Principal's Report 

 Dear Parents, 

What a wonderful morning it was last week as we celebrated all things Italian. The learning of another language is such a rich experience.  To couple that with a celebration of culture through fun, laughter and food adds meaning and joy for students. Thank you Signora Renata for your magnificent planning and execution of the day. 

As we approach the end of the year, it is time to say "goodbye" to some staff, and "see you soon" to others as we thank them for their hard work and dedication during the time they have been with us. 

We thank Argentina (Tina) Iannunzio and say farewell as you continue your teaching career at Thornhill Park Primary School. To Jessica Mercieca we thank you for your hard work, and wish you all the best at Stella Maris Primary School and to Chris D'Alterio (Mr. D) we thank you for your hard work, and wish you all the very best for next year. Finally, two of our staff are having some time away from school next year. To Meghann Wurm and Donna Iannunzio we wish you both the very best for 2025, and we look forward to seeing you back at Mackellar Primary School in 2026. As some staff depart Mackellar, we welcome others. Next year we welcome Rita Ghimire to Mackellar, and I have no doubt all in our community will make her feel most welcome. 

And as staffing positions for 2025 are finalised, so too are grade lists. Students will find out their teacher/s for 2025 on the last day during our step-up program. Significant work and planning goes in to placing students into classes. As such, we are very reluctant to change student classes once set. Be sure to ask your child/ren who their teachers are so you are all set for next year. 

Today our swimming program commenced and it was wonderful to have full buses taking students to Flippers this week. Thank you to those parents who have enrolled their child for this life saving program. If you haven't done so as yet, please be sure to label everything to reduce the risk of losing personal items. Unfortunately, due to low numbers, we have had to cancel the grade 5/6 beach swimming program which is a shame. Nevertheless, we plan to hold it again next year, hopefully with a greater uptake.

As the end of the year draws closer, we still have much to do. Our Christmas Carols and Toy Fund assembly will be held next Monday at 9am. Not long after that at 11am we will be holding our Parents and Volunteers morning tea as our thank you to you for assisting us in making our school as great as it can be. We hope to see as many of you as possible as we share a biscuit and cup of tea to celebrate a great year.

On the Thursday before school finishes we have our grade six graduation to be held here at school, and on Friday December 20 school finishes at 1:30pm with a guard of honour for our departing grade 6 students. 

At the conclusion of yet another jam-packed and highly successful year, and on behalf of all of the staff at Mackellar, we wish everyone a safe and happy holiday period. 

To those families who celebrate Christmas, we hope that is a special time for you all. Have a most wonderful New Year and we look forward to seeing you all, and our 52 prep students and families in 2025. 

Merry Christmas, 

Simon McGlade

Principal