From the Principal
Dear Families,
It has been a little quieter around the school this week, with our Grade 6 students away in Canberra on their camp.
The Grade 6 camp is quite different from our Grade 4 and Grade 5 camps, which focus on outdoor education. Our Canberra camp is what we refer to as a curriculum camp, where the experiences are closely connected to classroom learning. Throughout the week, students explore our nation’s capital with a strong focus on history, civics and citizenship.
During their time in Canberra, students learn about the development of our capital city, the structure and function of government in Australia, our voting system, and Australia’s involvement in conflicts around the world. With the camp taking place just after ANZAC Day, much of this learning takes on even greater significance.
One of the most powerful aspects of the Canberra camp is how it brings learning to life. This term, our Grade 4 students have begun a new Knowledge Rich Unit titled Service, Courage, Mateship and Loyalty: Our Australian Heroes . In this unit, students learn that these values are not just words, they are actions and choices that shape who we are as Australians .
What made the experience in Canberra even more special was a visit from Mrs Roose’s cousin, Wing Commander Andrew Miller, who spoke with students at the Australian War Memorial about his experiences in the defence force. Without any knowledge of our curriculum, he spoke about the importance of courage, mateship and loyalty, the very same values our students are learning about in the classroom. This was a powerful and authentic moment, reinforcing that what our students learn at school is deeply connected to real people, real experiences and our nation’s history.
This connection reflects our value of Aspire, as we aim to provide rich, meaningful learning that challenges students to think deeply and make connections beyond the classroom. It also reflects Community, as these values highlight the importance of looking out for one another, working together and contributing to something bigger than ourselves. The idea of mateship, in particular, strongly aligns with how we support one another as part of the Pegasus Family.
Throughout the week, students and staff have visited a range of significant national sites, including:
- The Royal Australian Mint
- Old and New Parliament House
- The Australian War Memorial
- The Australian Institute of Sport
- The Australian Electoral Commission
- The National Gallery of Australia
- Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre
- National Capital Exhibition
- Lake Burley Griffin
- Mount Ainslie Lookout
- National Arboretum
While camps like this provide incredible learning opportunities and lasting memories for our students, they also require a significant commitment from our staff. Spending a full week away from their own families is not without its challenges. As many families would appreciate, being without usual supports can be difficult, and we are very grateful to our staff for their willingness to give so generously of their time.
School camps are not mandatory, and we feel very fortunate at Lysterfield Primary School to have a team of staff who are both willing and committed to providing these rich and meaningful experiences for our students.
Child safety and wellbeing at Lysterfield Primary School: information for families and the school community
Lysterfield Primary School is committed to providing an environment where students are safe and feel safe.
Our child safety framework and policies explain how we support and maintain child safety and wellbeing at Lysterfield Primary School.
It includes our:
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Child Safety Reporting and Responding Obligations Procedures, and
Child Safety Code of Conduct, which outlines acceptable and unacceptable behaviours for all staff and volunteers at our school.
Our students and families are important partners in providing a child safe environment. These regular newsletter reminders are one of the ways we ensure our school community is aware of:
- our commitment to child safety, and
- how to provide feedback or raise child safety concerns.
If you have any concerns about child safety at any time, please contact Lysterfield Primary School on 03 9752 7953. Any child safety complaints or concerns are treated seriously. For more information about our school’s complaints process, see our Complaints Policy.
We also welcome your ideas on ways we can improve our approach to child safety and wellbeing. If you have any suggestions or comments please contact Lysterfield Primary School on 03 9752 7953 or at lysterfield.ps@education.vic.gov.au.
Adam Wight
Principal
