From the Principal

A welcome event

Last Thursday the annual Family Welcome Picnic offered a great opportunity for us to welcome new members of the Preshil community and to make new acquaintances. There are always stories of people finding connections with others they did not know had children at ‘the other’ campus or reconnecting with people from the past. I met a former student who, unsurprisingly, did not associate me with the young woman who had taught her at a school not far away, back in the seventies…. Ah well.

I think the most important aspect of the picnic is for the children, from the very youngest members of our kindergarten to the oldest students, to see themselves as part of the school that exists in order to nurture and support their development and sense of community.

The front lawn of Blackhall is a perfect place for an evening picnic, particularly as the sun loses some of its heat, the shadows provide welcome relief and the lovely golden light we associate with Melbourne’s pre-autumn weather casts its glow.

This year most of our teachers were able to be a part of this event, completing the circle of children, families and school and giving real meaning to the notion of a community. This event is quietly orchestrated by various members of the staff, particularly our facilities team and this year the two Campus Coordinators, Talitha Crawford and Kris Austin.

Just as importantly, parent representatives are to be thanked for distributing information, providing a point of contact for all the families at each year level and welcoming new people into the Preshil community. Parent representatives also take part in a regular forum where questions can be raised, concerns addressed and opportunities for greater school cohesion organised. I hope all families can appreciate the role they play and support them in their efforts.

I know I do ‘go on’ about our terrific music program, but really - it is pretty spectacular to have so many of our students happily step up to the microphone to entertain their peers and the wider audience. To see the genuine applause and encouragements from older students to some of the younger first-time performers is wonderful and speaks volumes about the music culture and general ethos of the school.

At the end of the Picnic we held a very well attended gathering to formalise a support network for the first year of Preshil’s partnership with the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. Beth Alvarez has done an outstanding job in leading this program so far this year and it is heartening to see this level of willingness to support her and the Melbourne host families. We are looking for future host families, opportunities and activities for Kirsty and Marie Dumoo, financial support and people to offer weekends away with their families.

Please contact Beth, or the secondary school office, if you wish to be involved in this network – or would like more information about the MITS program in general.

"Do not be that person who just looks away, as a teacher, a parent or a student"

This Friday has been designated by the Australian Government as a National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. It is an opportunity for all adults, parents, teachers and friends to engage children and young people in a conversation about the importance of not being someone who simply turns a blind eye to any form of bullying, be it ‘just a joke’ to other more overt forms of cruelty or victimisation.

We know that bullying is unlikely to be solved by either the victim or the perpetrator; the power to stop bullying lies with all of us who have the capacity and the courage to intervene.

Do not be that person who just looks away, as a teacher, a parent or a student.

Marilyn Smith

Principal