Dear Parents / Carers,

This is the final newsletter for 2023. It has been a privilege to work with our school community during the 2023 school year. We have had a fabulous year of learning!

Our students were very excited to meet their 2024 class teacher and class peers. It was a very exciting day filled with excitement and anticipation. Our 2024 Foundation students have spent the morning with their new teachers and were introduced to their 2024 Year Six buddies. Our Year Six students visited their respective secondary schools last Tuesday.

Our Christmas concert was a wonderful community night where the Rowville Primary School community came together in a relaxed 'picnic' environment to celebrate the end of the school year. We thank Team Kids for providing the Barbeque which raised approx. $900.00 for State School's Relief. I thank Kieron and Sharon from FORPS for organising the Christmas raffle which raised approx. $800.00 towards our new playground.

On reflection, I could not have asked for a better school year. We accomplished so much for our students. Our teachers delivered targeted teaching throughout the year, and our results show that students across the school have made significant learning growth. The senior students and choir performed ‘SHREK The Musical Jr’ over two nights at the Drum Theatre. Throughout the year our students demonstrated significant sporting achievements in what was a full sporting calendar. Our students participated in the Beyond Boundaries Adventure Program.

The end of the school year is always filled with a mix of emotions. There is a feeling of happiness as one reflects on the wonderful events and stories that have filled our school year. There is a feeling of sadness that we have reached another ending and that our Year Six students are leaving. The Year Six Class of 2023 celebrated their achievements at their graduation ceremony last Wednesday. The Class of 2023 commenced at Rowville Primary School in 2017. I have had the pleasure of working with them during their entire time at primary school. They are the thirteenth cohort of Preps that I have watched grow through Rowville Primary School.

The following year six students were recognised for excellence in:

Visual Arts - Madinah 6A

Performing Arts - David 6C

Physical Education - Jordan 6C

Sport Leadership - Bronn 6C

LOTE - Dinadi 6C

SA Kitchen - Lily 6A

Garden Program - Austin 6B

STEM - Sienna 6C

Community Leadership - Josh 6C

Bernie Seebeck (For all round excellence) - Eva 6A

Brian Butters (For academic excellence) - Fenice 6B

Rowville Scholarship for Endeavour - Ayla 6C

We wish all our Year Six students the very best as they embark on the next part of their educational journey. We look forward to hearing of their success in the future.

At our last Friday assembly, we said farewell and thank you to members of our team who are leaving us at the end of the year to explore new opportunities. In addition, I would like to thank Mrs Wilson who replaced Mrs Bamford as Assistant Principal this term. We thank Mrs Wilson for her support and wish her all the best for the future.

I would like to thank all the parents who supported our school during 2023. I thank our parents who supported the implementation of our various Beyond Boundaries experiences, excursions, the school disco, the colour run, canteen, the kitchen and garden programs, sporting events and the Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls.

Finally, I thank families for their kind words and messages of support throughout the year.

I thank our School Council for their positive contribution to the governance of our school. I acknowledge Lionel Beer the School Council President for his outstanding leadership of School Council and support of our school.

I would like to thank all staff - teachers and education support staff for working together to support our students and their families during 2023. We have a committed team at Rowville Primary School.

The school will close at 2.30 pm on Wednesday 20 December. We will be having a whole school assembly commencing at 1.00pm. All parents are welcome to attend. This will be our closing ceremony for 2023. The student leaders for 2024 will be announced. Awards will be presented to students that have achieved excellence in demonstrating our school values. Our Year Six students will perform their graduation song.

Finally, I extend to all our families peace, joy, and all the best for Christmas and the New Year. I hope your summer is safe and restful. Children need a variety of experiences and conversations from adults in their lives to grow and flourish. Spend the holiday break enjoying family time together. This will help your child be ready for the next year of school.

We congratulate Ms Ballestrin on the safe arrival of Violet Maeve who arrived at 3.36am on December 16 2023.

I look forward to working with everyone in 2024. Our students are excited that the new playground will be ready at the start of 2024.

The new school year for students in Years 1 to 6 will commence at 8.45am on Tuesday 30 January 2024. Please note 2024 Foundation students will commence at 8.45am on Monday 5 February 2024.

Kind regards,

Anne Babich

Principal

Health and Well-Being