Farewell
It is sad for me and our school community, but I am so happy for Sue Dalrymple and Kylie Laidler who will be retiring at the end of this year. What an amazing career they have had in teaching, Sue Dalrymple 37 years in the Education Department and 26 years at BHPS…Kylie Laidler with 30 years in the Education Department and 22 years at BHPS respectively.
There is no doubt that the school has indeed been fortunate to have such vibrant highly valued staff. You couldn’t get two staff that are always so passionate about kids and their education and their ability to support students to reach beyond what they believed themselves capable of, never accepting less than their best. They both challenged students daily with their thinking, decisions, actions and goal setting. I know that you will join with me to thank Sue and Kylie for their dedication to BHPS over many years, their passion and love for teaching their students and the impact that they had with many students at the school is immense.
Classes
We have now locked in the make-up of our classes for next year. In 2023 we will have 24 classes: 4 x prep, 4 x year 1, 4 x year 2 and 3 x all other year levels.
Staffing 2023
We interviewed early this term for 3 positions and appointed James Dean, Melanie Casey and Jake Blennerhasst and we are thrilled with these three appointments and welcome them into our Boronia Heights community.
- Karen Evered has tendered her resignation from the beginning of 2023. We wish her all the very best with her new journey in Cairns.
- We wish Sarah Appleby a fabulous year, she is planning to travel around Australia in 2023
- Dianna Sutterby will be returning one day a week to share German with Vicki Cook
- Ellie Gibson is expecting her second child in February and will only be with us for a few weeks in 2023, we wish her every happiness with their second beautiful baby
- Sarah Weichert will be returning from family leave for 2 days a week
- Gemma Weir will be returning from LSL for 2 days a week
- Ilusia Koronczewski will be returning full time from tutoring
- Sam Dunkinson will be returning for 3 days a week from tutoring
- Kate Wardlaw will be increasing her time fraction to 4 days a week in tutoring
The 2023 workforce plan is tabled below
| Year Level | Prep | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
| Team Leader | Laura McHugh | Simon Butler | Allanah Searles | Jess Lane | Claudia O’Neill | Lisa Baker | Jodie Wheeler |
| Team members | Bianca Swaine
Ilusia Koronczewski Melanie Casey |
Sajani Gam
Jacinta Kett & Gemma Weir Rebecca Koole |
Georgia Antonio
Ellie Stait James Dean
|
Kim Hindmarsh & Sarah Weichert
Eliza Hansen |
Emma Mason
Justin North |
Saascha Cargill & Sam Dunkinson
Mirella Irving |
Elly Turcinovic
Jake Blennerhassett |
Our Specialist team consists of:
| Music | PE | Visual Art | STEAM | German | Library |
| Simon Fox | Tayla Russell | Tara Henstock | Carlos Milan | Vicki Cook & Dianna Sutterby | Leanne Bentley |
Whole School Production – 2023
Securing a venue for our school production next year has been challenging. We have been able to book Besen Centre, Mount Scopus College, Burwood on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th July. All year levels will be involved with the Prep-4 students split over the two nights (1/2 on Wednesday, 1/2 on Thursday), performing a chorus group item / song within the show, and the 5/6s performing as the major chorus groups and lead roles. Pop those dates in your diary!
Farewell to our 2022 Year 6 Students
The Year 6 students attended their Graduation Celebrations on Monday 13th December. This is a celebration of their stories, recognition of the journey that each of them has walked to be here, a celebration of the accomplishments, the sacrifices, the tears and disappointments, the friendships and the camaraderie. It is a recognition of the support of families, friends and of the many teachers they have had along the way. It was a wonderful celebration and a chance to say congratulations and well done to our graduating class of 2022.
I would like to congratulate our Year 6 students on completing their Primary School education and graduating from Boronia Heights as mature and responsible students who are now ready to begin the next exciting chapter in their lives. I would like to wish them all every success and happiness in the future and hope that they make the most of every opportunity that comes their way. Remember to always try your best, have fun and keep smiling. You should all be very proud of your achievements and the fabulous students that you have become.
The organisation that staff and parents put into celebrating the end of year graduation is huge. I would like to thank staff and parents who have worked with absolute passion and enthusiasm to support our graduation day. Thank you to our parent committee who have supported Year 6 staff and Vicki Cook for her leadership and organisation for the day.
BHPS Artist Legacy Award
Every year a BHPS artist is awarded the Artist Legacy Award. This student is chosen from our Monet of the Week award winners. Their artwork is purchased by the school to keep on display as inspiration for future artists to aspire to.
Our winning recipient for 2023 for this award goes to Ayla B for creating an eye-catching, colourful parrot using the technique of dry felting.
Congratulations Ayla well done.
Xmas Concert
A very special congratulations to all of our students who performed in our Xmas concert, singing their hearts out with their amazing collection of Christmas carols. I was extremely proud of all our students who performed beautifully and with confidence. A huge thank you to Mr. Fox and classroom teachers who worked with their students. Thanks to everyone involved. Thanks for your participation on the night, it was great to have our community altogether. Thank you to everyone who made a donation on the night, all money collected goes towards purchasing new storage cupboards in the music room.
Curriculum Days 2023
- Friday 27th January- Glenn Pearsall- Educational Consultant
- Monday 24th April – Writing
- Friday 9th June – Numeracy
- Monday 6th November – Report Writing
School Council and Sub-Committees
I would like to say a special thank you to all of the members of our School Council. It is a big commitment being on Council and being involved in making decisions that impact the education of the students at our school. Their dedication and overall input into school operations is greatly valued and appreciated. Every Year our school council work extremely hard, this year was no exception we all have been able to achieve a great deal for the school.
I would also like to say a special thank you to the School Council sub-committee members. These committees include Finance, Education, Buildings and Grounds and Hubsters. School Council members, parent volunteers and staff make up these committees and they attend regular monthly meetings throughout the year.
All of these people volunteer their time to contribute in numerous ways to improving the education of the students at our school. Thank you so much.
Retiring members
We would like to thank Morten Windfeld-Lund for his dedication and love for our school and his can-do attitude and massive support of this school, especially volunteering on camp. We will especially miss your humour and positivity for Boronia Heights Primary.
A huge thank you to Mick Holden who has been a parent representative on School Council for 4 years AND a whopping 16 years on Building and Grounds committee. He has been willing to complete many projects by himself and also organised and brought along many willing helpers to support different projects around the school, such as making BBQ stands, cooking BBQ’s, making rock walls, cleaning up the school, removing fallen trees, pest control in offices and classrooms just to name a few things. If there was a storm or wild weather that we needed to check the school grounds Mick would be up at the school surveying the area ready to go to work. Mick, we thank you for your dedication and love for this school, your passion to get in there and get the job done has always been your mantra. Your extraordinary support for our school community and contribution has made this school a wonderful place to be. Thank you and wishing you the very best.
Thank You to our School Council Team in 2022:
| Sharon Walker-President | Leah Hodgson- Hubsters |
| James Burrows-Treasurer | Saascha Cargill- Finance |
| Jessica Petchell-Education | Lisa Baker-Hubsters |
| Debra Boettcher-Buildings and Grounds | Kristy Foster-Education |
| Rachel Husar-Hubsters | Lori Lundberg-Minutes/Secretary |
| Marcus Cook-Education | Leanne Jennings-Executive Officer /Finance |
| Sarah Kiss-Hubsters | |
| Morten Windfeld-Lund-Education | |
| Serge Tolmachev-Education | |
| Mick Holden-Buildings and Grounds |
Amazing Readers in Year 1
Congratulations to our amazing Year 1 students who achieved 300 or more nights of reading! I was honoured to celebrate a special morning tea with them today. What great examples of motivational students and inspirational readers they are!
Thank you
As this is the last newsletter for the year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff, teaching and non-teaching for making this school the amazing educational environment that it is. I would like to thank the students because they are our top priority and have done us proud, and to our parent community, thank you for your ongoing support this year. Schools are only as good as the people involved, our students and our parents are our best ambassadors.
All students will be dismissed from the front of the school on the netball court on Tuesday 20th December at 1:30pm. Final assembly will start at 1pm on the netball court. School will resume for students in Years 1 to 6 on Monday 30th January. Preps will complete assessments and interviews at the beginning of the year and will begin full time on Friday 3rd February.
Have a Safe and Happy Christmas with your loved ones and take some time to enjoy some quality time with your family. I look forward to 2023, as we have many wonderful plans already in place. We are indeed a very fortunate school and have many things to be grateful for, thank you to everyone for their partnership and support and time that you have given to the school, whether it has been in fundraising, parent helper, gardening and grounds support or going on excursions, we have thoroughly enjoyed the time and effort that you have given.
Take Care.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Leanne Jennings
Principal