Principal's Report

Principal’s Report 20th May

In our last newsletter, I mentioned that teachers and students had returned, seemingly, refreshed and ready to go. That was, indeed, true at the time. However, as this term has progressed, I am seeing more and more, the continuing impacts of COVID and isolation on staff, the students and the community. Staff and student absences, due to a range of illnesses including COVID, have placed a great burden on our ability to keep classes running and to ensure the continuity of learning for our students. We continue to do the very best we can for our students, our staff and the community and we thank you for your patience and cooperation through this difficult period.

Camms Rd (Interim name) PS Update

Currently, I am on the selection panel for the new Principal of the new school to be opened in 2023, presently called Camms Rd (Interim name) PS. The school is a Supported Inclusion School, similar to Cranbourne West Secondary College. The new enrolment boundary has gone live on the www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au website and we will be informing families of the changes as we begin our 2023 Prep transition program. Any existing families who were formerly in our enrolment zone and, in 2023, find themselves in the new school’s zone are still entitled to attend Lyndhurst PS but may choose to move to the new school. The new school can generally only accept enrolments from within their zone. However, as a supported inclusion school, there are special circumstances where some students from outside the zone and who have a disability, can attend the new school. More details about this will be released once the new Principal takes up their position.

Casey Central Network Chair

Recently the Network Chair of our local Principal’s network (Casey Central) moved to a new position, thus leaving a vacancy in this leadership role. Last week, I was appointed as the new Network Chair. I have been on the Network Executive since we moved to Casey Central after having been Network Chair and Executive member of our previous network, Casey South. Carolyn Glover, from our front office team, will take on the role of Network Administration. 

House Athletics

On Wednesday, we conducted our annual House Athletics sports. I say annual, but it certainly hasn't been annual for a couple of years, for obvious reasons. Despite some troubling weather forecasts, all of the students had a wonderful day, with sunshine blessing us for most of the day. I wish to sincerely thank our phys ed teachers, Glenn Hamilton and Jacquie Hunter for the enormous amount of organisation that goes into an event like this. It is a huge undertaking but certainly worthwhile for our students. Physical activity is such an important contributor to our children, not only keeping them healthy but also helping them academically.

Professional Practice Day

For Term 2, 2022, as a result of changes due to the new employment agreements for teachers, the Department of Education and Training has provided schools with the option to hold each teacher’s allocated professional practice day on the same day for all staff. This is to enable the most effective and efficient use of this day. As a result, we have scheduled our professional practice day for Friday, 17th June. Students will therefore not be required to attend school on this day. The day will be used for important professional learning which we already had scheduled. On the day, staff will be working with Literacy expert, Narissa Leung on our School Strategic Plan Literacy Priority to develop our understanding of the effective teaching of writing and to shape a contemporary “whole school” approach to this critical communication skill.

National Walk to School Safely Day

Last Friday was National Walk Safely to School Day. We saw plenty of children and parents taking the chance to walk to school and get some healthy exercise. All in all, it was a very successful community event. Big thanks to Simone Smith and Lisa Howells for all of their enthusiasm and organisation and let’s hope that one opportunity to walk, turns into a daily habit!

Greg Lacey

Principal