From the Prin and the AP

Inclusion, Respect and No Place for Racism

At Golden Square Primary School we are so proud of the diversity within our school community. The different backgrounds, cultures, languages and experiences our students and families bring make our school a richer place, and we are committed to making sure every person feels welcomed, safe and respected.

Our three expectations - respect, safety and learning - sit at the heart of everything we do, and they are directly challenged when racism occurs. Our Inclusion and Diversity Policy is clear: we do not tolerate behaviours, language or practices that label, stereotype or demean others. This includes racism in any form, whether it's a comment made in the playground, language used online, or behaviour that excludes or demeans someone because of their background or identity.

The Department of Education's Racism policy reinforces this, making clear that racism - including racial discrimination and vilification - is unacceptable in Victorian government schools and that all students have the right to learn in an environment free from racism.

What can you do?

If your child experiences or witnesses racist behaviour at school, please encourage them to speak up - to their teacher, to you, or to another trusted adult. We take all reports seriously and will respond promptly and appropriately.

At home, conversations about respect, fairness and celebrating difference go a long way. We encourage families to talk openly with their children about these values and to reinforce what we work hard to build here at school every day.

Together, we can make sure Golden Square is a place where every child belongs.

Student Illness

Over the past week we have had an increased number of children feeling unwell with gastro-like symptoms.

The Department of Education provides an exclusion guide for students suffering from a range of infectious diseases. In relation to gastro, the guidelines are as follows:

Diarrhoeal illness: In an outbreak of gastroenteritis, students must be excluded until there has been no vomiting or loose bowel motion for 48 hours. For all other diarrhoeal illnesses, students must be excluded until there has been no vomiting or loose bowel motion for 24 hours.

We appreciate that illness and time away from school can be difficult for families, and we thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us keep our school community safe and well.