From the Principal...
Hello everyone and welcome back to term 4!
I hope you have all enjoyed the recent school holidays and your family and friends all enjoyed a positive break and managed to refresh and re-energize for the term ahead. It has been so great to re-connect with our students this week and hear of the fun that’s been enjoyed over the past two weeks.
We have so much happening and planned for term 4 so PLEASE take note of the important dates that are listed in the newsletter as we want to ensure all students/families can participate in these activities.
In order for these events to occur seamlessly, we ask that parents please note the due dates for permissions and payments on Compass. These processes ensure that no students miss out on the value added opportunities that are provided across the school over the course of the term.
Working Bee
As shared earlier this week, the PTA have scheduled a whole school Working Bee for Sunday 19th October from 10am – 2pm.
I hope you can join us in supporting the school in some way during these times.
To donate your time:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xH5GP_RDKybebhUETJsYAafqlLO1r63ZvgphWrEFElo/edit?usp=sharing
To make a financial contribution:
https://myschoolconnect.com.au/mt-eliza-ps-fundraiser
To donate some resources please email me directly:
michael.kent@education.vic.gov.au
Newsletter
Apart from this welcome back newsletter our usual fortnightly newsletter will be sent home next and every two weeks thereafter for term 4.
Additionally, our classroom newsletters will be coming home next week. These newsletters will outline the curriculum program, events and activities relevant to each year level and specialist program.
Congratulations to the students who represented the school at the recent Division Athletics. We have some amazing results from our super athletes and making this level of competition is an achievement in itself! Well done.
Congratulations also to the Hooptime girls and boys team who have it made it through to the finals in this competition.
Welcome back to Mrs Merritt
This week we welcomed Mrs Jessica Merritt back to her Assistant Principal role on returning from family leave. Jess will be with us each Monday and Wednesday.
Cyber Safety
https://www.vic.gov.au/safe-socials-parents-and-carers-primary
Social media safety
Parents and carers play an important role in supporting their children to be safe online and on social media. You can help your children safely navigate their digital world and educate them to avoid harmful online experiences. You can explore websites, games, apps and social media together and set some rules and boundaries.
Your support and guidance can give your children the knowledge to make sound decisions online and confidence to ask for help when they need it. It is also important to stay informed about online safety.
The Department of Education recognises this important issue and has developed fact sheets about supports to help keep students safe online and what to do if they are involved in an online incident.
The fact sheets contain links to evidence-based information on supporting positive and safe online experiences, signs a child or young person might need support, what to do if something unsafe happens online, and where to reach out to for more support.
To access the fact sheets, refer to the Safe Socials webpage. The fact sheets are available in 19 community languages.
Thunderstorm asthma - be prepared this pollen season
Grass pollen season, which typically runs from October to December each year in Victoria, brings an increase in asthma and hay fever symptoms. It also increases the risk of thunderstorm asthma. For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.
We will implement a range of measures to keep our school community safe as the risk of thunderstorm asthma increases.
Many of our staff are trained in asthma first aid, and we will monitor the VicEmergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings, and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify greater risk.
During the season, there are some things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and your family:
If your child has ever had asthma, talk to your doctor about what you can do to help protect them from the risk of thunderstorm asthma this pollen season, including updating your asthma action plan. Taking an asthma preventer properly and regularly is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma.
If your child has hay fever, see your pharmacist or doctor for a hay fever treatment plan and check if you should have an asthma reliever puffer. These are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
If your child has hay fever and experiences wheezing and coughing, it is important to make sure they don’t also have asthma. Speak to your doctor about an asthma action plan.
Where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October to December, especially during the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. If you have your air conditioning on, turn it to ‘recirculate’.
Protect yourself this pollen season – managing asthma and allergies matters.
Find out more
For more information, speak to your doctor. You can also visit the Better Health Channel website.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Michael Kent
Principal
Respect, Resilience, Responsibility, Connectedness and Challenge