Dear Families

With just one week remaining in our school swimming program, I would like to congratulate all students for their enthusiasm and effort in the pool. It has been wonderful to see so many children building their water confidence and safety skills. A sincere thank you goes to our staff for their support throughout the program, and a special mention to our Senior Teacher, Melanie Johnstone, whose outstanding organisation and leadership have ensured the program has run smoothly.

We are also pleased to welcome back Kayla Hood into the Assistant Principal role. Kayla brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of our school community, and we are excited to have her back supporting students, staff, and families.

This week, our Year 5/6 students took part in an engaging workshop presented by Project Rockit, an organisation travelling across Australia to empower young people with a powerful message about respect and safe online behaviours. Through interactive discussions and activities, students explored how their choices and actions can help create a more positive and inclusive online community. The presenters were particularly impressed by the students’ maturity, insight, and thoughtful reflections, highlighting their commitment to being respectful digital citizens both in and out of the classroom.

Our lunchtime clubs have been a big hit, especially with the warmer weather encouraging students to get involved and try something new. Students can choose from Garden, Tech, Lego, Dancing, Library, and Drawing Club, offering a great variety of activities for all interests. These clubs provide wonderful opportunities for students to explore their passions, make new friends, and enjoy their lunchtime in a fun and creative way.

As we begin planning for the 2026 school year, we kindly ask families to return their student intention forms as soon as possible. These forms are essential in helping us organise classes, staffing, and resources for next year. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and helps us ensure a smooth start to 2026.

With the wet season approaching, we remind all families to take extra care during drop-off and pick-up times. Wet roads and busy car parks can lead to delays, so we ask for your patience and caution to help keep everyone safe. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Next Friday (October 31), we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, a time to acknowledge and thank our dedicated teachers for their incredible work and commitment to our students. We are thrilled to congratulate Mrs Thompson, a finalist for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educator of the Year, and Mrs Johnstone, a finalist for Leader in Education of the Year. Both teachers have demonstrated exceptional passion, leadership, and care in their roles, making a lasting impact on our school community. Their achievements are a wonderful reflection of the talent and dedication within our teaching team.

We would also like to thank all families who participated in the recent School Survey. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and helps guide our future planning. One common theme that emerged was a preference for straight year level classes. In response, we will begin moving towards a model that includes such classe. We look forward to sharing more details with you soon.

Regards

Ben McCasker

Principal

How Will the New Social Media Age Restrictions Affect You If You’re Under 16?
Zuccoli Primary School Newsletter Team

From 10 December 2025, new laws in Australia will mean that many social media platforms can no longer allow anyone under 16 to create or keep an account. This includes popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).

What’s the reason behind this?

The government’s aim is to help protect young people from social media features that can lead to too much screen time or show harmful content that may affect mental health and wellbeing.

What does this mean for you?

• If you’re under 16, you might lose access to your accounts on certain platforms.

• You’ll still be able to view public content without logging in.

• You can stay in touch with friends using messaging apps that aren’t affected by the new rules.

Need support or more information?

The eSafety Commissioner’s website has tools, FAQs, and advice to help you get ready, protect your privacy, and look after your wellbeing. Visit esafety.gov.au for more information.