Teaching & Learning

Young Authors

Last Friday the Young Authors spent time at the Ballarat Art Gallery as a way of celebrating the work they have completed this year. This day included the chance for students to work with published author Michael Panckridge, take a writing ‘perspectives’ tour of the Art Gallery and go on a literacy walk around the streets of Ballarat.

This program was about providing opportunities for talented young writers to see the different pathways that writing has the potential to provide. This year students have discovered the craft of writing creation stories, worked with a media manager to learn the ins and outs of information reports and explored the art of sports commentary.

We thank all the Young Authors for their efforts this year and congratulate them on the way in which represented Buninyong PS.

All Young Authors receive a certificate for their efforts.

Young Authors - Final Celebration

This Friday the Young Authors will be heading off for their final workshop and celebration. The authors will participate in a literary tour of Ballarat, attend a workshop with published author Michael Panckridge and tour the Art Gallery of Ballarat.

This event is a culmination of workshops that the Young Authors have participated in during the year. Students have spent time with authors, listening to their stories and learning the craft of writing. Hopefully some pathways have been identified to help students see how writing can translate into a broad range of career opportunities.

Thanks to all the students for their efforts this year and we hope to see you continue excelling with your written work.

Thanks to Mrs Dekok who has been instrumental in planning the workshops and organising transport for the Buninyong students.

Public Speaking Competition

This Wednesday and Friday we will be conducting the Buninyong PS Public Speaking Competition. Students in years 3 – 6 have been working hard on their speeches over the past week and will be out to impress as they present their speeches at the following times:

Scotsburn: Wednesday 11am in Multi-Purpose Room

Years 3 & 4:  Wednesday 1pm in Courtyard

Years 5 & 6: Friday 1pm in Courtyard

 

The students will be adjudicated on the following:

Content:

Beginning – begins in an interesting way, grabs attention and has main points.

Central Theme evident and a logical sequence has developed.

Research – supports opinions and facts and or examples.

Language – Appropriate use of language – clear, correct sentences, words well chosen, informative.

Ending – strong summary of main points, as close to time as possible.

 

Delivery:

Visual – confidence, stance, unobtrusive use of notes

Eye contact

Use of gestures to convey messages.

Voice – clear, varied expression, pace, projection etc.

Engage the audience.

 

At the end of the competition 4 students will be chosen from Scotsburn and Buninyong to represent the the school at the Lions Club Regional final.

 

Good luck to all involved.

Cycling – Let’s Ride – Bike Ed for Years 3 and 5.

Once again, this year we are very excited to announce that students in years 3 and 5 will have the opportunity to participate in a cycling program that has been designed by Cycling Australia under the Let’s Ride banner. The inclusion of this program into the curriculum highlights the importance placed on this very important life skill.

 

Let’s Ride has been innovatively linked to the new national P.E and Sport curriculum and provides a great opportunity for schools to promote a healthy lifestyle message, tied into road safety and active travel options.

 

The aim of this program is to deliver 2nd Gear (part 1) of this course to Year 3 students and 3rd Gear (part 2) to Year 5 students, therefore creating a long term sequential plan to establish road safety and cycling skills in students at Buninyong P.S.

Details of the program:

Year 3: focuses on bike control skills, so that kids are given the techniques to enable them to ride more proficiently in a traffic-free environment (park, backyard, around the block, etc.)

Year 5: focuses on riding and situational awareness, so that kids are given the competencies to enable them to ride safely in low-traffic environments (shared paths, footpaths, bike paths, quiet streets, etc.)

 

Good luck to all participants and we look forward to seeing those technical riding skills develop throughout the duration of the course.

Life Ed

Over the past few weeks the Life Ed Van has been stationed at Buninyong PS. The Life Ed program provides an opportunity for students to participate in Health based programs that give students the knowledge, understandings and skills to make safe decisions about their health and wellbeing.

The Life Ed Van provides schools the opportunity to choose from a range of programs to best suit their context. This year our students have been studying:

Prep/ Year 1:  Harold’s Friendships: students, explore the qualities of a good friend, feelings and emotions, early warning signs, and safe and unsafe situations.

Year 2: Growing Good Friends: Exploring physical activity, nutrition, personal safety, and positive relationships with year 2 students

Year 3 & 4: Cyberwise: Helping year 3 and 4 students to be wise when it comes to relationships - both off and online.

Year 5: Relate, Respect, Connect: students learn the skills and strategies required to build healthy relationships

Year 6: It’s Your Call: students join time travelling detective, Mac McHardy, to investigate effects of tobacco smoking

Melbourne Renegades

Attendance Notes and Unexplained Absences

In order to keep our attendance data accurate have a look at their Compass attendance notes and follow the advice below.

Submitting an Attendance Note:

There are 3 ways to submit an Attendance note for your child:

  1. Use your Compass portal to submit a note (see video below)
  2. Ring the Buninyong Campus office.
  3. Send an email to the Buninyong office.

Clearing Unexplained Absences: (check out the video below)

Every time your student is absent from school without a note, an Unexplained Absence will be recorded against your child’s name. An Unexplained Absence is also recorded if you drop your child off late for school and do not accompany them to the school office.

 

You can add attendance notes to any Unexplained Absences by doing the following:

  1. Go to your Compass portal.
  2. Click on Attendance next to your child’s name.
  3. Click on the Unexplained Absences tab
  4. Choose the absences and click on Add Attendance Note.
  5. Choose from the choices available.

If you have an Unexplained Absence that is in accurate, that is fine, please just contact the office at the Buninyong Campus and we will clear the entry for you.

 

To help with this process, please check out the video below that shows the process to follow.