Across Oliver's Desk

Dear Parents,

The weather is turning, restrictions are easing, and it’s so good to see people feeling really positive again. 

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Next week our Grade 5 students are putting together their expressions of interest to be a student leader in 2021. This includes school captains and house captains.

The expression of interest is due Friday 20th November. All students that put in an expression of interest will then do a speech that will be recorded so that all the students can watch the speeches from their classrooms. Students will then vote on who they would like their leaders for 2021 to be.

This process is followed by the students being interviewed by Flick and myself. Teachers also vote and then decisions are made in line with our school leadership policy.

Student leaders will be announced at our second last assembly for the year.

STAFFING

Four weeks ago the government announced extra funding for schools to have extra small group learning, they have called the program ‘tutoring’. It is exciting that we will have some extra teachers working in grades next year to support teachers. On that note we are currently finalising staffing arrangements for next year and I’m confident that I will be able to announce which teachers are teaching which year levels in the next newsletter.

We have already announced the Prep Team:

Jess Howe (team leader), Libby Bemrose, Bonnie McKercher and Melissa Greig. 

UNIFORM

There have been improvements in our uniform across the whole school. I would like to thank our whole parent community for supporting our school uniform. Every now and then teachers watch training videos from the U.S.A where schools don’t have uniform. I have always thought to myself how much smarter our kids look and I do believe it does engender pride in the school. 

TRANSITIONS

Last week’s transition activities went really well. This week students will be asked to select 4 students they would like to be with next year. Teachers will then start the complicated process of putting students into grades for next year. 

With the easing of restrictions it looks like our grade 6 students will be able to have a transition day at their secondary schools for next year, which is fantastic news. We will let parents know of the details when they are announced. 

OUT OF ZONE ENROLMENTS

We have cut off all enrolments from outside our school zone for 2021 as we have reached our quota. The popularity of our school is a testament to the fantastic job our teachers are doing. 

It’s so good to see our students back into the groove of learning, working at their learning goals. 

But remember when life gets a little difficult, escape to the wonderful world of a book! 

My current read because I do like a bit of politics! I bought it while ago read the first chapter and started something else but I’m back into it again!

But I’m sure there is going to be some ripper books written on the Trump years.

Oliver Thockloth

Principal