Herald-Sun quotes PV in article about online tests

18 July 2019

This article, published in the Herald-Sun on 17 July, quotes PV Executive Officer
Gail McHardy.

New online tests for all Prep to Year 10 pupils

New online tests could help spot knowledge gaps in Victorian students, as well as decreasing stress around NAPLAN.
Ashley Argoon, Herald Sun

July 17, 2019 6:52pm

The online testing platform for Prep to Year 10 students will start with maths and expand to other subjects. Picture: iStockThe online testing platform for Prep to Year 10 students will start with maths and expand to other subjects. 

Victorian students from Prep to Year 10 will soon take regular maths tests online, with other subjects set to follow.

Read more: Herald-Sun quotes PV in article about online tests

New Model Constitution for your Parent Club

13 June 2019

As of Term 2, 2019, the Secretary of the Department of Education and Training has published a new Model Parent Club Constitution. Developed in consultation with Parents Victoria, this replaces the Model Constitution that was published in 2017. All Parent Clubs will be required to adopt the new Constitution.

What has changed?

There are a number of changes to the Constitution which aim to support the improved operations of Parent Clubs. These include:

• A change in the method of membership of the Parent Club. The previous Constitution required parents to become Financial Members of the Club. Financial Membership has now been changed to ‘Registered Membership’. The Registration Form is at Schedule 1 of the Constitution
• An additional section addressing Parent Club values. These are in line with the Department’s values
• The requirement for a quorum is now prescribed as ‘a minimum of 3 members’
• Clubs are encouraged to devise their own standing orders, dispute resolution process or code of conduct
• A requirement for Clubs to comply with Victorian privacy law and the Schools’ Privacy Policy
• The stipulation that Parent Clubs are not permitted to incorporate.

Next steps

See our Constitutions page for everything you need to know about adopting the new Constitution. 

Saturday detention: our view

28 May 2019

“What is the purpose, what is the benefit to everyone involved and how does that shift the behaviour?”
-PV Executive Officer Gail McHardy

 In the media

A recent article in the Herald-Sun raised the issue of Saturday detention at Victorian Schools.

We can’t link to the article because it’s behind a pay-wall, but it covers a number of Melbourne government schools that list Saturday detention in their student handbooks. The article contained comments from a number of school Principals, including Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Sue Bell, who said, “It’s a last-ditch effort, really.” Ms Bell said when she was principal at Wantirna College, students who tagged school buildings in graffiti were required to come to the campus on a weekend and repair the damage. She said the exercise offered an opportunity to talk to the student about what was going on. “And it was a nice way for them to give back,” she said.

Read more: Saturday detention: our view

Our postal address has changed

26 March 2019

Please check the "contact us" page - for our new postal address.

National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence

19 March 2019

The National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence was on 15 March. There was a terrific response from Victorian schools to the Day of Action this year – over 1,000 Victorian schools, and nearly 500,000 students, signed up to participate in the day. The Education Department launched a new video it has developed in collaboration with VAEAI and the Melbourne Football Club. The video addresses racist bullying, particularly directed towards Koorie students, and promotes upstander behaviour. It shares practical and safe strategies that students can take if they see or hear racist bullying – with the message of support ‘I have your back’.

Poster competition

The Department is also running a student poster competition, with ISV and CEO,  to continue promoting the theme of upstander. As well as some generous prizes, the winning posters will be printed and sent to all schools.

More resources

See our Anti-bullying resources page for more information from the Education Department and other sources.

Family Engagement Network

12 February 2019

Take a minute to check out the new Family Engagement Network 
Facebook page.  Find out all about the how & why of Family Engagement. If you were at Parents Victoria's annual conference in 2018, then you already know the importance of schools partnering with their families."Like" FEN now to be kept up to date with Family engagement, particularly in the government school sector.