Leadership Report

Dear Saltwater Families,

Welcome to this week’s edition of our school newsletter. As always, we’re excited to share updates, celebrations, and important information from across our school community. From recent events to staff professional learning and upcoming opportunities, there’s plenty happening across all year levels. We hope you enjoy reading about the wonderful things taking place at our school!

Turning of the Sod

Last week marked an exciting milestone for our school with the official Turning of the Sod ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction on our next stage of development. Our Principal, Jackie Daniali, was joined by the Local MP for Point Cook, Mathew Hilakari, and our School Captains, Maitri and Elijah, to mark the occasion. It was a proud moment for our community as we look ahead to the future growth of our school and the new learning spaces that will benefit students for years to come.

Happy Principal's Day

Last week we celebrated Principal's Day, a special opportunity to recognise and thank our incredible leadership team for their ongoing dedication to our school community. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our Principal, Jackie Daniali, for her inspiring leadership, unwavering support, and commitment to every student and staff member. We also acknowledge and thank our Assistant Principals – Amanda Palombi, Sarah O'Connor, Taxia Katsouranis, Brent Syme, Matt Hart, David Vivoda, Sarah Grenfell, Hayley Mann, Joe Doyle, Mark McInerney, and Danielle Colling – for the vital roles they play in shaping a safe, inclusive and high-achieving school environment. We are truly grateful for all they do, every day, to lead with integrity, compassion, and purpose.

Whole School Curriculum Day

On Friday 1 August, our staff participated in a whole school curriculum day focused on the fourth module of the Berry Street Education Model: Character. This workshop centred on developing student character strengths to support resilience, perseverance, and a strong sense of identity. Staff explored how to explicitly teach character skills such as empathy, integrity, and gratitude, and how to embed these into everyday learning experiences. The day also highlighted the importance of fostering a culture of respect and purpose in the classroom, equipping students with the tools they need to thrive both academically and personally.

This session marks the conclusion of our multi-year commitment to upskilling our staff through the Berry Street Education Model, with the majority of our staff now fully accredited. We are proud of the collective work undertaken to strengthen wellbeing and engagement practices across our school.

Parking Near School Crossings

We’ve recently noticed unsafe driver behaviour near our school, particularly around the Carrick Street crossing. Parking in 'No Stopping' zones, especially near supervised crossings, poses a serious risk to student safety by limiting visibility and creating congestion. These rules are in place to protect our children and support our crossing supervisors. We understand school drop-offs and pick-ups can be busy, but we ask all families to follow signage, avoid restricted areas, and drive with care. Together, we can ensure a safe journey to and from school for every student.

Science Week

This week has seen Saltwater College celebrating National Science Week and this year’s theme is 'Decoding the Universe'.

Over the week, students have been able to engage in our exciting line-up of planned activities, including:

• Fun demonstrations and hands-on activities ran by our dedicated Science faculty in the science lab every lunchtime.

• Extra themed activities were run in science classes throughout the week.

• Some science classes even got the chance to experience special VR sessions with Mr McNabb!

It’s all been about exploring, experimenting, and having fun with Science. We hope we were able to make this year's Science Week out of this world for our students!

2026 Future Prep Enrolments

During Term Two, we conducted school tours on Friday Mornings for prospective Prep students and their families. We would like to remind any of our current families to enrol their school-age children as soon as possible. Enrolment forms can be sourced on our school website. Letters of enrolment offers have been sent to families and a repeat offer will be sent in mid-August, so we ask for all enrolments to be completed before that day. We are looking forward to welcoming our new students and their families to our school community in the near future, with Prep Transition details being shared on Tuesday 16 September. 

School Policy Update

As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a safe and respectful school community, and before we embark on our School review in Term 4, we have reviewed and updated several key policies with guidance from the Department of Education. These new policies aim to promote positive interactions and mutual respect across our school.

We are grateful for the continued support of our parents and guardians as we work together to maintain a positive environment for all. The updated policies are now available on our school website. Thank you for your ongoing partnership.

Book Week 2025 

We’re excited to celebrate Book Week next week, from Monday 18 August. Our Book Week Dress-Up Day will be held on Friday 22 August, and we invite all students to come dressed as a character from a favourite book or in line with the theme. This year’s theme is "Book an Adventure!", which encourages children to embark on journeys through the worlds that books open up. 

While we love seeing students in costume, we also want this to be a stress-free experience for families. Costumes can be simple or elaborate – whether it’s a full outfit, something re-used or borrowed, a handmade accessory, or just a prop or mask. The focus is on celebrating the joy of reading, not the complexity of a costume.

For those interested, please find a discount voucher from Lombards below.

We look forward to a magical and adventurous week full of stories and creativity!

Kind Regards,

The Leadership Team