A message from the Principal

As I write this, we are at the end of our very first day of Term 1, and what a pleasure it has been to welcome our students and families back to St Kilda Park Primary School this morning.

It was genuinely lovely to reconnect with so many children and parents at the gate, listening to holiday stories, hearing about adventures big and small, and sharing in the excitement of being back at school. There was a real sense of positivity in the air today, with students returning ready to reconnect, settle in and get started.

Across the school, classes began the year calmly and purposefully, taking part in our CAPSE program, Creating a Positive School Environment. This time is so important as it allows students to reconnect with one another, build relationships with their new teachers, establish shared routines and agreements, and set clear expectations for the year ahead. Visiting classrooms today, it was wonderful to feel such a strong sense of focus and purpose, with students engaged, settled and ready to learn.

I would like to acknowledge the enormous amount of work our teachers have done over the summer break, and particularly over the last few days, to ensure everything was ready for a successful start to the year. Classrooms look fantastic. The arrival of new furniture, alongside upgrades to classroom technology, means our learning spaces are set up to support focus, engagement and high-quality teaching. Our students truly have everything they need for a great year of learning.

Our two curriculum days on Tuesday and Wednesday were time very well spent. On Tuesday, the whole staff took part in professional learning focused on Responsive Teaching, led by educational expert Bron Ryrie Jones. Bron led us through a deep exploration of how learning happens and the practices teachers use to respond to students in the moment. This learning built beautifully on our work last year around explicit and direct instruction, and it confirmed that our school is in a very strong place. The practices in our classrooms are closely aligned with the research and evidence on effective teaching and learning.

On Wednesday, our focus turned to student wellbeing, with professional learning on trauma-informed practice. We explored the importance of warm, positive and caring relationships in classrooms, and how these create safe and supportive environments for all students, regardless of their background or past experiences. This is an important and exciting direction for our school, and one that we will continue to invest time and energy in over the coming years. We look forward to sharing more of this work with you as it develops.

There is always a great deal happening at SKiPPS, particularly at the start of a new school year. Please read on for further news and updates, and a reminder that our newsletter remains our primary means of communication. We ask that all families subscribe and take the time to read it regularly so you can stay informed and connected.

It has been a wonderful first day back, and I am very much looking forward to the year ahead.

Neil Scott

Principal