Wellbeing & Engagement 

RAFT Thank You

A huge shout out to the RAFT team for running our Goonies-themed scavenger hunt and movie night last Saturday. Byron Wilding, Simon Tan and Tim Kirke have worked hard behind the scenes all year on some great events and this one was extremely well attended - and feedback from students and families was that they really enjoyed it! 

We will have more information coming soon about future events, including some to kick off 2025. We encourage you to join up and become part of the RAFT community!

Respectful Relationships

On Thursday 14th November, Year 3 teacher and our Respectful Relationships Leader, Danielle Anderson, and I attended the Inner East RRRR Community of Practice. 

Earlier this year, the Federal Government endorsed the importance of this program in schools by committing to future funding of RRRR - providing $76 million over the next four years. The Education Department has recently released an updated Respectful Relationships curriculum, and this day allowed us to unpack the new curriculum and explore the new and updated content in order to prepare for implementation in 2025.

Some of the new and updated content includes a strengthened approach to permission and consent, along with improved embedment of First Nations perspectives.

Our school has always aimed to be very proactive in this space as an RRRR Lead School. We are excited to be leading the way for our network and to provide a learning environment where our students are safe and supported to be open, be themselves, and build positive and respectful relationships.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a key international movement to call for an end to violence against women and girls (VAWG).

It runs from 25th November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10th December (Human Rights Day).

All areas, including our own school community, are impacted by gender-based violence. Sadly the statistics don't lie - the high majority of violence in Australia and around the world occurs with males as the perpetrator. A Royal Commission into Family Violence, conducted in 2015, led to the development of the Respectful Relationships curriculum. 

We encourage you at home to discuss gender equality and the importance of respectful relationships in all shapes and forms.

If this has raised any difficulties for you, please see below for some resources and available support services.

Year 5 Camp

Next Monday 18th November, our Year 5 cohort is off on camp. The group will be experiencing a brand new camp for our school - Waratah Beach Camp - and I know the students are extremely excited for this one!

I am lucky enough to be attending the camp myself and I am really looking forward to seeing our students give everything a go, developing leadership skills, and support and encourage each other throughout the three days as they make some amazing memories. 

Let's see how many students (or staff and parents?!) can stand up on a surf board!

The Resilience Project

I am very happy to share that as a school, we will continue our partnership with The Resilience Project into 2025. 

We have found the program to be such a positive approach to overall mental health and wellbeing development. Students across the school have shown that the values of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness are really embedded into our school culture and everyday practice.

We look forward to continuing to build on the program next year and will once again offer some additional opportunities for families to participate in.

Liam Sommers

Assistant Principal

Wellbeing and Engagement