BOROONDARA PARK PRESS

Principal Report

Our school is located on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. 

Values draft 

Thank you to the members of the community who completed the Values survey and were able to attend one of our Values Workshops. 

The discussions were rich and enabled us to work out the top values and draft definitions and what each value means at Boroondara Park PS. These drafts went to our School Council this week and will now go to our staff for input. 

 

Once the values are set we will plan a program of promotion and explore how every member of our community can live and interact according to our values each day. 

 

Our draft values and definitions are: 

Respect is valuing the feelings and abilities of everyone. 

At BPPS we accept each other. 

 

Care is taking a genuine interest in the wellbeing of ourselves, others and our school. 

At BPPS we think about and act to support others. 

 

Responsibility is being dependable, making good choices and taking accountability for our actions. 

At BPPS we are active participants and look out for the wellbeing of others and the world. 

 

Inclusion is valuing everyone. 

At BPPS everyone belongs and it is a safe place to be yourself. 

Hats hats hats

Term 4 is a hats on term, all students must have a hat to wear when playing. They must wear it at recess and lunchtime, when outside for PE or sport. 

 

Hats are not optional this term, all students who do not have a hat to wear will be asked to play under shelter. 

 

I heard a parent share this week that it is probably best to have a couple of hats - one good hat and one spare hat - with the spare one living at the bottom of your child's bag.  

 

Hats can be purchased from the online uniform shop and delivered to school. 

Carols Night 

We hope you all have Wednesday December 6th in your family calendar so you can attend the Carols night. Jonathan Parkins our Performing Arts teacher sent out a COMPASS email with details on Tuesday. 

 

The show starts at 6:30pm and runs until 8:00pm. Students will be performing their year level Christmas song and dance on the top oval outside the school music rooms and Stadium. There will also be various instrumental pupils performing an array of Christmas tunes, both individually and as ensembles. 

 

We have the Gourmet Fuel Truck on site and an ice-cream van. Arrive an hour early, order your food or bring a picnic.  Then sit around and chat while waiting for the show to start. Please find the menu below :

Gourmet Food Truck Menu

 

We look forward to seeing you on the top oval! 

Hampers of Hope

The Christmas tree  is up in the foyer and the Hamper of Hope bags were sent home this week. We are seeking your help as part of the Salvation Army Hamper of Hope Appeal. The empty bag can be filled with non-perishable  foodstuffs that can be used for families in need. 

 

Please place your filled bag under our Christmas tree  by the first week in December and these gifts will be collected by our local Salvation Army. 

 

Keep an eye on our social media accounts to see the donations grow in the next two weeks. 

Staffing for 2024 

Each year circumstances change for the school and individual staff. This year we see three of our long standing staff retiring. 

 

Margaret Coombs has been working  at Boroondara Park since 1995. Margaret became a parent of the school in 1993 when her children started in grades 5, 3 and 1. She became an Integration Aide assisting children with special needs in the classroom. Wearing many different hats she has been a CRE teacher for 20 years and worked full-time in the office from 2008.  We wish Margaret a wonderful retirement. 

 

Jen Christie has been working at Boroondara Park PS since 1984. She has been the teacher Librarian and a classroom teacher in Year 1 and 2. From 2018 onwards she has been literacy support and tutor teacher. There are two current staff who attended BPPS who Jen taught. Jen was at the school when it amalgamated so has a huge history with our school. We wish her well in her retirement from BPPS and from the Department of Education after over 40 years of service. 

 

Ray Owens has been working at Boroondara Park PS since 1997, in that time Ray has been Visual Arts teacher, Foundation, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 teacher. She has worked with JSC and been on School Council. She has also been involved in lots of school events including the Fairs and eisteddfods. We wish her well in her retirement. 

 

We have Claire Ballot returning to BPPS after living in Tasmania for two years. We also have Bridget Grundy returning from family leave in Term 2 next year. 

 

Our specialist team in 2024 will be ; 

  • French - Marylou Higgins
  • Performing Arts - Zoe Tsai
  • Physical Education - Phil Wickham
  • Visual Arts - Lisa Trevorrow  

We will also be farewelling Cameron Batt who has gained a promotion to Roberts McCubbin PS where he will be taking up a Learning Specialist role responsible for Numeracy across the school. This is Cameron's 8th year at Boroondara Park PS, where he has been the PE teacher for five years and in a classroom role for 3 years, including as the Curriculum Leader. This is an exciting opportunity for him and we wish him all the best in this new school wide leadership role. Congratulations Cam! 

 

We will also be farewelling Shannon Giles who has gained a position at Birmingham Primary School. Shannon has been at Boroondara Park PS since 2020 teaching in Grade 5. She has been involved in Keen Green Team during this time as well. We wish her well at her new school, which is only one suburb away from her new home.  

 

We have Simone Draper heading to Tintern Grammar as a full time classroom teacher next year. She has been at BPPS since 2010.  She has taught throughout the school as a classroom teacher and has been Librarian. We wish her well at her new school. 

 

We will be welcoming back Heidi Roast to the school as a full time classroom teacher and Jane Xie will be joining our staff as a full time classroom teacher next year. 

Travel Survey - reminder  

Have your say in safe travel to school

As part of the Boroondara Active Safe School program participating in a travel survey. All parents and families are invited to participate.

This travel survey is important to help us better understand how we are currently travelling to and from school. We can then plan to improve options for student travel.

It will take only a few minutes to complete. This will be a great opportunity for parents to have an input into road safety around our school.

Please click here for the survey:

Boroondara Park Primary School Travel Survey

Or type in the link into your web browser: 

https://forms.gle/hUucsby2zdhx4kJw9 

This survey will close on Friday 24th November 2023.

Support your child's education with 12 months free internet at home 

A reminder we sent out this information via an email in COMPASS. If you would like to apply for this 12 months free internet please fill in and return the form which you can get from the office. 

 

The Australian Government has established the School Student Broadband Initiative to provide free home internet for one year for up to 30,000 eligible families with school-aged students.

The initiative aims to boost education opportunities. NBN Co is leading the rollout of this initiative across the country.

 

How the School Student Broadband Initiative can help your child

Children who can access online learning at home as part of their education are more likely to engage in classroom activities.

Access to fast internet at home can also support children to build their digital skills, learn how to safely use the internet and take part in a world that is more reliant on digital technology.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible, families must:

  • have a child living at home enrolled in an Australian school in 2023
  • not have an active National Broadband Network internet service at their home* (having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility)
  • live in a premises that can access the National Broadband Network through a standard connection. NBN Co will check this for you after you apply
  • register interest with your school and complete a consent form to be assessed for eligibility

*If an address has been disconnected within 14 days prior to an eligibility check – the address will be classified as ineligible. 

 

There may be cases where exceptions can be made, please contact the School Student Broadband Initiative team at SSBI@education.vic.gov.au to discuss further. 

 

How the School Student Broadband Initiative works

If you are eligible, your home internet service will be provided at no cost for one year with a participating internet provider over the National Broadband Network. Each internet provider has its own step-by-step process to get you connected, which may involve you providing identification.

 

Once you sign up, the internet provider will help you set up your connection. The initiative does not include devices such as a computer or tablet. Other members of your household can use the internet service provided through this initiative.

 

The one-year period will start from the day your service is activated with your chosen provider. At the end of the one-year period, you will not be placed onto a paid service by your internet provider without your consent. The Australian Government is considering options beyond the one-year free period. 

 

How to apply

  • Ask your school for a copy of the School Student Broadband Initiative consent form.
  • Complete the consent form and return to the school.
  • NBN Co will use student address details on the consent form to confirm eligibility.
  • If you are eligible, NBN Co will issue a voucher for your family to use to sign up with a participating internet provider. This will be provided to you by your school. 

Please note: NBN Co will review the home address for eligibility. No personal information other than your main home address will be shared with NBN Co. Please see the consent form for details about how personal information will be used.

Mulch 

Have you noticed the mulch being put onto our garden beds? The amazing Keen Green Team (Year 5 students) have been spreading it around the school. 

 

Thank you for your amazing work! 

Are you leaving BPPS in 2024?

Is your child leaving Boroondara Park PS in 2024? Please take the time to complete this form to let us know - Leaving Boroondara Park in 2024.

BPPS Facebook and Instagram 

Don't forget to follow our social media accounts and see what is happening at school each day. Boroondara Park Primary School Facebook

Search @BoroondaraPark on Instagram to follow the school. 

 

Susanne Lowe

Principal