Principal's Desk

A reminder about Parking, Traffic Management & Active Travel

Please continue to be ultra-cautious and safe around our school at drop-off and pick-up times. Also remember to be courteous and respectful. We have continued to receive communication from neighbours and members of our school community who report dangerous driving and illegal parking. Please remember, if you want to avoid traffic congestion in the mornings and afternoons, active travel is a great option! 

Walk with your children, get them to walk with friends, or park a few blocks away from the school and walk the rest of the way to school. The children will be exercised, socialised and much more ready to learn when they get to school, and you will not have to deal with potential traffic infringement notices, or other hazards related to trying to drop your child off at the front entrance.

2024 Parents / caregivers / guardians survey

Our school is conducting a survey to find out what parents / caregivers / guardians think of our school. The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education that is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement. The survey is optional, but we encourage all families to participate. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies. 

All parents/caregivers/guardians are invited to participate in this year’s survey. The Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey has been open from Monday, 29 July, and will remain open until Friday, 30 August 2024. A direct link to the survey has been sent to parents, carers, and guardians via Compass.

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the survey period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese. 

 Please speak to your child’s teacher if you would like more information.

Stay well this winter

In Victoria, influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection numbers are high among children aged 5 to 11 years, particularly in those in their first few years of school. The Victorian Department of Health expects more respiratory infections over Term 3. Most children with flu or RSV have a mild fever, runny nose or cough. Some children, particularly babies and children with underlying medical conditions, may have more severe illness.

Keeping our school community well

Parents, carers and students are encouraged to:

· Wash and sanitise their hands regularly

· Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

· Cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing · Stay at home if unwell and consult a general practitioner (GP) or NURSE-ON-CALL as needed

· stay up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Flu vaccinations

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family from getting the flu. Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. As part of the 

National Immunisation Program, it is free for:

· Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and older

· Children aged 6 months to under 5 years

· People aged 6 months or older with underlying medical conditions.

Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs, pharmacies or your local council immunisation service.

For more information about staying safe this winter, refer to: 

· Stay well this winter on the Better Health Channel, translated into 16 languages 

· Influenza and immunisation on the Better Health Channel 

· Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on the Better Health Channel 

· Getting vaccinated against influenza.

School Council - Community Meeting

Our School Council meets approximately twice a term to oversee the operations of the school. We discuss policy and process, school operations and student learning data. 

The objectives of a school council are set out in the school council’s constituting Order and section 2.3.4 of the Education and Training Reform Act and are to:

• assist in the efficient governance of the school
• ensure that its decisions affecting students at the school are made having regard, as a primary consideration, to the best interest of the students
• enhance the educational opportunities of students at the school
• ensure the school and the council complies with any requirements of the Education and Training Reform Act, the Education and Training Reform Regulations, a Ministerial Order or a direction, guideline or policy issued under the Education and Training Reform Act.

We will be holding our next school council meeting on Thursday 22 August at 6:00pm in the staffroom. We invite any members of the community who would like to attend this meeting to do so. Please email the school at park.ridge.ps@education.vic.gov.au to register your attendance. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Please feel free to pop in for a chat with either Carrie, Brendan or I, should you wish to discuss anything. 

Our doors are always open! 

Take care,

Mr. Dale Blythman