Head of Campus
Term Three Joy
A lovely welcome to all of our families! Term 3 started with a lot of excitement and within the blink of an eye, a return to remote learning. I hope that the transition went smoothly and that your child(ren) are feeling connected and engaged with the learning.
This term, we look forward to our Preps celebrating their 100 days and some lovely Preshil traditions including Anthology, Doo Dah, Orientation, Transition and preparing for Valedictory. Further information regarding these events will be provided in due course.
As you are probably aware, I am now the Acting Head of Campus at Arlington for the remainder of the year. I am delighted to be back here and I am excited to be re-connecting with all the Arlington children, staff and of course the families. I am also looking forward to continuing to work alongside Cressida Batterham-Wilson and Karoline Kuti in their new roles and supporting their work here at Preshil and strengthening the connection between the two campuses.
New Staff
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the following new staff members to the Preshil community. They come to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience and we look forward to supporting them in their new roles. Feel free to reach out to say hello!
Ilana Sztal-Susman - Marketing & Communications (Arlington)
Julia Strentz - Education & Learning Support (Arlington & Blackhall)
Kirsten Rumbles - Early Childhood Educator - Kindergarten (Arlington)
Rose Fearon - Peppercorns Music (with Michelle Priestly) & MYP Music (Blackhall)
Changes to Campus
During the last week of Term Two, we said our farewells to Natalie Jensen and wished her well with her new and exciting adventures. Natalie’s love for the school, her dedication and strong sense of inclusion and well-being culminated in the idea of building a buddy bench. Needless to say, Natalie was stoked when this was unveiled. She was surrounded by all the children and adults who were just as excited to present this special gift to her. Nat’s Buddy Bench is located on the footy field in front of Kevin Borland Hall. It will no doubt be a big hit with the children.
Various works, improvements and additions occurred throughout the break which I’m sure the children will appreciate. Of particular note is the sand pit in the Primary School and the installation of tree logs around the school which can be used by the children to sit on and have those rich conversations. All the logs are from two trees which we had to have cut down. We insisted the arborists saw them into usable pieces so they could remain a part of the school. The large logs are from the Southern Mahogany Gum and the smaller ones are from the Bracelet Honey Myrtle. A big shout out to Rob and the facilities and the maintenance team for making all this happen.
Electives
Electives are designed to broaden students’ learning within and beyond the curriculum and are a pillar of our enduring commitment to making, choosing, building, playmaking and performing. Electives are timetabled once a week and each term, children from Prep to Year 6 (11s) choose from an ever-evolving selection of subjects and activities from a vast array of topic areas. Electives also play an integral part in initiating and strengthening relationships amongst children from various age groups.
Last Friday, the Arlington children were presented with the various electives that will be offered in Term 3. Selections are being made and the first of these sessions will be commencing when we return to school.
Electives that will be running this term include:
- Photography
- Programming & 3D printing
- Invention Time
- Soccer Skills
- Drama
- Garden & Outdoor Education
- Cyclology
- Chess
- Papercraft
Open Mornings
It is always a treat to share the wonderfulness of our School with the community, and the new students who have joined us this term have all settled in beautifully.
Open Mornings and School Tours are presently on hold. Keep an eye out for future dates. These will appear on the School Calendar and will be communicated.
100 Days in the 5s
The 5s are counting down towards their 100 days of school. We will be sure to celebrate this special occasion on Wednesday 4 August in a fun way.
Parent Reps
Parent reps are an important part of the Arlington community and we are so lucky to have such a warm group of parents who have done a great job welcoming our new families.
Who Do I Contact?
As your child progresses through school, you may have concerns about their progress both academically and socially. Your first point of contact should always be your child's classroom or specialist teacher. You are welcome to make a time to talk to the teacher or meet with them to discuss and resolve any concerns.
Most concerns are resolved at a classroom level, however, if this is not the case or if the matter is more serious and needs higher level support please do not hesitate to contact me or Cressida.
Victor Toufas
Acting Head of Campus