Heights Happenings – 2024 – Term 1, Week 7

I hope you’ve had a great week and enjoyed the long weekend. Unfortunately for me, another bout of COVID has hit which has kept me at home for the week. I’ll be back on deck on Monday to gear up for the last couple of weeks of Term 1.

NAPLAN

The grade 3 and 5 students are in the middle of sitting NAPLAN testing. The teachers in these year levels have been working with the students to help them be as prepared as possible. All we can ask is that the kids give it their very best, and we will be proud of them regardless of the results. This is the second year that NAPLAN has been in March which means that we should receive results much sooner than previous years. There are a couple more tests next week and some catch up sessions organised for any child who wasn’t able to sit the test on the day.

Grade 4 Campers are back!

The recent Grade 4 Camp to Phillip Island was a great success. I’d like to thank all the students for challenging themselves over the three camp days, especially considering this was the first experience away from home for many children. Camp is a chance to develop independence, build friendships and experience activities that offer a different educational challenge than regular schooling provides.

The first night on camp is always exciting for the kids, and it often means that they like to stay up a bit later than usual. I had to put my “dad hat” on a few times to remind the boys that they needed a good sleep! Funnily enough, Tuesday night was much quieter because there were a few tired kids after two days of activities.

Our last stop before arriving back at school on Wednesday was at the Koala Conservation Reserve. By chance, one of the workers at the reserve knew one of the students and passed on some feedback to the family. She said that our school was one of the best groups they’ve ever had through the park and wished that every school group was as good as ours. I love hearing feedback like this – it just reiterates that we truly are an awesome school. My sincere thanks go to Ms O’Neill, Mrs Ascenzo, Ms Mason, Mrs Hodgkiss and parent helpers Jason Kum and Stephanie Robinson for all your amazing work.

Digital Enrolments

This year our school will use an online system for new enrolments. All primary schools in Inner East and Outer East areas of the North East Victoria Region are using this online system.

The online system will be available for parents who are applying to enrol their child in Foundation (Prep). An application form can be completed on laptops, PC’s and mobile phones. The online system will also allow you to upload documented proof of residential address.

It is important to note that the placement policy is followed by all government schools. You can view the placement policy on the Boronia Heights Primary School website. Your chances of being offered a place in the schools you apply for are not advantaged or disadvantaged by using this system.

Victorian government school enrolments for Foundation (Prep) for the 2025 school year will open from Monday 15 April 2024, the start of Term 2. Families are asked to submit enrolment applications by Friday 26 July 2024. The link to apply for a place online at this school will be available on our school website from the beginning of Term 2 (April 15), we will also email out a link to all families who have expressed an interest via the link on our website.

Three-way conferences

Thanks to the support of the school community, we are able to run the three-way conferences as planned on Tuesday 26^th March. A few Compass posts have gone out to explain the booking procedure for the day. The children who are attending on-site for the day will be placed into groups and supervised by one of our specialist teachers. More details about the organisation for on-site students will be send out next week.

I’d like to thank you all for your support regarding this plan. I was keen to ensure three-way conferences remained a key part of our teacher/parent/student reporting processes, so I’m pleased that we’re able to run the day in the way it was intended.

Easter Raffle and Happy Hour Concert

I’m very much looking forward to experiencing my first Happy Hour Concert on the last day of term, Thursday 28^th March. The concert begins at 11:30am on the netball courts at the front of the school. Each year level will perform a song, the Easter Raffle will be drawn, and we will present students with the new Principal’s Award for Term 1. This is going to be a wonderful way to end the term and I look forward to seeing lots of BHPS families and friends.

Kind regards,

Mat Anderton
Principal

2025 Prep Enrolments

2025 Prep enrolments will now be digital, we will send a link and a guide out as soon as it is available. Watch this space.

Name Your Belongings

We know you treasure your uniform and books. Please remember to label all uniform, books and belongings coming to school. Like most years, we have had an incredible amount of lost property through the year. The majority was unnamed, along with illegible tags. We would love lost items to boomerang back to your kids.

New Staff Profile

Name: Narissa Farrell

Grade: 6C

Previous School: Yarra Road Primary School

Birthday (NOT year!): 29th June

Family: Myself, Stephen (husband) and Mitchell (son)

Pets: two cats, Isaiah and Winston

Hobbies: Yoga, cooking and travelling

AFL Footy team: Carlton

Favourite Food: Thai Food

Favourite Book or Movie: Book – Power of One; Movie – The Princess Bride

Favourite Colour: Blue or Green

Name: Shae Warren

Grade: All – PE Teacher Extraordinaire

Birthday (NOT year!): 22nd July

Family: Son – Bailey

Hobbies: Cricket, Golf & AFL

AFL Footy team: Richmond

Favourite Food: Anything sweet!

Favourite Book or Movie: The Pursuit of Happiness

Favourite Colour: Black

Year 4 camp from a students point of view

The day finally arrived! Camp! I rushed out of bed but didn’t forget to say bye to my fish Sonie. After Ms O’Neill said the roll, we got on a cool private bus.

By Louie 4A

As soon as I saw school I was bubbling in excitement CAMP the letters C.A.M.P. struck me. I was happy but I wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. O.M.G! we parked, my parents opened the door, was I ready I don’t know. Did I pack everything, I froze thinking of all the bad things that could happen.

By Mia 4A

The day had finally arrived! CAMP! I rushed to school super early, that was how excited I was. After half hour it was time to say goodbye to Mum, this was my first camp. Mum waved me off. Ms O’Neill passed back the camp booklet with our cabins and duty groups. Then we were off to CYC The Island. I had waited all month for this day, Monday the fourth. After a long treacherous journey, we finally were there. Our cabins weren’t ready yet, so we plunged into our first amazing activity. I could already tell this was going to be fun!

The second amazing activity at camp was Archery. I watched carefully as the teacher explained and demonstrated clearly. I was fourth and as I bravely picked up the bow I felt a warm rush of excitement! I put the sharp arrow on the bow and with strength pulled back the string. I let it go quickly and we all heard the faded sound of ZOOM as it shot at lightening speed towards the multicoloured bullseye board! And I cheered in excitement! This was so fun!

By Alex A 4A

On Friday 1^st March, we held our whole school cross country running event. The grade 3-6 students ran in their age groups and completed the exact same distance that they would if they attended a district or regional cross country event (9 & 10yo olds – 2km, 11yo and older  -3km). While the Prep-Grade 2 students competed in year level races of varying distances (Prep – 450m race, grade 1 – 960m race, grade 2 – 1.28km race). There was incredible determination and fitness on show throughout the event and from all year levels. The winning house was calculated on the total metres covered by each runner. Overall, the participating students ran an amazing 784,100 metres! The house results were:

1^st – Phipps: 211,320m.

2^nd – Lockwood: 197,820m.

3^rd – Landscape: 187,710m.

4^th – Montana: 187,250m.

Students from grades 3-6 who finished in the top 10 of their race will be invited to represent our school at the district cross country event in term 2. I would like to congratulate ALL the students who ran in our cross country event. There were changes made to some of the courses and the students adapted wonderfully. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the 10 or so parents that assisted on the day with marshalling the course, marking laps, handing our certificates and recording results. The event couldn’t have happened without you! I’m looking forward to our next major event – Grade 3-6 Athletics Day at Bill Sewart Athletics track on Thursday 21^st March. We’d still love a couple more volunteers for that event if any parent is free for the day and has their WWCC. Please email me ASAP (shae.warren@education.vic.gov.au).

Shae Warren
Physical Education Teacher and Sport Co-ordinator

CARE Ticket Winners

Easter Raffle

Thank you for the Easter donations. It’s always warming to see how generous our community is.

We are still collecting our aim is to make 20 fabulous prizes for the raffle at our first Happy Hour for the year.

Extra tickets are available at the office.

Entertainment Book Offer!