Principal Report

We have come to the end of another Term 3, and the weather has truly turned. As I look back on the term that was, it’s been wonderful to reflect on its many highlights;

Tabloid Sports – it’s always great to see the junior school come together and try many fun activities
Athletics Day - including many students going on to compete at division and district level
90s Week in Year 5/6 – a week where they experienced what life was like before smartphones and tablets, and also happily has meant we still have great 90s themed music for our bell times
Book Week & Book Character Parade – a primary school highlight for many!
100 Days of School – a fun and memorable event for our foundation year students and their families and a sneak peak into the future!
Incursions – including some wonderful and talented authors, as well as team building and maths-based learning opportunities, not to mention some firemen and women
Excursions – some of our lucky students have been able to see the Metro Tunnel, be immersed in Connection at Lume, or participate in a team challenge in Kings Domain
VIP Morning Tea – we celebrated this past Monday with a bunch of lucky students pulled out of the ‘Gotcha Box’ after they were spotted demonstrating our school values in the yard by our Respectful Relationship Captains. The morning tea included a special guest from our local council, Cr Jonathon Marsden, who made connections between our five values and the councils’ own
Literary Lights – a wonderful time was had by our amazing authors and illustrators who were so proud of their published texts
Year 5/6 Market Day – today’s upper school was a hive of activity and entrepreneurship – what a great way to learn about financial maths and raise money for the worthy cause of childhood dementia
Learning in our classrooms – wonderful, engaging learning occurs across the curriculum in all our classrooms, every day, and it’s been great to visit rooms and see the students focused on the tasks that are set and how proud they are of their achievements

Finally, tomorrow is our annual Footy/Team Colours Day. Students are invited to dress in the team colours of their chosen sport. Please remember to pass on a gold coin to your child/ren - all proceeds will go to children’s cancer research and support.

As we transition into Term 4, an exciting array of events awaits us on the horizon. On October 4th, we'll be celebrating OK2BEME Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the diversity of our school community and fostering a sense of self-acceptance and inclusion. This year our main focus will be on promoting body positivity among our students. This event is a reminder of the importance of embracing one's unique qualities and cultivating a positive self-image.

Additionally, as the weather warms up, we're thrilled to introduce our water-based programs. For our Year 3-6 students, there's the much-anticipated beach program, a chance to learn water safety, and have fun in and by the sea. Meanwhile, our Prep-2 students will dive into our swimming program, where they'll not only build essential water skills but also create lasting memories in the pool. Towards the end of term, the focus shifts to our graduating Year 6 students, with their Big Day Out, Year 7 Transition Day and Graduation Evening. Term 4 promises to be a time of growth, self-discovery, and aquatic adventures for our school community.

Events for Parents & Families

During Term 4, we will host a number of events for our parent community, including: a parent morning tea with Chrissie Davies on October 6th , a Parents Club run Trivia Night on Saturday October 21st and an info session around ‘Growing Up Online’ presented by Susan McLean on October 30th, from 5:30pm. More details about these three parent events are available later in the newsletter and on Compass. Additionally, there are a couple more events in the planning stage – more details about these in early Term 4.

Sunsmart - No Hat No Play!

As the weather has got warmer, just a reminder that from Term 4 to 30 April, all students must wear a sun protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities. Hats can also be worn for all outdoor activities outside of the Term 4 to April time period, by parent or student choice.

With the weather predicted to be warmer on Friday, and as assembly that will be held outside we recommend students wear their hats for the remainder of Term 3.

Staff and students are encouraged to wear hat styles that protect the face, neck and ears when outdoors, for example broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket. Baseball or peaked caps and sun visors are not considered a suitable alternative, as they do not protect the ears, cheeks or neck. Students who are not wearing appropriate protective clothing or hats will be asked to use available areas of shade when outdoors or a suitable area protected from the sun.

Hats are available from the office if you need to purchase new ones. Please ensure all items are labelled clearly with your child's name.

Last Day of Term Arrangements - Early Dismissal

Just a reminder that we will be finishing up early tomorrow, Friday September 15th.

A whole school assembly will be held outside on the football oval from 1:45pm, which parents and families are most welcome to attend.

Students will then be dismissed from their classrooms at 2:30pm.

I hope we all have an opportunity to have a restful break, so we are ready to tackle (a rather long!) Term 4. Whether you get to go away or not, please be safe these school holidays and be sure to find the joy in the small things.

Carly Bannon

Acting Principal