Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Each year parents/carers have the opportunity to provide feedback on their school experiences through the TELL THEM FROM ME SURVEY instrument. Below is a link to take part in this survey. The staff, as well as all students in Years’ 4 - 6 will also have the opportunity to complete a survey. The results of these surveys are then used by the school and the System (the data from the last few years was discussed as part of the Inquiry and Review Process) for future planning so I would encourage all parents to engage with it.
http://tellthemfromme.com/sutherland
CYBER SAFETY
Already this year there have been a number of issues around students engaging with each other, and unknown persons, through online platforms. These have included gaming sites (Roblox) and social media avenues such as Snapchat and Instagram. The issues include online abuse, and suspected grooming. The school has organised the Police Liaison Officer to speak to the senior classes in the coming weeks, while Y-Safe have been booked to run student AND parent sessions in Term 3. Below is a link to some resources that parents/carers can use to support their children when they are online.
Access to the Y-Safe Hub through
https://ysafe-au.onlinesafetyhub.com.au/
eSafety Commissioner link for parents
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
There are also numerous reports of students setting up YOUTUBE channels and uploading videos that include other students or the names of other students. This violates the privacy of these other students and their parents have every right to demand that these videos are removed.
Each of the sites nominate an age limit which means NONE of our students should be engaging with them WITHOUT PARENTAL CONTROL.
Please ensure that you know what your child is doing when they are online.
DEVICE-FREE DAY
During the Term 1 P+F meeting a suggestion was made to have a regular DEVICE-FREE DAY in the school.
This has been supported by the staff and will take place during Wellbeing Week (Tuesday) each Term. This Term it will take place on TUESDAY 17 JUNE. It would be fantastic if families were able to support this initiative at home on this day by all putting all devices away on this day.
TRAFFIC CONTROL / TURNING CIRCLE
The school met with the local Council Traffic Officer to review our current practices and discuss possible options to improve the flow.
As a result of the meeting the Council will consider;
- Erecting signage to make it illegal to turn right from Belmont Street into Flora Street during the car line operation.
- Repaint the road markings that indicate where cars can / cannot park, as well as painting numbers in the parking bays.
- Providing signage for the school fence that will outline the fines associated with each of the traffic offences that are most common around schools.
The Council have made it clear that they WILL CONTINUE TO ISSUE PARKING FINES to anyone who lines up early, before the turning circle has begun to operate.
Thank you to all the parents/carers who continue to do the right thing to ensure the safety of the students, staff and parents during both drop-off and pick-up times.
My thanks to Sarah Glennan, one of our parents, who has been working with the school around this issue.
We will let the community know what the Council decides, once we are informed.
STAFF NEWS
Our congratulations go to Mrs Renelt who has announced that she is pregnant with her third child and will be taking leave for the rest of the year, starting in the middle of next Term.
Once her replacement is finalised the arrangements will be shared with the families of the children in KP.