Dear Parents and Carers,

As we head into the final stretch of the term, I want to take a moment to reflect on the fantastic learning, growth, and community spirit we've seen across the school. Our recent junior production was awesome and the engaging lessons happening every day it has been a privilege to witness your children thriving.

Our transition sessions are well underway, and we were thrilled to welcome a great number of kindergarten students to their second session. It’s been great to watch the children meet their new classmates and explore their future learning environment.

In Term 4, our more formal transition sessions will begin, with the first one scheduled for Friday, October 11th. These sessions will help your child settle into school life, so please mark the date in your calendars. As always, if you’d like to discuss your child's learning needs, feel free to reach out to myself or one of our Assistant Principals, Patrick McMullan or Lisa Logue.

School Highlights

• Junior Production: A huge thank you to all the students, staff, and families involved in making our circus-themed production such a roaring success. With over 800 parents and friends in attendance, the energy in the room was incredible! Congratulations to the students for their spectacular performances.

• Learning Walks: All of our teaching teams have recently participated in a learning walk, continuing our focus on improving teaching and learning strategies. These walks are a fantastic way to observe, reflect, and refine our practices to benefit all students.

• Sporting Achievements: Congratulations to all the students who participated in various sporting clubs associated with teh school. Whether it was netball, soccer or football! Our athletes showed great sportsmanship, and we are very proud of their efforts.

A Big Thank You!

Finally, a big thank you to all the parents and carers who continually support our school. Whether you’re helping with events, volunteering, or simply encouraging your child’s learning at home, your contributions make a huge difference.

Warm regards,

Gary Darma
Principal
Bourchier Street Primary School

Our Year One students had a wonderful day at the Melbourne Zoo last Thursday.

They spent their time exploring different animal exhibits and enjoyed interactive activities.

They saw a wide range of animals, including lions, elephants, and giraffes, learning about their habitats and behaviors.

Despite their exhaustion, we hope they have made fond memories for years to come.

On Tuesday, our Year 6 students had an exciting trip to Melbourne. The day began with a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where they explored the iconic stadium and the Sports Museum, learning about the history of Australian sport.

After the tour, the students enjoyed lunch at the Birrarung Marr playground, which gave them a chance to relax.

In the afternoon, they visited the National Gallery of Victoria, where they experienced a range of impressive artworks and exhibits.

It was a day full of learning, fun, and memorable experiences!

Last Friday we practised an Off-Site Evacuation Drill at Ford Reserve.

This drill involved one class per year level and took approximately 30 minutes to complete.

During the drill, students and staff practiced evacuation procedures and communication strategies, making sure everyone involved knows their roles and responsibilities and are well- prepared for emergencies so we can respond effectively when needed.

Thank you to everyone who was involved.

Some of our junior students attended the Ashefest traditional indigenous games festival yesterday. The event featured a range of activities including musical performances, dance routines, and art exhibitions.

These students engaged in festive games all while embracing the theme of cultural diversity.

The atmosphere was vibrant and a fun day all round!

The School Saving Bonus provides a one-off $400 to help Victorian families cover the costs of their kids’ school uniforms, textbooks, excursions and activities.

Forms have been sent home with the eldest child and need to be returned the front office ASAP!

To help with budgeting, we've included a suggested payment schedule. You have the option to pay the full camp fee upfront or follow the payment schedule, as long as the camp is fully paid by final payment date.

This plan makes it easier for families to plan ahead and help manage finances.

Year 6 camp details are still to be finalised, but dates of camp are listed below for you to mark on calendar.

2025 YR 3 Billabong Ranch Camp 28th – 30th April 2025- $370

• $ 128.00 – 11th October 2024 - Deposit

• $ 90.00 – 8th November 2024 – Second Payment

• $ 90.00 – 6th December 2024 – Third Payment

• $ 62.00 - 21st February 2025 – FINAL PAYMENT

2025 YR 4 Melbourne City Camp – 17th – 19th MARCH 2025 - $340

• $115.00 – 20th September 2024 – Deposit

• $115.00 – 8th November 2024 – Second Payment

• $110.00 – 21st February 2025 – FINAL PAYMENT

2025 YR 5 Angahook Camp19th – 21st March 2025 - $480

• $150.00 – 20th September 2024 – Deposit

• $120.00 – 8th November 2024 – Second Payment

• $120.00 – 6th December 2024 – Third Payment

• $90.00 – 21st February 2024 – FINAL PAYMENT

PLANNING IN PROGRESS FOR YR 6

2025 YR 6 Canberra Camp – 24th – 27th NOVEMBER 2025

As the cold weather arrives, so do coughs, colds, stomach bugs and other respiratory illnesses.
It is important that we practice good hygiene, such as washing our hands, hand sanitiser, and using tissues when we cough or sneeze.
If your child is away due to sickness, please update their absence via our Compass App.

Arriving to school on time is crucial for both students and staff. It sets a positive tone for the day, ensures that you don’t miss important instructions or activities, and demonstrates respect for the school community’s time and schedule. Here are a few tips to help ensure timely arrival:

1. Prepare the night before: Lay out clothes, pack your bag, and prepare lunch the night before to avoid morning delays.

2. Set an alarm: This will help give you ample time to get ready and commute to school.

3. Stay organized: Keep track of your schedule and any special activities or events that might require you to arrive earlier than usual.

Being on time helps create a structured and efficient learning environment for everyone involved.

If a parent/guardian needs to pick up their student early from school for an appointment or any other significant reason, please notify your child’s teacher or the front office, with as much notice possible.

Often students are in a specialist program or out of the classroom, so if no notice is given it puts pressure on the office staff when trying to find students whilst answering phones and tending to sick bay.

Please be mindful as we have quite a few students leaving school early which interrupts the classroom as well as their learning time so please avoid this when possible.

Parent payment can be made via QKR

Parent payment $220 per student

Excursion Levy $80 per student

If you have a Health Care Card and claimed CSEF, you will receive $150 credit which can be used for camps and excursions only.

The wearing of school uniform helps children develop a sense of identity with the school community.
The school uniform helps promote a positive image of both students and the school to the general community. The wearing of school uniform promotes equality.

The school uniform is to be worn during school hours, while traveling to and from school, and when the students are on school excursions.

All school uniform must be clearly named so that lost items can be identified.

Jackets and hats can be purchased from the school. Shepparton retail shops stock the entire uniform. The school endeavors to provide pre-loved items at the cheapest possible cost.

Please refer to our Student Dress Code Policy

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.

Please note that the Balaclava Road Child Care Carpark is a private carpark, please avoid parking there at all times.

When your child is absent from school, please log onto the parent portal, COMPASS and enter the absence along with the reason.

You need a username and password which has been distributed to families, but we can easily resend you the logon details by phoning or emailing the front office Bourchier.ps@education.vic.edu.au

Refer to the instructions below

Did you know Bourchier St. has an e-library?

Students are able to borrow books to read on their ipad.
You can access the e-library via the website below:

Search Bourchier St. Primary School
Visit our library
Sign in details will be your child’s cases code and the password is ebook01
Or download the App

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 BSPS24

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.

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.

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!

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools "Privacy Collection Notice below.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy below, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.

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.

Bourchier Street Policies

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