Principal’s Report
I hope everyone has had a great week!
Things have started very well for us this year. The Prep students are starting to get into a routine and know what school is about. Every time I enter a classroom I see lots of smiling faces and friendly children who are all learning and enjoying being with friends. Every classroom has a set of Consistent and Predictable Routines that are designed to help the children know what’s happening each day. This is a key part of our Berry Street Education Model which helps kids to self-regulate and improve their engagement at school.
Here are a few updates on what’s been happening this past fortnight as well as highlighting some future events:
Gaga Ball Pit
A new Gaga Ball Pit has been installed near the bottom oval. Gaga Ball is a terrific game that can be played by many kids at a time. It’s essentially a dodge-ball game, but instead of throwing the ball, you hit it along the ground. If the ball touches your legs from the knee down, you’re out of the game. The difference with Gaga Ball is that it can bounce off the walls. The last person in the pit is the winner! It’s so popular that we’ve had to organise a roster of when year levels can use the area. This ensures that all kids have a chance to play the game throughout the week.
Parent Helper Course
The first Parent Helper session took place on Wednesday afternoon. We had 16 parents who were willing to volunteer their time to learn how they can help our children in the classroom. I’d like to thank these people for attending and showing their support of the children and the school – your expertise is very valuable.
NAPLAN Testing preparation
NAPLAN testing for Year 3 and 5 students will be happening between March 12 and 21. More information will be given to parents and carers in Years 3 and 5 as we get closer to the testing window. With NAPLAN testing being fully online now (with the exception of Year 3 writing), I would like to emphasise the importance of maintaining your child’s iPad so that it’s in the best condition to access the tests. Please ensure that your child charges the device each day, brings it to school and has a fully functioning keyboard. Teachers will be preparing the kids by conducting practice tests which involve them accessing the NAPLAN Locked-down browser application. This will happen regularly between now and March 12. Ensuring the iPads are in good condition will help us enormously.
We pride ourselves in having all children participate in the NAPLAN testing regardless of their academic progress. Teachers are making adjustments all the time to ensure the children can access the test successfully and give it their best shot. The same adjustments in the classroom are applied to NAPLAN – if students need more time or a break, they can be allocated. In very rare cases, a child is exempted from NAPLAN. A meeting with one of our Principal team is required before any child is exempted. We discourage parents from withdrawing children as this sends a message that your child is not able to do the test, when in actual fact they can. NAPLAN adjusts the questions to match the needs of the child, which is why it is done online now. If you have any concerns or questions, please speak to your child’s teacher, Kristy Foster or myself and we will do our best to answer them. We can make whatever adjustments possible and within the rules of NAPLAN to support your child so they can participate.
Grade 4 Camp – Phillip Island
The grade 4 camp to The Island in Cowes is happening on Monday 3rd March to Wednesday 5th March. There’s a lot of buzz and excitement from the students about going on their first school camp. This is an amazing experience for them and I’m sure they’ll love it. I’m also attending the camp and I can honestly say it’s one of the best camps in Victoria. The facilities, activities, location and food are terrific. Camps are a great way for kids to develop independence, and it’s always a highlight of the year.
New Prep Playground is Coming
In the next few weeks, we will be demolishing the existing Prep playground and replacing it with a brand new one. As we did with the Grade 1/2 and 3/4 playgrounds, the children have chosen the design and colours so I’m sure they’ll be very happy with what’s delivered. Obviously, there will be a bit of disruption during the construction process, so you may find certain areas fenced off for a few weeks. Preps will be able to use the grade 1/2 playground behind the gym while the new playground is being built.
That’s all from me this week. I look forward to seeing you around the school.
Mat Anderton
Principal
Active Club off to a great start
Hello BHPS Community!
This year, BHPS is excited to be part of the Mental Health in Primary Schools Initiative, a program developed by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne University, and the Victorian Department of Education. The goal of this program is to help teachers and school communities better support the mental health and well-being of students.
