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The Band Program is an incredible opportunity for BPS students to hone their musical talents alongside a community of like-minded musicians and taught by experts in their field. Our Band has a prestigious past as is 100 years strong. Taking part in an award winning ensemble of this scale in a primary school setting is an incredibly unique experience and we are lucky to offer this opportunity to our students from Grades 3 to 6.

Students have an individual lesson each week on their instrument and attend a band rehearsal or ensemble session. Band rehearsals are held before school and lessons during the school day on a rotating timetable so students do not miss the same subject each week. Available instruments include: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, bass guitar, percussion and guitar. 

Through their lessons, students learn a variety of music for soloists or small groups and many undertake Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) exams. Our bands perform several times across the school year at school events and concerts, and OXFAM Concert and Victorian School Music Festival. Students in the program also showcase their talents at many of our whole school special events and notable celebrations. 

The Band Program is a user pays system, and all students must provide their own instrument. Entry into the program takes place after the annual Band Recruitment Evening held in February each year: all Grade 3 and above students are invited to attend this event. We look forward to seeing you there.

Blackburn Primary School welcomes Carly Cassidy to the team as the School Chaplain. 

Chaplaincy services aim to support the emotional wellbeing of students by providing pastoral care services and strategies that support the emotional wellbeing of the broader school community. Pastoral care means looking after the wellbeing and personal needs of students, not just their academic needs. Information about chaplaincy services in Victoria can be found at:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/mentalhealth/Pages/nscpchaplaincy.aspx

 Chaplaincy services may be provided in any of the following forms:

(a) On an individual basis (one on one discussions with a student)

(b) In a group setting (discussions with groups of students)

(c) or a combination of both (a) and (b)

If you would like your student to access the Chaplaincy program at Blackburn Primary School, please talk to your child’s teacher. You will then be asked to fill out a form to consent to your child receiving the chaplaincy services. You may also be asked to fill out a referral form. This form contains relevant information to be provided to the chaplain so that he/she can provide appropriate services to the student. 

If you need any assistance or clarification please do not hesitate to contact the school.

The Patch Program is a kitchen garden program with a difference. We include all students in the program from Foundation to Grade 6. Our aim is to bring integrated studies to life by engaging students in various kinds of investigations both in the natural environment and in the classroom. Students learn to plant, care for, harvest fruit and vegetables and prepare, cook and eat food from their own garden. We are fortunate to have a large sustainable garden accessed by the entire school. Students have built the garden themselves using recyclable materials.

Students enjoy:

• learning about indigenous cultures through growing and eating bush tucker foods;
• practising recycling through caring for worm farms and composting food scraps;
• bringing history into the present through cooking and gardening experiences; and
• applying literacy and numeracy skills in gardening projects and scientific explorations.

We have our very own kitchen/garden teacher that collaborates with classroom teachers to create lessons that link to the curriculum and allow students to experience hands on learning in a natural setting.

Blackburn Primary School is currently working closely with two sister schools from China. We established a sister school partnership with Nanjing Fuxing Primary School in 2011 and with Beijing FCD International Yuan Yang Primary School in 2015. Our sister school partnership is based on the principles of mutual benefit and cooperation in promoting Chinese & English language learning and in-depth exchanges in the fields of Sports, Art, Science and other subjects. This partnership aims to encourage our Chinese friends to learn better English and motivate us to work hard on improving our Mandarin speaking skills. The sister school program enriches our learning experiences, broadens our students’ perspectives and develops their intercultural understanding. The project positively contributes and builds teacher and student communication, learning and collaboration.

From 2011 to 2018, Blackburn Primary School has organised seven successful China Study Tours. More than fifty B.P.S. families and nine teachers have participated in these Tours in the past seven years. Trips typically go for fourteen days and students are exposed to modern Chinese culture while exploring the past and rich historical culture too. Students journey through Beijing, Xi’an, Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai and immersed ourselves in the languages, the art and the history. Another important part of the Tour is spending time with both of our sister schools and experiencing daily school life in China. These fascinating visits strengthen the sister school partnership.