Principal's Report 

 Dear Parents, 

As Simon McGlade mentioned last week in his XUNO correspondence, he has been asked to fill in for a principal who is on leave at another school and I am very grateful to be acting principal in his stead. We anticipate Simon to be away until the beginning of term two, however he and I will be in regular contact to ensure the continued smooth and successful running of our wonderful school. 

There will need to be additional staffing adjustments during this period also, and as they arise we will be sure to inform you accordingly.  As has always been the case, if parents would like to speak to me about any issue, my door is always open for a chat. 

Parents of students in grades three and five will know that the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is fast approaching. At Mackellar Primary School, as with most primary schools, we view NAPLAN as an opportunity for students, parents and staff to gauge where students are at academically via an independent process, and couple this information with school based assessments to provide an overall picture of student progress. 

To prepare for the assessments, students in grades three and five have been working in small groups understanding what questions they may be faced with, what strategies they can use, and exposing them to assessment conditions.  We hope this exposure and clarity reduces any nervousness they might have, and allows them to feel comfortable with their result. If parents have any questions about NAPLAN, please be sure to see your child's classroom teacher, or Shelley Wockner who is our NAPLAN coordinator. 

As has been mentioned regularly, Monday March 10 is the Labour Day public holiday and the school will be closed. On Tuesday March 11, we will be holding a pupil free day giving students a four day break from school. On this day, the teachers will be honing their skills in teaching mathematics, working on future inquiries with students, and undertaking further works in relation to Disability Inclusion.  A very busy day for them indeed. 

TheirCare is available on this day should parents require supervision for their children. 

Kind Regards, 

Kylie Kennedy

Acting Principal