Assistant Principal’s Report – Connections build culture.

Welcome to the end of Week 6! It’s hard to believe we are already over halfway through the term, and what a meaningful week it has been across our school community. 

National Reconciliation Week (NRW)

This week, we recognised National Reconciliation Week (NRW) – a significant time for all Australians to reflect on our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to consider how we can contribute to reconciliation in our country. The theme for 2025 is "Bridging Now to Next", which highlights the continuous journey of reconciliation and the importance of connecting our past with a hopeful future. Reconciliation is about strengthening respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians, for the benefit of all.

At our school, students have engaged in learning activities centered around the NRW theme, including National Sorry Day. Both students and staff participated in a hands-on art project, decorating and colouring hands which will be used to create a visual display within our school. This beautiful display will symbolise our commitment to reconciliation and reflect the importance of this week in building awareness, empathy, and respect. Through these activities, we hope to empower our students to contribute to a more just and equitable Australia for generations to come.In classrooms, teachers are currently busy conducting assessments and gathering evidence as part of our mid-year reporting cycle. Students are working hard to demonstrate their learning and progress. We warmly invite families to make an appointment with your child’s classroom teacher to discuss their achievements so far and to celebrate their successes.

Student Support Group (SSG) meetings

Looking ahead, Student Support Group (SSG) meetings will be held in Week 8 (Monday 9th June – Friday 13th June). Please check your child’s bag for important information regarding appointment bookings and the SSG Family Voice letter. We encourage all families to return these as soon as possible and to reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions about the process.

Principal’s Association of Specialist Schools (PASS) Conference

This week, I had the privilege of attending the Principal’s Association of Specialist Schools (PASS) Conference from May 28–30, alongside Mr Bacon and Mrs Nicholson. The 2025 conference theme, "Culture Builds Connections", guided two days of professional learning and reflection. We heard from several inspiring keynote speakers on topics including transformative leadership, phonics instruction, and creating school cultures that nourish and sustain. One particularly powerful session was delivered by Mark Corrie from the SPPIKE Program, who challenged us to rethink traditional ideas of power and authority. His vision for relational, inclusive, and equitable leadership deeply resonated with me and will inform our continued growth as a leadership team.

Our attendance at the conference was only possible thanks to the dedication and professionalism of our amazing staff who kept everything running smoothly in our absence. Thank you for supporting our students so brilliantly – your work allows us to grow professionally and bring back fresh ideas to help improve learning outcomes and continue building a strong, inclusive school community.

Wishing you all a restful weekend and a smooth end to the term as we head into the final few weeks.

Susana Leiva