Learning & Teaching
Police Visit
In Week 8, two police officers from Werribee Police Station, Campbell and James, visited our Year 5 and 6 students to deliver an informative presentation on online safety and personal responsibility.
The officers discussed age-appropriate online games and highlighted the importance of adhering to age restrictions, particularly for games rated for players aged 16 years and above. Students learned valuable strategies for staying safe online, including
choosing appropriate usernames, protecting personal information,
maintaining private account settings, and
only interacting online with people they know and trust.
One interesting fact shared during the session was that the average age of a gamer is 35 years old! Many students were surprised to learn this, as they had assumed that most people they interact with online are of a similar age. This served as an important reminder that not everyone online is who they claim to be.
Through a series of videos and discussions, students were encouraged to identify warning signs and recognise potentially unsafe or suspicious online behaviour. To promote safer gaming practices, students were advised to use single-player modes where possible and to only participate in multiplayer games with trusted friends.
The officers also reinforced the importance of seeking support from trusted adults whenever students feel unsafe or concerned. Trusted adults may include parents, grandparents, teachers, doctors, older siblings, and police officers.
The acronym AWARE was revisited as a guide for responsible online behaviour:
A – Appropriate
W – Who?
A – Accurate
R – Respectful
E – Environment
This framework encourages students to think carefully before posting or sharing content online and to avoid making racist, sexist, hurtful or disrespectful comments about others.
Following the online safety presentation, the officers spoke to students about the serious consequences of carrying knives, including pocket-knives and Swiss Army knives. Some students were surprised to learn that carrying a knife for self-defence is not permitted.
The officers clearly stated that carrying weapons is illegal and may result in significant penalties, including fines of up to $1,000.
Finally, students were reminded of the rules relating to e-bikes and e-scooters.
E-bikes must be ridden on roads rather than footpaths, and e-scooters may only be ridden by individuals aged 16 years and over.
E-scooters must also be ridden on roads in accordance with Victorian road safety regulations.
We thank Campbell and James from Werribee Police Station for taking the time to share these important messages with our students.
Year 1C - Cinquian Poems
Italian Day - 13 August
Italian Day will be held on Thursday 13 August 2026.
The children can come dressed in Green, White and Red or something/someone Italian. They will all attend the production - “Luigi Zucchini”, an interactive, comedy magic show that I’m sure will leave us all mesmerized!!!!
There will be lunch orders on this day where the children may order pizza.
Notification for this lunch order will be advised on School Stream closer to the event- orders need to be placed via QuickCliq.
Thanks to the wonderful P&F, the children and staff will be also having gelato on this day. A gelati van has been organised. The gelati are gluten free and nut free with a range of flavours to choose from. The gelato will be served in cups.
If you do not want your child to receive a gelato, please let their class teacher know.
Australian Maths Competition
The annual Australian Mathematics Competition will be held on Wednesday 5 August 2026.
This competition is offered by the Australian Mathematics Trust. It is an internationally recognised competition and one of the largest of its type in the world.
Please note that participation in this competition is totally optional and for children from Years 3-6 only. We would recommend that you discuss this with your child before entering them.
If you would like your child to participate, please complete the online AMC 2026 Enrolment Registration form via School Stream (sent on Monday 22 June). The payment of $10.00 is to be made by no later than the close of business on Thursday 30 July 2026 (Thursday of Week 3 of Term 3). Unfortunately, late entries cannot be accepted.
Links to student practice questions can be found online via our school website using the following link.
https://www.smmaribyrnong.catholic.edu.au/learning-teaching/mathematics
The children will complete the test at school on Wednesday 5 August 2026. As in previous years, the test will be completed electronically using the Student Chromebooks at school.
Good luck to all participants and if you have any questions, please contact me.
Many thanks,
Mr. Gary Romeo (Mathematics Leader)