Remote Learning

Thank you to all our parents for your assistance and perseverance during this last lockdown period.

We are sure that you are looking forward to the children getting back to school as much as we are.

We are moving Wellness Wednesday forward next week to Tuesday the 27^th July. On this day, the students will have their normal morning check in with their teacher and then participate in the specialist activities for the day.

Upcoming events

As you will be aware, there are a few planned events coming up on our calendar, including Life Education, Cyber Safety and House athletics.

We are currently planning for these events to go ahead as planned. In the event that we are unable to run these activities due to Covid restrictions, we will inform families as soon as possible.

Any families who are yet to pay/consent for these activities, we ask that you do so by the cut off date on Compass as we will not be able to accept late payment/consent.

WE WANT OUR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS/GUARDIANS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK!

Our school is conducting a survey to find out what parents/caregivers/guardians think of our school. The Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education and Training that is conducted amongst a sample of randomly selected parents/caregivers/guardians (previously known as the Parent Opinion Survey). It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, student engagement and experiences of remote and flexible learning. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.

Approximately 30 per cent of parents will be invited to participate in this year’s survey. All responses to the survey are anonymous. This year, the Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey will be conducted from Monday 19^th July to Sunday 22^nd August.

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the fieldwork period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in a range of languages other than English. These include: Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Chin (Hakha), Hindi, Japanese, Somali, Turkish, Punjabi and Greek.

Riding the COVID waves

by Michael Grose

The disruption caused by the pandemic continues, with the scale of its impact dependent on geography. Families in three of the nation’s states are no strangers to lockdowns and the disturbance they bring to normal life. Regardless of where you live, the sense of the pandemic is always present, ready to disrupt daily life at short notice.

We crave connection and certainty

Human beings crave certainty and human connection, both of which are severely impacted by the current pandemic. Just when life appears to return to normal, COVID case numbers can flare, sparking changes to our daily lives. As demonstrated by the massive increase in people seeking psychological support services over the last 18 months, these are difficult times for us all.

Every family has its own COVID related story consisting of loss, disappointment, hardship, frustration of some kind. While there is no magic bullet that will make living through these uncertain times easy, here are some strategies to help you and your family stay upright while you ride the COVID waves of uncertainty and change.

Model a coping mindset

Let’s start with a coping mindset, the hardest and most important strategy. The leader in any group is the person who remains calm in a crisis, so as parents we need to do all we can to keep our acts together, or at least look like we are in control. Kids of all ages, but especially primary-aged students, take their cues from parents, the most important people in their lives, about how to view events. If catastrophising, anxiety and anger are modelled, then inevitably younger family members will mimic these behaviours. More significantly, these behaviours contribute to their feelings of lack of control. Alternatively, when acceptance, perspective and optimism are on display, kids learn how they can cope with uncertainty and change. This is not to suggest that parents aren’t struggling, and that we shouldn’t show our vulnerability to children. However, children and young people feel safer and more secure when their parents radiate a sense of calm and composure in the face of difficulty. Challenging, but essential.

Act like a middle born

Despite the negative press that middle-borns receive including ‘middle child syndrome’, and ‘middle-child complex’, this cohort is generally very resilient. Their flexibility as a result of fitting into a life pattern set by an elder sibling enables them to more easily adapt to change. Often considered less ambitious and driven than first-borns, middle children generally expect less of themselves, and are more inclined to bide their time, letting the big waves pass before riding the more accessible, easier waves to achieve success. Birth order research reveals that middle children tend to have broader social circles than children born in other positions enabling them to form social connections in many different settings. Their adaptability, lowering of expectations and wonderful approachability are examples of how to survive challenging times.

Embed wellbeing strategies into family life

If ever there was a time to make wellbeing come alive in a family, it’s now. If you have previously believed kids’ wellbeing is less important than homework, music or sports lessons and chores then it’s time for a priority rethink. Mental health practices are most successful when they are embedded into family life, rather than being focused on when life gets hard. While no means limited to these, the most significant wellbeing practices include sticking to daily routines (to maintain feelings of control), taking regular exercise (to get rid of built-up stress and promote feel-good endorphins) and prioritising sleep (to maximise the brain’s capacity to manage stress).

Only sweat the big stuff

If you find that you’re arguing with your child over minor issues such as leaving clothes around the house, then it’s time to let the small stuff go and focus on the bigger issues. You may need to set the parenting bar a little lower, focus less on academics, even relax screen time limits for a time if they are a source of conflict. Expect behaviour blow outs from children who have lost their own bearings – in some cases access to friends, school, and schedule. Give kids space if they regress, rather than reward tantrums with plenty of your attention, which will reward and keep the behaviour going.

Connect with your village

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What about your kids? It matters because each group reacts differently during lockdowns. Those on the introvert end of the spectrum can feel a little too comfortable being home and away from work or school. Scheduling regular digital catch-ups with friends and family can overcome reluctance to connect. Extroverts, on the other hand, can really struggle being away from friends and need little encouragement to stay in touch, which is vital during times of uncertainty.

There are no hard and fast rules about living through this pandemic. COVID didn’t come with a ‘how to’ manual, so most of us are writing our own rules as we go. Embrace any ideas that work for you and your family and let go of those that aren’t right for you. Be mindful, that the tide will eventually turn, the waves more predictable and our capacity to deal with hardship will have been enhanced by this experience.

regards

Ken & Lisa

Whole School

Swimming

Grade 1/2: Swimming commenced week one of the term after being postponed from Term 2. Unfortunately, it was interrupted by the lockdown. We will inform parents what is happening with the rest of the program when we hear from the pool.

Prep: Swimming is scheduled to start week 5 of term, Monday 9^th Aug and goes for eight days finishing on Wednesday 18^th. Consent and payment is up on Compass now.

Grade 3/4: Swimming is to start in week 9 of term, Monday 6^th September and goes for eight days finishing on Wednesday 15^th. Event to pay and consent will be up in the next couple of weeks.

House Athletics Day

The school House Athletics Day will be taking place in week 4 of this term (Thursday 5^th Aug). The day takes place at Ballam Park Athletics track with the prep to grade 2’s leaving first on the buses. Students will stay with their classroom teacher and participate in 7 different fun athletics activities, changing to a new activity every 10 minutes.

The grade 3-6’s will leave school after the juniors and will compete in actual athletics events. They too will stay in their class and rotate around to 7 different events. This will double as try outs to make the district athletics team.

More information on the day will be in next week’s newsletter. Please check Compass to make sure you have consented and paid for your child(ren). All students on the day are encouraged to come dressed up in their house colours.

Grade 5/6

• The inter-school sport fixture for term 3 2021:

              30^th July: Away v Cornish Primary School

              6^th Aug: Home v Seaford Primary School  

              13^th  Aug: Home v Seaford North Primary School

              20^th Aug: Away v St Joseph’s Primary School

              27^th Aug: Away v Patterson Lakes Primary School

  In Physical Education lessons this term, grade 5/6 students will be participating in a short unit of athletics to get some practice in before and prepare for the athletics day. For the second half of the term, we will be focusing on a unit of soccer. Students will have the opportunity to learn about rules, skills and game play of some athletics events and soccer.

Grade 3/4

• Grade 3/4 Swimming lessons have been scheduled to take place in week 9 and 10, starting Monday 6^th Compass event for swimming will be up within the next couple of weeks.

• In Physical Education lessons this term, the grade 3/4 students will be participating in a short unit of athletics to get some practice in before and prepare for the athletics day. For the second half of the term, we will be focusing on a unit of football. Students will have the opportunity to learn about rules, skills and game play of some athletics events and football.

Grade 1/2    

• In Physical Education lessons this term, the grade 1/2 students will be participating in a unit of basketball and netball. The first half of the term, students will be focusing on basketball and second half of the term will be on netball. Students will have the opportunity to learn about rules, skills and some game play of both basketball and netball.

Prep

• This term, the preps have the opportunity to partake in organised swimming lessons that are held off school grounds at Toby Haenan Swimming Centre. Lessons are 30 minutes in length and go for 8 days (commencing week 5 of term 3). Compass event is up now to consent and pay.

• In Physical Education lessons this term, the prep students will be continuing their learnings of fundamental movement skills (FMS) in a unit of jumping and balancing. Students will have the opportunity to learn about skills associated with jumping and balancing, experiment with new equipment and some FMS games that involve these skills.

If I win, it's a bonus. If I lose, the sun still comes up the next day, and it's all good. – Ash Barty.

Mr Mac.

Physical Education Teacher.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Athletics Day is happening on Thursday the 5^th August. Here are a few reminders.

*Disclaimer:- these are the arrangements providing that there are no restrictions to excursions or parent attendance at the time of the event. We will provide information in the lead up to the event if any changes need to be made to align with restrictions and the Department’s operating guidelines.

The students in Prep, Grade 1 and Grade 2 will be leaving school just after 9am, arriving at Ballam Park, Frankston (see map below) at approximately 9:30am. The teachers will mark the roll then walk the students to the buses. Students are allowed to wear their house colours (no face paint or hair spray) and must bring a drink bottle and snack.

At the athletics track, the students will stay with their classroom teacher and participate in 7 different activities, changing to a new activity every 10 minutes. Parents are encouraged to come to the athletics track and cheer on the students.

Once every class has finished all activities, they will get back on the buses and go back to school with their teachers, leaving at approximately 11:30am-12pm.

Students in Grades 3 to 6 will be leaving school at approximately 9:45am. Students in these year levels are allowed to wear house colours (no face paint or hair spray) or their Bonbeach sports top. Preferred running shoes are required. The students must bring a bag with their lunch and a water bottle. Please remember that the weather can be unpredictable in winter. Please pack appropriate warm clothing for between events.

Students will stay in their class for the athletics day. Every student will participate in 7 events. Parents are encouraged to come and cheer, but we will also require some assistance at some events, even if it’s for 10-20mins. Please see Mr Mac or email him corey.mccormack@educaton.vic.gov.au if you can help out.

The day should conclude at 2:00pm, with students arriving at school at approximately 2:30pm.

In the event of extreme weather, the day will be called off. Please check Compass or the school Facebook page on Thursday morning for updates.

Looking forward to a great day!!!

-Mr Mac.

What has been happening at TheirCare Bonbeach.

We have a very busy term 3 , coming at the end of July we have THE GAINT GAME week, the students are going to be able to join in with connect 4, snakes and ladders just to name a few. So far this term we have enjoyed painting rocks with our favourite Pokémon charters and hiding them around the playground to hunt. We encourage the students to suggest topics that they may like to do, we have set up a suggestion book for the students to write in, looking forward to seeing what the students will come up with.

Holiday Program…

We had a blast at the winter holiday program with trips to gravity zone and the movies, painting surf boards, seeing if we could make rockets blast off and danced the morning away at the disco. New friendships were made and lots of fun was had, we cannot wait to see what our next holiday program will hold.

                     


                                                 

Bookings and Cancellations

Parents, as our bookings are increasing, we are encouraging you all to book your children into our BSC & ASC sessions. Bookings made less than 48 hrs will charge a fee. This also goes for cancellations. Doing this ensures we have the required ratio of educators to provide a high-quality program for your children. Please make sure you cancel your bookings if your child is not attending even if its last minute.

Support Needed!

Looking for a way to get more involved in the school community and support the schools fundraising efforts? Volunteer to be a part of the Farmers’ Market Committee! Volunteering is a great way to meet like-minded people and make an impact on your community. We could not accomplish all that we do without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers! It takes a lot of work to make a market run. It wouldn’t be possible without the support and aid of our dedicated volunteers and supportive community.

How can you be involved?

• Become part of the committee – share your ideas, provide feedback and support us on the day of the markets when you can. Being part of the committee does not mean you have to be available for every market or take on a specific role of responsibility. The more members we have, the more we are able to share out the responsibilities.

• We are looking for a parent (or two as a shared role) to take on the role of BBQ coordinator. This role involves ordering the supplies each month for the egg and bacon BBQ, and attending the markets when you can. Organising volunteers on the day is coordinated by the school and not the responsibility of the BBQ coordinator.

Our egg and bacon BBQ is always a favourite at each Farmers’ Market and a great fundraiser. 100% of the funds raised from the BBQ at each market, goes towards an identified group or purpose in the school. In the past, the BBQ has helped to subsidise the cost of aerobics and Energy Breakthrough competition fees, Subsidised the cost of Year 6 Graduation, raised money for the sensory room, school garden and the pre-school. If we are unable to fill this role, this fundraising opportunity will not be able to continue.

If you are interested in this role or would like to find out more, please contact Lisa Lisa.Roolker@education.vic.gov.au

Farmers’ Market Committee meetings are held every Tuesday following a market at 5:00pm at the school. Our next meeting will be after our August market on Tuesday 10^th August. If you are interested in finding out more about getting involved, we encourage you to come along and see how it works.

Buses will replace trains on sections of the Frankston and Stony Point lines from 9pm Sunday 25 July to last service Sunday 1 August, as we remove five dangerous and congested level crossings from Edithvale to Bonbeach. 

Buses will also replace trains for weekend and night works on the Frankston and Stony Point lines at various times in July and August.

Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach station closures and pedestrian access changes

Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach stations will close from Sunday 25 July and the new stations will open in November 2021. There will be changes to how you move around the Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach areas, including pedestrian rail crossing closures, to ensure the safety of the community and workers.

Find everything needed to plan your journey including; disruption and station closure information, pedestrian access changes and more at ptv.vic.gov.au/frankston

As these disruptions are scheduled during the school term, it is important for the school community to be aware that there will be delays to their journey and should plan ahead during this period.  If you are planning a school excursion using the Frankston Line during this time, we recommend you contact Public Transport Victoria on 1800 800 007 to seek advice and register your journey.

In addition, we recommend you include this information in communications to students, parents and staff during any upcoming holiday period. Please see text at bottom with key information.

Health and Safety:

Keeping our workers and the community safe is our priority as we deliver major infrastructure works across Victoria.

Victoria’s Big Build has implemented strict health and safety policies, including increased cleaning across the public transport network and replacement buses.

Everyone must wear a mask when on public transport and passengers are being asked to practise good hygiene and physical distancing. If you are unwell, stay at home.

For more information on coronavirus, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au

How will this affect you?

There will be additional travel time added to most people’s journey.

A range of buses will operate to help make your journey as direct as possible. Please see attached brochure for further information.  

A number of car park and on-street parking changes will also be in place at stations between Moorabbin and Frankston to allow for the safe operation of train replacement buses and construction works.

If you need to discuss alternative travel arrangements prior to travelling, or require assistance with journey planning, service information and up-to-date timetable information, please visit ptv.vic.gov.au or call 1800 800 007.

For other languages visit ptv.vic.gov.au/languages or call 9321 5450.

For information about the project, visit levelcrossings.vic.gov.au, call 1800 105 105 or email contact@levelcrossings.com.au.

We thank you for your patience as we work towards delivering an upgraded transport network for Melbourne’s growing population.