From the
Assistant Principal
Dear Parents / Carers,
We all want to belong. Belonging is essential for our psychological and physical health and can play a role in the way we think and interact with the world around us. A sense of belonging in childhood is fundamental to the way we function throughout our lives. Thanks to the internet and technologies, we are in many ways more connected than ever to our family, school and local community.
Being a member of an online community has the same safety implications as any other community. We all have a responsibility in educating our students to be responsible digital citizens in this changing world. Online safety issues can impact anyone at any time. Research shows that most Australian adults (67%) have had a negative experience online. It’s important that the internet is a safe place for all Australians. The eSafety Commission helps all Australians to stay safe online. They support people with online safety issues such as the cyberbullying of children, sharing intimate images or videos without the consent of the person shown (image-based abuse), adult cyber abuse and exposure to illegal and restricted online content. If this happens to you or someone you know, eSafety can help.
eSafety Commission
Resources and information are available to help parents and kids stay safe online. It includes videos, games, support, and research-based information, and everything is free of charge. They also provide webinars which provide parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences. https://www.esafety.gov.au/
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline provides free, confidential online counselling for children and young people. You can talk to Kids Helpline about experiences online. Phone 1800 55 1800 or https://kidshelpline.com.au
We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of our school. This year, all students in Year 4 – 6 will participate in the Attitudes to School Survey. This survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked 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. This year, the Attitude to School Survey will be conducted from Monday 15 May – Friday 26 May.
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 will take around 30-45 minutes to complete.
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.
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 may be used to link data for statistical and research purposes only. Personally identifiable data will not be recorded in the survey response file to ensure the confidentiality of your child’s responses is protected at all times.
Participation in this survey is voluntary. If you do not wish for your child to do the survey, please opt out via email to myself, tiffany.bamford@education.vic.gov.au. Please do so before Monday 15 May, stating that you wish to opt out of your child’s participation, along with their name and year level.
If l do not receive a Refusal of Consent email before the survey commencement date, it means that you give your consent for your child to participate in the 2023 Attitudes to School Survey.
Mother’s Day
Next Tuesday 9 May, our FORPS team will be holding our annual Mother’s Day Stall. Students will have the opportunity to purchase a special gift to celebrate Mum, Grandma, Nana, or special adult in their life. All gifts are priced at $5.
This year, Rowville Primary School is proud to be a collection point for the 10th Annual Mother’s Day Nappy Collective. The Nappy Collective is on a mission! With more and more families doing it tough, the need for nappies is reaching crisis level. We are calling upon our school community to help us collect enough nappies, so no child goes without. The collection will run from Monday 8 May – Sunday 21 May. We are asking for any new and leftover disposable nappies to be donated to help a local mum in need! Donations will provide immediate relief to families experiencing financial hardship, homelessness, escaping domestic violence or seeking refuge.
Kind regards,
Tiffany Bamford
Assistant Principal