Principals Message
Dear families,
Year 3/4 camp
Last week, I had the privilege of joining our Year 3/4 students and their teachers for our 2025 camp at Billabong Ranch, just outside of Echuca. I cannot commend the students and staff highly enough for their respect, participation and manners during the camp. It was an incredible experience. Thank you to our staff who were away from their families for two nights to ensure such an incredible opportunity.
School Fees 2026
In line with global cost increases, our budgeting for 2026 and beyond, our school will increase our fees for next year. Please see the breakdown of costs within the newsletter. Please note that, we offer incredible quality teaching and opportunities for the fee’s that we charge (we are among the lowest fees within Sandhurst and heavily subsidise all programs and excursions through school funds and fundraising).
The fee increase is not dramatic and please come and see me (or the 2026 principal) if you ever find yourself in a situation whereby fee payments become a significant challenge. Reduced fees remain available for Health Care Card holders (Please see our admin if this is applicable to your circumstances).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Social Media Age Restrictions and your family
From December 10, 2025, many social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australians under the age of 16 create or keep an account. The changes aim to protect under-16s from pressures and risks they can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts.
These come from design features in the platforms that:
- encourage them to spend too much time on screens – for example, by prompting them with streams of notifications and alerts, and pressuring them to view disappearing content.
- increase the likelihood of exposure to negative, upsetting or manipulative content served up in their feeds by algorithms.
The age restrictions are a delay, not a ban. You won’t have to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to social media accounts, instead you can say ‘not yet’, knowing other under-16s are also being prevented from creating or keeping accounts so your child won’t be missing out.
Quick Facts
The age restrictions are likely to apply to Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube, as well as other platforms. See the latest list.
Under-16s will still be able to see publicly available social media content that doesn’t require logging into an account.
Most standalone gaming and messaging apps, as well as many services that support health and education, will not be affected by the new law.
There are no penalties for under-16s who access an account on an age-restricted social media platform, or for their parents or carers. This is about making the platforms take greater responsibility for the safety of children – they face fines of up to $49.5 million dollars if they don’t take reasonable steps to implement the changes.
For more information, please visit: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions-hub
School Support for Families
To assist our families and students in understanding the new restrictions, we will be welcoming Leading Senior Constable Shane Roberts into our school on Thursday 27 November for a session with Parents from 1:35pm and with 3-6 students at 2:20pm.
Up and coming dates
We have several key dates coming up. We have our Whole school excursion to Bendigo on 10 December (Sacred Heart Cathedral and Bendigo Cinemas) and our swimming carnival 12 December in Stanhope. More information to come.
SIMON Everywhere/PAM
As you are aware, SIMON Everywhere and PAM continue to be down for families to access. I ask that, until it is reinstated, that you email admin or phone the school on (03) 5856 1347 to inform us of any absences. We will also send out paper copies of any consent forms. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Once again, I thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our school. Please do not hesitate to come and see me or email if you have any questions or concerns.
Vin Ryan
