Newsletter – Monday 20 March 2023

TERM 1

• Monday 20^th March – Wednesday 22^nd March – Year 4 Camp
• Monday 20^th March – Thursday 23^rd March – NAPLAN (Year 3 & Year 5)
• Friday 24^th March – Senior Lightning Premiership (Year 5 & 6)
• Monday 27^th March – School Council Meeting 6.30pm
• Thursday 30^th March – Bellaire Cross Country (Year 3 – Year 6)
• Thursday 6^th April – LAST DAY of TERM 1 2.30pm finish

TERM 2

• Monday 24^th April – CURRICULUM DAY
• Tuesday 25^th April – ANZAC Day Public Holiday
• Wednesday 26^th April – First day of term 2
• Tuesday 9^th May – Athletics (Yr 3 – Yr 6)
• Wednesday 17^th May – Bravehearts Yr 1
• Saturday 3rd June – Bellaire Parents Group Trivia Night

Throughout our newsletters we will be updating you on information happening in the school and celebrating achievements of our students and community. Individual teams will provide you with information specifically targeted to your child / children’s year levels.

NAPLAN is being held for our Year 3 and Year 5 students in Victoria, and across Australia, earlier in the year than ever before. NAPLAN normally occurs in May, from now on will take place, online, in March each year. Our students have undertaken the Writing task and complete the other NAPLAN tasks next week.

We strive to prepare our students for NAPLAN so they feel relaxed and ready to complete the NAPLAN tests to the best of their ability.  However, this is only one test of a student’s knowledge. It makes up only a tiny picture of who the child is as a learner and person. We value these results as a part of the whole picture. The scores on the test will tell us how you did on the day they took the test but they do not tell us everything.

NAPLAN cannot tell us whether they love to sing, dance, draw or speak in front of a group. They do not know if they are a great friend or a fantastic sportsmanship. They cannot show how they try their best each day at school, or if they have not had their best day because they didn’t sleep well the night before. Our teachers know these things, they know the students in a way NAPLAN cannot.

We want our students to try their very best, but know that we value NAPLAN as only a part of the whole picture.

Thank you to all families that have made a payment towards the 2023 Curriculum Contributions.

The voluntary financial contributions made by families support the school in providing learning experiences and the best possible education and support for our students. We have designed and developed learning and teaching programs drawing on the best educational knowledge and practices. We strive to offer broad and enriched opportunities to our students that are above and beyond what is required in the standard curriculum and what is provided for by Government funding.

The School Council discussed these contributions at the last School Council meeting. To date we have received 54% of what we hoped to receive. We also realised that there is a great deal of financial strain on families at this time therefore we have a number of options for payment. This includes the option of payment instalments spread throughout the year. These are available on QKR.

If you have any questions please feel free to email, call or drop in to the office at any time.

Thanks for your generous support to date.

On Tuesday 14^th March, 11 Bellaire students competed at the Division Swimming Championships at Kardinia Pool. In wonderful conditions for swimming, Bellaire had some wonderful results in what was a very tough competition.

Congratulations to following students who progress to the Regional Event:

Jordan C, 2^nd in the 9/10 Girls Backstroke

Lucas W, 2^nd in the 11 Boys Backstroke

Louis W, 1^st in the 11 Boys Butterfly

Congratulations to these students also on their wonderful personal results, many of which were personal best times!

Jordan C, 3^rd 9/10 Girls Freestyle

Clara D, 22^nd 11 Girls Freestyle

Arlo M, 12^th 11 Boys Freestyle

Paddy G, 13^th 11 Boys Freestyle

Bianca C, 4^th 12/13 Girls Backstroke and 6^th 12/13 Girls Freestyle

Charlotte M, 6^th Girls Breaststroke and 13^th 11 Girls Backstroke

Sanuli S, 4^th 12/13 Girls Breaststroke and 12^th 12/13 Girls Backstroke

Sara E, 20^th 12/13 Girls Freestyle

Louis W, 4^th 11 Boys Backstroke

Lucas W, 3^rd 11 Boys Butterfly

Ryan C, 4^th 12/13 Boys Backstroke and 4^th 12/13 Boys Butterfly

TERRACE WORKS – We are extremely excited that we are currently in the process of finalising the contract for the terrace works. We are redeveloping the tennis court and making this a much bigger usable space. This is the main focus and then later in the year, when it is appropriate (weather wise), the terrace grass space will be redone.

CAPITAL WORKS PROJECT – I am hoping to be able to announce the build today! However, it may be at the start of next week. I will announce it to the community as soon as I get the ‘ok’ from the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA). It is anticipated that the works will begin before the end of term.  We understand the frustration around the delay to the start, we understand, however we are now excited for it to begin.

Principal

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