Principal's Report

 Principal’s Report 24th November

As the end of the year approaches, there is still so much going on, as you will see. We are in the process of employing new staff for next year, determining our budget for 2024, finalising student reports and planning a number of end-of-year events. It’s still a very busy time! I can’t believe we only have 4 weeks left!

Riding Bikes to School

It has been brought to my attention that some students are not wearing helmets when riding bikes to school. This is extremely unsafe and dangerous. All students riding bikes MUST be wearing a bike helmet. We will be monitoring this closely this week and calling parents to notify them if their child is not wearing a helmet.

Cultural Celebrations - Diwali Day 

Diwali brings so much colour, light and happiness to our community, and we held our Diwali celebration last week at school, it was a great success. We enjoyed a Bollywood performance during assembly that was then followed by a dance workshop for grades Preps to four. Classes followed up with a fun Diwali activity.

Student Voice & Agency

It’s great to see our students continuing to work hard amplifying their voice through great action across the school community for the betterment of all.

Careers Day 

Congratulations to our SRC students, who this term have been busy planning Careers Day for Wednesday the 29th of November.

Students are asked to bring a gold coin donation on the day. All funds raised are going to the Smith Family - https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/

The theme of the day is 'Jobs of the past, present and future'. All our students are encouraged to dress up for the day in a job uniform/attire of what their dream job would be.

Thank you to our school community for your ongoing support of the SRC's goals and ideas. 

Grade 3 Sustainability

Well Done to our Grade 3s who have had a Sustainability inquiry focus that has resulted in them taking positive action to help our world. One of the areas they have been researching is the disposal of E-Waste and working hard to encourage our community to collect E-waste and get it disposed of sustainably. 

Our grade 3 students have set up a large bin in the office reception area for students to put any e-waste items from home that need to be want to be disposed of sustainably.

A message from our Grade 3s:

What is E-Waste? 

Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to discarded electronic devices such as old cell phones, laptops, tablets, chargers, cables, and other electronic gadgets that are no longer in use. These items often end up in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution and harming our planet.

How Can You Get Involved?

The grade 3’s invite you to participate in our sustainability effort by bringing in your unwanted or outdated electronic devices from home. By doing so, you will not only help us divert e-waste from landfills but also set a positive example for our students in embracing eco-friendly practices. 

When and Where to Drop Off E-Waste? 

Starting Monday 13th November, they will have designated collection bins placed at the main entrance of the school for your convenience. These bins will be available during school hours, allowing you to drop off your e-waste. The collection period will run until 8th December.

What Items Can Be Donated? 

We encourage you to bring in any electronic devices that are no longer in use. This includes: Old mobiles Laptops and desktop computers Tablets Printers and scanners Keyboards and mice.. 

Why Should You Participate? 

Participating in this initiative not only promotes environmental sustainability but also supports our grade 3 students to action their learning in a way that is for the betterment of all in our community and world. As a community, we can make a significant impact by reducing our carbon footprint and teaching each other the importance of protecting our environment.

2024 Grade Structure and Enrolments

Our current prediction for enrolment numbers for 2024 is 950-960. At this stage, we envisage 41 classes. Currently, we have about 134 new Preps expected who will be placed into 6 classes. It is critical to our planning that we have up-to-date knowledge of our enrolments so that we can plan class spaces and employ staff. If you are a family who will be leaving the area before next year, then please let us know. Similarly, if you have, or know of someone who has, a child ready for Prep next year, and hasn’t yet enrolled, please contact the school urgently to assist in our 2024 planning.

Classes for 2024

Some parents have been making enquiries as to which teachers will be in what grades or roles next year so that they can make requests for particular teachers. Please know that it is my firm policy NOT to take requests for particular teachers. Certainly, there are a very small number of children who may have particular social or academic needs, and these will be considered when deciding on grade placements. These requests should be submitted to me in writing when we are allocating children to grades. Please also note that we do not have confirmed grade allocations for teachers until at least early December so don’t start asking teachers which grade they’ll have next year. They probably won’t know and are not allowed to tell you anyway! Factors such as the employment of new teachers, mean that there may even be uncertainties about grade allocations during the Christmas holidays. 

The placement of children in grades is a complex task, taking into account the academic and social characteristics of each child, friendship groups, grade arrangements and special circumstances. A change of grade after they have been allocated is normally difficult and rarely accommodated. Please understand that allocations are arranged with the best interests of each child in mind. This may or may not coincide with your personal preferences as a parent.

Summer Celebration 

Our summer celebration will be held on Wednesday 6th Dec at 5pm. Our Preps, Grade 1’s and Grade 2’s will be performing for their families. This is a lovely and a great learning experience for our junior school students who always enjoy the experience of performing on a stage for their families and our school community. More information and details will be sent to families via COMPASS. 

And another Lyndhurst baby…

And another baby has joined the Lyndhurst community. Kobi Pratt recently gave birth to her second son, Luka. Both mum and baby are healthy and well. We wish the Pratt family all the very best with their growing family.

Nicole Walker

Acting Principal