Foundation 2020

At Blackburn Lake Primary School we aim to captivate and challenge our students with a rich and differentiated curriculum that allows each and every child to reach their full potential in our safe, supported and caring school environment. We pride ourselves on a whole school community where our students feel known and supported by their teachers and peers and our families are welcomed by our wider school community. At Blackburn Lake Primary we look forward to developing an ongoing working partnership with you in the exciting journey of your child’s education over these important seven years.

During Term 1 and 2 school tours will be offered each Wednesday morning at 9:30am by appointment. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had to cancel the Twilight Tour on the 15th May. During Education Week (commencing Monday 20th May - 24th May) school tours will be held each day at 9:30am. To book a tour please contact our school office on 9894 2855 or email: blackburn.lake.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au   
 
Please note that after the 24th May, Foundation 2020 school tours will close for this year.

In Term 3 we begin our successful Foundation Transition Program, which aims to promote a smooth start to primary schooling for children enrolled at Blackburn Lake Primary School for Foundation 2020. Transition sessions will be held from 2:15pm -3:15pm on:

Session One : Friday 19^th July

Session Two : Friday 2^nd August

Session Three : Friday 16^th August

Foundation 2020 Transition sessions will continue Term 4 for students enrolled in Foundation 2020 at BLPS. These sessions will be held from 2:15 - 3:15pm on:

Session Four : Friday 1^st November

Session Five: Friday 15^th November

Session Six : Friday 29^th November

If you have any queries about our transition program, please feel free to contact our Foundation Transition Coordinator Madeline Maccora and direct any questions about our school via the school office on 9894 2855 or email: blackburn.lake.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Wearing uniform and being Sunsmart

Wearing the Blackburn Lake school uniform instils recognition that each student is an integral part of the school community and encourages pride in representing our school.  With the start of a new term it has been pleasing to notice that the vast majority of students have been wearing their correct school uniform.   This has helped to:

• Enhance and maintain a positive image of our school throughout the local community
• Promote equality amongst all students
• Allow all students to identify with our school community and feel a sense of pride in representing Blackburn Lake Primary School
• Promote consistency in the appearance of our students with a uniform that is easily recognisable during whole school and interschool excursions and events

I would like to thank all parents and students for their efforts in ensuring that the correct school uniform is being worn and would remind everyone that as per our uniform policy it is preferred that any additional weather accessories (for example, rain jackets, umbrellas, beanies, scarves) are bottle green or red in accordance with school uniform colours.

In accordance with both our uniform policy as well as Sunsmart guidelines, approved hats as provided by the uniform shop must be worn during all outdoor activity until the end of April (previously until the end of term one) as recommended by SunSmart guidelines: www.sunsmart.com.au/communities/early-childhood-primary-schools Thanks for your support.

Attendance and Absence

Compass is the online portal for us to manage many aspects of the interactions between school and home.

School families are given individual login details to enter the secure portal. Please login and update your password and check your contact details at: https://blps.vic.jdlf.com.au/login.aspx

If you child is absent we ask that you log into Compass to inform us of this (following the how to instructions). In granting families access to the attendance rolls this system takes the place of written absence notes or phone calls (our previous process). Having "Prior Notification" (that is, parents entering absences that are coming up such as illness, in-term holidays, appointments, etc) will greatly assist teachers in their planning and also improve the safety of the students.

All students who arrive at school after 9am or leave prior to 3.30pm are legally required to be signed in / out by an adult and this can be done on the touch screen of the kiosk located at our Office. It also has the advantage that as an adult is doing it, it automatically authorises the absence so there is no need to go back into Compass and do it later. The kiosk prints out a ‘Late Arrival’ / ‘Early Leaver’ pass which we ask to be given to the teacher to verify that you have been via the office, which is an additional safety measure.

The kiosk also registers visitors to our school so we can see at any time what visitors are on the premises. This is important for security and all visitors should be able to show their visitors pass if asked by a staff member. Additionally, this is an important register in an emergency situation. The kiosk takes a photo as a record which is only available to senior administration staff and is unlikely to be needed, but it does prove who has signed in or out if there is ever a problem.