From the Principal Team

Parent Helpers

A massive thank you to the many parents who have been enthusiastically helping plan and prepare the upcoming Ringwood North Family Festival. 

Parents have planned an exciting day for the whole family and it is sure to be a great day out. 

The Festival Committee is aware of the many issues people may be experiencing and so are trying to make the requests to families for donations and support as manageable as possible. Please help where you can. See the Festival page for details.  

School Council have agreed that all funds raised in the school in 2023 are going towards initially restoring the surface of the oval, which has started to break up a bit. 

With any luck we will pass the required funds ($45,000) raised following the festival, so the School Council have a larger target of being able to restore the Oban Pines Hall (the Hall). We have sought political support and government funding for this project, which has been priced at over $500,000, but may be able to make small steps towards improving this building so that it suits our sporting and community needs into the future. School Council will provide an update on our progress on restoring the oval in November this year. 

Upcoming Referendum

Following the announcement of the anticipated date for this year's referendum, the Department of Education has released information to school staff in relation to what this might look like in schools. I think it is helpful to share this information with parents so that you know exactly what might be expected over the coming weeks. 

There are restrictions on political activity in government schools, too, which would limit any parent- or community-led activity related to the referendum from happening on school grounds. I am sure as we get closer to the date, people may wish to be active in this space and we encourage and support this activity, I just wanted to make it clear what role schools can and can't play in relation to such an important decision for our country. I look forward to hearing students engage with the topic and develop their understanding of the related issues. 

Advice to staff

The referendum is a very important and significant event, as is the case with all referenda. The department encourages and supports discussion and the respectful sharing of views about the referendum in school communities.

It is expected that discussion and learning about the referendum and the debates that have led to the holding of the referendum will be part of classroom activities in the weeks leading up to the vote.

School principals, teachers and staff should, however, ensure that in their professional roles they do not and are not perceived to persuade students to hold a particular view on the Voice.

It is expected that school staff will discuss and share views and opinions about the referendum with colleagues. All staff should be aware that there will be a diversity of views held about the referendum, should not make assumptions about the views that colleagues might hold and should ensure that all such discussions are held with respect and sensitivity.

Any school staff members can engage in campaign activities in their private capacity and own time.