From the Principal 

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we move towards the end of another productive semester, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our families for their ongoing support and partnership. It has been wonderful to see our students continuing to grow as learners, friends and community members. Every day, they demonstrate resilience, curiosity, kindness and a willingness to challenge themselves. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and grateful for the role you play in supporting their success both at school and at home.

Swimming Program Begins Next Week

We are excited that our Swimming Program will commence next week. Swimming is an important life skill and provides students with valuable opportunities to develop water safety, confidence and physical fitness. We look forward to seeing students actively participating and making the most of this learning experience.

Student Support Group Meetings

Our mid-year Student Support Group (SSG) meetings have provided a valuable opportunity for reflection, celebration and planning. Families, staff and students have worked together to review progress, acknowledge achievements and establish new Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals and targets for the remainder of the year. Thank you to all families who attended and contributed to these important conversations.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

A reminder that information regarding upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences has been posted on Compass. Families can book conference times directly through Compass, where all appointments are managed. We encourage all parents and carers to take advantage of this opportunity to discuss their child's learning progress and achievements.

Semester Reports

Due to current industrial action, Semester Reports will not include Personal and Social Learning comments or student reflections this semester. All other elements of the report will remain unchanged and will include:

• Victorian Curriculum progression points
• Effort and behaviour ratings
• A five-point scale for learning outcomes in English and Mathematics
• Attendance information

We appreciate your understanding and encourage families to discuss student progress further during Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Congratulations Amber!

A very special congratulations to Amber Stelling on her participation in the Paralympic Commonwealth Games trials. Amber's dedication, determination and commitment to achieving her goals are truly inspiring. We are incredibly proud of her efforts and the way she represents herself and our school community. Her perseverance reminds us of what can be achieved through hard work, resilience and belief in ourselves. Amber continues to inspire both students and staff, and we wish her every success in her sporting journey.

Positive Behaviour in the Playground

This week we have continued our focus on positive behaviour and respectful relationships in the playground. We are encouraging students to:

• Lift the spirits of others through positive words and encouragement.
• Include everyone when playing games and participating in activities.
• Keep their hands and feet to themselves at all times.
• Demonstrate kindness, respect and self-control.

These expectations help create a safe and welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported. As part of our wellbeing work, we are also focusing on helping students build their capacity to be grateful, empathetic and mindful towards themselves and others. Developing these important social and emotional skills contributes to stronger relationships, improved wellbeing and better outcomes for everyone in our community.

STEM Workshop Success

Our senior students recently attended an exciting STEM workshop hosted by Cheltenham Secondary College. Students participated in a range of hands-on learning experiences that challenged their thinking, encouraged creativity and strengthened their problem-solving skills. It was fantastic to see students highly engaged throughout the day as they embraced new challenges, collaborated with peers and had a great deal of fun while learning.

We thank Cheltenham Secondary College for providing such a valuable opportunity.

Lost Property and Student Responsibility

A reminder to please label all uniform items, drink bottles and lunchboxes with your child's name. Clearly labelled items can be quickly returned to students when they are left in the yard or around the school. This may also be a useful discussion point at home, encouraging children to take responsibility and be accountable for their belongings, particularly when playing outside during recess and lunch breaks.

Attendance Matters

Regular attendance continues to be one of the strongest indicators of student success.

We encourage all students to attend school every day and arrive on time, ready to begin learning promptly at 9.00am. We are delighted to share that our student attendance rate is currently 10% higher than it was at the same time last year. This is an outstanding improvement and reflects the strong commitment of our students and families. Every day at school provides valuable learning opportunities, strengthens relationships and supports personal growth. Thank you for helping us maintain this positive trend.

Student Arrival Times

A reminder that students should not arrive at school before8.45am.Staff supervision does not commence until this time, and student safety remains our highest priority.

We appreciate your support in ensuring children arrive during supervised hours.

Foundation 2027 Enrolments

Families with children commencing Foundation in 2027 are encouraged to begin the enrolment process through the Insight online platform. If you know of friends, neighbours or family members who may be considering enrolment, please encourage them to submit their applications as soon as possible. Early enrolments assist us with planning and ensure a smooth transition to school.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

This week our Student Star of the Week awards are recognising students who demonstrate Habit 7 Sharpen the Saw. Habit 7 focuses on taking care of ourselves so that we can be our best in all areas of life. It encourages students to maintain balance by looking after their physical, social, emotional and intellectual wellbeing. Students who practice Habit 7:

• Make healthy choices.
• Continue learning and growing.
• Build positive relationships.
• Take time to recharge and reflect.
• Strive for balance in their daily lives.

This habit supports everything our students do. By investing in themselves, they build the energy, confidence and resilience needed to learn effectively, contribute positively to their community and achieve their personal best.

Thank you for your continued support of our school and the wonderful partnership we share in helping every child succeed.

"Trust is built when people support one another, believe in one another and work together toward a common goal. When we lift each other up, we all rise."

Kind regards,

George Danson