Around The Rooms
Senior Team
Camp Camp Camp
We have a very excited bunch of students and teachers as final preparations are being made for our Senior Camp to Roses Camp on Wednesday. Our final camp meeting will be held on Tuesday to answer any last minute questions from students. Packing forms, activity schedules and information regarding medication was sent home to families in Week 7. Should you have any questions please contact your childs teacher via Xuno.
Please note whilst we are on Camp in Roses Gap there is limited mobile phone reception and BPS staff members are heavily involved in supporting and running activities with the students whether that be running archery, low ropes or helping students in and out of harnesses for crate stack, abseiling, flying fox and life vests for canoeing. Therefore their will be limited updates from staff throughout this time. We will be posting updates through the BPS Facebook page where possible. If you need to contact a teacher or your child please message Miss L via Xuno and she will respond when possible.
Here is the link to our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/BallanPrimarySchool
Also if you would like to have a look the Roses Gap camp with your child here is the website - https://www.rosesgap.com.au/
Middle Years Team
Awesome to see so many of our Middle Years students participating in the Ballan Autumn Festival parade, last Sunday (whether with the school float or for other community organisations). Thank you to everyone who came along and joined in the fun. Thanks especially to Mrs. Spencer; our school float looked ‘super’! 😉👏😁
We are very quickly coming up to the end of Term 1, already. It has been a jam-packed term, and everyone is starting to look like they are ready for a holiday. Please keep up the calming routines and regular bedtimes at home so that students can befocused and perform their best. At school, we learn self-regulation techniques and practise mindfulness on most days. Here are some our favourite examples you can use to practise at home:
💭Thought bubbles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70j3xyu7OGw 🐟🐠 Be the Pond by Zen Den https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf5K3pP2IUQ
We also use the Zones of Regulation curriculum to learn about our bodies’ regulation and how to work on getting back to the green zone if we are feeling less than calm, happy and focused. We recognise and respect that all feelings are valid, but not all feelings are very helpful for learning and getting along with others. We have a range of systems in place to assist students if they are feeling dysregulated including calm down corners, movement breaks, sensory tools and opportunities to talk with (coregulate with) trusted adults and friends.
Junior Team
Junior Team News – Adding Up the Fun!
Our Juniors have settled beautifully into school life and are now diving into their learning with enthusiasm! From hands-on activities to creative displays, our classrooms have been shaping up into vibrant spaces for mathematical thinking.
Our Preps have been busy adding to their knowledge with fun, hands-on activities exploring addition. They have created a ladybug addition display, where each spotted
friend helps show different number combinations. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they explore early number concepts in engaging ways.
Meanwhile, our Grade 1 and 2 students have been deep in the world of place value, building strong number sense with creative projects. Their ‘unbeleafable’ place value trees are growing strong, each leaf representing a different number breakdown. Through games, manipulatives, and teamwork, they are developing a solid understanding of tens and ones, and hundreds!
We’re so proud of our Junior mathematicians and look forward to seeing their skills continue to grow!
Specialists
Physical Education
Indoor soccer has been the focus of Physical Education lessons across the school. This has involved explicit teaching of dribbling, ball control, passing, shooting and general team play. It has been especially pleasing to watch the enjoyment across students faces as they compete against each other in a comfortable format. Our Cross-Country Team is just being finalised and I will provide information soon to students and their families. Cross Country will be held on Friday 9th May at Ballarat High School. Transport to and from the event will be the responsibility of families. Lastly, thank you to all Grade 3/4 who returned swimming notes. Information has now been sent to the Ballarat Aquatic Centre. Grade 5/6 have been provided with their notes which are due back to school by the end of this term.
Marcus Murrell
Science
Students have been enjoying learning in the area of Earth and Space Science.
In teams, the 5/6 students have been following the engineering design process to build lunar modules, testing as they go.
Year 2/3/4 students have focused on the Sun, Earth and Moon, and creating their own class Kahoot quiz. Years 1/2 have been testing their memory of the order of the planets from the Sun, and doing experiments with torches and oranges, representing the sun and the moon, to understand the patterns of the moon cycle. Prep students are learning about the weather and seasons and how we choose appropriate clotting and activities to suit.