Safety First at BDC

Car parks, while often perceived as mundane locations, can quickly turn into hazardous zones if safety measures are disregarded. Parents, who frequently use car parks for school pick-ups and other activities, must prioritise safety to ensure their well-being and that of their children. 

Mobile phones have revolutionised our lives, offering convenience and connectivity at our fingertips. However, when used improperly, they can also pose significant risks, especially while driving in car parks. Many parents are guilty of glancing at their phones while navigating parking lots, thinking that it is a harmless act. However, this seemingly innocent behaviour can lead to devastating consequences for our students.

Our Parent Pick-Up area at BDC is designed to facilitate a smooth and safe process. We are proud that we are able to exit over 1200 people from our campus in roughly 40 minutes, with little chaos. However, Parent Pick-Up and other car park areas can quickly become chaotic if parents fail to adhere to established protocols. The rush to collect children can lead to hasty and reckless behaviour, endangering everyone involved.

To maintain safety at the beginning and end of the day, it's essential to follow designated lanes, parking spots, and traffic flow. Avoid double-parking or stopping in no-parking zones, as these actions impede the movement of other vehicles and pedestrians. We also ask parents to remain patient, waiting their turn to approach the pick-up area and refrain from blocking the path of others.

Remember, every action we take within a car park has the potential to affect the lives of others. By remaining vigilant, putting safety first, and setting an example for our children, adults can ensure that car parks remain the safe spaces they are meant to be.

Richard Smith
Assistant Principal (Head of Primary)

Year 1 Outdoor Education Day at Moonee Beach

We had an absolutely fantastic Year 1 Outdoor Education day at Moonee Beach Reserve! A huge thanks goes to Mr. Chapman, whose enthusiasm and organisation made the day truly unforgettable. The Year 10 helpers were incredible, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of our little adventurers throughout the day. Our appreciation also goes to the dedicated Year 1 Teachers for their support. The activities were a perfect blend of fun and learning, from the exhilarating Headland walk that showcased the breathtaking coastline, to the creative joy of making Beach Jars, and the excitement of the Scavenger Hunt that had everyone engaged. It was a day filled with laughter, exploration, and new friendships formed in the beauty of nature.

Primary Library

The term so far in the Primary Library has been a busy one. With the lead-up to Book Week absolutely flying by, each class has had a taste of the shortlisted books for 2023. Quality literature is accessible more than ever before, and Book Week reminds us of all of the important impact books have had or continue to have in our lives. As always, the Book Week parade reminds us all how much our students love books. Over 5000 have been borrowed in the Primary Library this year and it is only Term 3!

As we know, the information world we live in continues to change at a rapid pace, and in a 21st-century library, it is important to make students aware of and give them opportunities to view information through a range of different lenses. This year, we have been lucky enough to purchase a set of ClassVR VR headsets that can take students to so many different places, immersing them in 360-degree images or virtual worlds. Just as a picture is worth 1000 words, technologies like VR also allow for rich conversation and engagement in a topic.

To complement this new pathway to information, we are also lucky enough to have a HTC Vive headset allowing for full immersion into different virtual worlds. While still in its infancy, it’s been great to start to have Year 6 students be in a fully immersive environment, where their actual steps and moves are reflected in the virtual space. In the image below, the student is digging up the land ready for the planting of seeds. This a great peek into the daily jobs a farmer is responsible for, given the students are exploring the topic ‘Food and Fibre’ in Science. 

Whether it is exploring information on the internet, seeing how a robotic device deals with information, looking at information from a new perspective in VR, or listening to the text being read from a book, the multimodal nature of our information world means we must continue to prepare students for these various contexts that they will come across in their lifetime. It is imperative that libraries keep up and stay at the center of this information revolution!

Joel Davis
Primary Library and STEM Teacher

iHub Matters

Science Week

During Week 5 we made a feature of the resources that help support our science-related subjects. BDC library subscribes to a range of science magazines to keep current with trends and developments in the sciences.

CBCA Book Week

Week 6 is the beginning of Book Week at BDC and across Australia! (Saturday, 19 August – Friday, 25 August).

This Friday there is a Primary Book Parade, and displays feature in both BDC libraries during the week. It’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate the joy that reading brings into our lives.

Every year the Children's Book Council of Australia presents annual awards to Australian books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature. Right across Australia, the CBCA brings children and books together celebrating amazing new books.

There's a book for everyone, even if you're not sure what you like yet! 

Wear it Purple Day - Friday 25th of August

To celebrate this nationwide event, the BDC iHub hosts a display of LGBTQIA+ books, and visual materials on its TV display system. This year, alongside the books, there will be a writing station where students can share their words of support. 

How wonderful it is to be in an environment where such respect, and care for each other is evident.