Principals' Page

Welcome Back to 2026

It is wonderful to see everyone again and to start the year together. With the warm weather already upon us, we are very grateful for our great facilities and air conditioning that keeps us comfortable while we learn.

I hope you all had a chance over the holidays to relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy some downtime. While we were all enjoying a break, the school was busy with some exciting improvements. Our learning spaces have been refreshed with new paint and flooring, technology has been upgraded with new TVs and pinboards, and we have new offices that are designed to support the way we work.

A big thank you to Jackie for coordinating all of this work over the break and to the team from Incommercial who carried it out so smoothly. It makes a real difference and sets us up for a great start to the year.

Welcoming Our Preps, New Families and Year 6 Leaders

We are very excited to welcome our Prep students who start with us on Monday. This is such a special milestone for them and their families. Our current students are looking forward to meeting them and helping them settle in. Our Year 6 students are also ready to step into their buddy roles and help make the new students feel welcome. 

We would also like to welcome new families that have joined us and we look forward to getting to know our new students across the school. 

The Year 6 tops have arrived and the students are proudly wearing their new jackets and T-shirts, even in the warm weather. If you missed ordering a T-shirt and would still like one, the office can help.

New Staff and Staffing Updates

We also welcome new staff members to Great Ryrie this year and are excited to have them join our community. Their skills, experience, and enthusiasm will add so much to our learning environment.

 We are also looking forward to continuing to grow our school family in other ways, with several babies expected this year. It is wonderful to see our Great Ryrie community expanding both in and out of the classroom.

Our Motto: Empowering Students to Achieve

As a staff we spent time reflecting on our motto, Empowering Students to Achieve, and why it is so important particularly as we start new classes and new friendships. 

Every student has a special gift or talent. Our job is to notice it and support them to grow it with confidence.

Empowering students to achieve is not just about school work. It is about helping them discover what they enjoy, what they are good at, and giving them the chance to learn and grow in their own way. When students know the adults around them believe in them, they do more than achieve, they shine.  

Keeping in Touch

To stay connected we encourage you to read the newsletter each fortnight. Students of the Week will be announced before the next assembly. Each edition will also share what is happening in each year level and in our specialist programs including the Arts, Sport and Indonesian.

We also have a private Great Ryrie Facebook page. You can request access through our community page.

Digital Parent Workshop – Don’t Miss It

We are very excited to offer our digital parent workshop this year. It is incredibly valuable and well worth attending. If you only attend one session this year, this is the one to choose. Last year we all learned so much, and with technology, screen time, and social media continuing to affect families and children, this session is more relevant than ever.

Wednesday 25th February

• Session 1 – 2pm Face-to-Face: Parent Carer Workshop – 90 minutes
• Session 2 – 3.45pm Face-to-Face: Teacher Workshop for staff
• Session 3 – 6pm Online: Parent Carer Webinar – 90 minutes
• Please see the Wellbeing page for more information . 

Looking Ahead

I had a lovely holiday in Queensland with my family. It was wonderful to spend time with my daughters and extended family and I feel refreshed and excited for the year ahead.

Thank you for all you do to support your children and our school. 

I am looking forward to 2026 and to continuing to work together to help every student at Great Ryrie achieve their best.

Karen Rouda Principal, Melissa Roberts & Jean Maxwell Assistant Principals 

Congratulations 

We are excited to announce that Jean Maxwell will be stepping into the role of Assistant Principal alongside Melissa Roberts in 2026.

Jean has done amazing work supporting families, particularly in wellbeing and the disability space, and she will continue this important work while also helping in leading curriculum.

With her experience as a previous Assistant Principal, Jean brings expertise, dedication, and a strong sense of family to our school community. 

We are so lucky to have her on our leadership team. Congratulations Jean. 

Farewell Richard Bailey School Council President

It has been a privilege to work with Richard during my time at Great Ryrie Primary School.

Richard’s commitment to School Council over many years, including eight years as President, has been exceptional. He has led with care, integrity and a genuine focus on what is best for our students and our school community.

I am personally grateful to Richard for the trust and support he showed during the principal appointment process. His professionalism and belief in the future of the school meant a great deal to me.

As both a leader and a parent, Richard’s connection to the school has always been clear. He leaves the school in a strong place, and his contribution will be felt for many years to come.

On behalf of our students, staff and families, thank you Richard and we wish you and your family all the very best.

Richard Bailey 

I joined School Council in 2016, taking on the role of Vice President under Terry Jenvey. With Terry’s departure in 2018, I was nominated for and accepted the role of President of School Council, a position I have held for 8 years.

During my time on School Council, I have seen the role of School Council evolve over time. It has been a privilege to have had a role in many changes that the school has seen -

• the demolition of the original annex through the planning and building of the new annex, 

• the development of the school master plan,

• various building, development and improvement works,

• the school’s 20-year celebration,

• the retirement of former Principal Doug Elliott,

• the recruitment and hiring of the new school Principal, Karen Rouda,

• two school reviews,

• and various school reports, AIPs, and policy updates

I have learned a lot during my time on School Council, seeing behind the scenes into the running of the school and the multitude of decisions that need to be made.

I have also had the pleasure of seeing my three children pass through the school over the course of 14 years.

I leave the School and School Council in a great place. The school grounds look amazing, enrolments are up, as is the school's reputation, with the school performing well, as our most recent review will attest.

Again, I thank you for the opportunity to have had an impact on the school and wish the school all the very best for the future.

Farewell Elaine Burton

Elaine, thank you for your incredible 25 years at Great Ryrie Primary School.

You have been such an important part of our school, supporting students and helping them grow in confidence and love of learning. 

From your early days working across all year levels, to your work in classrooms, EAL and intervention, and your support of literacy and spelling programs, you have always been there quietly making a difference.

Your kindness, patience and care have touched so many children and colleagues over the years. You have helped students feel safe, supported and encouraged, and your steady presence has meant a great deal to everyone at GRPS.

As you move into retirement, we want to say thank you. You will be greatly missed, and we wish you all the very best as you enjoy this next chapter of your life.

Elaine Burton 

This year marks 25 years since I began working at GRPS, a milestone that has given me the privilege of seeing many changes and supporting generations of students. 

When I first started here there were just four support personnel and together, we worked across all year levels providing assistance wherever it was needed. Over the years, my role has evolved alongside the school, allowing me to contribute in a variety of meaningful ways. 

I have worked extensively in classroom support, EAL and intervention programs, helping children build confidence and skills in their learning. I have also been involved in supplying literacy resources particularly to support the school’s spelling program for both teachers and students.

What has remained consistent throughout these 25 years is the school’s commitment to student wellbeing and learning. It has been a privilege to be part of that journey and to support students as they grow, learn and succeed. 

Babies Galore 

Hold onto your hats, there must be something in the water at Great Ryrie,

maybe it is the Sensory Garden creek!

Five of our amazing staff members are expecting babies, and we couldn’t be more excited. Our school family is about to get a whole lot bubblier, fun and more chaotic in the best possible way. Baby bumps, tiny toes, and endless cuteness are on the way, and we can already imagine the coos, cuddles, and chaos taking over. The last count was three girls, one boy and one surprise.

Congratulations to our parents to be Melissa, Carly, Ash, Maddy and Meaghan xx