From the Principal
Welcome back to Term 3! Students have returned to school and settled well. Many students reported to me that they had great fun during the term break - some travelling overseas or interstate and others enjoying time relaxing at home.
School events
I have updated the school events schedule for second semester which can be viewed here:
Please note that the Christmas Concert is now on Thursday, 4 December.
150th birthday
Spread the word around! Our 150th birthday and Art Show is taking shape.
We are so pleased to have Harcourts Real Estate as a partner for this event. You can meet the team on the day as they will be helping with the sausage sizzle as well as promotional boards for the event.
As we embark on final preparations, we will be asking some families to help out on the day. Please look out for this communication soon!
Working Bee
On 27th June, we had a small but enthusiastic crew who participated in the working bee. Pruning, weeding and planting jobs were undertaken to help keep our garden beds looking great! Thank you to Carmen & Felicity, Keith & Liam, Kristi & Keith, Justin, Sam, Fatima and Chathurenga for participating and to Gill for helping to coordinate the event.
Outside School Hours Care Educators’ Day - Wednesday 30th July 2025
Wednesday 30th July is Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) Educators Day and this year’s theme is “Recognition and Appreciation”.
OSHC Educators play an important part in our community by providing a safe and engaging program which support families to work or attend to other commitments. I would like to recognise the significant contribution our OSHC Leader James and his team of educators make and thank them for their work within our OSHC program and the wider school community.
If you use this service, when you see our OSHC team next, I encourage you to make sure you let them know how valued they are and show your appreciation for all they do. A simple thank you, a handwritten note, or flowers picked from your garden are all ways to show appreciation.
Student Voice in Action
Last term our Year 5&6’s created campaigns about an issue they were passionate about. Ellis, Ayaan and Masi were concerned about the safety of one of the pedestrian crossings near Palmerston Grove. They emailed the City of Monash and Councillor Stuart James.
Recently the received a communication from Stuart saying that the council would improve the safety of the crossing by installing bright yellow signage to improve safety. This is an excellent win for the community and shows that if you speak up, action can take place! These improvements should take place in the next month! Well done Ellis, Masi and Ayaan!
Staying well this winter
The department have asked me to share this information with families.
This winter season, more people are getting and being hospitalised with influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others – it is never too late to vaccinate.
The department encourage parents, carers and students to:
- Wash or sanitise your hands thoroughly and regularly, particularly before and after touching your face
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow
- Stay home if unwell and consult your GP or Nurse-on-Call as needed
- Stay up to date with your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations
The flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over. Some people are more at risk of severe illness from flu and are eligible for free vaccination as part of the National Immunisation Program. Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs and pharmacies. Many can give a COVID-19 booster at the same time.
The COVID-19 booster dose is available for everyone aged 18 and over. Regular COVID-19 vaccinations are the best way to prevent severe illness or hospitalisation, especially in people aged over 65 and those at higher risk of severe illness.
Children aged between 5 and 17 years who are at risk of severe illness can also receive a booster dose. You can get your booster at your local pharmacy or GP. The COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder can tell you if you need a booster, and where to get one.
RSV is a common virus that causes colds and ear infections. In babies, it can cause severe illnesses like bronchiolitis.
The RSV vaccine is available for pregnant women as part of the National Immunisation Program. In Victoria, eligible babies can also get the RSV vaccine until Tuesday, 30 September 2025. For more information, refer to Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation. You can speak with your GP or midwife about the vaccine.
Raising Healthy Minds
The Raising Healthy Minds app is a free, personalised, pocket resource to help parents and carers raise confident, resilient children. Co-designed with parents and experts and funded by the Australian Government, Raising Healthy Minds aims to support children’s social and emotional wellbeing with evidence-based information.
You’ll find information on topics like dealing with worries and making friends, as well as ideas for day-to-day life, like creating family routines, looking after yourself as a parent, and building strong relationships.
The app offers a mix of quick-read articles, videos and animations aimed at parents and carers of children aged 0-12 years. You can tailor information to the age of your child and opt-in to receive helpful tips.
Raising Healthy Minds provides simple-to-use information at your fingertips with clear actions you can start today.
Download from Google Play or the App Store or go to raisingchildren.net.au/rhm to learn more and raise a healthy mind 🧠 😊
Have a great month! Keep warm!
Ruth Biddle
Principal