pm. We look forward to seeing students return on Wednesday 29th January 2025.
YEAR SIX GRADUATION
A wonderful celebration with the graduation ceremony last week. Congratulations and thank you to the students, teachers and parents for all of their preparations. It is a significant milestone in the lives of our students and is a testament to their efforts, your perseverance, and your ability to rise above challenges. You've not only conquered academic pursuits but have also grown as individuals, learning the values of friendship, respect, and empathy and importantly the ability to Believe, Persevere and Succeed.
STUDENT-FREE DAYS 2025
The following dates for approval for the student free days for 2025, we are awaiting confirmation of further dates and will communicate these ASAP.
- 28th January (Statewide)
- 6th June (Backing onto King’s Birthday PH)
- 3rd November (Before Melbourne Cup PH)
- 19th December (Last day of the school year)
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Last but not last a huge thank you to the many many parents who have been involved with BPS and their children's learning throughout 2024. We greatly appreciate the ongoing support of our parents and community that enriches the learning and lives of every child at BPS. We look forward to continuing this and furthering our BPS community into 2025.
