Principal

Greetings Parents and Friends,

Musical

Congratulations to all our students and staff involved in last week’s performances of ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

The show was fantastic!

I continue to be in awe of the amazing talent of our students who were outstanding, whether they were on stage, worked back stage or played in the Band.  The camaraderie of all the students and how they encouraged each other was a blessing to all.

Thanks to all the parents/friends who contributed to the show in many ways and supported their children throughout the production process.

Thank you to all the staff who gave many hours, days and for some, months to put on this huge production.

I especially want to thank the Production Team: Karen Elbourne, Luke Batty, Katie Brown and Leonie Williames for their massive and talented direction of the show.

New Child Safe Standards

In 2013, the Victorian Parliament held an Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations, resulting in the Betrayal of Trust Report.

The report found that more could be done to strengthen existing approaches to child safety.  In response, the Victorian Government is phasing in child safe standards for organisations that work with children, including schools.

Our response as a College is not just to meet the new required standards and laws, but to surpass the benchmarks set by the State Government and Educational authorities. 

St Andrews Christian College is committed to provide a safe environment for all our students.

The College is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and best interests of children, actively working to empower them, and allowing them to feel and be safe at all times. 

Child Abuse is any action (or non-action) that hurts a child or puts a child in danger.

Child abuse of any kind is never acceptable.  St Andrews Christian College has zero tolerance for child abuse.

With changes in the law, we have been reviewing and strengthening all our Child Protection policies.

It has resulted in a new Child Safety Policy which also includes Mandatory Reporting.  To support these documents the College has also actioned a Strategic Review and Plan of how we are strengthening our Child Safety at St Andrews.

You can read these new documents on the College website (under Policies - http://standrews.vic.edu.au/about/policies/) or ask for a hard copy from Mrs Dekker at the Front Office. 

What does all this mean for our College Community?

• Keeping children safe is everyone’s responsibility.
• Child Safety will be embedded into all of the College culture.
• A new ‘Code of Conduct’ will be mandatory for volunteers/contractors/visiting specialist/extra-curricular teachers.
• Clear boundaries for all adults in our College community in how they interact with children here.
• The Child Safe standards apply to College Staff (including volunteers and contractors), visitors and students’ family members.

We learnt more about the new Child Safe Standards and what parents need to do to help keep their child safe at this week’s PFA meeting.

Philippians 4:8-9

 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

May you have a wonderful term!

Blessings,

Catriona Wansbrough

Principal