From Our School Leaders
Our School Values - Respect
Last week, Mrs Rheumer and Mrs Hartley attended the Outer Eastern Regional Principals Conference at Karralyka Theatre in Croydon. The Department of Education and Training (DET) Deputy Secretary, David Howes, spoke to us about the current state of the Victorian education system, upcoming budgets, staffing concerns and the ever-increasing issue of school behaviours. While not all of these topics affect the day-to-day running of Scoresby PS, the playground issues occur in every school.
One of the challenges that all schools have been facing in an increasing manner has been the exposure of students to anti-semitism, racism and misogynistic views through social media. Some of the problems are major, but many of them are minor; incidental occurrences, usually verbal, that can have a lasting effect on young people who see the world simply, and take things at face value.
We can ignore many of these views as adults as we have established a set of values for ourselves, but for our children they are still forming their opinion and views of the world. That’s why receiving these opposing and discriminatory points of view can be harmful. Comments about your race, skin color, cultural background, weight, appearance, family situation or sexuality can all be hurtful and harmful.
This is a societal issue, not just a school issue. The way we respond, as adults, around children displaying these comments plays a big part in how children learn that behavior and attitudes impact themselves and others. The Department of Education is currently working on a project exploring curriculum content to address some of the issues, and they are closely monitoring incidents of abuse in schools.
We are bringing this to your attention to encourage you to speak about these behaviours with your own children. Respect is one of our school values, and knowing your impact on others, how to treat people with kindness, and caring about how others may feel is part of your child’s journey to adulthood. We all want happy, healthy kids, and speaking appropriately and nicely to others at all times plays a large part in being happy and being a respectful citizen.
The Fathering Project
Last Friday we ran our first official The Fathering Project activity - a Virtual Trivia night. All those who attended had a great time and we hope to get more people involved as time progresses. Congratulations to the Reeves family who won the trivia night! It was a very close contest.
Curriculum Day
Last Friday, our staff participated in a professional learning opportunity with educational consultant, Riss Leung (The OzLit Teacher). We spent the day discussing the traits of writing - Ideas, Word Choice, Conventions, Voice, Organisation and Sentence Fluency, and how to best teach these ideas to our students. A lot of learning occurred with new ideas already being implemented into the classroom. We are continuing the work for the remainder of the year in Writing and developing our understanding of the Traits of Writing.
Write A Book In A Day Competition
This year we had two teams competing in the Write A Book In A Day competition. Each team was given the challenge to write and design an entire book in just 12 hours, whilst also raising vital funds to support children's cancer research. Each book will be made available for kids in hospitals around the country via the online library. Our two teams - The Scoresby Warriors and The Periodic Pencil - did an amazing job of fundraising for this cause with a total of $1700.00 raised. Congratulations to all of the participants. It was a long, hard day but very worthwhile.
Fathers Day Breakfast Club - Wednesday 30th August
We will be holding a Fathers Day Breakfast Club on Wednesday 30th August from 8.15am. We would like to invite all fathers and father figures to come along and have breakfast with your children.
Celebration Of Hard Work and Striving Towards A Goal
One of our very own Year 5 students, Celeste, is aiming high and is achieving great success in her endeavors towards becoming a professional ballet dancer. She dances 5 days a week and puts in the work by training at home also.
In June, Celeste participated in the Australian Ballet School Scholarship Awards consisting of masterclasses at the Australian Ballet School and 2 solo performances on the State Theatre Stage at the Arts Centre Melbourne. She made the finals from 44 competitors down to 11, and then out of the final 11 was awarded “The Supreme Scholarship Runner-up Award” - one of 3 to receive an award in her age category in the finals.
This is a huge achievement for her, as the awards were adjudicated by David Hallberg, Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet Company, and Lisa Pavane, Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet School, as well as other esteemed judges from the Australian Ballet School and Company.
Congratulations Celeste. We are very proud of you and look forward to celebrating many more successes with you!
District Basketball
On Thursday last week, our senior students played in the Knox District Basketball competition, where we entered a boys and a girls team. Our girls played very well together as a team and our boys played well too, winning all games except the finals. They were runners-up in their section. Our boys move onto the next round in a few weeks’ time.
A huge thanks to two dads, Aaron Saint and Riley Hill, for coming along to coach our teams for the day; your time and efforts are very much appreciated. Good luck to our boys in the next round.
SUE HARTLEY AND NICOLE RHEUMER
Scoresby Primary School Leaders