Dear families and friends,

We have now reached the end of our school year and what an amazing night to finish our year on. I couldn't be prouder of our students and staff! We also celebrated the graduation of Stephanie Rafferty. Her speech was from the heart and she did a brilliant effort in writing and reading it.

I would like to share part of my speech from last night -

Merino Consolidated School and its community is a very special place. I feel incredibly fortunate to be the principal of a school where children are known, supported and given opportunities that will stay with them for life. The experiences our students enjoy each day don’t just happen on their own — they rely on the time, energy and commitment of many people.

Events like tonight are made possible by the strength of our school community. Thank you to everyone who has helped with planning and preparation throughout the year, and to those who brought supper for us to share later this evening. Your support makes a real difference.

Throughout the year, our students have been involved in a wide range of learning experiences, including:

Swimming program
Interschool athletics, cross-country and Lightning Premierships in Coleraine
Remembrance Day ceremonies
Whole-school breakfasts with families
Entries in the Coleraine Art Show
Ballarat camp with Miss Bailey, Miss Sartain, Glenda and myself
Somers Camp with Miss Bailey, Stephanie and Thomas
Sporting Schools programs: hockey, gymnastics and taekwondo
Book Week dress-ups and activities
100 Days of School celebrations
Japanese lessons via Webex
Transition programs to secondary school and kindergarten visits
School garden, cooking and Hands-on Learning Fridays
Knitting with the Digby and Merino Ladies
MARC lessons with Mr Cummins
Creating the town mural
Excursions to the Hamilton Art Gallery and Library, the Heywood College Science Show, and a music performance at Casterton Primary School
Visiting performers and many more opportunities across the year

We conclude 2025 with an enrolment of 11 students and anticipate a similar number in 2025. No matter our size, our commitment to providing rich learning experiences and a caring school environment remains strong.

Acknowledgements

I would now like to make some important personal acknowledgements and offer my sincere thanks. Firstly, to our 2025 staff — Miss Bailey, Ms Brown, Miss Sartain, Mr Cummins and Glenda. I deeply appreciate everything you do for our students and families. Your commitment, energy and care make such a difference, and I cannot thank you enough. Our staff work incredibly hard to provide high-quality learning opportunities every day. Their focus is always on how best to support students to be the very best they can be. They build strong relationships, promote engagement and create a positive learning environment for all. We also farewelled Miss Sartain and Ms Brown.

Thank you also to the staff who have supported us as relief teachers or by helping in the classroom and office throughout the year — Jodie McIntosh, Brittny Parry, Tammy Crawford, Mr Penny, Mr Gibbons, Mrs McDonald, Mrs Robertson, Miss Purnell and Mrs Murray. Your willingness to step in and assist whenever needed is greatly appreciated.

We also farewell our bus driver Stewie McFadden, who will be a relieving driver for Guthrie’s and continue with his painting business. Stewie has been driving the bus run since May 2019.

I would also like to thank the Digby Merino Lions Club and the Merino Progress Association and for their long-standing support of our school, and for sponsoring the awards to support students with school costs such as camps and excursions. Your generosity helps create valuable opportunities for our students.

A very big thank you to our School Council — Damien, James, Tanya and Brittny. These amazing people give up their time and are deeply committed to helping our school thrive. Their work on our governing council continues to make a significant impact on the lives of our children. I sincerely thank each of you for your generosity, leadership and support.

To all our parents and families — thank you for everything you do - helping in classrooms, gardening, fundraising, selling raffle tickets, baking, joining us on excursions, fixing things, transporting lawnmowers to Hamilton, putting flat packs together, spreading gravel and so much more. Your support is invaluable and strengthens our school community in countless ways.

A special thank you to our wonderful knitting ladies — Rosemary, Christine, June, Angela, Jane and Lynette — who join us every Friday. The students absolutely love this time, and they learn so much more than knitting: they learn conversation, patience, connection and perseverance. We are incredibly grateful for your time and kindness. We have already thanked these ladies at a recent knitting session.

Thank you to our cleaners this year, Rosemary and Jai Nolte. You work hard to keep our school clean, tidy and welcoming, and we truly appreciate your efforts.

Thank you also to Sharon Holmes and Karen Stockdale for your work maintaining our grounds. The gardens and outdoor areas always look fantastic, and your time and care do not go unnoticed.

Finally, thank you to everyone for being part of Merino Consolidated School. Our community is what makes this school such a special place, and I am truly grateful for your continued support.

School Council Update

From 2026, parents, carers and community members who would like to join the school council need a working with children (WWC) clearance to nominate. If you are considering nominating for school council, and don’t already have a WWCC, I encourage you to apply for a volunteer WWC check as soon as possible. This will allow for processing times, which are estimated to be from 3 to 12 weeks.

Please note that if you do not hold a WWC clearance, you will not be able to nominate for school council, so it is vital that you prepare in advance. Obtaining a WWC clearance is free for volunteers, and you can apply online at Service Victoria.

When applying for your volunteer WWC check, please nominate the Department of Education as the organisation you are working for. If you already hold an employee WWC clearance, you do not need to obtain a volunteer WWC clearance to nominate for school council.

Victorian Institute of Teaching-registered teachers and school students who are interested in joining school council are not required to obtain a WWC clearance.

Current parents and community members of school council do not need to apply for a WWC check immediately. Current members only need a WWC clearance if their term ends and they wish to nominate or be co-opted again. For more information, refer to Ministerial Order 1280 (Constitution of Government School Councils) 2020 or contact Ms Ferrier.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas! See you in 2026!