Principal Report
Our school is located on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.
Whole School Cross Country
What a wonderful time we had at Cross Country last week.
Congratulations to Phil Wickham on his organization for this successful event.
Thank you for all of the time you put into ensuring our students had a memorable afternoon. Phil's work included extra training sessions including the well attended Fitness Club, risk assessment and booking of Leigh Park, set up, coordinating with Bellevue PS to share the space and much more.
Thank you to all of the parent volunteers, we cannot run events like Cross Country without you. You did a great job in your roles on Thursday.
Thank you to the staff for taking up all of their roles, in a new venue the work was different but we appreciate all you did to ensure a well run event.
Well done to all of our students, who ran like the wind and did their very best. I know lots of students participated in Fitness Club and did extra practices in their own time to be ready for the day.
Congratulations to all of the students going through to District Cross Country in a few weeks.
Professional Learning
Shannon and I spent Tuesday and Wednesday this week at the Riversdale Principal Network conference. This annual event focuses on the ongoing development of the leaders of our schools.
This year our focus was on leadership and wellbeing - questioning what we do, how we can build leaders in our system and leading with courage.
On Day 1 we were privileged to spend the entire time with Pasi Sahlberg, a Finnish educator, teacher, and author. He has worked as a schoolteacher, teacher-educator, academic, and policymaker in Finland, and he has advised schools and education system leaders around the world.
He has served as a senior education specialist at the World Bank (Washington, DC), lead education specialist at the European Training Foundation (Torino, Italy), director general at the Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture (CIMO), and visiting professor of Practice at Harvard University. He is a recipient of several awards for his lifelong service in education and the author of many books.
In 2013 his book “Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland” won the Grawemeyer Award (U.S.) for an idea that has potential to change the world. His most recent books include "Let the Children Play: How more play will save our schools and help children thrive" (2019, with William Doyle), "Finnish Lessons 3.0: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland” (2021), and "In Teachers We Trust: The Finnish way to world-class schools" (2021, with Tim Walker).
He is currently Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Melbourne.
His sessions focused on:
- The Big Picture
- Australian schools – Good. Different.
- What can we leaders do?
Take aways from Pasi's sessions included the importance of asking why are we doing this and how are we using the time we have with our students. Equity and the impact this has on student learning and wellbeing - whilst we have a world class education system in Australia is is not equal for all students. There is signficiant difference between student outcomes and wellbeing based on their socio economic status.
We heard from Simon Kuestenmacher, a Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group based in Melbourne at dinner.
Simon holds degrees in geography from leading universities in Berlin and Melbourne and worked for several years as a business consultant with KPMG Australia.
In 2017 Simon, with Bernard Salt, co-founded The Demographics Group. The group provides specialist advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business.
He focused on the worsening teacher shortage and other demographic challenges facing schools in the coming decade. He explored the challenges faced by schools in our region through the demographic lens. Do you know anyone contemplating being a teacher? We need them!
On Day 2 we spent time with Kendra Parker and Simone Eirth from the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. They worked through the Leadership Excellence Framework which was developed based on the compelling evidence that the quality of school leadership matters. It has a critical impact on student learning, wellbeing and achievement.
Excellence across the profession is essential to ensuring that every child in every school gets the best start to enable them to reach their full potential. That’s why investing in leaders matters.
Excellent educational leadership requires the integration of a small number of key capabilities across multiple domains of practice motivated by the right dispositions.
Our final speaker was Chelsea Roffey who is a speaker, author, researcher and Winston Churchill Fellow who has travelled the globe examining the barriers and opportunities of diversity. Pioneering the role of women in a non-traditional domain, her experiences have alerted her to the untapped potential in driving performance through diversity.
Chelsea's presentation was titled Leading with Courage and she talked about the importance of how we frame stories and the impact of self talk. As an AFL goal umpire she shared her experience and the importance of diversity of thought. She shared clear examples of inclusion and how it had been seen as a benefit rather than a barrier.
School Uniform
We have been informed that RHuniform have been bought out by Spartan School World. The attached Welcome flier will provide details of the transition.
The final trading day for RHU is Friday, April 26th. Spartan will commence operating from Monday April 29th.
The Ringwood store will be closed for trading on the 29th and 30th and reopen on Wednesday May 1st.
Online ordering will be available on their website from Monday the 29th.
Attached are details of the transition and the price list for Spartan BPPS uniforms.
We are meeting with Spartan next week to discuss their work as our uniform supplier.
Emergency Management
At the end of Term 1 our staff, students and visitors participated in an emergency drill - we practiced the lockdown procedure. We had everyone in classrooms reporting they were safe quickly.
We had some questions from our students and our instrumental music teachers which we will work towards answering so we can continue to improve our drills.
Essential Safety Testing
The Department of Education has taken back the work of Essential Safety Mangement for schools. They have allocated a company responsible for Boroondara Park PS. Last week they did an initial visit. As part of the changes there will be monthly checks of fire and emergency alarms when students are not on site. If you live close to school you may hear the alarms.
Open Day
Education Week is the celebration of State Education in Victoria.
We will be celebrating Education Week with our Open Day on May 14th from 9am. Put this date in your calendar and take up the opportunity to see the school in action.
Grandparents Morning
We hope you have invited grandparents and special people to come to school on Tuesday May 14th from 9.00-11.00am.
We are excited for our students to share their learning and show their school to their grandparents and special people.
Photo Day - Monday, 29 April 2024
This coming Monday will be class photos, individual and family photos. Whole school photo, JSC and Grade 6 photos will be later in the year, date to be advised.
You are able to order online (preferred) or by using order envelope. If you are unable to order online envelopes are available from the Office and should be retured by students directly to the photographers on Monday April 29th. Please refer to attached instructions on how to order online.
Enrolment - Year 7 2025
The following information was sent out to all year 6 families. It is provided here as a reminder.
Moving from primary to secondary school is an important step in your child’s education.
The Department of Education is introducing an online enrolment system called VicStudents for Year 6 students enrolling in Year 7 at a Victorian government secondary school for 2025.
This year, Boroondara Park Primary School will be using VicStudents, which aims to simplify and streamline the enrolment process for parents/carers of Year 6 students.
VicStudents has been assessed by the Department to a high degree of security in line with the Victorian Protective Data Security Standards and is compliant with ISO 27001, the leading international standard for information security.
Students not attending a Victorian government secondary school in 2025
If your child is already enrolled to start Year 7 at a non-government secondary school next year, please advise us via email (boroondara.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au), including evidence of your child’s Year 7 enrolment for 2025, by Monday 29th April 2024. You will not need to complete the digital process. If you are currently considering a non-government secondary school for your child, but are waiting for acceptance confirmation, please use the digital process. You can withdraw your child’s application later if you need to.
Students from families with shared decision-making responsibility
The email containing the link to register and use the online system will be sent only to the email address of one adult, as currently captured in our records. It remains the responsibility of all adults to consult with each other in making your child’s enrolment decision for 2025, where it is safe to do so. Please contact us if you have any questions about this.
Next steps
On Wednesday 17 April 2024, one adult from each Year 6 student’s family will have received an email with a link to register and use the online system. If you have not received this email, please get in touch with us.
If you do not wish to use the VicStudents online enrolment system, you may opt out and use a paper form instead. To opt out, please let us know within 5 working days, either by replying to this email or otherwise contacting the school.
Further information
A Quick Reference Guide will be provided to help you navigate the online system. This was included in the email sent to one adult on Wednesday 17 April 2024. We are also available to answer questions and support you through the process as needed.
For more information about secondary school enrolment and supporting your child during this important transition, please visit the following webpage: https://www.vic.gov.au/moving-primary-secondary-school-information-parents-and-carers
Final reminder - community conversation - neurodiversity
A reminder about our community conversation on Wednesday May 1st in person at 9.00am in the Library. With a second opportunity on Monday May 6th online at 7pm.
Webex link –https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=mb855e07021a10e1b516c8691bfe944ed
Join by meeting number
Meeting number (access code): 2652 203 4603
Meeting password: ewNRGbRq726
- Do you have a neurodiverse child?
- Does your child have a neurodiverse friend?
- Are you neurodiverse?
This is an opportunity to participate in a conversation, share your experience, knowledge and expertise, to ask questions and to learn from each other. All members of our community are valued and welcome, we believe this conversation will be a step in that direction.
Starting this conversation we aim to –
- Find out about the expertise in our community
- Give people the opportunity to ask questions
- Work out what support we can provide this year.
RSVP to the school email address – boroondara.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au – with your name and one of the following:
I am able to attend the conversation on Wednesday May 1st in person at 9.00am.
Or
I am able to attend the conversation Monday May 6th online at 7pm conversation.
Mother's Day Dinner
Have you booked in for the Mother's Day Dinner?
The dinner is on Thursday May 9th at Elias Greek Tavern in Heidelberg.
BPPS Facebook and Instagram
Don't forget to follow our social media accounts and see what is happening at school each day. Boroondara Park Primary School Facebook
Search @BoroondaraPark on Instagram to follow the school.
Susanne Lowe
Principal