Principal’s Report 8th December

This year has gone so quickly, and I can’t believe this is the last newsletter for the year! I will be sad to say farewell to Lyndhurst Primary School again but feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to step into the principal role of such a fabulous school in 2023. I have really enjoyed my time here and have loved coming back and seeing all the growth and development of the school and students since 2019.

I wish you all a safe, happy, and restful summer break enjoying the precious time with family and friends. Greg will be returning from the Academy of Teaching and Leadership to step back in as the Principal of Lyndhurst Primary School, and I know he is looking forward to being back in 2024.

We have managed to fit many great activities into the year and are proud of all our students and their fabulous achievements over the year. Over the next two and a half weeks, we have some very important days: our Step-Up Day on Tuesday, 12th December; Grade 6 Graduation on Wednesday, 13th December; and Class Party Day on Tuesday, 19th December.

Grade 6 Graduation

On Wednesday, the 13th of December, we will be holding our Grade 6 graduation, celebrating our students’ achievements in their 7 years of primary school and wishing them all the best for secondary school and life beyond. We know they will all leave us and confidently ‘Take Flight,’ making us proud in their future lives.

Holt Award

THE HOLT AWARD – Cassandra Fernando- Federal Labor member for Holt.

In Cassandra’s first speech in Parliament, she emphasized that education is the force that provides Australians the opportunity to achieve their potential and contribute to our success as a nation. It is in the spirit of recognizing students who are achieving their potential that Cassandra created the Holt Student Leaders Awards. The Awards are an opportunity for schools to nominate an exceptional Year 6 student who has displayed exceptional leadership qualities and/or achieved remarkable academic success. The Awards Ceremony took place at the Cranbourne Community Theatre on Tuesday, 5 December 2023. Congratulations to our Year 6 student, Kayleigh, who was nominated to receive the Holt Award for her outstanding leadership and remarkable academic achievements, particularly in Literacy, which highlight her dedication and creativity. Her ability to set and achieve goals with determination serves as an inspiration to others. Kayleigh exemplifies our school values, balancing a strong work ethic and genuine kindness, making her an exceptional role model. Her respect for teachers and empathy towards others contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere in our school. Kayleigh's outstanding contributions deserve recognition, and she serves as an inspiration to everyone.

Kayleigh and her family were invited to attend The Holt award ceremony to be officially presented with her award, and we will acknowledge her award at our last school assembly on Wednesday, 20th December. Well Done, Kayleigh!

Careers Day

Our SRC students did a fabulous job organizing our Careers Day and raised an impressive $506.85 that they will be donating to the Smith Family to contribute to helping families in need.

High Ability Students

Congratulations to our High Abilities Student team who have been working hard and learning about Financial Literacy this year. They developed group business plans and designed products to sell at the Summer Celebration Concert stalls. A great effort.

A big thank you to Miss Tolikas for working hard with our students so they can have these great learning opportunities.

PFA

I’d like to thank our wonderful PFA for all their hard work organizing the hampers for our raffles and the Lucky Dip. Our PFA has raised funds that will subsidize grade excursions in 2024. Please consider joining the PFA next year; they are always looking for new members to share the load. They raise a lot of money to help our students and would love to have more members on their team. Please contact the school office and let them know you would like to join our team of enthusiastic parents who make up our PFA.

Bike Helmets and Scooters

A reminder that if students are riding a bike or scooter, they must wear a bike helmet.

It has been reported to me that some students are not wearing helmets when riding their bikes and scooters to school. This is extremely unsafe and dangerous.

All students must wear a bike helmet when riding their bike to and from school.

Staff on yard duty will be checking to ensure our students are safe and wearing a bike helmet when riding to and from school.

New Preps

Thank you to Mrs Dawson and all the Prep teachers for all their hard work welcoming our new Prep students into our school over the last few weeks of transition sessions. We are looking forward to our new preps joining us for Step Up Day on Tuesday, 12th December.

Summer Celebration

What a night it was at our Summer Celebration concert! The energy was electric as our talented Ukulele orchestra, Senior choir, and vibrant Prep to Grade 2 students took the stage, delivering stellar performances that lit up the entire community. The melodies resonated, voices soared, and the joy was palpable throughout the evening.

Thank you to Mr Sketcher and Mr Flanagan for all their hard work behind the scenes to make this night happen and to all of the junior teachers for their dedication and hard work.

I would also like to thank our parents, carers, and families for respecting the view and sightlines of others in the audience and staying behind the roped-off student areas to ensure our students could move safely.

It was a true celebration of musical diversity and talent, bringing together our talented music teachers to accompany our students to showcase their passion and hard work. The applause echoed the success of the night, leaving everyone with cherished memories and a deep appreciation for the power of music in our community.

Staffing Update for Lyndhurst Primary School Community

As we move forward into the new academic year, we would like to take a moment to acknowledge and bid farewell and wish all the best to some of our esteemed staff members who have been integral parts of our community:

Carol Santander: Joining Topirum Primary School
Lyshae Powell: Joining Berwick Chase Primary School
Airlie Robshaw: Joining Bentons Junior College
Shaun McEachern: Joining Pakenham Springs Primary School
Emma Lebrasse: Joining Cranbourne Secondary College
Erin Squires: Joining Clyde Creek Primary School
Grace Santoro: Joining St. Mary’s Primary School: Hampton
Bridget Penney: Moving away to a new school still to be determined.
Melinda Hamilton: Joining Cranbourne Secondary School

Additionally, please note that Sally Ebery will be taking leave in 2024.

As we say farewell to our departing colleagues, we extend a warm welcome and are looking forward to our new additions for the upcoming year joining our Lyndhurst community:

Simon Butler
Ellie McDonald
Elly Kondos
Eden Benizzi
Sarah Waters

Moreover, we are currently in the process of recruiting new members for our team, including a Wellbeing teacher, a Technology teacher, and one more classroom teacher.

We believe these changes will bring fresh perspectives and experiences to our school community, enriching the learning environment for our students.

We express our deepest gratitude to the departing staff for their dedication and contributions, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact our new team members will bring to Lyndhurst Primary School.

Wishing everyone a successful and fulfilling academic year ahead in 2024!

Kind regards

Nicky Walker

Acting Principal

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