Principals' Page

Welcome Back to Term 2 

I hope the Easter break provided a chance to slow down, spend time with family, and recharge. It has been wonderful to welcome the students back this week, full of energy, stories, and ready to settle into the term ahead.

We began the term with a day of teacher learning and professional development, focusing on our school goals in reading. 

As a staff, we spent time building our understanding of the Victorian English Curriculum 2.0 and what this means for our classrooms. Our work centred on reading with purpose, strengthening best practice in reading comprehension, and continuing to foster a genuine love of reading in our students. There was a strong emphasis on working collaboratively and ensuring a consistent approach to how reading is taught from Prep through to Year 6.

ANZAC Day 

This morning, we were humbled as our student leaders led an ANZAC Day commemoration service at the flagpole. It was an opportunity to honour the men and women who have served, those who made great sacrifices, and those who continue to serve today. A highlight was Jack’s moving performance of the Last Post, which was played with great care and respect. Our school leaders and flag monitors did an outstanding job, and the ceremony was a powerful reminder of what the flag represents at this time.

Tomorrow morning, we will be representing Great Ryrie at the Dawn Service, where we will lay a wreath in honour of those who have served. It will be an early start, with the community gathering at 5:30 am for a 6:00 am service. All families are warmly welcome to attend.

Staffing Announcements

I am  pleased to share some staffing news. 

Mrs Jess Steer will be stepping into the role of Acting Assistant Principal. Jess has been a long serving teacher and Leading Teacher at Great Ryrie and brings a deep understanding of our school. Her expertise in improving student learning, along with her passion for supporting staff to grow, makes her a wonderful addition to the leadership team. Many of you will know Mrs Steer from your children’s time in her classroom and will appreciate her commitment to high quality teaching and learning. We are very grateful for her and excited to welcome her into this role.

Welcome

We are pleased to welcome Jayne Beith to our team. 

Jayne has been teaching since 2015 and has a strong passion for Physical Education. She has previously worked in the South East and brings a wealth of experience  Jayne also has two young boys, one who has just started Prep and another in three year old kindergarten. She has continued teaching through a range of roles while raising her family and is very excited to be joining the Great Ryrie community. Jayne is looking forward to making a positive impact on students’ learning and development in Health and Physical Education.

 Mr Macartney has stepped into a leadership role on Thursdays, continuing to support our work across the school. 

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support. It plays an important role in the success of our school and our students.

We are looking forward to a positive and productive Term 2.

Karen Rouda-Principal

Jean Maxwell and Jess Steer Assistant Principals