BOOK WEEK 2022 - DREAMING WITH EYES OPEN

What are your dreams for yourself, your family, friends and our world? Imagine, Design, Discuss during book week. There will be lunchtime activities in the DC and you can share your ideas and dreams on the DC Dreaming Windows.

Dress Up Day - Friday 26 August

Come dressed as any character from a book, it can be anyone you like... they could be INTERESTING, FUNNY, CREATIVE or FABULOUS! There are lots of costumes that can be made from items you have at home.

This year, you also have the option of helping make the world a better place by donating a gold coin to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. They work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island remote communities to build a love of reading and literacy.

So, grab a book and get ready to enjoy book week 2022!

We respectfully request your support in helping children choose costumes and books other than those with fairies, wizards, witches, goblins and other magical characters. While many characters depicted in literature within this criteria may be deemed as positive role models, we want to ensure that within the diversity of our communities, everyone feels comfortable with the characters represented.

PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS – SEMESTER 2

PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS – SEMESTER 1

Thank you to all the parents, carers and students who attended Parent-Teacher Interviews via Zoom on Wednesday, August 17.

There is still a limited number of appointments available for Year 7 to 12 Interviews on Tuesday, August 23. Bookings will be open until 5pm on Monday, August 22. Please book using the information that was sent out via email and Flexischools. Feel free to contact Reception if you require any assistance.

GAT 2022 - WEDNESDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER

The GAT is an external assessment set by VCAA as part of the VCE assessment processes. The GAT does not count directly towards a student’s VCE results, however, it is used to check that VCE external assessments and school-based assessments have been accurately and fairly assessed, as well as contributing towards determining the final score for a VCE external assessment if a student has a derived examination score approved for that assessment. The GAT also serves to measure student literacy and numeracy skills.

All students in Year 11 and 12 students undertaking a Unit 3/4 VCE subject, scored Unit 3/4 VET Subject, or Senior VCAL, are required to sit the GAT, both assessed and non-assessed. This will take place on Wednesday, 7 September.

Information regarding the GAT can be found in these links:

This year, the GAT is split into two separate sessions:

Section A – assessing Literacy and Numeracy
Section B – assessing Mathematics, Science, Technology, The Arts, and Humanities, as well as critical and creative thinking skills

Students' GAT slips (which were emailed to them) indicate which sessions they are required to attend.

The following details are of particular importance:

Section A runs from 9:30am – 11:45am and Section B runs from 1:15pm – 3:00pm.
Students MUST arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start time of each session, i.e. 9am and 12.45pm.
As students will be together for an extended amount of time, we are strongly advising ALL students (and supervisors) to wear masks while undertaking the GAT, for their own health and safety as they head into the upcoming exam period.
Students MUST NOT attend the GAT if they feel unwell, or are experiencing any COVID-like symptoms.
Students will need pens, pencils and an eraser to complete the GAT. They must use either a blue or black pen to complete the two writing tasks and a pencil for the multiple-choice answer page.

For Year 11 students who are not required to undertake the GAT, there will be no VCE classes on this day. There will also not be any Gravitate or VET Hospitality classes. Students not currently enrolled in a Unit 3/4 subject, or in Year 12 VCAL will not be required to attend school this day.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please do not hesitate to contact our VCE Coordinator, Mrs Farrand or VCAL & VET Coordinator, Mr Ware.

NEW CALEDONIA TRIP 2023

We would like to thank you for your interest in having your children participate in our New Caledonia trip next year. As mentioned in the Info Night, the cut off date for the trip is 16th September, which is the last day of this term. Since we are less than a month away, we would like to remind you that if you wish for your child to participate, a deposit of $300 is required in the school's bank account, with the mention: "For the New Caledonia trip". We would also like to remind you that the numbers are limited, so we are going to apply the "First in, best dressed" principle. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Daniel Dema - ddema@bhcs.vic.edu.au

NATIONAL CONSISTENT COLLECTION OF DATA (NCCD)

At BHCS our staff team (learning assistants, teachers, wellbeing, first aid & administration) work together as part of the NCCD; developing understanding, improving systems/processes and implementing adjustments for students who may have learning difficulties and/or chronic health conditions.

The attached fact sheet provides answers to questions such as: What is the NCCD? What is a reasonable adjustment? Who is included in the NCCD?

If you have questions regarding the NCCD and your child, please reach out to the Learning Support Coordinator in the relevant subschool.

Junior School - Karen Angus

kangus@bhcs.vic.edu.au

Middle School - Christine Walker

cwalker@bhcs.vic.edu.au

Senior School - Chris Knop

cknop@bhcs.vic.edu.au

WE ARE HIRING

A few opportunities to join our enthusiastic team here at BHCS have been placed on our website! We're currently looking for:

2023 Primary Teacher
2023 Business Management Learning Leader

If you, or someone you know, are interested in knowing more about these positions, read more by visiting https://www.bhcs.vic.edu.au/careers

All enquiries about these positions should be directed to applications@bhcs.vic.edu.au

ADVANCED WARNING OF SCHOOL TIMETABLE CHANGE FOR 2023

In 2023 we will be running a 6 x 50min period timetable. This timetable will also include a 5 min change over between classes to allow students to move between classes. The first bell will ring at 8.40am for a 8.45am start to Devotions. Lunch is brought forward to 1pm and the finish times remain the same, Primary will finish at 3.15pm with Middle and Senior School finishing at 3.30pm.

Kinder times will remain the same, 9am start and 3pm finish.

COVID-19 INFORMATION

If your child tests positive:

Your child will need to remain home for 7 Days.
Notify the school of their child’s positive COVID test via covid@bhcs.vic.edu.au
Notify the Department of Health via https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report
Students/Parents are requested to email teachers if they are well enough to complete school work during isolation.
Remember to advise us if your child has any siblings.

If one or both parents test positive:

Your child becomes a household contact, please refer to the section below
You have an exemption to transport a household member to attend work, education or a health appointment, and/or to obtain essential food supplies. You must travel directly to and from the location, wear a face mask and not leave the vehicle unless you are required to take that person to the location, it is an emergency or it is required by law.

If your child is a household contact of a positive case you no longer need to isolate, however:

Parents/carers must notify the school that their child/ren are household contacts by emailing covid@bhcs.vic.edu.au
Students must take 5 x RATs over the 7 days of the household contacts isolation.
Students must wear a mask when indoors and on the bus (unless a valid exemption applies or your child is in Prep to Year 2).
Parents/carers should monitor for symptoms and keep their child home if unwell or has the slightest of symptoms.
Ensure the student commences isolation immediately if they test positive.
Students who are household contacts who present with symptoms while at school will be sent home.

You can collect a free pack of five rapid antigen tests at testing centres.

REVISED ADVICE FOR THE EXEMPTION PERIOD

In line with AHPPC advice, the period when someone is considered a recently confirmed case (and therefore exempt from testing and isolation/quarantine requirements) has been revised to 4 weeks (28 days from the end of their isolation date), down from 12 weeks. This reflects the emerging evidence that new variants of COVID-19 can evade prior immunity gained from infection.

Parents/carers visiting the school for meetings:

Parents, carers, and other adult visitors are no longer required to show evidence of a COVID-19 vaccination if visiting for meetings or attending school events.

FACE MASKS

Due to the large amount of absenteeism being caused by a variety of illnesses including COVID and the close confines of Middle School and the SLC, staff and students in these areas are required to wear masks while in these spaces. Emails have gone home to families regarding this. This advice will be reviewed at the end of August.

Students who are household contacts must wear masks at all times while indoors while they are attending school.
Students must continue wearing masks on all school buses, on public transport, and when on excursions, or in rideshare vehicles, as per government COVID requirements.
Staff and students who want to continue wearing face masks are able to do so, including those who are medically at risk.
If during this 4-week period symptoms do develop, your child should take a rapid antigen test and remain at home until symptoms resolve.

INCREASING ILLNESS

A reminder that besides COVID-19, Influenza and RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) are also doing the rounds. To minimise the impact on staff and students and for the health and wellbeing of all, we ask that you please keep your child home if they are unwell in any way.

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