Assistant Principal's Report

We warmly welcome all new students and families who have joined our BEPS school community this term. We are excited to have you with us and look forward to getting to know you.

Semester 1 Reports

The Semester 1 student reports will be published on Compass on Wednesday, June 24. Please be aware that these reports will continue to provide important details about student learning. However, personal comments will not be included due to industrial action taken earlier this term by the Australian Education Union (AEU).

You will have the opportunity to talk about your child’s progress and achievements during parent-teacher interviews, which are held in Term 3 on Tuesday and Wednesday, 21 and 22 July. You will be provided with information on how to book a time with your child’s teacher before this time. Appointments can be made at any time throughout the year if you need to talk to your child’s teacher.

Division Cross-country

Our team of 19 students competed at Lewis Road Reserve on Tuesday in the Division carnival. The course was tough and challenging for all competitors. Our BEPS students performed well and represented the school with pride. Thank you to Mitch for his work to coordinate the team and for attending on the day to assist throughout the competition. Thank you also to the many parents who attended to support and encourage all our participants. Ryan (Year 6) and Sienna (Year 5) will continue to the Regional Cross Country at Yarra Valley. This is such an honour – we wish them well!

Reconciliation Week

Last week, we proudly recognised National Reconciliation Week. This is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to think about how we can contribute to reconciliation in our everyday lives.

Reconciliation Week provides an opportunity to help deepen our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and perspectives. We can do this by exploring stories by First Nations authors, enjoying artworks inspired by Indigenous artists, and discussing the importance of respect, connection to Country, and community.

We also reflect on this year’s theme, ‘All In’, and consider ways we can help build a more inclusive and respectful future for everyone. These conversations encourage empathy, understanding and appreciation for our history.

As a school community, we are committed to continuing the journey of reconciliation by listening and learning together with respect. We thank our staff, students and families for supporting these important learning opportunities and for helping to create a school environment where everyone feels valued, included and connected. https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/

Are you feeling unwell?

As we move into the cooler winter months, there has been a spike in illness among children and staff. Thank you to families who are keeping their sick children at home; this helps keep the rest of the school as healthy as possible. Please do not send sick children to school. When letting the school know your child is absent, please contact us by phone or through Compass and let us know the reason, such as illness, a medical reason, or a medical appointment.

Student Supervision Before School

To keep everyone safe, school supervision begins at 8:45 am each morning. Students should not arrive at school before this time, as staff are not available to supervise them.

We have noticed some students arriving as early as 8:00 am. If you need to drop your child off before 8:45 am, please book them into TeamKids, where they will be safely supervised and can enjoy breakfast before school. Thank you for helping us keep all students safe.

Attendance:

We are also noticing more children arriving later each day after 9.15 am, and leaving early.

As we know, regular attendance is a major contributor to academic growth.

Did you know:

If your child’s attendance is below 85%, they are at risk of not meeting minimum learning expectations or reaching their potential.
Students with attendance below 85% are also at risk of losing connections with their peers.
If your child’s attendance is between 85% and 89%, they are missing too much learning time and may find it hard to keep up with schoolwork.

Please help your child develop the lifelong habit of being on time for school and for learning.

The School Council has recently approved the updated Annual Child Safety policies. These policies are now available for our school community to read on the school website. We encourage all families to review these documents to stay informed about our ongoing commitment to student safety and wellbeing.

Have a safe and relaxing weekend.

Teri and Edwina