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PROSPECTUS 2021

BYRON COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL WWW.BCPS.ORG.AU 53 TENNYSON ST, BYRON BAY NSW 2481. PH: 02 6685 8208 PAGE 2

We welcome your enquiry to arrange a personalised tour of our school.

Learn more about our excellent academic curriculum, extensive arts program and dedication to developing resilient and curious learners with enduring connections within the school and to the wider community.

53 Tennyson St, Byron Bay, NSW 2481 02 6685 8208 [email protected] www.bcps.org.au

Our school is large enough to provide exciting programs

that support learning at all levels, and small

enough to support each child as an

individual on their pathway through

childhood.


Byron Community Primary School (BCPS) is an award winning, independent school where students are guided to fully develop their individual sense of self in the modern world. Our school is a vibrant and inclusive environment where staff are focussed and committed to delivering a rich, balanced teaching program.

Our progressive and innovative curriculum is based on the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) program, customised to maximise each child’s potential. We aim to instil a love of learning, self initiative and a passion for personal excellence.

30 years of commitment from a generation of parents or guardians, staff and students has enabled our school to evolve from the vision of a few dedicated parents or guardians operating from a small converted shop on the corner of Ruskin and Tennyson Street, into a ten-room, 110 student school. Today, our facilities include a library, music room, recording studio, art room, dedicated makerspace room, multipurpose hall and large, technology enabled classrooms.

Set amongst appealing gardens and interactive play areas, every space is optimised for the benefit of the students. BCPS is a not for profit, incorporated association where staff and parents or guardians collaborate closely. We have a strong focus on values, and developing the “whole child” in a warm, nurturing and safe school environment is fundamental. We believe a primary school should be a world in “miniature” where, properly guided, students learn to become confident, engaged and active contributors to society, both in the local community and beyond.

CURIOUS, CREATIVE LEARNERS


To be a leader in the provision of innovative and holistic educational opportunites and challenges. To enjoy strong connections within the school and wider communites.


BCPS was established in 1988 in one tiny classroom on the corner of Ruskin and Tennyson Streets Byron Bay. Later, the school grew into four classrooms, with a library and a music room.

Although the school was small it still had big ideas, with a dedicated teaching staff and school community who valued education both in the classroom and in the wider community. Many of the activities that the students participate in now like Tournament of Minds, Becoming a Teenager program, camps and making community connections such as our annual Feros Village visits started way back then.

Family participation and involvement in the school has also always been valued. In the early days parents or guardians, staff and children would parade around the town with lanterns on our annual Lantern Evening with only one lantern ever catching alight! We still celebrate the Winter Solstice with lanterns and singing and our famous hot pot night. It remains one of our most revered school events by the BCPS community.

More recently, we have undertaken significant renovations and added classrooms and a new hall, including a purpose build visual arts space, a recording studio and an administration and amenities block. In 2016, we added a custom built makerspace classroom to our facilities where students can work safely and comfortably. We aim to continue our reputation as “a small school doing big things”.

In 2018 BCPS celebrated 30 years and the school continues to grow and evolve.

OUR HISTORY


GROWTH MINDSETGrowth mindset is about learning how to believe in your abilities. It is taught explicitly and practiced implicitly. An example would be a student thinking or saying or reacting to a situation they find hard in a negative or self defeating way, therefore using a Fixed Mindset and thinking thoughts such as ‘this is too hard’, ‘I’ll never understand it’, ‘I’m not smart enough’.

To change from a Fixed to a Growth Mindset students learn that some things are challenging and accept and acknowledge this.

They learn that anyone who practices a skill will improve their ability through dedication and persistence. Growth mindset thinking includes ‘This is hard but if I keep trying I can achieve’, ‘I can’t do it yet’, and ‘Practice and don’t give up, this will help me accomplish’.

Setting goals and striving towards them enables students to see the endless possibilities of a growth mindset, even if it involves an element of difficulty along the way. We have seen amazing academic and self esteem results from students who have transformed from a fixed mindset to one of a growth mindset in relation to mathematics. Those who couldn’t or wouldn’t believe in themselves in maths are now achieving to a high level.

Read more about growth mindset here:

Fixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets That Shape Our Lives

or watch:

Ted talk: Carol Dweck: the power of believing that you can improve

“if I keep trying I can achieve”

— in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests, or temperaments — everyone can change and grow through application and experience.


OUR VALUESAt BCPS our values help define what we do, how we do it and what we strive for:• Freedom with

responsibility• Realisation of academic

potential• For the love of

learning• Innovation & creativity• Self-awareness, respect

and compassion• Community

participation


WHY PARENTS & GUARDIANS LOVEOUR SCHOOLOur parents and guardians are welcomed into the community of BCPS families and are involved at every level in the education of their children.

"There is something special when as a parent you walk into a school and you can personally relate to all teachers and staff in a way that shows you they really know your child.

BCPS is like a large extended family where our children are educated in not only the ABC’s and 123’s. They also learn life skills - how to relate socially within their community, how to care for their peers and demonstrate respect and empathy, develop resilience and a genuine love for going to school everyday and learning in a stimulating environment."

"BCPS is as close to an extension of the family as we could imagine. It is an intimate learning environment where the kids and their wellbeing are at the heart. The teachers know and care for everyone in the school.

As a parent the door always seems open. We are encouraged to join in and help out in all aspects of the school.

There is also an attention to detail that comes with the intimate size of the school."

BECOMING A TEENAGER (BAT) PROGRAMThis program has been specifically created for the Whales (Years 5/6) class here at BCPS. It was designed to support relationships between students and parent(s) or guardian(s) to enable open discussion on aspects of change, understanding, compassion and development.

Becoming a Teenager includes learning about transition into high school, puberty, changing nature of friendships, drug use and abuse, human sexuality and decision making.


COMMUNICATIONOur families are encouraged to engage in their children’s education and contribute their own set of unique skills to the learning experience. We recognise the important role families play when they involve themselves in our school. Our families all have unique qualities to share and it is a privilege to incorporate these in our school, whether it’s our talented musical parents or guardians, those parents or guardians with a keen drive for sport and physical education, our dancers and drama parents, cooks, gardeners, builders, adventurers and grandmothers and grandfathers with stories to share. Our community of families contribute enormously to the overall learning experience of our students, create and maintain a sense of ownership, belonging and unity within our school.

We communicate and encourge family involvement through a number of ways:

• Conversations in the school yard

• Parents or Guardians /Teacher interviews

• Our weekly newsletter

• Through our website: www.bcps.org.au

• On our facebook site: byroncps


SOCIALCIRCLESCommunication and respect are two fundamental principles at our school. We believe that students are responsible for their own decisions and behaviour, and their effect on others, and that students must accept the consequences of their own behavioural choices.

Often we use the concept of a social circle to address conflict in the school. A social circle is an idea based on the concept of restorative justice. This idea helps students own what he or she has done, and make it better for those people who were hurt or affected. It involves the community in helping both parties, and at its heart recognises that those who do wrong may also need healing.

WHAT HAPPENS IN A SOCIAL CIRCLE?A social circle takes place when students can’t solve a problem themselves and is made up of the Principal and all the students involved in the conflict including bystanders. Each student is given the chance to tell their version of events and all are asked to share the problems they can see and present ideas for any solutions to the issue. It is important to have all students involved to ensure they are all reflecting on the choices they made during the issue. A report and contract is written up based on the outcomes of the social circle, signed by the students and sent out to parents or guardians. Over the following weeks the behaviour of the students involved is observed by staff and the students meet again to review the contract and give feedback.

Supported self- responsibility


CLASSROOMSThe school has four classrooms, with each classroom comprising of two age groups. The Dolphins class is the youngest and it is made up of four year olds turning five (pre-school age), and five year olds turning six (school age).

The two year program allows for a more nurturing way of starting the school experience. The younger students have the opportunity to develop their social confidence and resilience, whilst learning from the older students in the class. The older students in the class have a greater academic expectation, where students are ready to challenge themselves having built their confidence and prior knowledge in the previous year.

• The Dolpins are our Kindergarten class (four and five year olds)

• The Seahorse class is the Stage 1 class (Years 1 and 2).

• The Starfish are Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4).

• The Whales are Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6).

The school also runs a school wide ‘buddy’ program, which partners the eldest students in the school with the youngest in the school. Students have fond memories of their buddies when they started at the school and take the responsibility of being an older buddy seriously.

“One of my favourite programs is the Buddies Program, where the Year 6 and Year 5 kids get buddied up with the kindy kids. For the first few weeks of the term we eat with the kindy kids and play with them”. Mira. “It is our job to look after them and make sure they are happy and safe in the playground”, Olive.

Our classrooms are designed to ensure comfort and encourage a harmonious atmosphere. We incorporate flexible seating and use lounge chairs, rest areas, wobble stools, exercise bikes, bean bags and other options which ensure students are not restricted to sit in a single dedicated chair for the duration of the day.


OUR MISSION STATEMENTWe...• Provide opportunities for students to explore

and develop their full potential, both academically and socially through innovative teaching methodologies

• Provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment• Teach children to resolve conflict, make educated

decisions and accept responsibility for their actions• Engender confidence, resilience, creative thinking

initiative and constructive communication skills


Sue Stewart Kindergarten Assistant

Sue assists in the supervision of educational activities and with the everyday organisation of the classroom routines, thus giving the teacher more time for planning and teaching.

SPECIAL(IST) STAFFWe value our happy and enthusiastic teachers and staff. Everyone employed at BCPS is here with the same mandate; to support our students academically and emotionally so they may thrive. By undertaking regular personal development and specialist teacher training programs we strive to stay abreast of the most contemporary educational approaches. As well as our dedicated class teachers we are at the cutting edge of learning with a broad number of specialist staff engaged by our school to support each child to their full extent, encourage their growth mindset and open them to a world of opportunity.

As well as classroom teachers for each of our four stages, we have a number of specialist teaching staff:

SPECIALIST STAFF• Technology and Engineering teacher

• Drama and Performing Arts co-ordinator

• Teacher’s assistants – Years 1-6

• Visual Arts teacher

• Library administrator

• Language and Cultural Studies teacher

• Kindergarten assistant

• Music tutor

• School Counsellor


IMPORTANT DATESOur school thrives on a sense of community locally, nationally and globally. Through a calendar of events, we instill that principle into the classroom and into our annual celebrations:

• Whole School Family Party – early first term to welcome new and existing families

• Lantern Parade – celebrating the Winter solstice with our annual lantern parade, singing and heartwarming hot pot night

• Open Morning – opening the school to the local community

• End of Year Performance – a theatrical and musical extravaganza spotlighting the talents of the students and parents or guardians

• NAIDOC Week

• Becoming a Teenager Ceremonies – before and after camp – celebrating family and individual strengths

• Mothers’ Day

• Fathers’ Day

• ANZAC Day

• Year 6 Graduation

• First Day Back – Transition Ceremony

• Clean Up Australia Day


Payment:

Payment of fees can be made in the office using the following methods:

1. Cheque made out to Byron Community Primary School Incorporated 2. EFTPOS/Visa 3. Direct Transfer – use child’s name as reference or invoice number 4. Cash (not a preferred option)

All admin fees must be paid according to the table above. School fees can be paid off in installments. Please arrange an appointment with the Finance and Administration Manager to document a payment plan so that it can be submitted to the School’s Leadership Team for approval. This is due to be done before the end of week two of term.

If fees are not paid according to the tables above your child’s privilege of attending this school may be withdrawn and the bond used to cover any unpaid debts.

Extra Curricular expenses: Excursions, Camps, Instrumental Music, Dance and more.

The school offers a rich and varied extracurricular education program. Charges

for these programs will incur additional costs to those mentioned above and may need to be paid for as part of school fees.

Holidays/Extended Absences:

If you intend to temporarily withdraw your child’s attendance from school, the following fees apply:

a. Up to four weeks – no discount b. Anytime over and above four weeks – fees will be charged at 75% of the scheduled rate.

If you decide to withdraw your child’s enrolment and re-enrol upon return, it will be considered as a ‘new enrolment’ and you will be required to pay all enrolment acceptance fees.

Withdrawal of Enrolment:

Four weeks notice within the current term is required upon withdrawal of enrolment. Failure to give appropriate notice will result in four weeks’ fees being charged from date of notification to the administration of the school.

Note: Above school fees are current at time of publication and are subject to change without notice. It is expected that school fees will rise from year to year.

SCHEDULE OF FEES 2021 ENROLMENT FEES• There are two fee schedules;

– K2 (four year old students in kindergarten)

– K1 to Year 6

Please refer to the relevant schedule

(K2 incurs higher fees as this class is not eligible for Commonwealth Government funding)

Payment of Fees:

All fees are to be paid in full by the end of week two of each term unless arrangements are made to pay by written and signed agreement with the Finance and Administration Manager.


FeeApplication Fee

Registration of Enrolment

Bond

Enrolment deposit – will be credited against your account. The balance and subsequent term’s fees to be paid as outlined belowTotal

Amount$157.50

$367.50

$500

$817.50

$1842.50

PayablePayable upon lodging applicationAt time of acceptance of an offer of a placeAt time of acceptance of an offer of a placeAt time of acceptance of an offer of a place

ENROLMENT FEES

RefundableNo

No

Yes, 90 days after withdrawal of enrolmentNo

SCHEDULE OF FEES 2021: Years K1 to 6

TUITION FEES

FeeFirst child

Second and subsequent children

Amount$1275.75 per term

PayableThe balance of the first term’s fee and subsequent term fees are payable by the end of week two of each termAs above

RefundableNo

No

LEVIES K1 TO 6 These apply to all individual students and are payable annually at the beginning of the year or

the date of enrolment (as a pro rata payment).

FeeSchool Classroom Materials Levy

Building and Maintenance LevySpecialist Teacher LevyResource Centre LevyStudent Accident Insurance LevyArt Supplies LevyInformation Communication Technology LevySports Levy

Online Subscription LevyFamily Contribution Levy (FCL) – families are required to contribute 6 hours of volunteer time

AmountYears K1 to 2 – $194.25Years 3 to 6 – $220$400$210$94.50$19.50$110.25$200K1-2 – $78.75 per termYears 3-6 – $100 per term$100$35/hr times 6 hours per term = $210

RefundableNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo

NoThis charge will be added to school fees in advance and offset as FCL hours are met

SCHEDULE OF FEES 2021: Years K2

FeeApplication Fee

Registration of Enrolment

Bond

Enrolment deposit – will be credited against your account. The balance and subsequent term fees to be paid as outlined belowTotal

Amount$157.50

$367.50

$500

$967.50

$1835.00

PayableAt time of acceptance of an offer of a placeAt time of acceptance of an offer of a placeAt time of acceptance of an offer of a placeAt time of acceptance of an offer of a place

ENROLMENT ACCEPTANCE FEES

RefundableNo

No

Yes, 90 days after withdrawal of enrolmentNo

TUITION FEES

FeeFirst child

Second and subsequent children

Amount$1650 per term

$1,520 per term

PayableThe balance of the first term’s fee and subsequent term fees are payable by the end of week two of each termAs above

RefundableNo

No


LEVIES K2 These apply to all individual students and are payable annually at the beginning of the year or the

date of enrolment (as a pro rata payment).

FeeSchool Classroom Materials LevyBuilding and Maintenance LevySpecialist Teacher LevyResource Centre LevyStudent Accident Insurance LevyArt Supplies LevyInformation Communication Technology LevySports LevyOnline Subscription LevyFamily Contribution Levy (FCL) – families are required to contribute 6 hours of volunteer time per term or be charged this levy in lieu

Amount$194.25$400$210$94.50$19.50$110.25$200$78.50 per term$100$35/hr times 6 hours per term = $210

RefundableNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoThis charge will be added to school fees in advance and offset as FCL hours are met


Enrolling your child at BCPS: For a child to start at BCPS the parent or guardian must complete an "Application for Enrolment Form". A non refundable application fee of $100 is payable at this time.

Once this form is complete you will be invited to participate in an interview with the relevant class teacher and Principal.

Upon offer and acceptance of an application all enrolment fees and necessary documentation are to be completed and signed.

Submitting your application:

1. Application for enrolment of a student can only be made on the official application document and must be accompanied by:

a. Non -refundable $100 application fee

b. Copy of the student's birth certificate

c. If born outside Australia also provide a current passport photo page, visa

and/or Australian citizenship certificate

d. Passport photo of your child

e. Copies of latest school reports and those of the last two years plus any state or national testing results (if applicable)

f. Any reports including medical or educational specialist reports which refer to your child's behaviour, aptitude or medical condition.

2. The decision about the enrolment of any child is made on the basis of full and complete information being provided to BCPS plus a successful interview with the Principal and class teacher.

3. Students applying from overseas may be interviewed on line but will be placed on a 'probationary enrolment' until week 4.

How BCPS reviews the application:

Placements in BCPS are prioritised on the basis of any or all of the following:

– siblings of existing students

– students returning from an approved leave of absence

– children of former students

– children of current teachers

– date of receipt of application

– appropriate age

– the quality of the reference from the previous school/preschool

The final decision that a child be accepted for enrolment rests with the Principal.

Places in K2 will be confirmed on a date published by BCPS.

Offers for placements in other years are made as availability arises.

Should a vacancy arise throughout the year in any year level BCPS will contact the next family on the wait list to arrange an interview.

ENROLMENT PROCESSBCPS POLICY & PROCEDURES

The rationale of our policies and procedures are to ensure student and staff welfare, adherence to regulatory requirements and clear communication across all aspects of our school life.

A comprehensive list of BCPS policies is available on our website www.bcps.org.au

Anti-Bullying PolicyChild Protection Policy & Procedures Critical Incident Management Policy & ProcedureCode of ConductCommunication PolicyEnrolment PolicyExcursion/Incursion PolicyFirst Aid PolicyGrievance Resolution PolicyHomework PolicyMedication PolicyPrivacy PolicyStudent Attendance Policy & ProcedureStudent Behaviour Management Policy & ProcedureStudents with Disability Policy Sunsafe PolicyStudent Supervision PolicyUse of Electronic Facilities Policy


As a community school we ask families to be involved in our school to ensure it offers our students the best opportunity for success. Each family is expected to contribute six hours of volunteer time per term to our school. Where this is not possible a Family Contribution Levy (FCL) is applied at an hourly rate of $35 per hour or $210 per term. There are numerous volunteering opportunities both at the school itself and behind the scenes. Some examples include covering library books, assisting class reading groups, gardening, contributing towards the preparation of end of year performance, assisting with lunch pickup. There are many ways you can help and we encourage you to work out an arrangement that best suits your commitments and lifestyle.

The FCL is invoiced in advance each term and hours contributed are then credited against your FCL the following term. It is an audit requirement that all families are invoiced. Please ensure to record your FCL each time you volunteer your time in the register located at the front office.

A couple of things to remember:

• Excess FCL hour credits cannot be used to pay school fees

• Excess FCL hour credits cannot be carried forward to the next year but can be carried forward from term to term within the year.

Family Contribution Levy (FCL)


And a final word from our VIP’s We asked our Year 5 and 6 students to write down what they thought about our school and we are proud to offer some astoundingly mature insights into their experiences at BCPS. These are their own words.

“I like BCPS because it’s unique. We have lots of programs that other schools have never even thought about like Becoming a Teenager, Surf School, Rock and Water, Food Dudes, Matrix and even a Halloween disco! The teachers are another matter. They are great at what they do. The specialists are perfect and the class teachers do everything so well and so naturally.” (Zac)

“Socially this is arguably one of the best in the country. If something happens in the playground the school is there to fix it up. Whether it be to sit down and have a talk or sorting it out ourselves things are always done in the right way”. “ Overall my school time at BCPS has fully prepared me for high school and I can’t wait!.”(Gabe)

“BCPS has open arms and welcomes kids with different ideas and perspectives. The school encourages freedom with responsibility and the culture is for the kids to express themselves. Due to the small

and compact size kids from all age groups interact and know each other. The teachers understand the kids and make learning enjoyable and teach the way that children want to learn.” (Leo)

“The other subject I enjoyed is the one and only (drum roll) Maths. I love maths because at this school the teachers teach all of the methods and they teach very clearly. My last like is the freedom , the freedom of the clothes” (Jackson)

“When I first came to this school one of the first things I noticed was how welcoming the environment was. Teachers would come up to me and ask what my name was and it was nice to know that people were noticing me and welcoming me.” (Olive)

“So I’ve had my fair share of schools and I love this one the most because we don’t have to wear a uniform which equals diversity and form of self expression which is amazing because I love being able to express my style.” (Amazon)

“The programs at this school are endless such as the sport activities (AFL, surf school, swimming, cross country, sports carnival), BAT, drama, end of year performance, buddies, rock and water,

STEM and many more. These activities are super fun and let you have fun outside of the classroom.” (Marley)

“There is also a lot of freedom here at BCPS (like the motto freedom with responsibility). For one thing there is currently no bullying; and the last time I saw something that remotely resembled it (in year 3, 2014), the problem was pursued and solved, not just forgotten about.” (Yonah)

“We also have incredible teachers who are not boring, but funny, and make things fun for us. This school does not have good teachers, we have expert teachers.” (Skye)

53 Tennyson St, Byron Bay, NSW 2481 02 6685 8208 [email protected] www.bcps.org.au

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