Assistant Principal's Report
Students Arriving Late:
Parents are reminded that if their child arrives at school after 9.00 am they must be signed in at the office. We ask parents to accompany children into the office to sign them in. We understand that this may be inconvenient for some families; however, it is for the safety of the children that we require the parent to accompany them into school.
Please note that school gates are locked at 9.05 am and parents and carers will need to exit and enter via the office.
Reporting Absences:
Parents are asked to go to the COMPASS Portal to enter the reason for their child’s absence before 10.00 am on the day of their absence. If parents have not recorded the reason by this time, you will receive an automated text requesting that you go to the COMPASS Portal to record your child’s absence and reason. If parents know in advance that their child will be absent, or that the absence will be over several days, it can be entered in advance.
Visitors & Child Safe Practices:
All visitors to the school, including parents and carers, must report to the front office and sign in at the front desk. Visitors must also collect and wear a Visitor Badge whilst at the school. This practice is a requirement of Child Safe Legislation.
Visitors must not visit classrooms to deliver forgotten items such as hats or lunches. These can be left at the office if necessary.
Student toilets/bathrooms are exclusively for students and must not be used by visitors. These toilets are clearly labelled. Separate adult toilets are available. Parents and carers are not permitted to enter student toilets under any circumstances; if your child needs adult assistance, the bathroom at First Aid (next to the school office) is available for this purpose.
NAPLAN:
Students in Years 3 and 5 will take part in NAPLAN from the 11th – 16th March. These assessments give us a snapshot of how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy. We encourage students to approach the tests calmly and simply try their best. Our focus remains on supporting every child’s ongoing learning and growth.
Professional Learning:
Behind the scenes, our staff prioritise their own learning and professional growth. Staff meet twice each week after school on Tuesday and Wednesday to participate in professional learning. This work is guided by our 2026 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) and occurs through Year Level Professional Learning Communities (PLC). This year, we are focusing on building on teachers' practice of High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS) to support learner agency and embed whole school collaborative approaches to build curriculum knowledge and evidence-based instructional approaches. We will focus on the Elements of Learning and the Elements of Teaching, aligning these to the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0.
WWCC: Parent Volunteers:
We encourage and value parental and community support at BEPS. There are many ways that families can assist at our school. We encourage all families to obtain a Working with Children’s Check that will allow you to be very involved in your child’s education. These checks are free for volunteers. Once you have your WWCC please come to the office so we can photocopy it, and we will add your name to our list of parents who have a current WWCC. You will then be able to volunteer and assist in the classroom, at swimming and help with our parents' association fund raisers!
Focus on Maths:
The Department of Education has developed a set of resources for parents and carers of Foundation to Year 2 students. The Strengthening number sense at home resources show you what number sense looks like in the classroom. They provide simple advice and family activities you can do at home, at the supermarket and at the park to strengthen your child’s number sense.
To see the full set of resources visit: Mathematics and numeracy at home.
Strengthening number sense at home tips are also available as printable documents in Arabic, Chinese (Simple), Chinese (Traditional), Dari, Hindi, Malayalam, Persian, Punjabi, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Cultural Diversity and Harmony:
Australia is a diverse nation, shaped by the world’s oldest continuing cultures, our British colonial history, and generations of migration from across the globe. This history has created the rich mix of cultures, languages and traditions we see today.
The most recent census data shows that more than half of Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. Around 28% of people living in Australia were born in another country, representing more than 200 different birthplaces. Over 200 languages are spoken across the country, with nearly a quarter of Australians speaking a language other than English at home. Importantly, more than 167 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages continue to be spoken.
At BEPS, this diversity is reflected within our own school community. Across the school, students and families speak 27 different languages. Just over a third of our community (38%) speak English, while nearly a third (30%) speak Mandarin. Cantonese is spoken by 6% of our families and Hindi by 5%, alongside many other languages that enrich our school community. This diversity is something we value and celebrate as part of everyday life at BEPS.
Australia is also home to a wide range of faiths and belief systems, alongside many people who identify with no religion. This diversity is reflected in our neighbourhoods, workplaces and schools.
As we celebrate Harmony Week, Monday 16 - Sunday 22 March 2026 and Cultural Diversity Week over the coming weeks, we recognise BEPS diversity brings together our community from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. We acknowledge the unique history that has shaped our nation and recognise the many cultures, languages and traditions that enrich our school community. Together, we continue to celebrate cultural diversity and foster multicultural inclusion at BEPS.
Labour Day Public Holiday: Monday
Parents are reminded that there is a Labour Day holiday on Monday, 9th March. There will be no school on this day.
Have a great weekend!
Teri and Edwina