Dear Families,

It’s been a big couple of weeks at Bourchier, with plenty to celebrate across the school. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the highlights.

🎤 Public Speaking
Last week, six of our students represented the school at the Lions Club Public Speaking Competition at Kialla District Hall. They did an outstanding job, with Trini Atkinson (Year 5) finishing runner-up in the senior section and being selected to move through to the regional final in August. A great achievement and a proud moment for our school!

🏉 Division Sport
Our Year 5 and 6 students had a brilliant day out at Division Sport. The T-ball and netball teams went through the day undefeated and will now head to the next level. Our football and soccer teams also performed strongly, with the footballers just falling short in the grand final. It was great to see our kids having a go and representing the school so well.

🎧 Student Podcast – Featuring the Mayor
We recently had the pleasure of welcoming City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali to the school. He jumped on the mic for an episode of our student-run podcast (set to go live this week!) and also spent some time doing a Q&A session with our Year 6 students. A great experience for our kids.

🎉 Events & Celebrations

• Mothers Day Breakfast: A huge thanks to everyone who came along to help celebrate. It was fantastic to see so many families at school, and the students loved having their mums in the classrooms.

• Fun Run: We raised just over $20,000—an amazing effort. The funds will go directly towards our courtyard rejuvenation project.

• Do It For Dolly Day: Our students spent time in class learning about kindness, friendship and looking out for others. It was a really meaningful day.

🏕️ Year 3 Camp
The Year 3 camp to Billabong Ranch went really well. For lots of kids, this was their first ever camp experience, and horse-riding seemed to be a real highlight. The team did a great job supporting the students and making it a positive experience.

🛠️ Around the School
Our resurfaced basketball courts are now complete and look fantastic—the kids are already loving them. We’ve also got a few other projects in the works, including shade sails for the courtyard and some fresh planting around the school grounds. More updates on that to come.

👋 New Faces
We’ve welcomed Georgia Wilson, Alice Peters, Hope Davies, Donna Brooks and Ash McMahon to the team this term. It’s been great to have them on board and supporting our students across the school.

Hope you have a great couple of weeks and please don't hesitate to come and have a chat if you need!

Gary D'Arma

Inviting new families to come and explore Bourchier Street Primary School on a guided tour with our Principal Team!

See our facilities, learn about our programs, and experience what makes our school special.

We can't wait to meet you and show you around!

Last Friday, our senior students showed incredible resilience and energy, taking on the chilly weather and lighting up the field with an action-packed day of Winter Sports!

Students proudly represented Bourchier in AFL, soccer, netball, and T-ball—demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and school spirit throughout the day.

🏈 AFL Boys delivered an incredible performance, winning all 5 games and securing a well-deserved runner-up finish in the Grand Final. What a fantastic achievement!

🥎 T-ball Results:

• Bourchier defeated Shepp East B: 10–9
• Bourchier defeated Gowrie B: 21–2
• Bourchier defeated Mansfield: 20–13
• Bourchier defeated Sacred Heart PS: 14–1 (in just 2 innings!)

A huge congratulations to all our teams for their dedication and sportsmanship. Thank you to the amazing staff, coaches, and supporters who made the day such a success! 💪💙💛

At Bourchier Street Primary School, we’re looking to gauge the level of interest in our community for the establishment of a Parents and Friends Committee. This group might be involved in supporting school events, running fundraisers, sharing ideas, or helping create a warm, welcoming environment for all families. Whether you’ve got extra time to give or are just looking to increase school connection, we’d love to hear from you.

If you're interested, please complete the short online Expression of Interest form linked below.

https://forms.gle/HL56oBb5Aj9ij2Zz5

Once we’ve received Expressions of Interest, we’ll be in touch to share more information about the committee, invite you to an informal first meeting, and explore what it could look like moving forward. There’s no pressure to commit to anything right away. This is just about bringing together a group of interested parents and carers to help shape what the Parents and Friends Committee might become.

Thanks for your time!

Last week, six of our talented students proudly represented our school at the Lions Club Public Speaking Competition, held at the Kialla District Hall. This wonderful event, hosted by the Lions Club of Shepparton since 2007, offers students a fantastic platform to build confidence, organise their thoughts, and speak with clarity and purpose in front of an audience.

Congratulations to our outstanding participants:

🌟 Year 6 – Minradha Tennakoon
🌟 Year 5 – Jimmy Morrison & Trini Atkinson
🌟 Year 4 – Ava Bogdan, Jack Sullivan & Aaradhya Tennakoon

👏 A special shoutout to Trini, who achieved Runner-Up in the Year 5/6 division!

We are incredibly proud of the courage, preparation, and passion each student brought to the stage. Well done!

If you’d like to help out at school—as a classroom helper, on excursions, or at Fruity Friday—Victorian law requires you to hold a current Volunteer Working with Children Check.

Apply (it’s free for volunteers):

workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au ▸ “Apply for a check”

(This link takes you to the Service Victoria portal where the whole application is completed online.)

Quick notes for families

• The online form takes about 15 minutes; you’ll need proof‑of‑identity documents.
• Once approved, you’ll get a physical card and a free digital card inside the Service Victoria app (handy if you forget the plastic one).
• Please bring either card to the office before your first volunteer session so we can record your WWCC number and expiry date.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe while strengthening our school community!

The latest Scholastic Book Club is out now.

https://scholastic.com.au/.../book-club.../issue-preview/

https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/

Enjoy delicious homemade baking with a different treat every week!

Check Newsletter and FB each week for our yummy specials. Order via QKR app under snacks.

Please make it a priority to arrive at school on time.

8.45am - music starts & students make their way to class.

8.55am - Class begins.

If your child/ren arrive to school after 9am they MUST come into the front office to get signed in otherwise our records could show them as absent.

It is extremely important for our school to keep strict attendance records.

When students are punctual, they are more likely to enter the classroom with a clear and open mind, ready to absorb information and engage actively in the day's curriculum.

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.

Free Playgroup at Bourchier Street – Everyone’s Welcome!

Come along to our free playgroup, held every Wednesday of the school term from 9:15am to 11:00am.

It’s a relaxed and friendly space with tea and coffee provided, and it’s run by the Shepparton Council with our lovely facilitator Syeda, who makes everyone feel welcome.

The playgroup is open to children aged 0–5 and their families — mums, dads, grandparents, carers — everyone’s welcome! Bring the kids along to make new friends and enjoy a fun morning of art and craft, educational play, block building, with story and rhyme time to finish the session.

If you wish to use any portion of the $400 SSB on Camps or Excursions, please note that you must go into the SSB Portal and allocate the money to “Activities”. You are not selecting a specific activity at this stage, rather an amount you wish to have available to use at the school.

Excursion Levy is $100 per child

Please note: Any unspent SSB funds at 1 July 2025 will sit in your Family account for you to use when needed.

The Canberra Camp will be from Monday 24th to Thursday 27th November.

The Canberra trip is a highlight for the Year 6 students and incorporates many educational activities also with a lot of fund experiences.

The cost of the Camp will be $460.00

Suggested Payment Schedule:

• $125 - Deposit 30th May 2025
• $135 - 1st installment 25th July 2025
• $100 - 2nd installment 19th September 2025
• $100 - Final Instalment 31st October 2025

QKR is the preferred method of payment. Please check with the office if you have any CSEF or SSB that can be used for this camp.

Every child is welcome to our Breakfast Program each morning from 8am to 8.45am.

A well-balanced, nutritious lunch helps children stay focused, energized, and ready to learn throughout the day. We encourage families to pack lunches with a variety of fresh foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein. A good mix of nutrients supports brain function and keeps students feeling their best.

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 BSPS25

Direct Link: https://byod.jbhifi.education/auth?code=BSPS25 or scan the barcode below.

If you would like more information on the program, please visit the BYOD page on our website.

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.

Attached below is the costs of the 2025 Parent Payment Arrangements.

Excursion Levy has been increased to $100 which will include a “Major Excursion” so there will now be no extra payment requested. CSEF can be used to cover this – for those who don’t receive CSEF they can use their School Saving Bonus.

Parent payment can be made via QKR

Parent payment $220 per student

Excursion Levy $100 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

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!

Make a Difference in Your Community!

LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

Shepparton, Mooroopna, Tatura Surrounding

Area

Hello!

My name is Josie, and I am the Regional Coordinator for the Shepparton area. Our organization is currently seeking compassionate Italian and English-speaking male and female volunteers to visit lonely and isolated elderly individuals in our community.

What’s Involved:

· You will visit elderly person who would appreciate a friendly chat.

· Volunteers are asked to visit once a week for approximately 1 hour.

· Your visits will help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.

If you have just an hour a week to spare, you can make a real difference in someone’s life while enjoying a cup of coffee and a conversation.

Why Volunteer?

· Help reduce loneliness and isolation in the elderly community.

· Make a positive impact on someone’s life and create rewarding experiences for yourself.

· Enjoy a meaningful and fulfilling connection with someone in your community.

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer or would like more information, please reach out! We have wonderful volunteers who generously donate their time, and we would love to welcome you into our team.

Contact Information: COASIT

Regional Coordinator
Josie Pellegrino

0481 603 740

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