A Grand day in . . .

Last week we had the very pleasant opportunity to welcome Grandparents and Grandfriends to Arlington for the morning.

Grandparents and extended families remind us that our community is like an iceberg, with only a small part visible at any one time, the real extent of our support out of sight. It was lovely to see these important members of our community with their delighted grandchildren taking part in the school day.

We had over fifty guests, which had the school buzzing with excited, proud children eager to show off their rooms, their teachers and their friends.

It’s always instructive, and often really surprising, to notice what it is the children want their special visitors to see. Rarely is it the ‘official’ view of the school that the children want to show off, but rather the places and the details that are truly meaningful to them. Luckily, Arlington is full of those niches and details that have significance for particular children.

Talking to many of the visitors led to their reminiscing about their own childhood recollections of school days and just how powerfully these memories remain throughout adult life. For some people nothing will ever make up for hurts and disappointments still carried long after; for others school has remained a golden memory of extraordinary teachers, deep friendships and wicked adventures – a place and time where passions were born or lifelong interests fostered.

It’s salutary to be reminded of the responsibility all adults who choose to work in schools share to honour the trust children place in us – the responsibility we have for those experiences and relationships that these children will carry with them as their memories of school for the whole of their lives. What an enormous responsibility – and privilege we share.

This weekend Rosie Grimm, one of our 10s & 11s teachers, will be undertaking a 100km team endurance walk with Oxfam Trailwalker.

Oxfam Australia works with communities to help in creating sustainable solutions to the challenges that come with living in poverty. Oxfam assists via the promotion of education, ensuring access to clean water, teaching skills to grow food and advocating basic rights.

To find out more and support Rosie's 'Walk like a girl' team, click here.

Introducing Sophie Dall’Ava

I am very pleased to invite you to welcome Sophie Dall’Ava to Preshil.

Sophie will step into the role as Rosie’s teaching partner with the 10s & 11s from the beginning of Term 2.

With 15 years’ experience and with a particular passion for building outstanding learning in both literacy and mathematics she has jumped at the opportunity to teach at Preshil as the fulfilment of a long-standing ambition. Having considered many potential candidates for this position we are confident that Sophie is a perfect fit for the school and for the 10s & 11s class that she will step into.

I’m also delighted to let families know that Deb Heyes has enjoyed her return to Arlington and, in particular working with Rosie, so much that she has also agreed to continue as part of the team for one day each week, for the remainder of the year. This is an unexpected bonus and I know the children are very pleased to have her stay on.

The children will have the opportunity to meet Sophie next week and I look forward to introducing her to families next term.

Thank you to all the 10s & 11s families who have been so supportive of Rosie and Deb during this period of transition and we are all looking forward to a very exciting year ahead.

Marilyn Smith

Principal

marilyn.smith@preshil.vic.edu.au

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