Buninyong PS Newsletter

Principal's Report

TERM 2 COMES TO A CLOSE

We are coming to the end of an 11-week term, which has been successful on many fronts.  We look forward to finishing off with Parent Teacher Interviews and thank the many parents that have shown interest and come along to be part of their child’s education.

 

At the close of each term, it’s always nice to reflect on key achievements.  Highlights that come to mind from term 2, include:

  • We had a successful whole staff PD Day, featuring visits to other schools
  • School photo days ran well and we’re happy with the final product
  • Kim ran another successful Book Fair 
  • Mrs Cray and Mrs Morgan ran a fun Japanese Day
  • The Mothers’ Day Stall & breakfast were a hit as always 
  • Each of the scholarship programs have gathered momentum and are doing great things
  • We acknowledged Reconciliation Week with a range of activities
  • 5/6 students visited BioCats and the Grade 1 kids loved their Dinosaur incursion
  • We were involved in a number of interschool sports events, and as always, our students made us proud
  • First aid training was brilliant for our students.  The instructors loved our kids and offered to come back for more training … something they don’t offer all schools.
  • Tracey and her canteen team ran a Sausage Sizzle last Friday
  • The kids enjoyed a crazy sock day and have a casual dress day on the last day of term.

We have a shorter term ahead in term 3, just nine weeks, which we know will go in a flash.  Features on the calendar include:

  • NAIDOC Week in the first week back
  • Kinder visits
  • A school disco in week 2 … we know that will be huge
  • South Street Debating
  • Continuation of Young Authors’ Workshops and Think Tank excursions
  • A final VSSS rehearsal, followed by dress rehearsals and then the big performance on September 13
  • 100 Days of School celebration with the Preps
  • Book Week from August 18-22, which will include a dress up day on the Friday
  • Our Fathers’ Day Stall on September 5.  This year we’ll also throw in a Fathers' Day breakfast, which will happen on September 4
  • Grade 5-6 camp to Melbourne in week 6
  • Students representing our school at Division level competition and above in various sports (Division Basketball, Regional AFL, State Cross Country, Division Athletics and Regional Lawn Bowls competitions are locked in at this stage)
  • Preps Wildlife Park excursion
  • Prep - 4 and Scotsburn swimming programs
  • The Celebration of Learning event in the final week of term
  • Finishing off the term with the Footy Colours Day, sausage sizzle and Mphatso fundraiser.

After a nice two-week break, we look forward to tackling all of the above in July, August and September.  

 

A link to the term 3 activities calendar can be found attached below.

Families Event Calendar Term 3 2025.pdf

CASUAL DRESS ON FRIDAY

We like to finish the term with a casual dress day, which doubles as a fundraiser for an external beneficiary. 

 

The VOTS Team has the responsibility of selecting who the money will go to, and on this occasion have selected the Royal Children’s Hospital.  To support this fundraiser, children are invited to come along with a gold coin on Friday.

WORKS HAPPENING OVER THE TERM BREAK 

We have bits and pieces of painting happening across the school, including the prep offices and photocopy room at Buninyong and the art room at Scotsburn.  The big job for this break was to be new carpet for two classrooms, those being 1RM and PLR. Unfortunately, the carpet didn’t arrive on time, so that job has now been pushed back to the September break.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM UPDATE

Over the past month we’ve provided an update for the Music, Visual Arts, Master Chef and Photography Scholarship programs.  This week we would like to place the spotlight on the STEM Extension Program.  Miss Middlin runs this program, and we thank her for the following update.

STEM Extension Scholarship Program – 2025

The STEM Extension Scholarship Program is a specialised initiative that provides selected Grade 5 and 6 students with the opportunity to further develop their skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through innovative, hands-on learning experiences. The program runs each Friday afternoon from 2:00pm to 3:30pm and currently supports 14 enthusiastic and high-achieving students.

 

Operating across the STEM classroom, STEM shed, and various outdoor learning spaces within the school grounds, the program focuses on sustainability, environmental awareness, and design thinking. A central component of the program is the application of the Design and Technologies curriculum, with students engaging in the entire design process—from ideation and planning to prototyping and final construction.

 

Over the course of the year, students have undertaken a major project designing and building possum nesting boxes to support local wildlife. This task required students to apply their knowledge of engineering and environmental science, alongside practical skills in design and construction. They used a variety of tools and technologies, including:

  • Digital technologies: Google Workspace tools (Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings) for planning, collaboration, and documentation
  • Design technologies: 3D printers and laser cutters for producing components and prototypes
  • Engineering tools: traditional woodworking equipment including hammers, saws, screwdrivers, tape measures, and sanding tools
  • Creative finishing: painting and decorating techniques to weatherproof and personalise the boxes

We were extremely lucky to have Anita from Gardens to Wildlife who came in for an incursion to discuss the importance of protecting our natural wildlife and discussed ideas for possum box designs.  The possum boxes are now fully painted and ready to be installed in trees around the school yard. Students have turned their attention to a new challenge — designing and constructing a chicken nesting box for our recently acquired school chickens. This new project continues to develop their practical engineering skills, digital literacy, and teamwork, while reinforcing the program’s emphasis on sustainable and community-minded design.

 

We have also been fortunate to participate in a STEM engineering incursion run by the University of Melbourne. The engineering task encouraged participants to understand and critically evaluate the key role of structural engineering and how it plays a vital role in building structures resistant to natural disasters. 

 

Later on in the year we will  have a visit from the Ballarat Tech School who will show us the range of technology they have available to develop prototypes and models of designs. During this incursion we will be using the laser cutters to explore computer aided design. 

 

The STEM Extension Scholarship Program not only fosters critical and creative thinking but also empowers students to become innovative problem-solvers who can positively contribute to their communities through purposeful and sustainable action.