Principal's Report

Dear Skye Families,

It’s been a busy first month, and with the Melbourne Cup weekend approaching, I hope everyone can find a moment to take a breather and recharge mid-term.

Grandparents Open Morning

Our classrooms were buzzing with excitement on Tuesday as grandparents and special people joined us for a morning of connection and learning. Starting with our morning circles, guests joined their loved ones in a range of activities, and the positive energy was uplifting. A big thank you to all of those who joined us and we look forward to this becoming an annual event!

Open Library Mornings

Last Friday, we celebrated the opening of our family library morning, and it was wonderful to see so many parents and children taking part. Every Friday morning from 8:15 - 8:45 am, families are invited to come in, share a book with their children, and even borrow up to two books to take home. A friendly reminder that all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while in the library. We’re thrilled to create a cozy and welcoming space to share the joy of reading together.

Upcoming Pupil-Free Day

A quick reminder: Friday, 22nd November, will be a pupil-free day. This Professional Practice Day (PPD) is a valuable opportunity for our teachers to step back, reflect, and focus on enhancing the quality of teaching and learning. PPDs are a core part of the Victorian Government Schools Agreement, ensuring that teachers have the dedicated time they need to innovate and grow.

2025 Year 6 Leadership Program

Our Year 5 students will soon begin their journey into the Year 6 Student Leadership Program, a powerful chance for them to build agency and shape positive change within our school and community. The 2025 program will not only continue offering formal leadership roles but also expand opportunities for all Year 6 students to contribute actively to school life. Here’s what they can look forward to:

• Development of key leadership skills, from communication to decision-making
• A clear outline of leadership roles and responsibilities
• A focus on school improvement initiatives led by Year 6 students
• A connection to our Term 1 inquiry unit, “Discover Democracy,” which explores the fundamentals of leadership and government
• Formal recognition of the meaningful contributions of our student leaders

We’re excited to see these young leaders step up and make a difference to our school. 

Class Placement Process

As we approach 2025, we’re carefully planning class placements to ensure a balanced and supportive learning environment for all students. Here’s a glimpse into our class placement process:

• Teacher Judgments: Each teacher assesses students’ academic and social needs to make balanced judgments for class placements.
• Student Input: Students will nominate five classmates they “work well with.” We encourage students to think about who supports their learning rather than just picking friends.
• Parent Requests: Please note, we are not able to take requests regarding specific teachers. However, if there’s an educational, health, or wellbeing reason for your child to be separated or paired with another student, you may submit a request. Requests should be:
  • Addressed via email to me at timothy.bernau@education.vic.gov.au with the subject line “2025 Class Placement Request”
  • Submitted by close of business on Friday, 8th November

It’s a complex task, but we trust our teachers and their deep understanding of each student to make considered, well-informed placements. For more information, please find our Class Placement Policy below.

Thanks for your ongoing support. 

Warm regards, 

Tim