Thats a wrap - Week 1 and we are done! What a fantastic week we have had welcoming our Year 7s to Foxwell. We are so very proud of each and every one of the youngest members of our Foxwell family. I am sure they will make an outstanding contribution to our College community as they progress through the years.

I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce our Year 7 team to you. Our team is made up of myself, Deputy Principal, Ms Zana Schroeder, Head of Year, Mr Bryce Berrell and Year Level Assistant, Ms Sarah Tiller.

I am delighted to be the Year 7 DP for 2023. I have been at Foxwell since we opened in 2020 and I love watching our school community grow at the start of each year when our eager Year 7s join us.

This week,our Year 7 students have begun to experience high school life - they have completed a scavenger hunt, assisting them to navigate around our school and they have learnt how to read a timetable, helping to ensure that they are in the right place at the right time. Some students have been in Science Laboratories, others in kitchens, workshops and art rooms, exploring the world of opportunities at Foxwell.

Student iPads have been connected to the Network and students have begun leveraging their iPads to deepen their learning. If your child's iPad is yet to be connected, rest assured that this will occur early next week.

Starting high school opens the door to a world of opportunity for students to expand their friendship groups. We challenged studentsthis week to push out of their comfort zone, to welcome new friends and to engage in learning and social activities which they may not have encountered before. We encouraged students to embrace our SPIRIT values and to lead by example.

Students have learnt about our three school rules and what they look like in classrooms, in the playground, in the school grounds and at the bus stop and bike racks. We pride ourselves on having high expectations, those same expectations that will hold students in good stead now and later in life.

We reminded students that we are a no mobile phone school and that if a phone is required for safety reasons, traveling to and from school, that students need to arrange a locker so as to secure their phone between 8.35am and 3pm. Please call the school to make arrangements, if need be. Students are not permitted to carry their phone either on their person or in their bag.

Our conversations have focused on our core belief, that Kindness is the Foxwell Way and we have reminded students that our words and actions can impact others, both positively and negatively.

On Monday monring students, will watch and discuss the following video which was so beautifully produced by one of our teachers (currently on leave), Mrs Peta Bemet in collaboration with her daughter. This sends a powerful message to all of us about the impact that our words and actions can have on others.

Students have been reminded that if another student is being unkind to them, to respectfully ask the other student to stop and should this not work, students have been instructed to make a report to an adult, so that we can support them to remedy the matter. Students can make a digital incident report through SharePoint or can fill in a paper incident report at Student Services. These reports will be triaged and investigated accordingly. Consequenes will be applied, if necessary, and in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

The role of adults in keeping students safe has been emphasised to the Year 7s. We have reminded students that it is never ok to take matters into their own hands and to become physical with each other. We have a strictly hands-off policy. Students being physically aggressive and making others feel or to be unsafe, will have consequences applied.

Student safety and wellbeing is a priority for us. We want students to come to school and to feel safe and supported. Please reinforce with your child the need to report any on-going harassment or friendship issues so that we can intervene and negotiate a positive solution.

Today myself and Mr Berrell visited classrooms and noticed that the vast majority of students are complying with our Student Dress Code. Students who were out of uniform were reminded of the process, should they require a temporary variation and we had a conversation, seeking to understand each situation. We may have made contact with some of you today regarding uniform items such shoes or bags. Thank you for your positive engagement with us during these phone calls. Thank you to all families for your commitment to our College in ensuring your child presents to school in the correct uniform.

Please see below as a reminder:

It has been a massive week, with lots of new learning and not just for the students! We have beeen very impressed with how students have presented themselves in appearance, manner and attitude, both in classrooms and in the playground. Thank you for preparing your children so well for their next level of education.

On assembly this afternoon, we answered some questions we had gathered from students across the course of the week. My favourite question by far was, 'What tips do you have for Year 7?'

This was our response.

2023 is going to be a great year. We look forward to working in partnership with you to ensure success for your child here at Foxwell.

As we move through the coming weeks, we will share photos of students.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us, using the details above.

Until next time, take care.

Zana Schroeder

Deputy Principal