Saltwater College Newsletter

Leadership Report

Written by Brent Syme

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we move into the final stretch of the term, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and families. With only a few weeks left before the term break, it’s essential to maintain momentum and ensure that students continue to engage in their learning.

 

Across weeks 8 and 9, our students have been participating in NAPLAN assessments. These assessments provide valuable insights into student progress and help us tailor our teaching to support their needs best. We encourage families to help their children approach NAPLAN with a positive mindset, ensuring they get plenty of rest, eat well, and arrive at school on time each day.

 

Attendance remains a key priority during these final weeks. Every school day counts, and regular attendance is essential for students to stay connected with their learning and peers. As we approach the term break, we also encourage parents to support their children through the transition to a different routine. Some students may find changes in structure challenging, so talking through expectations for the break can help ease this shift.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support—we appreciate the partnership we have with our families in creating a positive learning environment for all students.

 

Harmony Day

On Friday, the 21st of March, our school proudly celebrated Harmony Day, a day dedicated to promoting inclusion, respect, and cultural diversity. It was heartening to see our students and staff come together to mark this important occasion. Many wore a touch of orange, symbolising unity and harmony, while others showcased their cultural heritage through vibrant traditional dress.

 

The day was a wonderful reminder of the rich diversity that makes our school community unique. Together, we continue to foster an environment where every individual’s background and traditions are celebrated, creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all.

 

Happy Harmony Day! Let’s keep spreading the message of kindness, respect, and understanding every day.

Ramadan

The Holy month of Ramadan began recently. It is a special month that involves fasting from first light (pre-dawn) to last light (post-sunset). We have a number of students and staff who observe Ramadan, and families off course. Anyone wishing to use a celebratory greeting throughout Ramadan can say, “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means ‘have a blessed Ramadan’.

Early Dismissal on Last Day of Term One – 2.30 pm 

We would like to inform you that, as per the Department of Education (DE) policy, students from Prep to Year 9 will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025, the last day of the term.

 

If you require care for your child, Big Childcare will be operating as usual on this day. To make arrangements, please get in touch with Big Childcare directly via email at saltwater@bigchildcare.com or by calling 1300 273 162 or 0413 258 139. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we wish you all a wonderful upcoming break! 

Hobsons Bay District Swimming Gala

We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievements of our wonderful Secondary Swim Team who competed at the District Swim Gala this week. The students had a wonderful day in the sun with some exceptional results. Please congratulate the following swimmers on their brilliant results; 

  • Lincoln Norgate – 1st 200 metre open group Freestyle, 1st 50m Butterfly, 1st 50m Freestyle 1st 50m Backstroke, 2nd 100 metre Backstroke and 3rd in the 100 metre open group Butterfly.

  • Mikayla McBroom – 1st 200 metre open group Freestyle, 2nd 100 metre Backstroke, 2nd 100metre Butterfly and 3rd 50m metre Backstroke.

  • Marcus Ng - 2nd place 50m Breaststroke and 3rd place in the open group 100 metre Breaststroke

  • Tanya Tam -  2nd place in 100m Freestyle

  • Cyrus Liu  - 3rd in the 50 metre Backstroke

  • Roxana Mocko -  3rd place in 50m Freestyle

  • Gayashi Dissanayake -  2nd place 50m Breaststroke

Congratulations also to the 13 year old girls (Sanvi Porwal, Parivitha Sreenivas, Sarisha Thapa and Tanya Tam) who came 1st in the 4 x 50 metre Medley Relay and the 14yr girls (Mikayla McBroom, Roxana Mocko, Xinyan Guo and Gayashi Dissanyake) who came 1st in the Freestyle Relay. Well done to the 14yr boys (Lincoln Norgate, Paul Perrot, Marcus Ng and Cyrus Liu) who came 2nd in the 4 x 50m Medley Relay and 2nd in the Freestyle Relay.

 

A massive thank you to all the teachers and parents for all their hard work at swim practice preparing the swimmers for their events.

 

A huge well done to Lincoln Norgate, Mikayla McBroom, Parivitha Sreenivas, Sarisha Thapa, Xinyan Guo, Tanya Tam, Roxana Mocko, Sanvi Porwal, Gayashi Dissanayake who finished first in their races and have qualified to compete at the next round of competition in Geelong in the next two weeks. We have also just been informed that despite our boys medley team finishing second they have also qualified for regionals so Marcus Ng, Lincoln Norgate, Cyrus Liu and Paul Perrot will have the opportunity to compete again in Geelong. We wish them all the best of luck!

Additionally, we are incredibly grateful to the families who have cheered on and supported our swimmers both in and out of the pool. Your involvement is invaluable, and we appreciate all your support.

 

Each and every one of them displayed dedication and skill throughout the competition, and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts.

Saltwater College Student Engagement Garden

Supporting Student Wellbeing & Reengagement

 

We are excited to introduce the Student Engagement Garden at Saltwater P-9 College! This initiative has been designed to support select students' wellbeing and reengagement at school by providing them with a hands-on opportunity to learn about gardening, sustainability, and environmental care.

Thanks to the generous support of Bunnings Warehouse, we have received planter pots, seedlings, soil, and compost to help establish the garden. The school has also contributed by purchasing essential supplies, including a trolley, gardening hats, gloves, buckets, watering cans, and spades. Additionally, we have secured a donation of truck tires, which will be creatively repurposed into planting spaces.

To further enrich students’ learning, Bunnings team members will be visiting to assist with planting and share their gardening expertise. We have also engaged with the local council, who will run an educational session on composting, sustainability, and garden growth, helping students develop valuable knowledge about environmental responsibility.

 

Parent Volunteers & Donations Welcome!

To ensure the success of this program, we are seeking parent volunteers to assist with garden construction and ongoing maintenance. If you have an interest in gardening, sustainability, or hands-on projects and have completed the parent induction along with a Working with Children Check, we would love your support!

We are also accepting donations of garden supplies to enhance the space. Items we are looking for include:

  • Pots, soil, pebbles, and seeds

  • Plant cuttings, garden gnomes, or figurines

  • Old broken tiles and paddle pop sticks (for fairy gardens)

This project will meaningfully impact student engagement and well-being, and we appreciate the support of our wonderful school community in bringing it to life. If you are interested in volunteering or donating supplies, don't hesitate to get in touch with the school office.

Thank you for helping us cultivate a space where students can thrive!

 

Thank you, 

On behalf of the Leadership Team