Principal's Report
Principal: Brendan Millar
In this week’s newsletter:
- Appreciations and News
- Grade 3 and 4 Swimming
- Preps 100 Days of School celebration
- Athletics Carnival for grades 4, 5 and 6
- JSC Mini Olympics
- The annual Parent/Carer Opinion survey will remain open until the end of the month
- Coming Up
- Milo’s Birthday Surprise
- Assembly tomorrow
- Science Week
- Book Week
- Repeated (and Updated) Messages
Appreciations and News
Grade 3 and 4 Swimming - The program will conclude tomorrow after a fortnight. We appreciate the marvellous attitude that the students have shown and the staff have modelled. We also have appreciated the help of the parents who have assisted to ensure our student : adult ratios have been compliant. Buses have sometimes arrived late, but patience has been shown. The MAC teachers have been terrific and the students’ behaviour, listening and enthusiasm, a terrific reflection on our school and the values that we have championed.
Prep 100 Days of School - The prep grades really got into the spirit of the 100 theme last Friday when all the Prep grades celebrated the milestone of 100 days of school. PAK took this opportunity to present an assembly item (pictured). The children were dressed marvellously, but more importantly spoke with confidence and clarity and recited a poem together.
Athletics Day - On Wednesday, the grade 4, 5 and 6 cohorts arrived at Aberfeldie Sport Track on a splendid day. We all enjoyed the feeling of an early Spring after the cold and wet winter we have recently endured. Students were well prepared and very keen to participate, perhaps inspired by the current activity in Paris. With challenges for us in staffing our senior school, due to illness and family leave, I found myself running the long jump event. It is a long time since I was last required to be useful on an aths day and I enjoyed the opportunity immensely. I was reminded during the day of the joy we have working with great kids and great staff. Thank you in particular to Stratos and Marco for the excellent organisation to enable this memorable event to be held.
JSC Mini Olympics - What fabulous organisation by Laura and Lee supported by the senior JSC reps. On Tuesday during lunchtime, the basketball court was busy with mini Olympic activities managed by the senior JSC reps. We have included some photos of the action!
Parent / Carers Opinion Survey - This survey was sent out Monday of the second week of term and remains open for a month. An appreciation to the 8% of parents/carers who have responded to this point. That figure however is far less than we would like in order to receive thorough feedback on how you judge we are doing. The survey was emailed to all families via Parent A and will close on Friday, 30th August.
Coming Up…
Milo's Birthday Surprise -Our Little Learners Love Literacy program is introduced to our students at the beginning of Prep. By providing students with an understanding of reading through a synthetic phonics based approach, we now have confidence that we are effectively addressing all our students' literacy needs. LLLL provides students with a reading structure, but does it cleverly and with a sense of fun. This is highlighted by celebrating LLLL lead character Milo’s birthday. This will occur tomorrow at FWPS. The event will be publicly acknowledged by PBD during tomorrow’s assembly.
Assembly tomorrow - With showers and a high of 17 degrees forecast, it is anyone’s guess whether tomorrow’s assembly will be held indoors or outdoors. If it is to be held indoors we will communicate this information via a Compass post in the afternoon.
Science Week - Environment Team conveners, Michelle and Michael will run some activities during lunch time next week to acknowledge Science Week. Michelle has provided a handy guide for our teachers to share with the children on how to encourage bees to thrive in our community. It has been also included in the newsletter on the 'Teaching and Learning News' page.
Book Week - We are looking forward to our annual Book Week in a fortnight. Organised by Lauren and Heather, the week will promote a love of reading.
Book Week will feature:
Book Week Parade - Friday, 23rd August
- Students and staff are also strongly encouraged to dress up again this year as a favourite character from literature.
- Parents and carers will be encouraged to join us at the beginning of the day for the fun of the Parade.
Daily Quiz
- We will again be running a daily quiz for the classes. This proved to be great competition and fun last year. Winners will be drawn and announced at Friday assembly of Book Week. One class from each cohort will win a book from this year's Children’s Book Awards shortlist.
Cheers,
Brendan
Repeated (and Updated) Messages…