Newsletter Term 4 Week 3
Principal's Pen
Newsletter – Term 4 Week 3 – Principal’s Pen
A massive thank you to everyone who came to vote at Bellevue Park this past Saturday and took the opportunity to buy a democracy sausage to support our P&C while they were here. With your incredible support, we were able to raise over $1000 for our Bellevue Park students. Thank you also to the parents, students, and community members who volunteered their time at our stall, we truly appreciate all your help.
Internal Car Park Upgrade
We are excited to advise that our internal staff car park upgrade is scheduled to start on Tuesday 24th October, 2023. This means that an increased number of staff will be required to park externally to the school for the remainder of the term, which will have an impact on car park spots in the area. Please take this into account as you plan for school drop offs and pick-ups. Remember that you are able to pick up from the netball courts and Devco Place, in addition to the main entry to the school. They have indicated that the project should be completed by the commencement of the 2024 school year (fingers crossed for good weather!).
Share the Dignity Vending Machine
We are excited to announce that we had a Dignity Vending Machine installed in our school library this week, as the result of a joint initiative between the Queensland Government and the charity, Share the Dignity. Dignity Vending Machines installed in schools dispense free period packs (6 tampons and 2 pads) to students on demand. Share the Dignity provide the free period packs for schools to re-stock vending machines as required. Providing students with access to free period products and period education contributes to students' wellbeing and their readiness to engage positively at school, and reduces shame and stigma associated with menstruation. In week 5, all female students in years 4, 5 & 6 will participate in a short session with Mrs Salazar and myself to learn more about the vending machine and how to use it. If you do not wish for your child to participate in this session, please let your child’s classroom teacher know.
‘It’s in the Bag’ Charity Drive
To help our students embrace the school value of ‘Be Considerate’, we have chosen to support the charity ‘Share the Dignity’ with their annual “It’s in the Bag” drive. This also provides us a way to support that charity that is now supporting our school with their free vending machine.
From Monday 30 October until Friday 17 November, we will be collecting items to fill bags for women and girls who may be doing it tough. It’s in the Bag is one of Australia’s most loved Christmas appeals, where we encourage everyday Australians to put together bags filled with essential items, and maybe some everyday luxuries, to donate to someone in need for Christmas. Items that can be donated include:
- Bags (e.g. tote bags, duffel bags, hand bags, teen backpacks etc)
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Soap or body wash
- Deodorant (roll-on preferred)
- Menstrual products – tampons, menstrual pads, incontinence pads, liners, period undies etc.
- Hairbrushes and hair elastics, clips etc.
- Newborn nappies
- Breast pads
- Baby soap/wash
- Disposable Nappy Bags
- Baby wipes
- Dummy
- Nappy rash cream
- Optional practical or treat items that would make someone feel special or help make life easier – e.g. small torch, note book, perfumes, scarf, face wash, magazine or novel etc)
More information about the Share the Dignity charity and It’s in the Bag drive can be found here: https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/itsinthebag
We will be having a Free Dress Day on Friday November 3, where students will be encouraged to bring in an item to donate in exchange for the privilege of wearing ‘free dress’ to school. More information about this free dress day will be released shortly.
A collection box will be located outside of Administration for the duration of our collection drive. We hope to be able to pack at least 10 bags to donate on behalf of Bellevue Park State School. Thank you in advance for your support.
Breakfast Club Update
This Friday will be the LAST breakfast club for the 2024 school year. With the internal car park construction work in the immediate vicinity, it will no longer be safe to have student congregating in the area for breakfast. We hope to resume Friday morning Breakfast Club session early in 2024. Thank you for understanding.
Deputy Principal Prep - Year 2
Sam Birch: Newsletter Term 4 Week 3
Prep 2024 Transition
At Bellevue, we pride ourselves on our thorough and welcoming transition to Prep. Throughout the year we have continued to welcome small groups of students from our closest Early Learning Centres to come for a fun visit to ‘big school’. GCIT came with a group of gorgeous ‘bulldogs’ who enjoyed a beautiful story in Prep E and then a play on our new and inviting playground. The existing Preps took such delight in supporting our visitors through this process!
We have also started our ‘Prep 2024 Meet and Greets’. We have close to 100 students coming in bubbling with excitement to learn all about their new school. Such an exciting time for our newest ‘bulldogs!.
Year 2 Explore the World of Fairy-tales
Year 2 students are learning all about the structure of a fairy-tale. Their challenge this term is to see if they can think of an alternate creative ending for a familiar story they have read. To spark some excitement and ideas, they had a special guest come to their rooms dressed as a fairy-tale princess getting the students involved in a ‘Voice’ inspired writing session! There was a lot of laughter and terrible singing! The inspiration is working as the students are already creating some amazing story endings!
Students Leading the Learning
In the early years, it is important to involve the students and their interests in the teaching and learning experience. When they are engaged and motivated, the process is more enjoyable which often leads to better results. Prep C decided that they would like to be little scientists and turn their home corner into a science laboratory! Being instrumental in their own learning, they then decided it would be great fun to complete some science experiments outside. The first experiment they completed was the ‘coke’ experiment – what an explosion that was!
Deputy Principal Years 3 - 6
ICAS : Science & Mathematics
Last term students in Years 4 to 6 had the opportunity to participate in the ICAS Mathematics and Science competitions.
Much like competitions are held on the sporting or arts arenas, ICAS recognises academic performance. The questions are engaging and fun and have been designed by psychometricians, education measurement experts and experienced teachers to push students to their academic limits, as well as test higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities. We had over 35 students who took up this opportunity. We were delighted to present those students with a certificate earlier this term to acknowledge along with a report for them to see how they went with the questions. Students in Yr 4,5 & 6 can look forward to this opportunity again in 2024.
Solid Pathways
Solid Pathways – STEM enables students in Year 4 to 6 to engage in innovative, enriching STEM focused academic curriculum through an online platform. Congratulations to Archer 6A, Senna 4C and Ella 5C on being awarded a medal to acknowledge their involvement in Term 3.
Term 4 Learning
Our students have really embraced their learning goals shared with parents at last term’s student conferences and commenced the term working towards achieving their next steps.
Last week class teachers forwarded home by email a year-level overview to share the learning focus for each subject area. This is a great overview to assist families to make connections between their child’s classroom learning and application in real life.
Transition to High School
Parents of Year 6 students are reminded to keep an eye out in their emails for messages from their local High School around orientation dates as we near the end of the school year.
BPSS staff have commenced meeting with local High School to plan supports to assist with the transition.
Selection of Captains for 2024
The process for selecting our student leaders for next year is underway with nomination forms from our Year 5s due this coming Monday, 23rd October. The positions students may be elected for include:
o School Captains – up to 4 Captains selected | o STEM Captains – up to 2 Captains |
o Performing Arts Captains – up to 4 Captains selected | o Student Council Captains – up to 2 Captains |
o Sports Captains – 2 Captains per House (Archer, Gunsynd and Pharlap) | o Jarjums Captains – up to 2 Captains |
o Environmental – up to 2 Captains selected | |
In all cases, Captains are only selected if appropriate applicants apply meet the criteria.
Interviews will occur in Week 6 with the successful leaders announced on Friday 10th November. With a history of exceptional student leaders here at Bellevue Park, we are looking forward to announcing the Captains for 2024 in an upcoming Newsletter.
Year 5 parents can keep a eye out in their emails for the nomination forms which will be distributed to interested students in Week 3.
Term 4 Events
With the final term for 2023 well underway, there are many events that involve students across all year levels. To help you plan around the different activities, please see the link to latest Parent Calendar.
The updated Extra-Curricular Activities overview is also included for you.
Link to website: Parent Calendar and Extra-Curricular activities
Year 6 Graduation
As the end of year approaches, we have our Year 6 cohort starting to prepare for their Graduation Ceremony in Week 9. This is a significant milestone in all students’ education journey and includes the celebration of their time in Primary school. All Year 6 students will be presented with their Graduation Certificate during the ceremony. This occasion also provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of our students with the presentation of several awards.
As we reflect on the year, and start to consider the outstanding achievements of the 2023 Year 6 cohort, we cannot be prouder of the group of young people we will be sending on to High School.
SAVE THE DATE:
30th November 2023 5pm
Nerang Bicentennial Hall
Finance News
Guidance Officer News
Chappy Em News
Performing Arts News
String News
A big congratulations to Aponysus in grade 4 who recently went for his AMEB grade exam on the cello. We are please to celebrate that he not only passed, but was awarded an A! Well done Aponysus!
Year 2 students interested in playing a stringed instrument next year need to return the Expression on Interest notes to the office asap. Testing for these positions will commence over the coming weeks and parents will be notified by the end of week 9 if students have been accepted.
PERFORMING ARTS NEWS
REMINDER: We would like to invite our Bellevue community to attend the 2023 Instrumental Music Summer Concert on Wednesday 22 November 2023.
Community News
P&C NEWS
Coles Shopping Points
We need your help! The P & C are hoping that when you purchase groceries from Coles and collect your shopping points, that you would kindly donate the BBQ equipment to the school for all of our fundraising sausage sizzles. Thank you.
