Principal's Report

Welcome to Week 7 of Term 2 and to our first newsletter within a new format. We hope that you find ‘iNewsletter’ easier to read, smart-device compatible and, most importantly, the information within it relevant and interesting. Within our newsletter, we want to show you all the great things that are happening at our school. 

Enrolment for Prep 2024

Thank you to the attendees to our 2024 Prep Information Night yesterday evening. Our School Captains, Olive and Persy, opened the event with an acknowledgement of country and proudly shared their stories from their beginning years at our school. Thank you to our Assistant Principal, Georgia Despotellis, and Learning Specialists Bronwyn Fensham (Literacy) and Stephanie Sim (Numeracy) for their contributions as well. 

Enrolment applications for Prep 2024 are due by 28th July and if you would like to join us for a school tour, they are co-led by our School Captains and will continue to run each Friday from 9:30am. Please contact our School Office for more information. 

Government Schools Principals Conference

Earlier this week I joined my colleagues across the state at our annual conference, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. With speakers including the Minister for Education and Minister for Women, The Hon. Natalie Hutchins MP, we focused on state-wide initiatives in Education, including a deep focus on strategies to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for the system. 

‘Doing Our Best’

As I move towards the conclusion of my fifth week in our school, I am beginning to sharpen my focus onto areas for improvement. At the most recent junior and senior assemblies, we have focused on some of the areas that maybe we have taken for granted, or let slip a little, over time. These include:

• Using eye-contact when you speak with someone.
• Replying with, ‘and how are you?’, when someone asks how you are.
• Holding the door open for others as they exit an area. 
• Using please and thank-you. 
• Understanding the importance of appropriate behaviour at assembly. 

In addition to this, Georgia will discuss some new initiatives in our student wellbeing approach, focusing on both acknowledging and celebrating positive behaviours, as well as having a systematic approach to addressing negative behaviours. 

As the adults in our community, our staff and families also have an important role to play. Let’s never forget our pleasantries when communicating and always assume positive intent; this will help us on our journey to be the best school we can be. 

Upcoming Building Project Survey

With thanks to our Major Projects Sub-Committee of School Council, you will receive a survey link via Compass in coming days, with the purpose of collecting information regarding our upcoming ‘school upgrade building project’. The school has been invited to begin the planning process for the election commitment project announced last year of $9 million to build a new ‘competition grade’ gymnasium. The voice of our students, staff and community is integral to ensuring the project best fits the needs of our school. 

Roof Maintenance Update

We continue to work with the DE maintenance team to ensure our roof maintenance works are completed in a timely manner. A report has been tabled from the engineering team and quotes are being sourced for works to begin as soon as possible. I will continue to keep our community updated through this newsletter and from Compass. 

Curriculum Day (Student-Free) 

Please remember that the first day of Term 3, Monday 10th July, will be a student-free day. All staff will be attending a training session with maths expert Charles Lovitt. Team Kids will run a vacation care program on this day.

Thanks for your ongoing support and keep doing your best.

Rohan Cooper

Principal