Principal Report
Our school is located on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.
Carols Night
It was wonderful to see all of our students singing and dancing at the Carols last night.
Thank you to Jonathan Parkins for his amazing work in preparing our students for the annual Carols Night. We appreciate his work to continue the tradition of our end of year celebration. The performing arts program has given our students the opportunity to perform and celebrate all they have learnt with their families.
Our students did a fabulous job of entertaining us all, their enthusiasm was infectious. It was wonderful to hear everyone singing along to the community songs.
Well done to the rock band and the instrumental music students who performed so well. I know their teachers and parents will have been proud of their courage in performing in front of everyone. Thank you to the instrumental music teachers who supported our students to be ready for their performance.
Thank you to Maria Cahill for making the arrangements for the food trucks. Thanks to Morgan and Carrie in the Gourmet Fuel Truck and to Tom in the Ice cream truck.
It was wonderful to see the community coming together, spending time enjoying each other's company, sharing a meal and celebrating our students.
Classes for 2024
On Orientation Day next Tuesday our students will spend time working in their new classes. Our staff have worked diligently to ensure the classes are balanced and students have one friend.
We know our community understands the work which goes into putting together grades, our role as the adults in our child's lives is to support them to be resilient. They will not always be in a class with their best friend, they will not always be in the class with the teacher you have decided they should have.
This is not the end of the world and they will be supported no matter who their teacher is in 2024. We are proud of each and everyone of our staff and what they bring to their role as teachers at our school.
No matter where they are placed in 2024 they will each be provided with an outstanding education.
We thank you in advance for your support in providing our students with the skills needed to bounce back if they feel a little disappointed at the end of the day next Tuesday.
State Education Celebration
This week I was able to attend the Balwyn High School Presentation Night at Hamer Hall. It was great to see so many current and former Boroondara Park PS families in attendance.
The Balwyn High School Captains for 2023 both attended Boroondara Park PS. As part of the evening there was a celebration of all they had achieved in 2023 as School Captains.
It was wonderful to hear so many familiar names being called out for awards throughout the evening including academic, music, sport and Buchanan (citizenship) awards.
The event was a celebration of the music program provided with the symphony orchestra, choirs, ensembles and bands performing.
I was very proud of our past students and of being a member of the State Education community.
Code Club Holiday program
Do you want your child involved in an exciting coding and technology club during the holidays?
Code Camp was run at Boroondara Park PS for the first time during the Term 3 holidays, it was recommended to us by a BPPS family who had sent their child to the program at another school. Feedback from the program was very good. The attached flier will enable you to book your child into the programs and includes a $25 discount coupon. They are hoping to run two programs.
Ignite for ages 7-12 years - 3 days
If you’re ready to take your child’s coding skills to the next level after completing Spark, Ignite is the perfect place to level-up! Ignite introduces JavaScript where students will build an awesome new game with advanced features using a mixture of drag & drop and JavaScript coding. New to Ignite, code and create your own Jurassic World game! Choose from Blue, T.Rex, or Therizinosaurus, select awesome backgrounds and collectibles from the movie Jurassic World Dominion, and bring the game to life via drag and drop coding or JavaScript.
Minecraft minis for ages 5-7 years - 2 days
Let your child's creativity and imagination run wild as take their very first steps into the pixelated universe of blocks, exciting characters, and endless possibilities at Minecraft Minis!
Values
In 2024 we will be working with our students and community to build an understanding of and promote our school values.
Respect is valuing the feelings and abilities of everyone.
At BPPS we accept each other.
Care is taking a genuine interest in the wellbeing of ourselves, others and our school.
At BPPS we think about and act to support others.
Responsibility is being dependable, making good choices and taking accountability for our actions.
At BPPS we are active participants and look out for the wellbeing of others and the world.
Inclusion is valuing everyone.
At BPPS everyone belongs and it is a safe place to be yourself.
Mobile Phone Ban
A reminder that the Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban that requires students who bring mobiles phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours.
The department is requiring all schools to ensure this ban is in place and enforced from the start of the 2024 school year.
The ban applies equally to all government schools right across the state. This helps ensure that school is a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions.
By ensuring mobile phones are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile phones can cause.
I ask for the support of all our families and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school.
Further information
Exceptions: For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact Susanne Lowe or Shannon Reeve if you would like to discuss this.
Emergencies: In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, I ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required.
A copy of our school’s updated mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, will shortly be added to the school website. It will also be shared via the newsletter early in Term 1 2024.
Parent support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.
If you have further questions, please contact the office.
Class Reps
We are seeking parents and carers to become Parent Class Representatives for 2024. You will have received a COMPASS email about this last week.
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to actively engage in your child's class and contribute to the development and success of our vibrant school community. Each year level will have two Parent Class Representatives and all Parent Class Representatives are supported by us, the Parent Class Representative Coordinators.
Why become a Parent Class Representative?
- Provide support to your class teacher
- Facilitate effective communication between the teacher, parents and the school
- Promote the core values of the school and support the growing school community
How to get involved
In the coming weeks you will be asked to express your interest in becoming a Parent Class Representative by completing and submitting an online form. The form will be sent out via Compass and current class WhatsApp groups so keep an eye out. In the meantime, feel free to speak with current Parent Class Representatives or us if you have any questions. We encourage applications from all interested parents/carers, no previous experience necessary, we will support you with whatever you need.
What do I do as a Parent Class Representative?
- Welcome new families to the class and arrange appropriate introductions with other parents
- Arrange a social activity for the whole class early in the school year, and further events/activities if desired with the class, and perhaps also with the other reps in the year level
- Encourage parents to be involved in their child’s school community e.g. attend school excursions, promote school fund-raising events, help at working bees
- Share information/reminders to your class regarding class and whole school activities
- Arrange end of year “Thank you” gifts to teachers for those parents willing to contribute
- Attend optional Parent Class Representative meetings with the Principal and Community Engagement team once per term
- Be a point of contact for parents to facilitate feedback/ideas/discussion to school sub-committees or Principal as appropriate.
BPPS Facebook and Instagram
Don't forget to follow our social media accounts and see what is happening at school each day. Boroondara Park Primary School Facebook
Search @BoroondaraPark on Instagram to follow the school.
Susanne Lowe
Principal