Principal's Report 

I trust this update finds you well and you’re all managing to stay warm and dry in this first week of winter.

Over the past fortnight, it’s been a pleasure to delve deeper into Port Melbourne Primary School, connect with students and their families, and join teachers in their classrooms to experience the calm, productive, and positive learning environments that characterise our school.

Recently, I’ve arranged one-on-one conversations with members of our staff which have helped me understand more about the dynamics of Port Melbourne Primary School and the things that make our school great. It's been wonderful to hear the consistently positive outlook from our teachers, leaders, and education support staff. When I ask staff what they love about Port Melbourne, the responses almost always revolve around 'the people' or 'the community.' These sentiments reflect the nurturing environment established at Port Melbourne, the positive culture we foster for our students, and the fantastic community that surrounds this school. I’ll meet with more of our staff over the coming weeks and I anticipate learning more about the school, our accomplishments, and what’s next through these discussions.

Last week was an important one as we observed Reconciliation Week. It was a proud moment to see our students engage so well with Aunty Jacko during last Monday’s assembly. Congratulations to the students who led this special assembly. The week was filled with insightful activities, providing valuable knowledge about First Nations history, contemporary issues, and culture. Well done to all our students who took advantage of this opportunity to learn more about our country’s history and the importance of indigenous culture in its future. 

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) ran on Wednesday. I'd like to express my appreciation to everyone who attended. The evening was a great opportunity for me, and fellow School Council and Leadership Team members to connect with the community and reflect on the significant progress made at Port Melbourne in recent years. I'd like to express my appreciation for the leaders, teachers, and support staff whose significant efforts have been instrumental in transforming PMPS. Their dedication, along with the help of community volunteers, has shaped this high-performing school that I've been warmly welcomed into recently.

Mobile Phone and Homework Policies

Our leadership team has worked with School Council to make important updates to two policies, our Mobile Phone and Homework Policies. You’ll see the updated policies on our website now. Unfortunately, we continue to see issues related to students’ misuse of mobile phones and other devices and I’m pleased we can share with you our proactive responses to these issues. Homework plays a vital role in consolidating knowledge learnt in class and helping students to practice their skills.

I'd highly encourage you all to read through these updated policies and discuss them with your children. We want to ensure that everyone within our school community is on the same page, understanding the guidelines and expectations we have put in place. 

It’s hard to believe we’re only two weeks from the end of Term 2. As we approach Term 3, I eagerly anticipate the continuation of my learning journey and building upon the school's accomplishments. 

I wish you all a restful (and warm) long weekend.

Tom