Principals Message

It is already the final week of Term 1 as we come toward Easter and enter Holy week. This is one of the most significant and sacred times within our Church. A time where we consider the sacrifices that Jesus made for us. We will celebrate throughout the week at school and hold a Liturgy (Year 3/4 and Fr. Minh) on Wednesday.  

NAPLAN

Last week, the Year 3 and Year 5 students participated in the final two NAPLAN assessments for 2024. We are incredibly proud of the students for their efforts and thanks families for supporting the children through, what can be, an anxious time. As educators and a school, we look forward to seeing the results. NAPLAN results give our educators a good snapshot, point in time, of our growth in learning. This is tracked longitudinally (over time) to understand trends within our programs and pedagogy.

VACPSP conference

Last week, I was fortunate to attend 4 days at the Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals conference. The time spent is an opportunity to participate in seminars, engage in networking and witness some of the wares that many educational businesses have to offer. I thank our staff for the support that they provided each other last week in what was quite a busy week.

School events last week

Last week was an incredibly busy week. We had a week-long celebration for Harmony week, culminating in our Harmony day on Thursday. The students learned about diversity and equality during learning experiences and engaged in rich discussions.

On Friday, we had our Ride to School morning and parade. It was amazing to see some of the photos of the children and families getting on board.

On Friday, we also celebrated National Water Saving Day and Earth hour.

Child Safety

The safety and well-being of our students remain our utmost priority through nurturing them academically, socially, and emotionally. To ensure this, we consistently implement a range of strategies, protocols and seek advice from Catholic Education Sandhurst:

1. Comprehensive Staff Training: All staff members undergo rigorous training sessions on child protection policies, identifying signs of abuse or neglect, and appropriate reporting procedures.
2. Clear Code of Conduct: We maintain a clear and enforceable code of conduct for both students and staff, emphasizing mutual respect, kindness, and responsibility.
3. Regular Supervision and Monitoring: We maintain vigilant supervision across all areas of the school, including classrooms, playgrounds, and online spaces, to ensure the safety of our students at all times.
4. Transparent Communication Channels: We encourage open communication and dialogue between students, parents, and staff, providing multiple avenues for reporting concerns or seeking support.
5. Partnerships with External Agencies: We collaborate with relevant external agencies, such as Child Protection services, Victoria Police, Catholic Education Sandhurst and mental health professionals, to access additional support and resources when needed.
6. Comprehensive Policies and Procedures: We have established clear policies and procedures for responding to incidents or allegations of child abuse or neglect, ensuring swift and appropriate action is taken. Advice is sought through Catholic Education Sandhurst.
7. Educational Programs: We integrate age-appropriate educational programs into our curriculum, teaching students about personal safety, healthy relationships, and how to seek help if they feel unsafe. Student voice is promoted.
8. Continuous Review and Improvement: We regularly review and evaluate our child protection policies and practices to ensure they remain effective and up-to-date with best practices.

We want every member of our school community to feel safe, valued, and supported. If you ever have any concerns regarding the safety or well-being of your child, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can continue to foster a school environment where every child can thrive.

Emergency Evacuation Drill

Today, we conducted an emergency evacuation drill (bushfire). Locals to Rushworth may have heard our evacuation alarm throughout town. 

Children and staff followed our protocols beautifully and we all met at the assigned evacuation area safely. 

Tomorrow, we meet with a company called ‘Bounce Readiness’ who will audit our protocols for emergency management, child safety and occupational health and safety and provide any strength and recommendations for improvement moving forward.

Assembly/newsletter

As previously mentioned in a prior newsletter, as of next term we will be reducing our assemblies to every fortnight. These will commence Week 1 and alternate with the newsletter. EG: Assembly week 1, Newsletter week 2 and so on.

The rationale is that we can implement a student representative council on the alternate week to assembly. This will encourage student voice and build Year 6 leaders (They will facilitate the SRC)

This week

This week is no exception to being busy. We had our school Athletics in Shepparton on Monday. Thank you Mrs Morse for coordinating such a successful event. 

Today Tuesday  we had our school photos. 

Wednesday, we have our Easter Egg hunt, Good Friday Liturgy in the Church at 12:30pm and 3-6 ERP Expo from 2:45pm.

Thursday, we finish at 2:20pm and it is Pyjama day for Project Compassion Caritas - Bring a gold coin for donation. We also have Ice Cream Sundae.

Friday is the Good Friday Public Holiday.

I wish you and your family a safe and Holy Easter break and look forward to commencing Term 2.  

Please, if you ever have any queries or concerns about anything school related, send me an email at vryan@smrushworth.catholic.edu.au or schedule an appointment to come see me. My door is always open.

Vin Ryan

Principal