Assistant Principal Report 

Dear Parents and Carers, 

It is getting hotter and a hat will help

Don’t count on sunscreen to provide complete protection from the sun.  Wearing a sun-protective hat is a simple and effective strategy for reducing ultraviolet radiation to the face, head and neck.  If children become accustomed to wearing a hat when outdoors at school it should increase the likelihood that they will routinely wear one for non-school outdoor activities as well.  At Melton West Primary school it is school policy for all students to wear a school approved sun-protective hat during term one and term 4 and when the UV reading is above 4.

The benefits of wearing a hat are numerous. A hat:

• protects your eyes from the sun
• helps prevent sunburn
• helps prevent skin cancer and
• protects your scalp and hair from elements.

A little bit of sun exposure is good for you – it is how your body gets vitamin D which is essential for absorbing calcium to make your bones stronger. However, if you get more than a little exposure to the sunshine you will be putting yourself at risk for skin damage, eye damage, and skin cancer. This is why it is so important to protect your health by shielding yourself from the sun when you go outside.

Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. The sun is the major cause of skin cancer, which has now become the most common of all cancers. Many doctors believe that most skin cancers can be effectively avoided by preventing sun damage.

With the right protection, you will be able to enjoy going outside on a sunny day without any increased risk to your health.

 Kind regards

Jennifer O’Connor

Assistant Principal.