iNFORMATION 

Strategic Directions: Wellbeing & Operations

For the benefit of all members of the Academy Community, I thought it would valuable to very briefly outline the strategic directions for Student Wellbeing and College Operations for 2023. These include:

• Consolidating on all that was achieved last year;
• Implementing the initial modules of our new Learning Management System, Compass;
• Further enhancing connections between learning and wellbeing and strengthening the links between faith, life, and culture; 
• Continuing to develop the effective use of data to target student feedback, goal setting and learning design; 
• Further enhancing student engagement in their learning and the wellbeing programs through the development of student voice and agency;
• Clarifying and strengthening the distributive leadership structure of the College and in doing so refining expectations and accountabilities so that our strategic intent is understood, owned, and enacted by all;
• Developing a Mentor Group teacher role description with the view of further improving interactions between Mentor Group teachers and students during Mentor Group time and within extended Mentor Group time and Positive Education programs;
• Focusing on continuing to reduce levels of anxiety amongst the student cohort as well as supporting the students with positive mental health initiatives;
• Monitoring student attendance and putting support structures in place for students who do not meet the minimum attendance requirements;
• Encouraging an increased level of communication between teachers and parents;
• Increasing accountability of teachers across all domains for monitoring student welfare and student progress;
• Continuing to evaluate and develop all of the Wellbeing Programs;
• Ensuring NCCD information is well-documented with appropriate adjustments made for relevant students;
• Continuing to evaluate all College processes and procedures to ensure most effective and efficient frameworks are in place;
• Being present to staff, students, and parents offering tangible support.

Parents are most welcome to get in touch with me if you require any clarification around these directions.

Anaphylaxis

Given that we have quite a few students here at the College who have anaphylaxis, we urge parents/guardians to take great care with what food products you provide your daughters. Please be aware that certain foods, particularly nuts, can cause severe and potentially harmful reactions to others. As far as possible we seek to reduce the risk of anaphylactic reactions occurring and any support you can provide in this regard is most appreciated.

Importantly, I remind parents/guardians that students who have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis must have an Epipen with them at all times and a spare Epipen should be handed in to Student Reception. Please be aware that if any student with anaphylaxis does not have an Epipen with them and a spare one in at Student Reception, they will not be permitted to go any planned excursion of which they might be a part.

In the interests of your daughter’s safety we ask that this is addressed as soon as possible. This also includes ensuring that all Action Plans are up-to-date. Please contact Ms. Jessica Synaphet if you need to discuss this further. 

Child Safety

Child safety continues to be a key focus for the College in 2023 and I would like to refer parents/guardians to the Child Safety Policy on the College website.

Within the ‘Guiding Principles’ of the policy it states that, “Catholic schools have a moral, legal and mission-driven responsibility to create nurturing school environments where children and young people are respected, their voices are heard and they are safe and feel safe (CECV Commitment to Child Safety).

Within the framework of this policy is an adherence to the Victorian Child Safe Standards as follows:

CHILD SAFE STANDARDS

Standard 1:           

Schools must establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children, young people and students are respected and valued.

Standard 2:           

Schools must ensure that child safety and wellbeing is embedded in school leadership, governance and culture.

Standard 3:           

Schools must ensure that children, young people and students are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

Standard 4:           

Schools must ensure that families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

Standard 5:           

Schools must ensure that equity is upheld, and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

Standard 6:           

Schools must ensure that people working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

Standard 7:           

Schools must ensure that processes for complaints and concerns are child focused

Standard 8:           

Schools must ensure that staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

Standard 9:           

Schools must ensure that physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children, young people and students to be harmed.

Standard 10:        

Schools must ensure that implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

Standard 11:        

Schools must have policies and procedures that document how schools are safe for children, young people and students.

While we believe that the College, in its practices and protocols, meets all of the above Standards, an overall essential component of Child Safety is a student’s capacity to respond to incidents which may threaten their own safety. To that end, I would also like to inform you that, in the coming weeks, I will be giving a presentation to all year levels, focusing on recognising unsafe situations and avenues available for responding and reporting these situations as well as reporting abuse. This presentation has already occurred with the Year 7 & Year 10 students.

I would also ask parents/guardians to encourage their daughters to report any incidents when travelling to and from the College, where a member of the public makes them feel unsafe. Reporting such incidents is important in ensuring that the relevant authorities are informed and appropriate action is taken to ensure the safety of not only our students, but also other members of the public. 

House Swimming Carnival

As communicated to families via email last week, the House Swimming Carnival was scheduled to take place on Friday 24 February, but unfortunately as we have been unable to secure buses for staff and student transportation, this event has been rescheduled to Tuesday 7 March. We have contacted approximately 12 bus companies and all provided similar reasons with regards to the lack of availability of buses: not enough drivers as they left the industry during COVID and a high number of buses are being used to replace trains due to level crossing works. An updated Operoo asking for permission for your daughter to attend on this new date will be sent shortly.