From the Assistant Principal's Desk

We are certainly ending the 2023 school year with great energy, excitement and enjoyment.

SCHOOL DISCO

St Aidan’s students and families enjoyed another fabulous disco last week. The children danced the night away fueled by a sausage sizzle, drinks, gelato and popcorn. What better way to celebrate a Friday night!

I asked some of the children what they loved about having a school disco?

• At the disco we were able to do awesome things and spend extra time at school. Kathlynne
• It was fun and so bright and we loved to dance. Olivia N.
• There were lots of songs we could dance to and lots of food to eat. Giuseppe.
• I got to run around with my friends. Patrick A.
• I loved the sausage sizzle. Jack T.

TALENT SHOW FINALE

Our Talent Show Finale was certainly a great success. The show was very well attended by the students, our families and friends. We were entertained by 17 wonderful acts which included musicians, singers and dancers. When there was a lull in the proceedings, the Year 5 boys kept us amused with their jokes and knock knocks. The enthusiasm and support from the audience for our young talented students was a wonderful demonstration of love for them and pride in their efforts.

The judges were faced with the very difficult task of deciding the prizewinners however each of the acts was a winner and we were thoroughly engaged and entertained by all of them. Miss Katherine Siapkas and her Year 6 team did a wonderful job organising this year’s Talent Quest. A huge congratulations to them and everyone who played a part in this event. The Talent Show is certainly one of our favourite occasions of the year!

CHOIR AT KILDARE COURT RETIREMENT VILLAGE

On Monday morning, following the Talent Show, our St Aidan’s choir with students from Years Two to Six entertained the residents at Kildare Court Retirement Village. The residents were delighted to see the children and thoroughly enjoyed the range of Christmas carols the children sang for their entertainment. 

MOVIES

Today all the children from Kindergarten to Year 6 enjoyed the movie 'Trolls Band Together' at Hoyts Eastgardens. There was something for everyone: great music, amazing visuals, some very important messages about family and friendship, and a witty script that entertained the teachers as well. The children also loved the lie back, feet up comfy seats.

The music was great and during the credits we all had a dance. Disco fever continues to prevail!

HIGH SCHOOL HUB

Our Year 6 students participated in a pilot program called 'High School Hub'. High School Hub is an online platform for preparing students for High School. The designer and owner of High School Hub, Mrs Jenny Atkinson, visited St Aidan’s to interview some of our Year 6 students about their experience using High School Hub. Mrs Atkinson was very impressed with how clearly and confidently the students spoke about how High School Hub helped them to feel more comfortable about starting this new stage of their lives. The modules in the program provided them with skills and strategies for navigating the exciting but unknown world of a much larger educational environment, many different teachers, lots more friends to get to know and connect with, and the increased demands of more homework, study and the need to be more independent and organised. 

These were some of the feelings they expressed:

Before I completed the High School Hub:

• "I felt stressed and unsure about the future."
• "I was quite anxious about High School and nervous about meeting the new teachers and students."

Now that I have completed High School Hub:

• "I feel that High School will have new opportunities for me and will help me with my future career."
• "I feel extremely excited about High School."
• "Completing the modules in High School Hub taught me about many aspects of High School so I feel more confident."
• "I think High School is very different from Primary School and I now have more ideas about how to cope with High School." 

I wish everyone all the blessings of the Christmas season, a very happy New Year and a wonderful break with your family and friends. I am taking some long service leave for Terms 1 and 2. As much as I will enjoy spending more time with my own family, I know I will miss the wonderful children and community that make up my St Aidan’s family. Enjoy the beginning of 2024 and I know I will keep up with all the news and exciting events that are part of life at St Aidan’s. I look forward to seeing you all again soon.  

Happy holidays and best wishes.

Warm regards,

Robyn Green