Principal's Message to the School Community

A reminder that the Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban that requires students who bring mobiles phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours.

The department is requiring all schools to ensure this ban is in place and enforced from the start of the 2024 school year.

The ban applies equally to all government schools right across the state.

This helps ensure that school is a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions.

By ensuring mobile phones are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile phones can cause.

I ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school.

Further information

Exceptions: For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you would like to discuss this.

Emergencies: In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, I ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required.

School mobile phone policy: A copy of our school’s local mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available here in the school’s website. 

Parent support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.

If you have further questions, please contact the office.

Promoting healthy swimming

Swimming is a great way to stay fit and active, and an important skill for life. As our school begins its participation in a swimming program next week, it is important we all take steps to stop the spread of germs at the pool. This summer, the Victorian Department of Health advises there has been an increase in the number of people infected with cryptosporidiosis (crypto)– a type of gastroenteritis. Some people are attending pools while infectious, which spreads the infection to others.

To keep pools safe and clean for everyone, please follow these healthy swimming steps before we dive into the pool:

· do not swim if you have diarrhoea

· shower and wash with soap before swimming

· wash your hands with soap after using the toilet

· avoid swallowing pool water

· change nappies in nappy-change areas only.

Please encourage your child to follow the above steps to support everyone’s safety in pools. Please also keep your child absent from swimming lessons at school if they have had gastroenteritis or diarrhoea in the 14 days before the lesson. Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or contact NURSE-ON-CALL by phone: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours).

Find out more

For more information on protecting against gastroenteritis, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages: · 

Healthy swimming, including a video with transcript · 

Swimming – keeping the water clean · 

Gastroenteritis in children.

Alistair Rayner

Principal