Dear Families,

Welcome to our 2025 school year!

We are excited that you are part of our school community and look forward to sharing many opportunities for us to work together to support your child’s wellbeing and learning. 

There has been a noticeable buzz across school over the last few days.  We welcomed many families and students on Wednesday to our open afternoon.  Thank you to families who took the opportunity to come in and meet their child’s teacher and see the classroom before school officially started.  We have many Kinder students about to begin their first year of school next week.   Thanks to families who came in with their child to visit their Kinder classroom.

It was great to also have many families into school yesterday with their child as Prep – Year Six students returned.   Students were keen to be back together with friends, to see new faces in their class and to find out more about their classroom.  Students were proudly wearing their school uniforms and seemed keen to start the day. 

There have been many positive conversations and catch ups across school this week.   Sharing information between home and school is vital in supporting student wellbeing and learning.  We encourage you to have ongoing communication with us.

We would like to give families early notice of an invitation to come into school for a Catch up and check in BBQ for all families on Tuesday 25^th February from 3 – 4pm in our School Courtyard.   We welcome you to come in and chat to your child’s teacher, visit the clasroom and enjoy a sausage sizzle.

Our regular assemblies will also begin soon.  These are a great way to recognise  the achievements of students and class groups, with classes regularly sharing musical items and their classroom learning.  Assemblies begin at 9am in the School Hall.   Dates for Term One are included in this introductory newsletter.

Many families have commented on how good it has been to come back to freshly painted school buildings and welcoming staff.  Thanks to all staff for their hard work and commitment in setting up school for the start of Term One.   I’m sure we are all aware that these efforts occur from up to several weeks before school returns.   It has been a whole team effort to prepare our school environment for the start of school.

Thanks to:

- our School Business Manager Stacey for organising the exterior painting of our school and building maintenance.

-our groundsmen Brad and Craig for the repair of playground spaces and upkeep of our school grounds.

-our School Admin team for their work in supporting families with information for the return of school and uniform sales.

-our teacher assistants for all the name tags, classroom labels and resources that they have made.

-our cleaning staff for ensuring our students return to clean and tidy learning areas

-our teaching staff for providing welcoming and well-organised classrooms to engage students and for planning learning.

Staffing:

We welcome several new staff to our school this year.  Mr Tony Hasty will be teaching Music and Ms Sarah Beechey will be teaching Kinder. We welcome Ms Shani Bailey back from leave.   She will be teaching Kinder.   We also welcome Mr Nathan Porter back from leave and he will be teaching K – 2 Health and providing some literacy support.   Mr Evyn Taylor joins our Kitchen Garden staff and Ellie and Tahlia joins us from PCYC.

Jesse Blackaby will be our new School Health Nurse and will be in our school on Wednesdays.   Anna Seymour will be our School Social Worker on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ms Sophie Saville will be working in our School Office on Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Allergies:

The number of people with allergies in Australia is increasing and allergies are quite common amongst our students.  We have several students who have significant allergies to specific foods.  

Classrooms support all students through:

-providing time for handwashing before and after food

-encouraging students to not share food from lunch boxes or the Canteen  with others

-training for school staff to respond to student allergy symptoms

-access for school staff to student allergy action plans

-asking families to check with the teacher before sending any celebration foods into the classroom  (it is preferred that foods are pre-packaged and contain an ingredient label)

Please see the attached Severe Food Allergies info sheet for how you can support us to have a safe environment for all students. 

Buses

Bus timetables have had some slight changes this year to be able to pick up students at the end of the day from Brighton High School. 

Buses will arrive at Brighton Primary to collect students at these times:

Elderslie Bus

Dromedary Bus  - 3.05pm

Pontville Bus

Old Beach Bus - 3.11pm

We have sent out information provided by State Growth on our school Facebook page.

Collection of students from school during the day

School is aware that families may need to collect students from time to time during the school day for appointments.  If you do need to collect your child during school time, you will need to go to our School Office and let them know and sign your child out.  Office staff will call the classroom to ask your child to come up.  This ensures that attendance information is accurate.  Families are asked not to collect children directly from classrooms during the school day. 

Student Validation Forms

Please return validation forms to the School Office as soon as possible.  These forms will have your updated contact information, consent for student photos and most recent medical information.  It is vital that school is aware as soon as possible of these details to ensure we can provide best support to your child.  This form needs to be completed every year.  Please return your child’s form to the School Office as soon as possible.

Mobile Phones

While students may bring their mobile phone to school, they will need to take it to the School Office on arrival for it to be stored securely during the school day.  Students will collect their phone from the School Office on leaving school. Students with smartwatches will be asked to have it in aeroplane mode.  School asks that families who need to contact their child during the school day do this by calling the School Office who will pass the message on.  If families are aware that their child will need their phone during the school day for medical reasons, please discuss with me to seek an exemption. 

We are looking forward to sharing some photos of the first week of school with you in our next newsletter, and, to celebrating learning with you across this term. 

Sonya Plunkett-Smith

Principal

At Brighton Primary School we provide the opportunity for our Year 6 students to undertake student leadership responsibilities. These opportunities are open to all students and every student is encouraged to consider nominating for a leadership role.

Student Leadership is a very important part of driving school improvement as it provides students with a forum to represent their opinions and ideas. These opportunities also involve students taking on more responsibility and meeting the behavioural expectations for a leadership role is critical when students are chosen by their peers to represent our school community.

Students that are successful in their election to Student Leadership roles will be required to meet school leadership expectations by signing a Leadership Code of Conduct. This document requires students to commit to the following expectations:

• Be respectful towards others at all times
• Be honest and trustworthy
• Accept responsibility
• Be a fabulous role model and teacher for our younger students so that they can learn (in class and the playground).

• Use good manners
• Encourage participation
• Demonstrate good teamwork

Year 6 Student Leadership Structure

School Captains

Positions: 2

Role Description:  A School Captain is a responsible for leading key school initiatives and events. A school captain will represent the school at major events and be prepared to speak and engage with all members of our school community. A School Captain works closely with Senior Staff, teachers and other members of student leadership on a regular basis. A preparedness to represent the school at events outside of school hours is also an important part of performing the duties of a School Captain. The election of School Captains is voted upon by all students from Years 3 – 6 and all staff.

Elections: Term 1 Week 2 

House Captains

Positions: 2 per House

Role Description: A House Captain is a responsible for supporting key sporting events and carnivals throughout the year. A House Captain will work closely with Mr Daft (HPE teacher) and will be required to attend meetings in ensuring all events are well planned and organised.  A House Captain needs to be passionate about their House, is keen to support others and will always try their best in their own participation.

Elections: Term 1 Week 3

Community Captains

Positions: 2 per Class

Role Description: A Community Captain is a change of title from previously being named a SRC. A Community Captain is responsible for representing their class in supporting whole school and Year 6 events. A Community Captain will work closely with Mr Slade (AP) and Year 6 teachers in attending meetings throughout the year.  A Community Captain needs to be passionate about Brighton Primary School, is keen to support others and will always give things a go and try their best.

Elections: Term 1 Week 3 

If families have any questions regarding Year 6 Leadership opportunities in 2025, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Slade – Assistant Principal.