Week 4
I have recently returned from Long Service Leave, where I enjoyed much milder summer temperatures. Needless to say, it was quite a shock to the system returning to the Victorian winter!
I was excited to be back at school, although perhaps not quite as excited as some of our students, who could barely contain their joy at seeing Maggie again. It was such a big day for her that she was asleep before we even left school to head home. As is often the case after a significant break from our school community, I am always amazed by how much some students grow and develop during that time. Once the initial excitement of reconnecting with Maggie had settled, many students shared how happy they were to see me back, which was very heartwarming.
I am extremely fortunate to work alongside such dedicated and capable staff. During my leave, my role and other leadership positions were seamlessly filled, ensuring the school continued to operate smoothly without missing a beat. My sincere thanks go to all the staff who stepped up and took on additional responsibilities during this time.
We continue to enhance and develop our school facilities, and if you have visited the foyer recently, you may have noticed its fresh new look. The next stage of this project will see the replacement of the flags at the school entrance with permanent pillars made from locally sourced timber, displaying our school values in a prominent and welcoming way.
We have recently been informed that our School Review will take place in Term 1 next year. This provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our programs, achievements, and successes over the past four years, while also identifying future priorities and setting goals for the next four-year cycle. Although the review process involves a significant amount of work, the outcomes and benefits are always worthwhile. As part of the review, an external panel, including a principal from another specialist school, will work with us and provide valuable perspectives on our self-reflection and future planning.
To begin preparing for the review, we are conducting a self-audit to ensure all policies are current and accessible. These policies will be available on our new website, which we are planning to launch during the next term break. I have had a sneak preview and am delighted with how it is looking.
Our outstanding programs continue to provide valuable learning opportunities for students. Recent initiatives have included Interoception workshops in Pathways, the Seasons for Growth program in the Junior School, Paul Cronan's Violence Is Not OK program, and The Naked Truth, which focuses on body safety and personal wellbeing.
Families are also invited to attend a parent forum on 17 August from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm, where these important topics will be discussed. Light refreshments will be provided.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our school community.
