From the Principal 

New Shade Sail

A new shade sail was installed over the play equipment during the holiday period. It looks good and again the students have protection from the sun.

Inclusive Garden

Work has begun on the garden. A site meeting was held this week and the garden is beginning to take shape with multiple new garden beds filled with native plants. A new tree has also been planted. The project will be completed in September. I encourage everyone to check out the project’s progress.

Chloe Rendall

Tomorrow is Chloe’s birthday. Rainbow-coloured balloons were placed on her seat in her garden to mark the occasion. Chloe’s garden is perfectly placed because every time you go outside or walk between the two buildings, the garden is central and visible, and reminds us of the gift Chloe was in our lives. We miss her. Sending heart-felt best wishes to Craig, Lachlan and Liam.

Staff on Leave 

Olivia Pinzone is currently on leave, and we welcome back Damian Wintle who is teaching 34C. We also have Gemma Baker, one of our Education Support members and registered teacher, teaching 34A whilst Madeleine Simos is on leave.

First Aid Training 

Last week the staff completed their CPR, First Aid, Asthma and Anaphylaxis modules of study and a 90-minute practical session. Training occurs annually.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Students have registered for programs that run during and after school. Providing such opportunities enables students to ‘work in their element’ to participate in activities they are passionate about. This term students are participating in street dancing, chess, robotics, orchestra violin and singing, and martial arts. Lunchtime clubs are also popular including choir, vegetable-gardening, chicken management, computers, arts and a range of other activities.

Student Lighthouse Election

All students Years 1-6 were invited to prepare a speech as candidates for the Semester 2 Student Lighthouse. The students voted for one member from each of their classes, to represent them. Next week at assembly, we will thank the Semester 1 Team for their work, and welcome and present badges to the Semester 2 Team. 

Student School Jobs and Recruitment

This week students applied for school-wide jobs and participated in interviews. The jobs start next Monday and expire in December. We wish the students all the best in their roles as librarians, cleaners, announcers, IT managers, sport equipment managers and newsletter editors. These jobs are over and above the leadership roles all students are responsible for in every class.

Reflection on Being Proactive Habit 1

Being proactive means more than taking initiative. It means we are responsible for our own lives. Our behaviour is a function of our decisions, not our conditions. “Response-ability” is the ability to choose your response. Proactivity means more than just taking the initiative. We are responsible for our own lives. In other words, proactive people recognise they are solely responsible for their actions. They do not blame the conditions or circumstances for their behaviour. The behaviour of proactive people is a function of their decisions. On the contrary, an emotionally reactive person will blame everything on their condition. When talking about Habit 1, Covey describes how a proactive approach helps to acknowledge a mistake quickly so that instant actions can be taken to resolve it instead of waiting for it to become a more serious issue. Covey explains that people who exhibit these habits are proactive and tend to take action compared to reactive people who depend on their physical environment. He describes that proactive people invest their time and energy in resolving issues rather than reactive people who spend their time worrying and blaming others.

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” Abraham Lincoln

Thought for the Week

“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

Have a great weekend everyone.

George Danson