Principal's Report 

Dear Parents, 

Last week we saw our P-5 students head off to the Croc's Play Centre and by all accounts this was a hit! Another wonderful way to celebrate what has been such a successful year for Mackellar Primary School. I know that we sent home some very excited, albeit very tired, students after their time playing at the centre. A big thank you to Sally Wilson and her team for organising that for us all.

On Friday of last week we had the wonderful opportunity to thank all of those parents, grandparents, carers and school partners who have assisted us throughout the year by way of our Parent and School Partners' Morning Tea. The support we have received this year post-COVID lockdowns has been superb. It was our absolute pleasure hosting a small token of our appreciation and we hope to engage with our community in many more ways next year.

What a privilege it was to have the Minister for Education attend our Christmas Carol assembly this morning. Whilst the significance of who she is and what she does may be lost on some of our younger students, it is certainly heart warming to know our local member of parliament can spare time in her schedule and spend some of it with us during this special time of year. As with all of our special events, well done to our student leaders who did an outstanding job today and thank you to so many parents for coming along. Didn't everyone look wonderful in their Christmas attire? 

Tonight we farewell our grade 6 students at their graduation which follows our recent pattern of having this ceremony at school where friends and family can join us all. The students will be presented with their Yearbook and many well deserving students will receive awards across a range of categories.  No doubt there will be lots of smiles and loads of tears as our grade 6 students are officially farewelled. A special thank you to Carole Farrington and Tanya Lindsay-Clark for organising this event.  I am sure the students, parents and community all appreciate your efforts. 

And then on to our final day!  On Tuesday, students will be dismissed at 1:30pm with TheirCare available from that time also. Please make arrangements for this early departure. In January, the office will be open from January 27 with students (other than prep students) commencing on January 30. Prep students will commence full days from February 3rd. 

On behalf of all staff at the school, we wish you a lovely holiday period and a safe and happy New Year. For those families who celebrate Christmas, we hope this is a special time for you all, and that you managed to stay on Santa's nice list when it mattered!.

Finally, and sadly, this time of year is often when we say goodbye to staff and this year is no different.  Tomorrow is Liz Portelli's last day at Mackellar Primary School after working here for more than twenty years. Her work during that time has been nothing short of amazing and she will be sorely missed by staff, students and the community alike. Liz has taken up a position at a school much closer to home which whilst wonderful for her is certainly a loss to us all.  Please be sure to stop by the office and wish Liz all the very best. From next year Cheryl Blair will work alongside Andrea in the front office, and I have no doubt she will be equally amazing. 

Likewise we say farewell to Shelley Wockner as she takes leave to have her first child. We hope all goes to plan for Shelley and her partner, and that we see mum and bub soon.

Until then, thank you all for your hard work and support of the students at Mackellar Primary School this year and we look forward to seeing you all in the new year. 

Kind Regards, 

Simon McGlade

Principal