Ms D Principal Message

Curriculum Day

On Friday 26 February, our staff participated in a Curriculum Day aligned to the Department of Education’s Disability Inclusion reform and our ongoing commitment to strengthening inclusive practice at Toorak Primary School.

We were pleased to work in partnership with the OnTrack Allied Health team to further develop our understanding of Tier 1 (universal) supports within the Disability Inclusion framework. This professional learning focused on strengthening whole-school practices that enable all students to access learning, engage successfully, and experience a strong sense of belonging.

Key areas of focus included:

• Building staff understanding of a range of diagnoses and how these may present in the classroom
• Supporting students with executive functioning challenges
• Understanding anxiety and its impact on learning and behaviour
• Identifying and proactively reducing barriers to learning

The day centred on evidence-informed, practical strategies that can be embedded into everyday classroom practice. This included refining predictable routines, explicit teaching of self-regulation strategies, scaffolding for organisation and task initiation, and the use of consistent, strengths-based language across the school.

Strengthening Tier 1 supports is a key component of the Disability Inclusion reform. By ensuring high-quality, inclusive teaching practices are in place for every student, every day, we reduce barriers to learning and create environments where students can adapt, manage and thrive. Strong universal practices also ensure that more targeted supports (Tier 2 and Tier 3) are responsive, timely and effective when required.

We thank our staff for their professionalism and ongoing commitment to building an inclusive school culture that supports the diverse needs of our students and community.

Emergency Management Procedures

Last week, students participated in our scheduled emergency management practice drills, including Shelter-in-Place and Lockdown procedures.

These practice drills form part of the Department of Education’s requirements to ensure schools are well prepared in the event of an emergency. The drills are conducted in a calm and age-appropriate manner, with clear explanations provided to students about why we practise these procedures.

All students followed staff instructions well, and the process was completed smoothly. Practising these routines helps ensure that students and staff are confident and prepared, should we ever need to enact them in a real situation.

Successful Start to School Tours

We are delighted to share that our school tours have begun with great success! Our first Open Day saw three tours conducted in one day, with over 100 visitors in attendance. Families were able to explore our classrooms, meet staff, and gain insight into the engaging programs and supportive learning environment we offer at Toorak Primary School.

Tours will continue each fortnight, alternating between Tuesdays and Fridays, providing further opportunities for prospective families to visit the school and experience our facilities firsthand.

The strong interest and positive feedback we have received so far reflect the vibrant learning culture of our school and the value families place on seeing our school in action. We thank our staff and student leaders who supported the tours and helped showcase the school so warmly.

Families interested in attending upcoming tours are encouraged to register through the website to secure a place.

Attendance

Regular attendance and punctuality are essential to support your child’s learning and wellbeing. Our organisational bell rings at 8:55am, signalling for students to move to their line-up areas before heading into class. Rolls are marked at 9:00am.

Students arriving after 9:00am must be signed in at the office by a parent or carer and issued with a late pass to give to their classroom teacher. Students are not permitted to sign themselves in.

If your child is absent, please record an attendance note via the Compass app, including the reason for the absence. Any unexplained absences will result in an SMS notification at 10:00am advising that your child has been marked absent.

In line with our Attendance Policy, attendance and punctuality are monitored regularly by the leadership team. Families may be contacted if we notice patterns of prolonged absences or frequent late arrivals. These conversations are always supportive in nature, as we are keen to work with families to ensure the best outcomes for students.