Principal's Report
Welcome to Gardenvale PS for 2024
On behalf of all staff a warm welcome to all our students and parents for the 2024 school year. Hope you've had a wonderful time over the summer holidays. I thank our staff for their hard work over the holidays to ensure all was ready in classrooms and offices for a smooth start to school. We are pleased to be welcoming two new staff members to Gardenvale, Michelle Robbins will be teaching 3C and Katie Ferguson teaching 1B.
Last Thursday our new Prep students commenced their first day of school. There were lots of smiling faces, only a few tears and photos being taken that will be lasting memories of this very important occasion. Welcome and best wishes to our new staff members and families who are starting with us also.
A reminder that unless students are attending GOSH (before care with Team Kids) they should not be onsite at school before 8.45am. The gates will be opened, and teachers are supervising the school grounds, from 8.45am onwards.
Working Bee - Sunday 28th January
Once again Dimi, Julie and I were overwhelmed by our amazing school community that answered our plea to help prepare the school grounds for the 2024 school year. There was so much leaf litter and weeds to clean up, grass to mow and whipper snip, furniture to move, drains to clear, etc. Thank you so much to all the mums, dads, and children that were able to come along to the working bee. We can’t thank you enough – what an amazingly supportive community we have!
A very sincere thank you from Julie, Dimi and I to the following: – Yoav Appel, Mark Bokser, Louisa Bolton, Aviva Cohen, Natalie Cohen, Miles Donaldson, Luke Fishley, Oren Flamm, Danielle Frankel, Mark Frayman, James Gold, Peter Hall, Amber Harris, Kym Hayat, Lee-at Jacobson, Scott Johns, Jonty and Robyn Kramer, Kelly Krepak, Lyudmila Kostenko, Colin Leask, Jae Hee Lee, Liorah Levin, Matt Lewin, Jasmine Lewkowicz, Allan and Irene Lichomets, Leon Lopata, Fairlie Mahemoff, Nicky Martin, Rebecca Martin, Martin McKee, Catherine McLaughlin, Manjari Mehta, Colin and Stef Perkovic, Theresa Scott, Tanya Shulman, Simon Stainmagen and Monique Sweetland, (sorry if your name is missing but thank you!!). It was wonderful to see so many children also helping to make sure our school was spick and span; they certainly deserved a special treat for their hardwork!
We are so grateful to Jen Robinson, one of our Year 1 parents, for all her work in our vegetable garden at the Junior Campus. Jen kindly volunteered many hours last year, and over the summer break, to maintain and nurture the garden beds. We are so fortunate to have Jen continue her work caring for this important space.
Information Evenings
Last night was the Parent Information Evening for our Year 2 Parents. Tonight, we will welcome our Prep parents (in the Hall at 6.00pm) and Year 5 parents (in the MPC at 6.30pm) to hear what is in store for their children in 2024. Tomorrow evening it will be our Year 1 parents turn (in the Hall at 6.30pm) then on Thursday night we welcome our Year 6 parents (in the MPC at 6:00pm).
The high attendance by our parents reflect the level of engagement our families have in our school. Our teachers share the plans for the year ahead and highlight the expectations for students and families.
Please note the remaining two Information Nights are as follows:
- Year 3 - 6.30pm – Monday 12th February
- Year 4 - 6.00pm – Thursday 15th February
Road Safety
Our school crossings are in place to support the safe arrival and dismissal of students each school day. Our school has three crossings supported by staff from Bayside and Glen Eira Councils. Parents are asked to use the crossings and model best behaviours through appropriate parking, crossing with children and following the directions of our Crossing Supervisors.
For the safety of our whole School Community and local neighbours we are strongly requesting that our parent and carers be respectful and do the right thing when they are delivering or collecting their children to or from school.
Julie Pitts is currently on leave until 12th March . During Julie’s absence Dimi Sfetsas will be managing the Junior Campus.
Have a lovely week,
Janine Hall