😃WELCOME BACK😃

A Message From The Principal

Welcome back to the 2021 school year. It has been a wonderful start to the school year. We love seeing the smiling faces of the students and watching them settle in to their new spaces, learning communities and classes.

2021 PREP STUDENTS: Our new Prep students have been a joy to interact with as they begin their learning journey through the school. They have been learning about the school and spending time with their Year 6 buddies.

COVID-19: We continue to carefully monitor the Covid-19 situation. We act on the direct advice of the Department of Education and receive updates weekly, or updates at times of need. Below is the current advice from the Department.

Children under 12 years of age and students at primary school or attending an OHSC program are not required to wear face masks.

School staff are not required to wear face masks while teaching or caring, but those who wish to do so, can. Staff must wear face masks in indoor areas of the school when not teaching or caring.  

Visitors to school sites must also wear masks when indoors. Please ensure anyone on your school site is aware of the updated face mask requirements. 

In line with our Covid-19 measures announced by the Victorian Government at Bellaire Primary School we are undertaking the following –

  • Covid cleaning continues to occur during the school day.
  • Hand sanitiser continues to be used by students and staff members when entering and exiting the rooms.
  • Masks are to worn by teachers when not instructing students and by anyone over the age of 12 years of age (who are not students) when entering the school.
  • The school gates are locked during the school day to ensure the safety of our students and ensure that all visitors enter by the front office.
  • If you wish to speak to your child’s teacher please make an appointment and enter the school via the office. If anyone visits the school for longer than 15mins they must use the QR code found at the front office and sign in.

We appreciate your support in keeping our school safe and in line with the Covid-19 health advice and guidelines.

LIFE EDUCATION VISIT: Information about the Life Education visit and payment can be found on QKR. The first Life Education class begins on Monday.

JAMF: This year we are utilising JAMF within the school on iPads, which is a Mobile Device Management Platform. Below are quotes form www.jamf.com

Ideal for teachers or instructional technologists and empowers educators to manage devices from the classroom.

With Jamf School, leverage a solution built exclusively for teachers, instructional technologists and education IT that maximizes Apple hardware for learning purposes — inside and outside of the classroom… Jamf School creates the optimal digital experience and ensures students are focused and engaged.

There has been a great deal of information sent out to our 3-6 parents. We understand there are a lot of questions regarding this program. There always are questions when a new initiative is undertaken. There has been a great deal of research done by the school prior to initiating the launch of JAMF. The benefits for our school and students are as follows –

  • Teachers are able to individually tailor apps and learning for student learning at a push of a button.
  • Parents are not required to download any apps for use at school. This is all undertaken by the school. These apps will not appear on your iPad when it is not operating JAMF.
  • Any iPads that a BYOD (owned by students/families) are able to be supervised and by teachers while at school, however the moment the student leaves school at 3.30pm, the iPads reverts back to the child’s ‘normal, everyday’ use iPad. This aspect is not seen or used at school and JAMF in no way impacts the iPads home use.
  • JAMF does not work on public holidays, curriculum days, school holidays or weekends. It is only in use in the school hours. We can also block JAMF from working if a family is on an extended holiday or illness.
  • JAMF is an added layer of security for our students. Our students are learning how to be digitally aware. This is another protection that assists in us teaching the students about safe and secure technology use. One of my favourite quotes is – Successful teaching is not about controlling student’s behaviour, it’s about teaching students how to control their own behaviour.

We understand it is a slight inconvenience to back-up the iPad (on iTunes) prior to having JAMF installed and then re-installing it, however once this has been done you do not have to worry about it again. Before the students leave Bellaire Primary School for good, JAMF is removed from their device.

We have trialled JAMF on a number of devices and are excited that we are able to add this level of security and protection to our teaching and learning here at Bellaire PS.

SCHOOL PHOTOS: Our school photos are on Friday 12th February (next Friday!). Photos orders are only being taken on-line this year. This saves the need to bring in envelopes or cash to school. If you need any assistance please contact the school office.

Suzanne Prendergast

Principal

Virtual Assembly

Students of the Week

PLU

  • PDJ George R

  • PHP Arlo W

  • PMF Kai L

  • PTM Miles G

  • PSK Evie I

JLU

  • 1HM Reef O

  • 1KE Skyla J

  • 1KO Fior C

  • 1LS Emerson D

  • 2CB Oscar C

  • 2CH Xavier B

  • 2JB Ayla C

  • 2JG Stevie D

MLU

  • 3AF Stevie D

  • 3JA Jordan C

  • 3LD Tess B

  • 3TS Angus J

  • 4AW Pearl S

  • 4KR Patrick F

  • 4ML Malakai O

  • 4TC Dia J

SLU

  • 5AT Ryder F

  • 5ED Sydney A

  • 5LR Chloe Z

  • 6AG Max G

  • 6DD Madeline W

  • 6DP Jett L

Whole School News

PREPARE YOUR IPAD FOR JAMF

The following video was made by Mr Thomas, who has kindly put together an instructional video on how to prepare your child’s iPad for JAMF. It includes steps on how to back up your iPad and also signing out of Apple ID.

SCHOOL PHOTO’S – FRIDAY 12th FEBRUARY

PARENT PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS 2021

Bellaire Primary School has always been proud of the facilities and educational experiences the school is able to provide its students.  This has been achieved due to the nature of our caring and involved school community who recognise that their support is needed to enable us to maintain our high standards.

Parent contribution, in all forms, assists Bellaire Primary School to provide an enriched learning and teaching program for every student and is highly valued by our school community.  The commitment from parents to contribute benefits students and results in improved achievement outcomes, wellbeing and engagement in learning.  At Bellaire Primary School, we design and develop learning and teaching programs drawing on the best educational knowledge and practices and strive to offer broad and enriched opportunities to students that are above and beyond what is required in the standard curriculum and what is provided for by Government funding.

Bellaire is looking forward to another great year of teaching and learning and would like to advise you of our parent payment arrangements for 2021.

Bellaire Primary School makes every effort to keep the cost of items and activities to a minimum and affordable for all parents.

Financial Support for Families

Family support options

  • CSEF –provides payments to eligible students to attend camps, sports and excursions. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply and a special consideration category also exists.
  • Bellaire PS runs a Second hand Uniform sale once per term – uniforms are donated and sold for a gold coin donation to our Student Wellbeing Program which can then provide new or used uniform or pays for camps & excursions etc for students from disadvantaged families in our school community.
  • State Schools Relief may cover the cost of new school uniforms, shoes, books and more for disadvantaged students. Parents or Carers who require assistance need to make an appointment with the school to discuss their situation.
  • Local community supports such as Rotary, Lions Club of Highton, St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army provide financial assistance, scholarships and bursaries to needy families in our school community. Access to these supports is available through referral from the Student Welfare Coordinator.

Consideration of hardship

Bellaire Primary School makes every effort to keep the cost and number of items that need to be purchased to a minimum.  We try to ensure that the costs are affordable for all parents.  Any families that are having difficulty making payments please make an appointment to speak with our nominated parent payment contact person, Kate Matthews (Business Manager) to discuss possible support options and flexible payment arrangements.  Any information about your financial circumstances, payment arrangements or status will be kept strictly confidential and only shared with relevant school personnel.

Payment arrangements and methods

Bellaire Primary School accepts the following payment methods:- Cash, cheque, BPay, QKR or EFTPOS.

The school appreciates that families may sometimes experience financial difficulties in meeting request for payments and contributions.  To further assist parents with payments, four payment options have been developed:

Option A                                Full amount when ordering the booklist online (Preferred option)

Option B                                Full Payment at the beginning of Term 1

Option C                                Part Payment at the beginning of each Term or half yearly (beginning of Terms1& 3)

Option D                                Other payment arrangements (please contact the office to make other arrangements).

For a confidential discussion about accessing these services, or if you would like to discuss alternative payment arrangements, contact the Business Manager, Kate Matthews.  Ph: 52435203 or email: bellaire.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Fee SCHEDULE 2021

Please find the itemised list of Essential Student Learning Items and Optional Items for your child.  Bellaire Primary School also continues to welcome your voluntary contributions for 2021.

 Essential Student Learning Items

Below is a list of items which the school deems as essential for student learning, without which, students would be unable to access the school’s delivery of the standard curriculum.

STAY TUNED….

Each year, Bellaire holds a Welcome Evening during Term 1 to bring the school community together and welcome new families to the school. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions to outdoor gathering numbers, we are unable to hold the event at this stage. It is our aim to still hold the evening once restrictions are lifted. We will keep you all updated.

Events such as the Welcome Evening are coordinated and supported by Bellaire Parents, a group of people with a connection to Bellaire who want to positively contribute to the school community. Bellaire Parents work in collaboration with the school leadership and council to provide a sense of community, hold events and raise funds for the school.
New members are always welcome. If you are interested in joining Bellaire Parents, please send an email through to bellaireparents@yahoo.com

Community News




Library

It has been lovely to see students start back in the Library this week! Everyone has been very excited to come and borrow books for both their classroom and to take home and share with their family.

• A reminder that Preps and Grades 1 and 2 need to bring their library bag on their allocated library day so they can borrow (Preps will receive a library bag to bring with them). If your Grade 3-6 student has a library bag, they are encouraged to bring it in their school bag to put their library books in before taking them home.
• We still have a large number of outstanding books from last year. Students are encouraged to have a set place to keep their library book at home (a library bag hanging from a door is ideal) to avoid misplacing their books.
• Donations of books in excellent condition are very welcome! A sticker stating “This book was donated by the ………..family” is put in all donated books. If you have any books your children no longer read, and which are in new or near new condition, they will be gratefully accepted at the school office!
• In the next few weeks there will be a large number of new books needing parent helpers to cover them. If you are interested in covering library books at home, please leave your name and phone number at the office and I will contact you with further information.

I am looking forward to gradually seeing everyone over the next few weeks, and welcoming everyone back to the Library!

Mrs Thomas