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School Drop Off and Collection

Again I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the patience and understanding displayed by

the majority of our community with regards to the changes in the school drop off and collection

processes. As we prepare to welcome our students in Years 2 to 6, we have had to make

adjustments to ensure quick and efficient collection. These changes are outlined in a new

document attached to this newsletter but the key points include –

• Students in Prep to Year 2 will be available for collection from 2.20pm.

• Students in Years 3 to 6 will be available for collection from 2.30pm.

• Families that have children in both sectors of the school, these children will be available for collection from 2.30pm.

• All students walking home or not accessing the STOP, DROP and GO zone, will be collected from the gates on Bardon Road near the basketball courts.

• Parent are strongly discouraged from parking in the school car park and walking to collect their children. These parents are asked to use the STOP, DROP and GO ZONE.

For the most part, the process is relatively smooth with all traffic this week clearing before

2.40pm. However, there are a few pressure points in the process that could be elevated by a

change in behaviour –

• While not a legal requirement, traffic flow improves significantly when all cars turn left into and to exit our car park. Turning left out of the car park and driving around the block is likely to be quicker.

• Parking and getting out of your car. This creates greater foot traffic on our crossings which slows the flow of traffic.

• Parking in the zone well before the end of the school day. This has been creating congestion issues on Bardon Road.

BERRINBA EAST STATE SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER 2020

Berrinba East State School Newsletter

ISSUE 2020/14 Wednesday 20th May 2020

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Please understand that these processes are largely in place to minimize large groups of parents

congregating.

Nature Play and Outdoor Learning

This week we acknowledged Outdoor Classroom Day with the students that we have on site. A key

focus this year was to embed Nature Play and Outdoor Learning into the curriculum as a method to

engage students. This has seen the development of three outdoor learning spaces. These spaces

are our Farm Space, our Forest Space and our Loose Parts Space. In this newsletter, Miss

Marshall has shown some examples of how our Loose Parts Space was used to teach STEM in

Year 2. Mr Stirk has also highlighted how our Farm and Forest Learning Spaces have been used to

support student learning. We are certainly looking forward to expanding the access of these spaces

once all students return.

Steve Kanowski

Principal

Outdoor Learning – Loose Parts Space Over the year, we have been building and gradually introducing some exciting new learning spaces into our school environment. One of those is our Loose Parts space. Loose parts play involves using a wide selection of everyday objects and materials to create, build, invent, experiment and play with. Research has found that loose parts play has a significant number of benefits for children such as: • Developing their imagination

• Creativity

• Physical health

• Fine and gross motor skills

• Behaviour

• Cooperation

• Communication

• Teamwork

• Concentration in class

One of our areas in the ½ play area (fenced area) will begin to look a building site or scrap yard and a tremendous amount of learning occurs in this area. Our Year 2 students have been learning in this space in STEM lessons. This week, they were experimenting with forces – pushes and pulls in particular.

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From the Deputy Principal – Year 3 to 6 Mr Harry Stirk

Thank You A big thank you to the BESS community for the warm welcome I have received from students, staff, parents, carers and members of the wider community since commencing in the Year 3 - 6 Deputy Principal role in the last week of Term 1. It has been wonderful to see the fantastic learning that is occurring in each and every classroom as well as the excellent commitment from those engaging in learning @ home.

Having spent most of my career at Windaroo State School as a teacher and A/Deputy Principal, it is exciting to be joining a new school community. I believe that education is most effective when we can foster positive relationships between the child, school and home. If you have any queries or concerns, please first address these with your child’s class teacher as they are often in the best position to address individual needs. In saying this, I am of course always willing to speak with you in regard to any matters concerning your child.

I look forward to working with you, your child and the BESS community throughout 2020. Outdoor Learning

Over the past few weeks, some of our students have engaged

in our Outdoor Learning Program facilitated by Mr. Clubb and

Mr. Virgil. The students have thoroughly enjoyed engaging in

hands-on learning and extending their learning beyond the

walls of our classrooms. The Outdoor Learning Program has

focused on a range of projects and activities including building

new garden beds, planting seeds and growing

vegetables, creating a chicken coop, using tools, engaging in

bike maintenance and building their own shelters in the forest.

You can imagine the wide range of learning that's occurring in these groups including understanding

measurement, building team work, exploring gardening and building techniques as well as assisting

the students to develop their social skills. Our staff and students look forward to continuing

our involvement with outdoor learning across the year.

Here's what some of the students have to say:

"In Outdoor Learning we have been gardening. My favourite

bit is planting all the seedlings"

- Jayden

"I really enjoy doing Outdoor Learning, riding bikes and

learning how to make a tee-pee"

- Jaxson

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"The thing I like the most about Outdoor Learning is moving the gardens. We took our shovels and started

digging out the dirt. We took the garden beds apart and moved them into a safer place. It has been great

learning how to take care of the gardens"

- Jordan

P&C NEWS

Tuckshop and Uniform Shop are closed until further notice.

BREAKFAST CLUB CLOSED

Breakfast Club is closed until further notice.

PBL FOCUS OF THE WEEK

This week’s PBL focus is ‘I am Mindful- I attempt to react in a way that matches the size of my problem’. This focus is all about think about your reactions when faced with a problem or an unexpected event. It is easy to react in a way that does not match the

size of the problem, but this does not always solve the problem and can also hurt or upset others.

The challenge this week for our PBL focus is to whenever something unexpected happens, instead of reacting straight away, first take a breath, think about your reaction and then react in an attempt to instead solve the problem. This is also an expectation that can be followed at home not just at school.

For more information and examples you can head over to the Berrinba East State School YouTube channel to find the PBL Lesson for Week 5.

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BERRINBA EAST STATE SCHOOL DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCESS

MORNING DROP OFF

All students will enter the school grounds

through the double gates near the hall.

Students in Prep and Year 1 will be escorted

to class by Teacher Aides.

Students in Years Two to Six will be asked to

proceed to their classroom.

Gates will open at 8.00am.

Gates will close at 8.35am. Parents will be

required to call the front office for student

entry after this time.

Parents are asked to remain in their cars at

all times when within the carpark.

Students walking to school enter through the

same point. Parents of students in Prep and

Year 1 can hand students over to the teacher

aides waiting in this area.

AFTERNOON PICK UP

STOP, DROP and GO

Students assemble in the area between the

basketball courts and the hall.

These students ONLY exit through the double

gates to the cars in the STOP, DROP and GO Zone.

The STOP, DROP and GO Zone is a loading Zone

with a limit of 2 minutes from 8.00am to 3.00pm.

Students and Parents walking or not accessing

the STOP, DROP and GO Zone

Students will wait in an area on the eastern side

of the basketball court.

Students will exit through the double gates.

Parents will be asked to wait on the

footpath/grassed area on the other side of the

fence.

Parents are not permitted to park in the school

car park and walk to access students from this

point.

Day care/OSHC and buses

Kingston Tiny Tots, PCYC and Ariel Day care

students will wait in an area at the front of the

office. These buses will enter through the staff

car park.

YMCA OSHC students will wait in the seated area

behind the STOP, DROP and GO waiting area.

Important information and Tips for parents Watch our YouTube clip for important tips to assist you and your child in being prepared for school drop off -

https://youtu.be/XMxiPHcasw4

• P-2 Pick-up will start at 2.20pm; 3-6 (and families) pick up will start at 2.30pm. • When in the school car park, all adults are required to remain in their cars.

• Please turn left into and out of our school car park. This greatly assists with traffic flow.

• Please ensure your child knows how they are going home and who is collecting them. This will help them identify where to wait.

• Please note the Drop off area is a 2 minute loading zone (as per the sign to the right)

• It is ok to delay your pick up; the area will be staffed until 2.50pm each day

• Please ensure social distancing protocols are adhered to at all times.

Please

turn left

in and

out of

the car

park