Principal's Message
It is a busy time at school. There are always lots of events as the year draws to a close. We are in the midst of planning for 2025, including our specialist subjects. Next year we are continuing with Auslan as our language other than English, Physical Education, Visual Arts and Performing Arts. We won’t be employing any new classroom teachers, however we are in the process of recruiting a full time casual relief teacher.
Principal for the Day
A big congratulations to Hamish from Year 3 for winning our Principal for the Day competition. Hamish and his family raised the highest amount for our colour fun run fundraiser. Hamish was joined by his assistant principal siblings Will and Bonnie as well as Matilda from Year 1 (who raised the second highest amount). They had a great day as principals. Some of the highlights included: calling in to every class across the school and handing out stickers for good work, leading assembly, writing cards for teachers and having a hot chip lunch.
Class 106 raised the highest amount of money from a grade. They were rewarded with a class party lunch in the staffroom being served by school leadership. They had an absolute ball and felt like the ‘kings of the school’ as they sat in the staffroom with their party food.
Community volunteers – Mountain District Community College
A big thankyou to Elise (Sophie from Year 2’s Mum) for organising students from Mountain District Community College to volunteer at our school. Over two days the students were able to empty 3 of our vegetable garden beds and take the soil and the garden beds to their new home behind the kitchen garden room. This has saved us so much work as it is very labour intensive to dig out the soil and then move the really heavy garden beds.
Christmas Carols – Tuesday December 3 from 6pm
We are looking forward to our annual Christmas Carols event next Tuesday 3rd December. We will have food vans in attendance from 5pm. Families are welcome to purchase food from school or bring their own picnic dinner. The children will be performing from 6pm and we anticipate the evening concluding by no later than 7:30pm. The school will be running a sausage sizzle.
Wishing Tree excursion – Thursday 5 December
Our Student Representative Council are going on a mini excursion to Kmart next Thursday. They will be spending the money raised from this week’s free dress day on Christmas presents for those in need. This has been initiated by the SRC members and they are very excited to go to shop for someone else who may not be getting much for Christmas. Thanks again to Elise (Sophie’s Mum from year 2) for lending her mini bus and driving skills for the event.
Foundation Information Evening Thursday December 5
Our traditional Foundation Information evening will be taking place in the Gym on Thursday 5 December at 7pm. This is a great opportunity for our community to meet and hear from the Foundation team, find out their child’s teacher and to ask lots of questions to ensure their child will make a successful transition to Billanook.
We let our Foundation families know who the team of teachers are prior to the rest of the school finding out their teacher teams as the Foundation teachers are involved in the transition to school sessions. Our Foundation teachers next year will continue to be Lisa Watson, Elise Hall and Nicole Evans.
Missing money
We have had a few reports of money going missing from school bags and lockers at school. We rarely ask for money to be sent to school but on the occasions that we do we have had some reports of money being stolen. This can be tricky to work out as sometimes children do unknowingly lose their money. It would be great though if all families can have a conversation with their children in regard to not touching other people’s property, which includes gold coins that may have been bought to school for a special treat.
Regards
Michael Puddy