Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members

Welcome to 2019 School Year at Bannister Creek Primary School

Together we can make a difference in our children’s education

 A warm welcome is extended to new families and students to our school community. We have had a settled and smooth start to the school year. It was great to see our students and families again, with everyone excited and happy to see friends and meet their teachers. I’m impressed that we have all children wearing school uniform and most with all their stationery requirements. Thank you parents for your support.
I would particularly like to acknowledge our dedicated staff, many of whom spent a considerable amount of time at school in the holidays preparing classrooms and programs. Sincere thanks to our Administration Team for their commitment and efficient organisation which has contributed to the smooth start.
It is such a pleasure to walk into our school. The school buildings and classrooms are looking great, thanks to the care and effort from our school cleaners and gardener.

2019 Class/School Information Sessions – 21^st February 5:45 to 6:30pm

One of the strengths at our school is the support and involvement of parents in classes and school events. In order to inform families of 2019 school direction, we are holding a school information evening for parents of Years 2 to 6 students on Thursday, 21^st February.
At 5:45pm, school leaders will present a 10 minute 2019 school overview in the Undercover Area. Parents will then have the opportunity to attend class meetings, where teachers will outline class programs and policies. All class meetings will be held in your child’s classroom in the 6:00-6:30pm time slot. Parents with more than one child will have to prioritise which class meeting to attend.
Teachers will have notes available for parents who are not at the meeting and parents can also book an individual meeting with their child’s teacher for a later date.
If children attend, they have the option of sitting quietly in the class meeting with parents, or they can go to the library where they will watch a movie or play games, supervised by school staff.

Kindergarten Room 1 & 2 Yellow Group class meetings will be held on Wednesday 20^th February at 9:00 to 9:30am
Kindergarten Room 1 & 2 Blue Group class meetings will be held on Wednesday 27^th February at 9:00 to 9:30am.
Pre-Primary class meetings are also on Wednesday 20^th February at 2:00 to 2:30pm.
Year 1 class meetings will be held on 27^th February at 3:00 to 3:30pm

Parents are encouraged to attend these sessions; we value your support.

Kind Regards
Lyn Macauley
PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents/Carers

As discussed in previous newsletters and at Parent Information Sessions, Bannister Creek Primary School will be rolling out a staggered implementation of a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program over the next 3 years. This will begin with our 2019 Year 3 and 4 students, who are requested to have a personal iPad for use at school. Parents have an option to take advantage of educational pricing through JB Hi-Fi who will supply Bannister Creek parents with iPads at a reduced cost. Please follow the instructions below to login to their website and see the different options available. A Parent BYOD information book is available here or pick up a copy from the School Office.

Mrs Lyn Macauley
Principal
18^th October 2018

How it works

The online portal offers a step-by-step navigation. To pre-order your child’s education device simply:

1. Go to jbeducation.com.au/byod

2. Enter your school code  BCPS2019

3. Once logged in, select the relevant student programme.

4. Select your preferred JB Hi-Fi store for pick up, or pick up from your school (where possible).

5. Follow the prompts to choose your device, insurance cover and device accessories.

6. Enter your personal details.

7. Select a payment method and complete your order.

8. If you have any questions, please contact us at jbeducation.com.au/byod or call 1300 730 548.

I am pleased to inform you that Mr Christie is returning to Bannister Creek PS. He has won a substantive Deputy Principal position at our School and will commence next Monday. Mr Christie has been working at Campbell PS as Deputy Principal for the last 3 years. He is an experienced leader with many curriculum strengths. He is keen to get to know students and is looking forward to becoming part of the Bannister Creek School Community.

Mr Travis Miller is taking a well-earned break. He will be on Long Service Leave this term, returning at the start of the 2019 school year. Ms Paige Goodsell will relieve in the Deputy Principal position.

To celebrate Book Week, we will be holding a Book Week Character Dress-up Day on Friday 21^st September. This is the last day of Term 3. Come dressed as a character from any children’s book, don’t forget to bring the book with you!

There will be a parade in the Undercover Area at 9:00am. Families are welcome to stay and enjoy the parade!

We have a new substantive Deputy Principal, Mr Howard Christie who will commence at Bannister Creek Primary School on Monday 8^th October. Mr Christie is returning to BCPS after a 3 year stint at Campbell PS as Deputy Principal.

Mr Travis Miller will be on Leave for Term 4, his Deputy Principal position will be filled by Ms Paige Goodsell.

Mrs Cassandra Stewart has enjoyed the opportunity to work at Inglewood PS as Deputy Principal, she will be returning to teach Year 4/5 Room 14 at the start of next term.

We are hoping for sunny spring weather for our Faction Athletic events next week. These are  major events on our school calendar. Parents and friends are invited to join us to support and cheer on the students.

Tuesday, 4^th September – Jumps, Throws and 400m Finals
Please note that not all children will participate in these events, only the top two competitors from each faction, but all students are encouraged to wear faction t-shirts as they will have time to cheer on their factions.
The schedule below is  approximate, as we  aim to move steadily through the events. Events may extend after lunch, if necessary.

Friday, 7^th September  Faction Athletics Carnival – Kindy to Year 6 Running Events, 200m Finals and Team Games

The Faction Opening Parade will start at 8:50am sharp, (the school day starts for students as normal in classrooms at 8:40am).  A program of events will be sent home next week; we will progress through the events as quickly as possible.  Please note that times are estimates, we can only guarantee that the events will take place in order.

Students will need to wear their hats, sunscreen, faction T-shirt, suitable shoes to run in (no spikes), bring a water bottle filled with water, energy snack food and have lunch organised.

A picnic lunch will take place on Purley Park from approximately 12:50 to 1:25pm.  Students and parents have the option of a pre-ordered lunch (sausage sizzle or selected canteen items), menus were sent home last week.  Sausage sizzles, food and drinks will also be on sale.  Students will not be allowed to leave their bay to visit parents until the picnic lunch.

Schedule

Recently our school flags were stolen!

We wish to say a heartfelt thank you to:

• School Board member, Mr Bill Johnston MLA, for donating a new Western Australian flag.
• Mr Ben Morton MP, for donating new Australian and Aboriginal flags.

We conduct community surveys every two years to gain information regarding how parents and carers view our school’s performance. Our 2018 survey will be conducted in the next 2 weeks. We are surveying parents/carers, a sample of students in Years 4, 5 and 6 and staff. Completing the survey will take a few minutes of your time, but the information will help us in our quest to maximise learning for all students.

Your input is needed, please click the following survey link: https://www.schoolsurvey.edu.au/s/Bannister2018

For parents who are unable to access the online survey link, paper copies are available from the School Office. All surveys, electronic and paper are required to be submitted by 3:00pm on Friday, 21^st September.

Parents and carers are invited to attend our Parent Open Night on Wednesday 12^th September from 5:00 to 6:30pm. Children will share with parents the wonderful learning they have been doing in their classrooms. A sausage sizzle will be available. This will be manned by the team from Helping Hands, with proceeds going towards our Year 6 ‘s surprise gift to the school. We hope to see all families represented at this whole school event.

As a special highlight, our library will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair which will be open on Parent Night. Students will pre-view the books during school time and bring home a wish list. This is a great opportunity for families to view and purchase quality books at reasonable prices.

This week, in the library, we are celebrating the Children’s Book Council of Australia book awards with our ‘Find Your Treasure’ display. Many of us have a treasured book from childhood that may have sparked our love of reading.

Sharing the opportunity to see, touch, explore new books and choose their own is great motivation for children to read more. We invite you to search for a book for your child to treasure at the Scholastic Book Fair that we will be hosting in the Library during Week 9. An invitation flyer will be sent home next week and students will be able to preview books in school time the following week with a wish list to note their interest.

Book Fair Open Times:
8.15-8.45am Wednesday 12^th September
2.45-3.15pm Wednesday 12^th September
5.00-6.30pm Wednesday 12^th September – Parent Open Night
8.15-8.45am Thursday 13^th and Friday 14^th September
2.45-3.15pm Thursday 13^th and Friday 14^th September

During open times, you may purchase in person by cash, EFTPOS or credit card.
Alternatively, online credit card payment can be made for items on the flyer wish list – please select the ‘Bookfair’ option.
A percentage of the Book Fair proceeds will support new books for our library. Come and visit our Library and Book Fair, hope to see you there!

Congratulations to our Interschool Cross Country Team – champions three years in a row, WOW!!

What an amazing job our team did to take out the overall win. They all ran their absolute best, with running conditions made more challenging after all the rain left big swampy areas and even a small creek to run through.

In this event, all the runners scores are counted in the final result, so it was a fantastic team effort and several age groups had four runners finishing inside the top twelve.

A special congratulations to Serena, Room 18, who won the Year 6 Girls division. Lara, Room 18, finished second and Jasmine, Room 18, finished third. The Year 4 girls and Year 5 boys teams both were the top of their age divisions, well done!

A special congratulations to those who ran in the top four in their age groups, this was a considerable achievement.