Mackellar Buzz

Respect and Safety  

Dear Parents, 

 

There are a number of safety/respect items pertaining to our community that I would like to bring to your attention, hence this additional page to our newsletter in this edition. 

Online grooming of young people

Recently members from Victoria Police attended our local Principal's Network Meeting to share some insights and provide advice to principals and schools, who in turn were encouraged to share these with their respective communities. An important message from that meeting is posted below regarding the online grooming of young people.  I would strongly encourage parents to have a conversation with their child/ren in a manner that suits your family regarding this very important topic. 

Road Safety

Thank you to those parents who are escorting their child/ren across our roads and using the school crossings.  Drivers, please be mindful of others when parking or leaving car parks as there have been a number of concerns raised with the school.  If you have concerns regarding parking around the school grounds, please contact the Brimbank Council on 9249 4000. 

School Community Safety Order Scheme

Schools are positive places of learning where everyone has a right to a safe and healthy learning environment. Schools are also workplaces, and school staff deserve to work in an environment where they don’t feel threatened or unsafe. 

 

From Term 3, 2022, the School Community Safety Order Scheme (Scheme) came into effect in all Victorian schools. This Scheme allows principals and other authorised persons to issue ongoing or immediate school community safety orders that place limitations on the way certain parents, carers or other adults who act in a harmful, abusive or threatening way behave towards staff, students or others in the school community. 

 

This Scheme provides a range of safeguards for people who may be subject to an order and their child. For example, before issuing an ongoing school community safety order, an authorised person must consider the person’s response to the notice to issue an order and how an order may impact their child. Orders can only be issued as a last resort option if it is the least restrictive option to address the behaviour. To read more about the protections built into the Scheme for parents, carers and other adults who may be subject to an order (including information on appeal rights), access the Department’s website. 

  1. Everyone at school, particularly staff and parents/carers, play a role in making school a better place for learning and work. The Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy outlines the shared roles of parents, carers and school staff in creating a positive environment for learning. 
  2. Our mutual objective is to support your child’s education. To do this, we ask that feedback and complaints are both constructive and respectful. Parents are reminded to follow the school’s complaints policy or process or the Department’s Complaints Policy if you wish to raise any constructive and respectful feedback.
  3. You can find the Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy and other resources to build a positive relationship with our school community here.

Regards, 

 

Simon McGlade

Principal