Bourchier Mail
School Newsletter - 5th Edition - 30th March 2023
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From the Acting Principal
Dear Newsletter Readers,
This week I had the pleasure of seeing Martin Heppell deliver an engaging talk to teachers from not only our schools but from schools all over the network. His message was centred on the three tenets of the Resilience Project and that is practising Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness.
I remember shortly after reading The Resilience Project book, my youngest daughter became quite ill and I had the important task of cleaning up vomit that ended up all over the doona, sheets and was spread all over the bedroom carpet. Dealing with vomit is generally something I don’t cope too well with. In between my own dry reaching episodes I was flooded with thoughts about how disgusting it was and how I’m never going to get the smell out of the room. Having the message of The Resilience Project fresh on my mind I stopped myself. I replaced my negative thinking with the thought ‘You know what, I am grateful to even have carpet to clean up’. I can honestly say that this thought alone, made the task of cleaning vomit a lot easier. Since that moment, whenever I am experiencing some challenge, I try to think about something I am grateful for and it makes me feel a little bit better. Sometimes I forget, but, as always, it is a work in progress!
Martin’s message included the fact that scientific research has shown that practising gratitude can increase happiness, resilience, and overall well-being. As we go through our busy lives, it’s easy to focus on the negative and get bogged down by our daily stressors. However, taking a moment to appreciate the small things in life can have a profoundly positive impact on our mental health.
As adults, we all have the opportunity to model and teach gratitude to our children. By incorporating gratitude practices into our daily routines, we can help them develop a positive and resilient mindset. Some simple practices include:
- Writing down three things you’re grateful for each day
- Sharing gratitude during family dinner or as a class activity
- Appreciating nature during a daily walk
- Saying thank you to someone who made a positive impact on us
I want to finish this post by sharing three things of my own I am grateful for:
- My family- I have two beautiful daughters and I love laughing and spending time with them. I also wanted to make special mention of my Nanna. She is the best! She is 93 and has been battling a little bit with her health lately, but I am grateful for her in so many ways. She is the most selfless person I have met and would give her last dollar away if someone needed it more than her. Having her in my life has taught me the importance of having care and compassion for others.
- My Job- I think being a teacher is the best job in the world and I am so lucky to be at Bourchier Street Primary School. The many people I have met through the school have brought me a lot of joy!
- My Cordless Vacuum- I think it is so cool that I can just whip around the house and do a quick tidy up without having to worry about getting all tangled up with any power cords!
If you want to learn more about more ways to incorporate gratitude into your life, Lisa has written about gratitude in this week's Newsletter.
As always if anyone would like to have a chat, please reach out.
Hopefully see you soon!
Gary D'arma
Acting Principal
Foundation Teddy Bear Picnic
On Wednesday the 22nd of March Foundation students enjoyed a teddy bear picnic. We spent the morning with teddy bear crafts such as making teddy bear headbands, icing teddy bear biscuits and making teddy bears out of playdoh. After Recess our teddy bears all went missing! We had to go on a bear hunt to find them. Luckily all teddy bears were found. Then we all joined outside for our picnic where we ate teddy bear biscuits and honey joys. What a great day we had!
Grandparents day
15 Years Chaplain service for Mr. Poole
Mr. Poole received a Certificate of Appreciation from Korus Connect (Victorian Chaplain Program) for completing 15 years of service. The award was in recognition of his highly valued contribution in supporting the Health and Wellbeing in school communities! Well done Mr. Poole we are lucky to have you at our school.
Next Assembly - Tomorrow
Easter Raffle
Thank you to families of Bourchier Street who donated to our easter raffle. We have 14 amazing prizes to give away at assembly tomorrow, Friday 31st March at 2.30pm! Make sure your tickets are in to win!
student learning conference
It is important for every parent/carer to attend SLC with your child as it is a great opportunity to learn about your child's academic, emotional and social development. You also get to know your child's teacher and talk about how you can both support your child.
Student learning conference will be held on:
Wednesday evening, 5th April - 3.30pm - 8pm
Thursday 6th April - 8am - 1.30pm
Bookings can be made via Compass
If you have misplaced your username and password to log onto Compass, please contact the front office and we can reset for you.
All teachers will be engaged in these conference consequently there will be no classroom programs operating on Thursday but the school will be running an alternative program on that day. School will be dismissed 2.30pm Thursday.
Refer Compass instruction form below if required.
Gratitude
Working on gratitude helps us to be thankful and appreciate what we have in our lives, rather than focusing on what we don’t have or what we want. When we practise being grateful, we start to scan the world to look for positives – this only takes 21 days! Practising gratitude every day increases our levels of energy, helps us to feel happier and more focused, determined and optimistic. It even helps us have a better sleep, lowers levels of anxiety and depression and we are less likely to get sick. So many benefits – let’s all try to be grateful for the things and people in our lives every day!
Whole Family Activity:
Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
● As a family create a scavenger hunt list of things that make you happy or you are grateful for, you can make your own list or use the examples below:
- Something that makes you happy
- Something you love to smell
- Something you enjoy looking at
- Something that is your favourite colour
- Something you like in nature
- Something that is useful for you
• Each member of the family uses the list, and has to find as many things as they can.
• You can hunt for things inside or outside, or both. You can hunt for real things, or you can also do this using magazines or pictures from the internet.
• After a set amount of time hunting, come back together, have a look at what each person collected and let them explain why they are grateful for each item.
Family Habit Builder:
Every night at dinner, have each person talk about their favourite thing about that day.
School Photos
School photos will be 2nd week of term 2.
Envelopes will be sent home first day of term 2 for you to place your order and they need to be returned before or on photo day.
Prices:
Class photo $33
Individual packages $41 to $56
Family Photo $27 to $38
fun run
We will be holding the School Fun Run as a major fundraising event this year on FRIDAY 28th APRIL!
Parents welcome down at Victoria Park Lake from 1pm to 2.30pm!
We’re doing it to raise much needed money for the continued redevelopment of our School Yards. This will include more synthetic turf throughout playing areas, sails for shade and development of new outdoor learning spaces.
About the Program
The School Fun Run is all about Fun! Your children will get to come on the day and run with their fellow classmates, friends and students... sometimes even the teachers get involved! This will be one of the most exciting days on our school’s calendar, with everyone’s participation the aim, so please make sure they attend on the day and cheer the other kids on!
How Does My Child Fundraise?
Firstly, go to schoolfunrun.com.au and create a student profile page. Everything to do with your fundraising revolves around this page.
Students who raise just $10 will be able to choose a prize! The more they raise, the better their reward – don’t forget to check these out in the sponsorship form! We have educated students on the dangers of door knocking without adult supervision, and we encourage you to reiterate this at home. The great thing about online fundraising is that you can share the link to your child’s profile with friends and family via email, SMS and Social media.
Online Fundraising
The easiest way to help your child raise money is through online fundraising, where students raise an average of $120. On top of raising more money, it’s also safer and easier than doorknocking and you don’t have to worry about handling money! To start fundraising online, go to your student profile page at schoolfunrun.com.au and share your online fundraising link.
Thank you, good luck and happy fundraising!
CLEARLY NAMED ITEMS
Please ensure that your child’s, clothes, lunch box, drink bottle and property are CLEARLY named. All named property will be returned to the student in the classroom. Unnamed items will be sent to lost property in the hall foyer.
HEALTH CARE CARD HOLDERS CSEF
If you have been claiming CSEF previously, no need to reapply as it rolls over each year unless you need to add your foundation student.
If so, please phone front office so we can claim for your foundation student.
OR
If you have a NEW Health Care Card, please complete CSEF application form attached below.
Families who have a Health Care Card are eligible to claim $125 PER STUDENT for Camps and Excursions and money is paid directly to the school. Foundation students are eligible for uniform package.
Applications closes 24th June 2022.
SCHOOL Payment & STATIONERY FOR 2023
Parent payment can be made via QKR
Parent Payment $220 per student
Excursion Levy $75 per student (exlude if you have HCC & completed CSEF form)
If you have a Health Care Card and claimed CSEF, you will receive $125 credit which can be used for camps and excursions only.
BYOD
Our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program allows devices to be brought into the school, and connected to our secure network
Our school has an online BYOD portal organised by JB-Hifi where you can access discounted rates on approved devices. THE PASSWORD IS BSPS23
If you would like more information on the program, please visit the BYOD page on our website or open the attached BYOD toolkit for parents.
If a student arrives late to school, please report to front office so this can be marked on the roll. thankyou
Compass
Often Bourchier Street communicates to our families via the Compass app, important information of what is happening within the school. Sometimes you are prompted through your email to open important news items. Please make sure your email is up to date, so you do not miss valuable information. Please phone front office 58 213 488 if your email address needs updating. If your child is absent from School, please logon to Compass to document this.
Qkr!
Every family needs to download the Qkr! app which will enable you to pay school payments, purchase hats/jackets, order lunch through the canteen and purchase tickets for special productions etc.
Simply download on your phone and you will see how easy it is to manage!
Before/After school care at BSPS 0447 010 696 book in for the school holiday program
sport
$200 Voucher for your childs sports for Health Care Card Holders
Receive $200 towards registration fees and sports uniform!
To be eligible for a voucher your child/dependant must be:
- aged 0 to 18 years & a resident in Victoria
- named on a valid Australian Government Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
- named on a valid Australian Government Medicare Card.
You can apply for more than one voucher if you have more than one eligible child. You can apply for multiple children on the one application.
soccer
Bourchier Street Soccer club
The Bourchier Street Soccer season starts Saturday 29th April 2023.
We are looking to field mixed teams in the following age groups:
U12- year of birth 2011/12 : U10- year of birth 2013/14 : U8- year of birth 2015 : U7- year of birth 2016 : U6- year of birth 2017 : U5- Kinderoos
For your child to play soccer with Bourchier St Soccer Club we require you to complete the registration form.
Checkout our Facebook Page for the link to the Online Registration Form.
Credit Card payment is available through the online Registration Form (preferred method)
The school office will have a paper Registration form available to fill it out and return.
Email bourchierstsoccerclub@gmail.com and we’ll send you the Online Registration Form link
Registration Fees : $150 per player
Kids Active Grants are available getactive.vic.gov.au up to $200 for eligible Players
Playing Shirt will be supplied by the club.
Shorts, socks, shin guards and boots are at the players expense.
Do not complete the Playfootball registration until you have been contacted by the Club to do so.
Jarrod Thorp : Club Delegate
Bourchier Street Soccer Club Email contact only: bourchierstsoccerclub@gmail.com
Football
Hockey
Badminton
For full payments and registration terms and conditions, please refer to the SBA’s By-Law, available on our website: Badmiton website
Or
Junior registration form attached below flyer.
community news
Saver Plus
Saver Plus – helping take the stress out of back to school time
The Saver Plus community program has helped over 55,000 Australians take the stress out of back to school time. It’s free for eligible people to join.
At Saver Plus, we pair you with a savings coach while you budget and save over the next 10 months. You attend online workshops to learn tips, tricks and information to grow your budgeting and savings skills. Once you reach your agreed savings goal, ANZ matches your savings dollar-for-dollar, up to $500. You can use that money towards education costs such as uniforms, text books, laptops or extra-curricular activities such as sport or music.
You could be eligible to join Saver Plus if you:
· have a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
· are at least 18 years old
· have some regular income from work (you or your partner) including casual, part-time, full‑time or seasonal (we also accept child support and carer’s payment as income)
· have a child at school or attend vocational education yourself.
If you’re eligible, start now and we’ll help take the stress out of next year’s back to school.
To find out more, or to apply, go to www.saverplus.org.au or call 1300 610 355
Thank you to our supporters!
link for all Bourchier Street school policies
Attached is the updated Parent Payment Arrangement Policy which was approved by School Council.
Child Safe Policy
Bourchier Street Primary School has a zero tolerance of any form of child abuse. The school is committed to acting in children’s best interests. The safety and wellbeing of children at this school is our highest priority. We want children to be safe, happy and empowered.
About Us
Email: bourchier.ps@education.vic.gov.au
Website: bourchierps.vic.edu.au
Location: 1-19 Bourchier Street, Shepparton VIC, Australia
Phone: (03) 5821 3488
Facebook: facebook.com/bourchierps
Twitter: @bourchierps