Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been a pleasure to start the new school year so positively as we look forward to Term 2 together. There has been a very good 'vibe' and atmosphere around the school from staff, students and parents alike.

I pray that our school families have enjoyed a happy and blessed holiday break and are able to create good memories together. We are very privileged to have you in our school community and we look forward to all of the excitements and opportunities that Term 2 will hold!

In reflecting on Term 1, our students have enjoyed a range of practical opportunities with Year 5 and 6 loving their camp at Victor Harbor, Year 1 and 2 travelling to Uleybury and Tea Tree Gully on excursions, Years 3 and 4 visiting the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre and Years 5 and 6 exploring Lobethal and surrounds.

We also had a range of significant events including the arrival of our Gallipoli Lone Pine to add to our Anzac and Remembrance Day commemorations, the exciting news that we will be a part of the 'What'll happen to the Wattle?' initiative later in the year, our Year 5 and 6 girls being a part of the first ever Academy for Enterprising Girls STEM workshop in South Australia, and a number of students participating in the Bebras Challenge and Mathematics Olympiads with good success.

We celebrated Harmony Day, embracing the multicultural diversity in our school. We are proud to have over 30 different nationalities represented at Golden Grove Lutheran Primary. Our children enjoyed a colourful traditional dress parade on the day and a range of activities including cultural games, dancing and art to signify that we belong.

We marked Easter with a moving Chapel Service on Maundy Thursday and had an outstanding day for our Sports Day this week with cheerleading and a great range of races, field events and activities. Thanks to Miss McCusker for all of her hard work and preparation for the day, as well as to all of our teachers and LSO's for their efforts in helping the event to run so smoothly and successfully.

We are thankful for the efforts of our dynamic P & F in Term 1, led by Michelle Parcell, as our Middle of Term Breakfast with hot cross buns was a successful morning and along with a range of Easter activities, tied in well with our focus on Lent, leading up to Easter. We also enjoyed a highly successful Foundation Parents' Welcome Barbeque Evening where it was great to build relationships with our 'newest' families in the school and across our whole school community at our P & F welcome BBQ - and how good were all of those rides!

Our professional learning as a staff team over the course of the term has focused on action planning for our IB PYP curriculum for the next five years as well as integrating our Connected Schools Reconciliation Action Plan into practice. Our Spiritual Life team have also led our staff team through a series of Bible studies and reflective activities.

Our annual plan for the school reflects the implementation of our strategic direction for the year and is available on our school website. The five key areas are aligned with the Lutheran Education 'Growing Deep' Framework vocational practices of excellence in learning, strengthening Lutheran identity, leading effective organisation and management, building community, and ongoing improvement and innovation.

We have also been undertaking work on reviewing our buildings and facilities master plan and following up on the recommendations of an ICT review.

Congratulations to Kayla Dametto and Alyssum Williams on their weddings late last term. Kayla will be back at school in Week 2 as Mrs O’Brien. John Greenwood will continue to take 1/2 D in Week 1. Alyssum returns in Week 1 as Mrs Jenkins, working Mondays – Wednesdays inclusive for this term. A warm welcome back for Lauren Neumann, who will take Foundation for Alyssum on Thursdays and Fridays this term.

COVID updates mainly affect parent and caregiver numbers at assemblies and Chapels, and other school functions and events. The State Government announced that the density requirements will move from 1 person per 2 sq metres to three people per 4 sq metres, which is equivalent to 75% capacity. It remains best practice from an expert health perspective for all adults to be observing physical distancing requirements whenever and wherever possible.

Under the guidelines, we would ask for parents and caregivers to continue to register for Assemblies and Chapels each week via the link on the school website, and to then sign-in on the list and scan in using the QR Code in the Worship Centre on arrival.

We look forward to our school ANZAC Day Service which will be held for Year 3 - 6 students and parents and caregivers who would like to attend on Tuesday 27 April, commencing at 10.00 am in the Worship Centre. Parents are asked to preregister attendance via the school website and sign and scan in upon arrival.

We are privileged to be joined this year for our service by a catafalque party from the 7th Australian Army Regiment and a bugler from the Australian Army Band.

Our opening service for the term will be held on Friday 30 April, commencing at 8.50 am in the Worship Centre, with all year groups in attendance. Parents are asked to preregister attendance via the school website and sign and scan in upon arrival.

Blessings,

Will

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