Principal's Report

The Wheels Keep Turning

I remember someone explaining to me that no matter what is happening in a community, schools are the one constant whose wheels keep turning. And whilst our wheels are moving along a different pathway to normal, the core principles of a school remain the same – leading the students with their learning and supporting their wellbeing. 

Despite lockdown's significant disruption to school life, I wanted to take a moment to share how some aspects of school are continuing as customary. Whilst the way in which teachers work has significantly changed during remote learning, our administration staff continue with those inherent school tasks that don’t go away, even during a pandemic.

Every day, we have one office staff member at school to take calls and answer queries. To minimise numbers at school, the administration staff spend the rest of their week working remotely. Below is a little snapshot of the important work that they are doing, which we often don’t get the opportunity to acknowledge.

Communications

Online communication between the school and home has probably never been so important. It is essential for us to keep you informed of any changes to remote learning and to restrictions. Also, it is now the only way that we can connect and support one another, to acknowledge the challenges and celebrate the successes.

Sarah Moody, Sarah Abbott and I work closely with each other to try to ensure that sufficient information is communicated, without flooding everyone’s inbox.

Finance

Whilst there is a reduction in expenditure and revenue, our financial responsibilities remain. Current work for our Business Manager, Jane O’Riley, includes the challenge of how to manage the parent excursion fees when excursions haven’t been able to occur. 

Jane is also leading the work on establishing next year’s budget, coordinating next year’s school orders and working through camp payments, including Canberra next year.

Foundation Enrolment

So much work goes into organising Foundation’s enrolment for the coming year. Elena Paladino leads this work as we follow up on every application and ensure that we have all the information that we need. Elena keeps track of our enrolments across the school, including those students that join and leave throughout the year.

Year 6 – 7 Transition

This process has been finalised, with all our Year 6 students having received confirmation of their Year 7 placements at a government school. Alice Lambert diligently led this work, ensuring that the administration protocols were followed, including liaising with secondary schools. 

Maintenance

Our maintenance person, Graham Keen, visits and inspects the school grounds during lockdown, ensuring that it is safe for the onsite supervision students, and for when everyone returns.

Yesterday Graham met with the fence contractor as we plan for the next stage in our fence upgrade; the replacement of the fence along Fairfield Rd and around the corner to the bike shed area. We are hoping that this work will be completed during the next school holidays.

IT

Our IT technician, Chris Kefalas, shares his workload between four schools. Chris continues to respond to technical issues experienced by staff and families. He has also been central in coordinating the loaning of devices as well as the devices needed by students attending onsite supervision.

Art4All

It was with great disappointment that the Art4All Coordinators were left with no other option than to cancel this year’s three-day event. Many hours had already been devoted to Art4All, however with the increasing levels of uncertainty, it was agreed that is was unrealistic to continue planning.

Whilst the event will not be proceeding in its usual manner, there are still plans to have a modified Art4All, where we celebrate art, artists and creativity within our school and the community.

Stay tuned for a communication regarding ‘ISO Art4All’.

School Council – Welcome to our New Councillors 

I am pleased to announce the following three parents as new School Councillors, who will serve out the remainder of this term (to March 2022).

• Nicola Dovey
• Mark Sandiford
• Ian ten Seldam

We thank Nicola, Mark and Ian in advance for their contributions to the school.

Stay well, stay hopeful and stay in touch.

~ Paul Wallace, Principal