Principal's Report
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
All of a sudden we find ourselves almost at the end of first term- in fact for me it is the end of term as Geoff and I are heading away on some pre planned Long Service Leave for the last two weeks of this term and the first two of next term. Thankfully we have a great leadership team here at Mortlake and Michelle Carmody and Nathan Jones will very capably fill in in my absence. I’d like to thanks all the staff, students and parents for supporting me as Acting Principal this term.
The Department have notified us that Sean Fitzpatrick will be continuing in the acting principal role at Brauer College next term and so I will remain in the acting position here.
Thanks for your support during this slightly disrupted period of leadership.
Last week the students in Yrs 3,5,7 & 9 completed Naplan testing. Whilst these tests are just a snapshot of the children’s work, we do get some valuable base line data from them and so it was very pleasing to see all the students giving them their best effort, albeit in a low key, unstressed environment. Many thanks to Geoff & Joel for their work in coordinating and managing the tech issues, and to Michelle for administering the tests.
Our School Nurse, Jenni Goddard, and our middle school leaders are busy organising our Food Bank fundraiser that will take place this Thursday. I am very disappointed that I won’t be available to be slimed but I’m very much looking forward to some photos from the day. Please get behind this fundraiser by donating to the students who have registered. It’s a great charity to support and a fun way for our staff and students to end the term.
Please remember that parent/teacher interviews have been set for the March 25th from 11am – 6pm. There will be no classes on that day. 10 minute booking slots are now available on Sentral Parent Portal. Feel free to call the General Office if you require help .
Congratulations to Harley Pickford who achieved some great results at the National Clay Shooting titles over the long weekend, including a couple of top 3 finishes. Very impressive!
Last week I was privileged to join a Learning Walk in the F/1 and 4/5 classes with our Senior Education Officer and our Education Improvement Leader who were here to observe our work on structured literacy. I was very proud, but also in awe, of the amazing teaching and learning happening in those classrooms. A heads up to all that on May 13th we will celebrate Education Week with a pre school breakfast followed by open classrooms in period 1. I urge you to come and observe some of this fabulous work for yourselves.
Our 2024 School Council AGM was held last week, with Bruce Goddard kindly agreeing to another term as President. Thanks Bruce. We also welcomed Chloe Jewell as a new parent representative on Council. Congratulations Chloe.
Please note the message sent home last week re gastro. Our younger students in particular work very closely together, making it easy for germs to spread. This is why we follow the health department directive that children should stay home for a full 48 hours AFTER symptoms cease.
At the end of the term, our longstanding Business Manager, Dot Jenkins, will take a well earned retirement. I will miss being able to make a formal farewell, but I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Dot for her years of dedicated service to the school community. In the last 20+ years, Dot has kept our school in an amazingly stable financial state. This is no mean feat, particularly in the last few years when many other schools have struggled through the covid crisis to stay within budget. Through expert book keeping and financial savvy, Dot has ensured that none of our students have missed any vital components of their education, working with families to get the best result for their children. In addition, Dot has been the driving force behind our Facilities team, coordinating trades and services and deciphering and adhering to the maze of bureaucratic administrivia required to keep our buildings and grounds maintained and improved.
I know that it’s not just our school who will miss Dot. Her willingness to help others and share her expertise has seen her become somewhat of a guru amongst the network business managers and I imagine her ‘help line’ might still ring for awhile after she officially finishes work. We have been very fortunate to have had two business managers on site this term and I know that Brooke is feeling confident in her ability to fly solo after a term of soaking in Dot’s experience.
I hope you will join me in wishing Dot all the best for a fun filled retirement, knowing that she has left an indelible footprint at this school and on those who have worked with her.
Anne De Manser
Acting Principal
