Principal News
Term 2 is well underway with lots of learning opportunities and events on the calendar. A reminder to families to keep up to date via the Important Dates Page on this newsletter (previously published copies of our newsletter are available on the school website https://www.lockington.vic.edu.au/ .
Today is our annual Fun Run, with staff and students looking forward to this event. Hopefully we will see as many spectators as possible at the event, with the first runners due to take off at 11:45am.
This term also sees our senior students participate in the Echuca Soccer and Netball tournaments and our Year 6 students heading off to GRIP Leadership Day in Bendigo.
ANZAC Commemorations
Last week we held our school ANZAC Ceremony and our students had the opportunity to join our school leaders at the Lockington District ANZAC parade and service. On Friday our school ceremony included a wreath laying, minutes silence as part of our regular Friday afternoon assembly. On Saturday many students participated in the ANZAC march from Lions Park to the Community Centre, this parade was lead by our proud school captains. The captains also addressed the audience, sharing their reflections on ANZAC Day and reading the poem Sir. One of our Year 4 students, Charlie, delivered the ANZAC Requiem. All of our students represented our school with great respect and showed reverence throughout the ceremony. Thank you to the amazing Jenny Howlett who always does such a wonderful job organising our school's participation in the town service.
Welcome to the World
We have our first enrolment for Prep Intake 2032!
Congratulations to Em (ak Miss Gusman) and to her husband, Nick on the arrival of their beautiful baby boy, KOBE JOHN. Mum and bubs are doing well. We can not wait for a visit.
Leadership News
Congratulations to Lily McDougall on her appointment as Vice-Captain (following Olivia Pelly's recent move back to Bendigo). Lily has had to hit the ground running this term, already clocking up duties at our Friday assembly and at the town ANZAC Ceremony. We are confident that Lily will be a most reliable and responsible school leader.
Security
Unfortunately, over the holidays we had some further trouble in the early hours of the morning, when persons tried to break into our mower shed (again), this time they were unsuccessful but managed to damage our lock as well as leaving tyre tracks/indentations over our front lawn. We also had an internal alarm sound inside the main building. Police are investigating these incidents as well as trying to ascertain if they are linked to the theft of the ride-on mower late last term.
School Council has made the decision to install security cameras to the external parts of our main buildings. These cameras will cover all entries/exits as well as the yard. Students will not be filmed inside their classrooms or in any part of the buildings. Whilst the cameras do record during the day, these recordings are taped over after several weeks and would only be accessed and reviewed following any theft, vandalism or trespassing. Please contact myself if you have any concerns regarding this security measure.
Thank you
A very huge thank you to Grant Miles (with some help from Rachel and Henley) for spreading the piles of soft-fall in our Year 3-6 playground over the holidays. A further thank you to the Sproal-Portwine family for their raking and further spreading works. This area looks great and it was so lovely to have it ready to go from the first day of Term 2.
Late last week we took delivery of some soft fall and sand for the P-2 play areas and some of our students have begun spreading the loads. Thank you to James Hann and family for coming up last weekend to help with some of the spreading.
We really appreciate all of our families who help to make our
wonderful school even greater - those who are members of School Council and/or Parents and Friends, canteen volunteers, book coverers and so on.
Boys To The Bush
We have ten boys from Years 4-6 participating in this five week program. The boys have completed two full days sessions so far which have included some work on the values of Respect, Engagement and Community , community service work and a visit to Bunnings. Below is a video report from the Week 1 session and some pictures.
Education Week Celebrations- you are invited!
Education Week will run from Monday 18th May to Friday 22nd May. Of course every week is Education Week at LCS! The theme for this year is "Showcase Your School" and we invite our families to join us on Friday May 22nd for a sausage sizzle lunch and outdoor activities. This event will then be followed by our whole school assembly. More information and flyers will be sent out soon, so keep an eye out and keep the date free.
Student Attitudes to School Survey
Students in Years 4-6 will be invited to participate in the annual Attitudes to School Survey. This survey gives our students an opportunity to provide their opinions, thoughts and experiences regarding our school. It is completed in class and is anonymous. Feedback from the survey is used by our school to drive improvement across our teaching and learning programs, student wellbeing and to ascertain how our school's results compare to other schools in our network and across the state. Our surveys will be completed during the week beginning May 11th and further details will be sent to relevant families over Xuno next week. Families are asked to read the information and there is information regarding steps to take if you do not wish for your child/ren to participate.
Australia Education Union Industrial Action
As many of you would be aware the AEU is currently in negotiations with the Victorian Government regarding the pay and work conditions for Victorian Public School Teachers and Education Support Staff.
Due to an agreement still not being reached, there is further industrial action due to take place this term.
A half-day Stop Work Action is due to occur on 19th May. This may affect some classes and programs at our school, please keep an eye out on Xuno for information regarding this action.
A further action that could affect families is the AEU ban on teachers providing written comments in the mid-year student reports. Students would still be assessed and marks given, but written comments would not be made. Our school is yet to make a formal decision regarding this, once again communication will be provided with families via Xuno.
School Council
Our next meeting will be held at 6pm at the school on Tuesday May 19th. Councillors are reminded to let myself or Lisa Lind know if you are unable to attend.
That's all for this week, Lisa Duffy