Principal's Update

Angelika Ireland

Parent Behaviour  - Drop Off and Pick up Times

Sadly, I received this email from the organisation that supplies us with Crossing Supervisors before and after school:

It seems we are having ongoing issues with parents around the safety and parking on the crossing.

If this is going to continue and it becomes that unsafe for our staff, we will unfortunately have to pull our SCS off the crossing due for safety precautions as it is an unsafe worksite.

I have also made numerous reports to council and VICPol for support. 

I often put information in the newsletter regarding expectations at the crossing zones, however, there are some parents who think these expectations are not relevant to them. This then puts our students’ safety, the Crossing Supervisor’s safety and those of other parents at risk

This week after school, we had a parent in a red SUV, leave their car illegally parked in Langton Way and enter the school grounds for about 15 minutes. Their action blocked in other cars who had to wait for their return and caused an obstruction to all traffic trying to get past.

When challenged upon returning, they became loudly abusive, with many of our students being exposed to their tirade. They then took off angrily over the school crossing.

This type of behaviour is unsafe, unacceptable and not behaviour we want in our school community. 

What happened to the values of RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY?

Most schools are busy with traffic during peak drop off and pick up times. 

Please be patient. 

Park your car further away from the school and walk. 

If upset, remain calm and respectful. 

Show responsibility by parking in the allowed areas. 

You are role models for your children. 

Think about what they are learning from your behaviours and actions?

Flying to Foundation

Our new students, who will be in Foundation in 2026, have now attended three sessions of the ‘Flying to Foundation’ transition program. At this stage, we have just over 70 new Foundation students who will be starting their school life at Greenvale Primary School next year. Amongst the families who already have older children at Greenvale, there are many families who are new to our community and we welcome them. We even have a parent who attended Greenvale PS as a student returning with their own child!

All children were given a special ‘Flying to Foundation’ T-shirt that they wear to each transition session to give them a sense of belonging. Students will attend five 75 minute sessions over the remainder of the term culminating in a ’Meet Your Teacher’ session at the end. This will give all new Foundation students an opportunity to get to know their teacher and the children who they will be with next year. It also allows staff to get to know the new students so that when they begin school, their needs can be catered for.

Starting school is a major life transition for children and their families. It is a period of change that can be both challenging and exciting, in which children and families adjust to new roles, identities and expectations, new interactions and new relationships. Transition to school is not a point-in-time event, but rather an experience that starts well before, and extends far beyond, the first day of school.

Many children will start school after having attended kindergarten; while others will have attended child care; while others may not have attended any formal prior-to-school service. However, all will have developed a range of skills and abilities that form the basis of positive school experiences.

Thanks to Daniella Hadchiti who is again leading the organisation of this year’s ‘Flying to Foundation’ program with the support of the current Foundation team and to Sandra Blanck, our Enrolment Officer, who has spent many hours contacting and speaking with new families.

Alongside the children attending ‘Flying to Foundation”, a ‘Parents as Partners’ program has again been organised for the parents each week. This program has the mantra of ‘Enrolling Your Family and not just your Child’. The parents of our new students attended the first parent session in the staffroom led by the office staff discussing important admin processes. The second session was with Brett McGinniskin, our Learning Specialist in Mathematics, who shared with parents what learning Maths at school looks like for Foundation students and how they can support their child’s learning in numeracy. Today we had our third session which was with our Literacy Learning Specialist, John Scollo. Parents were not only able to take home ideas, but also a small resource pack with maths and literacy activities. 

Food For Thought: 

Regards

Angelika Ireland