Positive Start to the School Year 

The summer break has been full of wonderful weather to ensure we are all ready for a year full of learning. A huge ‘Thank You’ to all families and staff for your efforts in preparing for our school year together. How smart everyone looks in their school uniforms! There is a definite positive vibe around the school, with staff aspiring to making 2023 another successful year. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of all the BPS team. They have put in many hours in the lead up to school starting, to ensure a smooth start for all. 

I am very excited to have the opportunity to be your Principal while Mr Starrick is on Leave. The past week has enabled me to see the enormous potential as we move forward and to learn about all the wonderful things that happen here at BPS. Already, I know that we have a team of high performing teachers who put our children at the centre of all they do. This school has many engaging opportunities for our learners, and we will continue to build on the great work that has taken place.   

Here is a little bit about me!  

For the past two decades I have worked as an educator on the North West Coast of Tasmania in various schools and positions. I feel very privileged to be joining a dedicated teaching team and building on the learning that has gone before. I am really looking forward to being part of your school community and working together with you in partnership. I fully believe that every child must be provided with the opportunities to learn, to be safe and to be happy. I am passionate about inspiring all learners to succeed and ensuring they have the tools to do so. 

Building connections with, and between, staff, students, families and the wider community is a passion of mine. These connections help us promote inclusion and belonging at our school. To further develop our positive school community, I encourage our families to become involved in school activities, share their views and influence school decisions. I firmly believe that families are their child’s first educators and absolutely value your contributions. 

As your Principal, it is important to me that everyone who steps through our doors including staff, students and families are excited to be here. 

I have an open-door policy so please come and find me and introduce yourself. If you are not able to pop in, please do not hesitate to contact me via email: susan.barnard@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Burnie Primary School starts the 2023 year with 349 students in our kindergarten to year 6 classes. This year we have 16 classes. We warmly welcome our kindergarten children and their families.  We also welcome Noah and Flynn in prep, Jordyn, Oliver, Sonic, Thora and Evan in grade 1, Ivy, Jack and Gracie in grade 2, Archer and Shontaya in grade 3, London, Lily, Eva & Nichola in grade 5 and their families to our school.  Our year six students commence their final year of primary school. I have no doubt they are ready for all the exciting things that being the leaders in the school brings and I look forward to celebrating this with you.  

2023 also brings new opportunities and new staff. We warmly welcome Jess Fidler in Prep and Miriam Ennis who will be teaching digital technology.  We also welcome Daphne Kalweit and Julie-Ann Elphinstone who join us on Fridays teaching in Year 2 and Year 6.   

Welcome to our ‘2023 Welcome BBQ’ Family Event 

Our first opportunity for our whole school community to further ‘build connections’ this year is our family-friendly… ‘2023 Welcome BBQ’ to be held on Wednesday 22nd of February (next Wednesday)  

I would like to invite all members of our school community to join with us to celebrate the start of our school year by coming along to meet your child/rens teacher followed by a BBQ. Students will have an opportunity to take parents/carers to their classroom and ‘show and share’ about their learning so far this year.  Come and enjoy a sausage or veggie burger and meet our school staff, other students and parents/carers. We do hope that you can find time to join us for this special whole school event! 

Upcoming 3-6 Running Carnival – Friday 24th February 

Another event we are encouraging families to join us for is our 3-6 Running Carnival. We are hoping for fine weather, lots of sportsmanship and all participants striving to do their best! Please note this date on your calendars at home so that you can join us for some or all of the day. More information is supplied in today’s newsletter. 

Carpark - School safety 

Road and school safety awareness and compliance are everyone’s responsibility.

• We strongly recommend that parents/carers utilise parking in Van Diemens Cresent or Curraghmore Avenue for the safety of our students at this busy time.  
• When utilising the car park, please obey the signs and reverse park your vehicle for the safety of our students. 
• Whilst parking in Van Diemens Crescent, please be mindful of not blocking residential driveways. 
• A reminder also, that riding and walking through the car park are not permitted and families and students are asked to use alternate entry points to make their way to classes.

New Student Behaviour Management  

Burnie Primary School along with all other Tasmanian Government schools, is committed to providing your child with a learning environment that supports them to be the best they can be. We work hard to provide safe, supportive and inclusive environments where your child can engage positively with their learning.  

To strengthen the way that schools prevent and respond to bullying, a new Policy and Procedure will be in place in Term one, 2023. The new Policy is known as the Student Behaviour Management policy. It replaces the existing Respectful Student Behaviour Policy.  

The important change between the old policy and the new policy is that now all schools will have the same minimum standards for preventing and responding to bullying. The new policy also has a clear definition of what bullying is and sets clear expectations for how we support students impacted by bullying.   

These changes mean that the way Burnie Primary School prevents and responds to bullying will meet the same standards as all other Tasmanian Government Schools. Some schools may incorporate different programs or measures to respond to bullying, but all will have the same foundation.   

For more information, see the Staying Safe in Tasmanian Government Schools parent fact sheet at https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/parent-fact-sheets/staying-safe/ 

You can also talk to your child’s teacher, or Mrs Barnard to find out more. 

Susan Barnard
Principal

 2023 Welcome BBQ

Thank you to all families who have taken the time to respond to the short survey regarding our welcome event. From the responses gathered, we are planning to hold a welcome BBQ on Wednesday 22nd February from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. This will be a great opportunity to welcome families back to our school and to promote positive family engagement in our students learning.

Classrooms will be open from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm and families will be welcome to visit their child/ren’s new learning environment for an informal chat with classroom teachers, entering and exiting via external classroom doors. After visiting classrooms families are welcome to join us for the BBQ located outside the JMC, available from 4:00 pm.