Principal's Report
What a great finish to the term and year. We have achieved a great deal this year and have much to celebrate. Our students have shone and we are all so proud of them, what they achieve and the strengths that they display on a daily basis. I would like to acknowledge and thank the immensely talented and dedicated staff who continue to support the learning and wellbeing of every student at BPS.
It is a privilege to be Principal of Blackburn Primary School. It is an excellent school with strong community involvement, a dedicated staff and lovely children. Our work over the this year has strengthened the school in many areas and positioned the school well for ongoing development. Our current preparations for Term 1 next year should ensure a smooth start to the school year. Marianne and I are both excited to take on the challenge of next year and knowing exactly the direction we want the school.
Ultimately at the end of this year we did it in the only way BPS knows – we Believed, we Persevered and we Succeeded
FAREWELL KATHY HAANAPPEL
As you would be aware one of our long serving staff members has made the decision to retire at the end of this term. I am sure that our BPS community will share in the excitement of this news.
Kathy Haanappel has been a staff member at BPS since 1999 where she joined BPS. Kathy has then taken on many different roles in the school from Art teacher, Prep teacher to currently Year Three teacher. It is with much joy and passion for our students she teaches them every day and incredibly fitting that the 2022 Year Six students are her last class of Prep students. An incredible career spanning four decades at BPS is an achievement that we should all be amazed by.
Kathy is humble by nature and did not want any big functions or ‘fuss’ regarding her retirement. However of course, it is being marked and I warmly welcome our community to come and celebrate her wonderful career with a special farewell and presentation at assembly on Friday 9th December at 2.45pm.
We wish Kathy the very best in retirement and the next phase of her life. We thank her for her dedication, passion and service to BPS.
ANGELO MERLINO
As many of you would be aware Angelo has been away from work this semester. I wanted to share with the community (from Angelo) that he is doing well and that his leave will be continuing for Term One 2023. He is looking forward to and excited for his return during 2023 to our wonderful BPS community.
REPORTS
Teachers have been working on your children's reports, BPS provides comprehensive reports that detail students’ achievements and progress, along with the next steps for educational development. The report aims to provide consistent, clear and concise information to parents about your child’s achievement against state-wide standards.
Reports will be released on Wednesday 14th December.
All Year 6 families are encouraged to download all copies of their children’s reports as soon as possible. Once the school year ends, there will be no further access to the COMPASS portal for past students.
All reports can be downloaded in PDF format.
MEET THE TEACHER DAY
Next Wednesday 14th December is ‘Meet the Teacher’ day for all students who will be attending Blackburn in 2023. Students will spend time with their home room teacher and classmates in their new classroom and be actively involved in different tasks to further connections with their home group peers. There will be plenty of excitement and energy across the school as students explore their new learning community. On this day, we will also welcome new students and teachers to BPS.
Over the last few weeks the children have enjoyed the our Stepping Up program, as part of their transition into the 2023 year level. The students very positively and excitedly enjoyed the opportunity to step into the new year level. We have an outstanding teaching team and all children will be very well supported by their current and future teachers.
At this stage, we do not make any further changes to the grades as staff have spent much time and effort developing the best class structure and student placement possible. As teachers, we ask that you support your child at this time by speaking positively about the new school experiences and wonderful opportunities that 2023 will bring.
2023 STAFF LIST
00G – Kirsten Goss
00S - Vicky Soldatos (Team Leader)
00T – Lou Tribolet
1FR - Kaye Fraser & Michelle Robinson
1P - Zoya Pavloff
12B - Wendy Bennett
2B - Zoe Bartus (Team Leader)
2S - Kelly Sotiriadis & Jacqui Carfi
3P – Michael Pitinga
3SF - Steph Storto & Kirralee Felicite
34L - Daniel Liebrich
4A - Amanda Chetcuti
4C - Emily Chau (Team Leader)
5A - Fiona Arthur
5B - Sue Battista
5W - Simone Wood
6DF – Michelle Fabris & Krystle D’Amelio
6F - Danielle Fountain (Team Leader)
6S – Danae Sage
Art - Liz Dixon (Team Leader)
LOTE - Yi Zhang
Music - Lisa Shacklock
PE - Merissa Pickford
Patch - Trinity Parker
Chaplain - Carly Cassidy
2022 END OF SCHOOL YEAR
The last day of school is next Friday 16th December, with school finishing at 1.30pm. Parents are asked to ensure their children are picked up on time or booked into after school care which will commence at 1.30pm. Monday 19th is our teachers Professional Practice Day and Tuesday 20th is our final curriculum day for the year, both dates previously approved by School Council.
HELPERS MORNING TEA
YEAR SIX GRADUATION
A very excited group of students is ready for tonight graduation ceremony, in what should be a wonderful affair. Congratulations and thank you to the students, teachers and parents for all of their preparations.
2023 CURRICULUM DAYS
At our last school council the council endorsed the following dates for Curriculum days
- Friday 27th Jan - statewide
- Monday 24th April
- Monday 15th May
- Wednesday 20th December
TheirCare will be offering a program on these days and will be open their bookings for these days shortly.
