From the Principal 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Picnic and Games Night

Last Thursday families and staff gathered to enjoy dinner on blankets and fun activities on the oval. The weather was perfect, and the time was valuable. Catching up with parents in an informal manner is always satisfying. Amelie the Team Leader of TeamKids before and after school care program, ran a face-painting service and Jarrod Bradley organised and facilitated the games. 

Student Lighthouse Leaders

The election for Semester 1 Student Lighthouse members has concluded.

FA        Harry

FB        Sebastian

12A      Lachlan L

12B      Arden G

12C      Ariella

34A      Serena

34B      Rose G

34C      Eshie

56A      Maya

56B      Jhoz

56C      Lenny

Next Thursday February 29, the students will receive their badges at the 2.45pm assembly. Their first meeting will be Friday March 1st.

School Council Election

Ballot papers are due by 4.00pm today, Friday February 23rd. Votes will be counted Monday morning and elected School Council members will be announced on Compass. The next School Council meeting is Tuesday February 27th at 6.00pm in the staffroom. New and continuing members will receive a School Council agenda pack on Monday, in preparation for the Tuesday Meeting.

Curriculum Day

Tuesday March 12 is a nonstudent day. The staff’s professional learning will include multi-tiered systems of support and school-wide positive behaviour. 

Heating and Cooling System Update

Currently the heating and cooling system in the main building (Block A) is being replaced. The electrical system will be upgraded, significantly building capacity to support increased usage. Split systems will be in all classrooms and the hall will have a larger unit installed. The Department of Education is funding and managing the project, costing $154,000. The project will be completed during the Term 1 school holidays. To provide comfort for students and staff, 7 portable aircon units have been placed in each of the 7 occupied classrooms in the main building. Having these and the large air filters on a high setting, is reducing inside temperatures by approximately 10c. The Before and After School Care service will run in the BER Building, and Music will be taught in classrooms for two weeks, during which the hall’s system is being replaced.

An Overview of the Music Program

In January, Music teacher Susie Davies-Splitter, set up a class set of keyboards, headphones and stools. A camera has been placed above Susie’s keyboard and she teaches through demonstration, as her playing is visible on a large screen for all the students to see. The class set of keyboards is the latest addition to an already abundant resource pool, which includes class sets of ukuleles, guitars, and recorders.

Students in Foundation and Years 1 and 2 learn to play a variety of percussion instruments including: claves; woodblocks/tone blocks; castanets; guiros; maracas; egg shakers; tambourines; bells; cymbals; triangles; cow bells; tambours; bongo drums; sound shape drums; djembes; vibraslaps; rainmakers, ocean drums; chopsticks; bucket drums and drumsticks; marimbas; xylophones; metallophones; glockenspiels; boomwhackers; chime Bars; and handbells. The technique required to play them is easily learned by children. Instruments can be lots of fun! They provide a diverse source of expression, wonderful opportunities for children to explore and create. They add extra colour to a rhyme, song or dance. The elements of music and music concepts can all be taught through the playing of instruments. Children are often highly motivated to learn through instrument use.

In addition to the percussion instruments above, students in Years 3 and 4 learn to play the descant recorder, and the students in Years 5 and 6 learn to play the ukulele, guitar, and keyboard.

In 2024, over and above the general music lesson, all students will receive an additional term of performing arts workshops. A Grade 2-4 choir has started working together, and a band program will be initiated shortly. There is a lot happening in this space, and we are excited to see how the students’ joy and talent flourish.

Thought for the Week

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant” 

– Robert Louis Stevenson

Have a great weekend everyone.

George Danson