A message from Leon

Kii everyone,

Welcome to the 2021 school year. I would like to especially welcome new families including our new Foundation families to our school.

Many thought at the end of 2020 that lockdowns would be over and COVID would become a distant memory. I now believe that we still have many challenges to face around COVID this year as well. This was evident in the recent snap lockdown where things had to change quickly.

I would like to thank everyone for their support during the lockdown. We appreciated the understanding and support from families. I would like to acknowledge the staff who did an amazing job under the circumstances.

Our focus this year continues to be around three main areas:

Curriculum that is consistent and robust (Steiner and Mainstream).
Consistent approaches to teaching literacy
Student Wellbeing

On Friday February 19th, staff had their first session of training of the Fountas and Pinnell Literacy system. This will allow our staff to target specific needs in Reading. Staff will have further follow up sessions during the year.

I would like to officially welcome some new staff at TPS in 2021:

Clementine Isaacson is our new Year 3/ 4 teacher

Yasmine Shamsili is our new front office person.

Juanita Abreu has been appointed Acting Business Manager while Jiangmin (Vicky) Cai is on family leave

Alex Meikle and Imogen Pemberton are new Education Support staff.

We also have a number of pre-service teachers from Monash University who are training to become teachers. They will be at school at various periods throughout the year.

We are already receiving enrolments for 2022 Foundation and we are offering a number of school tours. If you know someone who is interested in enrolling at Thornbury Primary in 2022, they can book in for a school tour. Tour dates are on our website. Bookings are essential as restrictions due to COVID apply. Our updated enrolment form is also on our website.

It has been great catching up with many parents and carers this year and I enjoying seeing the community back on our school site again. We still have a number of restrictions while onsite. These can change and I ask families to please follow the directions given by our staff when onsite. If you are unsure, please feel free to speak to any staff member or at the office.

I look forward to speaking to you throughout the term and year.

Twaganin

Leon Bell

Principal