Principal's Report

Attendance

Daily school attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they don't fall behind both socially and developmentally. Children and young people who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent qualification have better health outcomes, better employment outcomes, and higher incomes across their lives. It is important that children develop habits of regular attendance at an early age.

School participation is important as it maximises life opportunities for children and young people by providing them with education and support networks. School helps people to develop important skills, knowledge and values which set them up for further learning and participation in their community.

If your family is finding attendance challenging for any reason, please know we’re here to help. Reach out to the relevant class teacher, year level leader or the wellbeing team, we can work together to find support and solutions.

Expectations Around Family Holidays During The School Term

The Department of Education expects that students do not have time away during the school term as absences directly impacts their learning. We do understand that on unexpected occasions, family circumstances do require travel during the term. We understand that spending time with family is important, however we ask that you try to schedule this in school holidays to ensure your child’s learning and development is not impacted.

If you do have to take leave during the school term for a family holiday we request that you:

*Email the school to seek permission from the school principal to attend the holiday and have the absence recorded as a ‘school approved absence for the family holiday’.

*Discuss with the class teacher if a student absence learning plan is required

Please note: Family Holiday Leave during the school term is a counted absence and will be recorded on the students enrolment record and semester reports.

School Council Nominations

It is that time again when we are calling for School Council members. There are 4 parent positions available. If I receive more than 4 nominations for parent members, then I need to call a ballot.  In that case I will communicate this with you all and how you can cast your vote.  In the meantime, if you would like to either nominate yourself or nominate someone else, please come into the office and collect a nomination form. Nominations close at 4pm 23rd February 2026. 

We have 2 School Council meetings per term on Wednesdays.

School councils have three main responsibilities:

• Finance: overseeing the development of the school’s annual budget and ensuring proper records are kept of the school’s financial operation
• Strategic planning: participating in the development and monitoring of the school strategic plan

• Policy development and review: developing, reviewing and updating policies that reflect our school values and support the school’s broad direction outlined in its strategic plan.

   

School Council members also sit on one sub-committee held on the same evening as School Council – from 5.30pm. 

Car wash

We have been contacted by the owner of the car wash, who reports a number of parents are parking their cars in the spaces in the morning and afternoon during drop off and pick up times.  We know parking is difficult, but we ask that you are respectful to these people who are running a business and need the space for their own customers. 

We have also followed up with the car wash staff, who have given out icy poles to some of our students on hot days as they were leaving school.  Although this is well intended, this is not supported by the school and I have asked them to cease this immediately.  All students at LPS have been asked not to ‘stop’ in at the carwash after school looking or asking for an icy pole.

Thank you for your support with this.

Dome and Soccer pitch

The new DOME playground and back soccer pitch are out of bounds for all students (even with parents) before school.  We ask that all students stay away from that area.

Easing into adolescence: resources for families

Free resources for families of adolescents aged 10 to 14 years.

The Department of Education has launched an Easing into adolescence webpage for families of students aged 10 to 14 (Grade 5 to Year 8). 

The webpage has information and strategies you can use to help ease your child into adolescence and secondary school. These include: 

• a guide to emotion coaching. Staff from The University of Melbourne’s Tuning in to Teens Kids program developed the guidance.
• how to support your adolescent with their studies and more generally. Parenting expert and clinical psychologist Andrew Fuller helped develop this resource.

Subtitles for videos by The University of Melbourne on the webpage are available in 10 languages. You can select your preferred language on the translations page.

For questions about these resources, contact the Strategic Partnerships, Transitions and Student Voice team. You can email them at Secondary.School.Transition@education.vic.gov.au.

Have a great fortnight, 

Nicola Pepper