Melton West Primary School

Principal's Report 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

I hope you have been enjoying the short bout of warmer weather this past week. It's so lovely to see the blue skies and the feeling of my bones warming.

Garden Posters:

To support the new garden space under the pergola, Ms Papas, her class and some other 1/2 classes made special signs to remind everyone that gardens are precious. I have included some photos to show their work. The signs look amazing. Thank you, Ms Papas, for taking on this initiative. It's wonderful to see everyone respecting this space so beautifully.

 

Identity and Bullying Presentation:

After assembly last Friday I met with all students from years 3-6 and discussed identity and bullying. The message I portrayed is that we are all individuals who identify in various ways. Some through their culture, which will probably be life long, some through wearing bunny ears or cat ears, as a way of expressing themselves, which may be temporary, a phase or lifelong. Some for their love of a pop star – for example Taylor Swift and being a “Swiftie”, which I counted myself as one when she came to Australia in February, which for me was temporary. Whatever individuals choose to identify as for themselves is up to them and should be nobody else’s business. Negative behaviour towards others based on their identity is bullying and is not tolerated at our school or any school. I finished by sharing the Golden Rule I learnt as a child: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

 

Curriculum Day:

On Monday 4th November we will have our final Curriculum Day for the year. We are focussing on report writing and staff wellbeing, with some planning for 2025 included. We hope you enjoy the long weekend with your family.

 

Prep 2025 Transition Program:

Notes about the Transition Program for our 2025 Year Prep students will begin in November. We are looking forward to meeting them and showing them around the school. If you know someone who has a preschool aged child and is planning on sending them to our wonderful school, please encourage them to enrol as soon as possible so they can join in this important program.

 

Special Requests for 2025 Class:

Part of the work we do in Term 4 is to form the new classes for the following year. If you have any concerns or requests about other children your child should or shouldn’t be with, please put these in writing before Friday 1st November, including if any past requests remain valid. Any requests received after this date CANNOTbe considered, due to the flow-on effect that any changes to classes already created has across the board. I will need to stick to this timeline quite tightly to ensure the process runs as smoothly and as efficiently as possible. Please note, requests for specific teachers will not be considered. If you have any questions or concerns in regard to this process, please do not hesitate to contact the office to make an appointment to speak with me. 

 

Proud Achievement by Kayla Bryant 5/6A:

Kayla was awarded 2nd place All-Around State Champion for Level 5 (division 3), in the 2024 Junior Victorian Gymnastics Championships, which is being held at Geelong Arena from October 18th-27th. Kayla represented the Melton Gymnastics Club and it was the first time competing at the State Championships. Along with 79 competitors in her group she participated in 4 events. Her hard work and dedication throughout the year resulted in a silver medal (2nd place) for Vault, 4th place on Beam, and 6th place on Floor. Although she did not score a placement on Bars, her combined score across all events won her the 2nd place trophy. Congratulations Kayla. We are all very proud of your achievements.

Protecting Against Mosquito-borne Diseases:

Victoria’s mosquito season started this month and will extend to late April 2024. Warm and wet weather can result in greater numbers of mosquitoes and increased risk of illnesses from mosquito bites. While the overall risk is low, some mosquitoes carry diseases that make people sick. The best protection against mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquito bites. Families can protect against mosquito bites by: 

  • Covering up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing  
  • Applying insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when leaving home 
  • Limiting outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active.

To reduce the risk of illness linked to mosquitos, such as Buruli ulcer, promptly wash any new scratches or cuts with soap and clean water and apply a topical antiseptic and dressing. Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or phone NURSE-ON-CALL on: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours).

For more information on protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages:

 

High Levels of Learning for All

Michelle Costa

Principal