Principal's Report
"Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier" -Charles F. Kettering
We have had a smooth start to Term 2. After a term in their 2019 year levels, students are settled, progressing with their learning and managing the daily routines expected of them.
IB Learner Profile Focus
The IB Learner Profile focus for May is open-minded. We show appreciation for our own cultures and personal histories. We respect the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view.
Our whole learning community plays an important part in developing, valuing, appreciating and demonstrating the Learner Profile in action. The IB Learner Profile attributes can help individuals become responsible members of the local and global communities.
ANZAC Day Ceremony
Congratulations and thank you to the Year 6 students, the Year 6 Teachers and our Music Team for conducting an extremely moving Anzac Day Ceremony which is summed up beautifully in the email below.
Dear staff and students of BNPS,
I am a new prep parent and I came along to the ANZAC day assembly at BNPS for the very first time on Wednesday. I'd like to let you know how impressed I was with the whole assembly. From the moment I arrived at the school, I saw classes walking into the assembly in silence and showing complete respect. Grade by grade they walked in, and all students from prep to year six were so quiet and orderly and did such an amazing job.
The song by the choir was so moving and well done. I enjoyed the talk by the local RSL member discussing his days in the Vietnam War.
I was incredibly impressed by the grade six students who presented the entire assembly. The words they spoke were well chosen and rehearsed. Everyone spoke extremely well in front of a big audience. The laying of the flowers was a lovely gesture too. It shows what a caring school community you have.
Thank you for your hard work and effort. I look forward to next year's ANZAC day assembly.
Staffing Update
This term we welcome back two very experienced teachers, Mrs Dani Jones and Mrs Kelly Bloomfield.
Dani and Kelly are joining the PE Team and will be taking the following classes:
- Mrs Kelly Bloomfield - 2A, 2B, 2C & 2D (Wednesdays)
- Mrs Dani Jones - Prep Fundamental Skills and Wellbeing, 1B & 1D (Thursdays) and 4A & 4D (Fridays)
We also welcome Mr Pasi Senevi to our IT Team. Pasi will be working two days per week with the 'Make It Work' Team.
I am sure everyone will make our new staff members feel very welcome.
School Works
During the school holidays the Library was painted, a drinking tap was installed on the oval (near the Year 3 rooms) and fencing was erected for the new OSHC vegetable patch and Indigenous garden - see the 'OSHC News' page of this newsletter for further details.
Lee and his team also carried out a wonderful school vacation clean.
The Resilience Project
This week staff participated in a professional development session to support our whole-school wellbeing program, The Resilience Project.
Following on from this, students across all year levels will be inspired through the delivery of a highly engaging presentation on Tuesday 28 May and a parent information evening will be held on Tuesday 4 June.
I urge you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and support your child and our whole-school wellbeing program. You will be notified via Compass when tickets become available.
PLAY Leaders
Thirty of our Year 6 students have been conducting games in the yard for the children in Years Prep – Two. These students participated in the PLAY (Positivity, Leadership and Activated Youth) program at the end of last year which was funded by Bendigo Bank. The PLAY Leaders have learnt how to speak to children of a young age, how to settle and deal with minor disagreements and how to instil excitement in others.
The PLAY Leaders are doing a great job and we thank them for giving up their lunchtimes. The PLAY Leaders welcome new faces - they will be in the Assembly area during Friday lunchtimes (after lunch eating time).
NAPLAN - Year 3 & 5
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) Online assessments for students in Years 3 & 5 will take place between Tuesday 14 May - and Friday 24 May (timetable to follow). The tests cover skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.
It is important that parents and students understand that NAPLAN is just one aspect of our assessment and reporting process and that NAPLAN does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance. Please CLICK/TAP HERE for further information.
Any queries or concerns regarding NAPLAN may be directed to our Assistant Principal, Mrs Simpson or Leading Teachers, Mr Mat Doran-Brown and Mr Brent Plowright at
beaumaris.north.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Term 1 Parent Feedback
Thank you to those who took the time to respond to our Term 1 Feedback & Suggestions survey.
As always, all constructive feedback has been passed on to the relevant teams and will be considered by the Leadership Team.
Year 4 Bike Ed
We are very fortunate to have a great PE Team who organise wonderful sporting programs and events for our students. I would sincerely like to thank Debbie O'Brien for organising the Year 4 Bike Education program which was held this week.
Thank you also to the Year 4 Team and many parent volunteers for their assistance.
2020 Sibling Enrolments
It has been lovely to meet with our upcoming preppies and their parents over the last fortnight. If you have a child eligible to attend Prep in 2020 and are yet to book an appointment to meet with us and receive your enrolment package, please do so ASAP so we can determine the number of available places for 2020.
Curriculum Day - 3 May
Each year government schools are provided with four student-free days for professional development, school planning and administration, curriculum development, and student assessment and reporting purposes.
Tomorrow staff will be joining Beaumaris PS, Blackrock PS, Brighton Beach PS, Hampton PS, Sandringham PS, Sandringham East PS and representatives from Beaumaris SC, Mentone Girls’ SC and Sandringham SC for a professional development session hosted by Dr Misty Adoniou, Associate Professor in Language, Literacy and TSL, Canberra University.
Flu Season
We are committed to the health and wellbeing of staff and students. To reduce the spread of the highly contagious flu (influenza) in our school, please note the following:
- Children are encouraged to regularly wash their hands.
- Children are encouraged to cough or sneeze into their elbow, not their hands.
- Students with cold or flu-like symptoms are encouraged to seek medical attention.
- Students exhibiting such symptoms should limit contact with others, and stay at home until the symptoms have passed.
- If a child becomes ill at school with these symptoms, we will contact the family and arrange for their collection.
Staff had flu shots at school this week as vaccination is the most effective way of preventing the spread of influenza in the community. Health authorities are encouraging everyone who can have a flu shot to get one - children can receive the flu vaccine from six months of age. Please read the fact sheet below to learn more about the flu and vaccination.
Looking Ahead...
I do hope you will avail yourself to the many opportunities we have for you to actively engage in your child's education and our school community over the next few weeks:
- Open Classrooms
- #Trending Cyber Safety Parent Workshop
- Parent-Teacher Interviews
- Prep/Year 1 Reading Program
- Weekly Y5 & 6 Literature Programs
- Y3 - 6 House Cross Country
- Prep Mother's Day Pampering
- Year 5/6 Inter-school Sport
- Mother's Day Stall
- Outdoor Movie Night
- Class Rep organised coffee catch-ups and dinners
Further details can be found in this newsletter and on Compass.
Finally, thank you for your ongoing support during what will be another busy and successful Term here at Beaumaris North Primary School. I wish all the mothers, step-mothers, grandmothers and other wonderful women who help to raise and care for our students, a very special Mother’s Day for Sunday 12 May. I do hope that you get to relax!
Sherril Duffy
Principal