From the Principal

Celebrating Milestones

The joy and excitement of celebrating 100 Days of Prep is about far more than recognition of attendance in their first year of school. It is a wonderful opportunity to pause and recognise an important milestone in the learning journey of our youngest students. Last week, our Prep children proudly celebrated 100 days of school, and it was a delight to see the confidence they have developed since their very first day. Their enthusiasm and sense of achievement were a wonderful reminder of how much can be accomplished in a relatively short time. Seeing them embrace the role of being 100 years old, also provided a lot of comedic value. 

As a community, taking time to celebrate milestones reminds us of the importance of gratitude. We are thankful for the dedication of our students, the partnership of our families and the commitment and care of our staff. We are also grateful for those who came before us, whose vision, faith and generosity established St Peter's and laid the foundations of the vibrant community we are today. Their legacy continues to inspire our shared mission of ensuring that every person is known, valued and empowered to flourish.

Whether we are celebrating 100 days of learning in Prep or reflecting on 161 years of St Peter's history, each milestone reminds us that every achievement is part of a much larger story. Together, we honour the journey that has brought us to this point, give thanks for those who walk alongside us today and look forward with hope as we continue to build the next chapter of our community's story.

Policy Spotlight - Student Behaviour Policy 

In this Newsletter we are providing a summary of the protocols within the updates Student Behaviour Policy. Please note that the information shared in the newsletter provides only selected excerpts. For full details and access to all school policies, please visit St Peter’s Bentleigh East website and navigate to the ‘Child Safety & Policies’ section.

Student Behaviour Support

• In alignment with the MACS Vision for Engagement, St Peter's commits to fostering calm, respectful and inclusive environments where every student feels safe, valued and empowered to thrive academically, socially and emotionally
• Implementation of the policy and procedures for Student Behaviour Support wil be fair and reasonable, afford procedural fairness and are consistent and non-discriminatory
• Information provided by the student and parent/carer will be considered throughout any process associated with this procedure
• Respond to behaviour in ways that are fair, developmentally appropriate and tailored to the individual needs of the student, with the goal of promoting future positive and respectful behaviour
• The Principal or Delegate will conduct a thorough assessment of the behaviour and gather information through:
  • Direct observations of the behaviour in relevant contexts
  • Conversations with the student and any others involved
  • Engagement with Parents and Carers
  • Consultation with relevant school staff

Same Day Response

• A Same-day Response is an immediate safety measure used by the school when an incident occurs that impacts the health, safety or wellbeing of your child, other students, staff or the school community. It is designed to keep everyone safe while the school addresses the situation
• The Principal (or Delegate) may initiate a Same-day Response if:
  • There is a serious breach of school policies
  • Your child poses a risk to themselves
  • Your child poses a risk to others in the school community
• If a Same Day Response is implemented it may involve:

  • Your child directed not to attend class for the remainder of the current day

    and/or

  • Directed not to attend the following school day
• After a Same Day Response, the Principal (or Delegate) will meet with you and your child to:
  • Review what happened
  • Update the Student Safety Plan and/or Student Behaviour Support Plan
  • Discuss any advice received during the absence period
  • If risks remain unresolved, the Principal may consider further steps, including suspension

For further information and clarification please read through the policy on the school website.