Heading into the home stretch

     Only five and a half weeks to go in the 2024 school year!  With another amazing concert and awards night behind us, teachers are very busy with end of year assessments.  These assessments will contribute to end of year report writing and our last Student Support Group meetings during the week of December 4-8.

     On top of all of this work, there are many other term 4 activities scheduled in the coming weeks.  These include Pathways Adventure Week followed closely by graduation night on November 29th.  At the opposite end of the school we'll have our new prep transition morning visits. All students will participate in the state-wide orientation day on December 12.  On Friday 15th December we will hold our end of term awards Assembly before school finishes up for the year on 20th December.

     In the background, work has continued on moving our major building works along.   We are at the stage now where a builder will be selected and the building itself will be emptied in preparation for demolition.  This will likely occur during the school holiday period.  Naranga has been planning for how to manage our home groups and specialist subjects next year when a third of the campus will be a construction site.  This does mean that some age groups will move into buildings on a different part of campus.  Many of our specialist teachers will also become 'mobile' and deliver their lessons to children in their homerooms.  We are also preparing a temporary junior playground for our younger students to utilise while their regular playground is redeveloped.  While there will be a level of disruption and inconvenience to the school, I believe we'll be able to cope with the disruptions and still offer the full range of programs next year.  As I keep saying to the staff, all of the changes will be worth it when we move into a contemporary facility designed with our learners needs in mind.

     I'd like to announce that Shaun Bacon has been asked to step into an Acting Principal role at Bayside SDS for the remainder of term 4.  The school was unexpectedly in a difficult position and so Shaun's years of experience were sought at short notice.  While Shaun is away from Naranga, Anne Maree Nicholson is our Acting Assistant Principal, and Angela Harrison will take on coordination of the Senior School and Pathways departments.  We look forward to welcoming Shaun (and Maggie) back to start the new school year.

Have a great weekend,

Kai Pukarinen

Principal