Principal’s Report

“Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” — Michelle Obama

Welcome to Term 4

It has been wonderful to welcome our students and staff back for Term 4. The children have settled happily into their familiar routines and learning programs, and there is already a lovely sense of energy and excitement across the school.

This is always a particularly busy and special term, filled with opportunities to celebrate our students’ learning, achievements and progress.

National Carers Week

This week is National Carers Week, an important opportunity to recognise the extraordinary contribution made by the millions of unpaid carers across Australia.

At Monash SDS, we know that our parents, carers and families give an enormous amount of time, love, energy and advocacy to support their children. Much of this work happens quietly and behind the scenes, but its impact is immeasurable. We see the strength, resilience and dedication of our families every day. National Carers Week gives us an opportunity to acknowledge all that you do and to say a very sincere thank you.

A huge thank you also goes to our amazing Parent Group, who arranged a coffee cart for our parents, carers and staff this morning. It was such a thoughtful and generous gesture and a lovely way to bring our community together during Carers Week. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive and caring Parent Group.

Space Week

There was plenty of excitement across the school during Space Week, with students participating in fun and engaging activities focused on space, planets, astronauts and rockets. The rocket designs created by our students were amazing. It was wonderful to see their creativity, imagination and individual ideas reflected in their work. These practical and sensory learning experiences provide meaningful opportunities for students to explore, make choices, communicate and share their achievements with others.

Thank you to our staff for creating such enjoyable and accessible learning experiences for students across the school.

Preparing for important transitions

This term, we will also begin the orientation process for the students commencing Prep at Monash SDS in 2027. Starting school is a significant milestone, and our orientation program will help our new students and their families become familiar with our school, staff, routines and learning environments. We will work closely with families to gather important information about each child’s strengths, interests, communication and support needs. This helps us create a transition that is welcoming, structured and responsive to every student. We are also beginning preparations for our Primary students who will move into the Secondary area next year. Staff will support students to gradually become familiar with new environments, routines and expectations. Providing predictability and opportunities to practise these changes helps students approach the transition with greater confidence and security. We look forward to working in partnership with families throughout both transition processes.

Celebrating 50 years of Monash SDS

There is so much to look forward to this term, including our very special 50th Celebration Day on Saturday 21 November. This will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate 50 years of Monash SDS—1976 to 2026 and to recognise the students, families, staff and community members who have all contributed to the story of our school.

Families should now have received their invitations. We hope you will join us as we celebrate this significant milestone, reconnect with members of our school community and look back proudly on how far Monash SDS has come.

A special final term for our graduates

Term 4 is also the final school term for our graduating students. This is a significant and emotional milestone for the students, their families and the staff who have supported them throughout their time at Monash SDS. Over the coming weeks, we will celebrate their individual achievements, the progress they have made and the unique contribution each student has made to our school community. We are incredibly proud of our graduates and look forward to making their final term a happy and memorable one as they prepare for the next stage of their lives. There is much to celebrate and look forward to during the weeks ahead. Thank you to our students, staff, families and wider community for the care, enthusiasm and partnership you bring to Monash SDS.

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