The Principal's Report
Resilience and my new class
For the last month our staff have worked to put together amazing new class lists for 2020. We have spent many hours ensuring we have developed evenly balanced classes, making sure each child has someone from their selection of those they will work well with. I know that you will understand we do the best we can for each and every child at our school, we want them to experience success and have a great time in their new class. Parents were given the opportunity to provide information about their child's learning, social and emotional needs. This information has been taken into account, but it should be noted that any requests for specific teachers are not taken into account.
I know that each of you has the very best intentions and hopes for your own child. As a staff we work to support individual students, as we teach them each day. A teacher supports a whole grade of learners with the development of their classroom or specialist program. Our Education Support Staff, both aides and office staff support our students individually and in unique ways. We all have the best intentions for your child, we have 568 children to educate and we strive to always do our very best for each and everyone of them.
Not every year will your child have their best friends in their class but we make sure they have one friend with them.
Not every year will your child be with the teacher you have decided they should be with but we believe in the strengths of all of our teachers, we work together as a team and we know that your child will be catered for no matter who their teacher is.
Not every year will your child come out of the gate on Orientation Day happy with who they are with, be it other students or the teacher. It is our job as the adults in their lives to support them, let them see that things will be alright and to focus on the excitement for a new start. Not everyone likes change, but each year in a school things change, this is the nature of the environment.
It is important for our parent community to know that we have worked long and hard on these class lists, we are not in the position to make major changes once we have published lists on Orientation Day next week. We know that you will support us to assist your children as they move into the new year.
When you see your child next Tuesday afternoon or evening, ask them "What went well when you were in your new grade today?' Take the time to seek out the positive and help them to be resilient fabulous learners ready for a new start, in a new class for 2020.
What can you do to support your child's transition?
- Ask your child what they think about moving to the next level at school
- Encourage your child to ask questions about what might happen when they move on to a new class
- Talk to them about new friends and talk to them about making new friends
- Over summer arrange play-times or get-togethers with other families whose children will be in the same grade.
- When the new school year starts find out about what your child is learning at school. By doing this, you can support your child’s learning and find out how your child is adjusting in their new class.
- If your child is having difficulty at school, talk to their teacher. Your child can also say what they think might help them.
- Keep talking to your child about school. Ask them about their new experiences, what they like and what they find hard.
- On the first day of the new school year when they come home ask them 'What went well?' and celebrate the start to a new learning year.
We need to know why sometimes
What is normal? Having worked with many different students, adults and communities in my 35 years in State Education I know that normal is just a word, with very little meaning. Each person I encounter is an individual, with things they excel at and things they need support with. A compassionate world accepts everyone for who they are, our job is to support each child no matter who they are to achieve their best. This is possible when we are all willing to learn about each other and find out what it is that makes us behavior in a certain way. A perfect example of this is a child on the autism spectrum, I am sharing this animation to perhaps give everyone a window into the world of someone on the spectrum.
Staffing News
This week we wish Tessa Siebel well as she takes maternity leave. We look forward to sharing news about the arrival of her baby in the newsletter next year.
We are pleased to let you know that we have employed Paul Roast for 2020, he has been working in Year 6 this year. Paul has created a fabulous learning environment and we look forward to continuing to work with him next year. We will also have Carley Thomas joining us from Burwood East PS and Josh Bramham joining us from Flemington PS.
We wanted to share that Andy Parthenopoulos will be taking an ongoing position at Mount Pleasant Road PS in 2020. Andy has been at BPPS for 3 years, he has taught in Year 3 & 4. He is excited to be heading to a new school and teaching Year 1/2. Thank you to Andy for the care and dedicated approach to providing a safe and exciting learning environment for our students. We wish Andy well in this next stage of his career.
Our 2020 teams
The following are our teams for 2020.
Christmas giving tree
We are so proud of our community! Look at all of the things that you have provided to those in need this Christmas. There has been a lot more added since this photograph was taken. Thank you to everyone for contributing and supporting the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. A special thank you to Delanah, Erica and Jesse for supporting Margaret with the organziation of our collection. Lots of members of our community will have a better Christmas this year because of your support.
Carols Night
Thursday December 12th is our Annual Carols Evening, we look forward to seeing you with your nibbles, blankets and singing voices ready to go at 7.15 pm.
School finish
I just wanted to reminder everyone that the last day of school is Friday December 20th and students finish at 1.30 pm. School finishes for us all on the same day, we expect everyone here to finish off a great year.
Thank you time
Next week I will be having afternoon tea with the Class Reps to thank them for their work this year, we will be reviewing our Class Rep program and how we can build on it in 2020.
We have a Classroom Helpers morning tea next Friday 13th December at 10.30 in the Stadium Foyer. Please come along and enjoy some refreshment and thanks for all of your contributions in 2019.
Parent Contributions
A reminder that Parent Contributions letter for 2020 can now be paid and book packs can be collected from the office after the payment has been received. You can choose to pay cash, cheque or credit card at the office and then a book pack will be given to you.
If you are paying by BPay or direct deposit into the Bank account, after payment has been received and reconciled the book pack will be sent home with the student. Please allow a few days for this to occur.
You will also be able to to pay and pick up book packs on Tuesday 28th January 2020 from 8.30am to 3pm from the Office.
Is your child leaving BPPS?
Please take a minute to fill in the Google Form if your child will not be returning to Boroondara Park PS in 2020. We will then contact you and arrange details. All students have a Victorian Student Number - the VSN is taken from school to school, if your child is moving to another State school then we will provide details to the new school. Thank you for taking the time to complete the form.
Leaving Boroondara Park PS in 2020
Susanne Lowe
Principal