Principal`s Message

Welcome back to Term 3! I hope everyone had a wonderful break and had the chance to relax and recharge. We’ve had an exciting start to the term with some significant changes that I want to share with you.

Over the holidays, the Napier Street upgrade officially commenced. Intrec has been appointed as our main contractor, and they have spent the break establishing site offices and securing the site with fencing. You may have noticed that I’ve been moving our last items into storage, which I’m happy to report is now complete. As a result, the Napier Street yard is currently out of use, and we’ve had to make adjustments to our timetable routine. I am pleased to say that the students have settled into the new routine extremely well and have kicked off the term in great spirits.

We also have some exciting news to share regarding staffing. First, please join me in welcoming Hannah, our new French teacher for Year 1/2C and 1/2D. Many of you will already be familiar with Hannah, as she previously completed her teaching placement with us in 2024 and also worked as a Classroom Support staff member last year. We are thrilled to have her join us in a more permanent capacity, and I know the students will benefit greatly from her expertise and enthusiasm.

We’d also like to extend a warm welcome back to Andrea, who has returned from her long service leave. It sounds as though your travels were absolutely amazing, Andrea, and we look forward to hearing more about your adventures as the year unfolds. We’re so glad to have you back with us!

NAPLAN results were released last week, and parents should now have received their child's results. I encourage you to take the time to sit down with your child and celebrate their achievements. Whether the results reflect growth or areas for improvement, this is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge their hard work and progress.

Looking ahead, one of my favourite weeks of the year is just around the corner—Book Week! This is always such a vibrant and enjoyable time for our school community. In preparation, we’ve been working hard to establish our new library borrowing system, which we’ll be launching with the students and families later this term. While it’s been a significant amount of work, the benefits will be well worth it, and we’re excited to share this with you soon.

As we start the term, I’d like to address an important point: arriving at school on time. Recently, we’ve noticed an increase in students arriving 5 to 10 minutes late, which can disrupt the start of the school day and impact the overall attendance of your child. Research from the Victorian Department of Education shows that consistent lateness can have a negative effect on learning and school performance. I encourage all families to aim for on-time arrival to help ensure a smooth and productive start to each day.

Lastly, I’d like to remind you that our next Curriculum Day will be held on August 22nd. Curriculum Days are invaluable for staff professional development, as they provide us with the opportunity to learn new strategies, refine our teaching practices, and enhance the learning experiences we offer your children. These days are crucial for maintaining a high standard of education and continuous improvement.

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to another successful term ahead.

-Scott Burton, Principal