David's Message

Dear Sunshine Heights Parents and Carers, 

The first couple of weeks of term have had a great energy about them — a mix of community spirit, hard work, and some early signs of growth across the school.

Our Working Bee on Sunday 27th July was a great example of that. A big thank you to the families and students who joined Hayden, Greg and me in the gardens. We got stuck into the weeds, turned over a few beds, and started shaping things up for the warmer months. I even got to play barista for the morning, and the team from All Rise Bakery kindly provided some delicious snacks to keep us going. It was one of those mornings that reminds me how lucky we are to have such a supportive school community - and I genuinely can't wait to see how the new trees thrive alongside the future garden developments.

This week also marked the first two days of our school review — a really important process where we reflect on what we’ve achieved, and set our sights on where we want to go next. What stood out most to me was the number of parents who took time from their busy lives to speak with the reviewer and the review panel. Your insights, reflections, and hopes for the school are such a valuable part of this process — thank you for showing up and sharing so generously. We look forward to sharing the outcomes from the review and recommendations for the next four years in our new strategic plan. 

You may have also heard that NAPLAN results have just been released. Our Year 3 results are broadly in line with similar schools, and our Year 5 students have done exceptionally well, outperforming similar schools and the local network by a fair margin. Around 80% of our Year 5s achieved in the strong or exceeding bands in both literacy and numeracy, compared to 60–65% in other similar settings. These kinds of results don’t come from cramming or quick fixes; results like this come from creating the right climate for learning, over time, from forming strong home school partnerships, and from knowing each child's learning journey. Just like in a garden, growth happens when we consistently tend to the conditions: strong teaching, great connections between home and school, and a safe, supportive culture where students are known and valued.

Lastly, Friday 1st August is Principal’s Day, and while I’ll be off-site that day, I want to take a moment now to acknowledge our incredible Assistant Principals, Vicki McMahon and Anthony Atkinson. Their commitment to this school, to the students, staff, and wider community, is second to none. They show up every day with care, clarity and a deep belief in what our school can be. I feel lucky to work alongside them, to be supported and buoyed by them, and mostly to have the opportunity to learn from them.

Here’s to more good things growing this term — in the garden, in our classrooms, and in every part of our school community.

Best wishes,

David and the Sunny Heights Team