Assistant Principal Report 

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Swimming commences next week. During week 7, year Prep and year 5/6 will go swimming, then in week 8 year 1 and year 2 will attend and finally in week 9 it will be year 3 and year 4 who attend.   

Swimming skills are extremely important for children and adults in water-loving Australia. Not only do these skills save lives, they also ensure social participation and inclusion year-round. Safety is one of the most important reasons why you should learn to swim. Swimming is a skill that can save your life. Living in such a warm country that is surrounded by vast coastlines, it is almost impossible to not come across an aquatic environment at some stage in your life. You simply can’t avoid water, which is why it is imperative that we all learn how to swim.

Fatal and non-fatal drowning statistics across Australia between 1st July 2021 and 30th June 2022. Show that during this time, 339 people lost their lives to drowning and the estimate is that a further 686 people experienced a non-fatal drowning incident. 34% of drownings happened in rivers/creeks, 21% at the beach and 13% in the ocean or at harbours.

Swimming lessons are also extremely beneficial for children over the age of five as it enhances their knowledge of safety around water as well furthering their skills and stroke development. 

In Victoria, the Swimming in Schools program is designed to ensure children develop the required water safety skills before leaving primary school. The program is intended to ensure all students, regardless of background or socio-economic status gain the requisite skills needed under the Victorian Water Safety Certificate. Children complete the certificate when they can swim 50m continuously, answer water safety questions and perform simple rescues.

 Kind regards

Jennifer O’Connor

Assistant Principal.