Principal's Message  

"Aah, the Serenity"

The Castle 

With broad smiles, excited chatter and a skip in their step, the children of Great Ryrie eagerly returned to their classrooms this week and we were also ecstatic. After months of remote learning with familiar comments such as, “Hannah you are on mute,” and, “David you need to put your video on,” or my favorite, “I’m sharing my screen can you see it?” and just like that we are back!

I would like to thank everyone for following the protocols that we have in place in regards to staggered dismissal times, parents kiss and drop at gates and trusting us to deliver your children to their classrooms. These protocols help ensure the safety of our school community, and enable us to play our part in the bigger picture of limiting the transmission of COVID-19 so we can get back to normal lives. 

We are aware that many of you will have been impacted greatly by the lockdowns that have been in place financially, physically and mentally. As parents, we aim to shield our children from these issues, but we are aware that stress and anxiety within a family, almost inevitably has an impact on our children. At school, we will be focusing on creating a positive, healthy and psychologically safe environment for our students to learn, play and connect with their peers. 

Teacher Appreciation Week 

Two, four, six, eight—who do we appreciate? Teachers, of course!

This week we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week. 

Teachers deserve appreciation for their important work shaping young minds.               

I am sure parents, after the extended period of remote learning, you can appreciate more than ever that teaching is a tough job. That's why it's important that we take proper time to recognise and thank them. 

I am so thankful for the teachers at GRPS and those that I had growing up. The learning they plan, the environment they create, the friendships they help foster, it's all incredible. I wish the very best for our teachers all year round, but this week is extra special for those at the heart of learning. 

Teachers your efforts and dedication to education is needed and appreciated far more than you know. 

No Hat No Play 

As the warmer weather begins, a reminder that students will be required to wear a school hat with a wide brim until the end of April, whenever they are outside. After such a long period of not being able to play with friends, it would be very disappointing if children had to sit out of a game in the shade during recess and lunch. 

Drink Bottles 

As advised by the Health Department, shared drink taps will not be available for student use this term. Please remember to pack them a drink bottle. Students will have the facility to refill their bottles throughout the day at school. 

Early Arrival

It has come to our attention that many children are arriving before 8:45 am. As set out in the Guidelines for our Return to School Plan sent through COMPASS, children are not permitted on the grounds until 8:45am. 

Teachers are busy preparing for the day and unavailable to supervise early arrivals in the morning. Camp Australia operates a Before and After School program in the Brian Allen Hall if you require additional care. 

Please contact our friendly office staff for further information in regards to bookings if you need assistance.  

Parent Survey 

Our school is conducting a Parent Opinion Survey. This is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education and Training that is conducted amongst all parents. It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, student engagement and experiences of remote and flexible learning. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies. All parents will be invited to participate in this year’s survey. All responses to the survey are anonymous. 

This year, the Parent Opinion Survey will be conducted from Tuesday the 20th of October to Friday 13th November.

The survey will be conducted online. It only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the fieldwork period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in a range of languages other than English. These include: Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Chin (Hakha), Hindi, Japanese, Somali, Turkish, Punjabi and Greek.

A link to the survey, including a PIN code for our school, will be sent out via COMPASS.

We will communicate the survey results with the school community via the newsletter and our Annual Report. Results will be used to inform and direct our future school planning and improvement.

Please contact the school office if you would like further information.

Enjoy the weekend with your families and I have my fingers crossed in regards to the restrictions being reviewed.

Warmest Regards 

Karen Rouda 

Principal