R/Principal: Jacinta Wheeler

Ballarat Excursion is finally here!!

The much anticipated excursion to Ballarat, has arrived. Students will explore the rich history of Australia’s gold rush era. Our students will be visiting Sovereign Hill, a museum that recreates life in a goldfields town during the 1850s. One of the key highlights of the day will be sessions at the Colonial School, where students will experience what schooling was like over 150 years ago.

Dressed in period-style clothing and using traditional materials such as slate boards and ink pens, students will take part in a recreated 1850s classroom environment. This immersive experience allows them to truly understand the contrasts between modern education and that of early colonial times.

The excursion not only supports our curriculum but also helps bring history to life in a meaningful and memorable way. It’s a chance for students to connect with the past in a hands-on, engaging environment. We look forward to what promises to be a fun, educational, and unforgettable days for our students.

Opening of OOSH (Out of School Hours) care in Term 4

We are pleased to announce that a new Out of School Hours (OOSH) Care service run by Thrive, will be opening on our school grounds from Term 4. This service will provide quality before and after school care, giving families greater flexibility and peace of mind knowing their children are in a safe, engaging, and supportive environment.

The OOSH program will offer:

Before School Care: from 7am until school starts
After School Care: from school finish until 6pm
A wide range of activities, including arts and crafts, games, and outdoor play
Healthy snacks and meals provided during sessions
Care run by qualified, experienced staff in alignment with our school’s values and community focus

We know that many families have been looking forward to this addition, and we are excited to be able to support our community in this way.

Enrolment information, including fees, operating hours, and how to register your child, will be shared in a flyer included in this newsletter.

A parent information session will also be held early in Term 4 for those who would like to meet the OOSH team and learn more about the service.

We look forward to working closely with the OOSH provider to ensure a smooth and successful start.

School Arrival Times

We would like to kindly remind families about the importance of appropriate arrival times at school each morning.

We have recently noticed an increasing number of students arriving too early, before official supervision begins. Please note that staff supervision does not commence until 8.30am, and for safety reasons, we are unable to provide supervision before this time.

Students arriving before the designated supervision time are unsupervised, which raises concerns about their safety and wellbeing. To ensure all students are safe and supported, we kindly ask that they do not arrive at school before 8.30am unless they are attending a scheduled school activity or are enrolled in the OOSH (Out of School Hours) care program.

If early drop-offs are unavoidable due to work or family commitments, we strongly encourage families to consider using our before-school OOSH service, which provides safe, structured care starting from 7am.

We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe and supervised environment for all students.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

Last week, we proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week with a series of rich, engaging activities led by Faith, our Aboriginal Education Officer. This year’s theme was brought to life through a variety of experiences that celebrated First Nations culture, language, and knowledge.

Students participated in a wonderful program of activities including:

Language sessions, where they learned local Aboriginal words and meanings,
Traditional dance workshops,
Art projects inspired by Dreaming stories and Country, and
Bush food cooking experiences that were both educational and delicious!

We were thrilled to see such strong community involvement, with many parents and carers joining us throughout the week. Their presence made the celebrations even more meaningful, and we thank everyone who attended and shared their time and culture with us.

A heartfelt thank you to Faith for her leadership, passion, and dedication in guiding these celebrations and deepening our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

It was a powerful week of connection, learning, and respect, and we look forward to continuing this journey together throughout the year.