Principal's Report

It was wonderful to see so many parents and students at our Meet and Greet Meetings on Thursday. In the busy day-to-day, it is not always possible to catch up with teachers, which is why this is such a valuable event every year for parents and carers to meet teachers, and vice versa, and share any important information or feedback before the years moves on too quickly. In between times, Seesaw is a fantastic way to stay in communication with classroom and specialist teachers should you wish. At Ballarat North we really value the partnership between the school and home - open and respectful communication helps us to create conditions in which every child can thrive. 

At times, you will deem it necessary to communicate with a member of staff over a matter regarding your child, and I'd like to draw your attention to the link below, from Parents Victoria - with advice for how to prepare and present for a meeting, phone call or email with the school. There is also an excerpt below outlining the Department's expectations and procedures in relation to communication with school staff. 

Department of Education School Community Safety Policy 

Unacceptable behaviours and consequences

Schools are positive places of learning where everyone has a right to a safe and healthy learning environment. Schools are also workplaces, and school staff deserve to work in an environment where they don’t feel threatened or unsafe.

When a small number of parents and carers behave unacceptably towards a staff member or another member of the school community, this can affect their health, safety and wellbeing. The impact can also be felt by the wider school community.

Unacceptable or unreasonable behaviours include, but are not limited to:

• being violent or threatening violence of any kind, including being physically intimidating, aggressive hand gestures or invading another person's personal space
• speaking or behaving in a rude, aggressive or threatening way, either in person, via email, social media, or over the telephone
• sending demanding, rude, confronting or threatening letters, emails or text messages
• discriminatory or derogatory comments
• the use of social media or public forums to make inappropriate or threatening remarks about the school, staff or students.

If a parent or carer behaves in an unacceptable way, the school principal may contact them to talk about this further and there may be consequences. This may include making a School Community Safety Order to prohibit or limit harmful, threatening or abusive behaviour from a parent, carer or other adult to members of the school community.

Unacceptable or unreasonable behaviour may be escalated to the Department, where it will be assessed and managed by:

• requesting that the parties attend a mediation or counselling sessions
• requesting all communications be in writing
• written warnings
• conditions of entry to school grounds or school activities
• exclusion from school grounds or attendance at school activities
• reports to Victoria Police
• legal action.

For more information about this policy, email safer.school.communities@education.vic.gov.au