“The work of education is not just in what we teach, but in the care, belief and love we give along the way.”

As we come to the end of another extraordinary year, my first and most heartfelt thank you goes to our staff. Your dedication, compassion, professionalism and unwavering commitment to our students is what makes Monash SDS such a special place. The care you show every day — often quietly, always consistently — has a profound and lasting impact on the lives of our students and their families. I am deeply grateful for each and every one of you.

A very special mention must go to our graduates and their families. Our graduation night was a beautiful celebration of everything these young people have achieved and of the journeys they have taken with us. It was a night filled with pride, joy, hope and love. I have also had the privilege of spending time with our graduates again this week at a special graduation lunch, farewelling them once more and reflecting on just how far they have come. We send them forward with immense pride and our very best wishes for the next chapter of their lives.

Thank you also to our School Council and Parent Group for their tireless support of our school community. In particular, I would like to acknowledge and thank our School Council President, Teresa Leonard. Teresa has been an incredible advocate for all students at Monash SDS and has supported seven graduation ceremonies over the years. This year, she had the special experience of swapping roles — from Council President to proud parent — as her daughter Sarah graduated. Teresa, thank you for your dedication, leadership and heart.

We also say a sincere thank you and farewell to the following staff members: Georgia Louka, Siv Worner, Esther McKee and Taylah Rasmussen. Thank you for the contribution you have made to our school community — you will always be part of the Monash SDS story.

At the same time, we warmly welcome the following staff to our team: Rachel Thomas – teacher, Ronan McDonagh – teacher, Abbeygail de Faye – teacher, Elly Hayes – ES, Samantha Venter – ES, Yu Xue (Daniel) – ES, Yeqi Cai (Yuki) – ES, Yujia Xie (Molly) – ES, Gurjant Singh – ES, Anubha Sharma – ES, Juthaporn Maling (Ta) - ES

We are delighted to have you joining us.

Looking ahead to 2026, we are investing heavily in supporting our students, with two Education Support staff in most classrooms. This represents a significant increase in staffing and reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of care and support. While we are still recruiting for a small number of positions over the holidays, we are incredibly proud of the strong team we have secured and remain confident that most remaining gaps will be filled for the start of 2026.

Today, families will receive a pack in their child’s school bag outlining 2026 class groupings and staff, including photos. Our new staff have already spent time in their 2026 classrooms, getting to know students in preparation for the year ahead. If you see “TBC” listed, this simply indicates positions that are still being recruited. If your child is not at school today their envelope will be posted.

We will also hold a 'Welcome Back to School' and 'Meet Your Child’s Staff' afternoon BBQ in the second week of Term 1, on Thursday 5 February, providing families with the opportunity to reconnect, meet staff and start the year together.

To our parents and carers — thank you for your trust, partnership and unwavering support throughout the year. We value the strong relationships we share with you and the privilege of working alongside you.

And lastly, but most importantly, to our students — thank you for allowing us the honour of working in your school. You inspire us every day with your resilience, courage, humour and growth. It is a privilege to learn with you and from you.

I wish everyone a safe, restful and joyful holiday break, and I look forward to welcoming you back in 2026.

Warm regards,

Lindy Abernethy

Principal

International Disability Day