Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

Council has received a few complaints from residents of the Shire regarding dangerous road crossings near schools (adults and children), road use near school and reckless activities near and on school crossings. As we continue to prioritise the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community, it is imperative that we address certain concerns regarding traffic and pedestrian safety around our school premises.

1. Speeding is Not Acceptable Near a School: Speeding vehicles pose a significant threat to the safety of our students and pedestrians. We urge all drivers to adhere to the posted speed limits, especially in school zones. Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases the likelihood of accidents, particularly in areas where children are present. Please be mindful of your speed and drive cautiously, especially during peak drop-off and pick-up times.

2. Correct Use of School Crossings at All Times:Our designated school crossing is in place to provide a safe passage for students and pedestrians. It is crucial for everyone to use this crossing correctly and responsibly. Students should be instructed to cross only at the designated school crossing and to cross when safe to do so. In the afternoon when the crossing is staffed by teachers, students and pedestrians should wait for the teacher’s signal before proceeding. Drivers must also be vigilant and yield to pedestrians at all marked crossings.

3. Crossing the Street Safely: Teaching children proper pedestrian safety is essential for their well-being. Parents and or guardians, please take the time to educate your children on safe pedestrian practices, including looking both ways before crossing the street, using crosswalks whenever possible, and making eye contact with drivers before stepping onto the road. Additionally, encourage older students to serve as role models by following these safety guidelines themselves.

For safety reasons, please do not use Merrick Street entrance to drop off and pick up students at the commencement of the day and end of the day.

By working together as a community and prioritising safety, we can create a secure environment for everyone. Let us all remain vigilant and committed to ensuring the well-being of our students both in and around the school premises.        

2024 Year 6 Leadership Positions

Over the past few weeks, we have been involved in the process of electing our Year 6 leaders for 2024. For School Captain, Year 6 students were invited to self-nominate and write an application letter to myself. From here, students were interviewed by myself and Miss Napolitano, where we shortlisted the 9 applicants to 4. These 4 students then prepared and read a speech to the Year 5 and 6 students. All Year 5 and 6 students, along with staff, then voted on their preferred School Captain. Our 2024 School Captains, as elected by the students and staff are:

Sonny Pendrick and Chloe Halligan.

I would like to congratulate both Sonny and Chloe on being elected and know that they will both be fabulous leaders throughout the year. I would also like to thank all the unsuccessful applicants, who did an amazing effort with their application letter, interview and speech. You should all be really proud of yourselves.

The process of electing House Captains was slightly different. Once again, students self-nominated themselves for the position, however from here, the students simply went ahead and prepared and presented a speech to the Grade 3-6 students and staff. The students then voted for their top two candidates from their house, whilst the staff voted for students across all houses. Our elected 2024 House Captains are:

Brice – Tenesha Fieldsend and Matilda Dower

MacKillop – Josh Morton and Emerson Harper

Ryan – Bruce Sears and Peace-Lilly Fitton