Principal's Report

NAPLAN

I would like to congratulate our Years 3 and 5 students who completed the NAPLAN tests in the past two weeks.  Our students took the online testing procedure in their stride and our IT platform ensured that we had no technical hitches. 

I would like to sincerely thank all staff for their contribution to this mandated task and Brent Plowright for managing NAPLAN – it was a real team effort!  Well done to everyone involved.

Learning Tasks

Learning tasks provide the opportunity for parents and students to receive ongoing and timely feedback on their learning throughout the year. The students are now in the process of completing their final Learning Tasks for this semester. It has been impressive to see the variety of tasks and feedback going out through Compass to parents and students. 

Ongoing feedback is an important part of the learning process and being able to share the feedback with your child highlights the significance of learning as well as giving you the opportunity to talk about their day at school, their goals and interests. This ongoing feedback replaces the comments in the June and December formal reports.  

Play Area Change

This week we commenced a two week trial which incorporated a variety of changes in the areas of the playground where our students can play.  Before the change was implemented all students were reminded of our Essential Agreement in relation to correct behaviour as well as the importance of playing safely. Many grades did a ‘walk-through’ of the new arrangement.

Passive areas remain outside the Year 4 classrooms and we have created a Safe Zone for our Prep students where only they can play. 

We now have a designated area for students in Prep and Year 1 to kick balls and we have allocated the oval to students in Years 1 and 2 on Friday only. 

We are only a few days into the trial but the students have embraced this change enthusiastically with staff on yard duty reporting a great sense of calm and enjoyment as the children play.

I would like to thank the members of our Student Agency Team for providing the staff with their thoughts, ideas and very valuable feedback.  

Life Education

All year levels participated in the optional Life Education Program last week. The program covered topics including; drugs and alcohol, personal safety, cybersafety, food and nutrition, physical activity, social and emotional wellbeing and the human body. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions the Life Education van was not able to be used this year.  All sessions were conducted in our classrooms.  It was very pleasing to observe our students working cooperatively on the set tasks and engaging positively in the program content.

Attitudes to School Survey (ATSS)

The Attitudes to School Survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist school in gaining an understanding of students’ perception and experiences of school.   Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 participate in this online test.

If you do not wish your child to participate in this survey you have the opportunity to  let us know.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is  27 May - 3 June 2021. 

This is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to reconciliation in Australia.  

Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

This term the Year 3 students are learning about how “Cultures change over time.” 

On Wednesday, 26 May, the students acknowledged National Sorry Day.  National Sorry Day is observed annually and remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as 'The Stolen Generation'. 

The students were encouraged to dress in the colours of the Aboriginal flag as a way of highlighting our awareness of National Reconciliation Week. They also spent time researching the meaning behind National Sorry Day and listened to Kevin Rudd’s “Sorry Speech”.

Resilience Project Parent Workshop

Resilience Project Parent Workshop  Tuesday 8th June 6.30-8.  This parent session will be held online.  Please mark this date in your diary.

Local Walks

Thank you to the parents who have already consented on Compass for their child/children for local walks. The purpose of this form is obtain parent consent for any local walks which may be undertaken through out the year.

Local walks are excursions to locations within walking distance of the school and do not involve 'Adventure Activities'. This form does NOT provide consent for excursions that go beyond the local area. Beaumaris North Primary School will NOT seek further consent from you before a local walk takes place.  

However, we will provide advance notice to parents of upcoming local excursions through Compass. Please keep the school informed of any updated contact details to ensure you receive these notifications.

2022 Prep Siblings Enrolment

If you missed Sibling Week and have a sibling due to start school in Prep 2022, please call the Office to make an appointment to meet with Mrs Duffy and receive an enrolment pack for your child. Enrolments close on 30 June 2021.

SHERRIL DUFFY

PRINCIPAL