Dear Parents / Carers,

This is the final newsletter for 2024. It has been a privilege to work with the Rowville Primary School community during the 2024 school year. We have had a fabulous year of learning!

Our students were very keen to meet their 2025 class teacher and class peers. It a day filled with excitement and anticipation. Our 2025 Foundation students have spent the morning with their new teachers and were introduced to their 2025 Year Six buddies. Our Year Six students visited their respective secondary schools last Tuesday.

Our Christmas concert was a wonderful night where the Rowville Primary School community came together in a relaxed 'picnic' environment to celebrate the end of the school year. Our students from the Ceremonies and Special Events Parliamentary Group raised $1,093.25 which they donated to the children at Auburn South Primary School who this year lost one of their friends due to a tragedy.

I am proud of what we have achieved in 2024. We accomplished so much for our students. Our teachers delivered targeted teaching throughout the year, and our results show that students across the school have made significant learning growth. We have made significant improvements to our physical learning environment. This was all achieved despite some complex staffing issues.

The Senior Students and Choir performed The Little Mermaid JR. over two nights at the Drum Theatre. Throughout the year our students demonstrated significant sporting achievements in what was a full sporting calendar. All students participated in the Beyond Boundaries Adventure Program.

The end of the school year is always filled with a mix of emotions. There is a feeling of happiness as one reflects on the wonderful events and stories that have filled our school year. There is a feeling of sadness that we have reached another ending and that our year six students are leaving.

The Year Six class of 2024 celebrated their achievements at their graduation ceremony on Wednesday. The class of 2024 commenced primary school in 2018. I have had the pleasure of working with them during their entire time at primary school. They are the fourteenth cohort of Preps that I have watched grow through Rowville Primary School.

Yesterday a Year Six 2018 graduate, Rodrigo came to visit. He was a Year Six graduate in the same year that our current Year Six students commenced primary school. He was our 2018 recipient of the Aston Shield. We congratulate him on being the 2024 Dux of Rowville Secondary School with an ATAR of 97.1.

The following Year Six students were recognised for excellence in:

Visual Arts – Skyla B

Performing Arts – Jada A

Physical Education – Jasmin K

Sport Leadership – Natasha S

Italian – Cooper H

SA Kitchen – Milla S

Garden Program – Amelia C

Community Leadership – Nishi S

Bernie Seebeck (For all round excellence) – Ruby C

Brian Butters (For academic excellence) – Alicia L

Rowville Scholarship for Endeavour – Harry K

Tilly Aston Achievement Award – Raphael H

We wish all our Year Six students the very best as they embark on the next part of their educational journey. We look forward to hearing of their success in the future.

On Friday we say farewell and thank you to members of our team who are leaving us at the end of the year to explore new opportunities. We thank Ms Nanayakkara and Ms Bas and wish them both all the best for the future.

I would like to thank all the parents who supported our school during 2024. Thank you to parents who supported the implementation of our various Beyond Boundaries experiences, the school disco, sporting events, the Colour Spectacular School Run 4 Fun, the Cooking Collective, care of our chickens and the Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls. Finally, I thank families for their kind words and messages of support throughout the year.

I thank our School Council for their positive contribution to the governance of our school. I acknowledge Lionel Beer the School Council President for his outstanding leadership of School Council and support of our school.

I thank all our families who have made voluntary financial contributions to our building fund. This has enabled us to install heating and cooling in our gym.

I wish all the families of graduating students who are leaving us after a long association with our school all the very best for the future. In addition, I thank the Sillett, Vaughan, Apps, Verstak and Wyckelsma families for their voluntary efforts over many years.

I would like to thank all staff - teachers and school support staff for working together to support our students and their families during 2024. We have a committed team at Rowville Primary School.

I finally acknowledge my Assistant Principals, Mrs Bamford and Mrs White for collaborating with me to lead our school in 2024.

The school will close at 2.30 pm on Friday 20 December. We will be having a whole school assembly commencing at 1.15pm. All parents are welcome to attend. This will be our closing ceremony for 2024. The student leaders for 2025 will be announced. Awards will be presented to students that have achieved excellence in upholding our school values. Our Year Six students will perform their graduation song.

Finally, I extend to all our families peace, joy, and all the best for Christmas and the New Year. I hope your summer is safe and restful. Children need a variety of experiences and conversations from adults in their lives to grow and flourish. Spend the holiday break enjoying family time together. This will help your child be ready for the next year of school.

The 2025 school year for students will commence at 8.45am on Wednesday 29 January 2025. Please note 2025 Foundation students will commence on Wednesday 5 February 2025.

I look forward to working with everyone in 2025. Our students are excited that there will be some exciting additions to our playground next year.

Kind regards,

Anne Babich

Principal

Health and Well-Being