Principal's Report

Dear Families, 

Final Chance to have your say - Parent Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey 

The annual PCGOS closes tomorrow. If you haven't had a chance to complete the survey yet, you can do so using this link https://research.orima.com/parent

The school name and campus name are both Courtenay Gardens Primary School.

The school's generic PIN is 470496.

Our very excited year 5 students and staff headed off on camp yesterday. We wish them an amazing experience in Ballarat, with the obligatory visit to the Sovereign Hill and the wonder of the sound and light show! There was a real buzz around the fact they were going to be staying in a castle! We look forward to hearing their tales of adventure once they return on Friday afternoon. 

Congratulations to our State Schools Spectacular students, Miss Baker and Mr E on their stunning performances at John Cain Arena on Saturday. Our students and staff participated in the mass choir and got to show off both their vocal skills and dance moves! The event was recorded to be televised later in the year - stay tuned for those details when they are advertised.  

Thank you to all of our staff that go above and beyond the hours of duty to provide these opportunities - camps and special events - for our students. 

GATES, SAFETY & SECURITY

We have communicated our revised safety and security practices throughout the course of the year, including parent communication protocols and gate opening times. We have been pleased with the way our wonderful community have responded favourably to these measures, which are designed to keep our students and staff as safe as possible when at school.  Parents/Carers and visitors are more than welcome at our school, but must be checked in according to school safety procedures - signing in at the office and ensuring relevant identification (working with children check, VIT or other acceptable forms of ID). 

For parents/carers dropping off or picking up students, the gates are opened in the morning at 8.30am and locked at 9.10am. Students arriving late to school must be signed in at the office and walk themselves through the main corridor out to their classroom, or be walked by a staff member. Parents/Carers must not walk through the school after classes have started, unless signed in at the office. 

At the end of the day, gates are unlocked at 3.20pm. Parents/Carers are not to enter school grounds prior to this time. The front gate remains unlocked for those needing to collect students early, attend the office for appointments or queries, and for school deliveries. We have put bollards and a chain/sign up to remind all other parents/carers that the school is not yet open. The chains are removed at 3.20, at the same time our other gates are unlocked.  We appreciate those adhering to this reminder. 

Student toilets are NOT to be used by parents, including those with younger children. Please do not enter student toilet blocks at any time, for any purpose. If you believe there is an issue or something in the toilets (a lost item, or a problem to be checked) please alert a staff member. Parents who need to use a toilet urgently (including younger children) can ask to use the accessible toilet in the main building (alongside the staff toilets). 

STRANGER DANGER

Staff have been talking with classes about the importance of being vigilant when out in the yard, that they are not communicating through the school fence with strangers walking past. Students have been educated that if someone says hello, it is polite to say hello, wave or give a smile, but not to engage in conversation or to go over to the fence. Students have been told not to play along the edge of the oval/sensory garden area for their own safety and to signal one of the teachers on oval duty at any time if they notice anything that concerns them. We have also asked students to avoid playing ball games too close to the fence, as when their ball goes over, it is often not able to be retrieved until after school. Students should not be trying to flag down cars to retrieve their ball. 

It would be great if parents/carers could reiterate stranger danger messages with their children. 

PARKING

A final reminder that parking around the school remains a contentious issue among our community. The parking available and restrictions set are not school based decisions. This is controlled and monitored by the Casey Council and sometimes by the police traffic unit. The council have reminded us that fines will be issued to cars parking illegally, including double parking on Rosebank Drive to drop students off, or stopping and leaving your car in the drop off zone on Courtenay Ave.  We are reminded that any parents who have concerns should take photos and upload to "snap, send, solve" so the council can investigate. 

Farewell to Sarah Jayne, our student counsellor and Mrs Wright our PE teacher, who are both beginning their maternity leave at the end of this term. We can't wait to hear their baby news next term! Good luck ladies, enjoy the next exiting chapter in your lives. 

I wish all of our students and their families a wonderful spring holiday. School finishes at 3.30pm Friday and will resume on Monday 6th October. 

Take care, 

Alison Lough

Principal