From the Assistant Principal

Classroom Acknowledgements and Reconciliation Week:

If you would like more information on how to support Reconciliation in your homes, I encourage you to visit:

https://cool.org/national-reconciliation-week-education-resources

School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS):

We received great feedback from families regarding our new school values and their definitions.  The results were then taken to Wellbeing Sub-Committee last week where we looked at these definitions closely to ensure our wording was as inclusive as possible.   Last week we also had a professional learning session with staff looking at the kinds of behaviours we want to see in the playground, such as “Use kind words,” and will combine these ideas with our new school values to develop a matrix of expectations for our play spaces.

Wellbeing Sub-Committee:

Do you have a parental passion for wellbeing?  Our subcommittee is available for parents/carers to join.  We meet approximately twice per term and discuss supports available at our school, such as SWPBS, second-hand uniform stalls, breakfast club and food supports, etc.  If you are interested, please email the school’s main email with the subject: Wellbeing Sub-Committee to let us know you’d like to join us.  These meetings meet online Thursday evenings approximately twice per term.

Last Prep Tours!:

Nicole and I have been meeting lots of potential new members of our community in our Prep Tours this term.  There are only two tours left: Wednesday, 18 June and Tuesday, 22 July. Bookings through our Qr Code: 

And if you have a sibling joining us for prep next year, be sure to get your enrolment form from the office and return it asap so you are on the email list regarding upcoming transition dates.

Friday Recess Club:

Most Fridays at recess in term 2 have seen City of Port Phillip back again delivering an option for students to join.  This term has seen some Lego Club and Art Club options.  These clubs tend to be packed with students and several of our Skinners’ Playground Leaders facilitating.  We are very grateful for this continued relationship with Ruby, Bethany and the gang.  Skinners’ Playground has local options for play before and after school: https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/explore-the-city/beaches-parks-and-playgrounds/find-parks-and-playgrounds/south-melbourne-skinners-adventure-playground/

Placement Students:

As schools are a place of learning for all ages, this year we have also welcomed a variety of placement students to our school.  I am continuing our relationship with RMIT for ES placements and forging new connections to benefit our school community with resources to support both learning and wellbeing.  We currently have three Education Support placement students supporting in classrooms one day per week and one Masters of Counselling placement student supporting two days a week.  These supports will continue through term 3.  Next term will also see a few more Teacher placement students visiting us as they complete their final placements and I thank Cate Bain-Lowry for organising the Teacher placements.

Breakfast Club:

Our wonderful families who donate their mornings to breakfast club regularly support bellies full of toast, milk and cereal.  If you get a chance to poke your head through the window and say thank you, I’m sure they’d appreciate it.  Similarly, if you can please encourage our community to continue to use their thank yous and pleases, I’d really appreciate it.  If you are a family seeking extra food support, we can support with food boxes with long-life items, such as cereal, milk, soups and some canned goods from Food Bank.  Just pop me an email with the subject: food support, and we can arrange this for you. Additionally, you can visit: copp_food-directory-guide-2024_online_september-2024_fa_online.pdf

2nd Hand Uniforms:

Our second-hand uniform stall, run by Mel Jones, is looking especially spiffy with their slick, rolling racks!  If you have any uniforms (particularly sizes 8/10/12) you can donate, please bring them up to the office.

Regards,

Sam Smrekar Thompson

Assistant Principal