Assistant Principal Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
It has been a pleasure to interact with your children and see the many smiling faces participating in the numerous club offerings happening across our school yard over the past few weeks. I have had the chance to literally jump into some skipping, play some lunch time ping pong, join the lunch time colouring club and pop in to see the chess club in action (I did not want to embarrass myself, so I just watched our future chess champions). It is exciting to watch children participate actively in these opportunities and strengthen connections with their friends and classmates. We will continue to expand our club offerings for students to connect with their passions and each other and are looking forward to the launch of this year's run club alongside a few other fun opportunities soon.
Inform and Empower- Growing up in a Digital World
This past week on Wednesday we were able to come together online as a school community with the guidance of Inform and Empower to learn more about supporting our children in Growing Up in a Digital World. Thanks to our presenters for running our online webinar and helping us to think critically about the unique opportunities and challenges our children face in the online environment. It is a shared responsibility to equip our young people with the skills to navigate the online world around them safely as they contribute their thoughts and ideas in a respectful and kind manner.
Harmony Week
16 - 22 March is Harmony Week and the school will be recognizing and celebrating cultural diversity, inclusiveness and respect for all. Classroom sessions about Harmony Week will accompany scheduled wellbeing lessons at every year level to learn more about the week and the importance of being respectful and inclusive of all. As part of the week's learning, on Friday, 20th March students will be asked to wear orange, the colour of harmony week, to coincide with the United Nation's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This day will be a great opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our community and the variety of cultures, traditions and histories that our families and student bring with them to the school.
Wellbeing Student Leaders
Over the past few weeks I have met with our Year 6 wellbeing leaders to brainstorm and plan actions they felt would have the greatest positive impact on the wellbeing of others at our school. The leaders brought many great ideas with them and covered a whole page with possibilities to enhance our school. After some debate, they chose two ideas they felt would have positive impacts to mental health that we are preparing to share with others.
In Year 6, we will be developing and trialling a "brain dump" strategy as a way to get thoughts and feelings expressed when needed instead of holding them in. We will collect data about the perceived impact with the Year 6's and share with other year levels if they feel it has a positive impact on their wellbeing. Our wellbeing leaders will also be championing a "mental health moment" as part of some future assemblies. Our goal is to bring a small, fun challenge to assembly to raise awareness about mental health and promote small, everyday actions that students can use to take care of themselves.
E-Scooters – Important Safety Reminder
We have recently been contacted by Victoria Police, who have advised the school that they will be conducting random checks in the local area over the coming weeks following reports from concerned community members regarding the use of e-scooters by young riders.
Under Victorian law, e-scooters can only be ridden by people 16 years of age or older. Riders must also wear an approved helmet at all times. In addition, e-scooters are not permitted to be ridden on footpaths.
Victoria Police have advised that penalties may apply if these rules are not followed. Current fines include:
Riding an e-scooter on a footpath – $305
Riding an e-scooter if under 16 years of age – $305
Riding with a passenger – $254
As a primary school community, our students are not legally permitted to ride e-scooters, and we ask families to please discuss these rules with their children to ensure everyone remains safe and compliant with the law.
From next week onwards, we expect that e-scooters and e-bikes will remain at home, as these are illegal for primary school aged children to ride.
We appreciate your support in helping keep our students and the wider community safe.
Darren Thresher
Assistant Principal
Respect, Resilience, Responsibility, Connectedness and Challenge