Toilet Issues

Dear Parents & Carers

I am a little embarrassed to write this message in Schoolzine. We are experiencing ongoing issues with students  in the secondary using toilets incorrectly and inappropriately. Over the course of Term 4 last year and continuing through Term 1 this year, students have been mistreating the facilities in what seems to be a targeted way. This includes, using the toilet as a space for socialising, for meeting and for eating lunch. Vandalism of the common and vital facility is also occurring.

College staff monitor the toilets as far as practicable, and our aim is to safeguard children while maintaining private and hygienic space. No doubt you will recognise the immediate impacts of poor community behaviours regarding toilet use. All student bear the brunt of this, but staff are often in the front line of cleaning up the mess, our facilities and maintenance staff are  stretched to limits in their response each day and our cleaning staff are demoralised by what they confront.

Adrian Wels and I have been working with teachers and our student leaders to address the problem, and our College captains work with student groups in a spirit of cooperation, even addressing the College assembly about the problem and appropriate use.

I implore you as parents to take up these conversations with your children, making the following points.

• The toilets are private and sensitive spaces.
• Toilets need to be available for all to use
• Toilets need to be looked after
• Eating in toilets is a social taboo as toilets do not present for hygienic eating spaces.
• Toilets are not meeting, conversation, or recreation places.
• Flush and wash.

Once again, I am sorry to raise this issue with you, but as a community it is necessary to have these very basic understandings shared and followed.

Shane Giles.