Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Guardians,

What a fabulous end to term 4 it has been. Everyday seems to have had an exciting event for the school. Our extra curricula specialist programs have showcased their programs through end of year performances such as music and dance performances. We’ve also had a range of sporting events such as Swimming Sports, Triathlon and Twilight Sports (with a twist). We were so fortunate to have perfect weather for the school Sing-A-Long. It was an outstanding event with over 1400 in attendance and of course, a special visit from Santa thanks to our local fire brigade.

Preparations for 2025 are in place. Teachers worked on building balanced classes for 2025 and creating smooth transitions to the next year level. Many transition processes happen quietly and then we have the big UP Day where the shole school moves on site to their new class. This was a huge success once again. We attribute this to the many hours of work that goes on behind the scenes to build the classes where everyone has a friend, quiet visits from the 2025 teachers to the classes and visits to the 2025 classrooms. We are so proud of our students for maintaining a positive growth mindset as they embraced the change for 2025. 

We congratulate our Year 6 students as they graduate Primary School and head into Secondary School. They have shown our THRIVE values as they embrace the change moving to a new campus with different structures and routines. They’ve had an intensely exciting end to the year with a multitude of fun events from the Cable Park, Gravity Zone, Scavenger Hunt, BBQ, and of course, their Year 6 Graduation event. They’ve built memory books of their Primary School years to share with their families.

Our 2025 Playleaders and Year 6 Leadership Captains have been announced after a rigorous selection process. We are fortunate to have so many students interested in Leadership, with outstanding qualities. It certainly made it challenging to select captains for each position. We have 2 new positions for 2025 which have emerged due to the passion of the students. Sustainability and THRIVE/Wellbeing Captains have been added to our Student Leadership Team. Our assembly awards this week will be based on the selection of one student per year level who has shown 100% effort for the whole year.

This final part of the year is all about celebrations. We celebrate the successes of our students evidenced in their school reports. Teachers have diligently assessed learning, moderated data and then compiled reports to share student achievements. These are being finalised and will be available to view through your Compass portal next week.

Our school operates so well due to the supportive school community we have. For the 20+ years I have been at this school I have always been so grateful to work with families of our school community to help their children have the best possible education. 

There are many parts to the success of our school and we share our thanks with each of them.

• School Council Members work as volunteers together with Leadership to govern our school. 
• The PFC work tirelessly to provide fun activities for the students and fundraise to support their needs at school. Our Gardens and Maintenance team work diligently in our school yard. 
• Our canteen staff and Before/After School Care operators provide choices for our community. Our office staff help to guide parents and students through any challenges so they can get the appropriate support. 
• Our Wellbeing Team, including our Education Support aides work with beaming smiles to support our students with additional needs and support families through challenging times. 
• Our parents, grandparents, and caregivers support the students, the teachers and the PFC. 
• Our students, the life of the school, with their energy, smiles and laughter—that’s who we build this school community for. We thank each and every one of you for your support and positivity.

There is always some sadness with this time of year also. It’s a time for goodbyes. We farewell our Year 6s to their next exciting chapter. We have a few families moving out of our community, and some moving in. We have some staff heading off to new schools and would like to thank them for their service to our school. We will miss Ms Exner, Ms Hailey and Mrs Zerafa but wish them every success at their new school communities. We will welcome our new staff in 2025.

There are a few end of year notes:

*Class parties are on Tuesday; teachers are organising this with their families.

*The last day of school for students is Thursday, Dec 19. It is a normal 3.30pm finish that day. 

*Teachers have a Curriculum Day on Friday Dec 20th to prepare for their 2025 classes. 

*Students start school on Wednesday the 29th of January 2025. Teachers start on 28/1/25. 

*Foundation students will have timetable details shared with them by class teachers.

Please make sure you are familiar with Compass as that will be our main communication channel for 2025. We will be archiving Class Dojo.

Finally, I want to express my deep gratitude to you, our parents and guardians. Your unwavering support, involvement, and collaboration have been instrumental in helping us create a positive learning environment for our children. Together, we are shaping the leaders and learners of tomorrow.

I hope you all have a safe, relaxing, and joyful holiday season with your families. We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year for another exciting chapter in our school’s journey.

Acting Principal 

Deb Haddow