Leadership Report

Dear Saltwater Community, 

Welcome to week ten. We thank you for a great first term of the 2025 school year. As the ending of Term One draws closer, we have much to celebrate and be thankful for. Congratulations to our students who have shown independence, growth and kindness. Thank you to our staff, who have continued to provide engaging learning opportunities in addition to our core learning programs. 

We have had a fulfilling term with many extracurricular events such as: NAPLAN, English and Maths online assessments for Prep, Sports Days, Divisional Swimming Championships, the election process for our Class captains, JSC Junior School Council and SRC Secondary Representative Council, School Council Elections, Student Support Group meetings, Harmony day, Beach Program, information nights for our families and much much more. We appreciate everyone's assistance in supporting all students at our school and for staying connected and engaged.

 A special mention must go to our 'littlest' Saltwater College students, our Prep students, who have made it through their first term of schooling. Every day, they continue to bring joy and excitement to our school community. 

John Hendry Consultant

During Term One, John Hendry has worked with our families and staff at Saltwater College, bringing his invaluable insights on Relationship-Based Education (RBE) to our school community. His approach emphasises the importance of trust, respect, empathy, and emotional well-being in fostering a positive learning environment. Through his work with us, he has highlighted how strong relationships between students, teachers, and families enhance engagement, resilience, and overall academic success.

His key principles include:

• Trust & Respect – A foundation for learning, where students feel safe and valued.

• Empathy & Forgiveness – Encouraging understanding and restorative conflict resolution.

• Emotional Wellbeing – Teaching self-awareness and regulation to support student growth.

• Collaboration – Building strong connections between educators, students, and families.

John Hendry advocates for creating inclusive, relationship-driven schools prioritising student well-being and personal development alongside academic success. Students feel a sense of belonging, purpose, and trust in their school experience.

Term Two - Tuesday 22 April 2025

Term Two begins on Tuesday 22 April at 8:30am, with continuous entry starting at 8:20am for Primary students; and 8.50am continuous entry for a 9.00am start in the secondary school.

Friday 25 April is the Anzac Day public holiday and school will not be operating on this day. Term Two is an eleven week term and concludes on Friday 4 July, 2025.

NAPLAN Completed

Our Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9 students deserve a huge congratulations for completing their NAPLAN assessments during this term. Our students gave their best effort, and we are incredibly proud of them! They have shown resilience, kept positive mindsets and applied their knowledge and skills as best they can. These assessments are a vital source of information for the school's learning programs, even though they represent just a tiny part of the overall picture. It is our ongoing mission to make sure that each student is valued for their unique set of skills and differences that they possess. We look forward to sharing the results with our families when they arrive, later in the year.

We want to thank the entire support team involved in the organisation of NAPLAN, including teaching staff, leaders, support staff, and our IT team. They worked hard behind the scenes in preparation for the NAPLAN assessments to ensure the process was seamless so that our students had the best opportunity to perform. 

Harmony Day at Saltwater

We extend a huge thank you to our community for a successful Harmony Day celebration. Our Harmony Day event helped us to celebrate everyone’s uniqueness and cultural diversity. Our students came to school in cultural outfits or dressed in orange, to remind us of our shared humanity. 

This day helped us understand that despite our differences, we are stronger. Students shared stories, showcased their outfits and celebrated together, embodying the spirit of harmony that lies at the heart of this celebration.

School Council Update

Thank you to all the families participating in the 2025 School Council Election. Voting closed on Friday, 7th March, and all votes have now been counted. We are pleased to announce the successful candidates who have been elected as parent representatives on Saltwater College’s School Council:

• Michelle Guajardo

• Zachary Cain

Congratulations to both elected members! We look forward to working with you. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who nominated themselves—we appreciate your commitment to our school community and encourage you to consider nominating again in future elections.

The first meeting of the new School Council took place on Thursday, 13th March. The role of the School Council is to:

• Assist in the efficient governance of the school

• Ensure that decisions affecting students are made in their best interest

• Enhance educational opportunities for all students

• Ensure compliance with regulations, ministerial orders, and policies under the School Governance Act

2025 School Council Members

Parent Representatives:

• Jessica Rapa

• Sunny Gill

• Amanda Martins

• Lina Perez Sanchez

• Zachary Cain

• Michelle Guajardo

DE Representatives:

• Jackie Daniali

• Ryan Ma

• Jess Cortese

• James Peterson

We look forward to working with our school councillors throughout the year, to facilitate the goals of the school.

Three-Way Conferences at Saltwater College

Saltwater College invites families to participate in our upcoming Three-Way Conferences, a valuable opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to come together to discuss progress, achievements, and future learning goals.

Key Dates:

📅 Wednesday, 21st May 2025 – Secondary Three-Way Conferences (12:00 PM – 7:00 PM)📅 Wednesday, 28th May 2025 – Primary Three-Way Conferences (12:00 PM – 7:00 PM)

To accommodate these important discussions, students will be dismissed at 12:00 PM on their respective conference days. Your support in accommodating the day's schedule, including the early dismissal at 12pm, is greatly appreciated. 

Bookings will open next term, and we encourage all families to take advantage of this opportunity to support student learning and development. Stay tuned for further details!

Premier’s Reading Challenge: A Term 2 Reading Push

As we head into Term 2, we are excited to encourage students to participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge! Reading regularly is a fantastic way to build literacy skills, spark imagination, and develop a lifelong love of books.

We encourage families to consider joining the Point Cook Library to support this initiative. A library membership gives children access to a wide range of books suited to all ages and interests, helping them meet their reading goals for the challenge. Plus, visiting the library can be a fun and engaging family activity!

Let’s work together to foster a strong reading culture at home and in our school community. Happy reading! 📚✨

End of Term Break

We wish you all a safe and happy end-of-term break. For our families celebrating Easter, Ramadan (Eid), Holi or any other celebration, we wish you all a joyous and meaningful celebration. May this time be filled with cherished memories with your loved ones!

We look forward to seeing you next term on Tuesday 22 April for an eleven week term, concluding 4 July 2025.

Thank you, 

On behalf of the Leadership Team