Student Welfare
Train Safety
At St Bede’s College our students’ safety is paramount. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, teenage boys can act without thinking through the consequences.
In recent times we have received a number of very serious reports about reckless behaviour by our students on their way home from school. Some reports refer to cyclists riding on the wrong side of the road and student pedestrians ignoring road rules. In addition to these, we are now receiving a growing number of reports about dangerous behaviour near train stations. In particular, Parkdale station where younger students are dangerously crossing the tracks and trying to climb onto the platform all in an attempt to get home a few minutes early.
A recent television news report regarding student behaviour around trains highlighted an incident with our students that occurred late last year. The footage is quite disturbing and whilst our College was not mentioned by name. It is clearly footage of Parkdale station and the students’ uniforms are those of St. Bede’s College. Unfortunately, we have been unable to identify the students on that occasion but our enquiries lead us to believe this behaviour is not an isolated incident.
I have included part of an email we have received from the train driver on that day. His response to the incident supports our very serious concerns.
I regret to advise you that my train narrowly avoided contact with around a dozen students who illegally crossed the tracks while I was preparing to arrive at Parkdale.
These students were initially waiting on the western side of the pedestrian crossing just north of the station to allow a city-bound train to pass. After the city-bound train had cleared the crossing, the crossing remained activated due to the proximity of my train. The students ignored all warning signs and crossed the tracks via the emergency gates in order to reach the eastern platform in time to board my train.
Had I not been slightly delayed at the previous road crossing, the students would have had less time between the two trains to cross, and the consequences of their actions may have been deadly.
I’m alerting you to this incident in the hope that you can help to stop these occurrences (which according to my colleagues are quite regular) before a fatality occurs.
Over the next few weeks we will be reminding the Students about travelling safely to and from school. Metro trains and the Victorian Transit Police will be supporting this initiative. We ask all parents to discuss this matter with their sons.
We are appealing to all students to think and consider the danger before they act. An infringement notice may be a nasty reminder but if some student behaviour does not change we fear a more disastrous outcome may occur.
Mark Jones
Deputy Principal Students and College Operations.
Bicycle Safety
At St Bede's College we encourage students who live nearby to walk or ride to school.
Active transport is a great way to exercise.
However, it is important that students and families understand the potential hazards and obey all road rules.
Bicycle safety tips
Keep safe on your bicycle. Obey the road laws and be alert to the traffic around you. Ride in the same direction as other traffic and keep your bicycle one metre from the kerb.
Before changing lanes and turning, always scan behind and signal your intentions to other road users.
Try to make eye contact with other road users to help them know that you are there.
Look out for other road users particularly when they are approaching you from behind or pulling out in front of you.
Look out for drivers and passengers getting in and out of parked cars and be aware of the risk of car doors opening.
Don’t ride on the inside of larger vehicles such as buses and trucks – the drivers can’t see you and these vehicles may be turning which will require more space than a normal passenger car.
Wear a correctly fitted, Australian standards approved, bicycle helmet.
Before and after school the roads in Mentone are very congested. Extra care is needed.
For more tips on Bicycle safety please visit the following link:
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/cyclist-safety/bike-rider-safety
Sam Radford
Middle Years Coordinator