Dear Families,

What a busy and exciting start to Term 4 it has been!

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Year 5/6 Camp in Sydney. Our students truly stood out with their respectful and safe behaviour while using public transport and exploring the city. They enjoyed a variety of enriching activities, including visiting the Australian Museum, touring State Parliament House, walking through the Botanic Gardens, and stopping for ice cream at Manly Cove. They also toured Cockatoo Island, experienced multiple ferry rides, and were mesmerised by the sails of the Sydney Opera House lighting up with the Badu Gill exhibition. Special thanks to Mrs Latham, Ms Baragry, and Mrs Tozer for their dedicated preparation, and to Ms McKillop and Miss Jackson for their invaluable support during the three action-packed days. Students impressed us all by walking over 20 kilometres at Mr Edmonds’ walking pace!

A big thank you to all families who submitted survey responses recently. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and it helps us improve our school community. In the coming weeks, we will be seeking additional feedback on student homework and student learning priorities as we prepare for 2026. These surveys are optional, but we truly value the insights you provide.

Regarding the uniform survey, the majority of families indicated they are satisfied with the current uniform options. Design A emerged as the preferred choice across the school community and will be gradually introduced over the next three years, starting with the Kindergarten cohort of 2026. Several respondents expressed concerns about the fabric of the existing school sport shirts. However, given the current stock levels, there are no planned changes to the style or design of the sport shirts at this time. We will conduct a further review once stock levels reduce. Thank you for your valuable input in our review process.

I continue to await consultation with the local bus companies about the school hours survey undertaken last term - I would like to ensure that transport services can meet the new times before announcing the outcome. Thank you for your patience.

Looking ahead, Swim School for Years 2-5 will take place in Weeks 5 and 6. Please ensure you have submitted permission via School Bytes before Wednesday, 5 November 2025. We are also investigating how we can offer additional practice for students who can already swim more than 15 metres as we prepare them to be carnival-ready for 2026.

Our K-2 students have been having a great time participating in NRL Raiders League Tag sessions, gearing up for the upcoming NRL League Tag Gala Day. It’s wonderful to see their enthusiasm and skill development! Tennis with Dave has also been a hit, with many students learning new techniques that support their physical education. Thank you, Miss Spillane, for your coordination of these activities.

Finally, we were very excited to welcome our 2026 Kindergarten students for their first Orientation Day on Monday, November 3. I am pleased to announce that Ms Hannah Morris and Ms Erin Packer will be the Kindergarten teachers for next year. We will be welcoming 18 new Kindergarten students for 2026, and we look forward to supporting their transition into our school community.

Thank you again to all staff and families for your ongoing support as we continue to provide diverse and engaging learning experiences for our students.

Warm regards,

Steve

Yr 5-6 Camp