Buninyong PS Newsletter

Principal's Report

TERM 3 BEGINS

Welcome back to everyone and we hope you have had a nice break.  We’ve certainly had a very cold and damp start to the term, but can cope with that knowing we’re past the halfway mark of winter.

 

A big thankyou to Nicole Phillips and Paula Dekok for acting in the Principal and Assistant Principal roles for the final weeks of term 3 (while I took some Long Service Leave) and for doing such a good job.  It certainly appears the term ended well, leaving us well placed for a successful term 3. 

 

As always, there is plenty to look forward to in the term ahead.  We know the concert is our major focus over the next 7 weeks, which is exciting, but a bit scary too.  Other things to look forward to include:

  • Celebrating NAIDOC Week…this week
  • Some kinder visits and a disco next week
  • Debating for the 5/6s
  • A trip to the Wildlife Park for the Preps
  • The Preps celebrating 100 days of school in week 4
  • More interschool sport (state cross country, lawn bowls & basketball) 
  • The Father’s Day Stall
  • More Young Authors workshops
  • A swimming program for the P-3s
  • A Grade 3/4 Celebration Feast
  • Japan Trip in the last few weeks of term for a lucky group of students and staff
  • Finishing off the term with our Celebration of Learning evening and Footy Colours Day, complete with sausage sizzle.

Deepest Sympathy to the O’loughlin family

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the O’loughlin family following the sudden passing of Jackie O’loughlin, a former student and current parent of our school. Her presence will be deeply missed by all who knew her. To support Leo and his family during this difficult time, a GoFundMe page has been set up for anyone wishing to contribute. https://www.gofundme.com/f/jackie-oloughlin 

 

Our thoughts are with Jackie’s family and friends during this challenging time.

CONCERT UPDATE – ‘THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS’

Now that we’re at the start of term 3, it’s time for classes to start preparing for the concert.  It’s already clear that some great ideas are being generated and the concert is certain to be very entertaining for our guests and a fantastic experience for the students. 

 

At this early stage, classes have an idea in mind and are constructing an act around that idea…all based on the theme of ‘Th Magic School Bus’.  Each class is approaching this challenge in their own way.  In some cases, the class teacher has the ideas and skills to work with the kids and develop an act, whilst others are seeking help from interested parents or colleagues.  We are lucky to have Liz Morgan supporting some classes as well as 2 past students (Aylah Stanford and Lucy Baldwin) supporting other classes.  It’s early days, but by the end of next week all classes will spending some time each day learning and practising their act.  This is all great experience for the kids.

 

In the lead up to the concert, there will be quite a bit of information we need to share with families.  We’ll do our best to avoid sending lots of separate messages, but instead will do the following:

  • Prepare a package of information, providing key details that everyone needs to across.
  • Class teachers will send out a message soon, with the specific information you need to know for your child’s class.

Thanks in advance to the many parents and other family members who will be helping out with the concert.  Events such as this can’t run without help from parents, and we’d encourage everyone to look out for requests from their child’s class teacher and help out where you can.

 

For the moment, the key information you need to know is captured below.

  • The concert schedule is as follows:
    •  Wednesday August 28 - Full Dress Rehearsal (Takes up most of the school day.)
    •  Thursday August 29 – Matinee followed by an Evening Performance
    •  Matinee - starts at approximately 10:30am, with students back to school in time for the end of day pick up.
    • Evening Performance - starting at 6pm
    • Friday August 30 – Evening Performance (Staring at 6pm)
  • Pupil Free Day on Friday August 30 - There is no school on Friday, August 30.  Base 1270 will operate on this day for families who require childcare.
  • Ticket Sales - By this time next week we should have information regarding the sale of tickets.  We can tell you that tickets to the Thursday Matinee will be available for purchase at $25 and tickets for the evening performances will sell for $30.  There will be a limit on the number of tickets families can purchase for the evening concerts, but no limit on the number of ticket purchases for the matinee performance.  It’s essential that ticket sales for each family to the evening performances is limited , to provide all families with the opportunity to attend.  In 2018 (our last concert) the limit was 5 tickets per family to evening concerts and that turned out to be about right.  You can expect something similar for the 2024 concert, but all of that will be confirmed soon.

 IMPROVEMENTS TO FACILITIES

As per usual we used the term break to get a few things done.  On this occasion

that included:

  • Painting works in 3DS and 3KM were finished off.
  • New carpet went down in 2NH & 2AG, which has made a massive  difference.  During the September break new carpet will be laid in the remaining grade 2 classrooms.
  • Concreting works on either side of the new basketball court were completed, meaning we no longer need to engage 4WD to get the bus in and out of the shed.  A big thank you to Mark Dell (one of our parents) for getting this work done.
  •  The new 3-4 adventure playground equipment has been installed, along with associated landscaping.  There are a few minor repairs to be completed this week and then the temporary fencing will come down.  Hopefully the new equipment will be ready for the kids to use very soon.