From the Principal
It’s good to be back on deck after my two weeks away! We had a wonderful time exploring the stunning Scottish highlands, before then shifting into soccer mode with our son. He was lucky enough to take part in a training camp in Manchester, and to compete in the Malmo Trophy tournament in Sweden. There were countless trip highlights, but stand-outs include hand-feeding a furry highland coo, catching up with cousins in the UK, exploring the Shambles in York (otherwise known as Diagon Alley) and sharing in the excitement of the tournament with all the other parents.
Special thanks to Sarah B and Chiara for keeping things ticking along smoothly during my absence.
Special invitation
At BSPS, we acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the unceded lands upon which our school is located. As a school community, we are committed to listening, learning and walking together in respect and understanding. We are mindful of the important role we play in the ongoing journey of reconciliation and seek ways to make a positive contribution to this journey.
We are honoured to welcome Uncle Perry Wandin, Wurundjeri Elder, to our school this Friday afternoon (3pm) to lead a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony as part of our commitment to recognising and celebrating Aboriginal culture.
A Welcome to Country is a formal ceremony conducted by a Traditional Custodian of the land. It is a deeply respectful cultural practice that acknowledges the ongoing connection of Aboriginal people to Country and welcomes visitors onto the land. Only Elders or Traditional Owners of that land can perform a Welcome to Country.
A Smoking Ceremony is an ancient and sacred practice used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. During the ceremony, native plants are burned to produce smoke believed to cleanse and protect people and places, and to promote the wellbeing of all present.
We warmly invite BSPS families and community members to join us. Grazie mille to Nick and the Reconciliation Action Team for their leadership and care in organising this occasion.
Student voice
Over the past fortnight, a whopping 93% of our Year 4–6 students took part in the Department of Education’s Attitudes to School Survey—a fantastic result. A big thank you to Caro and Sarah B for prioritising student voice in administering the survey.
This annual survey gives students the chance to share their thoughts on school life, helping us understand what’s working well and where we can improve. The survey asks students about important aspects of their school experience, including:
- Sense of safety and belonging
- Student voice and agency
- Teacher-student relationships
- Student motivation and interest in learning
- Positive behaviour and managing bullying
- Emotional wellbeing and resilience
One great example of how we’ve acted on student survey feedback is in the continued growth of our Amici Insieme peer support program. By listening to what students told us about friendship, belonging, and feeling supported, we’ve been able to build upon this program to foster stronger friendships across year levels, create opportunities for students to share and connect and develop leadership skills in our older students as mentors.
Lunch order review
Speaking of feedback, we received 99 responses to our recent lunch order survey; thank you to those parents/ carers who took part! Feedback highlighted three top priorities: healthy choices, affordability, and sustainable packaging. Toasted sandwiches/focaccias, sushi, and pasta were the most requested items. Fewer than 25% of respondents opposed including sweets or pastry-based items on the menu. A student focus group confirmed similar preferences—though they were unanimous in keeping sausage rolls and sweets!
Mary explored a range of providers, including local cafés and specialist services. Although Green Refectory was suggested by many, they’ve declined to offer school catering. Based on the feedback and Mary’s thorough research, we’ll be moving to TK Tuckshop (part of TeamKids) from Term 3. Ordering information and menus will be shared soon. Many thanks to Mary for doing such a thorough job with this!
Ciao for now,
Kristie