Learning & Growth - Melissa Harford

Warm greetings and a very warm welcome back to Term 3.

While this term arrives with grey winter skies and, admittedly, no public holidays to break the journey, I will happily confess that it is my favourite term of the year. Term 3 is when learning truly comes together. The foundations so carefully laid in Terms 1 and 2 begin to connect, and we witness significant, joy-filled growth in our learners. As Paul reminds us, we may plant and water, but it is God who gives growth (1 Corinthians 3:6 - 7), and what a privilege it is to watch Him at work in each child this term.

Our Free to Flourish disposition focus this term is Adventurous, and we intend to embrace it wholeheartedly. Across the Primary school, our learners will venture into new territory as they explore new United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through their Project Based Learning units and service projects. There is something distinctly Lutheran about this kind of learning, stepping out in faith, using our God-given gifts in service of others, and caring for the world He has entrusted to us. We look forward to seeing where the adventure leads. We are also delighted that every year level is commencing a new human-centred design PBL unit this term. Please take the opportunity to chat with your child about what they are exploring, their empathy, ideas and problem-solving are sure to impress and watch for regular updates in our weekly class wrap-ups.

Term 3 is rich with highlights. Book Week brings our much-loved Meet the Writer afternoon, Book Week Parade (28/8) and visiting authors to inspire our young readers and storytellers, and our Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge is progressing wonderfully. Congratulations to all our readers so far! The Challenge draws to a close at the end of August, so we encourage families to keep reading together right to the finish. 

R U OK? Day provides a meaningful opportunity to continue building the emotional literacy, dialogue and prosocial skills that help our community care for one another, a beautiful expression of loving our neighbour.

Science Week celebrates the remarkable contributions science has made to our world and to our understanding of God's creation, while Health Week champions the healthy lifestyles that help us thrive. Rich learning also continues beyond the classroom through a wonderful program of incursions and excursions. And excitement is truly building for our school production of The Wizard of Oz in September. Our talented cast and crew are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this yet another unforgettable experience, and we cannot wait to welcome you down the yellow brick road. 

Our dedicated PTFA continues their generous work this term through a variety of events, beginning with Hot Chips Day next week, a welcome winter treat. Please also keep an eye out for our Student Leader initiatives, as our young leaders put their ideas into action for the good of our community. We thank both teams for their service and continued commitment to supporting our community.

Beyond the classroom, Term 3 also hums with a wonderful sense of anticipation. For many of our children, winter sport seasons and beloved external hobbies begin to build towards their culmination, finals to be contested, performances to be staged and final products to be proudly presented. These moments represent months of training, rehearsal and quiet persistence, and we would love to hear about them; please do share your child's milestones with us, as they are cause for celebration in our community too. There is a lovely symmetry in it all: just as a season of dedication gathers towards its finale, so too does a year of learning gather momentum in Term 3, with all that steady effort now bearing visible fruit.

We look forward to sharing your child's learning and growth with you at our upcoming parent teacher interviews (6/8), and we hope the recent changes to our reports have provided greater clarity and transparency. These conversations are a treasured part of the partnership between home and school, and we thank you for the trust you place in us. Please make sure you look at Parent Lounge to make an appointment with your child’s teacher.

As the term unfolds, I find myself eagerly awaiting spring, those first hopeful buds appearing on bare branches, quiet promises of what is to come. Our learners are much the same. The growth is already happening, sometimes unseen, nurtured patiently through the winter months and soon it will burst into full bloom. What a gift it is to witness, and to trust the One who makes all things grow.

We look forward to an adventurous, grace-filled Term 3 together. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's classroom teacher. We are partners in this journey, all here for the same reason: to help your child flourish and reach their full potential.

Blessings,

Melissa Harford

Head of Primary School

Director of Learning and Growth