Good afternoon everyone,

Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s Newsflash.

I’d like to address some concerns that have been circulating in variousWhatsAppp groups regarding the presence of community members on and around our school grounds.

As you know, we are an open school without gated access, which means our grounds are accessible before and after school hours, as well as on weekends. This openness has many benefits, including allowing our school community to enjoy the facilities with their families during the weekend. However, we recognise that it also means community members may occasionally walk through our grounds or access over the weekends.

During school hours, these occurrences are quite rare. When they do happen, our staff remain vigilant, and we remind students not to engage with unknown individuals and they should report any concerns to a teacher. This week, we have reiterated this important message to our students, emphasising the need to prioritise their safety at all times.

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our children, we encourage open conversations about community safety, particularly regarding interactions with strangers. As parents, I encourage you you to have these conversations with yourchlidrenn as it is a skill we need to develop as we grow.

Here are some key points to help facilitate a conversation with your child:

1. Understanding Strangers: Explain to your child that a stranger is anyone they don’t know. Make it clear that while most people are safe, it’s important to be cautious and aware.

2. Trusting Their Instincts: Encourage your child to trust their gut feelings. If something feels off or uncomfortable, it’s okay to walk away and seek help.

3. Safe Areas: Discuss the importance of knowing safe places to go if they feel threatened or uncomfortable. This could be a trusted neighbour’s house, a school, or a public place with many people around.

4. Staying with Friends: Remind your child to stay with friends or trusted adults when out in the community. There is safety in numbers, and it can help reduce anxiety about encountering strangers.

5. Communication is Key: Encourage your child to talk to you or another trusted adult if they feel uneasy about a stranger or if they have had a concerning experience. Open communication helps us support them better.

6. Emergency Contacts: Ensure your child knows how to contact you or another trusted adult in an emergency. Discuss the importance of having a phone number memorised or saved in their phone.

7. Recognising Safe and Unsafe Behaviour: Talk about what safe and unsafe behaviour looks like. For example, it’s safe to ask for directions from someone in a uniform, but it’s not safe to accept rides or gifts from strangers.

8. Role-playing Scenarios: Engage in role-playing exercises to practice how to respond in various situations. This can help your child feel more prepared and confident.

By discussing these points, we can help our children navigate their environment safely and with confidence. Thank you for your continued support in keeping our community safe.

HARMONY DAY

On Friday, we celebrated Harmony Day in a unique way by reflecting on what Harmony means to us and how we, as students of this school, believe it should be embraced within our community. The activities organised by our teachers effectively conveyed this message, and our staff has created a short video to share with everyone. We hope you enjoy it!

FRIENDS OF TEN - TOO CUTE NOT TO SHARE

This was too cute not to share. I love walking around the school and seeing students learn in different ways. This happened today and I could not help but quickly add the images into the Newsflash.

Enjoy viewing our Kindergarten students exploring numbers and learning all about 'Friends of Ten'

BUS TRAVEL

Last week, one of our afternoon buses missed a street and, as a result, one of the scheduled stops. I appreciate our community members for bringing this to my attention, and I have followed up withBusWays regarding the issue.

If your child takes the bus, please discuss safety measures with them in case they cannot disembark at their designated stop.

School procedures: If your child does not have a way to contact you or another caregiver, they should inform the bus driver and remain on the bus.

The bus driver will then notify the depot to call the school, and we will reach out to the family to arrange a safepick-up. The bus company also has emergency contact numbers to reach senior executive staff if the school phones are not answered.

If you have any concerns as a parent, please feel free to contact me at the school.

CONGRATULATIONS YEAR 3 AND 5 STUDENTS

Well done to all our Year 3 and 5 students who have completed their NAPLAN assessments over the last couple of weeks. 

As you move forward, remember that these tests are just one of many ways to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. The support from your teachers and families has played a crucial role in preparing you for this experience, and we are proud of the community we have built together.

Once again, congratulations to our Year 3 and 5 students! We look forward to seeing you continue to thrive in all you do.

MOBILE PHONES / WATCHES IN BAGS

As you are all aware of our mobile device 'off and away' policy at school, can I please remind you to have the conversation with your child about how and where it is stored. As these devices are not cheap, I recommend having a small zip up cloth bag for example, to keep it in at the bottom of the school bag or in an inside pocket. If devices are brought to school and are damaged or lost, the school can not take responsibility for them. 

I appreciate your understanding of this and working with your children to keep these devices safe and secure for when they are needed.