Heights Happenings – 2025 – Term 2, Week 2

I hope you had a great school holiday break and a Happy Easter. With ANZAC Day falling so close to the school holidays this year, it felt like we had a three week break. We had some lovely, warm weather too, so hopefully the children had a chance to get outside and enjoy the sunshine over the break.

As always, there’s a lot to look forward to this term. Here are some of the events happening in the next few weeks:

Education Week

Education Week will be happening between Monday 19^th and Friday 23^rd May. This year’s theme is “Celebration of Cultures” which highlights the diversity of our communities and importance of every child feeling safe and welcome at school. The main event for Education Week is our Open Morning which is happening from 9am to 10:40am on Wednesday 21^st May, followed by an Open Night later that day from 5-6.30pm. Parents and family members are welcome to join us for the morning activities and come back in the evening to see what the rest of the school is up to.

We will be having a special Cultural Celebration Day on Tuesday 20^th May. On this day, children can bring something to school that represents their culture. It could be a meaningful book, a traditional dress or object, photos of their family, a special family recipe, and so much more. Please see the Compass post that was sent out on Monday for more information about Education Week.

Year 6 Camp

Students and teachers in Year 6 head off to camp on Monday 12^th May and returning on Wednesday 14^th May. As in previous years, the kids will be going to Campaspe Downs near Kyneton where they will do activities such as low ropes, giant swing, flying fox, canoeing and archery. I’m sure they have an absolute ball.

Prep and Year 3 & 4 Swimming

Swimming lessons are starting on Monday 12^th May for students in Prep, Year 3 and Year 4. Lessons will take place down at Knox Leisureworks in Boronia, and parents are most welcome to watch lessons.

Please be aware that the bus parking area on Phipps Avenue is going to be very crowded on Monday 12^th May due to swimming and Grade 6 Camp happening on the same morning.

Other activities

The children will also be participation in a range of other activities to enhance their learning this term. Here’s a list of other events and activities planned:

• Year 4s are going to the Dandenong Ranges National Park to explore biodiversity in Victoria as part of our geography unit.
• Year 2s are taking a walk to Old Joe’s Creek to investigate ideas around how Aboriginal and Indigenous Peoples share their history and stories through unique artworks and Dreamtime Stories.
• Year 6s are having a visit from Metro Trains to educate them about how they can use public transport, especially the train system, to get around safely.
• Sporting events such as the District Cross Country, Hoop Time, Interschool Sports and AFL Girls Competition are all happening in the next four weeks.
• School Production rehearsals are well underway.

There’s lots to look forward to, including all the amazing learning that’s constantly happening in our classrooms every day.

Maths Fluency

This year we have invested heavily into students having learning resources available to them to improve their mathematical fluency skills. Our two learning specialists, Mrs O’Neill and Ms Hindmarsh, have been busily organising tubs that contain tasks designed to improve the computational fluency of students. Mathematical fluency is the ability to perform calculations quickly, accurately and efficiently. When fluency improves, so to does their ability to understand, problem solve and recall basic facts.

We are using the Top Ten Mathematics resources to help our teachers design maths fluency tasks. The tasks contain curriculum linked, developmentally appropriate activities that allow children to use cards, dice and counters to assist them to solve these tasks. It’s all about improving their recount of basic maths concepts, so that they can dedicate their “brain power” to solving problems.

The feedback from students so far is they love seeing the growth and improvements they are making in maths. I’d encourage you to speak to your child’s teacher on Open Day/Night to find out more.

Have a great week.

Mat Anderton
Principal

Understanding the Zones of Regulation

At our school, we use the Zones of Regulation to help children understand and manage their emotions. The Zones of Regulation is a simple but effective way for children to recognize how they’re feeling and learn strategies to regulate their emotions. There are four zones: Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red. The Blue Zone is when someone feels tired, sad, or low energy. The Green Zone is when they feel happy, calm, and ready to learn. The Yellow Zone is when they start to feel frustrated, worried, or excited, and the Red Zone is when they feel very angry, overwhelmed, or out of control. It’s important for children to know that all zones are normal and that emotions change throughout the day.

You can support your child at home by talking about the Zones in a natural and open way. If your child seems upset or tired, you might say, “It looks like you’re in the Blue Zone. What could help you feel more energized?” If they are excited or frustrated, you could acknowledge it by saying, “I see you’re in the Yellow Zone. What can we do to help you feel calm?” By using this language at home, you’re helping your child become more aware of their feelings and how to manage them. You can also share your own emotions, such as “I’m feeling a little stressed right now. I think I need to take some deep breaths.” This shows your child that everyone experiences different emotions, and we can all use strategies to manage them.

To help your child develop self-regulation skills, encourage them to think of strategies that work for them. For example, if they are in the Blue Zone, they might need a snack, a movement break, or a fun activity to boost their energy. If they’re in the Yellow or Red Zone, they might need to take deep breaths, count to ten, or have some quiet time. Every child is different, and it’s important to find what works best for them. By practicing these conversations and strategies at home, you’re giving your child the tools they need to handle their emotions in a healthy way at school and beyond!

As always, please feel free to reach out if you’d like some support or resources for your child/ren.

Sarah Weichert
sarah.weichert@education.vic.gov.au

Principals Award Winners

ROCK BOTTOM – BORONIA HEIGHTS PS 2025 PRODUCTION

Our 2025 whole school production ‘Rock Bottom’ is fast approaching. It will be on Wednesday 30th July and Thursday 31st July at the Besen Centre (Mt. Scopus Memorial College, Station St, Burwood).

Please note that all Prep – 4 students will only perform one night. All Prep – 4 siblings should be scheduled for the same night. Please let Mr. Fox know if siblings have been accidentally scheduled on different nights. All Year 5 and 6 students will perform both nights.

Last term, all families with a Prep – 4 student should have received a notice informing them which night their child is performing, the Wednesday or Thursday. If you did not receive this notice, please email Mr Fox at simon.fox@education.vic.gov.au and he will let you know your child’s performance night.

Tickets will be going on sale through Try Booking (online sales only) on Monday 26th May, at 6.00pm. We have scheduled an evening time for tickets to go on sale, so working parents are not disadvantaged. Adult tickets will be $30 and Child Tickets (under 16) will be $20. Please note that student performers do not require a ticket on their performance night. Pop this date in your diaries. Mr. Fox will post a Compass link to the Try Booking site closer to the time.

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and Boronia Heights Primary School is excited to be taking part!

The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 and aims to help young readers develop a lifelong love of reading.

To take part, children in grade 3 to 6 are encouraged to read 15 books with their parents and carers and those in Prep to grade 2 are encouraged to read 30 books. The challenge ends 5^th of September 2025.

After each book your child reads at home, enter the book into the Premier’s Reading Challenge website – https://vprc.eduweb.vic.gov.au/home

Sign in under school coordinator or student – VPRC login – with the username and password provided by your classroom teacher.

Click on search books – search the full title/author – click on the title of the book read – click on add book – complete the review if you would like – click finished.

Go back to the Dashboard and click on finished for all books.

These books will then be verified at school.

Your child’s dashboard provides the number of books read and when the challenge is completed.

Your child will also receive a PRC Reading log, where you may choose to fill in all the books read then you can enter them all in one go, if you prefer.

We encourage students to keep entering books into the website, even after completing the challenge! The class who read the most books right up until September 5^th, will win a pizza lunch prize and our top 10 individual readers will also receive a book and PRC badge.

All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement.

This year, the Challenge is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the theme ‘20 years of words and wonder’.

Since it began in 2005, more than 4.5 million young readers have taken part and together read more than 63 million books.

To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge

If you have any questions please contact me @ leanne.bentley@education.vic.gov.au

Good luck to all our families and happy reading!

Leanne Bentley
Librarian

Traffic Changes Update

Year 4 – Terracotta Bird

The Year 4 artists extended their clay skills by sculpting hollow 3D bird forms. They began by using the pinch pot method to create a solid base, then applied joining techniques to attach wings and beaks.

To complete their birds, students explored a range of clay tools to add feathers, patterns and textures.

Year 5 – Abstract Portraits

Year 5 artists studied portraits by Sandra Silberzweig as inspiration for their abstract self-portraits. They used oil pastels to outline their designs and blended analogous colour schemes for each section of the face.

Year 6 – Yearbook Cover

Year 6 artists created embossed foil tiles for the 2025 Yearbook cover. Each student designed a tile using cardboard, string, foil and Sharpies, featuring flowing organic lines and metallic colours.

Tara Henstock
Visual Arts Co-ordinator

2026 Prep Enrolments

2026 Prep enrolments are now open. To submit your enrolment, just click the link below:

https://students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/s/

URGENT – Please complete…

We are still yet to receive the Media Release and Consent Forms for many many students.  If you are unsure if you have completed these two documents, check your email inbox. When you complete the Google Form it automatically sends you a completed copy of your responses.

Please check your NewsFeed on Compass for links.

2025 CSEF

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.

Payment amounts this year are $154 for eligible primary school. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

You can download the form here.

Check with the school office if you are unsure, and please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible.

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.

Election Day – Democracy Sausage!

We hope to see you tomorrow Saturday 3rd May whilst you come to vote at our school gym. The Hubsters will be selling barbecued sausages and drinks. All money raised will go towards the extension of the Senior Playground.

Easter Raffle

Thank you so much for your generous donations. Didn’t the hampers look great! Congratulations to the winners! Many thanks to Leia Barrett and the Hubsters for their tireless work raising funds to make our school awesome.

Mother’s Day Stall

Leah Hodgson