Principal's Report

Dear SEPS Families, 

Welcome back to Term 3. The holidays seem like a distant memory after a jampacked first two weeks. Our dance sessions and swimming lessons are well underway, and fortunately, the weather was on our side for the Athletics Carnival. We also hosted a well-attended Cyber Safety seminar last week, where we were able to show off our beautiful new LED screen. Unfortunately a number of staff and students have been struck down by a particularly nasty flu strain sweeping across our school at present. 

BEACHSIDE NETWORK & NAPLAN

Some people may not be aware of how the broader school system works. The Victorian Education Department is broken into four main Regions in Victoria, and each Region is broken up into Areas and Networks. We are in the Beachside Network, Bayside Peninsula Area (BPA) for the Southeast Victorian Region (SEVR). Each Network has a principal network meeting twice a term, and we have a BPA meeting once a term. The Beachside network is a very collegiate network of principals and assistant principals, with over 30 schools coming together to share and learn from each other. We work in triads to act as challenge partners and review our Annual Implementation Plans each term. Yesterday I worked with the Principals from Hampton PS and Port Melbourne to monitor our mid-year review of our improvement strategies and as always, was immensely proud of the work that we have undertaken this year.     

Our NAPLAN reports are going home today with our Year 3 and 5 students. I would like to congratulate all our students on their aptitude for learning and the growth that they have shown regardless of their individual starting points. While this assessment is just a snapshot from one day, it forms the basis for all school improvement targets when we are being reviewed by the department. I am pleased to say that we have demonstrated results that are above both the State and Network averages for both of our Year 3 and Year 5 cohorts. We will share more about this in upcoming newsletters. 

SEPS SOCIAL

As a result of your fundraising efforts this year, we were able to install our new LED screen during the holidays. The quality is absolutely amazing! Look out for a special SEPS Social event that the team has planned for our children! 

SEPS Social met this morning for a coffee and catch up. Unfortunately, at 9am, it looked like our Father’s Day Breakfast tradition was at risk of being cancelled due to a lack of volunteers to run the event. This would be a massive shame given the number of amazing dads who stepped up to make our Mother’s Day event so special. Luckily a few mums whipped into action, and we thankfully have a small team who are willing to help on the day. We could use a few more helpers so if you can offer an hour or two, please reach out to your class rep or Katie Tukker. More information is provided in the SEPS Social section of this newsletter. 

PARENTS BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Only one week to go before PARENTS BATTLE OF THE BANDS on Friday 8 August at Lucky 13 in Moorabbin. Our band, Carpool Tunnel Syndrome, will be battling to take out the title for SEPS!!! We wish them all the best and cannot wait to see them in action Tickets are now on sale and all information and links can be found on our social pages.  

WELLBEING FOCUS 

Our whole school focus this week has been on using 'up and clean' language. This means no put-downs or bad language. While the majority of students get it right, we have noticed that there have been a few incidents involving name calling, teasing or swearing in the playground. We ask that parents and carers continue conversations with their children around the language we use when we are building others up as opposed to the language or tone that is used when we put others down. We know that when we all work together, we will have the greatest impact on our children, as they grow and learn to navigate their way through the myriad of social situations that they will encounter at school and beyond. 

UPDATE ON SUSPENSION POWERS

Our school is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all students and staff. You may be aware of recent changes announced to suspension and expulsion powers that were made available to Victorian principals from day one of Term 3, (Monday 21 July 2025).

We know that students’ behaviour outside of school, particularly online, can sometimes impact the safety of students and staff at school. In exceptional circumstances, principals of Victorian government schools will be able suspend or expel students for behaviour that occurs outside of school grounds and/or hours including online, if it poses a significant danger to the safety and wellbeing of students or staff.

These powers apply only to serious incidents where there is a clear and close connection to the school and the behaviour of a student outside of school unreasonably impacts the safety and wellbeing of students or staff at school, and their ability to learn or work. Please note: 

· They do not apply to behaviours unrelated to the school or school community.

· They only apply to behaviour which occurs from Monday 21 July 2025 onwards.

Suspension will remain measures of last resort – our primary approach continues to focus on proactive and positive behaviour support, including working with you to teach students the behaviours we expect of them, in school and in life.

Thank you for your continued support as we work in partnership to educate and support our young people.

Have a great fortnight ahead,

Jane Briffa