Month: March 2022

I hope you were able to enjoy the extra long weekend with your family.  Speaking to the children, I hear that families went camping, caught up with extended families, had friends over, spent the time relaxing and much more.  Lots of students returned on Wednesday looking like they had a rest and ready for the last 3 weeks of term.

Our staff spent the Curriculum Day hearing presentations from our leaders.  Our topics cover literacy, numeracy, student wellbeing and engagement.  The staff were exposed to current research, effective teaching practices and spent time together planning and considering what teaching will have the most impact on their students.  It was nice to spend some time together as we have only recently been allowed to return to face-to-face professional learning (from behind a face mask).

The previous week, we had Dr Jodi Richardson speaking to our staff about anxiety.  She spoke about how our body works to display anxiety, how students may present and how we can support our students to ‘dial down the anxiety’.  Whilst we all know that anxiety is contagious, so as adults we need to be mindful as to how we present ourselves, we also know that ‘calming is catching’.  Dr Jodi has provided an article for parents that has six strategies to support children and teens.  The article is uploaded to this blog – go to the top of the page and click on ‘Parenting Ideas’.

Playground design

I hope your child has shared with you that our Student Representative Council (SRC) have been presented with a part of the playground that we would like to redesign.  Our SRCs have asked the students to come up with designs and ideas as to what to build in this space.  The space is located across from the gym, under the shelter, near Kiss’n’Go.  Students need to consider the type of play that would suit the area.  Students’ designs will come back to the SRC and then they will present to our school leadership and school council.

Harmony Day

I hope you are ready for Harmony Day on Monday 21^st March.  Harmony Day is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism.  The message of Harmony Day is everyone belongs. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.

On this day, everyone is asked to wear orange to signify social communications and meaningful conversations.  There will also be activities in the classroom where students will have opportunities to share their heritage and learn about each other.  Our school captains and leadership have made a video to share with you.  We have handed out questionnaires for students to answer to discuss in the classroom over the week.  We also ask if your child would like to have something in their lunchbox from their heritage to show their friends or classmates.

Parent-Teacher interviews

The booking site is now open for you to book a virtual meeting with your child’s teacher.  Interviews will be held on the week beginning Monday 28^th March.  They will run for 10 minutes and be conducted on Zoom.

To book online go to the website: www.schoolinterviews.com.au

Event code: 9fp8u

Or click on the following link:

https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/9fp8u

The booking site will be opened until Wednesday 23rd March.

Respectful Relationships

At Beaconsfield Primary School we hope that everybody interacts with each other in a respectful way.  We work through the Respectful Relationships program with our students to address gender inequality and violence towards women. A Respectful Relationship looks like:

• Be a good listener.
• Understand someone’s point of view.
• Express your needs and wants in a direct, calm and respectful way.
• Respond in a timely manner if someone requests something.
• Acknowledge what other’s do well.
• Let people know you appreciate them.
• If someone shares something intimate and personal with you, keep it private.
• Emphasise someone’s strengths, not their weaknesses.
• Ensure your humour is sensitive to others’ feelings and avoid embarrassing them.
• Speak directly with others, don’t talk behind their back.
• Allow someone space if they need it.

If you do require support, please contact the following agencies:

We have a few events coming up, so keep up to date on the Sentral for Parents app and more information will be coming out. Watch out for information about school cross country and Pink Stumps Day – happening in the last week of term.

Heidi Inglis

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Thursday 17th March: Grade 2 and 4 swimming begins

Monday 21st March: Harmony Day, wear Orange today

Wednesday 23rd March: NO Grade 2 and 4 swimming today

Friday 25th March: Grade 2 and4 swimming finishes today

Tuesday 5th April: Cross Country for Grades 3-6

Friday 8th April: Last day of Term 1. 2:30pm finish

LATE ARRIVALS AND EARLY PICK UP’S:

If you are running late to school in a morning please ensure your child comes to the Office before heading to class for a late pass. From there a staff member will walk your child to their classroom.

If you require to collect your child early from school please call or email the Office prior so we can arrange to have your child at the Office, we ask that if you send an email to let us know, please send it before 12pm to ensure we can get the message to your child in a timely manner.

Hello everyone,

We are nearly halfway through term 1 and this week we have our Preps at school for the whole week.  We hope that you and your child have settled into school and have your week ‘routine’ sorted – getting kids to school, running around after school to activities, catching up with friends. 

I would like to say ‘thank you’ to all the parents that attended or watched our recording of the information night.  I have captured some of the questions asked and thought it would be a good opportunity to address some of them in this newsletter.

Assembly

We are running fortnightly assemblies.  To minimise mixing bubbles, we are running them virtually for our students to watch.  Our student leaders are speaking and presenting at assembly and we are acknowledging our Beacy Spirit award recipients, as well as other announcements.  We have one year level attend each assembly to watch it live. 

We have recorded this event and have sent out to parents to watch through the Sentral for Parents app.

School photo date

• Friday 29^th April – whole class photos and individual photos
• Thursday 5^th May – sibling photos

Please take note of these dates for photos.  Information regarding ordering will come out later in the term.

Parent Helpers and Volunteers

We have begun using parent helpers for grade 6 sport and we have grade 2 and 4 swimming coming up – which is exciting.  It will not be long before our junior grades will be asking parents if they can come and work in the classrooms.

If you are going to help out and work with our students, you must:

• have a Working With Children’s Check registered to Beaconsfield Primary School.
• are vaccinated and had your booster by 25^th March, or by the time you are helping.
• Wear a mask indoors and on public transport.

Library

The library opened up this week and it was great seeing our students listening to stories, browsing and borrowing.  Remember that junior grades use a library bag or satchel and always have their book ready to return so they can choose a new one each week.  Your child/teacher (and it is displayed on some classroom windows) will let you know what day of the week they attend.

Apps – QKR and Sentral for Parents

For excursions and incursions, we require you to give your child permission to attend and, where applicable, pay for the event.

Sentral for Parents – use this app to complete permission forms.  You no longer need to print or obtain a paper copy to give permission.  This will mean that students do not need to hand in forms or lose them in the bottom of their bags!

QKR – use this app to pay for the excursion or incursion.

If you require any assistance with using these apps, please call our lovely office staff.

I hope you found this information useful, as it all came from our virtual information night.

Harmony Day

On Monday 21^st March, we will be celebrating Harmony Day.  Harmony Day is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism.  The message of Harmony Day is everyone belongs. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.

On this day, everyone is asked to wear orange to signify social communications and meaningful conversations.  There will also be activities in the classroom where students will have opportunities to share their heritage and learn about each other.

COVID restrictions

Whilst some restrictions were lifted in our community last week, things have not changed much at primary schools.  Please support us with the following requirements:

• Face masks are required to be worn indoors by staff, grade 3 to 6 students and any visitors to our school.
• Visitors are not required to check-in using the Service Victoria app.
• Anyone performing work or volunteering must be vaccinated and had their booster by 25^th March.
• RATs testing continues until the end of term with additional RATs distributed on Tuesday.  We will continue to receive deliveries every two weeks.

District Swimming

Last week our students represented our school and attended District Swimming. Our Sports Captain, Milly has put together a recount.

On Wednesday some grade 3s, 4s, 5s and 6s of our district went and competed at District Swimming for 2022. It was a really hot day so it was nice to go for a swim but also a bit nerve wracking for everyone. I’m really proud of everyone that made it through because there were some fast races. Fantastic job to everyone that participated and good luck to everyone that made it through.

Milly P – Sports Captain

School Council

Our nominations have now closed and thank you to those parents that have nominated for school council.  We had enough nominations for position available, so we do not need to hold a ballot.  I will inform you of the new council after we hold our AGM and have our office bearers for 2022.

As I finish off, I would just like to extend our thoughts to any of our families that have connections with people experiencing the floods or part of the conflict happening in Ukraine.  Please reach out if you or your child needs support.  It is very difficult to understand what is happening in our world as an adult, much less a young child.  Please be aware of what your child may be watching or hearing, and I suggest check in with them to see where they are at.  They will be looking to you for reassurance.

Take care,

Heidi Inglis

Cyber Safety

Recent incidents on social media are a reminder to us all, that it is so important for us to be prudent users of technology and social media, and that our children need protecting from unsavoury and sometimes, dangerous content.  Whilst we have become incredibly dependent on technology, particularly in our COVID lifestyle, it is imperative that we remain mindful regarding our use and our children’s use of technology.  Sometimes it is all too easy to become complacent.

At Beacy, we feel that children of primary school age are too young to adequately navigate the intricate world of social media, and in fact many of the social media sites require users to be 13-15 years of age or above to sign up.  I often use the analogy, that if we wouldn’t leave our children unsupervised in the city, and then why would we leave our children unsupervised in the “cyberworld?”

At the top of the newsletter page, in the menu, you will see an eSafety tab/link.  I have put some updated information on there to help parents make informed decisions about technology use.  I hope you find it helpful.

Road Safety

Please remember to use our crossings, even if you have to walk a little out of your way. It sets a great example to our children and helps to keep everyone safe. Please don’t cross Lyle Ave down at the highway end, walk a little way up the road to the crossing. It is much safer.

Have a great week and stay safe.

Linda

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Monday 14th March – Labour Day Public Holiday

Tuesday 15th March – Curriculum Day. No students at school on this day

Thursday 17th March – Grade 2 & 4 swimming commences (no swimming Wednesday’s)

Friday 25th March – Last day Grade 2 & 4 swimming

Friday 8th April – Last day of Term 1

QKR!:

A friendly reminder to update your Qkr! app with your child’s 2022 year level. This will ensure all payments/fundraising and any lunch orders will be delivered correctly.

Scholastic Book Club:

Scholastic issue 2 catalogue will go home with students this week. Orders can be made online only and are due back on Friday 11th March. Please no late orders.

Rose K, Sebastian L, Ava L, Eva W, Luke P, Joel B, Payson C, Tyson T, Nellie B, Dallas M, Peyton G, Amelie H, Macey R, Nate F, Mayra G, Zac P, Jordan D, Tatum N, Charli B, Sloan R, Stella T, Noah K, Eddie L, Emily D, Mikayla T, Luke G, Ethan M, Indie W, Leo P, Flynn M, Harrison W, Max M, Harrison L, Ollie B, Lucas K, Max M, Eva G, Kaylea B, Isaac L, Maddie F, Gabriella C, James S, Chloe E, Julian R, Oliver B, Owen R, Xavier B, Harry S, Cooper H, Aurora B & Ruben B.