Newsletter Term 2 Week 7
Principal's Pen
Thank you to all the parents who have actively engaged with the school through school or classroom events including our recent Book Fair, the P&C, at our recent trivia night and buying raffle tickets. Your unwavering support and dedication have truly made a difference in creating a vibrant and enriching environment for our students. Thank you for your continuous involvement, enthusiasm, and commitment to our school community. We look forward to welcoming you again to our Performing Arts nights over the next 2 weeks!
We’d also like to congratulate the winners of our recent Winter Raffle:
First place - Campbell C 6C
Second place - Mary D 3B
Third place - Lionel C-M PA
Fourth place - Maxwell L 6B
Semester One Report Cards
This is just a reminder that all students are currently completing assessments and attendance at school is crucial at this time. Semester One Report Cards will be issued at the end of this term. Please take the time now to ensure your email address is correctly recorded with the school as this is how report cards will be issued.
In alignment with the Australian Curriculum, our grading system reflects the expectations outlined in the curriculum marking guide. A C grade indicates that your child is meeting the proficiency levels as defined by the Australian Curriculum for their grade level. This means they are demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and understanding expected at their stage of learning. This is where we expect the majority of students to be, and should be celebrated as a huge achievement. Conversely, an A grade indicates that your child is surpassing these expectations and demonstrating a deeper understanding and mastery of the content. Very few students will be working at this level, especially in Semester One. By referencing the Australian Curriculum marking guide, we ensure that our grading system remains consistent with national standards and provides a clear indication of your child's progress within the broader educational framework. If you would like more detailed information about the specific expectations for each grade level, we encourage you to explore the Australian Curriculum website or reach out to us for further clarification. We believe in recognizing and celebrating every student's achievements, regardless of the grade they receive, and we are committed to supporting each child on their unique learning journey. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's grades, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Please note that your child’s teacher will make contact in the next few weeks if your child is not achieving at expected levels, to discuss this further with you before report cards are issued.
Attendance Matters – Every Day Counts!
We are currently reviewing all attendance rates and sending letters home to those families whose children fall below the expected attendance rate of 92% (or 7 full days absent). Frequent late arrivals and early departures will also impact your child’s attendance rates. If required, we will also be contacting these families to schedule meetings to discuss how we can support their family and child to improve their attendance at school.
This is also a reminder that your child’s absences for the semester will be shown on their Semester 1 report card, which will be issued at the end of this term. Absences appear as unexplained if you do not report them or give a reason for the absence to the school. Letters will be sent home this week if your child has any unexplained absences. This is especially important for our senior students as high schools will make a note of student attendance when considering applications.
Birthday Books
We are starting a new initiative next term, to help boost the books available to borrow in our school library. As an alternative to our popular Birthday Buckets of quelch ice blocks, the ‘Birthday Book’ will offer your child the opportunity to choose a book to donate to the school library (from a set selection).
The chosen book will have a dedication inside it, advising that your child donated that book for their birthday this year. Your child will then also be offered the chance to hire out that book first, once it has been covered and put into circulation. More information will be available on QKR next term.
Deputy Principal's News Prep - Year 2
National Simultaneous Storytime
Last week was National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS). Every year, the Australian Library and Information Association select a picture book, written by an Australian author to be read simultaneously in libraries, schools and kindys. The story this year was Bowerbird Blues written by Aura Parker. It looks like the story was read to the students by the actual Bowerbird!! The students loved the story and it was so exciting to see so many of our students then selecting this book as their story of choice at the Book Fair.
Year 2 Life Cycles
In Year 2 the students have been learning about life cycles. The students have been exploring this area of learning in art, English and science which has reinformed their understanding. Looks like it has been a lot of fun too!
Deputy Principal's News Year 3 - Year 6
PBL News
Take a look at what we have been focussing on over the past few weeks alongside celebrating students earning belly points and ‘cashing’ them in at the PBL Shop. Check in with your child to make sure they have shared their PBL Menu levelled certificate with you!
Learning
Student in Year 3 to 6 are preparing to bring all of their learning together in their written piece to conclude the term. This is a great opportunity to engage in a learning conversation with your child and ask them:
What are you learning about in writing?
How can you improve?
How did you use the success criteria to see how you are going?
Year 3
“ We are learning how to write and emotive story to impress our friends. I am working on adding some more emotive words like ‘ Her heart pounded constantly’”.
“We are learning to write a narrative story. I am working on making sure I used paragraphs in the way I structure my narrative.
Year 4
“We are learning to write a Historical Recount. I need to add more time connectives like ‘later that afternoon’.
“We are writing a Historical Recount and I am improving by ensuring I use language features like stronger vocabulary”.
Camp updates
Year 4 & 6 CAMP
During Week 6 both our Year 4 and 6 students ventured outdoors on camp.
Our Year 6’s enjoyed a variety of activities at the Tallebudgera Beach Camp spending 4 days and 3 nights exploring the local area and ‘awakening the hero within’.
Their journey involved four main stages:
The Call to Adventure – answering the call and getting prepared.
The Quest – exploring the special place and facing the challenges
The Transformation – discovering what sort of hero they are
The Return – returning home to tell their story.
For our Year 6 families, we encourage you to ask your child about their ‘hero type’. The adventures and activities helped them to discover whether they are predominantly a:
- Guardian Hero
- Warrior Hero
- Mastermind Hero
- Champion Hero
Our Year 4’s enjoyed the beautiful surroundings out at Currumbin Valley. They had a special invitation from Currumbin’s local elder, Uncle Steve, who invited them to the Bunya Festival to celebrate 1000 years of the Bunya tree’s existence. He gave them a special gift via a message stick which they took with them on their journey. Once on site the students enjoyed learning how to hunt and take care of the local environment and learnt about bush foods amongst many other fabulous activities.
We encourage our Year 3 parents to ask their child how we can live in harmony with the natural environment.
Yr 3 Starlab Excursion
On Monday our Year 3 students enjoyed a special visit from the Starlab which links with their Science unit about ‘Day and Night’.
The students enjoyed learning fabulous facts about our universe. Here’s what a few of the Year 3 students had to say about their special learning experience:
“I loved learning about the Coyote story & the one rule they had to follow”.
“I loved the feeling when we were ‘travelling’ up into the stars”.
“I learnt that you can see the moon when the sun rises of a morning”.
“I learnt that there are millions of galaxies, I thought there was just one” .
“Did you know that the moon orbits the earth every 27 days!”
Finance News
Guidance Officer News
Performing Arts News
String News
This term, the Synergy and Paganini String Orchestras travelled to Pimpama Primary School to compete in the State-wide Fanfare Music Competition. We were so very proud of our students and both Orchestras were awarded the Gold prize! Well done to everyone for their hard work and commitment to playing their instrument.
Sports News
Interschool Sport
This week was the first week of our Wednesday afternoon interschool sport. Select year 5 and 6 students participated in either Basketball, Netball, Volleyball or Netball. They played against students from Southport State School, Benowa State School and Surfers Paradise State School. It was a fun afternoon for all involved.
Wednesday Afternoon Interschool Sport will continue for the rest of Term 2.
South Coast Cross Country
Emerald from 4B, Chise from 5A, Kimia from 5B and Jesse from 5C all participated in the South Coast Cross Country event this week. Well done to our cross country runners this year!
Daniel from 4B participate in the QLD All School Cross Country, placing 6th in the 9 years group. Well done Daniel!
Estelle from 6A represented Bellevue Park and the Broadwater District in the South Coast Regional squash trial. Great job Estelle!
Library News
Community News
P&C NEWS
The Bellevue Park P&C were selected as a 2024 P&C Awards finalist for the category of, ‘Eco Sustainability’. They were awarded the Runners Up Prize of $1000. Our P&C President Mr Mark Sala attending the P&C QLD event on Saturday 18 May 2024 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
Amazing work BPSS P&C and community. Thank you to all the staff, parents & students who bring in bottles for recycling. Check out their video!
LET’S KEEP RECYCLING!
Kiss & Go Zone
Just a friendly reminder not to park in this section and walk away from your car as it is a 2-minute loading zone only. We’d also like to remind you to pull as far up as you can, to allow other drivers to pull up safely behind you, especially during peak hours during morning drop offs and afternoon pick-ups.
Netball
Netball Queensland will be hosting a Woolworths NetSetGO Clinic & Jump to Juniors Clinic on the Gold Coast in the upcoming School Holidays!
Jump to Juniors Clinic
WHEN: Thursday 4 July, 9am to 12pm
WHERE: Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre (296 Nerang Broadbeach Rd, Carrara QLD 4211)
AGES: 9-12 years
COST: $60 p/person
REGISTER TODAY!: Humanitix | Jump to Juniors (9-12 years) | Carrara, Queensland
Woolworths NetSetGO Clinic
WHEN: Friday 4 July, 9am to 12pm
WHERE: Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre (296 Nerang Broadbeach Rd, Carrara QLD 4211)
AGES: 5-10 years
COST: $60 p/person
REGISTER TODAY!: Humanitix | Woolworths NetSetGO (5-10 years) | Carrara, Queensland
We're excited to offer a special 10% discount until 26 May! Use the discount code 'EARLYBIRDIE' during checkout to enjoy the savings!
