Sandringham College News

Principal's News

Matilda

I think that I speak for the whole school community when I say that the College production of Matilda was an exceptional piece of theatre. Everything about the show was magical from the performances to the lighting, to the set design and costumes. 

 

What made this show so spectacular was the community approach to it. It is rare in schools to have so many parents and ex-students work with teachers and current students to produce a show. I also note that on the night many former students were in the audience. This made for a wonderful atmosphere as the alumni cheered on their friends and siblings in the show.

 

The team received a standing ovation nearly each night acknowledging the quality of the show and to celebrating our wonderful students (past and present), teachers and parents.  I thank our incredible students who, in the words of their director "worked so incredibly hard" to create an incredible experience for each audience. 

Appointment of architect

I am pleased to announce that we have appointed an architect to develop the new masterplan for Sandringham College. I am also pleased to announce that the Hon. James Merlino, the Minister for Education in the Andrews State Government, will be visiting Sandringham College later in the year.  We are looking forward to to showing him our College. 

 

The architectural firm appointed to oversee the masterplan development is Law Architects. We are very fortunate to have been able to work with the Victorian School Building Authority to appoint Sandy Law and her team and I encourage you to use google to take a look at their work, it is beautiful in design and will bring an approach to designing for our school that demonstrates an understanding of our values and our community.

RUOK

This term we celebrated RUOK Day at our College. RUOK Day reminds us to take the time to check in on our friends and family and to make sure that they are doing ok.

 

During the week I was lucky enough to teach a Year 7 Pastoral class with Mr Liam Small where we talked about what it means to be a good listener, not just in class but when interacting with our friends. I was really proud of the way the Year 7s took on board the information they were being given and I can see a strong link to listening carefully and paying attention in order to ensure that we show others we care and that we make sure they are ok.

 

Assistant Principal David Hall writes more about the importance of good mental health and of looking out for each other in the 10-12 Campus News section.

New Sandy East Assistant Principal

I am pleased to announce that Russell Watson has been provisionally appointed to the position of Assistant Principal at Sandringham East Primary School. Russell served as head of the Bluff Road Campus for many years and we are thrilled to be able to continue to work with him in his capacity as Assistant Principal as SEPS.

New rules about dogs

You may have heard that we have put in place some new guidelines regarding the use of the school grounds by dog owners. We have had to introduce strict rules because of increasing amounts of dog excrement on our ovals, in garden beds, on pathways and outside classrooms. Some dog owners have been walking their dogs in the school grounds during the school day, this poses a potential risk to our students. All visitors must sign in or make themselves known at the office and/or have a valid working with children card (see the Child Safe Standards info. below)

 

Most of our staff and many of our families are dog owners and we are not anti dogs merely pro the wellbeing and safety of our students. Please help us by explaining to the community the reasons for the new signage.

 

Policy

The Child Safe Standards (the Standards) are compulsory minimum standards for all organisations that provide services to children including Victorian schools. The aim of the Standards is to ensure organisations are well prepared to protect children from abuse and neglect. It is recognised that many schools will have existing policies and procedures that aim to keep children safe. 

 

The Standards provide a framework to identify gaps and improve policy and practices around child safety. On 26 November 2015, the Victorian Parliament passed the Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Bill 2015, which amended the Child Safety and Wellbeing Act 2005 to introduce the Child Safe Standards that would apply to all organisations involved in child related work in Victoria.

The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) as regulator for all Victorian schools has responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Child Safe Standards in schools. The Standards are:

  • Standard 1: Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety
  • Standard 2: A child safety policy or a statement of commitment to child safety
  • Standard 3: A Child Safety Code of Conduct
  • Standard 4: Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse
  • Standard 5: Procedures for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
  • Standard 6: Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
  • Standard 7: Strategies to promote child participation and empowerment.

The Standards apply to all organisations that provide services to children. 

Ministerial Order 870 - Child Safe Standards - Managing the Risk of Child Abuse in Schools provides guidance on how the Standards apply to a school setting. It came into effect on 1 August 2016.  To implement the minimum Standards in accordance with the Order school governing authorities must:

  • take account of the diversity of all children, including (but not limited to) the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities, and children who are vulnerable; and
  • make reasonable efforts to accommodate such diversity

Ms Amy Porter

College Principal