Principal Team Report

Hello BRPS Community,

It's hard to believe we're already five weeks into Term One. It has been a vibrant start to the year with students engaging in learning across the curriculum, as well as the extra-curricular activities that enhance community and add richness to school life.  

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

We know that when parents are enaged and interested in their child's school life, and schools and parents work in partnership there is a positive correlation with improved outcomes for individual students.  We have enjoyed the positive reports that came out of the P/T conferences on Thursday. Thank you to all of the teachers, parents, carers and Year 4/5/6 students who were able to meet and discuss each student’s engagement, goals and progress at school. Building those connections is really important as we support all students to experience success as members of the BRPS learning community.

2025 School Concert - Save The Date

***********FRIDAY 29th AUGUST, 2025***********

This year's whole school concert again promises to be a splendid affair at Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University Clayton. We will again run a matinee and evening show and our Concert Committee team have already been hard at work planning for this sensational event. The concert features every student in the school and is a highlight every two years on our events calendar. 

The Concert Committee will provide further information on some feature pages in upcoming newsletters - it's time to get excited! 

Welcome Picnic 

The Welcome Picnic was a relaxed and low-key opportunity for  families new and established to gather on the school oval and celebrate the start of the school year. We loved catching up with many of our new families and look forward to continued strong partnerships to support learning and wellbeing throughout this year. 

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 second student-free curriculum day will be held on Friday 7th March, immediately prior to the the Labor Day long weekend. 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) 

CEET (Community Events and Engagement Team)

The next CEET meeting of 2025 will be held on Thursday 13th March at 7:00pm in the staffroom (main building). 

At our first meeting we outlined our purpose and goals for the year and we started to plan some exciting events designed to connect and engage our community in many exciting ways. All interested parents are welcome to come along and contribute to the team.

Parent Payments and Voluntary Contributions

The Compass Portal remains live for families to log in and complete all school payments.

The BRPS School Council, staff and school community have high expectations of all     curriculum programs, resources and facilities that the school provides. Much of the operational costs including the provision of computers (including laptops), high-quality school resources, extra sports equipment, library/ICT support and equipment, quality art and science supplies and maintenance, along with the provision of new curriculum initiatives are supported solely from local fundraising, including parent payments. 

Pedestrian, Bike, Scooter Safety

In recent assemblies we have spoken to students about travelling to school safely and reminding them about safe behaviours on their way to and when arriving at school. We always encourage students to cross at supervised crossings where possible. We also ask students to dismount and walk bikes and scooters  through the school yard. 

BRPS Bike and Scooter Policy

In line with department guidelines and Vic Roads’ advice, it is school policy that students in Foundation to Year 4 ride to school in the company of an adult as it is well recognised that young children have underdeveloped motor skills, peripheral vision and judgment. Students in Years 5 and 6 students may ride to school without adult supervision. Duty of care for students remains with parents/carers between home and the school gate. Bicycles/scooters also remain the responsibility of parents/carers and must be roadworthy. Students must wear a properly fitted helmet and are encouraged to wear a safety vest when riding a bicycle or scooter.

Staff Carparks 

Staff car parks are always out of bounds for both children and parents/carers. NEVER enter staff carparks, either in a vehicle or by foot/bike/scooter.

Drivers

Drivers are asked to be especially careful around our local streets, exercise patience and drive slowly at all times.

Drivers are also asked to avoid using the private laneway between Ferguson Street and Munro Street as it is a busy pedestrian thoroughfare. 

House Swimming Carnival

Good luck to all of the Year 4-6 students who are competing for their houses at the BRPS House Swimming Carnival today It is our first big event of the year held offsite and I know all of the students competing will be brilliant ambassadors for our school in the public eye, as well as showing tremendous sportsmanship and team spirit as they compete and cheer on their Houses! Thank you to PE teacher Rowan Doyle for organising the carnival, as well as the teachers and volunteer parents who are helping to ensure a successful event.

Assistant Principal Emily Harvey and I are very disappointed to be missing the carnival due to our attendance at the Bayside Schools Principal Conference over the next two days, however we look forward to hearing about the wonderful day that everyone has in the reports at assembly on Monday morning. 

2026 Foundation Enrolments

Our 2026 Foundation Information night will be held in the final week of Term 1, on Tuesday 1st April. School tours and classroom open mornings are scheduled in the weeks after that. 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. 

Dogs on School Grounds Policy

Our community is a dog-loving community with many families involving their furry friends in the walk to school and drop-off/pick-up routines. We occasionally have wellbeing and therapy dogs onsite to support a variety of programs. With so many dogs on school grounds at different times, School Council has recently reviewed, updated and endorsed our 'Dogs on School Grounds' policy to ensure that our expectations around safety and responsible ownership are well understood for the benefit of our entire community. The full policy was provided via Compass NewsFeed and the excerpt below clarifies our policy with regard to pet dogs:

Pet dogs

Black Rock Primary School is not a public place, and our principal has the authority to permit or decline entry to school grounds and impose conditions of entry.

Whilst Black Rock Primary School understands that many families in our school community keep dogs as pets, to ensure that our school remains a safe and inclusive place for everyone, we have in place a number of rules that we expect all families to follow if they wish to bring their pet dog onto school grounds:

• pet dogs must be leashed at all times and in the control of a responsible adult

• pet dogs must not be tied up on school grounds or left unaccompanied

• pet dogs must NOT enter buildings

• pet dogs can be brought on to school grounds at school pick up and drop off times, not outside of these times

• families that bring dogs to school that exhibit signs of aggressive behaviour, bark, or jump may be asked to remove the dog from school premises.

The principal has the authority to prohibit certain dogs from school grounds, or modify this policy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff, students and members of our school community at any time.

Stray dogs

Unaccompanied or stray dogs sighted at our school should be reported immediately to the school office. School staff will contact municipal authorities and/or Victoria Police for assistance in managing and removing a stray dog from school grounds, and ensure staff and students remain safe at school.

Out of Hours School Access

Thank you for your support regarding the school closing the gates. Many of the issues we've faced, including dogs roaming free on the oval around student activities and owners not picking up after them, have been minimised or eliminated since access has been restricted. 

As a result, School Council has elected to keep the gates closed out of hours and on weekends until further notice. Our highest priority is the maintenance of the school grounds and buildings as a safe, beautiful and natural place for our students to play and learn whilst they are at school. 

Sam Tyndall                   Emily Harvey      

PRINCIPAL                     ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL