From the  Principal's Desk

What a busy start to Term 2 we have had. I would like to thank our school community for the support they have shown the school following the recent COVID lockdown and the restrictions that followed.  As you would be aware some restrictions remain in place until Saturday 8th May. This will have implications for the following:

• Masks must be worn by parents/guardians inside Reception, classrooms, or any other school buildings.
• Adults do not need to wear masks during drop-off and pick-up if social distancing and remaining outside of classrooms or school buildings.
• P & C meeting - Monday 3rd May - This meeting will be going ahead. Attendees will need to wear a mask inside the School Hall and follow the 1.5m social distancing rule.
• Parent/teacher meetings can resume with participants wearing a mask.
• The Year 2 Assembly - Friday 7th May - will go ahead. Parent/guardians will need to follow the 1.5m social distancing rule. As the undercover area is considered outside masks do not need to be worn.

The lockdown was brought especially close to our school community with some of the exposure areas being close to the school and in local areas, we visit. Thank you to the families who had to change their parent/teacher meetings for your understanding, as well as those families impacted by the postponement of the Halogen Young Leaders Day ( a date yet to be confirmed).

Inside school this week, business was relatively normal, apart from adults wearing masks. Students have continued to apply themselves to their learning in classrooms. While spectators were not able to attend the Interschool Carnival yesterday the students all showed the sportsmanship that Burrendah is known for.  Congratulations to the girl’s cricket team who were the outright champions.

ANZAC Service

I have had a number of parents who have commented to me on how moving our ANZAC Service was, which was held on Friday 23rd April.  Mrs Horoch, Ms Coleman, and Mr Bradshaw worked very hard with our students to ensure a successful event was held. The whole school singing and Ms Coleman’s stunning trumpet rendition of the Last Post and Reveille was heartfelt. Our service was further made special by the 1800 poppies which were hand-made by the school community over the last two years, and put together by staff and students, to make our beautiful backdrop. I was very pleased that my daughter was given permission by the Navy to formally speak at this service. Needless to say, I was a very proud mum listening to her speech.

Swimming Lessons

Our swimming lessons are scheduled to be held this term from May 24th to June 18th. With the size of Burrendah PS, we will be having 2 fortnights of swimming lessons with children across the school from pre-primary to Year 6 attending a fortnight of swimming lessons.  Notes will be sent home early next week and I ask that parents/guardians complete the required information and pay the costs as soon as possible to confirm your child’s placement in this program. Apologies for the delay in sending out the swimming notes but we had to wait until we knew the outcome of restrictions due to the recent COVID lockdown. 

Staffing Update

I would like to welcome Mr Adam Palmer to Burrendah Primary School. 

Mr Palmer will be teaching in Room 11 on Friday for the remainder of the year while Mrs Paxton is on Long Service Leave.

NAPLAN testing

Our Year 3 and 5 students will be participating in NAPLAN testing from Tuesday 11th May until Friday 21st May. Mr Bradshaw and the teachers of these year levels have been very busy making sure everything is working well to complete this online testing. It is important that wherever possible the children complete their test on the scheduled day. I ask that any outside appointments are not made during this fortnight of testing. Please see your class teacher or Mr Bradshaw for any queries.