Principal's Report

Welcome Back to the 2024 school year!  It is great to have everyone back after the break and to see families meeting up again.

To celebrate our return to school and allow time for families to connect with teachers and each other, next Tuesday afternoon from 3.30-4.00pm, we will be hosting a 'Welcome Afternoon Tea'. This is a casual, social event and students will be preparing a selection of treats for your afternoon tea, so we hope you can join us!

Despite the short week, students and staff are quickly settling in to their new classes and routines. In addition to welcoming back students, we were also pleased to welcome new staff members, Anna Gallasch (Prep/1) and Hayley Dodd (5/6) to our team, together with Heather Tottenham, who has resumed her role in the office, two days a week.

Tomorrow, students in Years 3-6 will participate in the annual Cluster Swimming Carnival. To assist with our organisation, please finalise consent forms, in Compass Events, for both the Swimming Carnival and Annual Local Excursion, before 8.30am Friday.  The Carnival will commence at 9.30am and the main events should finish by 12.30pm.  Many thanks to those parents who have volunteered their time to assist with time-keeping, as we really appreciate your support and participation. Families are also invited to come along and cheer on the swimmers, so we hope to see you there!

To add to the fun of the day, students in Years 3-6 are encouraged to come dressed in sunsmart house colours. When not swimming, students must wear a broadbrim hat and rashy or t-shirt. They will also need sunscreen, goggles, towels, a change of clothes and plenty of healthy snacks, lunch and water for the day.

On Monday the 12th of February, all students in Years 5/6, will have the opportunity to travel to Albury for an Open Water Learning Experience, run by Life Saving Victoria.  This bi-annual and highly valued program focusses on developing students' knowledge and practical water safety skills, while swimming in open waters such as rivers.  A consent form will be posted in Compass shortly.

In addition to the rollout of the Mental Health in Primary Schools program, in 2024 we will also have members from the Child and Youth Mental Health Service working with the school to deliver an early intervention (CASEA) program. More information about this service will be provided at next Friday's assembly, when there will be an opportunity for families to meet the CASEA team.

Over the holidays, our building works have continued to progress, with some framing up in the BER building, and extensive grounds works of the new building site.  This continues to provide plenty of interest for students who are watching the progress of the build.  Tomorrow afternoon we are expecting the concrete piers to be poured followed by the slab in the next two weeks, so it won't be long before the new building starts to take shape!