Principal's Report

2025 Staffing

After a very busy period of workforce planning, we are in a position to be able to announce class allocations for 2025. There are a few logistical elements of our specialist and support programs that are still coming together, but class teacher allocations are finalised.

Next year will feature two classes at each year level once again.

Foundation: Nick Kong & Lorna Say

Year 1: Melinda Browne & Michael Zukier

Year 2: Renae Greer & Cheryl Ryan

Year 3: Kate Pickburn & Kirsten Davies

Year 4: Anne Seymour & Carly Feng

Year 5: Cameron Batt & Natasha Robb/Margie Strickland

Year 6: Mollie Trounson & Micah Gonzalez

PE: Tim Fearn-Wannan

Japanese: Kellie Vimpani

Visual Art: Katrina Cassidy

Performing Arts: Lachlan Hilston

STEAM: Emily Choo

Tutor Learning Initiative: Jessica Lipscombe & Kelly Vimpani

Learning Specialist: Cameron Batt

Art Therapy: Katrina Cassidy

Leadership Release: Lena Zappia

Administration: Peter Watson, Stephen Roche, Melissa Khoury, Luciana Sanelli

First Aid Officer: Lisa Ralling

Education Support: Heidi McArdle, Sophie Posselt, Finn Corbett-Davies, Ashley Jansz, Kevin Moloney, Marcelle Abrahams, Lisa Ralling

We would like to extend our best wishes to Sam Fenton, Laura Tinney & Jonathan Parkins who have taken up new opportunities in other schools for 2025. All three have made tremendous contributions this year and we're sure they'll continue to excel in their new schools. Tristan Liao is taking a year of leave to explore some opportunities with his art.

We are very excited to be welcoming back three outstanding teachers in 2025, being Nick Kong who is returning to us after taking leave for 2024, as well as Natasha Robb and Margie Strickland who are both returning part-time after a period of family leave.

We would also like to extend warm welcomes to Michael Zukier and Emily Choo who are joining the team in 2025. Michael has done some casual work with us and was a pre-service teacher here, while Emily comes from a very strong STEAM background and will be a great addition to the specialist team.

As stated previously, any requests for specific teachers are often very difficult to accommodate and can rarely be guaranteed due to the many factors that influence student placements. We would ask that any such requests are limited to very strong justifications only.

(More) Robbie Mac High Achievers

Following on from a multitude of successful students highlighted in the last edition of the newsletter, there are more successes that I'm happy to report today.

You may recall that Benson from Year 5 was the winner of the 2024 MASH Public Speaking competition. As a result, Benson progressed to the regional level of the competition this week and placed a very impressive third. Congratulations Benson!

It's not often our little school achieves a national level result, however Sunwoo from Year 3 has returned from a trip to the national finals of Tae Kwon Do. Competing against students in his age group from across the country, Sunwoo excelled, earning second place and a silver medal for his efforts. Congratulations Sunwoo!

Last week at assembly, we had a special visit from local MP, Paul Hamer, who presented his annual STEM award to Dylan and Celine from Year 6. This award recognises students across the Box Hill electorate for their leadership and achievements within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Congratulations Dylan and Celine!

Finally, in breaking news, our school has this morning competed in a district Softcrosse tournament - with one of our teams going through undefeated and our school claiming the trophy as the champion school across the district. Congratulations Softcrosse competitors!

Colour Run Fun!

Thanks to our wonderful PFA and community of volunteers for staging another successful Colour Run last Friday! Special thanks to our wonderful organiser, Andrew Jeffrey, for your hard work and leadership in coordinating the event and making sure all went smoothly on the day.

Have a look at our "What's Happening" page for some great photos from the event, including some action shots from the questionable "tradition" of covering the Principal team in slime!

Of course, massive thanks to the whole community for your fundraising efforts associated with the Colour Run - we look forward to a game of Gaga in the near future as a result!

Peter Watson

Principal