Where has this year gone?

The Solway community has once again had many achievements to be proud of. It has been a year of great achievement for our students, staff and community. As we look back over the year, it seems to have passed in a flash, and here we are in the last full week of Term 4. I won’t repeat my reflection of the year, which you can read in the year book. There are so many ‘thank yous’ to make, and it would be impossible to mention all who have contributed to make the 2023 school year a success.

Suffice to say, we are blessed to have such a connected, supportive and involved school community, and wish to acknowledge everyone who has assisted in any way, to make Solway such a great place to learn and teach.

On behalf of the entire staff team, we wish everyone a safe and happy holiday, enjoying the festive season with family and friends, and taking just a few moments to consider what each of us has to feel grateful for.

Whatever you are doing these holidays, enjoy the many opportunities to relax, recharge and revitalise. We look forward to hearing all of your stories in the new year.

Year 6 Graduation

Thank you to the staff who have come together to plan and prepare the Year 6 Graduation, scheduled for tomorrow. Their commitment to this event has ensured that the students will have a memorable day. As always, this promises to be a celebration to remember!

2023 Yearbooks

The Solway 2023 Yearbooks will be handed out to all students on Friday 15 December. The Yearbook is a spectacular record of the year as it has unfolded at Solway, and chronicles all the fun and achievements. We must thank Emilly Rose and the teachers who ensured we captured the highlights of the 2023 year with flair and creativity. I am sure families will appreciate the work and creative thinking that has once again gone into this year’s edition!

Pencil cases and sustainability

As a five-star sustainable school, we are always looking for ways to ensure we are thinking about things in a sustainable way. In 2024, students are able to bring back to school, a pencil case they have had in the past or one from home they might like to use. New pencil cases will be on offer for students who require them, however feedback from the community has been that parents are happy for these items to be reused for an additional year, rather than purchasing unnecessarily. If students are bringing along a pencil case of their own choice and design we ask to for these to be no larger than 340x170cm (approximately).

Solway Orientation Day 2024

This year we have successfully placed all 372 students in classes with at least one ‘friend they work well with’ and achieved 17 classes across the school. Creating the classes takes hours of planning, with conversations amongst the team and specialist teachers to gain a good mix across the year level.

Today our students and staff took part in their annual transition sessions today. A fantastic opportunity for students to meet with their classmates for 2024 and get to know their teacher.

The staff for 2024:

Prep B – Ms Emily Brooks

Prep O – Ms Anna O’Gorman

Prep T – Mrs Tracy Birt

1D – Mr Harley Duncan

1M – Ms Maddie Muir

1/2T – Mr Rob Tongue

2D – Ms Shelley Dagan

2M – Mr Andrew Mitchell (M-W)/Mrs Sophie Dellaportas (Th-F)

3S – Mr Allan Skea

3D – Ms Brooke Danaher

4G – Mr Josh Guy

4B – Ms Melahrini Balassis

5F – Mr Josh Fisher

5D – Mrs Nina Dordevic (M-W) and Ms Robyn Davis (Th-F)

6C – Mr Tim Chapman

6S – Ms Rebecca Smith

6T – Mr Tom Chapman

Specialist teachers

Physical Education – Ms Stephanie Webster

Japanese – Ms Ryoko Yamaoka

Performing Arts – Mrs Theresa Tremonte

Visual Art – Mrs Erin O’Donnell / Ms Ryoko Yamaoka

Support / Tutoring

Ms Samantha Lim

Mrs Sarah Watkins

Integration Aides

Mrs Fiona Barron-Toop

Mrs Tonia Clifton-Mills

Mrs Anastasia Kotsonis

Office Staff

Mrs Sarah McDonell

Mrs Karen O’Neill

Principal Team

Assistant Principal – Mrs Kate Nancarraw

Principal – Mrs Lyn Rodda

Class Parties

Each of our Prep -Year 5 classes will hold a class party on Thursday 14 December to celebrate their year together. Each teacher will have provided information to parents about how this will run, if you are unsure please contact the classroom teacher. The Year 6 students are attending their graduation excursion.

Swimming Sports

A big thank you to Stephanie Webster for all her organisation of the swimming sports yesterday. Thank you to the parents who were able to attend and help on the day, without you the day would not run as smoothly! Thank you also to all the teachers and staff who attended. The Year 3-6 students had a wonderful time and it was great to be able to hold this event. Well done to all the students who took part and went outside their comfort zone. Congratulations to the students who achieved their own personal goals and we will announce the students who have made it through to the district event in early 2024.

School Council

I would like to acknowledge the parents on School Council in 2023, who participated in their final meeting for 2023 on Wednesday evening. Parents on Council participate in two meetings a term and join a sub-committee to take part in. Many work full time and also give up their family time to attend these meetings. School Council play a vital role in the running of a school and I want to thank all members for their time and contribution this year. I also would like to thank and acknowledge the staff on School Council for their time and contribution at these meetings that go well beyond their working day. It is greatly appreciated.

As we close the 2023 school year to an end we say goodbye to two long standing School council members – James Seymour and Leslie Dundon. I would like to acknowledge and thank them both for their work over the years on both Council and as part of the Building and Environment subcommittee and Sustainability sub committee. Their contribution has seen many changes to our environment that have assisted and supported the school.

Families leaving

2023 brings with it a number of good-byes as many of our families have made the decision to move out of our area. We wish everyone a wonderful transition to their new residence and schools and hope you keep in touch, we love to hear how our families are traveling.

Welcome Back Working Bee – 29 January (4-6 pm)

To make sure the school grounds are neat and tidy for the students’ return and the welcoming of families back for the 2024 school year, we are again holding a Welcome Back Working Bee. This will be for two hours on Monday 29 January from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. If you can spare some time and come along it would be much appreciated. Please bring gloves and small tools to help us weed and tidy up and spread mulch in the playgrounds.

Final Assembly

Our final Assembly for 2023 will commence at 3:00 pm on Friday 15 December and will conclude when we farewell our Year 6 students at 3:30 pm. At the Assembly, we will announce the winning House in the weekly House Competition. We will thank and farewell the families who are leaving Solway in 2023 for all their volunteer work over the past years. Parents are welcome to join us for the final Assembly – it will be standing room only. We will hold this Assembly on the stage in front of the Performing Arts room, weather permitting.

Final reminders

School resumes for all students on Tuesday 30 January 2024 – Prep students half day
The School Office will be open for payment of 2023 parent payments on Monday 29 January, 9:00am-4:00pm.
The Uniform Shop will be open on Monday 29 January 1:00-3:00pm.
The Welcome Back Working Bee is scheduled for Monday 29 January at 4:00-6:00pm to give the school a quick tidy up before students commence. Please come along if you can.
School families are welcome to use the school grounds during the holidays as we know you will look after them. If you see anything/anyone suspicious at the school in the holidays, or see any vandalism, please report it to the Police.

Have a well-deserved safe break over the summer holidays; we look forward to seeing you all again in 2024 ready for an exciting year!

Lyn Rodda

Principal

Numeracy