Welcome to the start of Term 3! I hope you had a fantastic break during the school holidays. I am pleased to share that our students have had a great start to the term. It has been heartwarming to witness the children's return to school, eagerly immersing themselves in their studies and enjoying quality time with their friends.

It is going to be a big term with our whole school production in Week 9. Exciting times ahead.

Congratulations to our State School Spectacular team who had a successful rehearsal at Town Hall this past week. The Victorian State School's Spectacular is Melbourne's biggest live song, dance and lighting extravaganza showcasing young talent across state schools. This year's show is Happy Travels. We are looking forward to watching our Donvale students perform as part of the mass choir.

I would like to take a moment to recognise the exceptional initiative shown by two of our students, Hazel Brewin and Carmelina Bowers. These remarkable individuals took it upon themselves to clean up the school grounds during recess and lunch breaks for several days. Their dedication and passion in striving for a cleaner and more environmentally friendly school environment were truly inspiring.

The amount of rubbish they collected further reinforces the decision to have all students eat their lunches inside the classroom. It is important that students utilize the time allocated for eating their lunch inside. Our teachers will ensure that students are seated and fully focused on their meals during this time so that they are free to play when outside. A big thank you to Hazel and Carmelina for their outstanding work in this regard.

We extend a warm welcome back to Mr. Reiter after his leave in term 2. It is great to have Mr Reiter back with his students, who undoubtedly missed their teacher. We would also like to express our gratitude to Wendy Bos for her exceptional job in managing the class during Peter's absence.

Staffing

We have recently undergone some necessary staffing adjustments this semester, and I am pleased to announce that all arrangements have now been finalised, therefore, I would like to provide you with an update.

Firstly, Michael Hogg has officially taken over as the classroom teacher for 5/6C. Thank you to Mr Hogg for your professionalism and flexibility in supporting this change. The students have had a seamless transition and I am confident that they will continue to thrive under your care.

Additionally, we are delighted to announce that Safa Chebbou will be leading Health classes on Mondays and Tuesdays. Mrs. Chebbou will be focusing on various aspects of health, including building resilience, fostering a growth mindset, and promoting overall mental toughness. We consider ourselves fortunate to have Mrs. Chebbou's expertise in this field.

Lastly, we are pleased to advise Wendy Bos, who is also a highly experienced PE teacher, taking charge of the PE classes until the end of the year. We are confident that Ms. Bos will provide engaging and enriching physical education lessons for our students.

I am looking forward to a productive term and I encourage all students to continue to strive to do your best every day and make that most of the opportunities offered to you at school.

From the Music Room…

Mrs Keep