Principal's Report
District Cross Country
Despite the weather doing everything possible to work against us, our students brought their very best to District Cross Country, and we could not be prouder. Their commitment to striving for excellence, setting goals, and maintaining high expectations of themselves are important character traits that extend far beyond sport. When young people learn to persist and work towards goals, they develop the confidence and agency to shape their own futures.
Events like these also require staff to be out of the school, which means other staff willingly take on additional responsibilities back on site. At BNPS, we are fortunate to have staff who consistently step up to support one another.
Alongside thanking Kirsty Hall for all she does to promote participation and opportunity in Physical Education; I would also like to acknowledge the teachers and staff back at school who make these experiences possible. Many are working well beyond their formal role descriptions, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to our students.
Education Support (ES) Day
On Tuesday 19 May, we celebrated our wonderful Education Support Staff. These people are absolutely critical to the successful running of our school.
The conversations I overhear are always centred on students and families. Our office staff, Kerryn, Nicole, and Nicola, work tirelessly to make communication clearer, and school processes easier to navigate because they understand how overwhelming school operations can sometimes feel for families. Their warmth towards every visitor, and the genuine care they show students who come to the office for medication or support after an injury, is something special.
Our intervention staff know students deeply. Jen, Melinda, Jen, Annie, and Janine advocate fiercely for them and consistently go above and beyond to support both their learning and emotional wellbeing. I also cannot express enough gratitude for Jen in the canteen, Annie in the uniform shop, and Vincent, whose work maintaining our grounds and facilities is constant, demanding, and often unseen.
School maintenance is a thankless and never-ending task. It is one of the reasons I feel saddened when our facilities are damaged or disrespected — because I know Vincent will quietly and carefully repair it, always with pride and without complaint.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to our ES staff. BNPS is a better place because of you.
Beaumaris Arts Festival
On Thursday 18 June, the Beaumaris Arts Festival will take place at Beaumaris Secondary College. This wonderful event celebrates the Arts across Beaumaris Primary School, Black Rock Primary School, Beaumaris North Primary School, and Beaumaris Secondary College.
Every year level at BNPS is contributing to the exhibition, and our Performing Arts contribution is going to be spectacular. A huge thank you to Sheridan Duffy-Fanu and Arla Anderson for the enormous amount of work they have put into making this event possible.
New Classroom Furniture
Funds raised through our Parents & Friends Association and our incredibly successful fete will soon be used to update classroom furniture across the school.
Given the ongoing challenges with vandalism on our grounds, we have chosen to prioritise improvements inside our buildings — spaces that can be protected and enjoyed by students every day. It is disappointing to see burn marks on the basketball courts caused by e-bikes and e-scooters, along with damage to our new basketball nets.
The senior classrooms currently contain the oldest furniture, so this is where the upgrades will begin before gradually extending across the school. Even small changes can completely lift a learning space, and our Year 6 students have thoroughly enjoyed trialling different chair options to determine the most comfortable designs.
Thank you to our P&F and every family who contributed to the tremendous success of the fete. These improvements are a wonderful gift to our students.
Bike and Scooter Safety on School Grounds
We would like to remind families that bikes and scooters may only legally be ridden on roads, bike paths, or in designated bike parks. Riding bikes or scooters on school grounds is not permitted.
You may have noticed new signage around the perimeter of the school reminding visitors of this expectation. This is first and foremost a safety issue. There can be students, families, staff, and community members moving through the grounds at any time of day.
This is also why we regularly remind students to walk their bikes when leaving the bike shed, and our students are consistently respectful and understanding of this expectation. We now ask our broader community to help prioritise the safety of everyone who visits, works, and learns at BNPS.
Lost Property
Our lost property collection is growing rapidly. We kindly ask families to check the lost property bins regularly and ensure that all clothing is clearly labelled. Returning unnamed items to classrooms has become a significant task, and labels make an enormous difference in helping belongings find their way home quickly.
Fostering Independence
As we move towards the end of term, we are continuing to encourage students to build independence by:
carrying their own school bags
- unpacking their belongings independently
entering classrooms confidently on their own.
These are important developmental milestones that help children feel secure, capable, and ready for learning.
If your child is finding independent entry into the classroom challenging, please speak with their teacher. We are always happy to work together with families to support children’s emotional wellbeing while gradually building their confidence and independence at school.
Wishing everyone a wonderful couple of weeks ahead.
Julia Stoppa
Principal