Leadership Report

Dear Saltwater Families,

As the school year draws to a close for 2024, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone for making this year truly wonderful. From the teachers who tirelessly impart knowledge and wisdom to the students, to the staff members who ensure the smooth functioning of our school every day, to the parents whose involvement and encouragement play a pivotal role in our achievements, each of you has contributed invaluably to our vibrant school community.

To our students, "proud" falls short of expressing our admiration! Your hard work and sense of responsibility in your learning deserve our wholehearted applause. We firmly believe that the valuable life lessons you've acquired will be a guiding force, shaping your identity and education for years ahead. Everything, from the smallest to the grandest, has been geared towards you, our students.

I also extend my gratitude to the leaders of our school for their dedication, vision, and guidance. Their commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and thriving learning environment inspires both staff and students daily. 

Looking back on everything we've shared, I'm so thankful for the teamwork that make our community special. Some of the highlights from this year have been:

-Planning our $34 million for our upgrade to our school buildings and grounds

-Achieving outstanding NAPLAN results in Years 3, 5, 7 & 9

-Celebrating 100 days of Prep education

-Managing our large enrolment numbers and inducting all new students and staff to the school

-Marking our 6th anniversary since our opening

-Hosting several parent information sessions and student led conferences

-Hosting Book Week, Book Fair and Book Parades

-Successful Year 6 exhibition

-Providing opportunities beyond the classroom such as camps, swimming, beach program and excursions

-School based and regional district sports participation 

-Successfully preparing and participating in the Victoria State School Spectacular with a dance group

-Wakakirri dance group recognised as National Award winners

-The amazing performances from our students at our Christmas Carols Concerts

-The Colour Run Fundraiser event

-Our work with consultants Jim Kinniburgh, Carmel O’Beirne, Ryan Dunn and John Hendry

-Year 6 and Year 9 Graduation events

As you can see, the above events are just a few of the 2024 whole school highlights, not to mention the individual year level achievements. Let's carry this momentum forward into the future, supporting and uplifting one another. 

 2024 Semester Two Student Reports

Semester Two student reports were shared on Wednesday 18 December. We encourage all parents to read the report with your child/ren and reflect on learning achievements in Semester Two, 2024. Please note that our reports are an indication of students' progress in which they are working towards. If you require a physical copy of the reports, please log into your Xuno account via a desktop/laptop computer to download the PDF file for your personal use.

2025 Curriculum Days Approved by School Council. 

Please note our 2025 Curriculum days, which are student-free days. 

Curriculum days are days set aside by our school for teachers and staff to engage in various activities related to curriculum planning, development, and improvement. Students do not attend school on these days. 

Please observe the dates of our curriculum days and days when our students begin school next year. 

• Tuesday 28 January Curriculum Day. No students at school.

• Wednesday 29 January Curriculum Day. No students at school.

• Thursday 30 January Years 1-9 begin school . 

• Friday 1 February Year Prep students begin school . 

• Friday 1 August Curriculum Day  No students at school.

• Monday 3 November Reporting Curriculum Day.  No students at school.

• Thursday 18 December – Last day of school for students . 

• Friday 19 December - Last day of 2025 year for staff. No students at school.

2025 Term Dates 

Term One

• Tuesday 28 January Curriculum Day. No students at school.

• Wednesday 29 January Curriculum Day. No students at school.

• Thursday 30 January Years 1-9 begin school. 

• Friday 31 January Year Prep students begin school. 

• Friday 4 April Term One concludes for 2 week break

   

Term Two

• Tuesday 22 April Term Two begins.

• Friday 4 July Term Two concludes for 2 week break

Term Three

• Monday 21 July Term Three begins

• Friday 19 September Term Three concludes for 2 week break

Term Four

• Monday 6 October Term Four begins

• Thursday 18 December – Last day of school for students. 

Please mark these important days in your 2025 diary.

Thank You for a Magical Christmas Carols Event

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for our Christmas Carols event last Monday and Tuesday. What a joyful and successful celebration it was! And to finally have it live on our school grounds, made the event even more special!

It was wonderful to see our students singing their hearts out, dressed in a festive sea of red, green, and gold. Their enthusiasm and talent truly lit up the stage, bringing the spirit of Christmas alive for all to enjoy.

Events like these don’t happen without a tremendous amount of planning and effort. We are deeply grateful to our incredible staff for their dedication and support in organising and running this event. Thank you also to our students, who shone so brightly and made us proud, and to our families and community members who came along to cheer, clap, and sing along. Your presence and support are what make these moments so special. Thank you for being part of this magical night! Wishing you all a happy and safe festive season.

Workforce Planning

Workforce planning for 2025 is almost complete and, although there has been the state-wide shortage of teachers across Victoria, we have successfully managed to fill all classroom positions. Our Leading Teachers will also have a role within classrooms. Our Leading Teachers are also our instructional coaches, who coach, mentor and lead our staff and students in the areas of Curriculum and Wellbeing. 

Next year, we welcome a range of new staff across the primary and secondary sectors, in classroom roles and specialist areas. Be sure to read the 'New Staff for 2025' section of the newsletter for an introduction to our new staff. we are looking forward to welcoming them aboard.

Farewell and Best Wishes to Our Departing Staff

As the school year draws to a close, it is time to say goodbye to some of our valued staff members who are moving on to new opportunities or taking leave. While we will miss their contributions to our school community, we are grateful for the time we have shared and wish them every success in their next endeavours.

To those embarking on new roles at other schools, we hope your next chapter brings exciting challenges and fulfilment. Your dedication and expertise has left a lasting impact on our students, colleagues, and families. 

For those taking leave, we hope this time allows you to recharge, or focus on personal goals. You will always be a cherished part of our school family, and we look forward to hearing about your adventures.

On behalf of the entire school community, thank you for your hard work, kindness, and dedication. Best wishes for the road ahead!

Exciting Building Developments at Our Saltwater Campus

Beginning in 2025, our Saltwater Campus will undergo significant building works to upgrade our facilities and create additional space to accommodate more students. These developments are a wonderful step forward in ensuring that we continue to provide the best learning environment for all our students.

During this period, our Year 7-9 students will be temporarily housed at the Coaching Parade Campus, with new demountables already in place. We are confident that this arrangement will support our students' ongoing learning while construction is underway. Thank you for your ongoing support as we embark on this exciting journey of growth and improvement. Further updates and detailed information will be shared as the project progresses.

Office Hours During Holidays

Please note that the office will be closed for the holiday period between the 21 December 2024 and the 21 of January 2025. All correspondence from parents will be addressed upon our return to the office. Over the holidays, some maintenance work will take place on our buildings and grounds to ensure that our environment is orderly and inviting for the return of the students in 2025.

Heartfelt Thank You

On behalf of the staff at Saltwater College, I would like to express my gratitude and thank all our community members for their continued support, understanding and assistance throughout the year. Celebrating a full year of learning and achievements has also been a pleasure. We have collaborated and worked together as a community for the growth and success of our students. We will strongly focus on community engagement and partnership, building on the foundations of the past six years.

I would also like to say a huge thank you to the members of our school council. They have worked tirelessly to support the school's goals and the staff's work. They have been pivotal in connecting the staff with the local community, promoting family engagement, supporting the school's needs, and supporting us with their many personal skill sets.

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to welcoming you back and continuing our partnership in 2025. 

Thank you, 

Jackie Daniali.

On behalf of the Leadership Team