Principals Message
Welcome to Term 4!
Welcome back to all our students, families, and staff for the final term of 2024! I hope everyone had a restful break and is ready for a busy and exciting term ahead. For our Grade 6 students, this term is especially significant as they prepare to conclude their primary school journey. We’re looking forward to the upcoming rites of passage, including the graduation ceremony. The whole school is also buzzing with excitement as rehearsals for our Annual Festival on the Lawn are now well underway. It’s wonderful to hear the sounds of students practicing their songs and preparing for what is sure to be another fantastic celebration.
As we look toward 2025, planning is already in motion to finalize our programs and staffing arrangements to ensure we continue providing quality education and support for all our students.
Staffing Update
It is with mixed feelings that we announce that Pamela Staff will be leaving us at the end of this year to take up a new role as a classroom teacher at Tanjil South Primary School.
Pamela’s new position will offer her the opportunity to experience the unique challenges and rewards of teaching in a smaller school setting, quite different from the dynamic environment of our large school. While we are sad to see her go, we are excited for Pamela as she embraces this new chapter.
Pamela has been an integral part of our school community, currently teaching Grade 5/6 and having previously served as our long-standing Indonesian teacher. Her significant contributions include her passionate advocacy for sustainability, leading our environmental programs, mentoring the Student Environmental Captains, and representing our school as a long-serving member of the Australian Education Union and the school's consultative committee. We will certainly miss Pamela, as well as her delightful puppy, who has been a regular visitor at school while undergoing support animal training.
Congratulations to Michelle Beagley!
I am delighted to share that Michelle Beagley has been successful in securing the position of Business Manager at Trafalgar Primary School. Michelle has done a remarkable job during Allan Tyers’ leave, demonstrating strong leadership, meticulous attention to detail, and a proactive approach to managing our school’s financial and administrative needs. Her hard work has kept everything running smoothly, ensuring that staff and students receive the support they need. We are thrilled to have her continue in this important role, and I am confident she will continue to make a positive impact on our school community. Please join me in congratulating Michelle on this well-deserved appointment!
Staffing Vacancies
The widespread teacher shortages continue to impact many schools, including ours. In the coming week, we will be re-advertising several classroom teacher positions. If you know someone who may be interested in joining a high-performing, supportive school environment, please encourage them to apply. It’s a valuable opportunity to work with dedicated colleagues and make a real difference in students' lives.
Changes to Compass Chronicle
We are making some changes to the visibility of posts on Compass to better support our school community. Teachers use Compass Chronicle to record their observations and incidental notes about students' experiences, which may include reflections on behaviour, attendance, uniform, wellbeing, and academic celebrations. While the Chronicle provides a valuable live record of these observations, we’ve found that some parents are experiencing distress when reading individual notes, which are not intended as direct communication.
To clarify, if there is information we need to share with parents, someone from the school will always make direct contact by phone. Chronicle entries are meant to be a transparent record for teachers and other professionals to identify patterns and form a holistic view of a student’s experience. Individual posts in isolation may not provide a reliable or complete account.
In response to this feedback, and with the support of the School Council, we will be trialling a revised approach to managing Chronicle entries. Posts that are not intended as direct communication with parents will no longer appear in the newsfeed. However, this information will remain available on request or when needed. This approach aligns us with neighboring schools, including Trafalgar High School, and aims to provide a more balanced and supportive experience for families.
Thank you for your understanding as we implement these changes. We look forward to a successful Term 4 together!
Sincerely,
Cameron Nicholls
PRINCIPAL