Dear Parents/ Carers/ Kin

Semester one of 2022 is complete and thankfully we have been able to keep school open for the past two terms. After two years of on-site/ remote it has been wonderful to be here everyday and having our students able to be at school connecting with their friends and teachers. Academically, students are being caught up. More powerfully though is the social interaction that many have missed when they were not able to be at school.

We have had our challenges with illness (COVID, Influenza, Gastro and others) keeping staff and students away from school. I want to thank all our families who have vigilantly used the Rapid Antigen Tests (RATS) provided by Department of Education and Training. I am certain this has played a huge factor in keeping our school open. Other challenges have been in staff shortages and movement to schools closer to home. Replacing departing teachers has not been easy. I am grateful to the leaders in our school who are working in the classroom spaces. We continue to advertise in the hope of recruiting new teachers. This is a problem all Victorian Schools are facing.

Whilst in the beginning we were cautious about opening the school to parents and visitors, we are starting to relax our restrictions- always in line with DET’s guidelines and our COVIDSafe plan.

I have been delighted to welcome parents into the school grounds to be part of Publishing Parties and Education Week activities. So many parents told me how great it was to sit in their children’s learning spaces, so they could physically see what the space looks like, see the teachers and students in action and feel part of the school again. We have missed having you be with us. I thank you all again for your willingness to adhere to requests re mask wearing and hygienic practices as required.

We look forward to more opportunities to welcome families on site in the near future.

Not only have we opened up our school, we have also ventured out. Excursions, incursions, sporting events (swimming, cross country, Gala Days) have all taken place with our students enjoying these immensely and proudly representing our school when they have been a part of these events. We have enjoyed dress up days, raised funds for flood victims in neighbouring states and I’m delighted by the uptake by many of our families in Year 3-6 who have signed up their children for our camp program in late September. So promising and heartening, given the difficulties and challenges we are all facing as we move through the impact of the pandemic and global events. Thank you for valuing your children’s education. At TSPS we believe that all children should have a holistic experience in their education. To be literate and numerate goes without saying but to enhance and develop talents through Science, The Arts (both Visual and Performing), Mandarin and Physical Education is also important.

Leadership is a strong focus at our school. Every one of us has leadership qualities and at TSPS there are many opportunities for teachers, students and parents alike. I have a wonderful leadership team. My two Assistant Principals, Cass Beckman and Michael Gerber are wonderful and incredibly supportive. Heather Johnson, my Business Manager is a wonderful member of the executive, bringing together the business side with the educational work. Shirley Lamb, Craig Wiese, Lisa Sarpa, Janis Mesiti, Alex Wren, Angela Demeca, Brendan Chugg make up the remainder of the leadership team. I would like to make special mention and thank Pel Zeybek who carried out the Acting Wellbeing Leader in Alex Wren’s absence.

Our student leaders are doing a wonderful job in their various roles as school and vice captains, and numerous discipline and group leadership roles. Our School Captains, Moksha, Abdullah, Angelina and Pranav met with Sarah Connolly (Member of Parliament, State Government) and spoke eloquently and asked thoughtful questions. Courtney Merryfull, Alex Wren and Pel Zeybek facilitate and lead the various student leadership program and Ebonie has reinstated the Green Team as we work on our focus of Sustainability. The recent success of our Walk2School on June 3rd was due largely to the work of two Junior Active Travel student leaders, Rahi and Rania.

I have the pleasure of working with a dedicated and committed group of parents who along with Michael, Cass, Heather and myself make up our School Council.

David Gibilisco is our School President, Alex Tardif is our vice president, Abi Bellamkonda is our Treasurer. The other members are Caitlyn Abbey, Chantelle Doulis and Meenakshi Singh. Kranthi Kummera from YMCA is our community representative. They are proactive and are here to be your voice and our advocates so that TSPS can offer the best of experiences and learning for our students.

We are currently updating both the CHILD SAFE Policy in line with new directions from DET. We are again working with the Resilience Project Team as we learn about and practice gratitude, empathy and mindfulness. The Code of Conduct is also an important policy and I hope you have had taken the time to view the view. In all work places, regardless of sector or employment, all employees are entitled to feel safe and to be able to work together to have respectful and purposeful conversations when resolving conflicts. I have to say I am grateful to so many parents who do hold our school values so respectfully. It is always a pleasure when we work together to seek to understand and then work towards and agreed outcome.

Our school grounds are looking more beautiful each day. Through our partners, Cushman and Wakefield, our garden beds are being added to with shrubs and plants, maintenance ensures the yard is tidy. John, our On-Site Service Assistant (OSSA) does a wonderful job. We have quite a number of purifiers in all learning spaces too to assist with managing the wellbeing of our students and their teachers. Our Values pillars and Acknowledgement to Country signs embrace the front of our school. We received $25,000 Shade Sails Grant to support the creation of another outdoor space (classroom and meeting place). We also receive a $5000.00 grant from Cedar Woods which will facilitate the outfitting of another outdoor classroom.

We continue our partnerships with Ed Connect (volunteers in the classroom), Semper Dental (dentists visiting our students in Term 3), Hungry Hampers (our canteen provider), Truganina South Frogs Basketball Club.

I am so proud of and humbled by the work that is happening in both the Wellbeing Centre and our Community Hub. A small team of colleagues support all our students at different points of need providing support programs, places for quiet and withdrawal spaces, interventions and wellbeing supports. The Community Hub has really taken flight this year. Vicki is doing the most amazing work coordinating a number of initiatives and programs through this outlet. The numbers grow as more families here about what is on offer and our little band of volunteers is growing each week. We are fortunate to partner with Community Hubs Australia. The hub is vibrant and welcoming. Such programs and initiatives include the Toy Well Library, The Food Pantry, Multi-Cultural Play Group and English Conversational Classes. I am also so proud of the small group of mums who joined Vicki as part of the Peace and Prosperity Program hosted by Government House. We are in discussion with Werribee Mercy Health to host a paediatrician at the Hub once a week and if this happens this will be such a wonderful benefit to our school community.

Reports for Semester 1 will be available on Compass early in Term 3. Parent Teacher Interviews will happen on September 1st. Details about how to book an appointment will be made available closer to the time.

I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and find something in there for everyone!

So much to be proud of. This only happens when we all work for the common cause and that is as our vision states “At Truganina South Primary School the child is at the centre of all we do. We collaborate to support student wellbeing and learning, preparing our students for happy and successful futures”.

Wishing you all well for the school vacation period. See you all Monday, July 11th for the commencement of Term 3.

Yours in Education,

Linda Danese

Ruby Community