What's happening in BPS PE & Sport Term 3!

Welcome to Term 3 and our chilliest term of the year! We have lots happening both at school and beyond in BPS PE and Sport this term and I'm excited for the adventure that awaits us!

I'm not sure what your holidays held for you and your family but for our family, it was a home holiday with a few little outings, appointments, walking our Bille dog and even a kangaroo or two!!! We did mangae to sneak in a one night getaway to Dixons Creek in the Yarra Valley, the heartland of wineries, kangaroos and log fires!! It was really wonderful to be out in the fresh air of the Yarra Valley with my wife and our special friends.

Here are two images to describe my holidays! I got to capture the rainbwo rainbow at a lovely winery but I didn't take this funny dog photo! I liked it because it describes my unconditional love for our Billie!

Charlie & Tahj, our State Cross Country Champs

Last Thursday Charlie and our newest member of BPS, Tahj, represented BPS at the Victorian State Cross Country Championships at Yarra Glen. Both Charlie and Tahj and families should be commended for their incredible achievement to qualify for state and step up to the finish line.

Charlie raced in the 12/13 Females 3km event and enjoyed the challenge of being able to train over the holidays with her friend Chelsea, and imrpove her pace throughout her cross-country stage runs. She said it was a tough run and heavy underfoot but loved the experience of the state level. The race track itself was heavy underfoot and hilly, but Charlie made the most of her run and placed an amzing 35th out of the 90 state female runners in her field. Incredible effort Charlie! You've made BPS history with your state run and we're all very proud of you and your family!

For Tahj, having only spent three days at BPS, the run was a great experience, and BPS is all the better for having Tahj and his family join our school! When asked about his race, Tahj had some great insights, saying that it was tough running on gravel and that the start of the race with a field of around 90 runners, was a learning experience. "There were people pushing and shoving at the start and some even fell over", was the way Tahj described the challenging start. But once he was into his stride and race rhythm, Tahj ran strongly and placed 70th over the 2km run. Congratulations to Tahj and your family for an amazing effort and settling into a new school all in the first week!

To our two state runners and families, thank you Charlie and Tahj for representing BPS with such courage and determination. You can be incredibly proud of your efforts and race results.

Alistair, our big picture kid with a heart of gold!

While most kids spend their weekends playing sport for their club, our Grade 6 student, Alistair, along with his Dad, Drew, get along to fundraising events to support sick kids. Whether they are running a 5km race or dressed up in Star Wars Cosplay costumes, both Drew and Alistair have the kind of hearts that look for ways to change the world for the better.

Just recently Alistair and Drew took part in, Run through Australia's 5km run around Albert Park. While it is a fun run, it gives big hearted kids like Alistair, the opportunity to raise funds and make a real difference to the lives of kids and adults that are doing it tough. For this run, Alistair wanted to raise money for the "Isabella and Marcus Foundation", a charity which supports children living with brain cancer. For Alistair and Drew, running 5km around Albert Park Lake meant more than just getting across the finish line for a time or placing, it represented doing good in the world and running to help people in need of hope, healing and support.

I wanted this shout out to be a moment to celebrate you both, Alistair and Drew, and what an inspiration you both are to us all in wanting to make the world better for people. One of my favourite quotes growing up which describes the kind of people you are by Indian Leader and Social Activist, Mahatma Ghandi. Ghandi was passionate about peaceful social change and said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world", meaning if we want to have a better and kinder world, it starts with us, it's our personal responsibility. Right here in our own backyard at BPS we have so many people doing good for others and lifting their head up to look a little further to see what is needed. Alistair and Drew, you are both examples of this and embody these values Ghandi was talking about. You are an inspiration to us all. Well done! Please keep us this awesome humanitarian work and making a difference because our world needs it and is a much better place because of you both.

BPS Grade 3 - 6 House Athletics Day of Fun!

Details

Date: Thursday 30th July - week 3

Transport: Students and staff depart BPS at 8.45am and return by 3pm

Arrive at school by: 8.25am

Venue: Bill Sewart Athletics Track, Burwood East (same venue as 2025)

What to wear and bring: your house colours, runners, warm clothes, drink, healthy food and snacks, asthma medication (if required).

Why is this day special: This day is a special part of our House Program where our students get to represent own new house name teams and earn points for participation and effort. PE PE Curriculum link: This day is also the culmination of our students practise and refinement of a range of track and field events, which has formed the basis for our Track and Field Athletics unit in our physical education classes for over a term.

District Athletics selection trial: This day doubles as our selection trial for selecting our BPS District Athletics Team for 2026.

An overview of the day: Students take part in both track and field events including the 100m, 200m sprints, long jump, triple jump, shot put discus and high jump.

Optional events include the 800m and the 80m hurdles (for all grade 4 - 6 students who have signed up pre-event).

Volunteers still needed for BPS House Aths

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers who have signed up to help at our upcoming House Athletics Day!

WE NEED YOU!!!!! We are so close to filling all our spots but still require three more volunteers to help on the day. All volunteers must have a current Working with Children's Check which is registered with our BPS front office.

If you can help, please sign up at the link below...Thank you:)

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4EA5AB22A5FFC52-64488011-bpsgrade

Before School Running Club returns for Term 3

Our amazing volunteers Jen, Stuart and Will, are once again out there in the chilly conditions every Friday to help our kids have some physical activity and training before school. This term our focus is directed towards track athletics with our term full of house athletics and then representative athletics.

We are looking at various track sprinting distances and team relays with a fun game thrown in as well.

This is a free training and open to all our Grade 1 - 6 students. If your child would like to join our team, please pick up a permission and running club expectations form from our front office. This form needs to be filled out for an adult family member or carer and handed into one of our volunteers on a child's first attenddance at training.

Dates for our term ahead

Victorian State Cross Country Championships - Thursday 16th July - Yarra Glen (week 1)

BPS House Athletics (grade 3- 6) - Thursday 30th July (week 3)

BPS Whole School Science Day - Thursday 20th August (all day event)

District Athletics – Tuesday 25th August 2026 – Bill Sewart Athletics Track

District Athletics Back-up Day – Thursday August 27th

District Summer Sport Grade 5/6 round robin – Friday 4th September

Well that's all folks!

Remember even on the cold days...

Stay active, have fun and move on!!

GO TEAM BPS!!

Mrs P:)

BPS Netball