Dear Parents/Carers

My first thoughts lie with a massive thanks! I was thrilled to see so many families at the working bee on Friday after school – what a buzz! The garden space is prepared and ready for planting which will happen during Reconciliation Week. 

The focus on Respectful Relationships continues to be at the forefront of our mind. The RR program guides focus on 8 key areas: 

• Emotional Literacy
  • I understand my emotions and what is going on for me and others
  • I understand how my behaviour may affect others’ emotions
• Personal Strengths
  • I can use my strengths on purpose e.g. courage, determination, creativity
• Positive Coping and Stress Management
  • I can calm myself down and cheer myself up on purpose
  • I can work on my mindset through my self-talk – e.g. having a go even if I fear it might be challenging
• Problem-solving and Help-seeking
  • I can think things through, and consider options and possible consequences as part of making choices
  • I can seek help for myself or others and support others when things get tough
• Gender and identity
  • I can understand that boys and girls and men and women are of equal value and should have equal opportunities
  • I can see that some gendered pressures and expectations can lead to limiting choices and increase vulnerabilities
• Positive Gender Relations
  • Everyone is entitled to respect, regardless of gender diversity
  • I understand that violence and sexual harassment is not acceptable within or between genders
  • I know how to help-seek for self or others in situations involving domestic abuse or gender-based violence

Bully Zero came out to work with the children across the school this week. The program revisited key ideas around bullying and the influence of bystanders. The evening parent webinar “Understanding Bullying” was well attended by our parent community – your feedback on this would be great. 

Carlie Eriksen and I visited some of our local kinders this week. She spent some time with pre-school children singing and dancing! It was super fun and just gorgeous to be able to see the children in their environment. We are out again next week! In Term 3 we are looking to host Storytime and parent and preschool science sessions, as well as parent and preschool Performing Arts, Chinese and possibly Physical Education sessions. 

Some of our upper school girls were off the John Monash Science School to continue their work in the Robogals program. Robogals is an enrichment program offered every year from JMSS. 

Last night was our second full School Council meeting of the year with our newly established 2022 council. I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting. It is awesome to be part of a new group with exciting times ahead! I would like to thank the exiting council members for their contributions over the last few years.

Students from our Y4, 5 and 6 cohorts head off to Jells Park for the Divisional Cross Country running event this afternoon – good luck to those who will participate!

Just a quick reminder that Monday is a Curriculum Day so therefore students do not attend school. The teachers are revisiting CAFE reading, writing and report writing time. Our focus also will be on presenting our classrooms ready for Open Day and Night next week. 

EDUCATION WEEK:

Victoria will celebrate Education Week from Sunday 22 May to Saturday 28 May 2022. The focus of the week will mark the 150th anniversary of public education in Victoria. During Education Week we will hold our Open Day and Open Night on Wednesday 25th – see below for details. Our classrooms are open from 9:30am – 10:30am, with the evening events running from 5:30pm.  

I leave you with an interesting thought: When students believe they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger. Therefore they put in extra time and effort, and that leads to higher achievement.

https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/

Have a super weekend!

Best wishes,

Elaine Brady

Principal