Principal's Message

Dear Tarrawanna Public School Community,

As we move through Term 1, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible efforts of our students and staff. It has been a busy time filled with learning, growth, and community engagement.

This term, we are focusing on our new school values of respect, connect, and grow. These values are being taught explicitly in every classroom, and you will soon see new signage around the school that provides more detail about these important principles. By embedding these values into our school culture, we aim to create a nurturing environment where every student can thrive.

I am particularly proud of our students' participation in the recent school and district swimming carnivals. A special shout-out goes to Hugo, who had multiple podium finishes and will now represent our district at the South Coast Swimming Carnival. Well done, Hugo!

A new initiative I am very proud of is our Breakfast Club, which is proving to be very popular! Held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, this service is entirely free and available for all students. Our goal is to ease some of the pressures on parents during busy mornings and provide relief amid the cost of living crisis.

I would also like to acknowledge the fantastic work of our kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Mac, for such a successful kindergarten transition. Our kindergarten students are settling in beautifully, and it is heartwarming to see them thrive in their new environment.

Thank you to all the parents who attended yesterday afternoon's Meet the Teacher event. It was a great success, and your involvement is invaluable to our school community. As always, parents can reach out to teachers directly through the Seesaw app if they have any questions or concerns.

So our students get off to the best possible start in 2025, I want to emphasise the importance of student attendance. It is crucial that students are at school every day (unless they are sick) and ready to learn in classrooms by 9 am. Every minute of learning lost adds up and can have a significant impact on student acadamic progress and wellbeing.

While we acknowledge that the recent changes in classroom structures may have caused some disruption for students and families, we continue to check in on all students. Those who have moved classes are adapting well, and we will review our processes for next year to minimise the chance of such disruptions occurring again.

Looking ahead, our calendar is filled with exciting events, including the upcoming Stage 3 Camp at Great Aussie Bush Camp in Kincumber, NAPLAN assessments for Years 3 and 5, and our AFL sports program. Many major events have been strategically scheduled for the last week of term to minimise disruption to learning in other weeks. This includes our Harmony Week celebrations, a Stage 3 Leadership Day, ANZAC Ceremony, and our annual Easter Hat Parade on the final day of term.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to Tarrawanna Public School. Together, we can ensure that our school remains a vibrant and nurturing environment for all our students.

Warm regards,

Mr Chris Hopkins

Principal