Dear BMGS Community

As Term 1 draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the BMGS P&F Association, particularly as we have a few new representatives and changes this year.

Springwood representative: Sarah Rodgers

Junior School WWF representative: Jane Miskovic-Wheatley

Senior School representatives: Laura Silva and Natalie Morel-Lewis

Treasurer: Suzanne Janine

Secretary: Kristy Glenfield

President: Mark Rodgers (2nd Chair Sarah Rodgers)

Our Term 1 meeting was held on 12 March at Springwood Campus. It was agreed that our focus for 2024 will be:

Friend-raising - our primary focus being growing the depth of relationships in our BMGS community;

Fund-raising - to purchase some exciting “nice to haves” to add to and enhance the great offerings already available at our school.

With these focal points in mind, our ever-capable P&F representatives have been hard at work in Term 1 with numerous great community building initiatives completed (see below Campus updates) with many more to come.

In 2024, we will be working closely with Deputy Principal Mr Laffin, who will serve as the main conduit between the P&F and the School’s Executive Leadership team. We are privileged to add a P&F voice to help inform the new BMGS strategic plan – a process being undertaken over the next 3 to 5 years which will involve collaboration with a number of focus groups including students, staff and the P&F. We thank the School for this opportunity and their leadership in driving the School forward.

The P&F’s ambitions can only be realised by the selfless dedicated of those who volunteer their time – If you are able to support your campus P&F in any way (large or small), please be sure to reach out to your local P&F representative (their details are below).

We welcome you to our next meeting which will be held at 6pm on Thursday 9 May in the Junior School Library, and can also be attended via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7045700539.

Looking forward to another great BMGS year.

With thanks,

Mark Rodgers

P&F President

Springwood Update

After a successful and fun 2023, the Springwood P&F is off to a great start in 2024 with a focus on building our special Springwood community and fundraising for some exciting additions to our campus.

We hosted a welcome back cuppa at the start of term where it was lovely to get to know so many new parents and to catch up with returning parents.

Early in March we worked with the Springwood teachers to hold our annual Picnic on the Lawn. It was such an enjoyable evening, where we were able to catch up with old friends and make new friends while sitting in the sun listening to jazz performed by the amazing William Louis and Samuel Gander, the Senior School music captains, and eating woodfire pizzas from Mr Toms Woodfire Pizza food truck, a great local business. Upcoming events include our hot cross bun drive (delivering this week), the bulb drive (orders open until 11 April https://www.bulbfundraiser.com.au/BLUEMGS), grandparents day cream tea, canteen days and of course Mother’s Day celebrations in Term 2.

With Mrs Newton’s guidance and Mrs Boros’s help, we have revitalised the art room. The newly dubbed “Atelier” is now a bright and inspiring space for our kids to make art, investigate STEAM learning and grow their love of all things French language and culture. We have purchased cube shelving, new seating and open storage so that kids can find and access what they need and be inspired to create.

We have also purchased and installed a new STEM wall in the Central Learning Area, with gear systems, hand tools, ball runs and pegs. This wall provides many open-ended learning opportunities for our kids to develop their understanding of science and engineering in a hands-on way. Learn more here (https://youtu.be/NoYb_rfa2iU?feature=shared). We are currently working with the school to provide equipment for the Wild Ed program at our campus as well as some exciting playground upgrades.

If you would like to get involved, please speak to your P&F class rep on your class WhatsApp group or reach out to Sarah Rodgers in person or via the BMGS Whats On Facebook page.

Wentworth Falls Junior School Update

After a very successful 2023, the JSW P&F has been very pleased to be able to provide funding for several junior campus initiatives. Your support helped us fully fund the JSW Wild Education program and we are so thrilled to see outdoor learning incorporated into Term 1 activities. We have provided a $500 grant to the Yr 6 leaders who have purchased wet weather games for the hallway and we will soon be installing a mud kitchen in the junior playground. We are now raising funds for playground improvements and we look forward to announcing these in Term 2. All P&F fundraising goes directly back to improving the school experience for our students, so thank you for all of your support, it really does make a difference.

Many of the successful events from last year are already in plan for 2024 with Term 1 already presenting a Welcome cuppa in the first week, the Welcome picnic and Pre-loved uniform stall, fundraisers including hot cross buns and flower bulbs, and we look forward to Grandparents day at the end of term. Our big events in Term 2 will include our Mother’s Day stall, where we have already been working with local suppliers were possible to select items for the children to put their gift bags together for you, more details to come. We will also present the “Anastasia” musical cafe so audience members can enjoy some treats before the show, a movie night at The Edge, more junior school sports events, stay tuned.

We have been very pleased to welcome returning and new families to the school and so many of you have already come forward to see how you can get involved, share ideas and show support. We are so thrilled with your enthusiasm and we look forward to especially developing more activities for our younger students and families. Our goal is to provide opportunities to improve our children’s school experience and create community between our families, and our year is off to a great start, thank you.

We have many exciting events and fundraising activities planned for 2024, notices will be posted by campus signage, in What’sApp parent groups and in the BMGS newsletter and MyBMGS where possible. If you would like to Jane Miskovic-Wheatley directly please email wentfallspf@gmail.com.

Senior School Update

Term 1 has been a busy period for our new BMGS Senior School Campus P&F representatives and committee members. We would like to thank parents and staff who have offered their wonderful words of support and encouragement.

Our team have started making plans to host and support numerous school events / activities and initiatives and we are now sending out a call out for volunteers.

A call out for volunteers:

At the commencement of Term 2, the senior school Performing Arts Department will be running a production for 5 evenings in a row in early May. We are calling out for volunteers to assist with our refreshment stall and to supply some baked goodies for our audience members.

P&F are also looking for volunteers to assist with the sports canteen where there will be food and refreshments sold at our Saturday home games commencing on Saturday week 1 of Term 2.

On some Saturday’s we will be firing up the BBQ so if any keen parents wishing to have a go at barbecuing a sausage or two the P&F would be thrilled to have you help us out.

No matter what level of contribution or engagement families make, we welcome you all and appreciate your input. These P&F activities are a great opportunity for our BMGS families to come together and engage in a friendly and social environment.

Contact details: Please email us at bmgspfss@gmail.com to alert us of your interest.

Laura Silva and Natalie Morel-Lewis BMGS Senior School Campus Representatives

From the Curriculum Office