Hello BRPS community,

Welcome to the latest edition of the BRPS Newsletter.  

Last week our School Review panel convened at the school to analyse, discuss and give feedback about the current progress and performance on all aspects of our school and its programs. The core panel is an expert group and comprises of an independent lead reviewer allocated by the Department of Education, as well as our network Senior Education Improvement Leader, myself, our School Council President (Neil Lyons) and also two Principals from schools outside of our local networks to act as 'challenge partners'.

Throughout the School Review the panel conducts a deep analysis and rating of key performance measures in a range of areas, observes classes and teams in action and also has the opportunity to meet with many different community stakeholders through presentations and focus group discussions. Focus groups include a cross-section of students, parents and all staff (teaching & non-teaching). Following this week the outcomes of the review are officially reported and then go on to inform the basis of our next strategic plan for school improvement.

I would like to thank all staff, students and parents who have contributed to what was a very positive experience for the school and I look forward to presenting the outcomes officially at the conclusion of the process.

State Results

NAPLAN 2018 results are in. Victorian students achieved the state’s best NAPLAN results ever in both reading and numeracy in primary schools. The figures show that Victorian primary students continue to be among the best in the country – and are getting better. If we exclude the ACT, Victoria was the lead jurisdiction on eight out of the 10 NAPLAN measures for primary students.

Black Rock PS Results - strong learning growth

At Black Rock students, staff and parents should be very proud of our high standards of achievement. We have maintained or improved on our already strong results in all curriculum areas assessed through NAPLAN, in particular achieving our highest ever average scores in Year 5 Reading, Spelling and Grammar & Punctuation. 

It was particularly pleasing to note the extraordinarily high levels of learning gain (or growth) demonstrated by our Year 5 students this year - the progress made by our students was well above state, network and even 'similar' schools across most areas.  

As a community, please join me in celebrating the success of the students and the hard work of our teachers and staff who are dedicated to their learning. Well done everyone!

DET has extended the survey until

Sunday 9th September

The 2018 DET Parent Opinion Survey is now open to all BRPS families. If you have not yet had the opportunity, please check your Compass News Feed to access and complete the survey.

 At Black Rock PS we have invited all families to complete the survey, rather than the 30% that is suggested by the DET.  Last year we had 102 responses which was up from our average of approximately 40. Thank you to the 62 families who have responded already.

Stage Project - work commenced this week

If you have visited the school this week you will have noticed that work has commenced on the community performance stage. We can't wait for the stage to be completed and anticipate it to be a focal point for school and community events. 

As a key element of our school masterplan, this project is supported through generous 2017/2018 fundraising efforts.  

'Before' photos for both projects - we're looking forward to posting the 'afters'!!

Interactive play space

Also due for completion by the end of the coming school holidays and another masterplan key element is the  exciting interactive play space. Connecting the area from the current sandpit to the Foundation playground, this space will retain a sand play area and add a stone creek bed, water pump, platforms, natural indigenous plantings, active and passive play areas, logs, tools and shops. 

This project is also supported through generous 2017/18 fundraising efforts.

On Friday 17th August our Year 6 students were incredibly lucky and excited to be invited to the official launch event for [email protected], an initiative designed to “spark enthusiasm for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths)” among Year 6 Primary School students. It aims to achieve this by providing a real-world and inspiring context for learning at its state-of-the-art headquarters in Clayton. Also in attendance was Australia's Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, who stated “The key to inspiring our children to aim high is to let them experience science in a real-world context: tackling problems, improving our lives." 

In a two-hour fun and interactive program, our students were able to experience first-hand industry applications of STEM, including AI (Augmented Reality), coding, robotics and 3D printing. 

I would like to thank Bosch Australia CEO Gavin Smith (father of Molly, Year 5) for offering us the opportunity to participate. Bosch also very generously donated a 3D printer to our school which will be incredibly beneficial in supporting our STEM programs as we develop this area of the curriculum as a whole school focus.

Congratulations to Henry S. from Year 4 who last weekend competed in the National Cross Country Championships held on the Sunshine Coast. I caught up with Henry back at school after the event and was amazed by his efforts:

• 38th place nationally
• member of the 2nd placed Victorian team
• member of the 3rd placed composite relay team.

Well done Henry, we're all very proud of your performance and the manner in which you represented our school and your State!

Congratulations to all of our Year 4-6 students who competed at the House Athletics on Wednesday 22nd August. There was a real sense of team spirit evident at the event with students competing to the best of their ability. 

Well done to GOLD house who were victorious with some phenomenal performances in the field events.

Thank you to Mr Fox and all  of the teachers for organising such a successful event for our students to compete in.  A huge thank you also to the parents who were able to help with the running of the events.

Good luck to our team who will be competing at the District Athletics event on Tuesday 11th September. 

Please notify us at your earliest convenience if you know that your child will not be enroled at BRPS next year.

We are continuing to accept enrolments for all year levels for the 2019 school year. Our projected enrolments help to determine class structure and staffing requirements. Early confirmation of student numbers is essential to ensure this process is managed effectively.

If you are aware of families intending to enrol that have not done so as yet, please encourage them to pick up an enrolment pack from the office or arrange a tour of the school.

Have a great fortnight everyone.

Sam Tyndall

PRINCIPAL

TERM 1

Thursday 1st February - Thursday 29 March

(2.30pm dismissal)

TERM 2

Monday 16 April - Friday 29 June 

(2.30pm dismissal)

TERM 3

Monday 16 July - Friday 21 September 

 (2.30pm dismissal)

TERM 4 

Monday 8 October - Friday 21 December 

(1.30pm dismissal) 

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

• Monday 12 March - Labour Day
• Friday 30 March - Good Friday
• Wednesday 25 April - ANZAC Day
• Monday 11 June - Queen's Birthday
• Tuesday 6 November - Melbourne Cup Day

Year 6 Canberra

March 19th-23rd

Year 5 Phillip Island

June 12th-15th

Year 4 Cave Hill Creek Sovereign Hill

July 18th-20th

Year 3 Briars

April 19th & 20th

Year 2 Sleepover

October 25th

Monday November 5th (Melbourne Cup Monday) 

Student Free Day

Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd May

Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th, Wednesday 31st October

3rd              Pyjama Day gold coin donation for the Asthma Foundation

3rd              Year 6 Bike Education

6th               Mad About Science Incursion Year 2

8th               Mad About Science Incursion Year 2

10th            Year 6 Bike Education

14th - 24th   Life Education Van Whole School

16th            Foundation 2019 Transition Shape Day 2.15pm

17th            Year 6 Bike Education

22nd           House Athletics Carnival @ Duncan McKinnon Aths Track

24th            Year 6 Bike Education

28th            Year 5 Melbourne Museum & Imax Theatre

30th            Foundation 2019 Transition Sport Afternoon 2.15pm

31st             Casual Clothes Day Gold Coin Donation     

3rd            Year 6 Graduation Photo 10am

5th             Parent Rep and Fundraising meeting 7pm Staffroom. 

8th            Parent Social  Hippies Vs Hipsters Black Rock                                                        Bowls Club

11th         District Athletics Carnival

11th         Foundation Fire Brigade visit at school

12th         Foundation Community Walk

21st          Final Day of Term (2.30pm Dismissal)

8th       School Resumes - Term 4

12th     Foundation Transition - Specialist Fun Day

13th     FETE

25th     Year 2 Sleepover

26th     Casual Clothes Day Gold Coin Donation

 26th    Teachers day

31st      Year 2 Taskworks Excursion

5th       Student Free Day

6th        Melbourne Cup Day Holiday

9th        Year 3 Mad About Science Incursion

14th     Foundation Orientation Meet the Teacher Day 9.30am -                                11.45am

16th      Year 3 Mad About Science Incursion

19th - 21st    Book Fair Library

29th     Foundation Orientation Meet the Teacher Day 9.30am-                                 11.45 am

30th      Casual Clothes Day Gold Coin Donation

5th      Foundation Orientation Meet the Teacher Day 9.30am-                                 11.45 am

11th   2019 Foundation Information Night - Preparing Your Child for                   School

17th    Year 6 Graduation Night

17th    Year 2 Kids Space Excursion

19th    Year 3 Extreme Air Excursion

20th     Year 6 Graduation Lunch

21st      Year 6 End of Year Assembly

21st     Final Day 2018 1.30pm Dismissal 

The bowling club have released a few extra tickets for the parent social. There may be a few tickets left if you are lucky!

https://www.trybooking.com/399819

Thanks you to the Foundation Parents who have worked so hard to make this night a success. The team have put together a great night of entertainment.  Hippie Vs Hipster- which one will you be? 

The Victorian Interschool Snowsports Championships are held at Mount Buller every year. Students from all over Victoria come and race in Skiing and snowboarding events.

Our school team consisted of Paris, Caleb and Alec. 

The events they competed in were: The Giant Slalom alpine ski race,  Snowboard cross and Ski cross. 

All students competed very well with Paris being selected to represent Victoria at the National Championships in September. This is the third time Paris has made the Victorian team.  Alec was placed 16th out 40 (with a slim chance of getting through to Nationals) and Caleb placing 68 out of 148. 

We are very proud of our Snow Sports team. Congratulations to all and well done team.  Good luck in the National Event at Perisher. 

Thanks you to Adriana Griffiths and the Year 3 parents for organizing the Fathers Day stall. The students loved buying gifts for their Dad and we appreciate the work that goes into organising the stall. 

Thanks to the COLES sports for  school program, we now have some great new equipment for BRPS. Some of the equipment includes Australian rules footballs, soccer balls, netballs, teaching aids, goals and markers. The equipment will be used to help support the interschool sports programs, house sports programs and classroom sporting equipment.

Thanks to all the parents and students who gathered a huge amount of tokens and supported the program.

Like the 2018 Fete Facebook Page at - https://www.facebook.com/big.fun.fair/   Bottles 

We are looking at donations from families:

Years 5&6                     Branded soft drinks

Year 3 &4                       Bottles of water

 Foundation &2 

                                           Blocks of chocolate

Toy and Games and DVD's  in good condition

Books 

WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK

Anyone wishing to volunteer at BRPS is required to provide a Working with Children Check. Checks are free and valid for 5 years! Apply online at: http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/ 

The money that your child donates for wearing casual clothes on the last Friday of the month is donated to the East West Foundation.  Our money helps fund a teacher in India. This is a worthwhile cause to help those not as fortunate as ourselves.                                                                                                              Our last casual day on 27th July raised $498.50

UNIFORM SHOP 2018

Thursday 8.45am-9.30am

If you are unable to attend the uniform shop at this time you can place an order through the office and it will be filled and sent home with your child on the following Thursday.

We have a great selection of second hand items at the moment that can be purchased for $3.00 per item.

Please be careful when ordering uniform as we can only  exchange items.

Unfortunately we cannot give refunds.

Judy Agnew,  Adriana Griffiths, Matilda & Karen Coates

We are raising funds for our School and you can help. Order the NEW 2018/2019 Entertainment Book or Entertainment Digital Membership and you will receive hundreds of valuable offers for everything you love to do and you will also be supporting our School. PLUS order now to receive over $100 of bonus Early Bird Offers. 

What a joy to see so many students in the school yard practising their talent show performances in the last few weeks! There are some big performances on their way this year. 

Auditions for the 2018 BRPS Talent Show begin on Monday, 3rd September. They will happen across 7 lunch times in the stadium with a variety of generous teachers volunteering as part of the judging panel to enjoy the performances and pick our finalists.  

Unlike 2016 where everyone had a spot at the fete, this year the auditions will pave the way for the finals of the Talent Show being held on the big stage at the fete. Regardless of whether your child makes the finals, they will still get to perform in front of an appreciating audience to show off their special talents! 

Things to remember about the auditions: 

• Support other performers
• It’s ok to feel nervous
• Continue the performance even if it doesn't go to plan
• Bring any music on a USB/device if you’d like. It’s also fine to perform without any music.
• Bring any costumes on your audition day and change into them after you've eaten lunch
• Check the audition times outside the music room
• Make sure you come on your audition day, as we have over 100 auditions to watch!
• Keep your performance to no longer than 2 minutes
• Enjoy the applause after your performance
• Have fun!

We can't wait to see the performances in the stadium on your audition day! All students are welcome to be an audience member. 

Good luck to everyone involved! How will your performance impress the judges?

Interested in the circus? Want to see a professional orchestra in person? The MSO are teaming up with Circus Oz to create a family friendly show targeted towards a fun family outing. See the link below for details!  

If your child is in the school choir or junior choir, please remind them of the importance of attending all rehearsals. The ensemble cannot soar to their potential musical heights without 100% commitment from all members, nor do we get to perform as often due to some members having to learn lyrics when others have the melodies memorised! 

There are exciting performances lined up for the fete and end of year with many songs to learn for both choirs! Can you imagine trying to have a productive ensemble rehearsal when only 5 team members out of 25 are there?

We are always on the look out for more performances and can readily accept them when all choir or junior choir members are at every rehearsal as there is repertoire available at performance standard! 

Please note that in the week beginning September 10, no choir rehearsals will run due to Mr Murnane attending talent show auditions all week! 

The school has booked cybersafety expert Susan McLean to visit the school and provide both student and parent sessions. Susan is highly sought after and is considered one of the leading voices in Australia on cybersafety and device management.

Please put this date in your diary as this will be an extremely important event for all parents of students from Years 4-6 to attend.

For more information, check out her website:

http://www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au/