Celebration and Looking Forward

2022 has been year with much to celebrate, particularly in terms of student achievements.

It is really hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the school year! Term 4 has been a wonderful term with excursions, sleepovers, PYP Exhibition and many year 6 events. I would particularly like to thank all of our parent volunteers who have supported our students in many ways over the course of the year. Our P & F and class carers' networks have been brilliant this year as well.

We had our final P & F meeting and AGM for the year earlier this week and it was an opportune time to reflect on the way in which we are blessed with a caring and hard-working group who are a wonderful support to the genuine community of our school and nurture the staff and students of the school beautifully. I would particularly like to thank our P & F executives this year of Michelle Parcell, Karen McKinnon, Claire Rathjen and Maree Kairl for the immense time and effort they put into the role. Congratulations to Michelle Parcell, Sarah Kumela, Claire Rathjen and Maree Kairl who will be our P & F Executive for 2023. We have been very fortunate to enjoy a range of activities either conducted or supported by our P & F this year including our Foundation Parent Welcome BBQ, Harmony Day, MOT, Water Fun Day, Colour Run, Date Night, and many more! Similarly our appreciation goes to all of our class carers and the work that Karen McKinnon and Karen Tiller have done in leading the group again this year.

Thank you for your support of our Class Carers with the recent pyjama day. Our class carers do an amazing job of organising social events for each cluster group, supporting families in times of need with meals and other support, as well as arranging our Mothers' and Fathers' Day stalls each year, along with World Teachers' Day Morning Tea. The class carers also purchase a small gift for staff members (teachers/SSO’s) so as to avoid families feeling any obligation to buy a gift for teachers at the end of the year in what has proven to be an uncertain economic climate.

Year 6 Graduation Dinner

Our Year 6 students and families celebrated their Graduation Dinner on Wednesday and have their Graduation Service coming up on Wednesday 14 December. We had a great night of community celebrating the fine young people that our year 6 graduates have become! The excitement and promise of next year, with the further study and enjoyable experiences that it will bring, is often tinged with a sense of sadness that the friends whose company and support we have enjoyed over many years, will not necessarily be sitting beside us as often each day.

As teachers, we feel this as well. One of the incredible blessings of this school community is the strong sense of connection with students and families. Farewelling our Year 6 graduates, as we will at formal events in coming weeks, it is easy to say that they have become much more than students to us.

Strategic Planning

Thank you to all members of the school community who participated in the Health Check Survey survey during Term 3. We have received pleasing results that show we are a vibrant, progressive learning community with excellent teachers and curriculum for students. The data will be used in many ways to improve the learning outcomes for students at our school including increased sporting and performing arts activities as well as to support continued growth in our academic programme.

The data will be used more broadly as the School reviews our strategic plan, of which we will be a part of in 2023 placing student learning at the very centre. Updates will become available as the strategic agenda moves into a comprehensive plan which we envisage will include strong and productive opportunities for parent, student and staff input and feedback.

Buildings and Facilities Master Plan

I am pleased to be able to announce to our school community that we have received a grant of $425,000 from the Federal Government under the Block Grant Authority program which supports the funding of capital projects in independent schools. This will cover the cost of a substantial part of our new Foundation classroom project which will begin in March - April 2023 and be completed in time for our 2024 Foundation students (and 2023 mid year Foundation intake) to enjoy the new facility. A significant amount of work has gone into the grant application and overall planning of the next stage of our building works on the part of our School Board led by Tammie Switala, our Finance Risk and Audit Committee and our Business Manager, Tanya Rowland. I thank all involved for their hard work and the one hours that they've dedicated to our school.

Reports and e-portfolios

End of year reports will be sent home during Week 8. When reading the end of year report there’s a wonderful opportunity to ensure your child is part of the conversation, as is the case with our student-led conferences and celebration of learning earlier in the year. The Seesaw journal also accompanies the yearly report to provide a deeper understanding of the content and process, displaying work samples and feedback to inform the written report.

Upcoming events

Please keep a close eye on the school calendar as we have lots of fantastic events and opportunities for the children coming up, particularly our Closing Service which will be held on Wednesday 14 December at 2.10pm, and our Year 6 Graduation which will take place later that day at 7.00pm.

Week 7

Friday 2 December - Year 1/2 end of year excursion

Friday 2 December - Carols Evening

Week 8

Monday 5 December – Foundation 2023 Transition Day

Tuesday 6 December – Year 3/4 end of year excursion

Tuesday 6 December to Friday 9 December – Foundation to Year 2 Swimming

Friday 9 December - Year 5/6 end of year excursion

Friday 9 December - Volunteer Breakfast and Afternoon Tea

Week 9

Monday 12 December – Foundation 2023 Transition Day and Move Up morning

Tuesday 13 December - P & F Water Fun Day

Wednesday 14 December – Closing Service at 2.10 pm

Wednesday 14 December – Year 6 Graduation Service at 7.00 pm

Blessings,

Will

Principal

Community Events

Schiller's Lights for Starlight

Christmas Trees

Cafe Connect Volunteers

Salisbury Lutheran Kindergarten