From the Leadership Team
Acting Principal Introduction
I would like to take a moment to introduce myself as the Acting Principal for Term 4. It is both a privilege and a great responsibility to lead a school, and I am committed to ensuring that the school's vision, values, and commitment to developing the whole child remain central to all we do. I am very much looking forward to connecting with families and contributing to the wonderful work and achievements that make RNPS such a special place.
My most recent position was Assistant Principal at Wulerrp Secondary College, and prior to that Assistant Principal at Norwood Secondary College. While my background is in secondary education, I am confident that my leadership experience is highly transferable. I am excited about the opportunity to work alongside students, staff, and families to ensure a positive and productive term ahead.
Observations:
Over the past two weeks, I’ve been incredibly impressed by the strong and positive culture that exists among staff. Both teaching and education support staff show a genuine commitment to continually reflecting on and improving their practice to enhance outcomes for all students.
It’s clear that the school places a strong emphasis on academic achievement while maintaining a balanced focus on student wellbeing and the development of the whole child. This holistic approach is evident in the supportive relationships, inclusive practices, and the range of extra-curricular opportunities available to students.
Our students are happy, engaged, and enthusiastic learners who embrace both their classroom learning and the many extra-curricular programs offered, from lunchtime clubs and sports, instrumental music lessons, to camps and excursions.
I’ve also been grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received from parents and carers. It’s evident that our families value the direction of the school and take a genuine interest in their children’s learning and growth.
Accessible Building Program
As part of the Department of Education’s and our school’s shared commitment to ensuring our facilities are accessible to everyone, we have been working with the Victorian School Building Authority to enhance access across the school. The recent works include the installation of twelve new automatic doors, additional ramps and handrails, and other improvements designed to better support the specific needs of our students. This project has been fully funded through the Accessible Buildings Program.
Student Arrival Times
We kindly remind families that students should not arrive at school before 8:30am. Yard supervision begins at 8:45am, and staff are not available to supervise students before this time.
Arriving after 8:45am ensures your child is safe and supervised before the school day begins. Thank you for your support in helping us keep all students safe and well cared for.
Changes to digital device use
The Department of Education has recently announced changes to the Student Digital Device Use in Primary Schools policy. From 2027, the Victorian Government is introducing changes to the use of digital devices for students from Prep to Grade 6.
Under the new guidelines, schools:
will no longer invite families to purchase or bring their own digital devices to use at school for Prep to Grade 6
will follow new recommended digital device times, including minimal device time for Prep to Grade 2; and a maximum of 90 minutes per day for Grades 3 to 6.
As a school, we are supportive of the policy’s intent. These changes are intended to support families by reducing cost-of-living pressures. They will also support students by reducing screen-time which can reduce the risk of eye strain, sedentary behaviour, and reduced peer interaction. These reforms complement Victoria’s nation-leading mobile phone restrictions, ensuring an integrated approach to addressing digital distraction and the inappropriate use of technology.
What this means for our school:
From 2027, we are required to cease our current Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program from Grade 4 to 6. Instead, we will provide class sets of digital devices for use by students. Students who have been using BYO devices prior to 2027 will be encouraged to continue to bring their devices to school, but we will be following the new recommended device use times.
Students with disability who use a digital device as a reasonable adjustment are exempt from these changes.
These changes are intended to support families with cost-of-living pressures and reduce student screen time.
You can read more about the changes on the department’s website: Digital Learning: Policy.
We are currently considering how these changes may, or may not, impact our plans for 2026 Grade 4 students and families. Once we have greater clarity, we will communicate any updates and next steps with our community as soon as possible.