Principal's Page 

Tuesday we welcomed the first day of Autumn  in typical Autumnal fashion with a whopping rain storm! I am quickly learning that the rain in 'The Valley' is fierce, but fleeting. I will need to remember to pack my umbrella! The term seems to be speeding away from us rapidly, and we are already half way through Term 1! It has been wonderful to visit classrooms and see some fabulous student work happening. Students should be very proud of their efforts. 

One area that I am passionate about sharing with students and families is conversations and actions around gratitude. Showing gratitude for the things, people and experiences we have in our lives is so important, and, something that research has proven improves wellbeing, brain function and longevity. If the last two years of remote learning, and living with the conditions of Covid and lockdowns has shown us, it is that sometimes, things don't go the way we would like them to, but there are always positives to be found. I know for myself, the disappointment at repeatedly cancelled events, the restricted opportunities to see family and friends and the inability to visit places I wanted to go were difficult to manage at times. However, looking at this tricky situation with a sense of gratitude, I found that I was grateful for more time with my children, for the opportunity to rediscover forgotten interests and to learn to be more creative with the resources I have at my disposal. There are so many great stories of people learning to cook during Covid, of people rediscovering and prioritizing their own health and families exploring their own backyards. Having an 'attitude of gratitude' doesn't mean that we ignore or pretend there aren't disappointments in life,  but we can view them as impermanent, and something that we can always learn from. 

If you are keen to read about some great ways to incorporate more opportunities for children to find gratitude in every day things, I suggest checking out this web site https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-teach-children-gratitude-4782154 

Family support

We know that through Covid, some families have found things tougher than usual. Employment, for many people, has been challenging, and we understand that sometimes resources and funds can be stretched. Through various supports, we are able to offer a helping hand in many areas to families and members of the community in a confidential and dignified way. If there are people in our school community experiencing challenges with things such as food security, we are happy to help. The school receives support from Food Bank, and we are able to pass on some resources to families. Please feel free to contact the school and speak to one of us if you think we may be able to offer support. 

Uniforms

We have an abundance of school uniforms, generously donated by families in the office. Some of these are used when students require a change of clothing, but currently, we have more than we can house. Next Friday we will (if it is a sunny day) pop some uniforms out in the courtyard area for people to have a look at. Please feel free to grab any items of clothing that you think your children may be able to use.

Covid information

I guess it is no surprise that we have seen a slight increase in the number of covid positive cases here over the last few weeks. We are still far less infiltrated than other schools, and the way people have responded to updates and news has been in a calm and matter-of-fact way. I will continue to send updates as cases are reported, but in the mean time we will continue to follow covid-safe practices and hopefully keep numbers to a minimum. 

Smoking on school grounds

Just a reminder to everyone that smoking is not permitted on, or around the school grounds. This includes the use of e-cigarettes, or 'vaping'. In Victoria, smoking is banned within 4 meters of any access point to school premises. Launching Place Primary School has a Smoking in Schools policy, which can be found here. 

I am looking forward to meeting more of you at the school carnival on Friday. 

Have a wonderful week,

Kind regards,

Jess Mann

Acting Principal