Principal’s Report
End of Term 3
With one week to go until the end of Term 3, I thought it would be good to reflect on the term and highlight some memorable moments.
- The whole school shone on stage in our production of Rock Bottom.
- Preps had a blast celebrating 100 Days of School with dress-ups and fun activities.
- Students took part in VHAP, BioEyes, ICAS and the Maths Olympiad.
- Multi-age activities which helped build friendships and shared messages of respect, gratitude and kindness.
- Year 1s loved their trip to the Melbourne Museum.
- Preps went on Puffing Billy and enjoyed the visitor centre and walk around Emerald Lake.
- Our athletes did us proud at the District Athletics Carnival.
- Years 4 and 5 had a great time at Hoop Time basketball days.
- Year 6 students celebrated seven years of learning German with their special German graduation.
- Book Week was a highlight with dress-ups, book fair and the Treasure Hunt
- Year 5 camp at Camp Adakate was packed with adventure and teamwork.
- Year 6 students explored art and culture on their excursion to the NGV.
Farewell to Mrs Baker
Since 2020, we’ve had the great fortune of having Mrs Lisa Baker as a teacher at BHPS. She has done an outstanding job teaching grades 2, 4 and 5 during these years, and I can honestly say that she has had a massive impact on the education and growth of the students she has taught. Her professionalism and leadership throughout these years presented her with an opportunity to take on a formal leadership and promotional role as a Learning Specialist at Heatherwood School in Donvale. Lisa will begin this new role at the beginning of term 4. All of us at BHPS wish Mrs Baker the very best as she embarks on the next phase of her teaching career.
In farewelling Lisa, I’d like to welcome Miss Kate Maxwell to our teaching team in Grade 2. Kate is beginning her teaching career, and it’s exciting for her and us that she starts at BHPS. If we didn’t snap her up, many other schools would have!
I’d like to congratulate both Lisa and Kate on their successful appointments.
New Timetable Trial in Week 2
One of the key aspects of the Department’s drive to improve the literacy outcomes of students is to recommend 120 minutes of uninterrupted learning time to be dedicated to literacy. The way our current timetable is structured, we have 100 minutes, which means that literacy lessons carry over to after a break. Even though children are receiving the recommended time, it’s not ideal to have it broken up in this way.
To help solve this issue, we’re going to trial a new timetable in week 2 next term. We’re calling it the “3, 2, 1 model”, which means there will be 3×50 minute sessions in the morning, 2×50 minutes sessions after a break (40 minutes long), then 1×50 minute session following a 30 minute break in the afternoon.
Here’s a breakdown of the times:
- 9am-11:30am – Morning block broken into 3×50 min sessions
- 11:30am-11:40am – Eating time (Lunch)
- 11:40am-12:20pm – RECESS 1
- 12:20pm-2:00pm – Afternoon block 1 broken into 2×50 minute sessions
- 2:00pm-2:10pm – Eating time (afternoon tea)
- 2:10pm-2:40pm – RECESS 2
- 2:40pm-3:30pm – Afternoon block 2 broken into 1×50 minute session
It’s important to note that in this timetable, the children will have a bigger break in the late morning and a shorter break in the afternoon. It would be a good idea to pack some extra brain food for the kids to snack on, particularly for that longer morning session.
Lunch orders will still be available on Monday and Friday, but they won’t be coming to the children until around 2pm.
This trial will only be for one week.
Based on the feedback from the students and teachers following this trial, we will work out if it’s something we can continue with next year. I have discussed this with School Council who were supportive of the plan but suggested we do a trial first. We may even give some consideration to starting the school day at 8:45am and finishing at 3:15pm next year. If that occurs, we will give families plenty of notice so you can make arrangements for earlier drop-off and pick-up times if needed.
Another driver safety reminder around school
I always try to maintain positivity for my newsletter messages because there are overwhelmingly more good things happening at BHPS than bad. However, it is no exaggeration when I say that each week I have conversations with community members who are simply fed up with the behaviour of some people during school drop off and pick up times. I can completely understand their frustration and anger too. I hear about people who are still driving into the dumpster area on Phipps Ave, completely ignoring the repeated messaging by me not to do that. Even though there are signs on the fence saying not to park there, people still do it and it staggers me. In the next few weeks, I will be line marking this area to indicate “No Parking” in the hope it provides a visual reminder for everyone.
A recent issue has been brought to my attention about pedestrian safety on Montana Ave. As you may be aware, there are no footpaths on Montana Ave, so in the winter months the grass becomes quite muddy and people need to walk along the road. A resident of Montana Ave, who is also a BHPS community member, has raised concerns about drivers speeding down the road and another person confronting him for walking along the road. I have contacted the council to see if they can address the footpath issue with residents. However, my concern is that one day I’ll need to attend to a serious accident involving a student or family member, which could have been avoided if people just behaved sensibly. I definitely don’t want to be in that position, and nor do I want anyone of our family members injured (or worse) because of driver carelessness.
Please, I urge everyone to be calm and sensible when driving and parking around the school.
End of Term and Footy Day
Just a reminder that students will be dismissed at 2:30pm next Friday, with our special Footy Day assembly including Principal’s Award presentations at 9:15am in the gymnasium. Students can dress in their favourite sports team colours and cheer on their team. There will also be a special lunch offered by the canteen, so please be aware that the normal canteen menu will be unavailable next Friday.
Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
Mat Anderton
