Principal's Report
Churinga Ave and Orient Ave Crossings Update – SAVE OUR CROSSINGS
The meeting organised with Whitehorse City Council last Thursday went well and addressed the concerns about lack of transparency and consultation with the schools.
I have been informed that:
• Crossing supervisors will remain in place until the end of 2019 or early 2020.
• The crossings will be surveyed again on one day in term 4 2019 or early term 1 2020.
• We will be able to nominate the day of the week the survey occurs (but not the date)
• WCC will be in communication with us through this period, the data collected will be shared and when the final data is presented to WCC councillors to vote on.
• We will know the recommendation before this is presented to council so we can lobby for support if we don’t meet the numbers.
• WCC is keen to help us promote safe travel to school and link us to Active Transport Officers to promote the use of crossings.
• We have 6 months or more to build the culture of safe travel
• 118 crossing locations will be survey in 2019 and 2020 (our data will be in this)
• Realistically we probably need a few more students using the crossing to at that time to meet the magic number!
• We can also access previous data to see if there is a pattern of decline.
I feel confident that the next step is to work with our students and families on safe travel, walking/ riding to school, parking away from the school and using the crossings.
Thank you for your support of our crossings and the necessary action to ensure that we here heard by the Councillors.
National Ride/Walk to School Day this Friday 22nd March
We need to encourage the healthier way to start the day with walking or riding to school. It is a national event that I encourage all our families to take up the challenge and help us keep all of our crossings. Be part of this safe travel to school initiative. We will be counting the students’ way of travel as a bench mark for 2019. So park away from the school (or ditch the car altogether) and walk or ride in!
Harmony Day – Thursday 21st March
Our classes are preparing to celebrate Harmony Day in acknowledgement of how we belong. Planning for the day is well under way. There is a world map in our foyer. All our families’ heritage will be represented with dots for the birthplace of every student’s parents prior to special day. Students can dress in traditional costume from their country of birth or in the bright colour of orange on Harmony Day and share food for the Big Munch starting from 12.30pm.
We are hoping to make a large peace sign on the oval to demonstrate We Belong!
A message of hope to our families in our community impacted by the tragic recent events in New Zealand, our deepest sympathies.
House Cross Country - Tuesday 26th March
House Cross Country run is next Tuesday for Levels 3- 6. All levels F-6 to wear your house colours.
e-Smart - MOMO
It has been brought to my attention concerns about MOMO please refer to our e-Smart page for parenting tips.
Third Pupil Free Day – Tuesday 23rd April Term 2
Our next pupil free day is on TUESDAY 23rd APRIL. We will be working on character strengths for student wellbeing with Maria Ruberto. This will be a follow up day to the work started last year with Maria focusing on how we recognise character strengths and provide opportunities to enhance these.
This will be off site at Park Orchards PS as part of the FISO network of schools.
All Victorian Government schools are allocated 4 pupil free school days per year.
The first pupil free day was Tuesday 29 January which allowed for time for staff to look at the targets and goals set in the AIP (Annual Implementation Plan), student wellbeing, start-up processes in schools and team meetings, and classroom preparation for the start of the term. The second pupil free day was on Wednesday 20 February. We worked on aspects of quality questioning by teaching staff to improve student engagement and learning. There is one remaining pupil free days for 2019 yet to be confirmed.
