From the Principal
It’s past the mid-way point of the term, with school holidays on the horizon.
Important School Policy Updates
There are a number of policies that have been updated in the last month at School Council.
Anaphylaxis Policy - This is updated yearly and includes reference to the two new types of devices that have entered the Australian market - the Neffy Spray and Jext.
Child Abuse (including Grooming) Identification & Response Policy & Procedures - This policy was formerly named, ‘Child safety responding and reporting obligations (including mandatory reporting)’. Its name has changed and contains updates which include the 4 Critical Actions for abuse:
- By an adult engaged in the school
- Student to student abuse
- Child Abuse in the family
- Child Abuse in the community
Mobile Devices Policy - Our school policy was due for renewal. The Department of Education is placing new restrictions on student use of devices at school. This extends to other personal electronic devices, including smart watches, headphones and earbuds. The intent of the changes is to address the common concerns that, as with mobile phones, the use of these devices in schools has a very negative impact on building positive social relationships and maintaining attention on learning. As with the current mobile phone policy, exceptions to the restrictions can still apply in circumstances related to learning adjustments, and health and wellbeing.
School Council agreed that our policy can be extended to include watches, fitness trackers and blue tooth devices e.g. headphones.
This enables students to be able to maintain attention, ensure expensive items are not brought to school unnecessarily and lost and also provide greater security in the school as many devices have the capability of taking photos, video and using AI.
This policy will start at the beginning of Term 3. Please read the policy on the website. Any devices such as these brought to school must be handed to the teacher to be securely stored.
Government School’s Principal Conference
On May 28 & 29 Bron, Michelle and I attended the Victorian Government School Principals Conference. This annual conference provides principals with the opportunity to hear from a range of speakers on current education trends impacting our schools and the broader community.
The conference explored the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 with guest speakers Dr Carl Hendrick and Nathaneil Swain. It was reassuring to hear that the work done by the school so far is well and truly on the right track. Principals also heard from experts in student wellbeing and how we as a school system can work towards delivering support pathways to students and families in the future.
AI was a hot topic and particularly how quickly it is moving ahead. The Department acknowledged that they have been very cautious in their approach to AI, and that most schools, are already exploring how we can best use AI to benefit students. This will be an area that will inform our practice over the coming years and there is no doubt that our students will be experimenting as well. Part of our role will be to provide students with the tools they need to ensure they use AI in a safe and productive manner.
Reminder - 2027 Foundation Enrolments Open
The Department of Education opened the enrolment process for 2027 foundation enrolment this term. All foundation enrolments must be completed online via the website ‘VicStudents’.
Applications for Foundation are due by Friday, 31 July 2026. Placement offers will be made between Monday, 3 August 2026 and Friday, 14 August 2026 and families should accept this offer Friday, 28 August 2026.
If you know any neighbours, friends or family who have a child starting school next year, encourage them to reach out to the school. We conduct tours on Tuesday and Thursday mornings each week and these can be booked online.
Reminder - Curriculum Day
Our next Curriculum Day will be held on Friday, 17 July. On this day students are not required at school. OSHC will be running all day care on this day. Teachers will be working with Phil Coloca on understanding the Science of Learning and how it relates to the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model.
Reports and AEU Bans
Following the in-principle agreement reached between the Education Department and the Australian Education Union (AEU), all industrial action related has been suspended. This includes all stop work action, including that related to school visits by Members of Parliament.
The AEU had included a ‘ban on all aspects of work related to the provision of written comments on student reports that will be provided to parents’ in the industrial action. Therefore, the upcoming school reports will continue to indicate student achievement against the relevant curriculum areas of the Victorian Curriculum F–10, but because of industrial action taken earlier this term descriptive comments will not be included.
The teachers will of course be pleased to discuss your child’s progress at our next parent-teacher interviews. Detail of booking an interview will be on COMPASS shortly.
Learning & Cognitive Effort
Have you ever had your child tell you are bored? Often they unable to tell you anything that has happened in their day. Many of the changes introduced to Victorian schools and aligning to evidence-based research and the refined Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0).
When children say they are bored, it is tempting to assume something has gone wrong. Research suggests something more nuanced. In Why Don’t Students Like School?, cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham explains that people do not dislike learning. They dislike thinking hard. Thinking requires effort. It draws on working memory - which is limited. When thinking is unavoidable, sustained, and structured, it can feel uncomfortable at first.
So much of what has changed over the last 12 months in schools is about establishing routines, structures and building in a climate for learning. This can look very different from what school may have looked like 5-10 years ago.
The Knowledge Nest article (linked here) is a wonderful read and a valuable opportunity to build further understanding of what classrooms may look like and importantly what teaching and learning looks like for your child.
School Values
We have created a one page visual of our school values, which you can print and place on your fridge. When I take families on a school tour I talk to our school values and that they are just not values to be displayed here at school, but values that extend when being in the community, at home and in secondary college.
Refugee Week
Refugee Week is an annual celebration to recognise and showcase the contributions of refugees in enriching our communities and culture. This year’s theme is ‘A Million Stories’.
In response to the impact of World War II, Australia signed an initial agreement in 1947 to receive 4,000 refugees from Central Europe.
Since then, Australia has issued one million permanent humanitarian visas to people from around the world. Refugee Week 2026 is a chance to reflect on this milestone and celebrate the million stories behind it.
Have a great month!
Ruth Biddle
Principal