Dear Parents,

Well we have made it to the end of Term 3 and what a very different term it has been! Teaching and learning has looked very different over the last few weeks and will continue to be a learning journey as we overcome the many hurdles in the remote learning space. I must admit I was quite surprised to hear that remote learning will continue for the first month of next term, however I believe that this could be reviewed depending on the number of Covid-19 cases and vaccination rates. As a school we are genuinely missing the students and each other as a staff. Our vocation does not usually look like this and the ongoing separation is unsettling. We just hope that after this lockdown, we can at least be together to finish off the year and my career.

NAPLAN results for those students in Years 3 & 5 have been distributed this week in a ‘Click and Collect’ type scenario from the school carpark. Our school results were very pleasing and reflect the hard work being done by staff and students. I will give a snap shot analysis of the results from a school perspective early next term. Please be mindful that these results only reflect your child’s learning on one particular week in the year back in May.

Attached to this message is a letter from Nikki Dwyer concerning the school musical as it is with a heavy heart that we announce that the school musical has to be cancelled for 2021. It has been a very difficult decision to make as we know that many students will be disappointed especially those in Year 6 as this was their last opportunity to participate. However, we were given very little choice. The amazing staff involved have lost over a month of rehearsal time and due to restrictions with videoing and mass gatherings the presentation has become problematic. I would like to particularly thank Nikki Dwyer for all her hard work in both writing the script, approaching musical companies for copyright permissions and for her wonderful general organisation with auditions and rehearsals. Together with Veronica Trow, Jessica Mead, Levi Heffernan and Katie Horsburgh many voluntary hours have been invested.

There are a number of other usual school activities that have also had to be cancelled. These include water safety lessons, South Weston regional athletics, Year 5/6 camp, Student First Aid course and Grandparents’ Day.

Thankfully, our renovations of the junior classrooms and drainage have been able to go ahead and have been started this week. The black top is fenced off while drainage issues are repaired. The junior classrooms are stripped of the old carpet and the painters began this morning. We are hoping these projects are completed when students return.

When we do return to school, we will be in summer uniform. Hats will be mandatory as well as correct hair accessories. With lockdown, I am sure that students have wanted their nails polished and have been wearing more jewellery, however nails need to be clean and jewellery simple as we return to the school setting.

Attached to this message is a digital flyer advertising a number of upcoming free webinars on a variety of topics for a range of ages that are available for families to participate in during the break and into next term.  Please click here to view the flyer.  There is also a PDF version included with this newsletter.

Zoe Ferrari has resigned from the School Board effective immediately as work commitments have increased. I would like to thank Zoe for her contribution to this important school committee over a few years. This leaves a position vacant for the beginning of 2022. The School Board is an advisory group who works with the Principal to assist in decisions concerning the management of the school. Further information is available on our website. If you would like to be considered to fill this vacancy, please email me early next term.

As we complete the term, I wish to thank everyone for their understanding, care and messages of support in the concluding weeks of this unusual term. School has been a very different place lately notably a much quieter environment. We really miss the children and the general buzz that is everyday life each day in a school. Let us pray that our whole community continues to stay safe and that some sort of normality can return sooner rather than later. 

On behalf of the staff, I wish you all a very happy and safe holiday break. It will look very different for everyone as we continue in lockdown but fingers crossed the weather will be kind to us so we can at least enjoy outside spaces. Everyone continues to be in our thoughts as we journey this time together.

Take Care

Kind regards

Julie