From the

Principal's Desk

STAFFING UPDATE

At Meadows Primary School, we are fortunate to have a dedicated team of staff who work together to ensure continuity of learning and support for our students. Currently we have some staffing updates that I want to share with the community.

Ms Meg D'Ortenzio is currently on an extended period of leave. During this time, our STEM program has continued seamlessly under the guidance of Ms Mikaela , who has done a wonderful job delivering engaging and meaningful learning experiences for our students.

Ms Maria Ziccarello has also made the decision to resign from her position as Education Support Staff at our school. We thank her for her contributions and dedication during her years with Meadows P.S. and wish her all the very best in her future endeavours. We are pleased to welcome Ms Javeria Khan, who has been appointed to the role through to the end of 2026. Many of our students and families will already be familiar with Ms Javeria Khan, as she has been working with us this term. She has made a wonderful start, building positive and trusting relationships with our students and making a significant impact through her caring and professional approach.

Mr Khoi Tran and Ms Leonie Miller are also currently on extended personal leave. We wish them both well and look forward to welcoming them back soon. During Mr Tran's absence, Mr Timothy Brown will be teaching his class and supporting students' learning. In Ms Leonie Miller's absence, we have secured a Casual Relief Teacher to continue delivering our Library program, ensuring students can still enjoy and foster their love of reading in a library setting.

Mr Rob Syme will shortly commence family leave as he and his family prepare to welcome their second child. We extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to him and his family during this exciting time. While Mr Syme is on leave, his class will be taught by one of our regular local Casual Relief Teachers, ensuring consistency and continuity for students.

I would like to thank all staff who have stepped into these roles and our school community for their ongoing support and understanding as we manage staffing changes throughout the year.

PLANNING WEEK

During week 9 of this term, our Professional Learning Communities (PLC's) - Year level teams, will be actively engaged in planning and preparing for Term 3 teaching and learning. This includes developing new units of work with a focus on key curriculum content, as well as organising exciting excursions and events, including the F–2 swimming program.

Teams will also be preparing assessment tasks, reviewing student learning data, and ensuring lessons are explicitly planned to meet the diverse learning needs of all students through appropriate differentiation.  Planning days help ensure high-quality and engaging learning programs are developed.

We are also looking forward to commencing Term 3 with NAIDOC Week activities, celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week provides an important opportunity for our students to learn about and honour the world's oldest continuing cultures and to deepen their understanding of Australia's rich First Nations heritage.

HEALTHY HABITS with DIGITAL DEVICES

Digital devices play an important role in learning and staying connected, but healthy habits are essential for children's wellbeing. Families are encouraged to create device-free bedrooms by keeping TVs, tablets, phones and gaming devices out of children's sleeping spaces. This supports better sleep, improved concentration and overall health.

Parents and carers should also regularly monitor their child's online activity and maintain open conversations about safe and responsible use of technology. It is important to know what apps and websites children are accessing and to ensure they are not using social media platforms that are not age-appropriate.

As a reminder, Australia now has social media age restrictions requiring many social media platforms to prevent children under 16 years of age from holding accounts. These measures have been introduced to help protect young people from online harms and support their social, emotional and digital wellbeing.

Together, we can help our children develop positive and balanced digital habits both at home and at school.

Mrs Figen Mustafa

Stay well, Stay safe