PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Wow – what a great final week of school it has been with a whole lot of fun thrown in. Our “Fun Day” for all students on Monday, “Step-up Day” transition sessions on Tuesday, the Grade 6 Graduation on Wednesday, our “Final Assembly in the Gardens” on Thursday with our Grade 6 “Big Day Out” excursion to Cape Bridgewater today to round out the week. Add in a variety of activities and celebrations that have taken place in classes – it has certainly been a great last week at Gray Street Primary!

“Monday Fun Day”

What a great day we had on Monday, another new initiative that I’m sure will be an addition to our annual program. Between 9:30am and 1:00pm, students were divided into multi-age groups where they then rotated through 6 different activities that lasted for 30 minutes each, these being:

Obstacle Course and Play Equipment Station
Construction Tasks and Dress-up/Selfie Station
Craft and Collaboration Station
Sports and Games Station
Skipping and Water Relay Games Station
Throwing Activities Station

After the lunch break, all students then had the opportunity to participate in a Colour Run over the Obstacle Course they completed earlier in the day. I’m sure this was the highlight for most students – evident by the laughs, squeals of excitement, wet bodies and sea of colour on display. Thank you to the many parents who jumped in to help “throw colour” along with Hamilton members of the Victoria Police – Tony, Ben, Shaun and Sandi, who I think enjoyed the afternoon session as much as the students!

State-wide Transition Day

On Tuesday we held our school “Step-up Day” as a part of the State-wide Transition Day. It was great for students to be able to spend some time in their 2023 class, in their new room, with their teacher and classmates for next year. Our 2023 Prep students settled in very well and it was also great for other new students who will be attending our school next year to come along and be a part of the day.

Grade 6 Graduation

A real highlight for me this week was our annual Grade 6 Graduation Assembly held on Wednesday night at school. Our students all looked fantastic dressed in their best and together they enjoyed a meal of pizza, chips and drink, followed by a sugar fix of ice-cream and lollies, that was highly enjoyable for the students (and staff too!) Parents arrived prior to the presentations commencing at 7:15pm and enjoyed viewing the posters containing a variety of text and photos created by the students, representing their time at Gray Street.

It is really amazing to look at the photos and see how much some students have changed over time, whilst others look very similar to what they did back in Prep.

Our students opened the evening with a great combined performance under the guidance of Mrs Garland, and then all did an amazing job to deliver an individual speech, sharing some of their schooling highlights, generating many laughs from the audience along the way. The manner in which the students presented their speeches was a credit to the students, but also to parents and staff who supported them. A range of formal school awards were presented with a full list of winners available further in the newsletter. I’d like to acknowledge our 2022 Dux, Sophie and Jack, along with Daniel Hodgson Memorial recipient Chelsea, whose names will be added to the honour boards in our school foyer. Thank you to the parents and carers for your attendance along with staff who helped put everything together for the night. But most of all, thank you and congratulations to our graduating CLASS OF 2022 – we are all very proud of each and every one of you for your fantastic achievements and contributions in your time with us at Hamilton (Gray Street) Primary School!

‘Come and Try’ Taekwondo

On Wednesday our students in grades 3 and 4 were provided with the opportunity to participate in a ‘come and try’ taekwondo session held in our school stadium. The session was run by Muhktar and Aisha, provided free of charge to our school by Palace Martial Arts. The students learnt how to try and react every time with a positive action all of the time, that respect gets you everywhere and that focus is the key. Thank you to Muhktar and Aisha for coming along to teach our students some new skills and these very positive messages.

Final Assembly

Our final assembly was held on Thursday, once again in the Hamilton Botanical Gardens following the success of staging this event in this location last year for the first time. We were very fortunate with the weather, whilst a little bit cold it was pleasing that there was no rain following poor weather earlier in the week. This year we added to the program with all grade levels getting the opportunity to perform a musical item, along with our school choir. All students performed so well, a real highlight of the event that has been well received by all. We also announced our “Semper Sursum” Awards (Ever Upwards, Always our Best) along with our 2023 grade six leadership positions. In particular I’d like to congratulate our School Captains for next year, Gabriella and Beau, along with our Student Voice Captains Leila and Oliver. Congratulations also to all of our other student leaders with their names and positions included further in this newsletter.

Grade 6 “Big Day Out”

Today our grade 6 students were treated to their “Big Day Out” at Cape Bridgewater to celebrate the end of their primary school lives, following the introduction of this event last year. Unfortunately the “Seals by Sea” boat tour was cancelled due to rough sea conditions out by the headland, however our students still got to try their hand at surfing, a whole lot of fun with some students displaying great skills at what can be a very difficult sport. When not surfing students got to explore some rock pools and also enjoy some beach time. Thanks to the staff for attending to make this such a great day for the students, one I’m sure they will long remember.

Semester 2 Student Reports

Student reports were distributed yesterday and I thank staff for the extra time and effort that has gone into producing these. Overall we are very pleased with the progress that has been made by our students in what has been a highly productive and rewarding year of learning. Parents who would like to discuss the student report provided for your child are asked to please contact the administration offi

2023 Start of Year Assessments

As previously advised we will be conducting assessments on the first two days of school next year, Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st January. Children will only be required at school on one of those days for a 2-hour period, with families to be grouped in to the same time block. A schedule of assessment times was sent home on Monday but if this timetable is misplaced over the holiday break please call the office on Friday 27th January to confirm your allocated day and time.

Start of 2023 School Year

Prep students will commence on Tuesday 31st January. Students in grades 1 to 6 will officially commence next year on Wednesday 1st February following the first two days of assessments.

Final Day of School

We are aware that there will be a small number of students attending school on Monday and Tuesday next week – thank you to families for returning forms indicating your intentions. A reminder that for any children who will be attending on Tuesday 20th December, the final day of the school year, the dismissal time for most students will be 1:00pm. Children travelling home on buses will be collected at 2:30pm.

Departing Families

In our final newsletter of the year I would also like to acknowledge families of departing grade 6 students who will no longer be formally involved with our school, and thank them for the many contributions made throughout their time with the school. Our best wishes and heartfelt thanks goes out to the families of:

Harry Blohm
Alana Caldwell
Hugo Christie-Hill
Lily Davies
Lucy Jennings
Abi Pederick-Stewart
Helena-Rose Phillips
Rebecca Stallard
Joel Taylor
Jake Caruana
Evie Grinham
Jorja Hardy
Liam Harman
Noah Hunter
Alexis Lambourn
Olivia Munro
Julia Shaw

I also would like to thank and acknowledge our dedicated, committed and passionate staff, who continually go above and beyond the call of duty to do everything they can to support the needs of our students. I am very much looking forward to working with this group again next year, along with some new staff members who will be joining our highly effective team. I also wish Mrs Sheree McGinley all the very best as she takes a well-deserved 12-month period of leave, although I know we will see Sheree quite a bit as a Casual Relief Teacher throughout the course of the year.

Thank you also to our dedicated and extremely supportive School Councillors, your time, effort, commitment and unwavering support is truly appreciated as we all work together to make Gray Street the best possible school it will be. This work is ongoing and we will continue on our path in the best way possible. I’d particularly like to thank our President Mrs Anna Robertson for the outstanding job she has continued to do in leading this group, along with Mr Brad White who has put in countless hours behind the scenes helping me to chip away at continually improving the facilities – we have further plans and will keep you updated as these progress.

Thank you to our Gray Street community, you have all once again been amazing! It takes a strong partnership between school and home to ensure a child is provided with the right environment and support for high quality skill development. I truly believe this is an area we have been doing very well and look forward to enhancing and expanding these partnerships in the years to come.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!

Ben Kelson

Principal

Hamilton OSHC