Scoresby PS Whole-school Newsletter

From Our School Leaders

Think U Know Sessions

This week we had the Victorian and Federal police at Scoresby PS delivering the program ThinkUKnow to our senior children and parents. Both presentations were full of information about online safety. Technology is here to stay in our lives, and it is becoming increasingly important to know as much as we can about what our children are doing, seeing, hearing and interacting with online. 

 

Senior Constable David Stephens presented the parent session on Monday night. The program is pro technology, and he began the talk framing it with this analogy: 

We spend 120 hours teaching our teenagers how to drive a car; but when it comes to phones and device usage, we give younger children mobile phones or devices and offer minimal training and very few limitations and expectations around online safety. We can do better as parents for our children.

 

Takeaways from the parent session:

  • Technology is here to stay.
  • Communication between your child and/or a trusted adult is key to keeping kids safe online.
  • Parents should be in charge of the usage of devices/know passwords and check phones, and monitor use (eg. no internet after set time).
  • Devices in bedrooms need to be monitored - if they need them in there at all? Put in place agreed boundaries around time limits, door open/doors closed and what they can access.
  • Research what your children are doing, seeing, watching and communicating with online. ThinkUKnow website and eSafety have lots of information about games and chat rooms for you to research.
  • Kids will make mistakes online as they do in life; the best scenario is that they feel comfortable telling parents or trusted adults about issues that arise.

For any staff or parents/carers that were unable to attend the presentation and show follow-up interest, the ThinkUKnow website (https://www.thinkuknow.org.au)  is a fantastic resource and full of helpful advice and information, including an SOS Guide to online safety (for parents/carers).

 

The SOS Guide (located in the Resources tab) and the Parents Portal (https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/resources-tab/parents-and-carers) on the ThinkUKnow website address a lot of the concerns parents may have, including covering topics such as:

  • Parental controls
  • Online grooming
  • The Family Safety Contract
  • Additional videos
  • Where to seek help
  • Additional links (resources/research/reporting/support)

Another site that can be informative is the eSafety parent portal. There are lots of good resources and information on this site about how you can be proactive in keeping your children safe online. Parents | eSafety Commissioner. 

 

We have attached a link to a flyer with all of the parent webinars eSmart will be offering this term.

Marrung Information Session 

Last Thursday, Sue attended the Marrung Leaders meeting at Karralyka for the Outer East Region. Each school is required to have a person, or team of people, who are the champions for Indigenous students and Indigenous learning. 

 

Recognising significant events in schools such as NAIDOC Week or SORRY Day are part of this work, as is ensuring every child has access to the same educational experiences and outcomes. 

 

At Scoresby PS we are starting to make progress in this space.  We have introduced a number of elements to increase our knowledge and understanding of our Indigenous heritage, and there is a way to go. So far we have: 

  • all staff attended Community Understanding & Safety Training (CUST) in 2021
  • introduced an Acknowledgement of Country at assembly and meetings
  • always display all flags in the foyer
  • purchased signage welcoming people to Scoresby PS as well as acknowledging Country (Wurundjeri and Bunurong) 
  • increasing our indigenous content in the library
  • engaging with our Koori Engagement Support Officers (KESO),  Lea Jones

Future work is recognising significant cultural days and events, indigenous artworks to be added to school grounds and developing an understanding of indigenous language. 

 

New Staff 

We have had a few changes to staffing in our Specialist team so far this year. 

 

Firstly, we have employed Miss Emmerson Hickleton as our PE teacher for the remainder of the year after Ms Arvanitis left mid-Term 1. Emmerson comes to us as part of the Graduates in Schools program. She was in Miss Bellingham's class last year as a student teacher, and then worked at SPS in Foundation as a casual ES staff member for a short time last year. Emmerson is familiar with the students and staff, and fits into the Scoresby Way very well. We welcome Emmerson to the PE role. She will be working at Scoresby PS on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year.

 

We also have interviewed for a new LOTE teacher as the LOTE teacher contract finished last week. The successful candidate was Miss Sally Hou. Miss Hou is also a graduate teacher and has been doing relief teaching work for a few years.  We welcome Miss Hou to Scoresby PS. 

Education Week

Scoresby PS will be celebrating Education Week from the 20th - 26th of May.

 

This year’s Education Week theme is Active Learners: Move, Make & Motivate, which celebrates physical activity, hands-on learning and student voice in learning.

  • Foundation Open Morning, 10.00am-12.00pm- Saturday 20th May                       For new prospective 2024 Foundation families. Meet school leaders & staff, take a tour with our School Captains.
  • Open Evening, 6.00 - 7.30pm - Tuesday 23rd May                                                       Take part in our MOVE, MAKE & MOTIVATE activities. This is a community event for our school with current and prospective families welcome.                                      PFA Sausage Sizzle from 5.30pm onwards in the canteen area. Sausages $2.50
  • Grandparents & Friends Morning, 9.00-11.00am - Friday 26th May ​                           Grandparents and Special Friends welcome to attend our classrooms for the morning. Please BYO picnic to share with your family from 10.30am onwards.

We look forward to seeing you throughout the week!

 

Communication and Reporting Survey

As part of our regular review processes, we are looking to gain information from parents around the most effective forms of communication and the viability of ongoing reporting. 

 

We would appreciate as many parents as possible filling out the google form (via link below) to give us insight into how we  can improve.

https://forms.gle/8pK6Uk2GZKpmp1Bd8

 

 

The Fathering Project Launch – Wednesday 7 June

As part of increasing our Wellbeing programs at Scoresby Primary School, we have joined The Fathering Project. We are launching this at our Breakfast Club on Wednesday 7th June with a "Bricks and Brekky" event.   We are encouraging as many dads, carers and/or father figures to come along and have a toastie with your child while building Lego.

 

We are hoping we can get as many dads as possible along to this event and to join up to the SPS Fathering Project. 

 

What is the Fathering Project?

The Fathering Project recognises that fathers, and father figures, play a vital role in children’s lives. The evidence demonstrating fathers’ potential to positively influence their children’s health and mental health, social success and academic achievements is now robust, indisputable, and compelling.

 

We will be looking at holding 'Dads Only' events for fathers and father figures, 'Dads and Kids' events, and at-home activities that you can do with your child.

 

If you are interested in helping to organise an event, please contact Nic Rheumer – nicole.rheumer@education.vic.gov.au

 

 

Wear What You Wish Day - Friday 12 May

 

 

SUE HARTLEY AND NICOLE RHEUMER

Scoresby Primary School Leaders