A Message From The Principal

Everyone has settled into the routines of the year, and we love seeing all the smiling faces around the school.

COVID-19 INFORMATION UPDATE

There were some announcements made yesterday that signal some changes coming during the next few weeks. Here, at school, we continue to ask that students Year 3 – 6 continue to bring masks to school. Unfortunately, at times, students are forgetting. We do have spare masks here however we are going through boxes a day to keep up with students who have not remembered one from home. Your support in encouraging your child to remember is appreciated.

We continue to open windows and doors, use the ventilators and encourage using hand sanitiser. Our numbers at Bellaire continue to, relatively, remain low. When cases do occur at Bellaire we send home a letter, via Sentral, to the Year levels impacted. If you do not receive a letter the year level your child is in has not been impacted that day. We appreciate that it is not ideal for children to do RAT tests however the statistics released yesterday show that this has prevented many more cases occurring.

In the regard the Government have announced they are continuing with RAT tests for school children for the remainder of the term. NEXT FRIDAY we will be sending home the next box with your child. If you DO NOT WISH for your child to receive a box, and we understand this is completely voluntary and your family’s decision, please let the office know by THURSDAY.

 Also announced is the fact that QR codes, from Monday, do not need to be used when entering the school office. Vaccination status will still need to be shown.

PREP 2023 TOUR NIGHT

On Wednesday 9th March we will be holding Prep 2023 tours. Given the current Covid environment we will be holding tours in small groups in half hour sessions. We will be holding tours at 4pm, 4.30pm, 5pm and 5.30pm. To book a time please call the office on 5243 5203.

EVERYDAY COUNTS – ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL AND REDUCING LATENESS

Daily attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they do not fall behind both socially and developmentally. Both schools and parents have an important role to play in supporting students to attend school every day and to be at school on time and ready to learn.

Our school attendance data is typically very strong, although staff have reported students arriving late to school and in some cases, this is becoming a pattern. When students arrive late, they miss important introductions to the school day, impacting on how they settle into the routines of school and further impacting socially and academically. Our students are committed to attending school every day, arriving on time, and are prepared to learn. Our students are encouraged to approach a teacher and seek assistance if there are any issues that are affecting their attendance or lateness in the mornings. If you would like to speak to someone regarding your child’s attendance or lateness, we are here to help. Please contact the school office on 5243 5203.

PLEASE NOTE – our school grounds are NOT SUPERVISED until 8.45am. We have a number of students arriving early (from as early as 8.20am). If your child needs to be dropped off at school early, please use our OSHC service. This service is run by our School Council and is a very affordable and safe option. We cannot guarantee any child’s safety prior to supervision beginning. In the same regard, if you are going to be after 3.45pm for pick up please use our OSHC service. The yard is only supervised until 3.45pm. We will never leave students unsupervised but will take them to the office at 3.45pm and call the parents.

A LETTER FROM OUR STAFF

Dear Parents / Guardians,

The start of a school year can be a highly stressful time for students, families, staff, and school communities. Families may be feeling unsure about how to best support their child’s learning and wellbeing during these transitions. At Bellaire PS we aim to be supportive of all members in our community during this time. Here are some key points we would like to convey to families.

Separation Anxiety – Let them go!

  • How to Manage Tearful Drop-Offs – Here’s why your kid might be struggling and how to handle it by Sarina Behar Natkin

As each school year starts, we notice parents struggling during morning drop-offs. Children are often in tears, and parents, unsure of what to do, may waver between frustration and guilt. It’s tempting to stick around or peak through the classroom windows, hoping to see your child settle. It’s also tempting to sneak out, thinking that by doing so, it will be easier for your child. However, neither of these strategies work well. The long, drawn-out good-byes increase the anxiety in our children, and the quick ducking-out plays into their greatest fears about being left. Instead, create a good-bye ritual with your child, for example, give those last hugs and kisses, and tell him you can’t wait to see them after school.

With separation anxiety, the longer the goodbye, the longer the anxiety will stay. If parents stay around for long periods of time, the child’s amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for anxiety) will have hope that the separation won’t happen, and it will keep the fight or flight response going. Once parents leave, the amygdala begins to stop firing. Only then can your young one’s brain and body rest. The neurochemical surge that is driving the physical, emotional, and behavioural symptoms of anxiety will start to neutralise and their anxiety will start to ease. The sooner this happens, the sooner your child can settle and get on with the day.

There might be big tears when you leave, and that’s okay. These tears are a sign that the brain is moving to adaption, which lies at the heart of resilience. It’s never easy watching someone you love so much in distress, but remind yourself that they are safe, that the tears will pass quickly, and that you are providing the experience that will build resilience and courage and show them they can do hard things.

Consistency is Key – Rules, Expectations, Boundaries 

Bellaire PS promotes engagement, positive behaviour, and respectful relationships for all students in our school. We do this in the following ways:

  • Having high and consistent expectations of all staff, students and parents and carers
  • Prioritise positive relationships between staff and students, recognising the fundamental role this plays in building and sustaining student wellbeing
  • Creating a culture that is inclusive, engaging, and supportive
  • Welcoming all parents/carers and being responsive to them as partners in learning
  • Explicitly teaching expected positive behaviours
  • Acknowledging that some students may need extra social, emotional, or educational support at school, and that the needs of students will change over time as they grow and learn.

Student misbehaviour is responded to consistently, in line with our school’s Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy. When a student acts in breach of the behaviour standards of our school, teachers implement staged responses according to our Behaviour Ladder and our policy. Our teachers work to ensure that factors that may have contributed to the student’s behaviour are identified and addressed and follow up measures are applied fairly and consistently. Students will always be provided with an opportunity to be heard. Our school considers, explores, and implements positive and non-punitive interventions to support student behaviour before considering consequences for actions.

Some typical consequences that may be applied include:

  • Warning a student that their behaviour is inappropriate, as per our Behaviour Ladder.
  • Teacher controlled consequences such as moving a student in a classroom or other reasonable and proportionate responses to misbehaviour, such as withdrawal of privileges
  • Referral to Assistant Principal / Principal
  • Restorative practices / conversations – where students get the opportunity to be heard in a calm and respectful way.
  • Behaviour support and intervention meetings
  • Where appropriate, parents will be informed about the inappropriate behaviour and the consequences given by teachers and other school staff. Parents will not be informed of small incidences.

As professionals we make decisions about student learning, wellbeing, and behaviour daily. We appreciate your support in trusting our judgements and supporting our decisions. This trust and support will help strengthen the home, school partnership and therefore ensuring consistent messages and expectations for our students.

Ensure your children get ample sleep 

Primary school children need 10-12 hours of sleep per day. Teachers often notice when children haven’t had enough sleep; they are usually restless, disengaged, yawning and find it difficult to engage in their learning and think logically in social situations. What helps enormously is establishing clear and consistent routines which may include no screen time one hour before bed, a ‘wind-down’ routine (which may include a bath/shower), being read a book and then quiet reading before lights out. Taking time to chat with your children before bed or encouraging them to reflect on what they’re grateful for is also a great way to help them decompress and get a restful night’s sleep.

We need to work together to ensure that the students can have a wonderful school experience.

We thank you for your support.

Suzanne Prendergast

Principal

Whole School News

Events Calendar

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Sports News

Ben Raidme

Assistant Principal

Sports Dates 2022

District Tennis

On the 18th of February, 9 students from middles to seniors competed in district tennis. Everyone played extremely well but unfortunately none of the boys got through. Pearl T and Emily C made it in to the next round. Emily won the finals but both go through. Divisions are at Geelong College on the 16 March. We wish these students the best of luck.  Thank you to Mrs McMaster for giving us a ride and Mr Canny for organising this, and to everyone else who was involved.

By Pearl T and Emily C

Community News

Ocean Grove Primary School Golf Event

MFG Open Night and Day 2022

St Ignatius 2022 Guided Tours

St Joseph’s College Geelong – College Tours

OSHC

OSHC News

Students of the Week – Week 3

PLU

  • PDJ Gus D

  • PHP Bonnie A

  • PMF Greta C

  • PTM Casey BK

JLU

  • 1HM Grace M

  • 1KE Sadie C

  • 1KO Mia T

  • 1LS Thomas H

  • 1TS Hannah F

  • 2CB Ruby K

  • 2SK Cassidy L

  • 2JB Hattie A

  • 2GN Oneli D

MLU

  • 3AW William R

  • 3MM Eibhe K

  • 3LD Hugh P

  • 3JL Oliver G

  • 4AT Emun C

  • 4KR Hunter N

  • 4JG Owen R

  • 4TC Elizabeth H

SLU

  • 5DP Peggy G

  • 5ED Bianca C

  • 5LR Elliot Y

  • 5GM Priya A

  • 6JB Pearl T

  • 6DD Ruby N

  • 6ZP Ashlyn B

Students of the Week – Week 4

PLU

  • PDJ Elena L

  • PHP Billie D

  • PMF Raphael G

  • PTM Sarah K

JLU

  • 1HM Jasper C

  • 1KE Kade S

  • 1KO Oliver M

  • 1LS Hiba A

  • 1TS Ted S

  • 2CB Gabriel M

  • 2SK Grace G

  • 2JB Luke C

  • 2GN Jayah R

MLU

  • 3AW Hana C

  • 3MM Eva C

  • 3LD Lili D

  • 3JL Eva A

  • 4AT Charlie A

  • 4KR Ella L

  • 4JG George M

  • 4TC Kitty B

SLU

  • 5DP Oskar V

  • 5ED Ali J

  • 5LR Sanuli S

  • 5GM Jackson S

  • 6JB Ben S

  • 6DD Flynn N

  • 6ZP Xavier W