Dear Families,

It’s been a hot start to the year! It has been wonderful welcoming both new and returning students back to school over the past week and a half. While I enjoyed some time off during the holidays, nothing is as uplifting as seeing students return after a long break—refreshed, eager to reconnect with friends, and ready to begin the year.

It has been especially rewarding to see how well our Foundation students have settled in. While a few tears are inevitable, overall, they have transitioned remarkably well. I hope everyone had the opportunity to rest, recharge, spend time with loved ones, and perhaps even travel during the break.

Alli, and I had a busy and fun-filled Christmas with our kids and about 30 family members! In January, we spent some time at Aireys Inlet, which was fantastic. It made me think about how soon our camp program begins—our Year Five students will be heading to Aireys Inlet later this term! While we didn’t get to do any surfing during our trip, I’m looking forward to seeing how many of our Year Five students learn a new skill while enjoying the stunning Great Ocean Road.

I had hoped that we could all be outside enjoying the playground and reconnecting during these first two weeks, but the persistent heat has kept students indoors during lunch breaks. While it’s a little disappointing, I haven’t heard a single complaint about staying in the air-conditioned classrooms instead of braving the 40-degree heat!

We are also excited to officially welcome a few new staff members this year—Stuart Hobijen-Allen, Heath Smith, and Sarah Veitch—to the Bourchier St family. Also welcome to Krissy Hall, Maddi Crawford and Courtney Simpson who you may have met last year, but are now also officially part of our staff. They’ve had a fantastic start, and we hope they continue to enjoy being part of our community.

Before the students returned, our staff engaged in two days of preparation and professional learning. We spent time discussing our goals for students and reviewing the key aspects of our improvement plans for 2025. I am blown away by the passion and dedication of our team, and the work everyone put in during these first two days further validates these thoughts.

Lastly, I want to highlight a special event coming up—our Welcome Night next Thursday! We warmly invite all families to visit their child’s classroom for a walkthrough, providing a great opportunity to get a feel for the learning environment and meet the teacher (if you haven’t already).

Classrooms will be open from 4:00 PM to 5:45 PM.

Our specialist staff have also generously volunteered to organise a sausage sizzle:

• Foundation and Year 1 families can collect a sausage from the Junior Yard near the canteen.
• Year 2-6 families can grab theirs from the main asphalt area on the north side of the school.

Please RSVP to help us cater appropriately by clicking link further down in newsletter.

I hope you’re all settling into the school term routines!

As always, if you have any questions, concerns or ideas to make our school better, please reach out!

Kind Regards

Gary Darma | Principal

Bourchier St Primary School

Road Closure Notice Friday 7th February – Balaclava service Road

The Shepparton Council has advised us that the service road opposite our school on Balaclava Road will be closed on Friday due to road works. Please be aware that this may cause increased traffic congestion around the school.

We ask all families to allow extra time for drop-off and pick-up, drive carefully, and be mindful of pedestrian safety. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe.

Join us for our Welcome Night! This is a great opportunity to meet your child's teacher, see their classroom, and connect with our school community whilst enjoying a BBQ.

RSVP by Tuesday 11th February by CLICKING THIS LINK.

We look forward to seeing you there!

I’m Stu, and I’m thrilled to be part of the Bourchier Street team this year! A little bit about me: I originally hail from Shepparton, but I’ve spent the last 12 years in Melbourne. I’m excited to be back in my hometown, reconnecting with the community.

As a passionate North Melbourne supporter, I love following the footy, and staying active is a big part of my life—whether I’m on the field playing sports or hitting the gym. I can’t wait to get to know all of you, share ideas, and make this a fantastic year together!

Looking forward to a great year ahead!

Hello my name is Courtney Simpson and I am a new teacher to Bourchier Street in year 2.

I am a mother of 4 children and am involved in sporting groups in town including basketball and netball. I have been an Occupational therapist for over 20 years and after many years in Special Ed have transferred over to education. I love working with our students and look forward to getting to know the Bourchier St community.

I am excited to join the Bourchier Street Primary School community after recently moving back to the area with my wife and young son, following 12 years in Melbourne. I have a passion for sports—I play football, love running and swimming, and enjoy watching soccer. I am also a music enthusiast with an extensive vinyl record collection. I look forward to settling back into country life, getting to know the school community, and contributing to a positive learning environment for students

My name is Maddi (Miss Crawford) and I am a new teacher at Bourchier Street! I am very excited to be teaching year 1 this year, at the primary school I attended as a kid myself! I have always wanted to come back to my old primary school and teach, I feel very lucky to be on board this year! Aside from teaching, in my spare time I like to read, go for long walks and spend quality time with my friends and family. I love animals and would love to get a dog sometime soon! I look forward to the year of teaching and learning ahead!

Hello Bourchier Street! My name is Sarah Veitch, and I’m excited to join the school community. After spending the last five years teaching and living in Katherine, NT, I’m thrilled to be moving to Shepparton and starting this new chapter in my career. I originally grew up in Sydney and have always had a passion for traveling and exploring new places. I'm looking forward to not only working with the wonderful students and staff here but also getting to know the local area and all it has to offer. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to the school and am eager to meet everyone.

Hi there, I'm Krissy! I'm really excited to be joining the team at Bourchier St. I'm a loyal supporter of Collingwood, camping and playing netball at Dookie. At home you'll find me tinkering in the garden with my son and experimenting with cooking in my free time.

I can't wait to get to know the families and community of Bourchier St.

Media Consent Forms were sent to every student last week.

This form is required to grant permission for your child to be photographed or filmed in various settings, including the school environment, the local community, and broader media platforms.

Once signed, this form will remain valid for the duration of your child’s primary school years at Boucher Street Primary School.

If you are happy for your child to be included in media please tick all three boxes and return.

If you do NOT want your child to be included in all media, please tick boxes you give consent for, sign and return asap.

There is one form per child, so we ask that you complete and return it promptly.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Shepp News will be taking FOUNDATION class photos on Thursday 13th February for a special Foundation feature. Be sure to be on time and bring your best smile!

Foundation students will have a modified start to Term 1, with the first six wednesday's off.

Their first full week of school will begin on Monday, 17th March 2025

If you have a NEW Health Care Card, please complete the attached CSEF form.

Families who have a HCC are eligible to claim $150 PER STUDENT for camps, excursions and swimming.

We are so excited to announce we have a Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser booked for Saturday 3rd May!

We are needing volunteers to help cook the BBQ and serve customers.

Whether you can spare 2 hours or the whole day, your help will be greatly appreciated.

If you can help, please click this link https://forms.gle/mcfLxzoZ8thjyr7G9

Order online through loop or send your order into the school office with the correct money, your child’s name and their order form in an envelope.

Orders close Monday 17th February

Book Club Issue 1 Link:
ISSUE PREVIEW | Scholastic Australia

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.

It is important to remind everyone that wearing hats during lunch and recess is compulsory. Being sun smart helps protect students from harmful UV rays, which can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. Lets work together to ensure our students stay sun smart this term.

Families can use their school bonus payment to contribute towards the 2025 school camps and excursion levy.

Phone school for balance of camp on your account.

Simply, copy your password, log into the portal, allocate the school bonus payment to school activities, and notify the school that you would like the funds directed towards camp.

Additionally, the excursion levy of $100 can also be paid through the school bonus payment system.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office for assistance.

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

Please note: You can now go onto the portal and allocate the School Bonus payment to cover the 2025 camp.

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

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

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

PLANNING IN PROGRESS FOR YR 6

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

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

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.

2025 Soccer Season Reminder

Is your child interested in playing soccer?

Children of all ages and abilities are welcome and encouraged to play for Bourchier Street Soccer Club.

The 2025 soccer season officially kicks off in Term 2 but sign up needs to be completed before the school holidays.

Keep an eye out here for more information on registrations and fees to come in early March.

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.

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!

TOUCH FOOTY - REFER BELOW ATTACHED PDF FOR FAQ'S

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