Principal Team Report

What a Week! 

We have managed to pack so much into this '4-day' week.  This week, members of the Principal Class team attended the Victorian State Principals' Conference, which was held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.  This major event brought together Principals and Education Leaders to explore the theme “Excellence in Every Classroom.”

The conference featured a range of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and practical workshops focused on strengthening school leadership, improving student outcomes, and navigating the evolving educational landscape that has come with the introduction of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0). Keynote presentations by a range of speakers, including the Minister for Education, were thought-provoking and challenged attendees, numbering in the thousands, to think critically about areas of future focus, equity, inclusion, and responsive leadership.

Over the two days, Principals engaged in professional dialogue, networked with colleagues from across the state, and participated in sessions covering strategic planning, pedagogy, wellbeing, school leadership and system priorities.

The event was a fantastic opportunity to reflect, learn, and return to school feeling energised and equipped to lead with the next interaction of the ‘Education State’.

Winter Wonderland (PJ) Day - Our Fundraiser for children in Mozambique

I want to introduce you to a very generous Year 5 student, Cadence Arthur. With the support of her family, Cadence brought to my attention an issue that she was very passionate about. With the backing of the School Council, it was approved that the school would undertake this fundraiser through our Winter Wonderland (PJ) Day. 

Thank you very much to the School Council for turning this into a reality for Cadence.  

Please read the article below, written by Cadence, which explains her 'why' regarding this very special cause...

Hello, I’m Cadence Arthur, a proud organiser who has put a lot of effort into raising money for children in Mozambique, a country in Africa, and ensuring that they receive as much support as possible from me and those around me. This fundraiser was an idea from the Resilience project, a lesson that teaches us about Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness.

This fundraiser primarily represents empathy for all those who are kind, supportive, and understanding of those in Mozambique who may not have access to meals every day. Thank you for contributing to this significant school event. 

I am participating in this event because I was researching fundraising ideas and thought it would be essential to ensure that we save lives and bring happiness to people worldwide. Australia is a safe place with high wellbeing and a good quality of health. Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, and it needs more support than ever from people in Australia and other wealthy countries.  What people in Australia need to work on is their gratitude for what they have and noticing that other countries have got next to nothing and are still having a great time in life. Many people in wealthy countries make a fuss about little things, forgetting that in countries like Mozambique, people often go without meals for a day or half of their school time. That’s why I have organised this event, to remind people that we need to reach people who need it and forget about the silly things people worry about.

What we have done at Whittlesea Primary School is a gold coin donation, for which I am grateful. Each seventy-five dollars means that a child from Chokwe, Mozambique, will have school lunches every day for a year, which is amazing! So, thank you for reaching out and supporting my fundraiser.

As someone who was born in the Philippines and stayed there for a bit, seeing all those people in that dangerous country made me wonder if I could change things for people who need our help.

I inspire people to participate in events like this and make the world a happier place for everyone by offering my support and reaching out to those who need it. I don’t do fundraising for the glory or the attention; I do it because I believe it’s essential to help the world and inspire others to do the same. Let’s make the world a better place!

Best regards, Cadence.

Premiers' Reading Challenge

The Premier's Reading Challenge is well underway. So far, 64 students have completed the challenge - well done! Remember to keep recording your challenge and choice books online at https://vprc.eduweb.vic.gov.au/home . If you are unsure of your child's login details, contact your child's classroom teacher via Compass. The challenge ends on the 5th September, so you still have 92 days to complete the challenge!

Have a wonderful long weekend with family and friends (and stay warm)

Regards

Kaylene, Rae and Matt.