From the Principal 

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you had time over the school holiday period to catch up with loved ones and to have time to relax and have some fun.

A Great Start

2024 has started very smoothly. The staff and students have settled in remarkably. They have spent two weeks setting up their classrooms and developing strong routines. The new year’s first focus is to connect with each other. This involves getting to know new class members and teachers. It also means developing clear common understandings and classroom norms. Every classroom now proudly displays the:

• school vision
• school mission statement
• classroom mission statement
• student code of conduct
• collective class wildly important goal
• personal mission statements
• student wildly important academic and personal goals and trackers
• student leadership roles
• 7 habits
• Acknowledgement of Country
• 123 Magic student behaviour management process

Timetable Adjustment

The change to three periods, 50-minute break, two periods, 30-minute break and last period seems to be working well. The students are fresher in the morning and their fruit grazing keeps their energy levels high. As the day progresses their energy levels and capacity to focus decreases, and both the staff and students have articulated that they now enjoy the afternoons more.

Assembly Time Change

The main purpose of school assemblies is for the students and staff to unite, reflect, acknowledge and celebrate. It is also great having parents come along as well. The student assembly time has been changed to 2.45 on Thursdays. A few factors led to the decision, to trial another day. Firstly, several Education Support staff do not work on Fridays and were articulating that they wished they could attend. Shelley Bradley does not work Fridays and wants to be involved in whole-school assemblies, to raise the awareness and profile of Visual Arts and Cultural Studies for the students. Susie Davies-Splitter, our music teacher, does not work Fridays. Susie wants to showcase student talent regularly at assemblies and initiate whole-school sing-a-longs with a focus on parent participation. It may be more challenging for some parents and carers to attend the Thursday timeslot. To assist, teachers will contact parents and carers ahead of time, should their children be performing or receiving a very special award. This can help with planning an earlier than usual departure from work, for times that are important.

2024 School and House Captain Badge Presentation

Next Thursday February 15th the school and house captains will be presented with their badges at the 2.45 assembly. School Captains: Azra and Clement Vice Captains: Shy, Charlie W and Hugo Mills House Captains: Ciara and Jake  Barty House Captains: Josh and Clara Alcott House Captains: Melis and Logan Fox House Captains Noah and Scarlett These students are outstanding role models and will lead with kindness and positivity.

Student Lighthouse Team (Student Representative Council) Election

Students wanting to nominate themselves need to present a short 1–2-minute speech stating why they think they would be suited to represent their peers on the team. Students may want to share:

• an idea for change
• desired purchase of resources
• plans for special events or themed days
• fundraising ideas
• community links ideas

The students in each class will vote for one nominee to represent them. The new SLT will be announced on Compass next Friday 16th and the students will be presented with their badges at the following assembly on Thu 22. The first Student Lighthouse meeting will be Fri 23rd 11.00-11.40 in the staffroom. 

Picnic and Games Night

Next Thursday Feb 15th 5.30-7.30 you are invited to join the school community for a picnic and games evening. It is BYO food and blankets and our Before and After school provider TeamKids and Jarrod Bradley will have some fun activities set up for the students. This will be a fun time to make connections with new families and to continue building strong relationships.

SunSmart 

Hats are required to be worn outside by the students and staff in Terms 1 and 4.

Uniform Policy

All parents and carers are encouraged to re-visit the policy to ensure compliance. 

Rationale:

A uniform dress code reinforces in students a pride in their own appearance, instils recognition of themselves as an integral part of the school community, and assists in developing pride in representing their school.  Issues of equality, health and safety, and expense are also factors that contribute to the establishment of the Dress Code.

Aims:

• To promote equality amongst all students
• To further develop a sense of pride in, and identification with our school
• To provide durable clothing that is cost effective and practical for our school environment
• To maintain and enhance the positive image of the school in the community.

Implementation:

• The Dress Code applies during school hours, while travelling to and from school, and when students are on school excursions.
• The Uniform will consist of a combination of items from the designated Uniform list with the predominant colours Navy Blue and Jade (Emerald) Green.
• Provision of the School Uniform has been outsourced to Primary School Wear. (PSW)
• Stud earrings and sleepers worn in the ears, plus watches are the only acceptable jewellery.
• Suitable footwear such as runners, lace-up or buckled shoes or flat-heeled boots are to be worn. Socks and shoes to be in keeping with school uniform colours. Open toed sandals are not to be worn (including on free dress days) for safety reasons.
• Students must wear either a complete summer or winter uniform and not mix items from each list, i.e. Polo shirt over the top of long sleeve top does not comply with the policy.
• The only headwear that is acceptable is SunSmart hats consistent with our SunSmart policy.  They must be worn outside in terms 1 & 4.   Hats are not to be worn inside.
• There will be no direct advertising or sponsorship on School Uniform items other than specific sports uniform items such as basketball, soccer or football tops.
• Extreme hair colours (eg: green, pink or purple rinses) and/or extreme hairstyles (eg: spikes, or Mohawks) are not permitted.
• Other than clear nail polish, cosmetics may not be worn at school.
• Fundraising wrist bands can be worn on the special awareness day, i.e. Red Nose Day, or for one week only if no specific date exists. Only one band should be worn at a time.
• School Council requires the Principal be responsible for implementation of the Dress Code.
• Parents are responsible for ensuring students are in School Uniform and are expected to provide an explanation if the student is out of Uniform. 
• Arrangements can be made to supply uniforms via State Schools Relief for families experiencing economic hardship.
• Parents seeking exemptions to the Dress Code due to religious beliefs, ethnic or cultural background, student disability, health conditions or economic hardship must apply in writing to the Principal for consideration.
• The staff of Le Page Primary manage non-compliance of the uniform policy and the Principal has the final say on consequences for non-compliance, which can include exclusion.

Recommendations for Boys

Summer

Jade Green Polo Shirt with School Logo

Navy Unisex Rugby Shorts (No Cargo Shorts or Pants to be worn)

Navy Windcheater with School Logo

Navy and Jade Green Bomber Jacket with Logo

Navy Broad-Brimmed Hat with Logo

Winter

Jade Green Polo Shirt with Logo

Navy Track Pants (No Cargo Shorts or Pants to be worn)

Navy Windcheater with School Logo

Navy and Jade Green Bomber Jacket with Logo

Recommendations for Girls

Summer

Jade Green Polo Shirt with School Logo

Navy Unisex Rugby Shorts 

Navy/White Check School Dress   No leggings to be worn.

‘Boy leg’ Navy Shorts may be worn under the School Dress. 

Navy Windcheater with School Logo

Navy and Jade Green Bomber Jacket with Logo

Navy Broad-Brimmed Hat with Logo

Winter

Jade Green Polo Shirt with Logo

Navy Track Pants (No Cargo Shorts or Pants to be worn)

Navy and Jade Green Bomber Jacket with Logo

Box pleat Tunic – Navy/Jade/White Check

Box pleat Skirt - Navy/Jade/White Check

(Both to be worn with Navy Tights/Socks and either a Navy Skivvy or Long Sleeved School Polo Shirt with logo)

It is recommended parents purchase at least two of each of the main garments to allow for washing & drying times.

Footwear

Black School Shoes or Black Runners only.  May be lace-up, or as examples pictured below.   No coloured logos or distinguishing coloured markings. Open-toed shoes/sandals are not permitted to be worn for safety reasons.   Other suitable sport shoes may be worn on school sport days only.

Compulsory Accessories

Navy Backpack with School Logo, or Navy Backpack with no logo

Socks – Navy or White only

Hair Ties – Navy/Emerald Green or Blue/White Checked only.

https://lepage.vic.edu.au/parents/#uniforms

The Habit of Personal Responsibility

Habit 1: Be Proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. Proactive people recognise that they are “response-able.” They don’t blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behaviour. They know they can choose their behaviour. Reactive people, on the other hand, are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behaviour. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn’t, it affects their attitude and performance, and they blame the weather.

All these external forces act as stimuli that we respond to. Between the stimulus and the response is our greatest power—we have the freedom to choose our response. One of the most important things we choose is what we say. Our language is a good indicator of how we see ourselves.

A proactive person uses proactive language—I can, I will, I prefer, etc. A reactive person uses reactive language—I can’t, I have to, if only. Reactive people believe they are not responsible for what they say and do—they have no choice.

Proactive people focus their efforts on their Circle of Influence®. They work on the things they can do something about: health, children, or problems at work.

Reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern™—things over which they have little or no control: the national debt, terrorism, or the weather. Gaining an awareness of the areas in which we expend our energies is a giant step in becoming proactive. Stephen Covey

Thought for the Week

"For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn't end." Michelle Obama

George Danson