Principal Report

Good afternoon Parents/Carers,

Can you believe that we have just finished Week 7? That means only 4 more weeks until the start of the Summer Holidays. Here are some updates as we head towards the end of year.

2025 School Captains: 

Over the past few weeks, Year 5 students have been going through a staged process for 2025 School Captain. This concluded today, with four students being selected. Please join me in congratulating Abby & Chamil, our 2025 School Captains, as well as Charlie & Isla, our 2025 Vice School Captains. To find out more about this process or to support your child in their future leadership endeavours, please see the link below. The next round of leadership roles will be released shortly. 

Class Creation:

Thank you to all parents/carers that provided considerations or feedback in supporting their child for next year. Our teachers have spent a number of hours drafting classes and this will continue over the coming week. To find out more about class creation, please see our policy on Compass. 

2025 Transition Day: 

Tuesday, 10th December is our whole school transition day, aligning to the State-Wide Year 7 Orientation Day.This morning is a special opportunity for all students to step into their new classes for 2025, meet their future teacher, and connect with classmates for the year ahead. As we approach this day, classes work through a range of lessons and social stories on managing transitions and change. All students will take home a letter outlining their 2025 class, teacher and room. 

Whooping Cough:

Whooping cough cases are continuing to increase across Victoria, particularly among school-aged children. Whooping cough is a very contagious infection, mostly spread through coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include:

· blocked or runny nose

· tiredness

· mild fever

· severe bouts of coughing, often followed by a ‘whooping’ sound on breathing.

Whooping cough can lead to life threatening infections in babies.

If your child is unwell, they should not attend school. Please see a doctor if you or your child develops whooping cough symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment will help reduce the spread of the infection. 

Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of whooping cough. The Department of Health recommends staying up to date with immunisations, including booster doses. A free booster dose of the pertussis vaccine is covered under the national immunisation program for students aged 12 to 13. If you are unsure about your child’s vaccination status for whooping cough, please discuss with an immunisation provider, such as your doctor.

Covid-19 & Influenza Cases:

We are continuing to see a steady number of students will a cold, Covid or Influenza across the school and Victoria. As above, please monitor your child and if they are unwell, they should not attend school.  

All staff, students and visitors to schools should practise good hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. It is recommended that staff members, students or visitors who have symptoms of cold, influenza or COVID-19 do not attend school, or go home as soon as possible after becoming unwell at school. The Department of Health recommends that staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 isolate for a minimum of 5 days and do not attend school until their symptoms resolve.

I really appreciate your support in keeping our students safe and well.

Have a lovely weekend!

Erin McNamara