Across Oliver's Desk 

Dear Parents & Guardians, 

THE NEW BUILDING IS HERE

Definitely worth the wait!  I’m sure most of you and have been through the new building by now.  Although there is still a few things to do on the building, it is already functioning really well. The students are just loving their new school building and although the students that are in the portables are a little disappointed, they still get to enjoy the new specialist rooms, library and the new toilets. 

I would like to thank all the staff for putting in a mighty effort over the weekend and the curriculum day to get the school ready.  I would also like to thank our school council for their support and effort in making the project easy to manage. Lastly, I need give huge thanks to Natalie Potter and Flick for their organisation, management and support. It has been three years in the planning, and I know we only have stage one completed but it is just wonderful to see the children and staff just so proud of the new building. 

My favourite story from Monday was one of our grade one students who came out of the new toilets and said, “it’s just like a hotel mum”. 

Next things to happen:

• Staff carpark to be finished by the end of this week, which will improve parking around the school.
• Temporary Fencing will surround the old school by the end of the week.
• Demolition of the old school will commence around November 13th .
• New playground to be built, at the top of the school near the kiss and drop will start before the end of the year.
• Over January the new basketball courts (outdoor), outdoor learning space and the new amphitheatre will be built.
• End of term one the Hall renovation will be finished, and the school will be complete.

Things that school council will consider once the project is completed. 

• Another playground close to the new basketball courts.
• New animal enclosure.
• Working bees to have new garden areas at the back of the new school.
• A sensory garden.
• Indigenous garden and yarning circle.

STAFFING NEWS

I wanted to publish which year levels teachers will be for 2024 in this newsletter, however with the new build and the last two weeks being very hectic, I am a little behind. I will however publish that information for you in the next newsletter in a fortnights time.

PREP TRANSITION

Our very first day was busy with Prep Transition happening.  All of our budding new students for next year had a great time with the Prep teachers while I took parents on a tour.

Every student took home one of our “Woori No Worries Bears”!  I took a few photos of the happy children.

GOODBYE TO OUR OLD SCHOOL BUILDING

Even though we now have facilities that will be the envy of most schools, we all feel a little emotional about saying goodbye to our old building. The building is tired, leaks, smells mouldy and even has cracks in the walls. But some of our parents went to this school, some of the teachers have been here for over 20 years and even for myself this is where some real magic happened for myself as a teacher and as a leader.

I know when the heavy machinery starts to role in and take the building down we will all be sad. That is why we let the students write on the walls on the last Friday. 

It is certainly a new exciting time for the school but we always need to make sure that we are respecting the past and many wonderful things have happened in that building.

I am thinking that we will save some of the stones from the bricks to give to children if they want to take a small piece of history home.

One last thing, I know that someone a few years ago put up stickers saying that there is asbestos in the old building. That is untrue, the building has been inspected by professionals and no asbestos has been found.  

Oliver Thockloth

Principal