Principal's Report

Principal’s Report - 12th November 2021

As we speed to the end of the year, there is still so much going on, as you will see. Whilst we are in the middle of our Review, we are also employing new staff for next year, determining our budget for 2022, finalising student reports and planning a number of end of year events. It’s still a very busy time! I can’t believe we only have 3 weeks left!

School Review Parent Focus Groups

Thank you to those parents who found the time to join our School Reviewer for parent focus groups. It always provides us with valuable feedback about our school and how we can continually improve. The Reviewer, Robert Miller was also thankful for your time. He wishes to apologise to the 3 parents who were left in the meeting room for the online Zoom Focus Group, unable to join the meeting. He was not aware of your presence until after the meeting and he sends his apologies.

Excursions Coming Up

Our years 1, 3 and 5 students will all be heading off on excursions int the last week of school, with the 1’s and 3’s off to the beautiful Cranbourne Botanical Gardens and the Year 5’s getting a little taste of the school camp that they missed with a day at Somers School Camp. Have a great time, children! A little hint to families. If you haven’t been to the Botanical Gardens, do yourself and favor. Pack a picnic and head out past the racecourse to this stunning location. It’s really very special.

Transition

Thank you to the many families who brought their children to school last week for our Prep Transition activity. It was a very successful start to their schooling for our 2022 Preps and it was wonderful to see so many new children, and their parents in the school ground again.

Published Authors at Lyndhurst!

We are so very proud that, in our very midst, we have published authors! Vinudi Bogahapitiya (Year 4) and her brother, Devmika (now in Year 7), both appear with their written pieces in the book, “Who has the Key to Lockdown?” Vinudi’s poem appears below. Congratulations to both students for this wonderful achievement!

2022 Grade Structure and Enrolments

Our current predictions for enrolment numbers for 2022 is 970. This is a significant increase. At this stage, we envisage 41 classes. Currently, we have about 135 new Preps expected who will be placed into 7 classes. It is critical to our planning that we have up to date knowledge of our enrolments so that we can plan class spaces and employ staff. If you are a family who will be leaving the area before next year, then please let us know. Similarly, if you have, or know of someone who has, a child ready for Prep next year, and haven’t yet enrolled, please contact the school urgently as classes are filling quickly.

Staff Update and Congratulations

Congratulations go to two of our staff members who gained promotion positions in other schools for 2022. Haidee Rowell, from Year 3 will take on the role of Learning Specialist at Athol Road Primary. We will miss Haidee and her endless energy but we certainly wish her well as she joins a large number of Lyndhurst teachers who have moved into leadership roles in other schools. We also need to congratulate our Assistant Principal, Elaine Lesuik. Elaine will move on to take on the position of Principal of Sorrento Primary School. This is a marvellous achievement for Elaine who has worked diligently to continually develop her leadership capacity. She will be a wonderful Principal and I know that the Sorrento community will embrace her as we have, here at Lyndhurst. 

Classes for 2022

Some parents have been making enquiries as to which teachers will be in what grades or roles next year so that they can make requests for particular teachers. Please know that it is my firm policy NOT to take requests for particular teachers. Certainly, there are a very small number of children who may have particular social or academic needs, and these will be considered when deciding grade placements. These requests should be submitted to me in writing when we are allocating children to grades. Please also note that we do not have confirmed grade allocations for teachers until at least early-December so don’t start asking teachers which grade they’ll have next year. They probably won’t know and are not allowed to tell you anyway! Factors such as the employment of new teachers, mean that there may even be uncertainties about grade allocations during the Christmas holidays. The placement of children in grades is a complex task, taking into account the academic and social characteristics of each child, friendship groups, grade arrangements and special circumstances. A change of grade after they have been allocated is normally difficult and rarely accommodated. Please understand that allocations are arranged with the best interests of each child in mind. This may or may not coincide with your personal preferences as a parent.

Step Up Day

Don’t forget, Step Up Day is fast approaching where most children will meet their 2022 teacher in their 2022 classroom. How exciting! We will also welcome our 2022 Preps and a few new students from other year levels who will be joining us next year.

Science Talent Search – From our Science Teachers, Mr Klimsch

This year was the first time our school has taken part in the STS (Science Talent Search) run by the Science Teachers Association of Victoria.  This year was the 70th, STS. It was only offered to Grade 5 and 6 students this year. We had 12 students complete and submit their projects 

What is STS

The STS is a bit like the student inquiry projects done each term. There is a theme. This year was: Food Different By Design. Students could choose from a variety of different types of project: 

Experimental Research           Creative Writing          Working Models         Inventions 

Games             Computer Programs   Posters - Scientific Wallcharts  Science Photography 

There were some strict requirements and rules to follow depending on what project students chose. They then had to undertake some research and complete their project pretty much on their own, in their own time. They may have had some help from home but the only help they got from me was reminders on deadlines, and help with following the criteria for their type of project. This year, being a different to most other years, students then submitted their project online for judging. Judges were from lots of other schools.

Mansi (actually her mum) and me helped judge entries from other schools.

These students received acknowledgement certificates. 

Lana Anwar (5C)                     Deena Najim (5C)                    Mohul Gowda (5B)

Karan Samra (5B)                    Savtej Singh Randhawa (5D)   Krishpreet Singh Chopra (5C)

Chanul Ratnayke (5B)

The following students were awarded a Merit certificate in recognition of the very good standard of work and presentation of their projects

Sriram Boyapati (5A)                                       Lily Ai Nhi Bui (5D)

For projects that were considered of outstanding quality, both our Science Captains received medallions, certificates and a minor bursary prize each

Rijul Shirke (6D)                                                          Anirudh Mysore(6D)

Krish Dittakavi’s (6D) project which was considered to be of an exceptional standard and received a medallion, certificate and a major bursary prize.

From the Principal: Congratulations to all of our budding scientists! We are very proud of you all!

Greg Lacey

Principal