Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Families,
The “Wintery” months have certainly descended on Ballarat, with much illness amongst our students, staff, and community. We placed a post on Compass last week from the Departments of Education and Health around vaccinations, general medical treatment, and the importance of keeping children home from school if unwell. I ask for your continued vigilance around this as we move deeper into the cold and flu seasons.
Importance of Mental Health at BNPS
In an earlier newsletter this term, I outlined the many programs we have in the school to support student engagement and mental health and wellbeing. One of those mentioned, which I’d like to explain in a little more depth here, is our partnership with Federation Community Psychology Services for Semester Two this year. We will have two provisional Psychologists working in the school for six months, providing mental health support for students and families. This is on top of Mrs Morris, who already works a day per week as our Wellbeing Teacher. The significance of the mental health challenge society faces has never been more prevalent than it is right now. We take this very seriously and are proud that we can offer this service to a select number of students within our school. Whilst places will be limited, and students identified through our internal processes, the Federation Community Psychology Services are available for private intake also. They are based at Fed Uni’s Mt Helen Campus – I visited the facility earlier this week, and it is very impressive – and they offer consultation fees of only $10 per session. Flyers are available from the office, or they can be contacted directly on 53278483.
Staffing
I would like to announce that the much-loved Mrs Deirdre Slater has announced she will be taking leave in Semester Two and then moving to retirement after 26 years at Ballarat North Primary School. Deirdre has been a long-standing member of our school and wider community, and whilst it will be sad to see her leave us after affecting generations of students, it will be a wonderful celebration of her contribution to our school as she moves into the next phase of her life. Thank you, Deirdre.
2024 Foundation Enrolments
Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to remind any of our current families with young children starting in Foundation/Prep in 2024 to please contact Katrina or Fiona in the office to obtain an enrolment form if you haven’t already done so. As always, we like to be on the front foot and well-planned for the start the school-life here at BNPS to ensure a smooth transition for our students. If you are yet to obtain, or submit, your enrolment forms, or know of anyone who still needs to, we ask that you please do so as soon as possible.
Just a reminder that next FRIDAY, 9th June is a Pupil Free Day and backs onto the King’s Birthday Public Holiday on Monday 12th June.
I hope you keep well over the last month of Semester One. Please look after yourselves.
Until I see you in person,
David Garner
“Your body hears everything your mind says.”