Principal's Report

It has been a wonderful first week back at Blackburn PS. Our students have returned with such positive attitudes and are already making themselves at home in their new learning spaces.

We are thrilled to welcome all our new staff and families joining the Blackburn PS community this year. Joining our teaching team in 2026 are Joel Nestor (Grade 1), Emma Finnerty (Grade 2), Jasmine Yze (Grade 2), and Emma Callery (Grade 3). We also welcome Kelly Sotiriadis back to the Grade 4 team after a year’s leave. We know our wonderful community will make them feel right at home! Please enjoy the short introductions on the next page to get to know our newest team members.

Supporting a Positive Start

The start of a new school year is often a mix of excitement and quiet apprehension. Adjusting to new classrooms, teachers, and routines can feel overwhelming at first. These feelings are a normal part of the transition, and for most children, they subside as their familiarity and confidence grow.

It is very common for primary-aged children to feel nervous during these initial weeks. Reassuring your child that these feelings are normal, and that many of their peers feel the same way, helps them feel understood and supported.

Calm, confident goodbyes help children feel safe. Simple, reassuring messages such as, “I know you’re feeling a bit unsure, and that’s okay; your teacher will look after you and I’ll see you after school,” can be very effective. Keeping drop-offs predictable, brief, and positive supports children to settle more quickly.

When the school day ends, it is also worth noting that students may be particularly fatigued as they adjust to the rhythm of full-time learning. You may find that asking "How was your day?" results in very little information. To encourage more meaningful reflection, try using specific, positive prompts such as, "What was something that made you laugh today?" or "What are you looking forward to doing tomorrow?" These small shifts can help children share their highlights while they recharge.

When to Seek Support: While some worries are expected, ongoing distress may be a sign that extra support is needed. If concerns continue beyond the first few weeks, increase in intensity, or begin to impact sleep and learning, please reach out to your child’s teacher for further support.

Information Nights

Thank you to the families who attended our information nights this week. These sessions are a valuable opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and hear about the learning and activities planned for the year ahead. Our consistent school-wide approach ensures that the transition between year levels is generally quite straightforward for students, and we look forward to sharing the various milestone moments of the 2026 school year with you.

Parent-Teacher Exchange

These meetings provide an opportunity for parents to share specific information regarding their child's learning needs or requirements with their new teacher. Please note that these are not intended to be formal parent-teacher interviews regarding progress; rather, they are a chance for us to learn from your insights.

Extensive handovers have already occurred between 2025 and 2026 teachers to ensure a smooth transition and a sound understanding of every student's needs. Therefore, some families may feel that the Compass questionnaire provides sufficient information and may choose not to attend a meeting.

If you would like to speak with your child’s teacher in person, please book a time via Compass conferences. A questionnaire regarding your child has also been distributed by class teachers via Compass to assist with this process.

Annual Privacy Reminder 2026

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages.

SUN PROTECTION

A reminder that as per our Sun Protection policy for all of Term One and Term Four -  ALL BPS students are expected to wear hats during recess and lunch and for all outdoor activities, especially Physical Education. Students not wearing hats are to sit under the shade seating on the Schoolhouse.

With the warm weather about, it is vital that all students wear their school, SunSmart hat when outside.  Students should also be drinking water regularly and taking breaks from play if they are getting too hot. We would appreciate these reminders being reinforced at home.

MOBILE PHONES AND SMART WATCHES

To maintain a focused and safe learning environment, students are not permitted to use smart watches or mobile phones during school hours, in accordance with the ministers directive to schools. If a student brings one of these devices to school, it must be handed in at the office at the start of the day. The devices will be securely stored and returned at the end of the school day.

While we understand the importance of these devices in daily life, they can be a significant distraction in the classroom. By keeping them stored away, students can fully engage in their learning and school activities.

All communication between home and school should go through the school office. We appreciate your support in enforcing this policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for helping us create a positive and productive learning environment.

The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.

The BPS Mobile Phone policy can be found here.

Scott Minetti

Acting Principal