Need to know 

Welcome back to all students and their families, and in particular our 2023 Year 7s and new students across other year levels.  

Communication 

This "From the Principal" bulletin is sent out fortnightly, and contains important information as well as some "Nice to Know" articles.   The information is organised in pages, so if you are time poor and just want to skip straight to the important stuff, the "Need to Know" page is for you.

I have included a directory of key staff and a calendar in this edition.   Where possible, please try to direct your queries directly to the relevant staff member.   For more general queries, feedback or concerns, please contact me directly at AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au

We have a 48 business hour response policy.  Sometimes, if staff have busy teaching days, meetings, or other commitments, an email or voicemail may be missed.  If you have not had a response within the required time, please message me on AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au and I will follow up for you directly.  

For those of you savvy with social media, the St Helena Facebook Group (search "Official St Helena Secondary College Community Support Group") enables you to connect with other parents and staff.  Our wonderful Community Engagement Leading Teacher Caitlin Fecondo will also reply to questions on the FB page.

I recognise that we will not always get things right.  Schools are large and complex organisations, with many competing priorities.   We welcome respectful and constructive feedback, and will always work with you to resolve any issues you may have.   Please do not hesitate to make contact if you believe we haven't done the best by your child.    Our complaints process is here:   https://sthelena.sharepoint.com/sites/web/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2Fweb%2FShared%20Documents%2F2017%20NEW%20St%20Helena%20SITE%2FInformation%2FA%20to%20Z%20Policies%2F21%2D07%2FComplaints%20policy%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2Fweb%2FShared%20Documents%2F2017%20NEW%20St%20Helena%20SITE%2FInformation%2FA%20to%20Z%20Policies%2F21%2D07&p=true&ga=1

Toilet Access

For students in Years 8-12, toilet access to their relevant mini school toilet is via their 2022 Student ID card.  These will still work until the new cards arrive in late March.

Year 7 students will have their ID cards distributed to them hopefully next week.  In the meantime, access to the Junior School  toilet is via a key obtainable from the Junior School office.  The Junior toilets will be supervised by a teacher at lunchtime who will facilitate access.  

Can students please report any damage or mess in the toilets to me ASAP so that we can keep on top of it and keep the toilets clean and functioning.  

Canteen 

I encourage students to ensure they come to school with something nutritious in their stomachs as the new 5 period day means a longer time until recess.  

There is a brief five minute changeover between Periods 1 and 2, at 9.30 am, so at the very least students should have a piece of fruit or other nutritious snack as they move between classes.   An adolescent brain does not function well on an empty stomach! 

Rapid Antigen Tests

The school will no longer be handing out RATs to students.   Council offices will supply them free of charge to families who want them, but the government has ceased the school supply program.    We do have a significant stock from last year, so if you would like some tests please contact the general office.  

Traffic

Our pick up and drop off zone is a very busy place, particularly before school.  I ask that parents please:

1.  Consider dropping students a couple of streets away and allow them to walk the last couple of hundred metres to school.
2. Those who do use the "kiss and drop" zone are encouraged to make the transition as quickly as possible to ensure a steady and safe flow of traffic. 
3. Do not use the front driveway for drop off or pick up between 8 am and 9 am, or from 2.30 pm -3.30 pm, unless you need to access the disabled parking spaces.    A combination of pedestrians, buses, bikes and cars is potentially disastrous.
4. Be patient.   Please do not allow your child to get out of your car in the middle of Wallowa Road.  

Safety is our main priority.  

Important Policies

The Department of Education & Training requires that we draw your attention to a number of important policies on an annual basis.   Please navigate to:   https://sthelena.vic.edu.au/policies/

to find, amongst other policies:  

1.  Child Safety Responding & Reporting, Child Safety Code of Conduct & Child Safety Commitment.
2. Camps and Excursions Policy
3. Parent Payment Policy 
4. Injured & Unwell Students
5. Interschool Sport Participation 
6. Mandatory Reporting Policy
7. First Aid Policy 
8. Mobile Phone Policy
9. Medication Management Policy
10. Onsite Supervision times 
11. Acceptable Use of Technology Policy 
12. Liability for Injury or Property Damage
13. Privacy Policy
14. Mutual Respect (anti-Bullying) Policy
15. Respectful Behaviours in the School Community Policy 

Buses

Bus passes have now been allocated to students and will be handed out over the next few days.   Students will receive an email from Renae Widdicombe inviting them to attend the Middle School office to collect their pass.  

We have become aware that the bus companies have been unable to accommodate our slightly later finish time this year, and this is creating an issue for some students getting to their bus on time at the end of the day.  We are working on options to resolve this, but in the meantime bus travellers may take their bags to Period 5 so that they can go directly to their bus at the end of the day.    I will send a Compass notification once we have determined how we will resolve the issue.  

The Outer Edge (TOE) Program - Years 10-12

Gratitude

As we already know, positive psychology focuses on positive thoughts and behaviors. Its constructs include optimism, hope, and, you guessed it – gratitude (Iodice et al., 2021).

As part of Seligman’s PERMA model, which includes positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement, a key positive emotion includes gratitude (Lianov, 2021).

Gratitude is strongly related to wellbeing (Jans-Beken et al., 2020; Wood et al., 2010). The positive effects of experiencing and expressing gratitude are endless.

Gratitude has been found to be beneficially associated with social wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, and psychological wellbeing (Jans-Beken et al., 2020). It is no surprise that trait gratitude is an important “predictor of wellbeing and other desirable life outcomes” (Portocarrero et al., 2020, p. 6).

Gratitude appears to have a domino effect. If a person experiences gratitude, they are more likely to recognize the help and then later reciprocate that help (Wood et al., 2010).

 People who are thanked are presumably more apt to extend help to others in the future.

Likewise, people who are not thanked may not be expected to provide reciprocation in the future. The expression of gratitude is beneficial for both individuals and society (Bono et al., 2004).

We encourage our students to show gratitude through the Positive Psychology strand of our STRIVE program.

I also encourage students, parents, and staff to show gratitude for teachers and education support staff  who have gone above and beyond their role by nominating them for a merit. 

Simply email AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au with the name of the staff member and the reason for the merit.   I transcribe your text onto an Award which is given to the staff member anonymously.   It not only makes the recipient feel appreciated, it makes the giver feel good too!  Staff can be nominated for a merit at any time throughout the year.