Principal's Page

Welcome Back to Term 3

I hope all of our students, families and staff enjoyed a relaxing and well-deserved holiday break. I trust everyone has had the opportunity to rest, recharge and spend time with family and friends. It has been wonderful to welcome our students back to school, and I am looking forward to another exciting term of learning, growth and achievement.

While our students were enjoying their holidays, there was plenty happening behind the scenes at Valkstone Primary School. The school holiday period provides us with an ideal opportunity to complete maintenance and improvement projects that are difficult to undertake while students are on site.

One of the most significant projects has been the refurbishment of the playground located at the Juliana St/Valkstone St corner of the oval. The entire structure has been stripped back to the bare metal, treated with a rust-proof coating and repainted, giving it a fresh new look while also protecting it for many years to come.

I am particularly pleased to share that this project has been made possible through the generosity of our wonderful school community. The fundraising efforts of our families so far this year have enabled us to invest directly back into our school grounds, creating improved spaces for our students to enjoy every day. It is always rewarding to see fundraising dollars transformed into projects that benefit all children, and I sincerely thank everyone who has led and supported our fundraising events throughout the year so far.

The playground refurbishment is not quite complete, with a brand-new climbing wall and climbing rope due to be installed within the next four to six weeks. These components have been custom manufactured to suit the existing structure, and I know our students will be excited to explore these new additions once they are installed.

The seating area in our Prep playground has also received a significant refresh. The metal frames have undergone the same restoration process as the playground equipment, while the timber seating planks and tabletop have been completely replaced and stained to improve their durability and longevity. This much-loved space has been given a new lease on life and will continue to provide a welcoming place to gather, play and learn.

Student safety continues to be one of our highest priorities. Over the holidays, fresh softfall was installed across all playground areas to ensure these spaces remain safe and well maintained for students to enjoy.

You may also notice that some of the garden beds at the front of the school have been refreshed with new tanbark, helping to create an attractive and welcoming entrance for students, families and visitors alike.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Valkstone Primary School. I look forward to another fantastic term as we continue working together to provide the very best opportunities for every child.