Newsletter – Friday 18th August 2023

I hope this newsletter finds you well. As we move through the month of August, I am pleased to share with you some exciting updates from our school community.

I am delighted to inform you that Mrs. Prendergast has successfully undergone the much-needed surgery last week and is now on her way to a full recovery. We eagerly welcome her back into the fold next Wednesday.

Our school’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, Mrs. Casey Hawkins, along with her husband Jake, welcomed a new addition to their family. On Tuesday afternoon they introduced their daughter, Augie Rose Hawkins, weighing 3.4 kilograms, into the world. Mother and baby are both reported to be in good health. We extend our congratulations to the Hawkins family on this special occasion.

The Year 6 camp to Melbourne was last week and it was a resounding success. Thanks for the collaborative efforts of our dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, and supportive parent helpers who attended.

Our lunchtime clubs have been a resounding success! It’s wonderful to observe so many students engaging in creative activities during our lunch break times. See below some of our Prep students doing some Lego building during their lunch club. A big shout out to some of our remarkable Year 5 girls who ran this particular club. They have shown exceptional dedication in organising materials and projects suitable for each year level they work with. Your efforts exemplify the spirit of the school community and student voice.

This week we celebrate National Science Week, which provides us with the opportunity to showcase and share the incredible work our students do, both within their classrooms, and during their STEAM specialist lessons. We are so fortunate to have such skilled and passionate STEAM teachers, Mrs Gilroy, Mrs Strachan, and Mr Tagliante (Mr T) who do amazing things with our students. As a school we value the role that science plays in our lives and aim to embrace the excitement of science and exploration as much as possible.

A word from Mr T:

Join Us for Science Week at Bellaire Primary! This week, we’re diving into the world of science with a range of captivating STEAM projects. Take a peek at our students in action: launching slingshot cars to understand forces, designing inventive creations using TinkerCAD, coding LEGO trains for a digital adventure, exploring environmental impact through Freddy the Fish’s tale, and mastering engineering and buoyancy with foil boat experiments. These photos capture the essence of our students’ hands-on learning and boundless curiosity during this exciting week of scientific exploration.

A special shout out to Mason B in Year 1 for demonstrating kindness and empathy. Mason noticed an injured and distressed possum on our school grounds. With the assistance of Grace, one of our Integration Aides, they promptly coordinated efforts to have the injured possum cared for. Such acts of compassion and responsibility embody the values we strive to develop in our students.

Next week, we are thrilled to celebrate Book Week, with the theme this year being “Read, Grow, Inspire.” This is an opportunity for our students, as well as our teachers, to immerse themselves in the joy of reading and storytelling. We encourage all to participate in our parade by dressing up as their favourite book characters. Weather permitting, the parade will take place on the blue basketball court as follows:

• 9:00 AM: Prep – Year 2 students
• 10:00 AM: Years 3 – 6 students

Parents are warmly invited to join us and share in the festive spirit of the event.

As always, thank you for your continued support in making our school community a fantastic place to be.

I’m excited to recognize Isobel G in Year 5 for her remarkable dedication to organising Bellaire Nude Food Day on Wednesday 13^th September (last week of school). Isobel’s proactive efforts to raise awareness about the benefits of ‘Nude Food’ are truly commendable.

Isobel would like to communicate the following:

Did you know that when it rains, rainwater flushes litter down our drains, which goes into oceans and waterways?

The Bellaire Nude Food Day will be held on Wednesday the 13^th of September. We encourage all students to bring no plastic in their lunch boxes so we can reduce the amount of plastic litter at Bellaire. Eliminating plastic from your lunch box will improve the cleanliness of our school, clean up the local waterways and provide students with healthy nutritional food to eat.

Isobel’s initiative reminds us that small actions, like avoiding plastic, can have a big impact on our environment.

Join me in applauding Isobel’s commitment and let’s all embrace Bellaire Nude Food Day with enthusiasm.

Assistant Principal

View the Whole-School Calendar to subscribe

To nurture resilience in children, combine adult modelling with skill-building. An effective method is guiding them to independently solve problems:

• Identify the Issue: Help children define the problem they face, promoting understanding.
• Collaborative Ideas: Reflect on past experiences and/or similar situations to brainstorm solutions together.
• Evaluate Options: Assess pros and cons of each solution, considering fairness and safety.
• Empower Decision Making and Take Action: Allow the child choose the best solution and try it out. Allow children the opportunity to implement the chosen solution (this is great for hands-on learning).
• Review Outcome: Discuss the results, highlighting lessons, regardless of success.
• Celebrate or Adapt: Commend achievements or revise strategies as needed.

This approach equips children with problem-solving skills and resilience, bolstering their confidence and adaptability.

STEAM: Emilia P (1EM) & Taura B (3LD)

FRENCH: Oneli D (3BL) & Matilda L (6LM)

ART: Hayley P (4TC) & Sirvan M (6ZP)

PE: Eibhe K (4AT) & Xavier K (PTM)