Brooke's Message
Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that we are already past the halfway mark of Term 3!
The days are getting longer, and there is even a little bit of warmth from the sun when we are out on our many playground, traffic and bus duties. It is a lovely reminder that spring is just around the corner!
This term has continued to be full of learning, both in our classrooms and out in the community. Our students continue to practise and develop their skills through swimming and gymnastics programs in the community, providing valuable opportunities to build confidence, independence and participation in different environments.
Our Secondary students have also started planning for their futures, exploring pathways into employment, volunteering and individualised services. These conversations and experiences are an important part of preparing our students for life beyond school and supporting them to think about what they want their future to look like.
There is plenty more to look forward to, with our Upper Primary and Middle Sections getting excited about their upcoming camps. Camps are such an important part of our students' learning, providing opportunities to develop independence, resilience, social skills and confidence while having lots of fun with their classmates and teachers.
Looking After Our Community
We have unfortunately had quite a few student illnesses across the school this term, and as often happens in a school community, these illnesses have also made their way to our staff. We understand that children can become unwell very quickly and that managing illness can be challenging for families.
However, we ask that if your child is unwell or showing symptoms of an infectious illness, please keep them home until they are well enough to return to school. This helps protect our students and staff, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to illness.
Staff Absences and Our Programs
Staff absences have also been particularly high this term. As a specialist school, our programs rely on staff who know our students well and understand their individual communication, learning, wellbeing and support needs.
When we have a number of staff away at the same time, we sometimes have no choice but to make changes to our usual programs. This may mean a casual teacher supervising a class, staff being moved from other areas, or, when we have exhausted all other options, classes being split.
We understand that these changes can be challenging for students and families. Please know that our leadership team works very hard each morning to find the best possible solution while maintaining the safety and wellbeing of our students. We appreciate everyone's patience and flexibility when these situations occur.
Student Pick-Up
A reminder to families that school finishes at 3.00pm.
We completely understand that life can be busy and that occasionally things happen that mean you are running late. If you are unable to collect your child at the usual time, please call the school as soon as possible so that we know what is happening and can support your child while they wait.
A quick phone call makes a big difference and helps us ensure that students are supervised and supported appropriately at the end of the day.
While it may feel like we have only just started 2026, planning for 2027 is already well underway!
There is a great deal of work that happens behind the scenes to prepare for a new school year, including staffing, class structures, student placements, programs, resources and pathways. Our leadership and teaching teams are beginning to work through this planning carefully, with our students' individual needs, strengths and future goals at the centre of our decisions.
We know that families will naturally have questions about 2027, and we will continue to share information as plans become clearer and decisions are able to be communicated.
As always, thank you for your continued support, patience and partnership. There is still plenty happening across the remainder of Term 3, and I am looking forward to seeing our students continue to learn, grow and enjoy all the opportunities that the term has to offer.
Best wishes everyone
Brooke