Principal's Report

Thank You and Happy Holidays!

Being the final newsletter of 2023, I want to acknowledge and thank the entire Robbie Mac Community for your enthusiasm, hard work and support throughout the year. 

Seeing each Year 6 student speak at Graduation on Monday evening, encouraged by a wonderfully appreciative and supportive audience, was yet another reminder of the special little community we occupy here in beautiful Box Hill South. Each graduate was a true credit to both their families and their school, and I would like to reiterate my congratulations to them on completing their primary schooling - with best wishes for secondary school!

To all families who are departing next year, either through relocation or with a youngest child graduating, I would like to thank you for your contributions to our community and wish you all the very best of health and happiness for your family in the years to come.

I hope all families enjoy a wonderful school holiday period - Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and Happy New Year to everyone!

Construction Preparations

This morning I met with the site manager for our heating and cooling construction in the building along Devon Street, due to begin in early January.

The builders and Victorian School Building Authority have advised that this work will extend into Term 1, so as such, we have created a plan for Foundation to Year 4 classes to work in alternative areas of the school where required while we await the finish of construction. Families will be notified of any changes to classrooms for the beginning of Term 1 when the construction timeline becomes clearer. On top of this, as outlined in the last newsletter, 2024 will also see many staff changing rooms and offices.

As such, Monday to Wednesday next week will look a little different for many students. They are definitely still normal school days in terms of attendance, with the exception being the 1:30pm finish on Wednesday 20th of December.

To facilitate so many classroom moves and these construction provisions, students may be supervised by different teachers, and in larger groups than usual (while obviously remaining within responsible supervision parameters). Students will participate in tasks and activities as provided by regular class teachers, with supervision from a combination of their own class teacher at times, as well as a range of teachers who are not moving in 2024. Students will still be welcomed and dismissed from their current locations unless advised otherwise.

We appreciate the support of our parent and carer community as we prepare for these logistical challenges.

Financial Assistance

We are well aware that many in our community are currently experiencing significant financial hardship at present. In keeping with our strong commitment to inclusion at Roberts McCubbin Primary School, if your family is finding payment for a school event to be prohibitive, please contact myself or Business Manager Melissa for a confidential discussion of options.

Peter Watson

Principal