Term 1 - Tue 28th January to Fri 4th April
Term 2 - Tue 22nd April to Fri 4th July
Term 3 - Mon 21st July to Fri 19th September
Term 4 - Mon 6th October to Fri 19th December
CURRICULUM DAYS FOR 2025 - No students required at school
Curriculum days are student free days.
Tuesday 28th January
Wednesday 29th January
Friday 6th June
Monday 3rd November
Please note that the school office may be closed on certain student free days.
Changes to Staff
We are very excited to welcome our new Assistant Principal, Jayne O’Neill and our new Inclusion Specialist, Emily Roberts, to Bonbeach. Both are highly regarded in their field and we are looking forward to having them join the team.
We are also very excited to welcome back Shara Hill who has just returned from Parent Leave. Mrs Hill will be teaching Performing Arts this year.
Prep Enrolments 2024
Prep Enrolments for 2024 are now open. Existing families can pick up the new Enrolment form from the office.
New families will have to complete the ‘Application to Enrol form’ which can now be found on our website, or alternatively a hard copy can also be collected from the office.
Enrolments should be returned by Friday 28th July 2023.
A Few Reminders
The P&F Mothers’ Day stall is on this Friday 5th May.
Year 6 – 7 Placement Forms need to be returned to the office by Friday 12th May.
Years 3&4s leave for camp Monday 8th May.
Kiss and Go Parking
A gentle reminder that kiss and go parking is exactly that. Parents can get out their cars to get bags, etc. out of their cars and then kiss their children goodbye. You cannot leave the car and walk your child to their classrooms, nor can you park there for more than the 2 minute limit.
If a parking officer observes this happening, you will be fined.
I don’t want to see anyone fined, nor do I want traffic backed up or an accident occur because someone is doing the wrong thing.
Please for everyone’s safety, do the right thing!
Five Things Your Tweens Want You To Know
Michelle Mitchel
567 tweens participated in my 2020 anonymous survey, and chose to answer the optional question, what is one thing you wished all adults knew about life as a tween?
If your child was asked that question, how do you think they would answer? They might tell you that a 10 year old shouldn’t go to bed at the same time as a sibling who is 7, or that kids who don’t like broccoli should never be made to eat it. This is the important stuff that characterises much of our tween’s headspace!
However, I wonder if we were to probe a little deeper, would there be one thing that your child wishes they could tell you, but can’t quite manage to communicate? Do you think there is anything that they find difficult to talk about or perhaps even intentionally hide because of fear or shame?
Below I’ll share the five of my top survey responses that I hope give you insights into your tween’s inner world.
Message 1: Life is Harder than You Realise
Tweens believed life was harder for them than their parents acknowledged, and they felt their challenges were minimised. Comments like these caught my attention: “It’s not how they think it is. Everything is hard” and “I wish they knew how hard it is to get used to changes and that when we don’t know what’s happening more things are put on our plate”. My concern is that if tweens don’t feel understood now, where does that position us as they get older?
Suggested response: The tween years are a time of rapid developmental which can be overwhelming for our kids. What might seem small in their world, is big in theirs, so bring some patience to the table when talking about social and emotional challenges. Now is the time to validate your tween’s feelings so they know you are by their side. I highly recommend regular one on one time as it indicates your willingness to invest into them.
Message 2: I am No Longer a Kid
Tweens voiced a strong desire to be taken more seriously by the world around them, and not to be overlooked or dismissed because of their age. I noticed that they felt like they had significant ideas to share, while only being recognised as children. That’s quite a downgrade! My concern is if tweens don’t have a meaningful place to contribute now, how will they build the confidence to make a more significant contribution as they get older?
Suggested response: A tween’s developing self-esteem is hinged on their sense of competence and ability to handle life more independently. Now is a great time to invest into teaching your child practical skills, and giving them more meaningful responsibility at home. It is also a great time to ask your tween to help make family decisions as a way of validating their growing intelligence. Interestingly, tweens said they turned to people who were accessible, listened to them and were able to help them navigate life’s challenges.
Message 3: You are Missing Stuff
Although it broke my heart, I was not surprised to hear tweens emphasise that their parents were missing stuff. When I walk through a primary school playground, I am often shocked at the ‘teenage-like’ themes I hear. I know that parents have no idea of the real content of these conversations and the pressures kids are under to engage in them. Comments like ‘you think we are okay, but we aren’t’ and ‘there’s a lot more bad things out there than they think’ expressed a real cry for support. My concern is, if we don’t keep our eyes open, we may not see those things that are most important.
Suggested response: When your tween comes home with questions that are difficult to answer, be prepared to give them a thoughtful and comprehensive response. You may intentionally delay your response to allow yourself some preparation time, but never sidestep it. Remember, if you are not the source someone else will be; and that your language opens the way for theirs. You can initiate some of these conversations with quality resources that represent your family values.
Message 4: We Might Always Disagree about Screens
Technology was a central theme of tweens’ frustration. PS: Feelings are often mutual! Emphasis was placed on parents’ alleged lack of understanding of how central technology was to tweens’ social status and life. As adults, we know there are some very real and legitimate reasons why we say no to screen time. For this reason, I’d like to suggest that we might always have different views about technology. My concern is, if we don’t take the lead, tween’s natural desire to charge ahead may lead them into dangerous waters.
Suggested response: When it comes to technology crystal clear agreements are absolutely essential. Technology has to be set up in order to last the rockiest of the teenage years. While gaming and group messaging is very common amongst tweens, it is easy to say “yes” to tech without appropriate accountability. Please now that what is easy to say yes to now can quickly become your worst nightmare if you are not in charge. For more specific thoughts on this please see me blog – How to Set Up Social Media Well.
Message 5: It’s Time to Start Knocking
When tweens begin to need more privacy, most parents respect and welcome it as a sign of growing up. However, when they begin to desire space from adult supervision, it poses a new range of dilemmas. While our tweens are pushing for all the trimmings that come with growing up, such as catching a bus on their own or shopping alone with friends, their limited life experience leaves them vulnerable. My concern is that if we are not willing to enter into age-appropriate negotiations as they grow, they may begin to hide unsafe behaviour.
Suggested response: Tweens are usually looking to be given more grown-up privileges and responsibilities as an acknowledgement that they are no longer children. Things like riding their bike to the shop by themselves, staying up later than their younger siblings or walking around a shopping centre without any adult can be relatively safe ways to help them spread their wings. Even small shifts can require a change in mindset from parents, so they can feel like big decisions to parents of tweens.
regards
Ken
We will be celebrating Mother’s Day this year with a Mother’s Day stall on Friday 5th May and a Mother’s Day breakfast on Monday 15th May.
Mother’s Day Stall
Friday 5th May
Children in each class will choose their gifts at an allocated time during the day. There will be P&F volunteers to help your child choose gifts and manage their money.
There will be a limit of $7 to spend per child. Please ensure the exact money is in an envelope labelled with your child’s full name and amount. Any change will be given back to the child.
Your child can bring a bag to put the gifts into. Please talk to your child’s teacher if you have any queries.
Thank you for being a part of the Mother’s Day Stall.
Mother’s Day Breakfast
Monday 15th May
The Parents & Friends (P&F) Committee is excited to present the Mother’s Day Breakfast on Monday 15th May.
Please join us for an egg & bacon roll for mums/the children’s special person and a sausage in bread for the students joining their grown-up.
Date: Monday 15th May
Time: 8.00-9.00am
Where: Basketball Court
Cost: Free, presented by the P&F Committee
Whole School
Swimming
Swimming lessons are starting this term for grade 1/2 students. The swimming program goes for 8 days starting in week 4 of Term 2. All our swimming lessons will now be taking place at Mentone Girls' Grammar Aquatic Centre, 17 Mentone Parade, Mentone. Bus and session times will be placed in the newsletter and on Compass a week before the commencement of the programs.
Any parents who can lend a hand assisting with supervision of the change rooms of the younger students will be greatly appreciated. If any parents are able to help out on any of the days, please contact your child's classroom teacher (must have vaccination certificate, valid working with children check and have completed the annual OHS paperwork at the office).
At the pool, all students must provide and wear their own swimming cap every day.
Program dates are as follows: TERM 2 - Grade 1 and 2 - starting Week 4 on:
Mon 15th May, Tue 16th May, Wed 17th May, Thurs 18th May, Mon 22nd May, Tue 23rd May, Wed 24th May and Thurs 25th May.
District Cross County
We are taking a team of 43 students (grade 3-6) to the District Cross Country held at Cornish College on Friday 5th May. Students will be transported by bus leaving school at approximately 9:15am and returning to school at 1:30pm. The top 10 of each age group will go through to the Divisional Final. Good luck to all competitors.
Grade 5/6
12th May: Away v Patterson Lakes Primary School
19th May: Home v Cornish College
26th May: Bye due to teacher professional practice day (student free day).
2nd June: Away v Carrum Primary School
9th June: Away v Seaford North Primary School
16th June: Winter Lightning Premiership day.
Grade 3/4
Grade 1/2
Prep
For anything sport or physical education related, please feel free to email me at any time.
Mr Mac.
Physical Education Teacher.
corey.mccormack@education.vic.gov.au
PET | Aliki D |
PJC | Cece C |
PKM | Luka R |
JBT | Jacques R |
JFR | Will S |
JKB | Abby G |
JSB | Amelia D |
MAC | Liam L |
MBJ | Sean L |
MEI | Jackson L |
MMG | Jackson S |
SJH | Isla R-C |
SLJ | Isaac W |
SKM | Ava L |
SMW | SYlvia K |
Visual Arts | MAC |