The year has taken on some decoration and mischievousness. Tinsel is decorating doorways, Christmas trees have sprouted in corners and odd little elves have been up to their tricks in some of our classrooms. As we prepare for our holiday break we are thankful for all those who have collaborated to ensure a positive and celebratory end of the first full year of learning in a long time.

Picnic Proves a Great Chance to Relax

FORPS again proved that they are the world experts in barbecues. Last Friday night, a large number of our families gathered on the Oval for a relaxed and informal Christmas wind down. It proved to be an energetic time for students; throwing frisbees, playing with parachutes and generally running around. For parents, it was an opportunity to meet new families and take the time to renew friendships. Thanks FORPS for initiating this gentle wind down to the year.

We also thank TheirCare for sponsoring the barbeque and helping feed the masses. Their support for the event is greatly appreciated.

Year 6 Luna Park Visit

It was wonderful to hear the stories of celebration, laughter and fun that students and staff experienced at the Year 6 big day out at Luna Park. While most of the students will be visiting their 2023 high schools next Tuesday, they were eager not to miss out on their own big day out. What a wonderful way to end their seven years of primary education.

Leadership Takes the Stage

A special thanks to our Year 5 students who were brave enough to venture a speech at the 2023 Student Leadership day today. It was indeed a highlight to hear these students speak of their wish to be considered for leadership positions in 2023. Students spoke to over a hundred students from Years 3 to 6, a daunting experience for anyone. Each Year 5 student was prepared and presented very thoughtful and insightful descriptions of their attributes. I am assured that as we enter 2023, our school will be enriched by all our Year 5 cohort, whether they are in a formal leadership position or leading in other ways. We look forward to announce the student leadership team for 2023 at the final assembly.

Meet the Teacher Day - Monday 12 December

Between 11:30am and 1:30pm students and staff will enter a time warp vortex that will jettison them into 2023. Students will have an opportunity to meet in their new classes and be introduced to their teacher and peers. I encourage parents and carers to discuss their child’s experiences and continue to support them in this transition process. Parents, teachers, and students themselves have spent significant time in shaping these new learning groups to ensure that classes are balanced, and students are grouped in classes that will springboard them into 2023. It is important to recognise that such changes will create layers of nervousness and anxiety for all. We can all be reassured that together we will support each other to make 2023 a positive and growing experience.

Graduation Next Thursday 15 December

The Year 6 celebrations will continue to reach a climax at the more formal graduation ceremony. Next Thursday night, parents, staff and students will gather to mark students’ transition to secondary education. We wish them all well and are sure that they all stand ready for a wide range of experiences that will propel them into new learning.

Whole School Big Day Out

On Tuesday 13 December next week, all our students will be participating in the big day out. This will see students from Prep to Year 6 join for morning games at the Rosanna Parklands. It will continue with lunch when we return to the school. Many of our students have purchased a special sushi lunch. Students will then be bussed to Northland Hoyts to experience a movie. There will be no supervision of students at school. Please ensure payment and consent are completed on Qkr! or with a phone call to the office.

For students in Years 3 to 6, we encourage you to ensure that you have signed the consent to attend Puss in Boots, a PG rated movie. If this consent is not signed, then students will be attending the Prep to 2 film, Lyle Lyle, Crocodile. This consent can easily be made on Qkr!

TheirCare and the Holidays

If you have yet to look at the TheirCare programme for the holidays, it is well worth the read. The theme for January is ‘Fast and Curious’ with lots of activities and experiences planned. For those parents who require supervision of their children prior to Christmas, TheirCare will also be open for a number of days from Tuesday 20 December. Contact TheirCare to find out more.

Final Assembly 16 December

Families are invited to join us for our final assembly of the year, next Friday afternoon. This last hurrah will announce our student leadership teams for 2023 as well as bid farewell to our Year 6 cohort. It is a chance to say thank you to staff who are leaving as well as students and families who will not be with us in the coming year. Our final assembly will be held in Chandler Hall and start at 2:00pm.

Last Days of the Year

Next week, we will conclude our final week of learning. A range of activities have been organised for students to ensure they finish the year positively and confidently in stepping into 2023. This final week will see the conclusion of all learning programmes. The following Monday we recognise that many of our students will be absent and have started their holidays. Students will be involved in preparing rooms and ordering learning spaces in preparation for 2023. This Monday is the final formal day for students.

As we enter the final week, I am conscious that for many of our families and staff it has been a very different year than expected. The conclusion of COVID lockdowns has landed us in a year or redefining rhythms and priorities. For many in our community this has been a difficult time, leaving people weary. I encourage all to continue to celebrate what has been achieved and respectfully and positively engage with each other whether that be in the playground, over the phone or in the traffic congestion around the school at the end of the day!

Students & Learning

Classroom Learning With 2/3A