Principal Report
School Photo Day
Class photos and student individual photos will be taken on Wednesday, 10 March. We expect to see all students in full school uniform with black shoes and school coloured hair ties. The day's running schedule is quite tight, so please avoid appointments for students on this day. It would be a shame for a student to miss their class photo. Year 6 students are asked to bring along their Year 6 tops and wear their black polos (if they have one) for their class photo.
All students have an individual photo taken for our school records. The Photographers will take leadership group photos on the day, time permitting.
Curriculum Days for 2021
Friday is our second Pupil Free Day for 2021. Staff will be taking part in professional learning around two of our key learning areas this year – literacy and wellbeing. The remaining Pupil Free Days are set for Monday 19 April and Friday 23 July. Students are not required at school on Pupil Free days as teachers and staff participate in Professional Learning.
Fundraising and Bendigo Bank Sponsorship – Aussie of the Month
As COVID restrictions have impacted us heavily over the past 12 months, we were excited to hear about a program from Chadstone – supporting local schools. If you are shopping at Chadstone between Saturday 6-Sunday 28 March and spend more than $20 at any of the participating retailers, shoppers will receive one token to put towards the school tally of their choice. At the conclusion of the month, the top three schools will receive a prize, with $20,000 up for grabs. This would be a wonderful opportunity for us to raise much needed funds to upgrade the playgrounds near the Taylor Street entrance. We are hoping to upgrade both these playgrounds this year.
In 2020 Bendigo bank came on board and offered to sponsor Aussie of the Month for 10 months. Due to COVID-19, this funding was not used, and Bendigo Bank carried the funding over to 2021. Two or three times a term, one student will be nominated for an Aussie of the Month award. The winner will receive a student Bendigo Bank account, and Bendigo Bank will deposit $50.00 into the account as the award.
Bendigo Bank also sponsors the school $1,250.00 for every person who moves their home loan to Bendigo Bank Ashburton. As COVID restrictions have significantly impacted our fundraising, we appreciate any opportunity to assist the school!
Parent Contributions
Thank you to all the families who have paid their 2021 Parent Contributions or have contacted Sarah McDonell to set up a payment plan. If you need any assistance with parent contributions or would like to discuss your individual situation, please contact either Sarah McDonell or Lyn Rodda.
Staffing News
Sheree Mulreany, our Business Manager, has decided to retire from the Department of Education. Sheree has been a part of the Solway team for over eight years and will be missed. Sheree has worked for the Department of Education for over 20 years, working as an Integration Aide, office manager, and business manager. We wish Sheree all the best in her future endeavours. Sarah McDonell who has been in the Acting Business Manager role since mid-2020 will now take up this role at Solway. I would like to thank Sarah for all her work during the transition period.
Swimming
Congratulations to the students who represented Solway at the District Swimming on Friday. They did a fabulous job, with Solway coming third overall behind Camberwell South and Hartwell. We wish those students who made it to the next level all the best as they compete in the Division finals today.
Lyn Rodda
Principal