Acting Principal's Update
Gabby Tigafua
Term 2
Welcome back everyone. I hope that you have had a restful and safe break. What a busy term we have in front of us! Not only do we have amazing excursions, incursions and learning activities planned for students, but we will also have our School Concert in Week 8. I can’t wait to see all the amazing performances and costumes. Term 2 is also an opportunity to celebrate student learning through our Semester Reports and Student Led Conferences. Please keep an eye out on the Parent Calendar for dates and Compass posts for more information.
Mrs Ireland, is currently on leave and will be away for the majority of Term 2. She will return in the last week. While she is enjoying her cruise around Japan, I will be the Acting Principal in her absence. Brett McGinniskin will take over my Assistant Principal role during this time. Trudy William remains her current position. Please remember our door is always open. Feel free to make an appointment to see any of the principal class if required.
Look forward to an amazing term!
ANZAC Day
Last week our student leaders led a special ANZAC Day assembly. Our student leaders spoke about the significance of ANZAC Day. All students showed respect by listening attentively, singing our national anthem proudly and participating in the minute silence.
Our Student Leaders did a sensational job in facilitating the commemoration service.
Congratulations to our:
School Captains: Madina, Emir, Burhan and Vivienne
Junior School Council representatives: Leena and Alessi
Flag Monitors: Derin and Zara K
P.A: Nivein, Tyson and Mahmood
Thank you also to Jess Wynd for working with our school leaders to organise this amazing assembly.
During the Assembly our student leaders read the 'Ode' which comes from the poem "For the Fallen", written by Laurence Binyon. The verse, which is commonly known as 'The Ode of Remembrance', is as follows:
The Ode
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
Students, staff and families in attendance also observed a minute’s silence as a sign of respect and a time for reflection. During this time our students stood silently to show their respect. They stood still and did not fidget or talk. Some people also bowed their heads. As the Acting Principal, I was extremely proud to see how our students behaved during this this time. After the minute’s silence everyone repeated “Lest we forget” which reminds us that we must not forget.
ANZAC Day is an important day for all Australians to give thanks that we live in a community which is peaceful and harmonious, especially given the current circumstances in other countries around the world.
ANZAC Day as we know it was first observed on 25 April 1916, as people came together to commemorate the landing of Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli, Türkiye, on 25 April 1915. This important tradition has now become an opportunity to stop and reflect on the sacrifice and dedication of all our veteran and service community, and the families who support them. This National Day of Remembrance honours the service and sacrifice of Australians and New Zealanders in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
On behalf of the Greenvale Primary School community I would like to thank all past and present service men and women for their sacrifice and service.
LEST WE FORGET.
School Staff Pay and conditions and continuing industrial action - Term 2, 2026
As parents and carers know, staff at our school who are members of the Australian Education Union (AEU) have been involved in long-running negotiations with the state government and the Department of Education for improved pay and conditions.
Despite an increased number of ongoing negotiations and the commencement of industrial action, including the statewide full day stop work last term, there is still no fair offer on the table to address the key issues facing public school staff. Victoria’s public schools remain the lowest funded in the country, teachers are the lowest paid, with education support staff and school leaders underpaid as well. School staff also continue to face significant workload pressures. Staffing shortages continue to be experienced in public schools across the state.
As part of the campaign, AEU members will be taking further industrial action, including half-day stopworks on a rolling, region-by-region basis. This means each school will be affected once. We understand this can cause disruption for students and families. Staff are taking this action because they care deeply about public education and want to see our schools properly funded, and to receive fair pay and conditions, all of which are critical to a prosperous future for Victoria’s public school students.
Union members at Greenvale Primary will stop work for half a day on Wednesday 6th May. We will continue to keep families informed about any action that may affect our school community.
