As we approach the end of the year, I welcome you to our second-last newsletter for 2023. Apologies it was not sent on Friday, I was out of the school and didn't have access to this platform. In this edition, you'll find a wealth of information about upcoming important dates as we draw to the close of the school year. I encourage you to read through carefully to catch all the details and not miss out on the excitement.

Staffing 2024

I'm excited to share some wonderful news about our school team for the upcoming year. The majority of our staffing plans are now confirmed, and there are some fantastic updates to highlight:

Leighann: We're thrilled to announce that Leighann has secured our advertised 12-month position. We are so happy to have her continue her fantastic work at Bolinda Primary School. The students have blossomed, and her engaging program is a real asset to our team.

Glenn: I'm delighted to let you know that Glenn has accepted an ongoing role at our school. He will continue in his role as a specialist, teaching not one, not two, but three specialist subjects! Glenn's contributions in the classroom are incredibly valuable, and he goes above and beyond by providing extra experiences outside the classroom.

Donna: We're excited to share that Donna will be working with us three days a week. This is fantastic news for both the children and us. Donna has seamlessly become a part of the Bolinda team, and everyone highly values her work.

I am truly delighted to share this news with you, and I know you'll join me in congratulating each and every one of them. We still have some positions we need to confirm but we're looking forward to an amazing year ahead with our fantastic team!

Whole School Disco

The children are still buzzing with excitement from the fantastic disco night on Friday, November 24th! It was a night to remember, thanks to the tremendous efforts of Kylie and her dedicated team of disco helpers. The ever-reliable, Nicole, played DJ and put together a playlist that kept the kids moving all night.

The volunteers worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create an evening that not only got the kids up and dancing but also left lasting memories for everyone who attended. The children were treated to a delicious dinner of pizza, adding to the joyous vibe of the evening. We owe our volunteers a huge debt of gratitude for making the event so memorable.

A special mention of appreciation goes to Corrie and Keith Woods, whose generosity of a donation of funds from their organisation of two Afternoon Tea Dances paved the way for our spectacular disco night. The whole experience was free of any costs and was such a success, that our team of volunteers may look at putting something else on in the future.

Visit from Rob Mitchell MP

We recently had a visit to Bolinda Primary School by Rob Mitchell MP. During his visit, Mr. Mitchell had the pleasure of discussing a new round of funding for building works that has become available, bringing with him opportunities for further enhancing our school infrastructure.

As part of this exciting development, our school leaders were presented with new flags to acknowledge our successful funding application for a new flagpole. Mr. Mitchell's visit wasn't just about funding discussions; he took the time to engage with our students. The children had the opportunity to have a great chat with him. One of our school captains, Finn, took the initiative to interview Mr. Mitchell for his project on the evolution of democracy over the years. It was great to host Mr Mitchell and we do hope that he continues to drop in next year.

Discovery Incursion

I'm excited to share details about free upcoming workshops, provided by the Discovery Science & Technology Centre, that promise to ignite your child's interest in technology and problem-solving. These hands-on sessions are designed to introduce them to the fascinating world of robotics and coding.

Prep - 2 - Rockin’ Robotics Workshop

Overview: In this workshop, students will explore the concept of algorithms as a set of instructions. They'll engage in creating and following simple algorithms to move a Blue-bot from point A to B. It's an interactive and engaging way to introduce our young learners to algorithmic thinking and programming.

Year 3 - 6 - Micro:Bit Mystery Workshop

Overview: In this intriguing session, students will dive into the world of Micro:Bits to uncover hidden messages and create their own coded mysteries. This workshop delves into the integration of code and hardware to store and organize information. Through problem-based learning, students will discover, identify, and organize data to create or decode messages. The highlight is the creation of a digital mystery box, adding an element of excitement and challenge.

These workshops aim to enhance your child's tech literacy and problem-solving skills while fostering collaboration and communication. We're confident they'll find these experiences both educational and fun!

Christmas Raffle

As we approach the end of the year, we're excited to announce our Christmas Hamper Raffle, scheduled to be drawn during the end-of-year concert on Tuesday, December 19th. Your participation can greatly contribute to the success of this raffle, and the funds raised will be directed towards covering the hall rental expenses for the concert.

Donations

In the spirit of our Whole School Celebration Lunch on Friday, December 8th, we invite students to wear casual clothes for the occasion. As a small request in return, we encourage each child to bring in a donation—be it Christmas craft, holiday entertaining items, or any thoughtful contributions like playing cards or travel games—to help assemble our Christmas Hampers.

Tickets

To be in the running for our delightful hampers, don't forget to purchase your raffle tickets! Each ticket is priced at $2, or you can avail of the special offer of 3 tickets for $5. Please ensure the return of your tickets and money by Thursday, December 14th.

Your support and contributions to our fundraising initiatives have greatly benefitted Bolinda Primary School this year, and we sincerely appreciate your involvement in making these events successful.

Romsey Community Carols

The Romsey Community Carols on December 9th are quickly approaching. Our children have been preparing for this special occasion and are ready to showcase their festive spirit by singing the classic Christmas tune, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

We extend a warm invitation to all Bolinda Primary School families to join us at the Romsey Community Carols and see our students spreading cheer.

Christmas Tree in Romsey

Bolinda Primary School has again taken part in the Romsey Christmas Tree initiative, and our beautifully decorated tree now stands proudly in the heart of Romsey's main street.

We invite you to take a stroll down and see our school's contribution for yourself. Our students, with creativity and enthusiasm, have covered the tree with personalised baubles. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our school's artistic talents and, more importantly, to spread Christmas cheer throughout our community. Keep your eyes peeled for other Christmasy surprises popping up at our school very soon.

RSL Perpetual Trophy Presentation

We had the honour of hosting Reinhard and John from the Romsey-Lancefield RSL, who presented our school with a remarkable perpetual trophy. This unique trophy, which depicts Simpson and his donkey, holds great significance. There is a special feature on the trophy with a small glass bottle within it, filled with the sands of Gallipoli. In a tradition that begins this year, the names of our essay writing competition winners will be engraved on a plaque and added to the base of the trophy. Our appreciation goes to Reinhard and John for fostering this meaningful connection between Bolinda Primary School and the Romsey-Lancefield RSL. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and look forward to collaborating on future projects.

Thank you,

Jordan Chamerski

Principal