Principal's Report

International Day of People with Disability – 3 December

Next week we recognise International Day of People with Disability, a United Nations-observed day held each year on 3 December. This important day invites us to pause, reflect and deepen our understanding, awareness and acceptance of people with disability within our communities.

This year’s theme, “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” aligns beautifully with the values we hold at Rosanna Golf Links Primary School. Inclusion is not just something we talk about, it is something we live every day. Our Deaf Hub, the dedicated staff who support it, and the strong connections between students of all abilities are shining examples of what an inclusive school can be.

At RGLPS, we are proud of the way our students celebrate each other’s strengths, support their peers and embrace difference with kindness. Thank you for helping us build a community where everyone feels seen, valued and included.

Respectful Interactions Within Our School Community

At Rosanna Golf Links Primary School, we pride ourselves on being a community built on kindness, respect and shared responsibility. These values guide our students every day, and they are just as important for us as adults to model in our interactions with each other.

From time to time, children will experience disagreements, misunderstandings or moments of conflict. This is a normal part of growing up and an important opportunity for learning. When issues arise between students, our staff are well equipped to support them to work through the situation calmly, safely and fairly. We speak with the children involved, help them reflect on their choices, and guide them towards positive solutions. If additional follow-up is needed, we communicate directly with parents to ensure that everyone is informed and supported.

Lately, we have noticed a small number of situations where parents have contacted each other directly about incidents between students. While often well-intentioned, this can unintentionally escalate matters or place families in uncomfortable positions. For this reason, we kindly ask that all concerns relating to student interactions are directed to the school first. Allowing staff to manage these situations ensures that every child is supported, conversations remain factual and calm, and outcomes reflect our shared commitment to student wellbeing.

As adults, we play an essential role in modelling the behaviours and values we want our children to develop. When we approach challenges with patience, empathy and mutual respect, we show our students what positive problem-solving looks like. This strengthens not only their social and emotional development, but also the sense of trust and unity within our community.

Thank you for continuing to work with us to ensure RGLPS remains a safe, respectful and supportive environment for every child and family. Your partnership and care for our community are deeply appreciated.

Changes to Digital Device Use

From 2027, the Victorian Government is introducing changes to the use of digital devices for students from Prep to Grade 6.Under the new guidelines, schools:· will no longer invite families to purchase or bring their own digital devices to use at school for Prep to Grade 6· will follow new recommended digital device times, including minimal device time for Prep to Grade 2, and a maximum of 90 minutes per day for Grades 3 to 6.

At RGLPS, we have always maintained strong and responsible digital-device practices. Our current approach already aligns closely with the new expectations, with device use largely occurring during the independent portion of lessons and capped at approximately 10 minutes per session—across six sessions per day, this means our students typically use a device for around an hour daily.

In 2026, our Year 3 students will still be able to opt into the BYOD program. As in previous years, the school will continue to contribute $200 towards each device, ensuring families can access a high-quality device at a reduced cost.

What this means for our schoolFrom 2027 onward, we will be ceasing our current BYOD program for Year 3. Instead, RGLPS will supply class sets of digital devices for student use. Students who have been using BYO devices prior to 2027 may continue to bring their device to school; however, all students will be required to follow the new recommended device-use limits as outlined by the department.

Students with disability who use a digital device as a reasonable adjustment remain exempt from these changes.

These statewide reforms aim to reduce cost-of-living pressures for families and support children’s wellbeing by limiting excessive screen time, which can contribute to eye strain, sedentary behaviour and reduced peer interaction. They also complement Victoria’s nation-leading mobile phone restrictions and strengthen the broader focus on reducing digital distraction in schools.

You can read more about the changes on the department’s website: Digital Learning: Policy.

Take care,

Kirrily Lamers

Principal