Principal News  

This is the second edition of our iNewsletter and there is much to report and celebrate.

Our staff at BPS are the 'best in the business' and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them. 

 Over the last few weeks, there have been many events where our hardworking staff have gone 'above and beyond' their normal duties to ensure that our many programs, facilities and events were successful. 

Let's begin with Pancake Day! On Tuesday 20th February we shared a yummy pancake expertly prepared by Bert and Kay and assisted by our fantastic ES staff.  This was a great opportunity for our children to get together, have a chat and feast on a delicious pancake. 

 Capital Works project 

There is a great deal of work going on behind the scenes to prepare for the next stage of our Capital Works project.  Brenda and Kay and their team of helpers have been sorting through our current library in readiness to decant the contents into our MOD 5 building.  I am pleased to announce that we have now received a handover of this building and can start moving essential items into this space in preparation for the refurbishment of the library (see more details on our Buildings and Grounds Page). 

Thank you to those parents who have already donated their time to sorting and packing library books. We appreciate your help! 

School Council Update 

Second nomination period open now! 

The nomination period for new school counsellors will re-open for the next 3 days.  We still have 3 parent member positions remaining.  If you would like to nominate for school council please collect a form from the office and return no later than Friday, 8th March (4.00pm). 

Figatroll - Children's opera performance. It was unfortunate that we were unable to have our whole school performance of Figatroll last week. Due to the extreme weather conditions, many of the performers were unable to travel to our school. This performance is now rescheduled to Friday, 26th April.  

Child Safe Standard #1 

There are 11 child safe standards. The first standard is to create a culturally safe environment.

Actions schools must take

to comply with this standard, at minimum, schools must encourage and actively support a child or student’s ability to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights in the following ways:

• equip staff, students, volunteers and the school community to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal culture and understand its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal children and students
• adopt measures to ensure racism is identified, confronted and not tolerated
• address any instances of racism within the school environment with appropriate consequences
• actively support participation and inclusion in the school by Aboriginal children, students and their families
• ensure school policies, procedures, systems and processes together create a culturally safe and inclusive environment and meet the needs of Aboriginal children, students and their families
• develop and endorse a policy or statement detailing the strategies and actions the school will take.