Welcome Back for 2012

On behalf of the Bold Park Staff I would like to welcome the school community back to Bold Park for the 2012 school year. It seems like yesterday that we were all enjoying a wonderful evening of Christmas celebrations at the end of last year. I trust that you have all had a wonderful summer holiday and are returning to school ready for another year of growth, learning and joy.

During the past month we have had a lot of work done during throughout the school to upgrade and maintain our environments. The early childhood building was painted internally and is now fresh and new inside. The three lower primary classrooms had the old airconditioners removed and the holes were replaced with coloured glass, the two west classrooms had double glass sliding doors put in the front of the classroom and they all had new split level airconditioning installed. So the classrooms now have more light and are cooler and quieter. You can now find Jan (Literacy focus) and Laura (Integration co-ordinator) in a office next to the library.

For the past week we have all worked hard to ready the school for your return. The teaching staff have been preparing the classrooms and school programs, administration staff have been working to make sure that you are supported in administration matters.  On friday all staff attendended a workshop with Steve Wells on Resilience in the workplace and life.

We have a busy year ahead and have already identified a number of exciting explorations and opportunities.

We look forward to another year of working together for our children.

Gillian McAuliffe

Director of Teaching and Learning

Professional Outreach in 2012

Once again we are pleased to offer an inspiring series of workshops in 2012 for educators from all sectors. Bold Park Community School offers high quality interactive workshops which challenge the participants to develop new skills and understandings. All workshops are held in our inspiring environments and are presented by our creative staff and leadership team. We offer the opportunity to engage in developing creative solutions to motivate and challenge students of all ages.  In 2012 many of our workshops will feature the creative use of technology.

All workshops include examples from the classrooms and a wealth of ideas for you to try in your environments.

For more information please click HERE to go to the Professional Outreach page.

BPCS Open Day Tour - Tuesday 13 March

Dr Sandra Hesterman's Extending Reggio Emilia Principles in the Middle School Context: A Western Australian Case Study

Following is an extract from Dr Sandra Hesterman's paper titled "Extending Reggio Emilia Principles in the Middle School Context: A Western Australian Case Study"

BPCS is unique. Its teaching practice has moved with the next generation. There is no doubt that this school offers WA families an exciting alternative education model for their children, one that embraces cultural and linguistic diversity in ways that empower MSS to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens. BPCS has realised the vision so frequently articulated by the Australian government. BPCS pedagogy and practice is consistent with the internationally acclaimed Reggio Emilia teaching approach. Its school philosophy is in step with contemporary research literature that advocates a holistic and integrated curriculum that extends beyond the primary school years. Extending Reggio Emilia Principles in the Middle School Context presents an exemplar of ‘best practice’ that provides fresh initiative and impetus to the Middle School reform movement."    Full article to follow.                                                            

Celebrating Mud Day at the Samajha Kalyan Orphanage in Panchkhal

On the 15th of the Nepali month of Ashadh (June 29th on our calendar), children all over Nepal celebrated Mud Day. 15th Ashadh, called Asar Pandhra, is traditionally the day that marks the beginning of the planting season, and for generations, this has been a great day of celebration all over the country. But now, something new has begun.

Mud Day is an opportunity for Nepalis not only to celebrate the productivity of the land, to eat a special rice-and-yogurt dessert and to enjoy the company of their friends and family, it is also a chance for children to appreciate the land in a different way. Rather than the land being the resource that supplies their livelihood, Mud Day encourages children to see the land also as something that they can love and enjoy, just
for its own sake.

Children at the Samajha Kalyan Orphanage in the Kavre region of Central Nepal have had the opportunity to celebrate Mud Day for two years in a row, thanks to the generosity of Bold Park School and Gillian from Australia. They (as well as their teacher!) got thoroughly dirty and enjoyed every minute of it. The children were given an opportunity to bring out their competitive side, with matches of football,volleyball, wrestling and races, receiving prizes for winning. The children were so happy to have gotten such an opportunity,
and, “hope such a help from you for conducting our program on coming future days.”In other words: “we hope you continue to help us have many more mud days!” To read the full article click HERE