WE, THE WANDANA PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMUNITY, ARE CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL OF PRINCIPAL SHELLEY SCOTT DUE TO ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT STUDENT SAFETY, BULLYING AND THE WAY INCIDENTS ARE HANDLED UNDER HER LEADERSHIP.
WHAT WAS ONCE A FRIENDLY, WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED. POOR COMMUNICATION, A LACK OF EMPATHY AND ONGOING CONCERNS BEING IGNORED OR DISMISSED HAVE LEFT MANY PARENTS FEELING UNHEARD, UNDERVALUED AND UNSUPPORTED. THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY HAS BECOME AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PARENTS NO LONGER FEEL COMFORTABLE VOLUNTEERING, CONTRIBUTING OR EVEN RAISING CONCERNS WITHOUT FEELING LIKE THEY ARE FIGHTING TO BE LISTENED TO.
ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THE WAY BULLYING AND REPEATED INCIDENTS INVOLVING STUDENTS HAVE BEEN HANDLED. PARENTS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN’S SAFETY, ONLY TO FEEL IGNORED, DISMISSED OR LEFT WITHOUT MEANINGFUL ACTION. BULLYING SHOULD NEVER BE BRUSHED ASIDE, AND NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO DREAD GOING TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ARE FRIGHTENED OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THEM. FAMILIES DESERVE TO KNOW THAT WHEN THEY RAISE CONCERNS, THOSE CONCERNS WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE PROTECTED.
THE IMPACT OF THIS ENVIRONMENT GOES FAR BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES. IT HAS TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT TOLL ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE. SCHOOL SHOULD NOT BE A PLACE THAT CAUSES FAMILIES CONSTANT STRESS, ANXIETY AND DISTRESS.
VALUED SUPPORT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE ASD SUPPORT GROUP AND REGULAR PARENT SUPPORT GROUP, HAVE BEEN REMOVED, TAKING AWAY IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR FAMILIES. THESE GROUPS OFFERED PARENTS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT, AND THEIR REMOVAL HAS LEFT A SIGNIFICANT GAP FOR THOSE WHO RELIED ON THEM. NOW, THE FREE BREAD PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDED ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE TO MANY UNDERPRIVILEGED FAMILIES AND HELPED EASE THE COST OF LIVING, HAS ALSO BEEN TAKEN AWAY. THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT JUST LITTLE EXTRAS; THEY MAKE A GENUINE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, PROVIDING SUPPORT, CONNECTION AND A STRONGER SENSE OF COMMUNITY. REMOVING THEM HAS LEFT MANY FAMILIES FEELING UNSUPPORTED AND DISAPPOINTED.
LONG-STANDING TRADITIONS, INCLUDING THE MUCH-LOVED YEAR 6 ICE BLOCK AND ICE CREAM SALES, HAVE ALSO DISAPPEARED. THESE WERE SIMPLE THINGS THAT BROUGHT EXCITEMENT TO THE CHILDREN AND GAVE YEAR 6 STUDENTS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO LOOK FORWARD TO BEING PART OF. FAMILIES ARE NOW ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER MUCH-LOVED EXTRAS, INCLUDING SUBWAY LUNCHES.
A SCHOOL SHOULD BE MORE THAN JUST A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN ATTEND LESSONS. IT SHOULD BE A SAFE, WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY WHERE CHILDREN FEEL PROTECTED, PARENTS FEEL VALUED AND FAMILIES FEEL THEY BELONG. WE BELIEVE THE DECISIONS MADE UNDER THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP HAVE SERIOUSLY DAMAGED THAT COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE CALLING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND CHANGE.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE. PARENTS DESERVE TO BE HEARD. FAMILIES DESERVE TO FEEL WELCOMED, RESPECTED AND SUPPORTED. IF YOU BELIEVE WANDANA PRIMARY DESERVES BETTER, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SIGN AND SHARE OUR PETITION CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL OF PRINCIPAL SHELLEY SCOTT. EVERY SIGNATURE HELPS GIVE OUR COMMUNITY A VOICE AND SHOWS THAT THESE CONCERNS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED. TOGETHER, WE CAN STAND UP FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FIGHT FOR THE POSITIVE, SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL COMMUNITY THEY DESERVE.