I’d like to wish a warm welcome to all our families to the 2024 school year. I especially extend a warm welcome to the new students and their families, who have joined our Beechboro PS community this year. I hope you enjoy your time here at BPS. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the deputies, Ms Herbert and Mrs Andrews, and the whole school staff, for their preparation, planning and professionalism for the start of the school year, for carrying on brilliantly during my absence last week, when I was unwell with COVID.
We had a very warm start to the year last week, and the weather is heading towards heatwave conditions again from tomorrow, Thursday. The students are in well air-conditioned classrooms, which keeps temperatures down so the students can continue their learning program in comfort. Even with the short power outage we experienced last week, we were able to accommodate students in other areas of the school that were airconditioned. Parents and caregivers, please feel confident to send your children to school and know that they will be cool. If the weather reaches the expected extreme heat as predicted, students will remain in classrooms at lunchtime in a similar fashion as wet weather. Please provide a large water bottle for your child/children to keep on their desks inside so they can stay hydrated, only water please. This is far more hygienic than drinking straight from the taps which are not refrigerated. We have all student’s well-being in mind and will keep them out of extreme weather conditions.
Walking around the classrooms I can see students dressed in their green and gold school uniforms. Thank you to the volunteers from the P&C who run the uniform shop and, also to you, the parents, and caregivers for your efforts in following the school dress code and for providing the supplies listed on the resource lists, which are needed for the student’s learning program. If you are having difficulty in providing the basics, please come and see me to arrange assistance for you in providing essential items.
Please remember we are not a before/ and after school care provider, so please arrange to drop off and pick up your children on time. The classroom doors open at 8.30am. Any students who arrive at school before this time need to go the under covered area and sit and wait to be dismissed by a member of the administration team. All playground equipment is banned from use before school. School finishes at 3.00pm in the afternoon, therefore unless going on after school care buses, students need to be picked up by this time.
They should not be left in the office to be supervised by staff. We are seeing some patterns developing already and students are remaining in the office sometimes until 4.00pm. If there is an emergency, please organise for a family member or friend to pick up your child/children on time, and please be courteous and phone the school office to notify us that you will be late if you can’t find anyone else to pick them up. This is not to be a regular daily occurrence.
Please remember our school newsletters are only produced fortnightly on even weeks of school terms. They are only available on our fabulous website, and BPS and P&C Facebook pages.
I’d like to invite the school community to our first assembly next week the student councillors and faction captains.
Vanda Mort
Principal