CODE OF CONDUCT - EMAILS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

All parents and guardians at St Peter’s have rights and responsibilities as detailed within our St Peter’s Code of Conduct. St Peter's Code of Conduct

These include parent and guardian rights which include:

• To be treated with respect and courtesy by staff, students and other parents  
• To be listened to, and clearly communicated with by the school, in regard to your child’s education and development  
• To have confidentiality over sensitive issues respected by staff  
• To be treated in a caring and polite manner  
• To have a timely response to concerns raised  
• To be treated with professionalism by all staff members

They also include parent and guardian responsibilities, these are three of these responsibilities.

• Be mindful of the hurt and damage social media may cause to staff members and other parents  
• Respect the rights of staff members and other individuals  
• Respect the reputation of teachers and be mindful of communications especially social media; e.g. tone of emails  

While emails and social media (including Whatsapp) have many advantages they also have limitations. One challenge is that what is in the mind of the writer is not always received in the same way by the reader. There is always an issue of intended or unintentional tone and language. 

As Principal I take my responsibility of ensuring St Peter’s is a safe place for everyone very seriously. With this in mind I share the following advice that I apply to myself.

• Write what you want when you want but do not send or post it while you are angry, frustrated, upset or tired.  Send it when you are in a mind space that you are happy with everything you are writing.
• If unsure, ask someone else to read what you have written to check for the tone of what is written as often what is intended is not what is read.
• Do I need to write in great detail or should I put the general context in the email and ask when we can meet or speak on the phone.
• When I post something about someone will I be  happy for them to read it, if not don’t post it.

What should be obvious to every adult is that the discussion of other  children at St Peter’s on social media including whatsapp is completely and utterly unacceptable. We teach students at St Peter’s that nothing in the online space can be guaranteed of being private or safe. Although parents and guardians may believe conversations are private they cannot guarantee this. I would suggest if the principal is sent screenshots of  conversations they are not private.

At St Peter’s we hold very high standards and I know as a community you would join with me in working to ensure that these standards are always met.

ENROLMENTS - FOUNDATION (PREP) 2024

Enrolments for Foundation (Prep) in 2024 open on Wednesday, 8th of March for families new to St Peter’s. If you know of neighbours or friends who have a child starting school in 2024 please let them know that our first School Tours are on Wednesday, 8th March 9:00am to 10:00am and 5.30pm to 6.30pm. Other tour dates and times can be found on our website https://www.spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au using ther Enrolments Tab. Tours can also be booked via the website using the Tours tab. 

Current families with children already at St Peter’s that have a child starting Foundation in 2024 can access an Enrolment Information Pack as of tomorrow, 7th March from the School Office.

YEAR SIX CAMP

Our Year Six students head to Canberra for the week beginning Monday, 20th  March. I will be joining them from Monday evening until Thursday evening. During my absence Chris Joplin will be acting Principal.

PUPIL FREE DAY

Monday, 24th April will be a Pupil Free day for students at St Peter’s.  OSHC will continue its Vacation Care Program on this day. Staff will be undertaking professional learning at school on this day. As Tuesday the 25th of April is the Anzac Day Public Holiday the first day back for students in Term Two will be Wednesday, 26th April.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL (SAC) 

Every Catholic school under the direction of MACS is required to have a School Advisory Council (SAC). The SAC replaces the School Advisory Board. SACs are established at each school to provide a forum for the school community to work effectively with its Church authority, which in most cases will be the Parish or an association of Parishes. The SAC provides a forum for key stakeholders to meet and provide advice and input from a local perspective, so that parents and the wider Parish have the opportunity to be appropriately involved in the life of the school and ensure that the school retains its Catholic ecclesial identity. Each School Advisory Council’s advisory functions and responsibilities are detailed in their individual Charters and might include: 

(i) the roles of Parish Priest , Principal, parents and members of the Parish 

(ii) religious and sacramental dimensions of school life 

(iii) setting priorities within the school’s strategic plan and annual action plan 

(iv) monitoring academic and financial performance of the school 

(v) customising policies associated with the pastoral care of students 

(vi) developing the Master Plan for the school’s buildings and site 

School Advisory Councils need to be informed of certain management decisions.

The SAC is also a sounding board for the Principal when considering any actions that impact on the whole school community.

I am grateful to the following parents who make up our current SAC.

Darren Bloomfield 2021-2023 - Patrick 3GL, Caitriona FHK

Ed Terkelsen 2021-2023 -  Andrew 5HU

Philip Dimitriu 2022 -2024 -  Efthimia 5PC

Amanda Phillips 2022-2024 -  Baxter 6SH, Xavier 3AM

Nick Johns 2023-2025 - Hamish 3GG

Tammie Siegert 2023-2025 - Noah 4GS, Flynn 1SH, Harry FMS

CALLING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR FAMILY FUN NIGHT

The P&F team have been busy organising the upcoming Family Fun Night to be held on Friday, 17th of March from 5pm to 8pm and it is shaping up to be a fantastic night to bring the families together and now need help from volunteers for some activities. 

Could you please email pnf1@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au  if you are able to assist with any of the activities below (even if for 30 min):

- Face Painting (need 3-5 people per 30 min shift)

- Hair Braiding (need 3-5 people per 30 min shift)

- 2nd Hand Uniform shop (need 1-2 people per 30 min shift only till 7pm)

- Canteen (need 1-2 people per 30 min shift only for the last hour)

This is a great opportunity to get involved and connect with the school community. Spots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

Catholic schools In Melbourne will be celebrating Catholic education Week in the week starting on the 13th of March. The theme this year is Forming Lives of Faith, Hope and Love in the Light of Christ. The Parents and Friends Family night will be a great culmination to this week. 

INDIGENOUS SPACE

Thank you to Karen Young in our Library for setting up an Indigenous learning space within our Library. It will be used by classes when they incorporate indigenous perspectives into relevant units of work. Thanks also to our Parents and Friends who funded the purchase of the stools and mats. 

PARISH EVENTS

News Corp has launched its ‘Australia’s Best Teachers’ campaign and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is a major partner. Australia’s Best Teachers aims to recognise the wonderful work of those in the profession by celebrating our most inspirational and innovative educators.

The campaign calls on Australians to nominate the great teachers who have, and have had, an incredible impact on our students and all of our lives. A panel of expert judges will then select and announce the top 50 teachers on Saturday, 6th May 2023. We have some great teachers at St Peter’s and I would like to encourage the entire school community to contribute nominations via the following link: www.heraldsun.com.au/news/australias-best-teachers-news-corp-series-to-recogniseinspirational-teachers/news-story/7f3b0ccc1f8c2bdf4a7c56814c56b995. 

UPCOMING

Year 3 Reconciliation Reflection Day - Wednesday, 8th March

Year 3-5 Swimming Program - Tuesday, 14th March, Wednesday, 15th March & Friday, 17th of March and Monday, 20th March to Friday, 24th of March

Catholic Education Week -  13th to 17th of March

Year 6 Camp to Canberra - Monday, 20th March to  Friday, 24th March 

P&F Meeting -  Monday, 20th March

P&F Sausage Sizzle and Casual Clothes Day - Monday, 27th March

End of Term Mass -  Friday, 31st of March - 10.00am

Year 3-6 House Cross Country - Friday, 31st March

Parent Teacher Interviews -  Tuesday, 4th April - 2:00pm - 8:00pm

Last day of Term 1 - Thursday, 6th April - Students Finish 2.30pm

WATER FOR SOUTH SUDAN 2022

WEEK 6

Tuesday, 7th March - Year 6 Bike Education

Wednesday, 8th March - Year 3 Reconciliation Reflection Day - All Year 3 Students / Year 6 Bike Education

Thursday, 9th March - Year 5 & 6 Interschool Sports - Round 5 - St. Peter's V St. Andrew's / FEDPAS - 4.00pm - 6.00pm

Monday, 13th March - LABOUR DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Tuesday, 14th March - Year 3 to Year 5 Swimming Program Begins

Wednesday, 15th March - Year 3 to Year 5 Swimming Program/ NAPLAN 

Anna Mihelis 0427 584 849

www.instagram.com/annahairmelb

John Mavriopoulos

1300 393 417

build@blackbirdbd.com.au