Solway Orientation Day 2022

This year we have successfully placed all 435 students in classes with at least one ‘friend they work well with’, and achieved 20 classes across the school.

Our students took part in their annual transition sessions today. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to meet with their classmates for 2022 and get to know their teacher. They will meet with their 2022 classes again on Monday 13th December.

Prep C – Mr Tom Chapman

Prep D – Mrs Sophie Dellaportas

Prep O – Ms Anna O’Gorman

1A – Mr Andrew Mitchell

1M – Ms Maddie Muir

2B – Mrs Tracy Birt

2D – Ms Brooke Danaher

2T – Mr Rob Tongue

3D – Ms Robyn Davis

3S – Mr Allan Skea

3/4P – Ms Tamika Pettigrove

4M – Mr Graeme McWhirter

4S – Ms Rebecca Smith

4W – Ms Shelley Williams

5G – Mr Josh Guy

5L – Ms Lucy Gill

5/6P – Ms Penny Lanyon

6L – Mr Lee White

6N – Ms Tayla Nichols

6W – Mrs Sarah Watkins / Mrs Sarah de Jong (term 1)

Tutors

Ms Carly Briant

Mr Tim Chapman

Ms Ryoko Yamaoka

Specialist teachers

Physical Education – Mr Tim Chapman

Japanese – Ms Ryoko Yamaoka / Mrs Tess Yoshida

Performing Arts – Ms Victoria Josephs / Ms Ryoko Yamaoka

Visual Art – Ms Renee Ferris / Mrs Erin O’Donnell

Integration Aides

Mrs Fiona Barron-Toop

Mrs Tonia Clifton-Mills

Mrs Karen O’Neill

Mrs Pauline Embury

Mrs Paula Witkowski

Mrs Anastasia Kotsonis

Mrs Louise Chalkley

Office Staff

Mrs Vanessa Bowen

Ms Sarah McDonell

Principal Class

Mrs Kate Nancarrow – Assistant Principal

Mrs Lyn Rodda - Principal

Leadership

Next year Sarah Watkins will continue her role as the Literacy Learning Specialist. During Term 1 Mrs Sarah de Jong will work alongside Sarah Watkins in her class, allowing Sarah Watkins the flexibility to provide coaching and mentoring for the staff while setting up our annual literacy goals for 2022.

Allan Skea will continue in his role as the High Ability Learning Specialist.

Ms Robyn Davis who was appointed as an additional Assistant Principal for 2020-2021 will be working as a Leading Teacher, providing leadership in numeracy.

Robyn’s contribution to the Principal team over the past two years as we worked through a School Review, developed the new Strategic Plan and her expertise in navigating the the challenges of COVID has been invaluable. I would like to acknowledge and thank Robyn for the work she has done over the past two years. I look forward to continuing to work with her on the leadership team as she takes on the numeracy role.

Tutor Support

As many of you will be aware, the State Government has approved the extension of the additional support provided by the Tutor Learning Initiative in 2022. This is an additional one-year model and designed to support students whose learning was impacted by remote learning in 2020-2021. Solway will have three Tutor Learning Teachers, working in various ways across the school.

Reports

Student Semester Two Reports will be available to parents on Thursday 16th December in the afternoon. This will be through the Compass portal. The report may look different from the usual one provided, as it is not possible to implement our standard report writing process.

We have received advice from the Department of Education and Training regarding modifications to the Semester Two reporting that takes into account the limitations on the ability of teachers to accurately assess student progress during the remote learning period.

There is information in the Learning and Curriculum section of the Newsletter on how to access the reports.

Class Parties

Each of our Prep -Year 5 classes will hold a class party on Thursday 16th December to celebrate their year together. Each year level will provide information to parents about how this will run.

Families leaving

2021 brings with it a number of good-byes as many of our families have made the decision to move out of our area. Some families made the difficult decision to move interstate for work, to be closer to family or simply for a change, while others are moving to the independent system. We wish everyone a wonderful transition to their new residence and schools and hope you keep in touch, we love to hear how our families are traveling.

Welcome Back Working Bee – 28th January (4-6 pm)

To make sure the school grounds are neat and tidy for the students’ return and the welcoming of families back for the 2022 school year, we are again holding a Welcome Back Working Bee. This will be just for two hours on Friday 28th January from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. If you can spare some time and come along it would be much appreciated. Please bring gloves and small tools to help us weed and tidy up and spread mulch in the playgrounds.

Final Assembly

Our final Assembly for 2021 will commence at 1:05 pm on Friday 17th December and will conclude when we farewell our Year 6 students at 1:30 pm. At the Assembly, we will announce the winning House in the weekly House Competition. We will thank and farewell the families who are leaving Solway in 2021 for all their volunteer work over the past years. Parents are welcome to join us for the final Assembly – it will be standing room only, and parents are reminded that adults must social distance. While masks are optional, they are required if social distancing is not an option. We will hold this Assembly on the stage in front of the Performing Arts room.

Final reminders

School resumes for all students on Monday 31st January 2022 – Prep students half day
The School Office will be open for payment of 2022 parent payments on Thursday 27th 9:00am-3:00pm and Friday 28th January, 12:00-3:00pm.
The Uniform Shop will be open on Thursday 27th January, 10:00am-12:00pm and Friday 28th January 2:00-4:00pm.
The Welcome Back Working Bee is scheduled for Friday 28th January at 4:00-6:00pm to give the school a quick tidy up before students commence. Please come along for a short time if you can.
School families are welcome to use the school grounds during the holidays as we know you will look after them. If you see anything/anyone suspicious at the school in the holidays, or see any vandalism, please report it to the Police.

Have a well-deserved safe break over the Summer holidays; we look forward to seeing you all again in 2022 ready for an exciting year!

Lyn Rodda

Principal