Our application for the federal Building the Education Revolution grant is proceding. We have extended the original proposal to include internal wall changes in the White and Green Cottages, repair to the west wall of the Green Cottage, improvements to our Physical Education teaching area and improved outdoor study areas. The school will be visited by the Independent Schools Grant Authority, who manage the grant process for us on behalf of the federal government, on Monday 25 May and we should know if we can procede by the end of June.

On the Thursday before Easter the Middlies and Biggies rode from school along the shore of the Derwent. We had morning tea at Montagu Bay. The Older group had lunch at the BMX track at Geilston Bay while the younger ones stopped Lindisfarne. It was a lovely sunny day. There was one loose back wheel and no puncture but plenty of scrapes and cuts from the BMX track. 

These are the current plans from the architect, Nigel Legge, for the changes to the Gold Cottage that we are seeking to have funded through the Building the Education Revolution grant.

For more information contact Richard Atkinson. Feel free to leave comments on this page, or at the Office.

Click on the links below for detailed plans:

• Gold Cottage addition First Floor Plan
• Gold Cottage addition Ground Floor Plan
• Gold Cottage addition Elevations
• Gold Cottage addition Elevation Details

Design Notes

Construction 
• Floors - Polished concrete
• External and internal walls - block-veneer Ground Floor, timber framed First Floor
• External wall linings - cement sheet
• Internal wall linings - plasterboard
• Roof - Colorbond finished custom orb.
• Windows - Single glazed laminated Low E energy efficient glazing with timber frames,
• stained and clear finish.
• Lighting - Compact fluorescent
• Joinery - Laminated finished craftwood, cork board pinboards.

Design Issues
• Drain levels checked with plumber. Plenty of stormwater sumps provided.
• Maximum 1:20 grade to disability path so no handrails required.
• Space behind Multi-use classroom allows storage
• Library retains domestic feel important for Bellerive Cottage School
• Appearance ties in with existing school and does not compete
• Energy efficiency improvements
Provide opening to maintain daylighting to Grade 6
Single Low E glazing
Inprove insulation and provide thermal mass
Provide shading by eaves.
Replace old HWC with new heat-pump HWC (if budget allows).

On Saturday 14 February 2009 we had our first working bee for the year. Once again we were lucky with the weather and had a fine sunny day.

Thank to all those who could make it, we got lots of jobs done.

In addition to the usual, and invaluable cleaning and tidying we sanded and varnished the Middlies desks and concreted the base for the new flag pole. We also levelled out a space in preparation for the large playground rocks near the Green Cottage.

I’m looking forward to hearing from the families who couldn’t join us on the day, so we can arrange follow-up jobs.

On Saturday 22 June 08 we had our second working bee for the year. A large number of the school community turned up on a very cold but fine day and got through most of the jobs that we hoped.

 As well as the usual cleaning, varnishing, sanding and library work, we straightened the back fence and lifted the floorboards in the Green Cottage to inspect the foundations. The biggest surprise under the floor was a mummified cat skeleton.

 Thanks to everyone who attended this most successful day.

On the last Environment Day of 2007 the Biggies and Middlies decided to go to Mary Anne Bay on the South Arm Peninsula. The day was sunny with quite a brisk north-easterly breeze blowing. However, when we reached the beach we were in the lee of the wind.

It was a perfect spot and soon the children were swimming, snorkling, exploring the rock formations, jumping off rocks, building in the sand, playing cricket, beach combing or just hanging out with friends.

Aren’t we lucky the Clarence City Council have acquired Arm End Farm for us and future generations to enjoy!

This is Penny’s fabulous math stuff for the biggies:

• fractals
• tusitara - school stuff - maths
• fractions
• fraction to decimal conversion
• rules for fractions
• CoolMath4Kids
• Wild on Math
• the diamond 16 puzzle

This will become the repository of news, calendar, student work, and more - hopefully before too long.

The main reason for the change is that this format allows students and staff to maintain this part of the site, post updates, and keep everything more relevant and up to date than it has been.