Principal's Report

During this term all staff are busy finalising assessment tasks and preparing for the end of year reports. The change in NAPLAN timing for 2023 has added another dimension of preparation requirements as NAPLAN will be in week 6 of the 2023 school year.

We are currently working on the 2023 class structure and staffing arrangements. Our Prep numbers are 9 less than this year due primarily to a less siblings but at this time we do not appear to have many students leaving the school compared to last year. Once 2023 booklists are sent home, we usually have a much better idea of our projected numbers.

NAPLAN Data

We have just received our NAPLAN data compared to our network of schools. We are extremely pleased with our growth in the top two bands for both Year 3 and 5.

Our results also indicate that the lengthy periods of remote learning have not impacted on our school’s overall results. The teachers and the students are to be congratulated on their remote learning program.

Reading

80% of our Year 3 students are in the top 2 bands for reading 62% of our Year 5 students are in the top 2 bands for reading.

Numeracy

71% of our Year 3 students are in the top 2 bands for numeracy 45 % of our Year 5 students are in the top 2 bands for reading.

Year 6 Sustainability Leaders

At the end of Term 3, our Year 6 sustainability leaders took part in a water catchment workshop at Banyan Reserve in Carrum Downs.

The morning started with students examining a litter trap which showed the vast amount of litter that is captured from our drains before travelling into our creeks and bays. This was followed with a Healthy Waterways Workshop which included a water pollution testing lesson, and a fishing hunt for macroinvertebrates in the water basin to identify their tolerance to pollution in the wetlands.

Our leaders were amazed to learn how important these wetland filtration systems have become to trap the pollutants and toxic chemicals we use in our daily lives. The workshop continued with a frog identification session which explained how the presence and absence of different types of frogs help us to determine the condition of a water catchment.

It was an excellent opportunity for our sustainability leaders to see the effect that littering and pollution can have on an ecosystem and the problems this can cause. Our sustainability leaders have provided a comprehensive account of their experience accompanied with pictures later in the newsletter.

Crazy Lock & Socks Day

Thank you for your support of Crazy Locks and Silly Socks Day! The students looked fabulous in their bright colours and crazy hair styles! We managed to raise a huge total of $652.70.

World Teachers Day

A big thank you to our Parent and Friends Leader Nat, Parent Reps and School Community for getting involved with pictures, drawings and expression of thanks on Friday 28 October. Our teachers were really chuffed with your efforts!

As a staff, we celebrated with a little personalised gift and a special morning tea.

Our Year 6 School Captains wrote and delivered their own speeches at our 8.30am Staff Briefing to acknowledge our BNPS teachers for World Teacher's Day!

“On behalf of all the students, I would like to thank you all for the hard work you have put in to giving the students a fun, well-educated primary school days at BNPS. And so we gather here today, to acknowledge the hard work our specialist teachers, casual teachers, enrichment and class teachers have put in to our school – we thank them!”

“Thank you all to all the amazing teachers, CRTS, specialist and stem teachers. Happy World Teacher's Day! Thank you for being an amazing support and leader for our students, that we can learn from and also look up to. Thank you for the patience you provide and the fun we have all had learning. You provide so much care and laughter, we get out of school. When I go to high school I am definitely going to miss all the teachers here. I have so many amazing memories, and have built so many amazing bonds – Thank you!”

“Thank you teachers for taking the time to come to school and to teach us. You are very supportive, caring and kind – we all appreciate it. We would like to spend today celebrating all the teachers at BNPS. Thank you for helping us get better and reach our goals in and outside the classroom. When we go off to high school, we are definitely going to miss you. I would also like to thank you for the hard work you put into your sessions each day. Not only for us – but for the whole school. So thank you – and Happy World Teacher’s Day.”

“To all our teachers, we are so grateful for all the things you do for us, without you, where would we be? So I would like to wish you all a Happy World Teacher’s Day and thank you for all the hard work you put in to our education. I hope you have an amazing day today, you deserve it. You put in so much effort for us and you make our days at this school so special. So on behalf of all the students, I would once again like to thank you teachers because without you, school wouldn’t be the same. Happy World Teacher’s Day”

“To all the teachers of BNPS who have taught for many years at BNPS or just a few, I appreciate all the time and effort you have put into the children's school education. It has been a long journey for some and some people’s journey has just begun. A special thanks to the CRT teachers for coming in when classroom teachers are away. I am sure it is a challenge to learn the student’s quirks, talents and areas of improvement in the few hours you see them for their education. A special thank you to the enrichment teachers who support students and teach our students who require extension. All these students will someday make the world a better place. Thank you for spending your time helping students get better, challenging them and pushing them to their limits. Special thanks to our specialist teachers, who have taught foreign subjects to students and unlocked abilities they never knew they had and possibly opened up paths to their futures. A massive thank you to all the classroom teachers for explaining the same things over and over, helping students learn things, to help them in the future. I can’t thank them enough for their help with worksheets, learning tasks and everything else. It can be hard teaching 20 students, but I have loved everything. I can’t believe what I have learnt. Thank you for all the fun memories and times. I will miss everyone who has taught me through the years. Thank you. Happy World Teacher’s Day!”

2023 Preppies

Well done Prep Team for a smooth morning for transition.

Parents' Night Out - Silent Auction

The Parents’ Night Out Fundraiser Silent Auction is now LIVE and has taken off!

Here is the link to our auction. If you see anything you want to bid on, the platform will ask you to connect via Facebook or Google or you can register and create a Username and password.

Bidding closes 16 November at 7:00pm.

https://airauctioneer.com/bnps-light-up-the-night-silent-auction

It’s a great opportunity to get in early with some Christmas shopping or to pamper yourself! All money raised will go directly to the school to put towards new playground equipment.

Happy bidding and good luck!

A huge thank you and acknowledgment to the wonderful businesses and sponsors, majority local, that have made this auction possible. We really appreciate their support and hope that our school community can give back and support them.

Student Free Days - Reminder

Friendly Reminder:

Tuesday 22 November 2022:Planning Professional Practice Day - Student Free Day Wednesday 23 November 2022:Curriculum Day - Student Free Day

SHERRIL DUFFY

PRINCPAL