Dear Parents and Carers,

What a fantastic week it has been! I’m truly impressed with the positive energy and engagement I’ve seen across the school. Firstly, I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone for their efforts regarding student attendance. We’ve made a remarkable start to the year, with attendance figures improved compared to this time last year. This is a testament to the commitment of our students, families, and staff. Let’s keep up this fantastic work! Remember, every day at school counts, and it’s going to take all of us working together to achieve our attendance goals.

School Council Elections
A reminder that our School Council elections are currently open for nominations. Nomination forms can be obtained from the office. The positions have a tenure of 2 years, and nominations close on Friday 7th March, at 4pm. In the event of receiving more nominations than available positions, a ballot will be conducted. Please enjoy the video message included from our School Council President, Davey Smith, for more information.

Annual Privacy Reminder to the School Community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice.
Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy https://boneops.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Photographing-Filming-and-Recording-Students-Policy-.pdf describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.
We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.
For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ privacy policy: information for parents.
Snow Camp Information Night
We are delighted to offer the Snow Camp experience once again this year for our Year 4, 5 and 6 students and their families. Last year’s camp received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with all attendees enjoying a memorable and enriching experience. This year, Snow Camp will take place in Week 7 of Term 3, from Sunday, 31 August to Friday, 5 September.
To learn more about this exciting opportunity, we invite you to attend an information session on Monday, 24 March at 5:00pm at school. This session will provide key details about the camp, including activities, logistics and approximate costs.
We look forward to seeing you there.

Boneo Community Market – requesting volunteers
The Boneo Community Market is held on the third Saturday of each month. I am reaching out early to seek volunteers for the next two markets, with a particular focus on the April market as it falls on the final weekend of the term holidays, which may impact availability.
If you are able to assist, please register your interest via the Conferences option on Compass or contact the office directly.
Your support is greatly appreciated.

Garden Stall
Thank you to everyone who attended our first Garden Stall of the year. We are delighted to share that the fresh produce sold out completely, and we sincerely appreciate your support.

School Voluntary Financial Contributions 2025

Schools provide students with free instruction to fulfil the standard curriculum, and we want to assure you that all contributions are voluntary. The ongoing support of our families ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students. Your voluntary financial contributions support our school to continually update and add to the digital devices within the school, complete upgrades to our buildings and playgrounds, purchase additional educational resources for student use and provide additional support staff to run extra learning programs. A reminder that school financial contributions can be paid via Compass. You may also pay at the front office.

Financial Assistance for Families

Conveyance Allowance

The conveyance allowance is a contribution towards transporting children to and from school.

To be eligible for the conveyance allowance a student must reside 4.8km or more from the school/campus they attend. This distance is measured as the shortest practicable route from the student’s residence to the school/campus using all-weather public roads drivable by car.

To be eligible for a conveyance allowance a student attending a mainstream school must attend:

their nearest government school/campus appropriate to their year level – being the closest school determined by the shortest practicable route from the student’s residence, or

the student’s Designated Neighbourhood School (DNS) – refer to Find my School website to identify a student’s DNS

The conveyance allowance may be available to students attending government or non-government schools and:
• travelling by public transport or by private car, motorbike, bicycle or bus, and
• whose nearest school is not serviced by a free school bus provided under the School Bus Program.

Please contact the office if you require further information or would like an application for Conveyance Allowance.

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund – CSEF

Please contact the school office if you have any questions regarding CSEF.

From the Prep Classroom

At the beginning of the week, the Preps took part in a ‘coloured milk’ language experience. This activity sparked their curiosity and became the inspiration for their talking, drawing and writing throughout the week. As they explored the swirling colours, they described what they saw with words like, ‘It’s a chemical reaction,’ ‘rainbow milk,’ ‘curious,’ ‘multiple colours,’ and ‘divine.’

Boneo Tennis Championships

Over the past few weeks during lunchtimes, we held our annual girls and boys Boneo Tennis Championships for students in Years 3-6.

With over 40 entries in our girls competition and some great matches, the final 4 were:

1st Poppy B

2nd Marcella G

3rd Annika S

4th Emily D

In the boys we had over 60 entries with many incredible matches and a very high standard of tennis. Our final 4 were:

1st Jordan S

2nd Dylan B

3rd Marley H

4th Elias D

Congratulations to everyone who entered and a huge thanks to the Year 6 students who helped run both competitions throughout. The medal and ribbon presentation to the above students will be made at assembly in week 7.

Poppy, Marcella, Annika, Jordan, Dylan, Marley and Elias will now represent our school at the District Tennis Competition next Wednesday (05/03) at Rosebud Tennis Club. Good luck to all!

District Swimming Carnival

Last Monday (17/02), we held our annual District Swimming Carnival where students in Years 3-6 competed in age levels against their peers for House Points in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. There was also a novelty race where students could also gain points for their House.

It was a very successful event with lots of stand out performances across the school. Our overall House Swimming winners for 2025 being Green for the third year in a row, pipping Yellow House by just 2 points to take this years crown.

From this event our school team for District was selected with the following 27 students representing Boneo P.S at District next Friday (07/03). We wish all those competing the best of luck.

12/13 – Xander J, Easton G, Elliott B, Indie N, Anabelle R, Indi W, Emily H, Scarlett S, Amelia H

11 – Barney A, Archer S, Walter J, Ezekial G, Taj F, Annika S, Lacey S, Ella P, Millani S

8/9/10 – Gordy H, Archie H, Kaio RR, Archer D, Thomas R, Layla F, Portia G, Freya D, Zara N