BEACONSFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL
Hale Street, Beaconsfield WA 6162
Phone: 9430 7055 Fax: 9430 5086
Email:
www.beaconsfieldps.wa.edu.au
ABN 81 413 091 964
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear parents and caregivers,
As we reach the end of Term 3, I thought I would provide you with an overview of what has happened during the term and what is happening as we move into Term 4. Firstly, let me apologise if you feel there has been a lack of communication between the school (me) and yourself. Hopefully, this letter will be of some assistance in moving us forward.
In my first (nearly) 90 days as Principal, Beaconsfield Primary School my emphasis has been on:
· Getting to know the students;
· Making sure I know the staff;
· Making myself available to parents;
· Identifying what needs to happen; and
· Planning for it to happen.
To that end, I have had 24 playground duties, 15 individual parent meetings, 10 meetings with parent representative groups (Board, P&C or Nature Play) and 36 meetings with individual teachers. There have also been various other meetings around the school operations and facilities.
The school has just received a copy of its Delivery and Performance Agreement (2015-2017), a document that outlines the agreed accountabilities of the Principal, Department of Education and Board. Copies of this document have been distributed to the Board, P&C and staff. If you would like a copy, please contact the school.
School Board
With the school becoming an Independent Public School this year and the appointment of the new School Board there was a need for a change. My appointment has been a catalyst for that change.
From what I have been told, for many years, the school’s P&C Association has been a very effective forum for community consultation and engagement. Past and current P&C members have achieved great outcomes for students and the school. The Board now needs to step up to take on some of these roles and responsibilities. The Board has five elected parent representatives.
Alison Luobikis[Chair] Anne-Sophie Deleflie Sharon Morris Richard Bostwick Ashley Randall
At the moment, the Board is in the early stages of its development and well aware that community engagement is a priority that requires an urgent focus to ensure the voice of all is heard. The Board has scheduled a full day focused on business planning for Thursday, 24 September 2015.
P&C Association
I meet regularly with office bearers from the P&C Association. The P&C are very active and supportive of the school. Some of the projects the school is currently working with the P&C on are:
· via the vice-president, Nadia Audist, to improve signage around the school;
· via office bearers, Vicki Tinley and Nicki Bowyer, to support the organisation of the School Fete/125th Birthday; and
· via the president, Jane Rodrigues, to secure a grant for the junior playground.
The P&C Association is looking at establishing a wishing tree, which would enable parents and local business to voluntarily contribute to achieving positive outcomes for students across the school.
Facilities
There are a number of facility based issues that require attention. For instance, the school requires new switchboards and circuit boards in a number of blocks. This has been an ongoing issue but is now impacting on the school’s operations. The work has been planned but due to the preparation required to plan, develop and construct the switchboards; the work will not be completed until the Christmas vacation.
The junior block (Kindergarten to Year 2) requires some work to enable the school to meet the National Quality Standard (NQS), Area 3: Physical Environment. The work was commenced at the beginning of the term with the removal of a tree, which was a safety issue. Over the next few weeks, you should see changes occurring in the middle of the junior block, in the kindergarten/pre-primary playground and in the Year 1/2 playground. All K – Year 2 students will have access to quiet spaces, areas for learning centres, sandpits and innovative natural play areas including items such as an outdoor classroom, water play area, stepping stones. A rough plan is available [if interested, drop by the principal’s office] with professional plans and quotes currently being progressed. It is planned that the majority of the work will be completed during Term 3 and Term 4 school holidays.
The quadrangle in the senior block is being updated to ensure students have access to a quiet area as well as an outdoor classroom. The work has commenced with the recent Busy Bee and the removal of the garden beds. It is planned that the majority of the work will be completed during the Term 3 school holidays.
In an effort to efficiently manage our administration time, the school will be merging the IEC and mainstream offices. This will require a few internal changes to current office layouts. Work will commence during the school holidays but it is anticipated that finalisation will not be until mid-Term 4. Your patience with any resulting upheaval would be greatly appreciated.
Dr Megan Ewing, is co-ordinating the completion of a ‘poppy wall’, enabled by an ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Program. The ‘poppy wall’ will be located on the external, north wall of the music room. It will be unveiled during the School Fete, Saturday 24 October 2015.
Policies
The school is in the process of updating a number of policies including Behaviour Management (BMiS), Attendance, Excursions and Reporting to Parents. Where appropriate, opportunities will be provided for both staff and parents to comment on draft policies. It is expected that parents will have an opportunity to feedback their comments regarding the school’s BMiS Policy in mid Term 4.
Newsletters
You may have noticed the lack of newsletters this term. Fortnightly information has been provided to parents via an email link. This is an interim measure while the school, under the leadership of Lisa Gannon, modernises its website and develops a school app for smartphones. Once in place, parents will have up-to-date information available at their fingertips.
Parent Workshops
The school, under the leadership of Bhavneet Singh, is preparing to offer parents a series of fortnightly workshops/seminars on a range of topics such as cyber bullying, internet safety, early years, and changes to the WA curriculum and reporting to parents. The following workshops have been finalised:
· Wednesday, 23 September 2015 – Think U Know (Internet safety)
· Friday, 16 October 2015 - Most Likely to Succeed [internationally acclaimed short film]
Dates to be confirmed
· Safe Surfing Online
· Supporting your Child with Mathematics
· Early Years Learning Framework & Kindergarten guidelines
· School Business Plan 2015 – 2017 – Community Consultation
· Behaviour Management (BMiS) Policy- Community Consultation
Kind regards
Vicki Jack
PRINCIPAL
15 September, 2015
2