Engagement & Wellbeing

Heating Student Food - Reminder

A friendly reminder that the school is unable to heat food for students. This includes microwaving food or providing boiling water (for example, for noodles or similar items).

For students who like warm food, please send this pre-heated in a thermos, or provide alternative food.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Not Just Luck: How We Build a Positive School Culture

We had a wonderful visitor stop by last week who remarked on how lucky we were to have such a great group of students following expectations so beautifully. It was a lovely compliment, but I was quick to clarify…it isn't just luck!

That "calm and settled" atmosphere is something we build together. It is the product of high-quality teaching, clear expectations, and a dedicated effort from both our staff and our students.

The heartbeat of our approach is the School Wide Positive Behaviour (SWPB) framework. This matrix explicitly outlines the behaviors we expect to see, from sitting respectfully on the floor to moving safely through the yard.

We don't just expect these behaviors; we teach them. Each week, our school has a specific focus (such as "keeping hands and feet to ourselves"). This is explicitly taught in the classroom through scheduled lessons and modeled by teachers so students can see the behavior ‘come to life’. We then look for opportunities to provide positive reinforcement, and in some cases, the highly coveted Buni Money!

How does our school respond to misbehaviour? 

At Buninyong Primary School, we believe that every moment is a learning moment, including the times when students find it difficult to meet behavioral expectations. To support our students in becoming the best versions of themselves, we use a visual tool that’s consistently embedded across all classrooms, called the Buninyong Barometer.

What is the Barometer?

The Barometer is a clear, visual representation of the process our school follows when responding to behavior. It is designed to be a support tool, not a "naughty list." In fact, teachers do not publicly display where students are sitting on the Barometer to ensure every child feels included and safe to learn from their mistakes.

Why do we use it?

The Barometer ensures that every student receives consistent support across all classrooms and specialist programs. It links directly to our school values (Respectful, Responsible & Kind) and our School Wide Positive Behaviour Matrix.

Understanding the Four Steps:

When a student drifts away from our expected behaviors, the Barometer provides a predictable pathway for our teachers to get them back on track:

• Step 1 & 2 (The Coaching Phase): The teacher provides a verbal reminder and re-teaches the expected behavior. Think of this as a "quick check-in" to help the student refocus. 

   

• Step 3 (The Regulation Phase): If a student is struggling to settle, they may move to a Regulation Zone. This is a calming space where they can use a specific activity to reset their body and mind so they are ready to learn again. 

   

• Step 4 (The Restorative Phase): For unsafe "hands-on" behavior or major disruptions, a student may be moved to a buddy class or the office. This step always involves a Restorative Conversation. This isn't just a consequence; it is a guided talk to help the student understand the impact of their actions and how to "make it right." At this stage, you’ll likely get a call home from your child’s teacher. This isn’t to drill in a consequence for your child, it’s more to ensure that you’re aware of the challenges through the day- and it’s often a great chance for you to share some strategies that might be successful at home. 

How can you help at home?

The Barometer is all about learning. If your child mentions they were on a "Step" today, you might ask them:

1. "What was the teacher trying to help you learn?"

2. "Which school value (Respectful, Responsible, or Kind) are you going to focus on tomorrow?"

    

By using the same language at home and school, we can work together keep our community here at school a safe and positive place for everyone.  

Moving Forward

While the Barometer provides us with a strong foundation, we are always looking for ways to make it even more effective for our learners. Throughout Term 1, our Wellbeing Team will be working with focus groups of students to refine the Buninyong Barometer.

Our goal is to incorporate student-focused language and refresh the visuals to ensure every child—from Prep to Year 6—fully understands the "why" and "how" of our behavioral process. By involving our students in this process, we ensure the Barometer isn't just something "done to them," but a tool they own and use to navigate their own learning journey.

Bunjil Student Awards

Congratulations to the following students who received a P-2 Bunjil Award at last week’s assembly.

Bunjil awards recognise student achievement and those who display our school values of being respectful, responsible and kind.

Well done! All of our weekly winners enjoy a hot chocolate or zooper dooper with a principal.

Student Attendance

PRIMARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE - 

EVERY DAY COUNTS & EVERY MINUTE MATTERS

Please note that it is a requirement that all student absences are reported to the school and this should be done prior to or on the day of absence by 9am.

Notifying the school of your child’s absence helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibility. Please see the attached sheet for further information.

Can you please provide an attendance note for all student absences for your child/ren in one of the following ways: 

1. Online: log the absence directly on Compass. Compass is quite simple to use to add a note for the unexplained absences for your child/ren, both past and future. 

If you are having issues with your login, you can now request a reset password link directly from Compass

1. Telephone:  call the school on 5341 3560 - let the staff know your child’s name, class and reason for absences. -
2. Email: Email the school - buninyong.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au and provide your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason. 
3. SMS notification - click on the link within the text message that you received when your child was away to provide a reason for the absence

If additional support is required to assist with your child's attendance, please reach out to your classroom teacher or Jarrod Rodgers.

Breakfast Club 

Volunteers Welcome on Mondays! 

We’re seeking parent and community volunteers on a Monday to help make Breakfast Club a success. We have had a great start to the year, and any extra help would be greatly appreciated!

 You can volunteer as often as suits you – there’s no requirement to commit every week. We aim to have 2–3 volunteers each session. If you are keen to put your hand up and help out, add your name to the list below for Monday mornings. 

2026 Breakfast Club Volunteers