Principal Report

Ramadan 

Many members of our community will at this time be observing Ramadan. 

Nearly a quarter of the world's population, including hundreds of thousands of people in Australia, are currently observing Ramadan.

The holy month signals a sacred period of fasting and worship — Muslims will abstain from eating and drinking from when the sun rises until it sets and pray and donate to charity.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the start and end dates change every year as the Islamic Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon.

Fasting — known as Sawm in Arabic — is one of the five pillars of Islam, and a part of Ramadan. This means those observing Ramadan will not eat or drink, including water, from dawn until sunset wherever they are.

A pre-dawn meal called suhoor is eaten before the fast's commencing prayer Fajr, the dawn prayer. Suhoor is essential in providing nourishment during the daily fast.

Following the sunset, or Maghrib, prayer, Muslims eat a meal called iftar to break the daily fast. 

Traditionally, the fast is initially broken with dates and water, followed by a larger, communal meal that brings friends and family together to celebrate the day’s fast.

Not all Muslims fast each Ramadan.

Children and the elderly are exempt from fasting. 

The start of Ramadan is marked by sighting the crescent of a new moon. Ramadan lasts either 29 or 30 days. 

The celebration Eid al-Fitr, Festival of Breaking the Fast, marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr typically begins with a communal prayer, sermon and the payment of Zakat Al-Fitr, a donation for those in need.

The three-day festival is celebrated by:

- Sharing traditional feasts

- Exchanging gifts to children, the elderly and to those in need

- Wearing new clothes

- Decorating homes 

Wishing someone well during Ramadan is open to all even those not participating. Here are some common greetings to share with friends and co-workers.

- Happy Ramadan

- Ramadan Kareem which means "generous Ramadan"

- Ramadan Mubarak which means "blessed Ramadan". 

Source - SBS 

Where do we come from? 

As a school community we want the opportunity to celebrate who we are. We would like you to know where you come from and what languages you speak. We would love all families to take the time to share their family history. 

Where do you come from?

Cultural diversity week 

According to the most recent 2021 Census, over half of all 6.5 million Victorians have at least one parent born overseas. We are also:

• speak 290 languages
• have 314 different ancestries
• settle around 4,000 refugees in our state each year
• see around 10,000 people arrive in our state seeking asylum each year. 

Cultural Diversity Week takes place from 17 to 23 March this year. It provides us with an opportunity to embrace and celebrate the rich multicultural fabric of the Boroondara community. 

Boroondara is home to residents from over 150 countries, speaking more than 120 languages and practising over 39 religions. More than half of Boroondara’s residents are second-generation Australians, with 56% having one or both parents born overseas.

There are a number of activities in the City of Boroondara - Boroondara Cultural Diversity activities 

Attendance - mid-term reminder

At midterm we are reminding parents to review their child's absences for 2025 so far. Please review and make sure you have no unexplained absences. We will be sending out reminders shortly. 

Volunteer induction and registration 

It has been fantastic to see a number of parents complete the induction and registration so that they can volunteer at BPPS in 2025. This link will take you to the google form so you can undertake the induction/registration. 

All volunteers must undertake the induction and register to be involved in school activities. 

Volunteer induction and registration

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