Hello, from Carolyn.

Hello everyone,

Thunderstorm asthma 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.

At school, we monitor the Vic Emergency app for thunderstorm warnings and take the appropriate action to keep students safe and well.

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. For more information, speak to your doctor. You can also visit the Better Health Channel website. 

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.   

The government is also launching public consultation on age limits for social media. 

You and your children can share your experiences to inform proposed changes via an online survey, before 5 pm on Friday 1 November 2024. For more information on the survey and to take part, refer to Proposed changes to social media age limits on the Engage Victoria website.

If you have any queries about this information, you can contact the department by email: bullystoppers@education.vic.gov.au

World Teachers' Day.

Next Friday 25th is World Teachers' Day. You might like to show your appreciation to your child's teacher and/or another member of our teaching staff by emailing a 'Thank you' message or dropping by to say 'Thank you' in person. Teaching as a career is often equal parts rewarding, exciting, exhausting and challenging. Sometimes teachers tend to hear from parents/carers when they are not happy about something, and don't always get the 'Thank you' messages. So, if you haven't said 'thank you' to your child's teacher for a while, or ever, take some time to do it, I can guarantee it will be much appreciated.

School Sunmart policy.

We recently received notification that we are now an officially registered member of the  Sunsmart school program! 

Children's Week.

Next week is Children's Week. Bendigo has a very fun day planned for Sunday the 19th Oct, 11am - 2pm in the Hargreaves Mall.

Planning for 2025.

Yes, it is that time already when we start planning for next year. If you know that your children are moving on from our school, please let me know asap.

Have a great weekend everyone.

warm regards,

Carolyn.

School banking details.

Westpac.

Bendigo Violet Street Primary

BSB: 033-688

Account number: 93-1292

Payment reference: use your surname and fees.