Dear School Community,

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence: Tomorrow is an important day in our

unrelenting stance against Bullying and Violence. As a school, we are committed to our ‘Bullying.

No Way!’ slogan. We are also committed to providing students with strategies and tactics in managing

others who ‘dip into our bucket’. Recently, all principals in Australia received a letter from Federal

Education Minter, Simon Birmingham. His letter urged all schools to take action on bullying. The

timing is particularly relevant as it follows on from recent media on school yard bullying. Both the

letter and the media highlighted the important role that families play in reinforcing acceptable

behaviour choices. Mr McCoombe and I direct much time and effort into following up ‘poor’

behaviour choices and ensuring Bellbrae PS is a safe, secure and inclusive learning environment.

Throughout tomorrow, students will engage in activities that promote respect and unity. The theme

of the day is, ‘Bullying. No Way! Take action every day’. I encourage each family to discuss with

their children what they learnt from the day and how they can build upon the discussions at home.

The following website may help facilitate the discussion:

https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/

School Improvement Plan – Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s): Throughout 2019,

each year level department will work within the Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s) model

to set short term goals to improve their teacher practice and maximise outcomes for each of our

students. Each department has set their first improvement cycle goal focussed on writing. These goals

are created based an initial writing sample from each class, ideas from Writing Consultant, Karl

Chippendale, as well as our NAPLAN trends from last year. Goals range from a focus on writing

stamina and subject specific vocab.

NAPLAN: As most families are aware, NAPLAN (National Assessment Program Literacy and

Numeracy) is a national assessment conducted for all Yr 3, Yr 5, Yr 7 and Yr 9 students every year.

It provides families and schools an indication of where a child is placed in reading, writing and

numeracy. Along with a host of other information, the results enable schools and teachers to use the

outcomes to inform their practice. To minimise anxiety of students, along with providing students

with the support to maximise their result in NAPLAN, all Yr 3 and Yr 5 students will begin preparing

for NAPLAN over the next 6 weeks to avoid the preparation being crammed into the week prior. Our

Yr 3 and Yr 5 students will partake in whole class, small group and individual activities in this time

so that they are proficient, comfortable and aware of ‘testing’ conditions.

Student Learning – STEM: (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) continues to be

a specialist class for all year levels. The aim of these sessions is to expose students to a range of skills

and problem solving skills using technology and real world situations. Throughout the year, students

will be completing a range of activities that include coding, science, drone piloting (location and

direction) and many more activities that encourage teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking.

All students started the year by engaging in sessions on cyber safety and what it means to be a safe

cyber citizen, including social networking and Netiquette. Our Foundation, Yr 1 and Yr 2 students

are learning about natural science in our Environmental Science Unit where topics such as The Water

Cycle, How Plants Grow and Clouds have been explored. Our Year 3-6 students have been creating

their own websites exploring features of a website and learning skills such as design, importing

information and editing for audience.

Thursday 14th March 2019

BELLBRAE PRIMARY

SCHOOL NEWS

Phone 5261 2660 Fax 5261 6177

E-mail: bellbrae.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

www.bellbraeps.vic.edu.au

Issue 6

2 Bellbrae Primary School Relay for Life: Tomorrow evening we will have a large team of students and staff representing

Bellbrae Primary School at the opening of the Relay for Life event. The students will be presenting

a letter that contains their artwork as part of the campaign. Thank you to our Art department, Mr

O’Meara and Mr Semianiw for organising the letter and students for this important event. We look

forward to all students and staff donating & dressing in purple tomorrow to support Relay for

Life.

School Council: On Monday (18th March) we have our School Council AGM followed by our first

School Council meeting of 2019. School Councillors play a pivotal role in representing their school

community. School Council has input and endorses many of our school policies, signs off on certain

contracts on behalf of the school and develops the direction and vison of the school. I look forward

to working with our Council throughout 2019 as we continue to make Bellbrae a school of wonderful

opportunities, fun and where students fulfil their potential.

Parenting Seminar – Supporting Children Who Worry: Our first Parenting Seminar for the year

was held yesterday focussed on ‘Supporting Children Who Worry’. We had 26 families attend with

lots of positive feedback. We will offer a Parenting Seminar each term, so stay tuned for the term 2

focus. Thank you to Bree Schmidt, our Welfare Officer, for organising these sessions.

Thank you for supporting our school and have a great week.

Christian Smith

EVENTS TO COME……………….

MARCH 2019

15th - Friday PURPLE DAY – Relay for Life Team Fundraiser

15th - Friday P & F Meeting 2.15 pm in STEM room. All Welcome

15th - Friday National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. 18th - Monday School Council First Meeting and AGM – 6.30pm & First Meeting - 7.00pm

20th - Wednesday Bellarine Division Swimming Championships (Eligible Students)

20th - Wednesday Canberra Camp 2020 Information Session 5pm in Year 6 Classroom

21st – Thursday Year 2 Excursion – Jirrahlinga Wildlife Sanctuary

22nd – Friday Year 5/6 Bellbrae Disco – 7.00 – 9.30pm – Bellbrae Hall

22nd - Friday Years 5/6 Summer Lightning Premierships

26th - Tuesday Whole School Photos with Arthur Reed Photos (ordering instructions below)

27th - Wednesday Classroom Helper Session - 2.30pm – 3.30pm

28th – Thursday Classroom Helper Session - 9am – 10am APRIL 2019

1st – Monday Term One Sausage Sizzle

5th - Friday Last Day Term 1- 2.30pm Dismissal

22nd - Monday Easter Monday – Public Holiday (no school)

23rd - Tuesday First Day Term 2

25th - Thursday Anzac Day - Public Holiday (no school)

MAY 2019

5th Sunday ‘MAYFAIR’

6th - Mon Year 4 Camp to Urban Camp Melbourne

AUGUST 2019

Wed 28th –Fri 30th Year 3 Camp to Camp Wyuna Queenscliff

OCTOBER 2019

Thurs 31st – Fri 1st Nov Year 2 Camp to Burnside Camp Anglesea

NOVEMBER 2019

4th - Monday Curriculum Day (no school)

5th - Tuesday Melbourne Cup Public Holiday (no school)

Wed – 6th - Thurs 8th Year 5 Camp to Sovereign Hill Ballarat

3 Bellbrae Primary School

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY 2019 – ARTHUR REED PHOTOS

CLASSROOM HELPER SESSION

CLASSROOM HELPER

sessions

Dear Parents, We are excited to be running the first round of our classroom helper sessions in the coming

weeks. This year new classroom helpers are only required to attend one face to face session

which will focus on an introduction to helping in the classroom, confidentiality, the role of the

classroom helper and general strategies for supporting the teacher and students.

In term 1, we are offering two session times for new helpers to attend with further sessions

being facilitated again later in the year.

The dates and times for classroom helper sessions for Term 1 are:

Wednesday 27th March from 2.30 – 3.30pm

Thursday 28th March from 9 – 10am

At Bellbrae Primary School, we highly value our dedicated community, the home-school

partnership and the expertise our parents and families are able to offer in supporting

student learning. If you would like to attend one of these sessions, please inform Belinda in

the office by Friday 22nd March. Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to

seeing you at the sessions.

Leonie Brown, Luke Heard and Ali Baeck

YEAR 6 CANBERRA CAMP 2020 INFORMATION SESSION Dear 2019 Year 5 Parents,

Don't forget our Canberra camp 2020 information session.

Date: Wednesday 20th March

Time: 5pm

Place: Current Year 6 classrooms

4 Bellbrae Primary School

BELLBRAE PURPLE DAY

PURPLE DAY – Tomorrow, FRIDAY 15th MARCH

As a part of our fundraising effort for the Bellbrae Primary School Relay for Life team, we will be having our PURPLE DAY on Friday the 15th of March. Students are encouraged to come to school

wearing purple with a donation of your choice that will go towards our Relay for Life Team fundraising effort. Relay for Life is a community fundraising challenge raising vital funds for cancer patients. Your donations go directly to research into cancer and the treatment of cancer patients.

So remember to dress up on Friday, 15th March in PURPLE. Purple hair! Purple face! Purple clothes! Purple shoes!

We thank you for your support! Luke O’Meara and David Semianiw

WRITING HOT!

This week’s Writing Hot author is Ben Beck, from 2B. His piece is a snapshot titled ‘Nature Walk. He

writes;

I can see the trees swaying in and against the wind, and see the dark bark protecting them from the dust

that blows all around.

I can hear all the birds singing beautiful songs, all camouflaged high up in the trees that are nearly

touching the sky and the clouds blowing past.

I can touch soft dirt. It feels like lots of fluffy cottonwool running around and under me.

I can taste all the cold air around me. It tastes like cold water at the beach.

I can smell all the gum leaves. They smell like the eucalyptus that you’d buy at the shops.

I sit in nature, and I breathe deeply. I feel refreshed when I’m outside.

Miss Barson and her students took a stroll through the playground and used what

they experienced as inspiration for a snapshot writing piece. Ben did an

outstanding job bringing the environment to life by reflecting on what he sensed

during his exploration of the playground. He uses specific and interesting verbs,

adjectives and even an adverb!

Does Ben’s writing piece build a vivid picture in your mind of what he saw and

felt?

We think it does. That is why this piece is going onto our Bellbrae Writers Wall

of Fame. You can take a closer look there.

Well done guys!

TERM ONE SAUSAGE SIZZLE The Term One Sausage Sizzle will be held on Monday 1st April. Orders can be placed online at www.ulimateschools.com.au The prices are:-

Sausages - $1.50 each (Limit 2)

Vege Sausages - $2.00 each (Limit 2)

Icy Pole – 50 cents (Limit 1)

Orders must be placed by Thursday 28th March. Unfortunately late orders will not be able to be accepted.

P & F MEETING TOMORROW

All Welcome to our first P&F Meeting for the year.

Tomorrow, Friday 15th @ 2.15pm in the Stem Room.

Looking forward to seeing your there

5 Bellbrae Primary School

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING AND VIOLENCE

Friday the 15th of March is National Day of Action

against Bullying and Violence. It is an important day

to mark Australians standing together to say ‘Bullying.

No Way!’

Students have spent time learning about ‘supportive

bystander’ strategies. A supportive bystander is

someone who supports others who are experiencing

bullying, and it is a superpower that we all have.

We have also created an A-Z Respect Walk, with

posters containing messages of respect for each letter

of the alphabet. These are located across the school.

See if you can find all 26 letters! We will keep the

conversation and positive actions going all year.

Thanks! Grade 6 Respect Ambassadors

6 Bellbrae Primary School

SPORT NEWS

Bellarine Division Swimming Championships

Next Wednesday 20th March, we will be sending 29 of our talented students to the Bellarine Division

Swimming Championships at Kardinia Pool. These students qualified for these championships after

competing at the Bellbrae carnival at the end of 2018. We wish them all the best for the day and

know that they will give it their all and represent Bellbrae and themselves with pride.

Alegria King, Anouk Martin, Ava Lyons, Aya Davies, Charles Edmonds-Wilson, Clare Edmonds-

Wilson, Chloe Muscroft, Chloe Taylor, Delilah Johnson, Emilia Bennett, Holly Droomer, Isla

Huppatz, Lucy Archbold, Millie Crawford, Olivia Bradshaw, Sienna Lucas, Beau Spencer, Finn

Bridgeford, Gabe Bobele, Hudson Reynolds, James Prosser, Jarrah Garnett, Jarvis Barrow, Mitchell

Garnett, Remy Filer, Tanner Maddock, Tim Sadler and Billy Hordern.

Grade 5/6 Summer Lightning Premierships

Next Friday, 22nd March, our grade 5 and 6 students will participate in their chosen sport at the

Summer Lightning Premierships. They have selected between Hot Shots Tennis, T20 Blast cricket,

Basketball, T-Ball and Volleystars. It has been great seeing the development of skills over the past 5

weeks and we can’t wait to see them put all the practise in to place. Good luck to all grade 5/6

students. Parents please note: All students must be at school no later than 8:50 Friday morning;

buses will depart at 8:55 sharp.

SUSTAINABLE NEWS!

Bellbrae Primary School has signed up to the ‘2019 Colgate

Community Garden Challenge’ and we need your support! Please

send clean and empty oral care products (floss containers,

toothpaste tubes and old toothbrushes) to school to be placed in our

collection box near the office. They will be shipped to TerraCycle

where the tubes and brushes are separated by composition,

shredded and melted into hard plastic that can be remoulded to

make new recycled products! In addition to that, you are preventing

lots of materials from ending up in landfill!

Best practices for recycling

In order to recycle this waste stream properly, please make sure:

All excess product has been removed (i.e. leftover toothpaste or floss).

If you have washed your product, please make sure it is dry.

By signing up for this competition, our school will be in the running to win one of five

community garden sets, each worth over $6,000 (Total prize value: $33,677.15) Each

community garden set includes:

Three (3) garden beds

Two (2) custom-made benches

One (1) $500 Bunnings Warehouse gift voucher to buy gardening supplies

To earn our school additional points, you can vote for Bellbrae Primary School by following

this link: https://www.terracycle.com/en-AU/contests/colgategardenvoting

Thanks so much for your support! The Sustainability Team

7 Bellbrae Primary School

WELL DONE AWARDS

Vinnie Seraiocco For your great contributions to our class discussions! Keep it up!

Chloe Tayler For thinking of other people's feelings at all times!

Hugo Henderson For taking on new maths challenges and not giving up!

Henry Lister For starting the day with a smile and using beautiful manners with his

classmates and teachers.

Sienna Lucas Keen participation and excellent attitude to learning.

Seb Cooney For being kind and always thinking of others.

Ky De Vries For his attentive listening and excellent start to the Term after his holiday

Sari Coleman For her stand out focus and deep thinking in our number sessions. Awesome

Finley Gorman For his attentive listening and happy smile.

Lily Lloyd For making such valuable contributions to our class discussions.

Euan Sytema For demonstrating his personal best in how he quickly gets himself ready

and organised for learning.

River Isaac OSHC award goes to River for settling well into OSHC this year and making

some new friends last week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Birthdays This Week

10th March………………………………………………………………Jake Henwood

11th March…………………………………………..Lucius Lamb

12th March……………………………………………………….…………………..River Vivian-Taylor

13th March…………………………………….Max Muir & Tess Lygo

14th March……………………………..Arlo Shimada & Jessica Revell

15th March………………………………………………………………….………………..Priya Buggy

16th March…………….Annabelle Sadler & Javier Lucas

17th March………………………………Kate Dooley

8 Bellbrae Primary School

CANTEEN – Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays

Don’t forget you can order online

Create your own account at……….

www.ultimateschools.com.au

Helen’s Special next week is

Fried Rice - $6

Term 1 NAME Friday 15th March Renee Smith

Thursday 21st March Pia Connolly

Friday 22nd March Doris Sandner

9 Bellbrae Primary School

Garden Roster

15th – 28th March

Buttonshaw Family

Buxey Family

Byrne Family

Cairney/Abrahams Family

29th March – 11th April

Cannon Family

Capon Family

Carbonelli Family

Carman-Veal Family

12th – 26th April

Castle Family

Clark/Cresswell Family

Clarke Family

Cleary Family

A garden roster letter with an explanation of how the roster works will be sent home with your eldest child prior to your duty

SICKBAY WASHING ROSTER - Fridays

DATE VOLUNTEER

Friday 15th March Kate Buchanan

Friday 22nd March Laura Spencer

Friday 29th March Melissa O’Keefe

Please call into the office Friday afternoon, strip the bed and return early in the next week

SECOND HAND UNIFORM - Any day of the week that suits

DATE VOLUNTEER

Week Starting Mon 18th March Nadia Bridgeford

Week Starting Mon 24th March Janet Lister

Week Starting Mon 1st April Bron Watt

COMMUMNITY NEWS

Hi I'm Jack McMurtrie and I'm shaving my head for blood cancer. In two days

I've already made $285 and my goal is to raise $350. My goal is to ‘shave’ the

world from blood cancer! If you want to donate to me you

go to the world’s greatest shave website

http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au and you press sponsor

someone, type in Jack McMurtrie and click on me. Then

you type in how much money you want to donate, type in your credit card

details then press sponsor.

10 Bellbrae Primary School PADDLE FOR THE BIGHT

On Sunday last week over 2000 local community members including many Bellbrae PS students and

families voiced their concern about oil exploration in the Great Australia Bight. People are deeply

concerned about the environmental, social and economic impacts of deep sea oil drilling in the Bight.

The proposing company, Equinor have projected that an oil spill in the bight would affect an

enormous portion of the Australian coastline including our home, the Great Ocean Road. If you are

concerned about the potential impacts this proposal could bring then visit the website

https://www.fightforthebight.org.au/ which provides links to Equinors draft environmental

management plan and most importantly the public comments section where your concerns should be

voiced.

11 Bellbrae Primary School

12 Bellbrae Primary School

MAYFAIR SPONSORS 2019 Supporting these businesses is the best way to show your appreciation

13 Bellbrae Primary School