Assistant Principal Update

Welcome back everyone! It has been great to see our school come alive again after the holidays with the sounds of laughter, learning and friends reconnecting. Each and every student and family at MEPS offers something unique and different that collectively contributes to the school culture and community we have. Recognising and celebrating our differences at school is one of the most important ways we can ensure we have an inclusive and welcoming school where everyone feels a sense of belonging and connection. This term, there are several key wellbeing whole school events that will assist us in looking after ourselves, each other and the broader community beyond our gates.

Inform and Empower

We are excited to continue our partnership with Inform and Empower who will be running incursions in every year level to promote responsible online use as students develop important digital skills. This will be further supported by our school's wellbeing curriculum and computer lab learning program where we will link our school values to being a respectful and safe digital citizen. Preps will focus on maintaining safe screen time, year 1&2s on understanding their digital footprint and years 3-6 will be focused on how to recognise and respond to cyberbullying should it occur.

International Day of Friendship

Next week on Thursday, July 30th, we will be celebrating the United Nation's International Day of Friendship across our school as part of our school-wide Friendology program. Every class will be doing some focused learning on the importance of friendship and how to create and maintain healthy friendships. We will be guiding students to reflect on their positive play and identifying what happened to make the play go well and also what skills might have been needed to solve any challenges if they arose.

Homelessness Week

To make a difference to others beyond our gates, this term we are taking action as part of Homelessness Week. Two student led initiatives will be delivered across the school with a focus on helping those less fortunate. Our SRC team will be leading a Winter Warmer drive focused on collecting blankets and other warm items for those sleeping rough. As part of their Endeavour learning program, our senior students have decided to support the Mornington Community Support Centre through participating in the Winter Toastie Train. Senior students will be making and supplying sandwiches to those that are in need in our community. We are very proud to support these student generated actions.

RU Okay Day

Towards the end of term, we will be focused across the school on the importance of mental health and how we show ourselves and each other care. Our student wellbeing leaders will be assisting us to promote the importance of self-care and act as champions for our school's participation in RU Okay day. At assembly, all students have already been encouraged this term that any day is a good day to check in on a friend and ask if they are okay. Together, we can all look out for each other and make sure our school is an amazing place where people know they can get support from others whenever they need it.

We are hopeful that your child is already starting to be aware and excited about some of these key term three events. Thanks for you support, encouragement and further conversation about some of the above topics at home to assist us in educating students about cyber safety, friendship, making a difference to others and caring for themselves and their friends.

Darren Thresher

Assistant Principal

Mount Eliza Primary School