Dear Families and Community,

I am delighted to share with you an update on the exciting activities and important events happening at our school as we progress through the term. It has been encouraging to see our students actively engaged in learning and growing in many areas.

A huge congratulations to Mia for being selected as the Goulburn Public School student winner of the recent Convoy for Kids Goulburn 2025 Colouring Competition!

Convoy for Kids Goulburn is a charity organisation, which commenced in 1999. The main objective of the Convoy is to provide support for local children with terminal illness, permanent disabilities and those in need by providing financial assistance. The Goulburn Convoy for Kids is a registered charity run by local volunteers. All funds raised contribute to supporting those in our local community.

Our recent Swim School program for Years 2 to 5 was a great success. Over the course of the program, students developed greater water confidence, enhanced their swimming distance, practiced survival skills such as floating and treading water, and learned techniques for safely entering and exiting pools. We are proud of the progress our students made and the positive attitudes they showed throughout.

Last week, students from Years 4 to 6 had the unique opportunity to attend a live performance by the Illawarra South East Performing Arts Ensemble at Goulburn High School. The performance showcased a range of band, singing and dancing, exposing our students to high-quality performing arts experiences. Many students were inspired by the creativity and skill of the performers, which has encouraged them to think creatively in our own school projects for 2026. Staff have also been invigorated by the performance, with plans to incorporate some of the ideas and styles into upcoming classroom activities. It was wonderful to see our students so engaged and motivated by the arts.

Last Thursday, we participated in the NRMA Road Safety Day, focusing particularly on safe passenger travel. Through interactive sessions and engaging presentations, students learned important information about buckling seat belts properly, the dangers of distracting drivers, and how to behave safely as passengers in cars, buses, and other vehicles. The event aimed to empower students with knowledge to make responsible decisions on the road and reduce the risk of injuries or accidents. We thank the NRMA for delivering such an informative program that supports our commitment to student safety.

Looking ahead, we are very excited for our Year 5 students, who will be delivering their leadership speeches tomorrow. This is an important milestone as our future school leaders share their vision and aspirations for our community. Following the speeches, we will carefully consider each candidate and announce the new school leaders at our upcoming Presentation Day in Week 9.

Our teaching staff have also been busy completing student reports. These reports provide detailed feedback on each child’s academic progress, strengths, and areas for growth. It is our intention to distribute them to families on Friday of Week 9, allowing ample time for parent-teacher conversations and reflection before the term concludes. We encourage you to discuss the report with your child to celebrate successes and set goals together.

A reminder that the school's Homework Guideline Survey is due tomorrow. Thank you to those families who have provided suggestions and advice around homework guidelines for 2026.

We are currently awaiting confirmation of our new School Bell times for 2026 from transport contractors. We hope this will be provided in the coming weeks.

I would also like to extend sincere thanks to the families who attended our Stage 3 special interest project display held in the hall last week. The level of creativity, research, and presentation skills our students demonstrated was outstanding. Projects covered a wide range of topics and showed deep curiosity and critical thinking, highlighting the diverse interests of our students. Your support in encouraging and attending these events means a great deal to the students and helps foster a strong school community.

Additionally, information about our upcoming Whole School Movie Day to watch Zootopia 2 has been sent out via School Bytes. We look forward to seeing the excitement this will generate.

To ensure ongoing safety on our school grounds, I remind all families to keep the bus bay clear during drop-off and pick-up times. Congestion in this area can pose risks to students and drivers alike, so your cooperation is greatly appreciated in maintaining a smooth traffic flow.

We also ask that when placing canteen orders or making purchases, please avoid sending large notes with your child. Smaller amounts of money help our canteen staff to prepare for student break times.

Today, we conducted an evacuation drill to practice our school’s emergency response procedures. This drill was designed to ensure that both students and staff are familiar with the safest and most efficient ways to exit classrooms and gather in designated assembly areas in the event of an emergency. Communication of the drill has been distributed through School Bytes.

As we move through the next three weeks of the term, there is still much planned, and we appreciate your ongoing support and involvement.

Warm regards,

Steve Edmonds

Remembrance Day Ceremony