Assistant Principal Message

Year 6 Leadership Review - we need your feedback

At Mount Pleasant Road Primary School, we are continually reviewing our programs to ensure they provide meaningful opportunities for our students.

As part of this process, we are reviewing our Year 6 Student Leadership structure for 2027.

In previous years, every Year 6 student has been allocated a leadership role as part of a leadership team. This approach was designed to reinforce the belief that every student can be a leader and make a positive contribution to our school community.

While this philosophy remains important, we have found that the current model has not always achieved its intended outcomes. Some students thrive in formal leadership roles, while others prefer to contribute in different ways. We want to ensure our leadership structure is sustainable and provides authentic opportunities for students to make a genuine impact.

One option we are exploring is a model where students apply for a smaller number of formal leadership positions, such as:

• School Captains
• Student Representative Council (SRC)
• House Captains
• Community Leaders

• The Arts Leaders

   

Alongside these formal positions, all Year 6 students would participate in a leadership development program, providing every student with opportunities to build leadership skills, contribute to the school community, and prepare for secondary school.

Before making any decisions, we would love to hear from our families. Your feedback will help shape a leadership model that reflects the values of our school community and provides meaningful opportunities for our students.

Please take a few minutes to complete our short survey using the link below:

https://forms.gle/UfSD9wFRt4aqiHEJ9 

Thank you for your valuable feedback and continued support.

New Victorian Government restrictions on student use of personal electronic devices  

On 4 August 2026, the Victorian Government amended the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, requiring all Victorian schools to restrict student use of personal electronic devices during school hours.  

On Monday 12 October, further information was published about how schools must do this (Ministerial Order 1515 – Personal Electronic Devices in Victorian Schools).  

To follow the new requirements, our school will have a new Mobile Phones and Personal Electronic Devices policy. This policy will be in place from 2027 and will be made available on our website in/on [insert date/time period]. 

This new policy will restrict student use of: 

• mobile phones 
• smart glasses 
• wearable devices, such as smartwatches 
• personal audio devices, such as headphones and earbuds.  

Restricting these devices helps to ensure: 

• a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions 
• a safe environment for students, staff and visitors 
• greater opportunities for social interaction and physical activity during recess and lunchtimes, without the distraction or social pressures caused by devices. 

From Term 1 2027, the following restrictions will apply to these devices if they are brought to school:  

• mobile phones must be switched off and securely stored during school hours 
• wearable devices must have notifications, cellular connection and recording functions turned off during school hours 
• personal audio devices must not be used during school hours. 
• Our school can only grant exemptions to these restrictions to support: 
• student learning  
• health or wellbeing 
• the management of risks when students are offsite 

Our school can only grant exemptions to these restrictions to support: 

• student learning  
• health or wellbeing 
• the management of risks when students are offsite 

In addition to these restrictions, wearing or using smart glasses is prohibited on government school premises and at school organised event or activities, including those held offsite or outside regular school hours. This prohibition applies to students, staff, parents, carers, contractors, volunteers and other visitors. Exemptions can only be granted by the principal as a reasonable adjustment for disability and where the adjustment cannot be reasonably provided for by another device or approach. 

Our school will provide further information to you prior to Term 1 2027.

A parent support page on Mobile phones in schools(opens in a new window) is available on the department’s website. 

Amanda Nelson

Assistant Principal