Welcome to BPPS

Welcome to the new school year. It has been fabulous to see our students all jumping straight into their learning programs. When visiting classrooms we have seen eager and engaged students. Thanks to our teachers for ensuring a smooth start to the year.

It is really great to see parents back on site, meeting each other again and coming into the buildings.

We look forward to seeing many more of you onsite as the year progresses.

Foundation start to school and Prep Bag

Last Friday our Foundation students started school with most of them only having had one visit to the school in 2020. We had lots of smiles and a few tears. Our students have settled well and are enjoying exploring school and learning new routines. We welcome them full time four days a week from today.

Each year the Department provides a Prep Bag to students, this year it is filled with lovely picture books and supportive information.

Your Birthday Was the BEST! by Maggie Hutchings and Felicita Sala
Our Island written by the children of Gununa, with Alison Lester and Elizabeth Honey
All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors by Davina Bell and Jenny Lovlie
Gary by Leila Rudge
The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright and Jim Field

One of the booklets provided is the Literacy and Numeracy Tips to help your child every day - I have included it as an attachment as it can be useful for all families.

Message from the Chief Health Officer

Whilst we find ourselves in a better position in Victoria at present with the virus we must continue to act in a way that supports us all to stay safe. I have attached the message from the Chief Medication Officer to all school communities. This message was prepared prior to the case announced on February 3rd.

A reminder if you are on site for more than 15 minutes you must sign in at the office.

Changes to mask wearing regulations now mean that everyone over 12 years of age should be wearing a mask inside. Always carry your mask with you especially if you are coming into the buildings. Remember to maintain physical distance of 1.5m in the yard.

Please take note of restrictions on the number of people in certain areas of the school - this is all based on square metres and capacity.

Thank you for continuing to keep us all safe.

School Council Elections

Have you ever wondered how you could get involved in the school?

Have you ever thought about being a member of School Council?

The annual election process is commencing and the school is calling for nominations for School Council members, both in parent and school employee member categories. Attached is the formal notice calling for nominations. Nominations forms can be collected from the school office from Monday February 8th and should be returned by Monday February 15th.

A well-informed and effective school council strengthens community confidence in the school and helps to build and secure the school’s reputation.

Understanding the distinction in roles and responsibilities between school council and the principal supports the effective and efficient operations of the council and the school. School council powers and functions are set out in the policy link below. Responsibility for all other aspects of running a school rests with the principal, with support from the Department and other members of school staff.

School Council usually meets at least twice a term at 7pm on the third or fourth Wednesday of the month. All documentation is sent out to members ahead of the meeting, so that discussion and the meeting can flow on the night. Each member of Council is also a member of a School Council sub-committee which can mean one or two more meetings each term.

School Council powers and functions policy

The best way to find out about School Council is to come and have a chat, or contact Greg Campbell our School Council President on 0413 701 032.

Student Leadership

This week our new grade 6 cohort will be commencing their exciting journey into school leadership.

As you may recall the decision was made last year that we wanted to create a model of leadership that better supports the strengths, learning opportunities and growth outcomes for all of our grade 6 cohort. This process allows all students in grade 6 to learn new skills and face new challenges and experiences through the rolls that they undertake in being of service to their community.

This week the students will be exposed to content in their home class groups that allows them to challenge their collective understandings of the following topics:

1. What is a Role Model?

2. Creativity - this activity will get them thinking about what they're passionate about and how they can plan activities/initiatives to promote their passion throughout the school.

This work will be based around the GRIP Leadership program.

The next stage of their journey will see the whole grade 6 cohort deciding in the coming weeks on the 'Pillars of BPPS'- in essence the key aspects of their community that they wish to lead positive action; in turn the students will then opt into the pillar(s) that they think best align with their personal leadership goals. From this point on the students will continue to be supported with targeted lessons to facilitate their ability to lead whilst they begin to build the model that they best think serves our community and their leadership of it.

We believe that this model of school service will provide motivation, drive and opportunity to the whole year 6 cohort in this pivotal year leading into High School. Exciting times at Boroondara Park!

Class Reps for 2021

Thanks to Linda and Anna for continuing in the roles of Class Rep Coordinators for 2021.

They have included information in the newsletter about how to get involved. Please read the Class Reps page and contact them if you would like to volunteer to be a rep for 2021.

Schools Privacy Policy

The Schools’ Privacy Policy informs the school community that information about students can be shared to fulfil the schools’ core functions of educating and supporting our students.

The Schools’ Privacy Policy establishes a clarified ‘need to know’ framework, where school staff share information about students with other staff who need to know as part of their role. This is consistent with Victorian privacy law.

All school staff can, and must, share information about a student with other staff who ‘need to know’ that information to enable the school to:

educate the student (including to plan for individual needs or address barriers to learning)
support the student’s social and emotional wellbeing and health
fulfil legal obligations, including to:
- take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of reasonably foreseeable harm to the student, other students, staff or visitors (duty of care)
- make reasonable adjustments for a student’s disability (anti discrimination law)
- provide a safe and secure workplace (occupational health and safety law).

The Schools Privacy Policy and Collection Statement are included as attachments for your information.

OSHClub new staff

We have a new OSHC coordinator Mary Corbisiero working on our service with Sanjo returning home to India.

As you will see from Mary's profile she is a very experienced educator and health care worker. I have a meeting with Mary this week to get to know her and share ideas about the service. I am sure families who use the OSHClub service will have introduced themselves to Mary already.

SunSmart

All students should be wearing their hats in the yard and during sporting activities at this time of year.

The SunSmart website will give you lots of information to help you and your children to be sun smart.

Uniform

Does your child need uniform? Because of the COVID pandemic our onsite uniform shop has closed for Term 4 this year and Term 1 next year. If you need uniform then your options are:

order online - RHSport - orders can be delivered to school and then sent home with your child
visit the shop at 100 New St Ringwood

Susanne Lowe

Principal

Diary Dates

Term 1 2021