Principal's Report
Recruitment Update
Our recruitment processes for 2025 are almost complete. We currently have one teaching position (applications for this position closed earlier this week) and two Education Support (ES) positions (classroom and part-time administration) to fill.
Other staffing changes for 2025 are as follows:
- Mrs Caitlin Harris, Mrs Effie Hamilton and Ms Maddy Vernon will all be taking Family Leave. Mrs Harris will be taking leave at the end of this term and won’t be returning in 2025. Mrs Hamilton will be taking leave from November 19 and will return at the start of Term 2 next year. Ms Vernon will be taking leave from March 6 next year and won’t return in 2025. Mrs Amy Arthur will continue to be on Family Leave throughout 2025. Mrs Arthur is also due to have her second child early next year. Congratulations to Caitlin, Effie, Maddy, Amy and their families!
- Mrs Nat Todeschini has secured the Mental Health Leader (MHL) role at SGPS. This is a new position for 2025. Nat will also continue to be our Inclusion Coordinator, as the MHL role allocation is 0.6 for our school.
- Mrs Emma Clohesy and Ms Abbey Dunn have secured teaching positions for 2025. Emma and Abbey have been amazing employees at SGPS for the last 3 years and 2 years, respectively. Congulations on securing your first teaching positions!
- Ms Ash Lockett is returning from leave
- Mr Luke Crawford is returning from leave
- Mrs Von Garmey will be increasing her time-fraction from 0.4 To 0.6 in 2025.
World Teachers' Day
Last Friday we celebrated World Teachers' Day. Thanks to all of our teachers for making a huge difference every day to our little people and thank you for your dedication, passion, and tireless efforts to support and empower our students.
Grandparents Day 2024
A highlight on our calendar each year is Grandparents Day. This year we had our usual strong attendance with over 200 visitors. Students clearly loved showing off their classroom and doing activities with their special visitor. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend.
2025 Placement Requests
Throughout the rest of November we will continue to work on our class structures and student combinations for next year.
In the past we have worked to ensure friendship groups remain together in some capacity, however, it is equally important to recognise the need to establish productive environments that support learning, as well as maintaining or building new friendship groups. If there are any concerns about friendship placements for students in 2025, please let me know via email Francis.Trezise@education.vic.gov.au by Friday, 8th November. No late requests will be considered. Please note that it is not possible for parents to request specific teachers, as it would be impossible to accommodate all requests. Our process is to develop matched classroom groups, based on social and educational needs, and then we match teachers to each class. In this way, all classes are developed equally.
Final Curriculum Day for 2024
Our final curriculum day for 2024 will be held on Wednesday, 13th November. Staff will be using this day for assessment and reporting.
Smile Dental
The Smile Squad team from Bendigo Health is coming to our school from Monday November 11th.
Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program. This means ALL students can get a free dental check-up, preventive services, and treatment at school.
How to access free dental care
We need your consent before we can provide services. Consent is usually provided by a parent or guardian.
Sign up to Smile Squad at: https://bit.ly/smilesquadvic
OR use the below QR code:
Paper copies of the consent form are available. Please contact the school office if you would like to request one.
Smile Squad oral health packs
Your child(ren) will soon receive a free oral health pack to bring home. The pack contains a toothbrush, full sized toothpaste, and an oral health brochure. Please take the time to read the brochure. It’s full of helpful hints and tips to help your whole family eat well, drink well and clean well – for life.
Smile Squad provides standard strength fluoride toothpaste that is generally used by ages six and over, unless recommended by a dental or trained health professional.
If your child is under six, please talk to a dental or trained health professional to find out if your child might benefit from using this toothpaste. You can also choose to put the toothpaste away until they turn six or give it to someone else in your family to use.
Do I need to attend my child’s appointment?
No, you do not need to attend your child’s appointment. You can attend if you would like to, and you can take your child to the community dental clinic if you prefer.