Bentleigh West Primary School

Remembrance Day Ceremonies

The students participated in two ceremonies on Monday to acknowledge Remembrance Day in our community.

The first was a school-based ceremony, held during assembly, led by our Grade 6 students. Abbie L, Ava C, Isaiah N, Charles N and Alex R spoke beautifully and led us through the ode, the last post and national anthem along with the lowering and rising of the flag.

The attention and respect our students displayed as an audience was very fitting of the occasion.

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The second ceremony was held at the Bentleigh RSL, where a group of our students joined the
wider community service sector to lay a wreath. Again, the respect and care that was displayed was
excellent and we are very grateful to be represented by such great students.

Grade 3 Camp

The Grade 3 cohort are travelling to Phillip Island for their first camp today and I will be attending
the camp with the students and enjoying the opportunity to help out and get to know the students
in a different setting.

We will have a great time and no doubt miss the comforts of home a little. This is what camp is all
about and it makes getting home on the Friday all the more special.

Grade 5 and 6 Beach Program

The Grade 5 and 6 Beach Program started this week and it is reassuring to know the students are
being upskilled in beach safety and first aid. Monday started off as beach type weather, but the rest
of the week has been quite chilly. Our school leaders have put on the brave faces and engaged
happily with the program.

Have a great week.
Steven Capp

Each week, on Thursday morning before school, a small group of enthusiastic grade 4 students gather to do extended writing with Ms de Bruijn. They write short stories, persuasive texts and short “think quick” assignments. They all have a passion for writing and love to create masterpieces on paper.

One of those students is Evie E. She entered one of her stories for the “My Brother Jack Awards” and Evie came 3rd out of 66 in the Short Stories category! Evie received a commendation for her great writing. Well done Evie!

Congratulations to the following students for receiving award certificates at assembly this week:

• Jax H Prep B - Persistence

• Hercules G Prep N - Persistence

• Macy T 1Y - Persistence

• Mia C 2W - Positivity

• Lily B 4D – Responsibility

• Vincent C 6H - Persistence

• Oscar Y-J 6W - Positivity

On Saturday at the Learning Difficulties Australia (LDA) AGM Steve was awarded the Bruce Wicking Award. This is a fantastic achievement and we congratulate him on behalf of the whole school community.

Bruce Wicking Award

Learning Difficulties Australia makes an occasional award known as the Bruce Wicking Award. An Award Committee of three council members considers all nominations and makes recommendations to council, who
makes the final decision as to the award’s recipient.

The Bruce Wicking Award recognises a practising teacher or other professional who has made a continuing contribution of an innovative nature in the education of Australian children with learning difficulties. It is preferred that the award be granted to 'someone' during their career rather than at the end of their working life.

The funds for this award are being provided through the generosity of the Wicking Family and their friends who wish to recognise the contribution made by Bruce Wicking to education, particularly in innovative education with an emphasis towards catering for individual differences. It is the family's wish that the award be supervised by LDA, with which they have had a long association.

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Camp Australia will be running full day programs on 19th & 20th December which are pupil free days.
Bookings are open online at Camp Australia.

As part of our Child Safe at BWPS all parents who would like to participate in camps, excursions, incursions or swimming programs, where are they working with or helping students, must have an up to date Working With Children Check.

You can complete an online Volunteer Working with Children Check application at https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/wwccu

Upon receipt of your card please either bring it to the office or scan and email it to elliott.tanya.j@edumail.vic.gov.au so we can add you to our register.

This year, we have decided to host a Christmas Gift Collection in support of The Smith Family and we
need your help!

Did you know that one in six children and young people in Australia are living in poverty? That’s why
our efforts are so important. Through no fault of their own, many children could go without on
Christmas morning. The toys and books donated by people like you may be the only gifts that they
receive this Christmas. So, let’s help make a difference to the lives of these children.

Our collection boxes are located at the office. There is a tub for each house and gifts can be donated
between now and 9th December. After the last day of collection, we will deliver these donations to
The Smith Family’s Christmas warehouse where volunteers then pack our donations into gift packs,
ready for delivery to children.

A few pointers about the gifts themselves, they need to be:

• Unwrapped – The Smith Family can only deliver unwrapped gifts to families

• New – only brand new toys can be accepted. No second-hand, handmade or damaged

• items please

• Gifts for children between the ages of 0-12 years

• Items not accepted – Unsuitable Gifts poster below

The house that raises the most gifts gets a massive 25,000 points, so give generously!!!