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Melton West Primary School
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Principal's Report 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Welcome to week 7 of term 1. The term is certainly flying past quickly, with only 3 weeks before the end of the term. We finish on Thursday 2nd April, at 2.10pm. Term 2 starts on MONDAY 20th April. 

 

Other School Term Dates for 2024 are:

  • Term 2 starts – Monday 20th April; ends Friday 26th June @ 2.10 pm

  • Term 3 starts – Monday 13th July; ends Friday 18th September @ 2.10 pm

  • Term 4 starts – Monday 5th October; ends Friday 18th December @ 1.30 pm 

     

Please plan your family holidays during the school breaks, because we believe children’s attendance every day that they are well is crucial for their success as learners. 

 

NAPLAN: Over the next few weeks all Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students across Australia are sitting the annual NAPLAN tests. Melton West PS have scheduled these tests on the following days: Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th, Tuesday 17th and Thursday 19th March. The first one was a writing test, with year 3 students doing it as a written test, with pencil and the test booklet, whilst the Year 5s completed the test online. Whilst there was a technical glitch that affected many across Australia, we were only minimally effective and were able to complete the text as scheduled. All other tests, on the other days will be via the iPad. Students in these year levels have been practising using the tools on functions on the iPad over the past few weeks to ensure they know how to answer the questions, use the ruler, pause and other functions. We are very proud of the efforts of the children and the resilience they are showed during this time.

 

Prep Playground: The new soft fall cover for the prep Playground looks amazing and should be ready for use tomorrow, or at the latest Monday. We hope you feel the difference I see around that area with no loose mulch around anymore. 

 

Harmony Day: On Friday the 20th March we are celebrating Harmony Day, a day to celebrate our country's diversity as a multicultural society. Our school has families from a range of cultures, all bringing a unique experience and richness that enhances our school community. It is also about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, from the Traditional Owners of the land to our most recent arrivals. Australia is united by the our values of freedom, respect, fairness, democracy and equal opportunity.  On the 20th March, we encourage our students, and their families to come dressed in clothes that represent their culture or in Orange to show our appreciation of the multicultural society Australia is and that Everyone Belongs – the theme of this year’s celebrations. There is NO gold coin donation for this event. Please check out the link Harmony week - Everyone belongs

 

School Council: Our first School Council meeting for 2026 will be held on Monday 17th March. I‘d like to thank those parents and staff who have supported the school in this important role of the school. We still have three (3) casual vacancies to fill. If you would like to find out more, please contact the office to make an appointment with me. 

 

World Sleep Day Friday 13th March: The official theme for World Sleep Day 2026 is “Sleep Well, Live Better.” This simple yet powerful slogan highlights a fundamental truth: getting good sleep isn't a luxury. It is an essential foundation for physical, mental, and emotional health. Research shows that many children and young people are not getting enough sleep on school nights. This can affect thinking, concentration, memory, reaction times and mood.

Research shows about 12% of primary school-aged children, a quarter of 12- to 15-year-olds and half of 16- to 17-year-olds don’t get enough sleep on school nights. The recommended amount of time to sleep for primary school-aged children is 9 to 11 hours. For teenagers, it’s 8 to 10 hours.

 

Signs that your child is not getting enough sleep can include:

  • low mood and irritability during social interactions

  • reluctance or arguing about getting off devices and going to bed

  • falling asleep during the day

  • difficulties waking up for school and sleeping in late on weekends to catch up

  • changes to communicating or interacting at home.

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You can help your child to improve their sleep by:

  • establishing a regular sleep pattern and consistent bedtime routine

  • supporting them to avoid using electronic devices such as smartphones before going to bed and in bed

  • encouraging your child to exercise and spend time outside in daylight, steering clear of vigorous activity in the hour before sleep

  • encouraging them to wind down and relax before going to bed.

     

If your child is still having trouble sleeping, has persistent problems with low mood, excessive daytime sleepiness, restlessness in bed, severe snoring or wakening unrefreshed, despite getting adequate length sleep, they should see a doctor.

For more information on sleep health, you can refer to: · Sleep tips for children and Facts about sleep for parents and school staff, from the Sleep Health Foundation · Why sleep is so important, from the Kids Helpline’s · Sleep explained, from the Better Health Channel

Watch the clip to find out more: https://youtu.be/xUSqRUi1ipE?list=PLTgbXbym0zJGer-ndBR4eIKlMaLm-QaG5

 

High Levels of Learning for All

Michelle Costa 

Principal

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