STAFFING

During the summer holidays we recruited additional staff. A big welcome to Emma McKiernan who will teach Auslan for two days/week. This appointment means Erin Hunt, who was a part-time Auslan teacher, can be a Teacher of the Deaf as we have more deaf students. A big welcome also to two Education Support – Teacher Aides (Learning Assistants) in Heather Watkins and Amber Bagg. See our staff team below.

STUDENTS

Along with our 2026 Preps, welcome to the other new students and families who have joined us at Grovedale West PS. We have started the year with an enrolment of 337 students.

HOLIDAY IMPROVEMENTS

Over the summer break internal sliding doors were installed in the three Grade 6 classrooms, new furniture arrived for the Grade 3 and 6 classrooms and new decking/steps were installed near Grade 5 area. We also moved our Library to the BER building as we needed that space to house two Grade 3 classes. In coming weeks, we are hoping to make further improvements to our school.

CURRICULUM DAYS

During the holidays staff completed online learning modules in first Aid then on Tuesday and Wednesday all staff engaged in professional learning as our 2026 focus is on improving student learning and wellbeing. All staff, including staff in Out of School Hours Care, also received face-to-face training to update First Aid skills. The training included asthma, anaphylaxis, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, seizures, poisons, contents of first aid kits, trauma (abdominal injuries, needle stick injuries, burns, choking, crush/car injuries), electrocution, eye injuries, fractures and dislocations, sprains and strains, bandaging techniques, head injuries, bleeding (nose bleeds, internal bleeding), spinal injuries, shock, resuscitation in drowning, hot and cold illness (hypothermia/hyperthermia), bites and stings (snakes, spiders, bees, ticks jellyfish).

NEWSLETTER

Please take some time to read the Newsletter each week, as it is designed to keep our school community informed of school events.

MEDICAL NEEDS

Parents/carers may be aware that a student in our school community is undergoing medical treatment which has lowered their ability to fight infection. A major concern is if this student contracts an infectious disease (e.g. influenza, covid, measles or chickenpox) the student can become seriously ill. I seek your cooperation in preventing this situation - if your son/daughter has or may have an infectious disease, I request that you do not send them to school during this period and notify the school as soon as possible. At school we practice good hygiene with regular hand washing, use of hand sanitiser and encouraging the children to cough or sneeze into elbows - not into hands.

ASTHMA/ANAPHYLAXIS

Each year we need parents/carers of students with Anaphylaxis / Asthma to provide us with an updated plan provided by their GP. It would be great if this can be dropped at the office, along with the required medications as soon as possible.

SOMERS CAMP

As advised previously we had twenty boys and fifteen girls submit an Expression of Interest to attend this camp in March for students in Grade 5 and 6. Soon Somers Camp will inform us how many places we have been allocated for boys and girls.

2026 STAFF TEAM
Year Level	Teachers	School Staff
Prep	Ms Libby Newton Mrs Shannon Doherty (in P-2 building)	Principal Team. Mr Murray Surkitt (Principal) and Mr Brett Greenwood (Acting Assistant Principal) Learning Specialists (Teaching and Learning). Mr James Ramage (Teaching and Mrs Kelly Szmigielski Inclusion Leader. Mrs Jess Malassu (Mon-Wed) and Mrs Tamara Aspinall (Wed-Fri). Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader. Mrs Emma Graham (Mon-Thurs) Wellbeing/Chaplain. Mrs Gayle Hogendoorn. Art/Performing Arts. Mrs Christine Burns (Mon-Wed) and Mrs Jackie De Koning (Thurs). Physical Education. Mrs Chloe Liversidge (Mon-Th). Science. Mrs Allyce Benci (Mon-Wed) and Mrs Caitlin Ovens (Thurs). Auslan. Mrs Rheanna Goeschl (Mon + Tues) and Mrs Emma McKiernan (Wed + Thurs) Teachers of the Deaf/ Speech and Language Intervention. Mrs Keryn Eskrigge, Mrs Erin Hunt and Mrs Kate Mitri. Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden. Mrs Caitlin Ovens. Learning Assistants. Mrs Michelle Issell, Mrs Brooke Goode-Wilson, Mrs Maree Konieczka, Mr James Roberts, Mrs Kylie Carrodus, Ms Phoebe Mills, Ms Carissa Fort, Ms Heather Watkins, Ms Amber Bagg and Mr Joshua Dowling (Term 1). Education Support / Auslan Communication / Learning Assistants. Ms Laura Radnay, Ms Isha Belyea and Mrs Hannah Pearl. Office. Mrs Michaela Bird (Business Manager) and Ms Jocelyn Cassar (Administrative Assistant). Library. Mrs Sue Mawson. Out of School Hours Care. Mrs Sheridan Ellis (coordinator) and OSHC team
Grade 1	Ms Emily Philp Ms Honey Kirwood (in P-2 building)
Grade 2	Mrs Alana Bound Mrs Renee Winterton (in P-2 building)
Grade 3	Mrs Rebekah Schefe Mr Chris Hebbard (in ‘old’ Library)
Grade 4	Ms Britt Elliott / Mrs Jackie De Koning Mr Matt Plummer (2025 Gr 6 space)
Grade 5	Mrs Kelly Szmigielski / Mrs Jackie De Koning Mrs Jodi Martin Ms Narelle Smith (2025 Gr 4 space)
Grade 6	Mr Nick Clifford Mrs Elissa Jones Mr Leon Tremain (in BER building)

Parenting Programs