Principal's Message
Condition Assessment Report
Katie and I recently participated in the next stage of the Condition Assessment Report process as we continue to advocate for improvements to our school facilities. This work follows the Rolling Facilities Evaluation completed late last year and helps identify priorities to ensure our buildings and grounds remain safe, functional and fit for purpose.
We are pleased to share that Bolinda Primary School has been allocated funding to address a number of identified issues around the school. While this is a positive outcome, we continue to advocate strongly for the level of investment that many other schools have received to modernise and improve their facilities.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our advocacy efforts so far. If you would like to help, it is not too late to contact our local representatives and share your support for investment in Bolinda Primary School. Families can write to:
• ben.carroll@parliament.vic.gov.au • mary-anne.thomas@parliament.vic.gov.au
Every voice helps reinforce the importance of ensuring our students have access to high-quality learning environments for years to come.
Wood Raffle
Thank you to everyone who has already supported our Wood Raffle. We have now sold 42 tickets, which is a fantastic start!
With winter well and truly here, this is a great opportunity to win some quality firewood while also supporting our school. Every ticket sold helps raise valuable funds for Bolinda Primary School.
If you haven't purchased a ticket yet, there is still time. We would also greatly appreciate families sharing the raffle with friends, family, neighbours and local community groups.
The more people who see it, the greater the support for our school.
Purchase tickets here:
https://www.trybooking.com/DMWWG
Thank you for your ongoing support and for helping spread the word far and wide!
OSHC Update
Unfortunately, I do not have any positive news to report regarding OSHC at this stage. We continue to advertise the position and actively explore opportunities to establish a service for our families.
While we recently had two promising leads, neither has resulted in a successful appointment. We were also unsuccessful in obtaining a recent round of OSHC funding that would have provided significant support in helping us establish the service.
One issue that has become apparent is that current funding arrangements can place small and regional schools at a disadvantage. Schools that have previously received establishment funding are able to apply for future grants, while schools like ours that have not received an establishment grant are currently ineligible for funding opportunities that equare to $40,000. This creates challenges for small schools that may not have the enrolment numbers of larger schools, but still have a genuine need for OSHC services within their communities.
As families write to our local representatives regarding school funding and facilities, I would also encourage you to advocate for greater support for OSHC in small and regional communities. Access to affordable before and after school care is important for many families, and I believe it is reasonable for families to ask questions of the people who represent them about how these services can be better supported.
Despite these challenges, we remain committed to finding a solution and will continue exploring every avenue available to get an OSHC program up and running at Bolinda Primary School.
Curriculum Day
Staff will be participating in a Curriculum Day on Monday, focusing on Assessment and Reporting. This dedicated time allows teachers to carefully review student learning, finalise assessment information and prepare Semester One reports for families.
Thank you for your support in providing staff with this important time for professional work. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday.
Reconciliation Week
Over the past two weeks, students have engaged in a range of meaningful learning experiences as part of Reconciliation Week. Through classroom activities, discussions and creative projects, students have explored the importance of reconciliation, respect and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and perspectives.
The photos below capture just some of the brilliant learning experiences students have participated in and the thoughtful conversations that have taken place across the school.
Semester Reports
Semester One reports will be released via Compass on Friday 26 June.
As previously communicated, reports will look a little different this semester due to ongoing industrial action. While the format may vary from previous years, reports will continue to provide families with valuable information about student achievement and progress.
Parent-teacher interviews will be held during the second week of Term 3. We strongly encourage all families to take the opportunity to meet with their child's teacher to discuss the report, celebrate successes and gain a deeper understanding of their child's learning and next steps.