Principals' Page  

Happy Easter 

The Easter Bunny has certainly been busy at Great Ryrie, with baskets filling and excitement in the air with Easter Egg hunts and our brilliant Well Being Week celebrations. 

Thank you to our families for your generous donations to the Easter raffle. There will be many homes enjoying a little extra chocolate this week.

As we come to the end of term, I would like to wish all of our families a happy Easter and a restful break. This time of year brings a sense of renewal and new beginnings and, for our school community that feels especially true.

Some Very Special Deliveries on the Way

We are preparing to farewell some very special staff members as they begin a new chapter, welcoming their growing families.

Carly Robson 

Carly is about to welcome her second baby, a little brother or sister for Olive. Carly is the calm and friendly face of our office, the person who quietly keeps everything running smoothly while making everyone feel welcome. 

Nothing is ever too much trouble, and she does it all with kindness and care. We will miss seeing her each day, but we are very much looking forward to a visit (and a cuddle) when the new arrival makes an appearance.

Mrs Wright  

Maddy, thank you for the wonderful contribution you have made to our Year 1 and Year 2 students this term, also PE and your many roles across the school. 

It has been so lovely to share in your growing excitement as your baby bump grows. You have brought warmth, energy and care to your teaching, and we wish you all the very best  

We cant wait for a snuggle!

💛 A Very Special Thank You Miss Roberts

And then there is Miss Roberts, who is such a big part of daily life at our school.

Whether it is greeting families in the morning, supporting students in classrooms and the yard, or ensuring everything from the famous sausage sizzles to timetables runs smoothly, Miss Roberts is everywhere. She has a way of making things happen, often quietly, always thoughtfully, and always with students at the centre.

As Melissa and Phil prepare to welcome their first child, we are so excited for them both, and we know this next chapter will bring so much happiness, (and a few dirty nappies). At the same time, we also know how much she will be missed across our school.

On a personal note, it has been a privilege to work alongside Melissa. We have shared the responsibility of leading our school, supported each other through challenges and celebrated many successes together. That partnership has meant a great deal, and I know I will find myself wondering where she is more than once next term.

Miss Roberts, we hope you take the time to enjoy every moment of this special time, to slow down and to embrace all that comes with it. Please know that your Great Ryrie family will be thinking of you, sending our very best, and looking forward to the day you return, ready to share stories and introduce us to your new little one.

Special Words from Miss Roberts 

To my second family, the GRPS community.

Words can’t fully express how grateful I am for the love, support and generosity you have all shown me as I step into this long-awaited chapter of my life. Expecting your first baby is such an exciting time, and I have felt so fortunate to share that excitement with all of you, students, parents and staff alike.

Some of my favourite moments each day are the morning and afternoon pick-ups, where I’ve been overwhelmed by your kindness and genuine joy for this pregnancy. I’ve received countless baby name suggestions from students. Some that have made the shortlist, many that haven’t! Along with plenty of advice from the wonderful mums and dads in our community, which I’ve truly appreciated and taken onboard, apart from some of the horror birthing stories!

To Mrs Rouda, thank you for the unwavering support and care you have shown me over the past eight months. I think I may be the most well protected pregnant person ever to enter a workplace! Our ten-year partnership has been incredibly special, working together originally as Assistant Principals to make our school the best it can be. It has also been so wonderful to support you in your role as Principal and to see you lead GRPS to an exceptional standard that is so well regarded in the community. I will certainly miss our long strategic conversations, but even more so the daily laughs that come with the chaos of a primary school. I look forward to returning and continuing to work alongside you and the exceptional leadership team and staff that is currently in place.

We are so fortunate to be part of such a wonderful school, and it is truly a privilege to belong to this community. While I’m looking forward to some time away, I know I will miss you all and feel incredibly grateful to have a workplace I genuinely look forward to returning to.

On behalf of Phil and myself, thank you for the beautiful gifts and heartfelt well wishes. This little girl is already very spoiled! It’s safe to say she’ll be the pinkest little bub around. I’ll see you on the other side… perhaps with a few more wrinkles and grey hairs! Time will tell what’s more challenging, caring for a newborn or helping Mrs Rouda run GRPS!

Love Melissa

Wishing all of our families a happy Easter filled with rest, family time and, of course, a little chocolate along the way.

Karen Rouda Principal

Melissa Roberts Assistant Principal

Jeam Maxwell Assistant Principal