David's Message

Dear Sunshine Heights Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to term 2, and a big term in many ways for our community. This term we hold our Mothers and Special Persons' Breakfast, Twilight School, and have the first of our camps (Years 5/6) to Marysville. 

During this term the AEU Victoria is continuing Industrial action to improve pay and conditions for our staff, and to pressure the government to adequately fund our public school students. As many of you will have seen, the most recent budget release has funding for some public schools, but again our school has been overlooked by the government despite desperately needing updates to our buildings that are 70 years old this year. Parents are able to make representations to Sarah Connolly as our local MP to ask why there are no priorities for improvements at our school despite many visits from her to our school for her photo opportunities over the years. Further communications regarding the industrial action will be provided closer to the time, but I wanted to assure parents that supervision for children of critical workers will be available, and our Year 5/6 camp is not affected by this action. 

This week Vicky Psihogios and I toured the demolition site for the toilets to see the progress that has been made. Further demolition works are slated for the coming two weeks before the next stage of the rebuild begins. Whilst it has been a long time since this project was announced, we are very pleased with the outcome that additional funds have been supplied by the VSBA to ensure a complete knockdown and rebuild. 

Two of the mature trees next to the toilet will need to come down in order to ensure safe foundations and clear plumbing routes. We have asked that the wood from these trees is retained on the school grounds to provide seating and habitat creation in the Nugal-nganjin garden.

Finally, I need to share that I will be taking some leave from Monday 11th May due to a surgery on my neck that some of you will know I have been waiting a while for. This means I will not be back until the end of Term 2/beginning of Term 3. Information about my replacement for the term will be shared as soon as possible. 

Best wishes,

David and the Sunny Heights Team