Principal's Message
Dear Families, Students and Community Members,
As we have just now reached the mid-point of Term 2, it is great to check in with you all, showcase the great things that have been happening around the college that you will be able see through our Newsletter, and highlight some key information and upcoming dates.
Wearing a helmet while riding a bike/scooter
Any student who rides their bike/scooter to and from school MUST wear a helmet.
We ask for all families to ensure if their child is riding to school via bike or scooter that they are ensuring they have a suitable helmet, and as parents/carers, you too are enforcing safety expectations with your child.
Encouraging children to walk, ride or scoot to school helps them build physical activity into their day. However, the health benefit is not limited to just a child’s physical health, it also supports overall wellbeing and the creation of lifelong healthy habits.
However, when traveling to and from school it is important students are being conscious of their safety, traffic and other pedestrians. Our neighbouring streets are very busy with lots of local traffic. Whilst we are fortunate to have lots of paths, students also need to ensure they remember pedestrians always have right of way, and riders must be single file and adjust their speed to the conditions.
Below is a letter from Victoria Police in regard to the importance of wearing a helmet. Please take the time to read this letter with your child/ren.
BIKE/SCOOTER HELMETS - A MESSAGE FROM YOUR LOCAL POLICE
This is a reminder that all users of bikes and scooters (including the motorised versions) MUST wear helmets unless exempt. We have had concerns raised by members of our community, and it is quite apparent that residents have become complacent regarding these laws.
Mandatory bicycle helmet laws were introduced in July 1990. This applies when riding:
- on roads and road-related areas
- on bike and shared paths
- in bike lanes
- in recreational parks
- in car parks
- on footpaths.
Police can stop bike and scooter riders and issue a fine or a warning for not wearing an approved bicycle helmet. The current fine for this offence is $231.
Research indicates that bike helmets greatly reduce the risk of head injuries, which are the major cause of death and injury to bike riders.
- Bicycle helmets reduce the chances of a serious head injury by almost 70 %
- Two years after introducing bicycle helmet laws in 1990 a 23% reduction in head injuries in Victoria.
This is a significant safety issue, and we encourage you all to look after yourselves, family, and friends.
The final 5 weeks of Semester 1 – Key Dates
As we pass the mid-point of term and edge closer to the end of Semester 1, below are some key dates that you will find useful to support you and your child with their organisation:
- Monday 8th June: Kings Birthday Public Holiday
- Friday 12th June: Report Writing & Assessment Day - Student Free Day
- Friday 26th June: Last day of Term 2 – students finish at 12:50pm
Report Writing Day
Please note, we have a student free day on Friday 12th June as our designated Report Writing & Assessment Day for staff. All staff will be finalising Semester One reports and preparing for the beginning of Semester Two. This is a student free day, and no classes or supervision is available.
Term 2 Evacuation Drill:
During the week of May 6th, we will be completing our term 2 evacuation drill.
To ensure all students and staff are familiar with our emergency response procedures, each term we participate in an emergency drill, either lockdown, evacuation or shelter-in-place; to ensure students, staff and our community can respond appropriately in the event of an emergency. Students and staff will regularly rehearse our emergency procedures, to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
Drills ensure that:
- staff and students are familiar with emergency response procedures, including how to perform delegated roles
- emergency response procedures, evacuation locations and pathways are practical and workable and are known by students and staff
problems that may arise are identified and schools take preparatory steps to mitigate them including staff training.
During the Emergency Response Drill the front office will be closed and the phones will automatically go to voice mail. We anticipate the drill will take approximately 30 minutes in total.
Uniform and Cold Weather
We are now starting see more consistent cooler weather as we move into winter. As the colder weather sets in, there are ways we recommend students layer their uniform in a way that adheres to our uniform policies and ensures positive interactions with staff.
No items of clothing that are non-uniform are able to be worn/seen. This means that v-neck t-shirts or thermals are a great idea. If students have long-sleeved school shirts, the options are greater again, with long-sleeved v-necks or thermals able to be worn. Hoodies are strictly prohibited and are confiscated. The college uniform has multiple jumper or jacket options.
If you have questions about our uniform policy, please give us a call and speak with your child’s Student Engagement Leader for clarification.
Compass Notifications.
Families are reminded to ensure they have set up their Compass notifications to go to phones and email, not just email. As previously mentioned, Compass is one of our primary communication tools with families. The only way for us to communicate with families in urgent situations, i.e., cancellation of an event, is through Compass text communication.
We utilise Compass for attendance, events, excursions and important reminders. If families are struggling to set this up on their phone, please reach out to the office staff for support.
Kind Regards,
Mr. Simon Haber
College Principal
As a staff team we are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive school with our students and your children. We encourage you to partner with us as we build our high expectations for our school community as a whole. Your feedback is always welcome and we can be contacted on 03 8001 3333 or via email at Brinbeal.SC@education.vic.gov.au