From the Principal 

School Council Office Bearers 2024

The 2024 School Council Members:

Parents: Stefan Conrad, Alina Bakham, Monique Graham, Judith Anthony, Belinda Griffiths and Sasha Buis

Staff: Richard Earl, Courtney Mason and George Danson

Community Member: David Schmidt

At last week’s Special First Meeting After the Poll, the new School Council elected its office bearers. 

President: Belinda Griffiths

Vice President: Monique Graham

Treasurer: Stefan Conrad 

Secretary: Richard Earl

Sub-Committee Leaders were confirmed.

Finance: Belinda Griffiths and Stefan Conrad

Social and Fundraising: Judith Preston

Education: Courtney Mason

Buildings and Grounds: Courtney Mason

Baby News

Richard Earl and his wife Maddy welcomed their son into the world last Sunday. Harrison is their first child, and they are overjoyed. We wish them all the best at this very special time. Hannah Jackson has stepped into the 34B classroom and will teach the students for the rest of Term 1 as Richard is on paternity leave. Hannah has done extensive work at Le Page Primary School covering extended leave. Hannah has a great rapport with the students, parents, and staff. 

Engagement News

Nick O’Donovan is one of our Integration Aides, working with the senior students. Nick proposed to his best friend Elly on the weekend. They are now happily engaged. We wish them all the best. 

Seeking Community Feedback Regarding Change of Uniform Provider

Beginning 2025, the Le Page School Council is proposing to change the school uniform supplier from PSW https://www.psw.com.au/ to 

State Schools’ Relief (SSR) https://stateschoolsrelief.org.au/

Details and survey responses are available via https://forms.gle/ZFXTedtqgvUyd5ku8 

Heating and Cooling Update

The replacement of Block A’s heating and cooling systems is progressing well. The hall will be ready for classes and TeamKids next Wednesday March 13. 

School Gardens

The front-of-school garden beds were excavated this week, in preparation for mulching and replanting. This work is a continuation of the redevelopment initiated by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority Grant. The grant funded flag poles, new trees and plants, a memorial plaque and iron soldier silhouette.

School House Cross Country F-6

Our annual School House Cross Country qualifier is coming up on Wednesday March 27, 2.00pm to 3.30pm. This is a great school event, and family and friends are welcome to come and support their children. The top placed Year 3-6 students will represent Le Page Primary School at the District Competition next term.

Arriving on Time and Regular Attendance

Students are arriving late at school. Some students regularly arrive up to an hour late. It is an expectation and vital students are at school ready for a 9.00 start. The first 10 minutes of the day involves the students reviewing the school’s vision and mission statements, their class mission statement, and collective goals. The attendance role is marked, and the day’s timetable is shared before period one starts at 9.10. The first period is usually Reading instruction. Students who arrive late miss out on the most important learning of the day. Consistent lateness results in students missing out on weeks, months even terms of learning to read, and falling behind academically. I strongly advise parents to make arriving on time a priority, for the academic development and the wellbeing of their children.More importantly is school attendance. A day absent from school results in the student missing six 50-minute targeted teaching and learning periods. For every day a student is absent, the more catching up academically and socially is needed. This can cause emotional stress. Students with high absenteeism rates miss out on weeks and in some cases terms of learning in all subjects. Such students can leave primary school having missed 18 months to 2 years of education. This has a disastrous impact on a child’s academic, social, and emotional development, and unfortunately can cause irreparable disadvantage, as they may never be able to catch up with their learning. Teachers will contact parents when there is a pattern of arriving late and after consecutive days of unexplained absence. Families struggling to meet the expectations of regularly arriving on time and high attendance, are strongly encouraged to work with the school, to increase the opportunities for their children’s personal and academic growth, and long-term happiness.

Labour Day and Student Free Day

Next Monday March 11 is the Labour Day public holiday. Tuesday March 12 is a Student Free Day. The staff will commence working on the development of a Multi-Tiered Systems Support framework for additional targeted teaching, wellbeing, and positive behaviour management. The framework will clarify what is done by classroom teachers (Tier 1), what is done by school tutors and teachers outside classrooms (Tier 2), and what is done in and outside classrooms by visiting teachers, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists, for students receiving Disability and Inclusion funding (Tier 3).

The Importance of Student Voice and Agency

Promoting student voice through the lens of the Leader in Me is an empowering process that fosters a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and accountability. Through various initiatives and practices, students are encouraged to express their opinions, ideas, and concerns, knowing that their voices are valued and respected.

One way we promote student voice is by incorporating student-led meetings and decision-making processes into the school's governance structure. Students are elected by their peers on a semester basis, to be Student Lighthouse Team members (Student Representative Council). They discuss issues, propose solutions, and make decisions that affect their school community. This gives students a sense of ownership over their learning environment and teaches them important leadership and problem-solving skills.

Students articulate how satisfied they are when planning and facilitating special events such as themed days, student clubs and workshops, and fundraising drives. They express pride when prioritising the purchase of, and choice of resources, which has included new play equipment, outdoor game spaces, chicken coops and gardens, sport equipment and structures and fitness tracks. Student Voice survey feedback is consistently positively endorsed higher than like-schools, network, and state schools. 

Classroom practices including the daily start up routine are student-led. Each morning students in all classrooms manage housekeeping tasks i.e. saying the Acknowledgment of Country, reciting the school vision and mission, and the class mission statement. The students refer to their collective class goals and demonstrate monitoring and progress recording of evidence using T charts. Calling the attendance roll, reading, and clarifying the daily timetable is also part of the routine. Student-led discussions, peer mentoring, and collaborative projects provide opportunities for students to voice their thoughts and contribute to the learning process. By actively engaging students in discussions and activities that encourage dialogue and collaboration, we empower them to take ownership of their learning journey and develop the confidence to express themselves effectively.

The effect on students is profound, as they develop a strong sense of self-efficacy and agency. They learn to advocate for themselves and others, develop empathy and understanding, and become active participants in shaping their school culture. Moreover, promoting student voice cultivates a positive school climate where students feel valued, heard, and supported, leading to increased motivation, engagement, and overall well-being. By embracing the Leader in Me philosophy and promoting student voice, we are not only preparing students for academic success but also equipping them with the essential life skills needed to thrive as responsible, compassionate leaders in their communities.

Thought for the Week

"If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."— Roald Dahl

Have a great week everyone.

George Danson