Deputy Principal

PETER CUMMINS

Deputy Principal - Teaching & Learning

Creating a Child Safe Organisation

I recently attended a Child Safe Standards briefing at the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) entitled, Creating a Child Safe Organisation. The session was designed to update leaders from a range of different organisations: church bodies through to kindergartens and schools, on the implementation of the Child Safe Standards and available CCYP resources. One very positive outcome from the briefing was to confirm that the School’s Child Safe Policies and Procedures are current, and contain an array of effective practices.

Of particular interest to all the participants, was how organisations were addressing Child Safe Standard 7. This standard directs the School to develop strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.

A key feature of this standard is to encourage student voice and active participation by students, in the life of their School. This can be achieved in a number of ways: across the School, age appropriate pastoral activities deliver child safe information designed to empower students to understand, identify, discuss and feel able to disclose a child safe concern.

Our academic programs empower students through inquiry learning, being creative, the design process, making decisions, understanding what’s happening in class, and encouraging reflection and action.

Oakleigh Grammar is committed to the safety of children from all culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, including our growing number of international students, and to provide a safe environment for children with a disability.

If you have not already done so, please read through our four key Child Safe Policies (Child Safe Policy, School Community Code of Conduct Policy, Staff Code of Conduct Policy and the Mandatory Reporting Policy & Procedure) on the Oakleigh Grammar website . . . we welcome feedback.

The School believes that all community members play a valuable role in creating a child safe organisation.

PETER DICKINSON

Deputy Principal - Operations

Remembrance Day Service

Remembrance Day was commemorated with a special service in the Church on Monday involving students from Prep to Year 11. It was a short by solemn service providing our students with an opportunity to stop and reflect on the importance of the day, and the sacrifices made by others.

I would like to acknowledge the students and staff that were selected to participate as leaders in this service, as their contributions enhanced the service: Dimitra Stafylidou (Year 4), Mason Jansz, Melissa Longo & Tziovannis Konstantinidis (Year 5), Victoria Tsiloulis (Year 6), Zoe Karkanis (Year 7), Christalena Kourdoulos (Year 8), Finn Short (Year 9), Shamus Smith and Iliana Gerantidis (Year 10) and Conrad Noonan-Barris (Year 11) and Mrs Stamata Sideris.