Amazing Start to School

We are three weeks into the 2022 school year, and I congratulate parents and staff for the calm and considered manner that you have worked with your children to have them return to school in such a positive, organised way. It is an absolute pleasure for me to walk around the classes and see the focus, concentration, questioning and goal setting that our students and teachers are so involved in. I am very grateful for the way the school has started amid such uncertainty.

Our wonderful Prep students have started school with amazing confidence, a beautiful attitude, and absolute joy at making new friends with the highlight meeting their Year 4 buddies.

Our buddy program is valued highly by our staff and students and our Year 4 students are a support emotionally for our Prep students at the beginning of the school year and are very present in the yard with our Preps to develop a solid sense of where everything is. A buddy program helps to promote friendship and behavioural and social needs and can foster a greater sense of belonging and a more inclusive school community. Our Year 4 students are there to answer questions that the Preps have, and as time progresses, they continue to develop a relationship with each other to work together to support their learning. As the year continues many long-term friendships are made, many for the duration of their time at school. A big thank you to staff for their skills in matching students and guiding the Year 4 students to use their leadership skills to build a close and supportive relationship.

School Leaders Badge Ceremony

Last Friday we presented Year 6 Leadership badges. Our Year 6 student leaders shared in a pizza lunch after they were awarded their respective Leadership badges. Jackson Taylor our member for Bayswater, spoke to our Year 6 cohort and then joined in the celebrations with our Student Leaders. This is a very special assembly as we like to showcase our Leaders and congratulate them in their new and important positions.

A Valued Beginning

Parents and teachers understand the importance of the beginning of the school year. We all want the children to feel happy and settled in their new class and be ready to take on all the challenges that the year will bring.

In the classroom, the beginning of the year is important in establishing class routines, expectations and relationships whether your child is in Foundation or Year 6. These are the building blocks on which all our class programs are built and establishing rapport with and between students helps everything else to fall into place.

For the first two weeks of school, all classes have focused on our Rigour and Routine Program and Berry Street Program focussing on Student Wellbeing and getting to know each other. We have talked about our families and our interests, discussed our new school values: and formed our class agreements based on the school behaviour expectations, formed our learning goals, and together set in place the foundations for another successful school year.

As the year progresses, we will continue to focus on Student Well-being and School Values. I look forward to sharing our many programs and activities with you as the year progresses.

COVID SAFE PLAN

The Victorian Government has today announced a 6-week extension of their COVID Safe measures for schools, there will be a continued focus on the 3 “V”’s of ventilation, vaccination and vital COVID Safe steps.

The use of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATS) as a screening tool will also continue throughout Term 1. We will inform families when we will be sending them home.

RATS have proven an important tool to help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and to ensure that we are as safe as possible. Thank you to all parents for testing their children, I understand the time and inconvenience, let alone the stress when dealing with younger children.

Library

Our library is open every lunch time for students to borrow, enjoy browsing and reading and to get support in book choices and to play games and quiet activities. Our Library captains Keiran Differ, and Brad Connelly are supporting Mrs. Bentley and have been fabulous in supporting students coming to the library for quite reading, drawing, and completing quiet tasks during lunch times. Please make sure your child has a library bag for borrowing. All classes are timetabled in the library during the week for library lessons, book clubs, literature circle time and activities to promote a love of literature.

Swimming Trials

Last Monday swimming trials were conducted for Years 3-6 students who were interested in testing their swimming abilities and to gain entry in the District Swimming Carnival. Congratulations to all students who entered the races and tried their hardest. A huge thankyou to parents who attended, and, of course our wonderful PE teacher Ms Russell Smith who ran and organised the swimming trials. Good Luck to those students who made it through to the District Swimming Championships, being held next Wednesday, we look forward to hearing how you went.

School Tours

In March, I will be starting school tours for 2023 Prep enrolments. If you know anyone that would be interested in our school, please extend an invitation to them to visit our website and make a tour time.

Dogs on Leashes

We encourage students and families to walk to school if they can, and it is always lovely to bring the family dog on an extra walk. However, no dogs are allowed in the school grounds and unfortunately, I have had some families have their dogs off the leash just outside the school gates with some families and children being scared. If you do bring your dog and wait for your child around the exterior of the school, could you please place them on a lead to make everyone feel safe. Thank you.

Change of address, phone number or family situation

Parents are requested to advise the school if a child’s family situation, address or phone contact changes during the school year. It is important that all information is kept up to date in case the school needs to contact parents/guardians.

Classroom Helpers Program

Leah Hodgson our Assistant Principal leads Literacy in our school. Leah is running sessions for our Classroom Parent Helpers Program during Term one. If you are interested in completing this program, please make sure that you return the expression of interest by the end of this week. This professional development for parents has laid a foundation for classroom support and has given parents some good strategies to help their own children with their reading and learning. Thank you to all parents that will complete the course, while giving back to the school and helping our students. A huge thank-you to Leah Hodgson for her passion, enthusiasm and dedication to Literacy learning in our school. If you wish to help in the classroom, you must complete this course that goes over three weeks for two hours a week. Starting from next Monday 21st February, 28th February and finally the 7th of March.

HATS – SUNSMART POLICY

Don’t forget that Boronia Heights is a Sun Smart School and wide brimmed hats are compulsory in Terms 1 & 4. Hats are available at the school office and must be worn by all children when outside at playtime and lunchtime. Children who do not have a hat will have a restricted play area under the shaded areas of the school. Please ensure that your child’s hat is clearly named and that they have it at school every day. Our school uniform policy requires that the hat be a school hat, as it is the approved style with a wide brim that provides full sun protection to face, ears and neck.

Annual Privacy Reminder

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to remind yourself of our school’s collection notice, found here on our website.

Parent Permission Form

We recently sent out a link for parents to complete a google form for student permissions. This included permission for Local Excursions, Year Level Newsletters, Virtual Assemblies, School Magazine, etc. Every student must have their permissions consented by their parent/carer. Click here to complete permission for a Prep to Year 2 student. Click here to complete permission for a Year 3 to Year 6 student

Enjoy your weekend.

Leanne Jennings

Heights Happenings

Issue 2 · 18 Feb 2022

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