A word from the Principal

It is hard to believe that we are still in February and are about to finish week 4.  Students have settled in so well to the year and look like they have been back for quite a while.  The new timetable has been received so positively from both students and staff and they are continually telling me how quick the afternoon goes.  Our tummies are all adjusting to the new eating times, I too have lots of brain food on my desk!  

Road Safety

Last week I was incredibly concerned when I heard that there was a near miss on Karoo road where our crossing supervisor, Sue, was put in danger due to people not following the road rules.  Road safety is an important concern for everyone, as the safety of your children is of paramount importance. Here are some ways in which parents can support road safety at school:

What parents/road users can do

1. Use designated drop-off and pick-up points: Please use the designated drop-off and pick-up points provided by the school. These areas are designed to be safe for students to exit and enter vehicles, and using them can help reduce traffic congestion around the school.
2. Observe traffic rules: Follow all traffic rules when dropping off or picking up their children. This includes stopping at stop signs, obeying traffic lights, and not parking in areas where parking is not allowed (eg 2 min zone).  Always ask children to get in and out of the car on the footpath side (NEVER ROAD SIDE). 
3. Watch for pedestrians: Schools are often busy places, with lots of students and parents walking around. Drivers should be aware of pedestrians and take extra caution in areas where children may be crossing the road.
4. Avoid distracted driving: Parents should avoid using their phones or doing other activities that may distract them while driving. This can include texting, talking on the phone, or even eating while driving. Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents, and it is especially dangerous in areas with high pedestrian traffic.
5. Set a good example: Children learn by example, and parents can set a good example by following road safety rules themselves. By demonstrating good road safety habits, parents can help their children develop good habits too.

By following these guidelines, you can help ensure the safety of your children and other students (and staff) at school.

School Council

As you will have seen on Compass, School Council nominations are here again. I encourage you to nominate yourself or another community member if you are interested in representing the school families and assist in the constant improvement of our school. Council meetings are held eight times a year on Tuesday nights at 7pm.   Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help shape the direction of the school. One of the great things about our school is our strong parent input and involvement. Our School Council is one forums in which parents and staff work together for the benefit of all our students. At the beginning of each school year we have a number of vacancies for School Council. There are 7 x Parent member positions to fill this year (5 for two years and 2 for one year). 

If you are interested in nominating, please collect a form from the school office or download one from Compass.  These must be lodged at the office by 4pm Wednesday 1st  March.

KPA (Karoo Parents Association)

Another wonderful way to be involved at school is through the KPA.  Please come along next Monday at 9:10am to be part of organising the wonderful events we have planned for the year.  

Getting to know you Interviews

Thank you to all of the families who came and met with the teachers at the Getting to Know You Interviews, either onsite or online. These meets are a valuable opportunity for teachers and parents to forge a great relationship to ensure that students achieve the best possible learning outcomes.  Hopefully having the option for parents to attend either onsite or online supported all families, as well as being in a central spot. 

YARD SUPERVISION -  Duty of Care

Student safety at Karoo Primary School is our highest priority and the safe and appropriate supervision of students is an important element of our duty of care to students. Part of this duty is ensuring parents and students are aware of our student supervision arrangements before and after school.  

Before school: School grounds are supervised from 8.45am - 9am  (classroom doors open at 8:50am)

After school: School grounds are supervised from 3:30pm - 3.45pm. 

Students on school grounds outside these times will not be supervised (unless they are attending a before or after school care program or supervised extracurricular activity).  From 8:45am we have a duty of care to supervise students on school grounds and they will not be able to leave the school unless they are still under their parents supervision.  

Classroom doors open at 8:50am to allow for students to drop their bags and belongings off in the classroom.  Learning does not commence until 9am. 

 Cybersafety

After the last few years, students access to technology has evolved and shifted.  In turn so has the increase of concerning online activity we see students being involved in. With this in mind we wish to share the school’s official position concerning student use of social media. The school has consulted with an eSafety Commissioner Trusted eSafety Provider to ensure we provide you with up to date and evidence-based advice.  All social media platforms (including Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Discord and Tik Tok) have a minimum age of 13 that is clearly outlined in the terms of service.  As a school we do not recommend any student under the age of 13 has access to their own social media account. In addition to the age restriction, social media presents a myriad of issues related to the unsuitability of content (illicit references, language, drugs, alcohol and broader adult themes) on these platforms. These social media platforms have not been designed, managed or filtered with primary school age children in mind. The risks of cyberbullying and inappropriate messaging are increased when developing brains are presented with disappearing direct messages such as those featured in most social media.

We will continue to provide a proactive approach to cybersafe behaviour at Karoo.  Students over the last few weeks participated in an incursion and you were sent a tip sheet to follow up with at home.  These will continue each term and we have our parent session booked for Wednesday 7th June at 7pm.  

Please find some links here to explore and discuss with your children, as well as some DET learning modules for parents about cybersafety, social media and online bullying. 

https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide/tiktok   

Learning modules for parents  https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/bullystoppers/Pages/parentmodules.aspx 

Info flyer for parents  https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/bullystoppers/parentsocialmediaschoolcommunity.pdf 

Further information about specific social media platforms, as well as games and apps, can be accessed via the parent eSafety Guide (Australian Government eSafety Commissioner). 

We appreciate your ongoing partnership in working together to keeping our community safe online. 

Department of Education Name Change

As of Sunday 1 January 2023, Karoo Primary School is now a part of the newly named Department of Education (DE). This replaces the Department of Education and Training (DET).  To view the Department's Parent Page: https://www.vic.gov.au/education-information-parents 

2024 Foundation enrolments

We request that parents with children starting school in 2024 notify the office and submit an enrolment form as soon as possible. This will greatly assist us with ensuring you receive important information relating to your child’s transition to school. School Tours are now available to book for prospective new families with children commencing school in 2024. Please contact the school via our website or call us on 03 9759 6222.

I hope you have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you in the school yard. 

Danielle Heatley

Principal