Principal's Report

Dear Skye Families, 

It is with mixed emotions that I write my final newsletter to the Skye Community.  It still feels a bit surreal. The students have been asking why I am leaving, with some actually quite offended. Skye is in a wonderful place and it feels like the right time to hand over the baton. I believe that when you become too comfortable you can stop growing. Everyone knows that I am always in search of a challenge and will now have a new one as I embark on my new role. The other big selling point was that SEPS is only a 7-minute drive from home, which will be a luxury. Murphy & Scout will get a few more walks in once I have a bit more time in my day. 

I am absolutely delighted that Mr Bernau will be taking over the reins and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him once again on his appointment as the Acting Principal for the remainder of the year. Tim has an amazing leadership team supporting him and I know the school will continue to improve and grow under their expertise and care. I have been very fortunate to work alongside such a great team from the teachers, aides, leaders, admin team, IT crew and our garden and maintenance staff, students and parents/carers. It takes a community to enable a school to thrive. 

Those families that have been on the journey with me since 2017 will know that Skye PS is quite a different school these days. I am so proud of our dedicated staff and the amount of work that has gone on behind the scenes. We have strived to improve teaching and learning practices to secure the best outcomes possible for our learners. I leave with confidence, knowing that your children are in the best hands possible. Our Skye staff want nothing but the best for our school.  

The Skye environment is looking beautiful, and I am immensely proud of leading the school through the significant building development that we have undertaken during the past few years. The School Council have been instrumental in supporting our campaign for funding and building grants. I hope that more and more parents/carers join School Council, to ensure that the great work continues and Skye PS can secure Phase 2 of the building development. I look forward to coming back one day to see it all finished!  

The hardest goodbye will be to our students. I struggle every year as our Year 6 students grow and prepare for the next leg of their education program. We can see that by Term 4, they are definitely ready to embark on their new chapter but it is still hard to let them go. I wish our current Grade 6s all the best with their future education and hope that we have prepared them to take on and achieve whatever it is that they wish for. They were my first Preppies at Skye PS, so it is timely that we leave together (even though I am a couple of months ahead of them!). 

I wish all of our students a happy and safe future and hope that the remainder of their time at Skye is engaging and fun. I am going to miss all of the Skye families, especially those that I have worked with over the past 7 years. I know coming to the principal’s office is not always seen as a good thing, but we have managed to get through challenging moments together. Thankfully there have been many joyous moments and celebrations with lots of you as well. 

Thank you so much to the entire Skye community for entrusting me to lead the school over the past 7 years. It has been an absolute honour and privilege. If I can leave one legacy, it is to remember my mantra … simply just be kind! 

Best wishes always. Have a safe and peaceful Spring break. 

Jane Briffa