From the Principal 

Message from the Principal

Dear parents and carers,

As I sit down to write this final newsletter for the year, I can't help but reflect on the challenges and successes we've experienced over the past 12 months.

Our staff have continued to engage in intensive and consistent professional learning, which has had a positive impact on student learning outcomes. The data shows significant growth, with our school results consistently outperforming similar schools. We are confident that this growth will continue, thanks to the explicit teaching and learning strategies that are embedded in our staff practices and our high expectations for all students.

We are also pleased to announce that the final stages of planning for our school structures and classes for the upcoming year are complete, and we are fully staffed for 2025. This is a significant achievement, particularly given the staffing challenges faced by many schools.

One of our ongoing challenges has been working with the department to ensure we have enough classrooms to accommodate the growing student population. This requires careful planning and accurate projections of student numbers. For 2025, we will have 42 classes—four more than this year—meaning we will be receiving an additional double-storey portable classroom to meet our needs.

We are excited about the upcoming year and the opportunities it will bring for our students and staff.

Student Transition Day for 2025

Our whole school student transition session for 2025 classes will be held on Tuesday, 12th December. During this session, all current and new students attending Gilgai Plains Primary in 2025 will have the chance to meet their new teacher and spend time with their class. Additionally, our Year 6 students moving on to government secondary schools will participate in their Year 7 Transition Orientation on the same day.

Meet the Teacher - Students and Parents

A key component of our transition program is the thorough handover from your child’s 2024 teacher to their 2025 teacher. This handover includes important information about your child’s learning and wellbeing needs, ensuring they are well supported as they transition to the next year level and class. 

Following this, we also invite you, as parents/carers, to provide a personal handover. As your child’s first teacher, your insights are invaluable in helping us support their happiness and success in 2025. You’ll have the opportunity to share this information during the "Meet the Teacher – Parents and Student Session" on Wednesday, 29th January.

On Thursday, 12th December, parents will receive a link to book their 2025 "Meet the Teacher" session. Please make sure to book this important meeting at your earliest convenience.

Graduating Year 6 Students

On Thursday 12th December, we will celebrate our graduating Year 6 students. After a trip to Funfields on Wednesday, we will hold a graduation ceremony in the evening, followed by a disco for our grade 6 students and teachers. 

This year’s cohort of Year 6 students will be greatly missed. They have lived and played by our school values and made us all extremely proud to call them our Gilgai school leaders and role models. We look forward to celebrating this huge milestone in their journey to adulthood.

The Wizard of Oz - Whole School Production

Thank you for your understanding regarding our rescheduling of our production. Our spectacular whole school production that our students and staff have worked so passionately and tirelessly on, was not going to be spoiled by the weather.

To make this event affordable for our families, we decided to hold our production under our new basketball cover, rather than have the substantial ticket costs of a theatre large enough to hold our school. We will review the success of this venue for future productions and decide if in the future, we need to move to a theatre. We have hired chairs, staging and sound and have also had beautiful commemorative programs designed. These programs will be for sale on the night for $5 each.

Please remember that the aim of our school production is about providing our children with the wonderful opportunity and experience of performing on a stage in front of a large crowd. Even if your child is not at the front of the stage, they will still be singing and dancing their heart out and having a wonderful experience. Ask them to put on a show for you at home and celebrate their achievements with them.

End of Semester reports

Individual student reports will be available through Compass on Tuesday 17th December. These reports are a thorough representation of your child's growth over the last semester. If you have a question about the report, please don’t hesitate to ask your child’s teacher.

Maintenance and Projects

You may have noticed some temporary fencing up around our senior school portables. This is in preparation for the delivery of another double storey, due to be ready for occupation by the beginning of next year.

You will also have noticed that we are close to the completion of another bike shed, on the Toyon Rd side of our school. We listened to feedback and prioritised this shed for our students who live over on that side of the school. This should minimise the number of bikes being ridden on the footpath along Sequoia Rd.

Over the holidays we have a number of projects happening, including the installation of shade sails over our new Year 4 playground and more artificial grass being laid in our Gilgai cubby village.

We have also been informed that the Scout Hall build will begin in the summer holidays. This will be fenced and should not interrupt our school.

Last Day of the 2024 School Year

The last day of school for students this year will be Thursday, 19th December. We understand that many families have informed classroom teachers and the office about their plans to leave earlier for a family holiday. If your child will be absent before this date, please make sure to record their absence on Compass as soon as possible. This will help us finalise our attendance records for the school year. Our final whole school assembly will be on Friday 13th December.

2025 Start of Year Key Dates 

Please ensure you enter these important dates into your calendars and diaries. These dates can also be found on your Compass Calendar.

Tuesday 28th January - Teachers and Education Support: Staff commence and office is open. No students.

Wednesday 29th January – Year F – 6: Meet the Teacher – parent & student session. Individual meeting times to be confirmed. 

Thursday 30th January – Year 2 – 6: Students commence full time

Foundation and Year 1 individual assessments continue, students only attend for their assessment time.

Friday 31st January: Foundation and Year 1 individual assessments continue, students only attend for their assessment time.

Monday 3rd February: Year 1 students commence

Thursday 6th February: Foundation students commence

Friday 21st February: Community Picnic 

Thursday 27th & Friday 28th February: School Photo Days

Monday 10th March: Labour Day Public Holiday

Friday 4th April: Easter Bonnet Parade and Last Day of Term 1 

Kind regards,

Anthea Jamieson