We are nearly at the finish line with less than a week to go.

Harmony Day

We celebrated Harmony Day / Cultural Diversity.

Did you know it was also IDERD Day? International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination? I’m always learning about the important days that we celebrate and acknowledge.

CPS was abuzz with hues of orange and a colourful array of national dresses. It was a celebration of our rich, cultural diversity.

Harmony Day is significant as it promotes understanding, acceptance, and inclusivity among all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background. It is a time to reflect on the importance of diversity in our society and to celebrate the contributions of all cultures to our nation's identity.

Throughout the day, students participated in various activities designed to deepen their understanding of cultural diversity. The highlight of the day was seeing the happy faces of our students, proud in their orange attire or traditional dress, embodying the spirit of unity and harmony. Around 200 parents and carers joined us at assembly when the Grade 1/2s sung, “I am Australian. “ and Leo D form Year 6 shared the Acknowledgement of Country in Japanese. I couldn't have seen a prouder principal on Friday.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN is completed for another year and the Grade 3 and 5 students have done themselves proud. I visited the classrooms on the days of the tests and found children doing their best. Thank you to the parents for their support and the staff for being so well-prepared. Special thanks to Mrs Miller, our acting Assistant Principal, who coordinated Naplan so efficiently this year.

I really do appreciate feedback from families. You will notice that I have added to the below article, as I omitted a crucial piece of information. It pertains to raising concerns with other families and individual students.

Raising Classroom Concerns – A Respectful Approach

We are committed to fostering a supportive and respectful environment for all students at Carnegie PS. We understand that from time to time, concerns may arise regarding your child’s experiences at school. To ensure these matters are addressed effectively, we follow a structured approach.

If you have a concern about your child’s classroom experience, we kindly ask that you first discuss it with their class teacher. Our teachers are dedicated professionals who will listen attentively, respond promptly, and collaborate with you to find a resolution.

Should additional support be needed, the matter can then be escalated to our school's Welfare and Well-being Officer, Liz Harley, or to our Assistant Principal, Amanda Miller, both of whom oversee areas such as student behaviour and discipline. These team members are well-equipped to provide guidance and implement appropriate support strategies.

In rare cases where concerns require further attention, they may be brought to the Principal, Karen Roberts. However, our primary aim is always to address issues at the most suitable level, ensuring swift and effective resolutions.

It is crucial to respect our school's protocols. Please refrain from discussing concerns with other parents regarding their children, and avoid involving any child other than your own in such matters. These guidelines are designed to uphold the safety, privacy, and well-being of all students and families within our school community.

We appreciate your cooperation in following these procedures and working together to maintain a positive learning environment for every student at Carnegie PS.

Out of School Hours Care

As some of you might be aware, the contract for our current Out of School Care provider, Youth Leadership Victoria is nearing its expiration (August 2025). To ensure continuity and excellence in this vital service for our students and families, we are in the process of developing an Expression of Interest (EOI) document. This document will serve as the foundation for inviting tenders from our current and potential service providers interested in operating the Carnegie PS Out of School Care program.

I am pleased to share that a dedicated subcommittee of our School Council has been formed to oversee this process. The subcommittee includes the Principal team, our school’s Business Manager, our School Council President and another parent (both of whom utilise the service). The subcommittee will carefully review submissions and select a provider who aligns with our school's values and commitment to the well-being of our students.

We understand the significance of this program to many families in our community and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition with minimal disruption. Rest assured, we will keep you informed throughout each step of this process. The outcome of the tender process will be announced in due course, following careful consideration and evaluation by the subcommittee.

Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we work to secure the best possible Out of School Care program for our students.

Attendance and Absence

The Department of Education recently shared documentation to ensure that school’s are monitoring absences and attendance according to guidelines.

Did you know that all absences are codified?
Did you know that it is a legal requirement that we codify absences?
Did you know that certain absences require the permission of the Principal?

With any absences, you can select

Medical illness
Medical appointment
Bereavement **
Truancy **
Parent choice
Family holiday **
Religious and cultural observances**

** Absences require consent from the principal.

Please always log your child’s absence on COMPASS. You can do this in advance of the absence if you know about it.

If selecting parent choice, please advise the class teacher / office via email of the actual reason for the absence. IF the absence requires PRINCIPAL approval, please address correspondence to the Office who will forward the email on to me.

Unexplained absences will be followed up by our staff and Office admin Team using Department of Education template letters.

Please refer to the attached Fact Sheet to understand your responsibilities.

There are also occasions when a learning plan is required.

Finally, a number of our families have been observing Ramadan. Eid al Fitr is a celebration to Mark the end of Ramadan. This significant event started Sunday 30th of March at dusk and finished Monday 31st March. Eid Mubarak to those who celebrated!

With thanks,

Karen Roberts

Principal

I wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of

the lands on which this is being read and pay my respects to elders past present and emerging. I wish to acknowledge our First Nations people and pay respects to them. I note further that these lands were never ceded and are, and always will be, Aboriginal Lands.

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