We have now reached the halfway point of Term 1, and it has been wonderful to see our students well and truly settled into their routines. Classrooms across the school are busy places, with students engaging in learning programs that focus on communication, independence, social skills and wellbeing. It is pleasing to see the growing confidence many students are demonstrating as they become familiar with their teachers, education support staff and classmates.

Last week we held Student Support Group (SSG) meetings, and it was pleasing to see parents and carers, and some students, attend to discuss Individual Education Plan (IEP) learning goals for the first semester. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity for families and staff to work together to plan the best learning pathway for each student.

Thank you to our families for the strong partnership you continue to show with the school. Your communication, support and involvement make a real difference to your child’s learning and wellbeing.

Home - School Communication Review

Strong communication between home and school is an important part of supporting our students’ learning, wellbeing and independence. When families and school staff share information regularly, we are better able to work together to understand each student’s needs, celebrate their successes and respond quickly when support is required.

In term 2, we will be undertaking a review of our current home–school communication practices. This will include looking at the range of ways we currently communicate with families, such as communication books, phone calls, emails, Compass and newsletters. The purpose of this review is to identify what is working well and where we can strengthen our approach to ensure communication is clear, consistent and supportive for all families across the school.

As part of this process, we are inviting interested parents and carers to join a small working party with staff members. This will involve approximately 3 meetings throughout the term. Meeting times will be determined by the availability of working party members. The group will have the opportunity to share perspectives, discuss current practices and help identify possible next steps for developing consistent whole-school home–school communication practices.

If you are interested in being part of this working party, please contact the school office. We would greatly value family input to help ensure our communication processes best meet the needs of our school community.

Annual General Meeting

Parents and carers are warmly invited to attend our upcoming School Council Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The AGM is an important opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past year and review our 2025 School Annual Report. Your involvement and voice are highly valued, and we encourage all members of our school community to attend.

Following the AGM, a general School Council meeting will be held. New members are welcome, and we encourage anyone interested in contributing to the ongoing improvement and governance of our school to consider attending.

Date: Wednesday 25 March

Time: 5:30pm

Location: Croydon SDS Conference Room (administration building)

or online (webEx):

https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=mece2a865eace3f544cf1a3982f0588e2

Meeting number: 2650 439 8308

Password: 3WGxPqnRd53

We look forward to your participation and continued partnership.

School Policy Update

At our recent School Council meeting, members reviewed and endorsed several important policies that support the smooth and safe operation of our school.

The following policies were approved:

Bus Safety Policy and Procedure
School Bus Drug and Alcohol Policy
Statement of School Philosophy
School Cash Handling Policy
Fundraising Policy
School Purchasing Card Policy

Regular policy review is an essential part of good governance and helps ensure our practices remain current, transparent, and aligned with Department requirements.

All Croydon SDS policies can be found on Compass under the Community tab and School Resources, as well as our school website.

If you would like further information about any of these policies, please contact the school office.

Career Expo

Our School Career Expo will be held on Wednesday 18 March from 3:45pm to 6:30pm at school.

Planning for life beyond school is an important part of every student’s learning journey. The Expo provides families and students with the opportunity to explore post-school pathways in a supportive and accessible environment.

A range of service providers will be attending, including supported employment services, day services, and further education and training organisations. Representatives will be available to share information and answer questions about options after school.

We strongly encourage all families to attend. Whether your child is approaching transition or in the earlier years of schooling, this is a valuable opportunity to begin conversations, build connections and plan confidently for the future.

Curriculum Day – Monday 23 March

On Monday 23 March, Teaching and Education Support staff will participate in a full-day Team Teach training session as part of our ongoing commitment to professional learning and student wellbeing.

Team Teach is a research-informed approach aligned with our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support framework. The training will focus on de-escalation strategies and safe, respectful responses to behaviours of concern. We are fortunate to have five accredited staff members who will lead the session, reflecting the strong internal capacity we have built across the school.

This professional learning strengthens our whole-school approach to creating safe, predictable and supportive learning environments, while ensuring consistent, proactive and relational practices across all settings.

Monday 23 March is a pupil free day. Interchange Outer East will not be running the OHSC program on this day.

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