Principal's Update

Assistant Principal update: 

MORNING SUPERVISION / SCHOOL DROP OFF TIMES 

A reminder to parents and carers that our school grounds are not supervised for students arriving before school – until our first morning  yard duties – which begin at 8.25am.  We have staff on duty near the bus loop and the Agora from this time for their safety. If you choose to drop off your young person before 8.25am, please be aware that they will not be actively supervised.  

Further to this, please remember that once students alight from their buses, they MUST NOT leave the school grounds. Going down the street for ‘snacks’ and then returning or popping over to a friend’s house puts us & them in a compromising position, as once students arrive at school in the morning, from the bus, they are part of the school’s duty of care. Thanks everyone. 

ATTENDANCE  MATTERS! 

https://www.vic.gov.au/attendance-and-missing-school 

Most of our parents and carers are great at contacting the school – via Compass, email or phone – if there is a legitimate reason for absence. In case you are unaware, Keith Kerstjens is our attendance officer (& Middle School Administrator), who can help ALL parents over the phone regarding attendance matters, as all absences need to be explained. Communication is the key! So please contact Keith between 8am and 2pm at the college if you need assistance. 😊 

SWPBS – School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports 

In recent weeks, Year 7, 8, 9 & 10 have been doing coordinated lessons on the following two parts of our SWPBS Matrix: OWN IT & BE KIND! 

For the 7s & 8’s ‘owning it’ lessons have been explicitly focused on being organised and knowing the ‘crazy consequences’ of your OWN actions, if you forget your: books, charged computer, pens, art materials, drink bottle, cooking containers, all sorts of things. Being PREPARED FOR LEARNING is an evidence-based approach to academic success! Our teachers are diligently using Compass to input LESSON PLANS prior to each period, so that students know not only what they are learning, but what they need to be successful in their learning.  

The Year 9s and 10’s focused this term on INCLUSION. They looked at a video of Aussie Basketballer Joe Inglis as his basketball coach allowed him to be part of the ‘starting 5’ for the Minnesota Wolves, so that Joe’s autistic son could see him play – just once! This lesson focused on equity – not equality – a concept that we espouse each day in our inclusive practices and one we see ‘real-time’ in the way our MNSC students can treat everyone with respect and dignity. 

Term 3 Celebrations…. 

We will be having our celebration ASSEMBLY in period 2 on Thursday 18th September. It will also be FOOTY COLOURS DAY & RUOK DAY! We will have a lot to celebrate and presentations to enjoy on our last day of normal classes for the term. 

The VCE VM students are preparing for a fabulous MARKET from 2-6pm which parents and students can enjoy as they wander into the Avenue for Parent-Teacher Interviews. (Parent Teacher interviews will then continue on Friday morning 19/9). 

Our traditional attendance raffle – with the spinning wheel of names -  will take place as well, so dress up and be ready for a fun day! 

PREVENTING & ASSESSING RACISM IN SCHOOLS.

It is never an easy topic to bring up, but all schools do find themselves having to deal with issues of racist language & behaviour and/ or antisemitic language & sentiments. 

The following policy is what we continue to refer to in our daily work. This can be found on our website. 

MNSC Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Our Preventing and Addressing Racism in schools policy already includes a high level of  reporting via the eduSafe Plus system, however, given the alarming increase in racism we are seeing filter though our society in recent months, the Department of Education have added an extra layer of reporting to the work of schools. Each time we see or experience an incident of racist behaviour, language or symbolism, we are required to complete a detailed report specific to our context. And this is not a good feeling 🙁

I am happy to say that I do see kids being very welcoming, kind and inclusive to all, with only the occasional issue or concern but we are ever vigilant. BE KIND!

Please also remember our STYMIE link in Compass to use if you need to

Term 4 Principal Team 

Next term Ms Dauphin is going on long service leave for more time in New Zealand and traveling in Australia in her caravan with Noel! We wish her and Noel a beautiful, happy sunny time. 😊 I will be filing the role of Acting Principal with Mr Ryan as Assistant Principal, plus a second acting Assistant Principal (to back fill my role), will be appointed soon.  

ENJOY THE REST OF THE TERM! 

Melissa Neill 

Assistant Principal.