A message from the Principal

Despite some challenges posed by current world events, I will be commencing Long Service Leave from Wednesday this week through until the end of term. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to travel back to the United Kingdom to spend time with family and friends, along with a short break in Andalucía. It is something I have been looking forward to for some time, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to take this leave.

In my absence, Jac Morphy, our Assistant Principal, will be acting Principal through until the end of term, ably supported by our school leadership team and our wonderful staff. I know the school will be in excellent hands.

Even though we are only part way through Week 8, I cannot remember a more action-packed, joyful and successful start to a school year at SKiPPS.

Saturday’s school fete was, quite simply, outstanding. The sunshine, the crowds, the performances, the laughter and the incredible sense of community combined to create a day that truly captured everything that makes our school so special. It was a privilege to see our students, families and staff come together in such a vibrant and positive way, and I left the day feeling incredibly proud to be the principal of this wonderful school.

Beyond the fete, there has been so much to celebrate. Our Foundation students have made an exceptional start to school life. In just eight weeks, they have settled into routines, built friendships and embraced their learning with confidence. I had the pleasure of taking a tour for prospective 2027 families this morning and was amazed to see our newest students confidently reading, blending sounds and writing words during their phonics lesson. To see this level of independence and skill so early in their schooling is a testament to the expertise of our teachers, the strength of our instructional approach, and the support of our families.

Across the school, students have made a very strong start to the year and should feel proud of their efforts. It is incredibly rewarding to see the impact of the work we have undertaken over recent years, with high-quality, evidence-based teaching and consistent routines supporting excellent learning in every classroom.

The term has also been filled with a wide range of opportunities and experiences. We have enjoyed Jazz in the Park, district swimming, information nights and parent teacher interviews. We have elected and welcomed a new School Council, completed NAPLAN testing and launched into a fantastic Harmony Week. It genuinely feels like we have packed a year’s worth of activity into a single term.

Looking ahead, there is still plenty to come. This Friday morning, we will hold our special Harmony Day assembly and we warmly invite families to stay after drop off and join us. It promises to be a wonderful celebration and not one to miss. We will also be holding our Athletics Day at the end of term, with further details to be shared very soon.

I would also like to flag that next week, the Australian Education Union has called a stop work action as part of ongoing negotiations around improved funding and conditions for public education. Many of our staff will be participating. We will provide further details in this newsletter to support families in planning for the day.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of our school. I hope everyone enjoys the final weeks of term and a well-earned, relaxing Easter break when it arrives. I look forward to seeing you all refreshed and ready for Term 2 on April 20.

Neil Scott

Principal