Leadership Report

Dear Saltwater Families,

As we reach the end of the 2025 school year, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who has contributed to making this year such a positive and memorable one. Our teachers, who consistently invest their time, expertise and care; our ES and admin staff, who work diligently to keep our school running smoothly; and our parents, whose involvement and encouragement strengthen everything we do, each of you plays an essential role in the life of our school community.

To our students, “proud” doesn’t begin to capture how we feel. Your effort, enthusiasm and growing independence in your learning have been inspiring. The skills and understandings you have developed this year will continue to guide you as you grow, learn and discover who you are. Everything we do is centred around you.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank our school leadership team for their dedication and guidance. Their commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive and high-achieving environment continues to motivate both staff and students each day.

Looking back on everything we've shared, I'm so thankful for the teamwork that makes our community special. Some of the highlights from this year have been:

-Beginning the upgrade to our school buildings and grounds, which are well on the way

-Achieving outstanding NAPLAN results in Years 3, 5, 7 & 9

-Outstanding ICAS results

-Celebrating 100 days of Prep education

-Managing our large enrolment numbers and inducting new students and staff to the school

-Marking our 7th anniversary since our opening

-Hosting several parent information sessions and student led conferences

-Hosting Book Week, Book Fair and Book Parades

-Successful Year 6 exhibition

-Daffodil Day fundraiser

-Providing opportunities beyond the classroom such as camps, swimming, beach program and excursions

-School based and regional district sports participation 

-Successfully preparing and participating in the Victoria State School Spectacular with a dance group

-Wakakirri dance group recognised as National Award winners

-Ted Ex Talks by our secondary students

-Year 9 Food Tech family dinner

-The amazing performances from our students at our Christmas Carols Concerts

-The Chocolate Drive Fundraiser event

-A successful School Review

-Our work with consultants Jim Kinniburgh, Carmel O’Beirne, Ryan Dunn, John Hendry, Di Snowball and Keay Cobbin

-Year 6 and Year 9 Graduation events

As you can see, the above events are just a few of the 2025 whole school highlights, not to mention the individual year level achievements. Let's carry this momentum forward into the future, supporting and uplifting one another. 

2025 Semester Two Student Reports

Semester Two student reports were shared on Wednesday 15 December. We encourage all parents to read the report with your child/ren and reflect on learning achievements in Semester Two, 2025. Please note that our reports are an indication of students' progress in which they are working towards. If you require a physical copy of the reports, please log into your Xuno account via a desktop/laptop computer to download the PDF file for your personal use.

2026 Curriculum Days Approved by School Council. 

Curriculum days are days set aside by our school for teachers and staff to engage in various activities related to curriculum planning, development, and improvement. Students do not attend school on these days. 

Please find below key dates for the 2026 school year, including School Council approved Curriculum Days for Term One.

Term One

• Tuesday 27 January – Curriculum Day (No students at school)

• Wednesday 28 January – Curriculum Day (No students at school)

• Thursday 29 January – Curriculum Day (No students at school)

• Friday 30 January – Years 1–9 begin school

• Monday 2 February – Prep students begin school

• Thursday 2 April Term One ends at 2.30pm for a 2 week break

Term Two

• Monday 20 April Term Two begins.

• Friday 26 June Term Two concludes 2.30pm for a 2 week break

Term Three

• Monday 13 July Term Three begins

• Friday 18 September Term Three concludes 2.30pm for a 2 week break

Term Four

• Monday 5 October Term Four begins

• Thursday 17 December – 2.30pm dismissal. Last day of school for students. 

Please mark these important days in your 2026 diary.

A Magical Christmas Carols Event

A heartfelt thanks to our staff and students on our Christmas Carols event last Tuesday and Wednesday. What a joyful and successful celebration it was! Unfortunately, due to building works, we were unable to host a community event on our school grounds, nevertheless, our students enjoyed performing to each other in this wonderful event.

It was lovely to see our students singing their hearts out, dressed in a festive sea of red, green, and gold. Their enthusiasm and talent truly lit up the stage, bringing the spirit of Christmas alive for all to enjoy. We are deeply grateful to our incredible staff for their dedication and support in organising and running this event. And a huge well done to the stars of the show, our students!

Workforce Planning

Workforce planning for 2026 is complete and we have successfully filled all classroom positions. 

Next year, we welcome a range of new staff across the primary and secondary sectors, in classroom roles and specialist areas. Be sure to read the 'New Staff for 2026’ section of the newsletter for an introduction to our new staff. We are looking forward to welcoming them aboard.

Farewell and Best Wishes to Our Departing Staff

As the school year draws to a close, it is time to say goodbye to some of our valued staff members who are moving on to new opportunities or taking leave. While we will miss their contributions to our school community, we are grateful for the time we have shared and wish them every success in their next endeavours.

To those embarking on new roles at other schools, we hope your next chapter brings exciting challenges and fulfilment. Your dedication and expertise has left a lasting impact on our students, colleagues, and families. 

For those taking leave, we hope this time allows you to recharge, or focus on personal goals. Best wishes for the road ahead!

Office Hours During the Holidays

Please be advised that the school office will be closed from 20 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 for the holiday period. Any messages or enquiries received during this time will be addressed once the office reopens. During the break, we will also be completing planned maintenance across our buildings and grounds to ensure a safe, organised and welcoming environment for our students when they return in 2026.

Heartfelt Thank You

On behalf of all staff at Saltwater College, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to every member of our community for your continued support, understanding and partnership throughout the year. It has been a pleasure to celebrate a full year of learning and achievement together. 

I would also like to offer a special thank you to our School Council members. Their dedication and hard work have played a vital role in supporting our school’s direction and staff. 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2026 and continuing our partnership in the new school year.