From the Principal
A Fabulous Night Of Swimming!
It was an exciting night out at the Chandler Pool last Wednesday for the QGSSSA Swimming Championships. Congratulations to all swimmers and coaches and staff responsible for organising the event. Our student spectators and parent supporters built the mood with loud cheering and Somey spirit. There were personal bests, new records set and an incredible atmosphere with a number of podium finishes. Finishing 5th overall was a great way to end the evening. Well done to our Director of Swimming, Mr Tim Lane and all coaches of the swim team.
Pedestrian Safety
I write this week to implore all drivers to take care around the school precinct. Graham Street is such a busy traffic zone and I have witnessed some very close calls with children using the footpath. Some children do not always understand the danger of roads and vehicles.
I have witnessed the dangerous practice of parents using the Gate 6 driveway for the morning drop off and sometimes, parents are parking on the footpath near the café to drop off or collect their daughters.
I am concerned about the danger of this practice, with the need to reverse out of the driveway while there is pedestrian traffic on the footpath. Please use the loop driveway at Gate 1 entry as the safest place for passenger drop off. Stephens Road drop off zone is also available. Graham Street has a drop off zone in the morning and afternoons, although hospital visitors do not respect the signage and access the parking.
We must work together to observe road safety for all students.
Anti-Bullying Policy
The https://www.bullyzero.org.au/statistics-and-figures website provides the following statistics on bullying:
- Approximately one in four Year 4 to Year 9 Australian students (27%) reported being bullied every few weeks or more often (considered to be frequent) in a national study in 2009.
- Frequent school bullying was highest among Year 5 (32%) and Year 8 (29%) students.
- 83% of students who bully others online also bully others in person.
- 84% of students who were bullied online were also bullied in person.
- Peers are present as onlookers in 85% of bullying interactions, and play a central role in the bullying process.
Somerville House has zero tolerance against bullying and a clear policy as to how to manage bullying behaviour. Please read our Anti-Bullying policy here.
Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal