Message from the Principal 

Last Friday at our assembly our staff performed a “flash mob” style dance that we learnt together under the expert choreography of Amanda Oakley (one of our parents who is also a teacher at a local school and a dance instructor). We had awesome fun and based on the noise from our audience of students and parents it had the desired effect. This was to highlight that as a school staff we work very hard, we are fully committed to our students and the school community and we know how important it is to have fun and do things as a team. 

It was a celebration of one of the key strengths of Greenhills Primary School – our staff! Well done team and I’ve heard that there may be a repeat on the cards later this year. Keep your eyes out for that!

STUDENT AGENCY 

Each morning at 9am, our students spend the first 15 minutes of the day focusing on developing their agency and responsibility for their learning. In effect, student agency is all about learning to learn. Our aim is that by focusing on this each day, we build our skills set and strengths so that by the time our students leave Greenhills to go to high school, that they are as well prepared as possible. 

Our 9am Student Agency focus will evolve throughout the year to ensure that is both evidence based and engaging. Presently, we break the week into different elements including setting up for success, connection, reflection, voice and feedback. All our students have Learning to Learn Journals and this is a way that they will both track and anchor their learning throughout the year. 

Our Principal team walk around the school each morning to see this in action and we all agree that this is enabling our students to have the most settled and focused start to the school day that we have experienced.   

Continuing with the theme of student agency, we are looking forward to our parents and carers continuing to partnership with us at our Student Agency Conferences on Tuesday 26th March. Put this date in your diary as students only attend on this day for the time of their conference. Bookings will open this week via Compass.  

SCHOOL COUNCIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Next Tuesday 5th March at 6.45pm, we will hold our first school council meeting for 2024. This is where office bearers such as School Council president will be elected. School Council meetings are held in the staffroom.  At this meeting we will also establish our sub-committee structure and schedule for this year.

These committees are open to all members of our school community to join and where the work of School Council is done. It is great to have a mix of parents and carers from across the school on each of these. All our school council members also serve on at least one of these sub-committees. I will outline the role of each sub-committee in future newsletters, along with the time and dates for the meetings which are twice per term.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

In accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at Greenhills Primary School during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted. This includes iPads fitted with a Sim card and message sending function and smartwatches.

At Greenhills Primary School, students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off during the school day between 8.45am and 3.45pm. When emergencies occur, parents or carers should reach their child by calling the school’s office.

STUDENT INSURANCE

This is a reminder to all parents and carers that the Department does not provide personal accident insurance for students. Parents and guardians are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including any transport costs. These costs may be recoverable where an injury is caused by the negligence (carelessness) of the Department, a school council or their employees or volunteers.

Student accident insurance policies at low cost are available from commercial insurers.

These cover a range of medical expenses not covered by Medicare or private health insurance. I encourage all families to investigate these options and make a decision that suits your needs and requirements. I also encourage everyone to ensure that their ambulance membership is up to date.

James Penson 

Principal