Dear families,

It’s hard to believe that the end is upon us after a busy nine weeks, with our first term of learning completed next Thursday. The past fortnight has seen Harmony Day celebrations and our secondary athletics carnival that bought our community together. Our students enjoyed the social nature of both events. Today Year 5 and 6 students along with some Year 10s have visited the Formula 1 Grand Prix, whilst Year7 have been out exploring the neighbourhood to enrich their geography studies. Year 9s are exploring Cherry Lake today whilst Year 3 and 4 students were out and about yesterday to enrich their inquiry learning on the topic of living things and life cycles.

END OF TERM

The term will conclude on Thursday 6th of April at 2:15pm. Please note there will be NO Bus on that date. The issue with the bus remains ongoing and is yet to reach a resolution. Parents will need to make alternative transport arrangements with their children. Extend will be running an after-care program for the primary school with bookings available online https://extend.lookedafter.com/login

COMMENCEMENT OF TERM 2 – 26th April

Term 2 will commence on Wednesday, April 26th at 9:00am Please note: Monday 24th April is a pupil free day and professional practice day for all teaching staff.

ANZAC DAY – 25th April

Anzac Day is a National Day of Remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served”. ANZAC day will be acknowledged following our return to school for term 2. We will organise for students to lay a wreath at the ceremony at the Altona Cenotaph on Anzac Day. Student leaders will be out and about selling memorabilia next week to support our local RSL group.

OPEN EVENING and IMPORTANT INFORMATION SESSIONS – Come and join us!

Our open evening is planned for next Wednesday the 5th April from 4:30 until 8:00 pm. We extend a warm welcome to all our current families to visit and see our students celebrating their learning. Parents will be able to tour the main school buildings and speak to staff and students at displays of learning in all key learning areas.

The canteen will be available for a light dinner / snack during the evening and there will be a coffee van onsite.

Information Sessions:

Prep Enrolment 2024 5:45pm Primary STEM Block C

Year 7 2024 5:00pm Senior Centre Block F

Year 7 2024 (repeat) 6:30pm Senior Centre Block F

Year 9/10 Subject Selection 5:45pm Senior Centre Block F

VCE Induction 2024 6:30pm Senior Centre Block F

NAPLAN TESTING PROGRAM 2023

I extend my appreciation to all our students and staff who ensured the annual NAPLAN testing program was completed in a timely manner. Individual Student Reports are expected in late term 2.

CURRICULUM DAYS AND PUPIL FREE DAYS 2023

Curriculum Day 1 27thj January

Professional Practice Day 24th April

Kings Birthday 12th June

Curriculum Day 2 4th August

Curriculum Day 3 6th November

Curriculum Day 4 19th December

On behalf of our school community, I wish all our families a relaxing term break, I know many students head off camping with families over the traditional Easter Long Weekend. Keep warm and stay safe and I look forward to seeing our students return on Wednesday April 26th.

Happy Easter to those families that celebrate! I am sure there will be lots of chocolate consumed in the coming weeks.

I also acknowledge our families who will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Friday 21st of April. The religious holiday is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.

Julie Krause

Principal

Secondary Athletics Day