Principal's Report
School ANZAC Commemorative Service
On behalf of Spring Gully Primary, I would like to thank Warrant Officer Class One Joel Anderson, Leading Seaman Steph McCorkelle and Able Seaman John McCorkelle for being a special part of our ANZAC day service. It is greatly appreciated when parents can contribute their time to the school and share their knowledge, experiences and talents, especially for such a significant event.
Our School Captains, Vice Captains, Indigenous Student Leaders and House Captains all did a terrific job presenting our service. It takes a lot of courage to speak in front of the whole school, you should all be very proud of your efforts. Thank you to Jed K for sharing both of his great-grandfathers heroic achievements with us all.
Thank you also to Mrs Hamilton, Mr Parkes and Mr Smith for assisting with the set up of the service and Jess Egan, our Koori Engagement Support Officer, for her knowledge and assistance.
Siobhan Garmey (ANZAC Day Coordinator)
Mother’s Day Breakfast
Mr Parkes will circulate some Mother’s Day Breakfast information via Compass on Monday. Please check it and place an order, as we would love to have you with us for breakfast on the morning of Friday 10th May.
Parent Club and Mrs Leed are facilitating the creation of a Mother’s & Special Friend’s Day gift again this year. When the information is released on Monday, we are requesting that families place an order for gifts via the Canteen module in Compass. In addition to this, families can also place an order for Mother’s & Special Friend’s Day breakfast, taking place in the Hub on the morning of Friday 10th May from 7am to 8:30am.
The gift is a great opportunity for students, to make something special for their loved ones, but it is also a valuable fundraiser for our school and the brekky is an awesome way to celebrate Mother’s Day. Thank you very much for your support.
Education Week - 13th May to 17th May
Education Week 2024 is almost here!
This year, Education Week runs from Monday 13th to Friday 17th May. The theme will be Spotlight on STEM, a chance for schools to celebrate and share how they bring science, technology, engineering, and maths to life in the classroom.
Education Week is an opportunity for our school to celebrate and share with you how we encourage our students to be active learners.
More information about Education Week at Spring Gully Primary School will be circulated soon.
Prospective Prep Parent Information Evening - Wednesday, 15th May at 6.30pm
This information evening aims to provide parents of children beginning school in 2024 with an understanding of Spring Gully Primary School and all that we have to offer. The evening will provide an overview of the curriculum and information regarding the wellbeing and specialist programs that are in place. We will include information about how you can become part of our school community and how you can be involved in your child’s education. It is also an opportunity to meet current Prep teachers, Mr Parkes and myself. The evening will conclude with time to answer any questions that you may have.
2025 Prep Dates
The dates and activities below relate to our 2025 Prep intake. Prospective Prep parents are encouraged to partake in these activities.
Education Week Activities & Dates
Prospective Prep Parent Information Evening
Wednesday, 15th May – 6.30pm to 7.30pm
For an individual appointment, please contact the office and make a booking.
Whole School Open Morning
Thursday, 16th May – 9.00am to 10.30am
Information Evening for 2025 Confirmed Prep Parents
Tuesday, 12th November – 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Orientation Program Dates for 2025 Preps
Tuesday, 19th November – 9.00am-10.00am
Tuesday, 26th November – 9.00am-10.00am
Tuesday, 3rd December – 9.00am-10.00am
Tuesday, 10th December – 9.00am-11.30pm
Smile Squad Returning
The Bendigo Health Smile Squad team are heading back to our school to complete six-monthly fluoride varnish applications for those students who have provided consent. Fluoride varnish applications help make sure students have the best chance of preventing tooth decay, so we’re excited Smile Squad are coming back.
Consent for this fluoride varnish application was provided when students’ initial consent forms were returned. However, if anyone has changed their mind and do not wish to receive a fluoride varnish application, they can contact Bendigo Health directly to let them know. Please contact the Smile Squad team via: 0460 729 200 or dental@bendigohealth.org.au
The Smile Squad team look forward to visiting soon.
Student Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS)
The following DET information is to inform Grade 4-6 families about the 2024 AtoSS, which will be administered to all government school students in Years 4 to 12. This year, the survey will be conducted between May 6 and June14.
About the survey
The AtoSS is a voluntary annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools and the department to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and will be asking your child about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general.
ORIMA Research Pty Ltd has been contracted by the department to administer the online survey and will provide support to schools throughout the survey period via a telephone hotline and email.
What are the benefits?
Young people enjoy having a say! This survey has been running for nearly 20 years and is invaluable in helping schools understand student views to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience. The survey responses also help the Department of Education understand how student’s learning experiences can be improved.
What are the risks?
While we do not anticipate many risks of participation, some students may find some of the survey questions personal and sensitive in nature. Should you agree for your child to participate, they are still free to skip questions or to withdraw at any stage if the survey makes them upset or uncomfortable. A teacher will be present during the survey to support students.
The questions are selected from validated survey instruments used in Australia and around the world, are strength-based, and tailored for each year level group.
What will my child be asked to do?
Your child will be invited to complete the survey online during class time using a purpose built secure online survey tool. It is important to note that we are not in any way “testing” your child. Please note:
- Student participation in the survey is voluntary and students may withdraw at any time.
- The survey is available in a variety of different versions to enable all students to participate.
- The survey will take around 20-45 minutes to complete.
How is my child’s confidentiality protected?
Your child will be provided with a unique login to complete the survey from their teacher. The student login is an assigned identifier that will be used by the department to link data for analysis and research purposes only. Identifiable information, such as student name or Victorian Student Number (VSN) is not used for linking datasets. Some student demographic data (i.e. year level, gender, age, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status) is derived from department-held administrative records and is linked to the individual student login ID during survey set up work to support survey administration.
ORIMA Research will only use student personal information for research purposes to facilitate the administration and data collection of the Attitudes to School Survey. To ensure the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times, personally identifiable data will not be recorded in the survey response file that ORIMA Research provides to the department. All data is stored on servers located in Australia and access is restricted to staff who are working on the project.
All information collected about your child will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Data and Protection Act 2014 (Vic), the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) and the Public Records Act 1973 (Vic), as well as the Department’s Schools’ Privacy Policy. Please note that consistent with the above legislation and our policy, there are instances where we may be required by law to share information provided by your child. For example, where there is a threat to your child’s health and safety.
How will results be reported?
Aggregated state-wide survey data will be used to report on initiatives and may also be used in public discussions of issues relating to student engagement and wellbeing. An example of how survey data has been previously used includes reporting levels of student engagement in the Performance Summary in the Annual Report to the School Community.
The survey results will also be reported back to the school in aggregate form throughout the survey period. Data or results about individual students will not be shared with schools. All survey data that is made available in reports are for groups of students only so that no individual student can be identified. Where there are low numbers of students, the data will be suppressed so that the school cannot view the results for that group.
Your school may share the results of the survey with parents and carers.
Options for participation
Participation in this survey is voluntary. If you do not wish for your child to do the survey, please opt out via email to: Francis.Trezise@education.vic.gov.au before the survey commences on May 20.
Student personal information will be shared with ORIMA Research to facilitate survey preparations prior to this opt out process. If you opt your child out of participating, then your school will ensure that your child is not provided with access to the survey. Student details will be deleted by ORIMA Research at the conclusion of the survey.
If your school does not receive a Refusal of Consent email before the survey commencement date, as above, this will be taken as your consent for your child to participate in the 2024 Attitudes to School Survey. However, as noted above the survey is voluntary: even with your consent, your child can choose to skip questions or withdraw at any time.
Further information about this survey, including the questions your child will be asked to answer, please visit the department’s survey information page.
If you would like more information, please speak to your child’s teacher, or contact the department at school.surveys@education.vic.gov.au.