Dear families and friends,

Welcome back to everyone for our 2023 school year. All the students have returned to school looking taller and look very smart in their uniforms. The beginning of a school year is always very exciting with new students, classes, teachers and supplies.

A very big welcome to our new Foundation students—Harrison, William, Sybil, Willow, Toby, Archie, Skye, Max and Koda as they start their educational journey at primary school. They have already shown themselves to be a very confident, friendly and caring group of students. They have settled beautifully into school with Miss Gray. We have 36 students enrolled this year.

A special welcome to our new families this year- Hugh & Xanthie Girdwood, Craig & Melissa Hamilton, James & Jodie Young and Eliza Huang & Anthony Mueller. We welcome you to our school community and look forward to your involvement in our school events. We also welcome three new teachers to our school this year, Miss Amy Gray, Mrs Xanthie Girdwood and Mrs Sally Franklin (our new MARC teacher). A big welcome back to Miss Purnell after her year’s leave in 2022. All the children are very excited to see her back.

Our classes for 2023 are as follows:

F/1 (15 students) – Miss Gray

2/4 (13 students) - Miss Purnell

5/6 (8 students) – Ms Ferrier

These classes will be for Monday to Thursday mornings. In the afternoons and Fridays, the classes will be F/1/2 (18 students) with Miss Gray and 4/5/6 (17 students) with Miss Purnell.

Sports uniform days for the children will be Wednesday and Fridays for the Year 4/5/6 students. The F/1/2 sports uniform days are Fridays and the other days will be advised when the Preps finish their rest days as their schedule is still changing.

Upcoming events

Please check the calendar carefully as we have lots of dates of upcoming events booked in.

SGSSA Swimming Carnival

The SGSSA (Southern Grampians Schools Sports Association) Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday, 24th February at the Dunkeld pool. This is only for senior students (9, 10, 11 and 12 year old age groups) who can comfortably and competently swim competition strokes over 25m and 50m distances. A note will be provided to those children who are interested in participating. Please see Miss P to discuss further or collect a permission form.

Student absences

It is very important that the school receives a note, phone call or direct contact for any student absence. Our rolls must be up-to-date with all absences and we need to indicate whether it is an ’approved’ absence, meaning we have received contact stating the reason for the absence. Please leave a message on the answering machine if your phone call is not answered, as the office is not always attended due to my teaching commitments and Tammy only works three days per week.

New Shade Sail

Over the holiday break we had a brand new shade sail put up outside the 2/4 classroom. Shade 'n' Sails from Ballarat installed it and it looks fantastic!

School Council

On Wednesday 15th March, we will be holding our first School Council meeting for 2023 at 7pm at the school. This will be the final meeting for the current council before the elections. More information about the upcoming elections will be in a later newsletter.

New tables

Our students have loved our new outside tables and are enjoying the company of the friends and some fresh air. Thanks again to the generosity of our wonderful Parents Club for helping us purchase these tables.

Have a lovely weekend.

Lisa Ferrier

First day back