Dear families,

Our School Association meeting on Monday morning was most productive. Secondary student leaders Makayla and Ava spoke passionately about their work and our school’s participation in the Recycle Rewards scheme. Please keep your eye out for more information from our student leaders about this, as well as a Big Breakfast/World’s Greatest Shave event on the morning of the last day of term.

We also discussed the important work of the Bursary Committee and the impact that the committee and its generous sponsors have had over the years. Notably, we heard from and thanked Lucy Fox for her leadership of the Bursary Committee over a number of years. The leadership of this committee now sits in the safe and competent hands of Josie Chester. Thank you Lucy.

Learning Conversations next week

At the time of writing I can see almost 100 bookings for the conversations over these two afternoons. Teachers have been working incredibly hard to prepare reports and work samples to show you during these meetings. Importantly, there is a future-focus to the conversations (this is where your young person sits right now, here is how they progress to the next level) and for that reason I think it is useful if your young person attends the conversation with you too.

On the Monday and Tuesday afternoon there is also an opportunity for you to give some feedback on our values-aligned statement of expected behaviours, which is a central pieces of our strategic work in relation to Priority 2 (Culture and Climate). I look forward to seeing many of you next week and note that it is still possible to book some meeting slots by clicking this link: https://campbelltowndistricths.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/23

School Uniform

It is not uncommon that young people come home wearing a jumper that isn’t theirs as they take them off and put them on in a hurry during the day and make sure they squeeze every last minute out of their play time at recess and lunch. If you have a store of jumpers or other uniform at your house which doesn’t have your young person’s name on it, can I please ask that they are returned to the school?

Respectful visitor policy

At the most recent meeting, our School Association has ratified the policy linked below.

We value the ongoing support and engagement of our families and other adults and this policy serves to provide clarity about adult movements around the school and at special events. We have undertaken this work to ensure that we have a school culture that prioritises safety and safeguarding and allows your continued (and very welcome) engagement with our school and attendance at school events. Mostly, it captures current practice and here are some of the key points of the policy:

• Adults are invited on-site to collect children at the end of the day either through the office or through the playground near the buses. Adults should wait until duty teachers are present (about 2.50pm each day) before entering the school gates and then remain outside to collect children and not in the hallways
• Families are still welcome to drop young people off at classroom doors after 8.30am each day (noting that we should be working towards their independence in this area as they progress though primary grades). As mornings are an incredibly busy time for teachers, families are asked to make an appointment time with teachers if they need to have discussions that will take longer than a few minutes
• Adult bathrooms are available in the front office and adults must never enter student bathrooms
• Photographing or filming students on school activities (such as Cross Country) isn’t permitted. We endeavour to take and share photos at these special events

The policy is in effect from today and I invite you to reach out to me if you have any questions:

Principal position update:

Finally, following a recent recruitment process to backfill Mr Flanagan’s continuing appointment as Student Support Leader, I am thrilled to be able to share that my appointment to this school has been continued until the end of 2025. I am pleased to be able to continue the strategic work we have underway, particularly as it relates to quality literacy instruction and culture and climate. Most of all, I’m grateful to be able to continue to spend each day with our committed staff team and your delightful young people!

David Bryant,

Acting Principal