Principal's Message

Headlines - Please Note

We encourage you to read this entire newsletter as lots of effort has been put into its production.  Here are the most urgent and important details to read in this edition (not just on this first page):

1. Celebration of Learning - Wednesday 20 May (This Page and School Leaders Page)
2. Industrial Action - Probably Averted (This Page)
3. New Reporting Trial (Learning Page)
4. Selecting Tutors (Wellbeing Page)

Principal's Message

Welcome to Week 5 of a 10-week term. As we approach the halfway point, it is worth reflecting on the successes we have had so far. Success for me is a child happily trotting through the front door each morning with a smile and a sense of optimism about the day. By that measure, we are winning big-time!

Hidden underneath the day-to-day work of the staff, they have been receiving mentoring from our Learning Specialist, Ms Orlaith. She has been systematically visiting classrooms to observe and provide feedback on the effectiveness of teacher instruction. You may remember that the first day of Term 2 was a Curriculum Day, with a focus on pedagogy and the sub-elements of effective teaching. As always, I am extremely proud of the staff team - they respond to the stimulus of the curriculum day and practise those elements in class. We believe we have written a world-class curriculum. We are now building world-class instruction to interact with that content.

I mentioned in a recent Newsfeed that we had been ranked eighth in Victoria and 19th in Australia for school effectiveness. Reflecting on the flat piece of earth that was our unbuilt school eight years ago, this is a remarkable achievement. Cohorts vary from year to year, so maintaining that ranking will always be challenging. But we have an effective process and game plan to be successful with our students - in their learning and their wellbeing.

In the coming week, we have our Open Day for prospective families and our Celebration of Learning for our existing families. I hope to see as many children and families as possible on Wednesday on the forecourt, celebrating our school and our wonderful students. The staff draw a great deal of positive energy from this day and are further inspired by the beautiful spirit of our community. Your kindness and goodwill make a real difference. Logistics are detailed below.

Respect for Staff and Students

I feel compelled to write the next piece in relation to the two or three instances across the school year where our community behavior has not met expectations. I do not want anyone reading this as though something has gone globally awry - the overwhelming majority of our community is wonderful. But occasionally, a principal must say something.

In a complex psychosocial system such as a school, tensions will always exist. Two students will dispute over a toy. A parent will disagree with a particular approach. Inside the walls of the school, we have our values of Character, Community, and Learning. We cannot assume those values and behaviours are completely aligned with every home beyond our gates. That is just the reality of community life.

What matters is how we handle those tensions. I would ask any parent who feels aggrieved to consider this - who could walk into your workplace unannounced, without an appointment, and with an angry disposition to resolve a grievance? Who would tolerate inappropriate language or behaviour in a public space with five to twelve-year-olds nearby? The answer, of course, is nobody. We ask for the same basic courtesy that any professional workplace deserves.

I am noticing a broader societal trend - posters in shops and signs on telephone poles asking people to use civil language and treat staff with respect. That these signs need to exist at all says something about where we are. My idealism has schools as a sanctuary from all of that. For the tiny few who feel a school is a place to deposit their emotional rubbish - I ask them to stay home and call us instead to work out the issue in a mature fashion. Playing out frustrations in a public forum is an embarrassment.

For those who have been part of our community for a number of years, you will know that I return often to manners and kindness - because they are the cornerstone of Character. We want our children to be assertive, not aggressive. To find their voice when something is wrong. But also to live by Character, Community, and Learning at all times, regardless of the situation. For our children to become who we want them to be, we must model it ourselves.

That all sounds dark, but truly, we are blessed with an incredible community spirit that permeates this school. Life will never be perfect, but strive we must to create a wonderful environment for those we love the most.

Celebration of Learning - Wednesday 20 May

Join us in your child's classroom from 2:40pm, where you will see their learning on display. At 3:15pm, families are welcome to make their way down to the forecourt to find a picnic spot or join the queue for the BBQ and Cake Stall, which opens straight away this year.

Any students that were not picked up directly from the classroom will be supervised in the gym for collection.

School Production - Term 3

Auditions for this year's Production are complete. With over 50 students auditioning for 7 main roles and 15 supporting roles, it was a genuinely tough process - and we are grateful to every student who put themselves forward. We are sorry we cannot accommodate everyone.

The 22 students who have secured a Production role will be announced this week. From there, roles will be confirmed through our early rehearsal sessions.

Industrial Action Update

At the time of writing, a breakthrough has been reached between the State Government and the Union on the new industrial agreement. Details are still being finalised, but we are expecting normal programming next week. If anything changes, we will let you know as soon as possible. I am optimistic the storm has passed.

Whole School Assembly - Friday 22 May

Families are warmly invited to this Friday's Whole School Assembly. We are excited to feature our first year group performance of 2026, with Grade 3 taking the stage.

Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews - Thursday 25 June

Compass Conferences will open for bookings shortly - please secure a time to meet with your child's teacher. There are no classes on this day; OSHClub is open if needed. We ask that students attend the interview alongside their parents. In-person appointments are available from 11:00am to 3:45pm, with video call (Webex) sessions from 4:00pm onwards.