10 May 2022
A/g Principal Marc Warwick (left) with parents Aanika Shah (middle) and Emma Paton (right).
From Monday 9 May parents were allowed back on school grounds for school pick up and drop off, as well as activities including fundraisers, after-school events, and school information nights.
At Bonython Primary School, parents are excited to connect with each other and get a greater sense of what is happening in their school community.
“Having a connection with other parents has been lacking in recent years,” Bonython parent Emma Paton said.
“Being able to have those chats and build that rapport with other parents or parents of friends of your child is really fantastic.”
Aanika Shah is a parent at the school, a member of the P&C and is a School Board Chair. Aanika is looking forward to seeing the friendly faces of the school community again and being able to connect and spread news of what is happening at the school.
“It will be great to have P&C events at school again and be able to have the kids involved, including being able to have younger and older students together again,” Aanika said.
Bonython Primary School’s P&C will be celebrating 30 years in 2022 and will have fun activities planned to celebrate, including a school fete and the famous Election Day sausage sizzle fundraiser.
“We’re excited to be able to have some bigger celebrations, including discos and community events. Instead of having smaller groups at events, it will be great to have a whole school event with all of our families and school community,” said Aanika.
Marc Warwick, A/g Principal of Bonython Primary, is looking forward to being able to have students interacting across year levels and acknowledges the independence and resilience he has seen in students during COVID.
“Some of our children found it challenging to walk through the school gate without a parent or carer during the recent COVID restrictions and seeing them progress and adapt to become more independent self- managers has been a big positive, Marc said.
“Our mantra at Bonython is ‘Learning with purpose and passion’ and effective learning can happen in partnership with our families, who we strongly value for their support with learning. While we’ve made effective use of technology and using different ways to stay connected, it’s so wonderful that we can now come together with Bonython families and also have volunteers again supporting our school under changed restrictions.”
Students will also be able to interact across year levels and Bonython has already removed some separations in the school playground. Marc acknowledges that younger students are used to being with their own year group but will quickly adapt to spending time with different aged students.
Emma and Aanika are also excited to be able to interact on-site with their children’s teachers, after having to interact online for so long.
“It will be good to be able to have those ad hoc conversations at school with the teacher, if there’s anything you want to raise, instead of burdening them with another email that can easily be a quick conversation,” said Emma.
“We’re impressed with the school community’s effort to stay connected, particularly the teaching staff and school executive staff, and we’re so excited to connect in person again,” said Aanika.
Parents are happy to be able to connect with their school and each other on site.