Principal's Report
Tuesday (26 May) was an extremely exciting day for both students and staff alike. The laughter and smiles on everyone’s face was just like party time!
Helium balloons marked the entrance gates and a medley of welcome songs could be heard echoing throughout our school. Thank you, Lee Skaftouros, our very talented Cleaner, for compiling our new music.
Every member of staff, teaching and non-teaching, greeted our students from Prep, Year One and Year two as they arrived at school on Tuesday.
Our Specialist and Support staff, together with our Teacher Assistants, remained in the classrooms as children arrived at school to enable the Class Teachers to be available to greet each child.
The children eagerly entered the school gates with their school bag on their back and a huge smile on their face. The independence displayed by our young students was wonderful and a credit to all parents for letting them come into school on their own. We even had to remind some to say goodbye to both Mum and Dad.
From what I viewed on Tuesday, the anticipation about returning to school appeared harder for the adults than the children.
I would also like to sincerely thank the parents for maintaining the social distancing requirements, using the 2-minute drop off zones correctly and parking their cars and walking to school. One of our little Prep students was so excited as he told me “This is the first time ever I have walked to school”. It may only have been from Reserve Road, but he did walk to school.
Day one of the return to school for our Prep - Year 2 students was smooth and calm in every sense of the word. The children adapted so easily with our handwashing and hand sanitizing regime.
We know that school will not be the same and we do not know what the new 'normal' will look like, but we do know that the changes we have implemented will ensure your child is as safe as we can make them.
What else is different this term?
- Lee Skaftouros now works continuously throughout the day cleaning all touch points inside our buildings and outside areas where the students have been.
- An isolation space has been established for any child who appears unwell. This area will be disinfected each time it is used.
- Couriers are still delivering items to school, but they no longer have access to the building.
- Teachers are no longer able to access the staffroom, except in small groups, due to social distancing so refreshment stations have been established in each Year level/specialist are for staff use at recess and lunch times. Thank you to the staff who have provided small refrigerators, microwaves and toaster makers to add to these stations.
I would like to sincerely thank all members of our school community for their adaptability to the many changes that have occurred in response to the threat of COVID-19.
The Imagine Project
Thank you once again to our very talented Music Tech Captain, Luca K (6B) and Marnie K on the amazing Imagine Project video which lifted everyone's spirits. Unfortunately, not everyone was happy to participate as you will see from the 'blooper' below of Mrs Di Ullmann (Music Teacher) and her furry friend!
Student Voice Action
In case you missed it on Compass, please see the video clips below from one of our School Captains, Zoe Fennell, showing how she and her Year 6 peers have used Teams and OneNote during Remote Learning.
Once again, I would like to thank Zoe for sharing her understanding and thoughts on this process.
Important Dates
Monday 8 June
Queen's Birthday (Public Holiday)
Tuesday 9 June
Years 3 - 6 students return to school
Friday 26 June
Last day of Term 2
In Closing...
Our experience over the last few months as a school community is not something we ever anticipated or prepared for and I acknowledge that things have not been perfect.
As parents and carers, you have risen to meet this enormous change to your child’s schooling and indeed your daily lives. I want to thank you all for partnering with us to support your children in their learning and for the sacrifices you have made to do that. I think this experience has taught us all to be more resilient, flexible and supportive of each other – which will only build stronger and more balanced young people.
I also want to take this opportunity to state how extremely proud I am of all our teaching and support staff who have worked incredibly long and hard, often continuing their work in the evenings and on weekends, to transition to remote and flexible learning (and now the return to onsite schooling). This challenge was unprecedented and handled with professionalism, dedication and with the educational interests of our students as our primary focus.
I look forward to a busy and productive term ahead as we transition to a new normal. Please strive to be positive and kind to each other. Kindness matters, even more so in uncertain times.
Sherril Duffy
Principal