Week 8, already! With just four weeks of school remaining, and little over a month left until Christmas, there is so much to look forward to and enjoy in this last flurry. Graduation, Transition, Soiree, reports, new teachers and classes, and much more. I hope you find the final month an opportunity to celebrate successes of 2023 and perhaps the challenges that have helped you or your child grow and learn.

Vale Chris Seevers

As shared last week, our community was saddened by the news that Chris Seevers, our teacher, colleague and friend, has passed away. In his years with us he positively impacted the lives of so many students and staff; an incredible legacy to have left.

Chris' funeral will be held at 1pm on Friday 1st December at the Lucknow Uniting Church (near Bairnsdale). The family have indicated they are happy for this to be shared and thus attendance is open. We know that there will be a number of staff that will want to attend, and therefore on that date, we appreciate your understanding that some classes will have relief teachers or need to be split.

Jiangsu International Principal Conference

Last week I had the privilege of visiting both our sister school, Wenhe Elementary School, and the Jiangsu International Principal’s Conference in Xuzhou, China. The week provided the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our sister school, ideate opportunities for students to have greater connection and understand and learn more about global educational issues and globalised education. The most significant takeaway from the visit, beyond hopefully providing more rich opportunities for your children in the future within the Mandarin program, was the strength of identity our Sister School has. Throughout the school, their values were evident visually, through speaking to students, and in the way they conducted themselves. Whilst I believe Hampton is similarly resolute on who we are, I feel we do have work to do in the new year to further clarify who we are, what we do and why we do it, from staff to students to parents. Clarity of focus and identity, and alignment between this and our actions, is something our staff have however it is my goal to ensure this is understood throughout the school, as I felt it was at Wenhe Elementary School. I look forward to engaging all of you in this process.

Quadrangle Re-surfacing

The next time the newsletter goes home, I am excited that I'll be able to share a photo of our newly re-surfaced Quadrangle. Funding from last year's Twilight Carnival was put toward this, wiith a view to it being completed much more quickly. Delays with contractors and winter months have meant that after 12 months, we're finally ready. This work, a new Rubberrock surface (a soft rubber surface often under playgrounds) will be completed (weather cooperating!) over the weekend of the 1st - 3rd December. This a wonderful legacy piece from all parents that supported the carnival, that all students will benefit from.

Movie Night

Congratulations to Sam Hall in organising such a fantastic movie night for our community to be a part of. The advance screening of Trolls at the Dendy Cinema was attended by 160 students and parents and raised over $1000. This money will be put toward the Classroom Libraries that we are busily establishing for 2024, and I thank Sam for her vision and work in putting together such a great family event.

Bayside Bargain Market

Thank you to Leanne O'Brien and Amanda Saturno for their organisation of the Bayside Bargains Market last weekend at our school. The market had 33 families selling their wares with hundreds of attendees upcycling used goods. It also raised $420 for Class Libraries which is a wondeful contribution.

Soiree

We are very much looking forward to the Soiree, upcoming on Wednesday 29th November. Please note there was an error in the classification of the ticketing, and infants that do not require a seat do not require a ticket to be purchased.

New & Important Dates

Thursday 30th November: Foundation – Gr 2 Mini Olympics
Tuesday 5th December: House Swimming Carnival
Wednesday 6th – 8th December: Grade 3 Camp
Tuesday 19th December – 1:30pm: Students dismissed for the year
Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th January – Curriculum Days
Wednesday 31st January – Grade 1 – 6 Students first day of 2024
Thursday 1st February – Foundation students first day of 2024

To stay up to date with all events and key dates, see the Compass Calendar.

Celebrations

NATIONAL FUTSAL RUNNERS UP

Congratulations to our Boys Futsal team, Jake D, Tom G, Jayce C, Elliot C, Mason V, Euan P and Zac C. These students competed at the Nationals in Brisbane last week, winning through the group stages and making the final where they lost to an Academy team 5-1. The boys are rightly proud of this incredible effort. Many thanks to Mark Sloane for his orgnaisation of the team and to all parents who supported and attended.

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