The Year That Was...
A reflection from Mrs Duffy...
In typical fashion, we have had another huge year at BNPS. Students have been involved in a range of learning opportunities and our focus on strengthening student voice has produced a positive culture of student engagement and leadership.
I would like to acknowledge and commend each and every student for their personal growth and many achievements. Our students always strive to do their best and are great ambassadors for our school.
We have celebrated many successes in all areas of the curriculum from outstanding G.A.T.E.WAYS and Maths Olympiad results, to Japanese speaking and calligraphy achievements, participation in District, Regional and National sporting events, the Premiers' Reading Challenge and Mathletics, Art Competitions and beautiful music performances.
Together we have made it through another PYP Evaluation and a number of school audits, dealt with the challenges of building works, hosted a number of visitors, achieved various accreditation's and implemented several new initiatives and programs - all geared towards providing the best possible learning outcome and environment for our students.
A snapshot of the Year 2018 follows.
Special Events & Activities
In addition to the many special events and activities listed below, we held two major community events, our amazing School Fete and our spectacular School Concert.
Other events/activities:
- KidsMatter Day
- Cybersafety and eSmart Weeks
- The Resilience Project Parent Information Evening
- Bully Zero Parent Information Evening
- ANZAC & Remembrance Day Ceremonies
- Mother's & Father's Day stalls
- Walk to School Program
- Coles Sports for Schools Program
- Father's Day Coffee
- Junior School Council organised events such as Harmony Day, Soccer Colours and Touch of Xmas Days and other events supporting various charities (see 'Charity Support' below)
- Special Prep events (Welcome Picnic, Grandparent's Morning, Mother's Day Pampering, Father's Day Morning, 100 Days at School celebration, Cubby Day, and an Old Fashioned Dress-up day)
Teaching and Learning
We engaged in high level teaching and learning with the introduction of a number of new initiatives including the SMART Spelling approach, the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing and the Writer’s Notebook.
Digital Technologies was further embedded into the curriculum with the use of new coding resources and touch screen laptops, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) was taken to the next level.
Teaching staff participated in Learning Walks and ongoing Professional Development and our Principal Class Team attended various conferences and Principal Network meetings to keep abreast of the latest educational developments.
Student progress and achievement was monitored and communicated through both formal and informal interviews and reports:
- Meet & Greets (Term 1)
- Parent-Teacher Interview (Term 2)
- Student Led Conferences (Term 3)
- Semester Reports (Term 2 & 4)
- Ongoing feedback via Learning Tasks
Parent and students alike also enjoyed the 'Open Classroom' opportunities throughout the year.
Incursions & Excursions
In addition to our whole-school Resilience Project, Bully Zero, First Aid, HUSH Education, Life Education, Camp Quality and Responsible Pet Education incursions, students participated in the following year level incursions and excursions which were a highlight for many.
PREP
Kids Car Education, Fire Education, BluGuru Indian Music incursion, 'Under the Sea' Drama Toolbox incursion and an excursion to the Aquarium.
YEAR 1
Fairytale Fiasco, Travelling Kitchen and BluGuru Indian Music incursions and an excursion to Werribee Zoo.
YEAR 2
Toys Through Time, Dance Around the World and BluGuru Indian Music incursions and an excursion to IMAX/Museum.
YEAR 3
Aboriginal Virtual Reality, Traffic Education, Wild Action and Bold as Brass Music incursions and an excursion to the Melbourne Zoo.
YEAR 4
Body Investigators, Media Magic and Bold as Brass Music incursions and an excursion to Cook's Cottage & the Immigration Museum.
YEAR 5
Parliament Process and Ghana Beat My Drum Music incursions, Mentone Girls' Secondary College Musical and Sandringham College Dance Performance.
YEAR 6
History Tool Box and Ghana Beat My Drum Music incursions, Mentone Girls' Secondary College Musical, Beaumaris Secondary College School Production, ‘Girls on the Go!’/’Rock and Water’ Wellbeing Program and excursions to the Shrine and Scienceworks/Planetarium.
Students also went on local walks and enjoyed various presentations and visits from external educators and BNPS parents.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Many extra-curricular activities and programs were made available to our students including:
- Lunch Clubs
- Early Morning Maths (Y3 - 6)
- Choir (Y3 - 6)
- Singing Lessons (Y2 - 6)
- Instrumental Music Program
- Bike Ed (Y4 & 5)
- Swimming Program
- Exhibitions (Y4 - 6)
- Leadership Program (Y3 - 6)
- Camp (Y4 - 6)
- Sports Lessons via OSHC
- Premiers' Reading Challenge
- Art Extension Group (Y6)
- Art Installation Group (P - Y6)
- Buddy Program (Prep/Year 5 & Year 1/Year 6)
Sports
Students from Year 3 – 6 participated in the following House Sport carnivals, with many making it through to the District, Regional and State levels of the competition.
- Swimming Carnival (Y4 - 6)
- Cross Country Carnival (Y3 - 6)
- Athletics Carnival (Y3 - 6)
Prep - Year 2 students enjoyed a wonderful Mini Athletics Day (organised by the Year 5/6 students) and our Year 5 & 6 students participated in weekly Inter-school Sports with fantastic results.
The whole-school enjoyed the Circus Skills and Dance Units as part of their weekly PE class and participated in a Flash Mob style 'Zorba's Dance'!
All students are to be commended on their effort and sportsmanship.
Wellbeing
Our main wellbeing area of focus for 2018 was 'kindness' and we welcomed two four-legged staff members to our team, Sid and Archie, our Therapy Dogs.
Sid and Archie, with their unconditional love and support, have been welcomed with open arms and our now firmly part of our school community.
Charity Support
The Junior School Council led by Mrs Silvi Levine and Mrs Kate Boston, have had a very active year initiating action to support the following charities:
- Good Friday Appeal (Touch of Easter Day) - $552.50
- Cathy Freeman Foundation (Stomp Out the Gap Day - Human Flag) - $500
- Foodbank (Food & Supplies Drive) - 495kg food/891 meals & loads of essential items!
- Fight Cancer Foundation (Footy Colours Day) - $622.75
- Royal Institute of Deaf & Blind Children (Loud Shirt Day) - $719
- OzChild (Christmas Wishing Tree Program) - a huge number of gifts!
The Year 6 students also sold merchandise to support the ANZAC & Legacy Appeals.
Supporting charities instils in our students, the importance of a social conscience and demonstrates 'Action' which is central to the PYP.
Building & School Ground Works
Staff and students have demonstrated a tremendous amount of flexibility, adaptability and team work to accommodate a number of building and school ground works throughout the year. The following works were completed:
- Architect-designed modular building
- Sandpit in Prep Area
- Mounds, slide and sandpit outside new building
- New toilet block on the edge of the oval
- Installation of a portable in the Year 4 precinct
- Concrete paths for access to the Music and OSHC rooms
- Improvements to the Art Room
- Installation of blinds in the Year 3 & 4 classrooms
- Installation of resource cabinetry in the main building
The inconvenience has most certainly been worth it and the students are now enjoying a beautiful new play area.
Very Proud!
To say I am extremely proud of what we as a school community have achieved this year is an understatement. I cannot tell you the number of visitors who comment on the wonderful culture of our school which is why we achieve so much. Every school community member contributes to this, so thank you everyone for making BNPS such a happy place to be and a great place to learn.